Their hearts ached at the thought of losing so much money, a true dilemma.
In the end, unwilling to part with their funds, they reported it to the authorities. However, the officials searched thoroughly but found nothing, leaving the case unresolved and becoming a cold case.
An Yu Chen was also busy. Teahouses had always been centers for information. After breakfast each day, he would drift to a teahouse and stay until evening. On his way home, he would buy small items to improve their meals. Life passed by smoothly.
As time went on, he learned what he wanted to know. For instance, he heard about a woman who had recently arrived in the city and was exceptionally adept at business. The description of her business practices made him certain she was the person he was looking for.
Currently, Wu Cai Wei owned three shops in the prefectural city. She also hired a maid and an elderly woman to attend to her needs, as there were many things she preferred not to do herself.
One night, as she entered her room, she smelled a strange scent. "Who's there?" she cried out.
"It's me." An Yu Chen quickly emerged from the shadows.
Wu Cai Wei raised her lantern, recognized his face, and immediately shut the door. If he could appear in broad daylight, she believed he would have done so. Coming to find her in the dark suggested he had a hidden reason and wished to keep it secret.
The houses in this area were very close together. Wu Cai Wei's inquiry had alerted the maid and the elderly woman, who hurried to her door, asking cautiously, "Madam, what is it?"
"It's nothing, I was mistaken. I scared you. Go back to rest," Wu Cai Wei said with a smile.
"Oh, alright." The two women walked away, glancing back. They wondered what was going on with their madam today. Though they couldn't see her expression through the door, her tone suggested she was very happy. Could there be good news at home? They weren't aware of any.
Listening to their receding footsteps, the two women no longer hesitated. They embraced each other tightly, sharing their longing and introducing their current identities and experiences.
When Wu Cai Wei woke up the next morning, the quilt beside her was already cool. Clearly, the person had left a long time ago. Thinking that in the near future they could be together again, her heart was filled with renewed vigor.
The Wang and Zhang families also had businesses. Knowing An Yu Chen's past, she subtly countered their interests.
News from the small town indicated that Chen Yan and Liu Wen Yu, though currently at odds, had not completely severed ties. This news did not sit well with Wu Cai Wei.
Disguising herself, she found a beggar and had him deliver a note to Madam Li.
Madam Li looked at the dirty beggar before her and gestured for the elderly woman beside her to take the note. Upon opening it, she fell silent.
The Li family was indeed wealthy, and she didn't mind raising another child. However, the other party clearly had grand ambitions. Why would she want to remarry when she could be safely nurturing her pregnancy in the mansion?
So, just a few days after Chen Yao's departure, Liu Wen Yu received an unexpected visitor. She instinctively hurried to pay her respects, forcing a smile as she asked, "Madam, why have you come?"
Madam Li ignored her and nodded to the accompanying physician. The physician stepped forward, and Liu Wen Yu's heart tightened as she saw his demeanor. She guessed that her pregnancy might have been discovered.
"What's wrong, Madam? Have you heard gossip? I am already married into the Li family and am pregnant." Liu Wen Yu involuntarily began to evade the physician.
Two elderly women immediately stepped forward and held her down. Liu Wen Yu couldn't resist and could only watch as the physician placed his hand on her wrist.
"Reporting to Madam, he is indeed four months pregnant." The elder physician's skill was exceptional; otherwise, Madam Li would not have paid a hefty sum for his visit.
As the physician spoke, Liu Wen Yu's body went limp, and she sank to the ground. Chen Mu, who had just emerged upon hearing the commotion, heard this statement and calmly inquired, "Didn't the doctor say she was three months pregnant?"
"Madam is questioning my medical skills? You can inquire in the prefectural city. My diagnoses have never been wrong." The elder physician, upon hearing his skills questioned, immediately became displeased and retorted.
"What else do you have to say?" Madam Li tilted her chin, looking at Liu Wen Yu.
"Madam, spare my life. I have been in the Li family for so many years and have never conceived. To think that in the end, I would have an unborn child. I believe this is a gift from heaven. I want to give birth to him." Liu Wen Yu knew that anything she said now was useless, so she decided to admit it directly, looking at Madam Li with pleading eyes.
"What do you mean by that? If you want to give birth to him, you could have told me. Are you afraid I would harm him?" Madam Li did not allow her to evade, directly exposing her hidden intentions.
"No, Madam. The master has already passed away. If I am pregnant now, I will spend my life in the Li mansion. One wrong step led to a cascade of errors. Young Master Chen is waiting for me, wanting to rekindle our past relationship. Coincidentally, he cannot have children and desperately needs one. Therefore, I intended to hide this from you and take him back to my hometown." At this moment, Liu Wen Yu was filled with regret and fear, speaking as if she had convinced herself. Sudan Novel Network
Madam Li glanced at the elderly women behind her. One immediately produced a bowl, poured medicine from a water bag, and presented it to Madam Li.
Upon seeing this, Liu Wen Yu knew it was not good. She immediately knelt and begged for mercy, "Madam, please spare my life, I know I was wrong..."
"You should know what kind of person I am. The thing I hate most in this life is deception, especially concerning such a significant matter. I cannot let him grow up and contend for my son's inheritance." As Madam Li's words fell, several elderly women and maids quickly restrained Liu Wen Yu.
Seeing the medicine bowl drawing closer, Liu Wen Yu struggled desperately, but it was all in vain.
She tightly shut her mouth, not wanting the medicine to enter her throat. However, they pinched her nose. If she didn't breathe, she would suffocate. She couldn't bear to die, and eventually, the medicine was forced down her throat.
Liu Wen Yu collapsed on the ground, weeping uncontrollably. Soon after, she clutched her stomach, crying, "My stomach hurts so much."
As she spoke, she rolled on the ground. Soon, the ground was stained with blood, which flowed increasingly.
At this point, Liu Wen Yu was soaked in sweat, her face pale. The physician, seeing that she would lose both mother and child if it continued, couldn't bear it. He quickly took out silver needles and pricked several acupoints on her body. Afterward, he took her pulse, determining that at least her life was not in danger.
Madam Li turned a blind eye to this. As long as the child in her belly was gone, everything else was negotiable. Moreover, she did not want to cause a death and affect the Li family's reputation.
When only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law remained in the courtyard, Chen Mu lunged forward like a madwoman, beating and kicking her. "You harbinger of misfortune! You ruined my son's fertility, and now you've made him a cuckold!"
Chen Mu's hatred was extreme, her blows swift and heavy. The maids and elderly women, fearing someone would die, quickly intervened to break up the fight.
"Old Madam, please stop! You'll kill her," the elderly woman pleaded, holding back the distraught Chen Mu.