Wu Lian'er said unhurriedly, "Speaking requires evidence. Our master has just passed away, and you are so eager to insult our integrity. We were properly married through formal betrothal with three matchmakers. As for his affair with Wang Yumeng, it's beyond my concern. After all, they divorced, and only then did I marry him."
Upon hearing this, Li Changqing quickly interjected, "I can testify to this. My mother was not willing to leave. They wanted to be together, and we mother and son became obstacles. Father threatened my mother that if she didn't leave voluntarily and take responsibility, he would ruin the Wang family. It was only after deep consideration that my mother left with me. The reason she took me along was because Wu Lian'er did not agree with my existence, fearing I would take her son's place. Otherwise, who would bear to let their child wander alone?"
Hearing Li Changqing's voice, Wu Lian'er became somewhat flustered. She hadn't spoken for so long and had forgotten about him. Fearing her reputation would be ruined once she left the yamen, she quickly tried to salvage the situation. "This is just your mother and son's one-sided story. Let me emphasize, I was completely unacquainted with your father before our marriage. What he wanted to do was not something I could decide."
Wu Lian'er decided to deny everything. Since she had never personally acted, all actions were done by Li Zixin. Blaming it on him was the right choice, leaving no evidence to the contrary.
The county magistrate, seeing that the people below were still arguing, quickly banged his gavel. "Do not say anything unrelated to this case. The matter is now very clear. The death of the eldest son of the Xu family is related to Madam Li and the second son of the Xu family. Come, since all the evidence points to the second son of the Xu family, and he still denies it, we will beat it out of him."
Upon hearing this, the second son of the Xu family panicked and immediately sought help from his parents. Madam Xu quickly pleaded, "Your Honor, my son truly did not do it. The two brothers had a very close relationship since childhood, how could he bear to harm his own elder brother? My son was pampered since he was young and has never suffered such hardship. If he confesses under duress, would it not damage your reputation?"
The county magistrate cast a cold glance at her. He wasn't a fool. In fact, his family was wealthier than most people imagined. His clansmen urged him to be an upright official, to bring honor to the family, and not to worry about finances. Since arriving in this county, he had strived to do his best for the people. When cooperating with Li Changqing, he had made every effort to leave no trace and not give the other party any leverage.
He disdained her provocation and directly ordered the punishment. As the rod fell upon him, he immediately let out a pig-like scream. The county magistrate couldn't help but frown, thinking that he was even worse than Mei Ping earlier. At least she endured it the entire time, while he was on the verge of death after just one blow.
Some yamen runners couldn't help but cover their ears, as the screams were too unpleasant. Madam Xu and Master Xu silently grieved for their son, shedding tears and wanting to plead for him, but they dared not look at the county magistrate's stern expression.
"Father, Mother, quickly save me, they are beating me to death." Seeing that no one stepped forward to help him, and in unbearable pain, he cried out loudly. In truth, he was not like this in his youth. He was very good at enduring hardship, as in the eyes of friends and relatives, he could not compare to his elder brother and was often overlooked. However, after his elder brother's death, everyone doted on him, making him lose his sense of self. He became somewhat afraid of hardship and disliked trouble.
Having been pampered for so many years, he had never experienced such suffering. Mei Ping watched him with cold mockery, regretting that she had been blind in her youth to have fancied such a man. Indeed, one could not truly understand pain unless it was on their own body. Such a cold person just moments ago was now crying so disgracefully.
Despite the intense pain, the second son of the Xu family was unwilling to confess. Confessing meant being a murderer, facing the death penalty. Although the county magistrate had strong suspicions, he could not truly force a confession through torture.
The situation became a stalemate again. They could only detain Mei Ping, Wu Lian'er, and the second young master of the Xu family.
No one who walked out of the yamen was happy. Everyone understood that the death of the eldest son of the Xu family was likely related to the second son of the Xu family. Therefore, Wu Lian'er would soon be released. The thought of this gave Li Changqing a headache. He had sold everything he owned and spent a considerable amount of money to sue her. He was so willing because he thought that once she was imprisoned, all those possessions would be his. If she were released, he would have suffered such a great loss. Just thinking about it made him furious.
Madam Xu and Master Xu also glared at Li Changqing. At this moment, they had forgotten their suspicions and resentment towards Wu Lian'er over the years. All they remembered was that Li Changqing had accused Wu Lian'er, implicating their second son. The thought that their second son might have to pay with his life for the eldest son, leaving them without a son, made them want to tear him apart.
Li Changqing saw their expressions and knew what they were thinking. If he were to act according to his usual character, he would definitely confront them. However, he was now just an ordinary citizen in the city. Having Wu Lian'er as an enemy was troublesome enough. If the Xu family were added, he didn't know if he could survive in the city in the future.
Knowing that staying any longer would lead to hearing unspeakable words, he limped away. Even from a distance, he could still hear Madam Xu's vicious words, "This man is a jinx; whoever is with him will not prosper. As soon as he leaves, things get better..."
The speaker spoke carelessly, but the listener took it to heart. Perhaps Madam Xu said these words to vent her anger, but Li Changqing felt uneasy. He thought of the past few years when his mother lived with him, a simple and ignorant village woman.
After leaving him, she became a renowned merchant in the city, and her husband was the top scholar, about to take the imperial examinations this year. Everyone said he was a sure bet. Yet, after returning to the Li family, the Li family gradually declined. Although his father's death was his doing, the Li family also rapidly declined after his father's death. Was it true that whoever was associated with him brought bad luck? Li Changqing couldn't help but sink into sadness at this thought.
Upon hearing the servant's report, Wu Caiwei raised an eyebrow in surprise. She had originally guessed that the death of the young master of the Xu family was related to Wu Lian'er, which was why she had instigated Li Changqing to expose her. She hadn't expected it to be an internal family conflict. However, a life for a life, the second young master of the Xu family was not wronged at all.
If she guessed correctly, Wu Lian'er was taking advantage of the situation. The incident happened one or two decades ago, making evidence difficult to obtain. She could easily deny it. On the other hand, the second young master of the Xu family killing someone to seize the Xu family's property was a solid fact. He would likely never be released.
She understood, and the county magistrate also understood. He had been contemplating how to force the second young master of the Xu family to speak. After much deliberation, he disdained using methods of supernatural deception and decided to resort to the most primitive approach: periodically torturing him, threatening him with words, and then, back in prison, letting other inmates teach him a lesson and show him the rules.