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Chapter 59: The Imperial Edict Arrives
Chapter 59: The Imperial Edict Arrives
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Yu Zichuan, you must have misheard."
"I didn't mishear!"
A voice rang out from above, and everyone looked up to see a young man in blue sitting on the roof.
Yu Zichuan leaped down, pointing at Lu Linglong, "She's the one who administered the poison!"
The Deputy Minister of Rites frowned, "Miss Lu, why would you drug your own grandmother and mother? Filial piety is a serious matter, and attempting to kill your own family is a capital offense!"
At the mention of beheading, Lu Linglong's soul nearly left her body. "I didn't mean to drug my grandmother and mother! I... I thought it was just a laxative! I just wanted to play a prank on my sister-in-law!"
She turned to grab Wu Mama, "Wu Mama, tell them, you said it yourself! You said you've been feeling overheated lately, and the bottle contained a laxative!"
"You intended to give your sister-in-law a laxative? Is this the kind of upbringing the Lu family provides?"
Wang Furen and Wang Yu Shi had also entered the courtyard, and it was Wang Furen who spoke.
Her eyes narrowed as she furrowed her brows, "Where is the young mistress of the Lu family?"
Everyone snapped back to attention at her reminder. Indeed, even the servants of the Lu family had come out to greet the Grand Governor, yet the lady of the house was conspicuously absent?
Yu Zichuan pointed at the Lu family members, "They were afraid she'd say something wrong, so they tied her up."
What?
They actually tied someone up?
Everyone turned to look at Lu Xingzhou.
This was a bit too much, especially since it wasn't the young mistress of the Lu family who had administered the poison.
Lu Xingzhou maintained his composure, "This is a domestic matter of the Lu family, and it has nothing to do with any of you."
Wang Furen's voice turned cold, "Whether it concerns us or not is not for you to decide! Cui Liu, come with me inside and rescue the young mistress of the Lu family!"
She used the word "rescue."
Lu Xingzhou raised his hand to stop her, "Wang Yu Shi, please control your wife and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Lu family."
Wang Yu Shi spoke with candor, "This official fears his wife."
Lu Xingzhou's lips twitched, "Are you not afraid of being impeached by the—"
Wang Yu Shi: "I am the Royal Historian."
Lu Xingzhou: "..."
Wang Furen, accompanied by her maids, entered the house. When she saw Meng Qianqian tied to a chair, she almost cursed out loud!
"Shameless Lu family! How dare you mistreat your daughter-in-law like this!"
She quickly went to untie the cloth strips and loosen the ropes.
It was bitterly cold, and her hands were already numb, causing pain in each of her fingers as she worked.
The Old Madam and Second Madam's stomachs began to ache again, as the poison seemed to take effect in waves, torturing them relentlessly.
Wang Furen huffed, "Serves you right!"
Wang Furen supported Meng Qianqian as they exited the room.
At this moment, Lu Xingzhou's expression had turned extremely ugly, and Lu Lingxiao's was not much better. However, his feelings were more complicated.
Whether it was the sudden turn of events or his father, who seemed like a changed man, he couldn't help but feel bewildered.
He couldn't forget the look in his father's eyes when he ordered Meng Qianqian to be tied up—a look filled with murderous intent... It was so foreign that he struggled to accept it.
But that was still his father, and as his son, how could he go against him?
Meng Qianqian, supported by Wang Furen, brushed past him without so much as a glance.
He suddenly felt a twinge of discomfort in his heart.
The officials and their wives looked at Meng Qianqian, her face pale and her appearance haggard, and couldn't help but sigh.
Meng Qianqian walked to the center of the courtyard and slowly knelt down, bowing to everyone, "Please, esteemed officials and ladies, uphold justice for this humble woman!"
Wang Furen said, "You may speak after you get up."
Liu Furen also came to support her, "Young Mistress Lu, please get up quickly! If you have any grievances, speak up! My father is here, and he will stand up for you! Don't be afraid!"
"Hmph."
Lu Yuan coldly humphed.
The Marquis of Yong'en broke into a cold sweat and quickly said, "Don't speak nonsense! The Grand Governor will make a fair judgment. When has it ever been our place to comment?"
The Grand Governor was known for his unpredictable moods and erratic temperament. When he was in a good mood, he would go out of his way to help an ordinary commoner, but when he was displeased, he would treat innocent lives with disdain.
Justice was merely a matter of his whim.
Wang Furen, who had always looked down on Lu Yuan, pulled Meng Qianqian up, "Forget about the Grand Governor! Lu family, why don't you explain why you tied her up?"
Everyone took a sharp breath, their eyes sympathetic as they turned to Wang Yu Shi.
Wang Yu Shi stood tall, his chest puffed out, "My wife does not fear power. Are you envious?"
Everyone: You're not family, so you wouldn't understand. You win.
Meng Qianqian took a moment to steady herself before speaking solemnly, "The reason the Lu family locked me up is because... I wanted to get to the bottom of things, and also because that poison was originally meant for me!"
Lu Linglong sobbed, "I already said I thought it was a laxative! Besides, you didn't eat it either. Why are you being so unreasonable?"
Meng Qianqian's eyes shone with determination, "Why should I be reasonable to someone who tried to poison me?"
Lu Linglong was left speechless, "You—"
Meng Qianqian turned to look at Wu Mama, who she wished she could bury in a pit, "Wu Mama, am I right?"
Wu Mama's eyes flickered, "That... that has nothing to do with this old servant..."
Meng Qianqian fixed her gaze on Wu Mama, unwavering, "Where did the medicine come from? Who was it bought for?"
"The... medicine..."
Wu Mama dared not look directly into Meng Qianqian's eyes.
Meng Qianqian said calmly, "You are the Old Madam's confidante, so it can't be for her.
Wu Mama: "I... I..."
Meng Qianqian said calmly, "My husband brought home a concubine, who is already two months pregnant. That only leaves me. Do you know the punishment for plotting to harm the lady of the house?"
Wang Furen replied, "I know that one. Death by beating!"
Wu Mama fell to her knees with a thud. "First Madam, spare my life! Spare my life! I was only following orders... It was the Old Madam who told me to buy the medicine! She's the one who wanted to harm you!"
Meng Qianqian's voice turned cold. "You lie! Why would my grandmother want to harm me?"
Wu Mama sobbed, "It's because you refused to hand over your dowry. The Old Madam wanted to use a child to control you, so she bought the medicine to make you consummate your marriage with the eldest young master early and give birth to a legitimate son."
Everyone was stunned.
She had even stooped to occupying her grandson's wife's dowry, and she had used such underhanded means to do it. How vicious!
Wait, what did that servant say just now? Something about Lu Lingxiao and Lu Lingxiao's wife consummating their marriage? They hadn't been intimate as husband and wife in five years of marriage?
Meng Qianqian asked, "Do you know the consequences of falsely accusing your master?"
Wu Mama panicked. "I'm telling the truth! I swear to the heavens! If you don't believe me, you can investigate. This isn't the first time the Old Madam has—"
"You treacherous servant!"
Lu Xingzhou kicked Wu Mama in the chest, sending her falling to the ground. She spat out a mouthful of blood and took her last breath.
Wang Furen frowned. "Lord Lu! Are you trying to silence her?"
Lu Xingzhou's expression remained unchanged as he said, "I had already suspected her of foul play. I spoke to her in private and asked her to retire to her hometown, and my mother agreed. But out of consideration for their relationship as master and servant, my mother allowed her to stay in the Lu family until after the new year. I never expected her to harbor resentment and use such despicable means to frame the Lu family! It is our family's misfortune to have produced such an evil villain. Please forgive us for this disturbance."
After he finished speaking, he bowed to everyone present.
He then turned to Liu Furen and Liu Yu Shi, who had just arrived, and bowed, "Brother Liu, Sister-in-law, I apologize for causing trouble for the Liu family."
Liu Yu Shi's brows furrowed as he looked at the servant lying in the snow.
"Tsk."
Lu Yuan scoffed, "Lu Xingzhou, I thought I was shameless enough, but it seems you've surpassed me."
Lu Lingxiao's face darkened, and he started to step forward, but Lu Xingzhou held him back.
Lu Xingzhou said, "I apologize for disturbing the Grand Governor with our family matters."
Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Meng Qianqian. "What does the young lady of the Lu family have to say about this?"
Meng Qianqian took two steps forward. "Ever since I married into the Lu family five years ago, my husband never lifted my bridal veil on our wedding night and left for the border, presumed dead. I faithfully kept my widow's chastity, served my in-laws, and honored my elders. The ten thousand taels of silver I brought as dowry were all used to support the Lu family. My devotion to the Lu family, my filial piety, and my righteousness are all well-known.
As for the matter of the poison, with no surviving witnesses, it's best left unmentioned. I only have one question for the Minister of Justice: Were the actions of my father-in-law and sister-in-law towards me tonight within the bounds of the law?"
The Minister of Justice sighed. "According to our dynasty's laws, a husband cannot kill or beat his wife to harm her. His uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters are also prohibited from doing so, otherwise... the marriage can be annulled."
Meng Qianqian once again performed the kneeling ritual. "Minister of Justice, esteemed officials, I, Meng Qianqian, wish to annul my marriage with Lu Lingxiao today!"
A military official exclaimed, "Oh heavens! She wants a divorce!"
When a woman proposed an annulment, it was the same as asking for a divorce.
Lu Lingxiao's face turned red. "Meng Qianqian!"
Lu Xingzhou forced himself to remain calm and said to Meng Qianqian, "Your younger sister didn't actually harm you. Although her intentions were wrong, I will discipline her when we return. As for me, I didn't lay a finger on you."
Wang Furen scoffed. "You tied her up! And you say you didn't harm her?"
The Old Madam staggered forward, holding her stomach. "We didn't tie her... We didn't! We can testify to that!"
The Second Madam weakly added, "Yes... we... can..."
The Minister of Justice hesitated. "If there is insufficient evidence, I'm afraid the Ministry of Justice may not be able to handle the case."
The Chief Judge sighed. "It's not that we can't handle it, but that we can't accept the case."
The outspoken military official asked, "Why is that?"
The Chief Judge explained, "Although our dynasty has this law, there is no precedent. Throughout history, only men have had the power to divorce their wives easily. The world has always been unfair to women. Even amicable separations are difficult to achieve, not to mention an annulment."
Lu Lingxiao frowned at Meng Qianqian. "What are you trying to do? Do you want to embarrass me even more? Come back with me!"
He reached out to grab Meng Qianqian's wrist, but she coldly pulled away.
Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes.
Shangguan Ling appeared silently behind Lu Yuan and whispered, "Grand Governor, the Lu family is too shameless. At this rate, the young lady of the Lu family has no hope of leaving the Lu family. Do you think we should—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a loud voice interrupted them. "Imperial edict arriving—"
(End of Chapter)
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