Who Was the Cruel One?

Over the years, he only had one concubine and two maids in his backyard, so it didn't matter to him taking in so many more.

The deal was settled here, and the next day, the salt merchant, in an attempt to please Cui Wenyuan, prepared and sent over a dowry that matched Zhao Qiuping's.

Zhou Wanwan sat on the Old Scholar Tree and said, "This Cui Wenyuan is Cui Wenyuan, the Principal Third Rank official. That seems like a pretty impressive position!"

The Old Scholar Tree asked, "Should we cause some damage?"

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said, "I don't need to cause trouble. As long as Cui Wenyuan and Zhao Qiuping get a divorce and he doesn't bother me, I don't want to meddle in other people's business."

Cui Wenyuan quickly delivered Zhao Qiuping's dowry. Zhao Qiuping had it counted and said, "We're still short 100,000 taels of silver. Hurry up and get it all together."

Cui Wenyuan frowned and said:

"Zhao Qiuping, you're really obsessed with money. See those rich businessmen?"

"You're too busy trying to curry favor with me! Your Zhao Family is doomed."

Zhao Qiuping looked at him calmly and said, "Even if I'm unlucky, it's still better than following you. Sooner or later, you'll ruin me."

Cui Wenyuan had someone bring over 100,000 taels of silver and said, "You just wait and see."

Cui Shaoting looked at Zhao Qiuping and said, "I never expected you to be so vain. I really misjudged you. From now on, you are no longer my mother."

Cui Shaoyu sneered, "Someone like her, from a merchant family, doesn't deserve to be my mother. Bah! Don't try to disgust me."

Zhao Qiuping looked at them and laughed, "It's better than your mother. I heard your mother came from a brothel; your reputations will certainly be quite good from now on."

Zhou Wanwan found all of this out.

Cui Wenyuan's face turned ashen as he asked, "Who told you all this?"

Zhao Qiuping sneered:

"If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. What you've done will be found out sooner or later."

Oh! By the way, Liu Meiniang has come looking for you and is in the front hall now.

Liu Meiniang sipped her tea, completely at ease.

Madam Cui glanced at her indifferently. "She's just a concubine, she has no manners at all."

Liu Meiniang put down her teacup, looked at her, and said, "Madam Cui, I am indeed only a concubine now, but the future is uncertain."

Madam Cui the Younger sneered, "Don't you know that Lord Cui Wenyuan is getting married tomorrow?"

Liu Meiniang's teacup slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. "Nonsense! How could Cui Lang possibly marry another woman?"

Cui Wenyuan walked in and said, "Liu Meiniang, what brings you here?"

Liu Meiniang looked at him with a wronged expression and said, "Husband, I heard Zhiyi is not feeling well, so I came here specifically to check on her."

Cui Wenyuan's face turned ashen as he said, "Who are you calling 'husband'? Don't call me that."

Liu Meiniang's face turned pale instantly. She said aggrievedly, "Husband, didn't we agree that you would marry me after you divorced my sister?"

The ladies nearby whispered amongst themselves, "I heard this woman comes from a brothel, right? How dare she call Lord Cui' so brazenly?"

"They say it's Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, do you know Tianxiang Tower, the largest Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion in the capital?"

"I heard she was a top courtesan!"

The ladies of the capital covered their mouths and laughed. Liu Meiniang took two steps back and said, "Don't talk nonsense, it's not like that at all. I... I'm a respectable woman."

"Pfft... What a respectable family! It's a pity you've had so many guests, so many people recognized you."

"You don't think everyone doesn't recognize you just because you changed your appearance, do you?"

This wasn't something Zhou Wanwan said; rather, it was because Liu Meiniang had a notorious reputation in the capital.

These ladies of the capital knew her to some extent; this woman's favorite pastime was seducing powerful and influential people in the capital.

They've been quite well-behaved these past few years, but I didn't expect them to reappear today.

Cui Wenyuan said coldly, "Concubine Liu, you are my brother's aunt. Please have some self-respect. Guards, take Concubine Liu to the backyard."

Concubine Liu shouted, "Cui Wenyuan, what exactly do you mean? You clearly said..."

"Slap!" Cui Wenyuan slapped him hard across the face and said, "Stay in the backyard."

After she left, the ladies overheard them saying, "That woman is a real femme fatale. I heard she bewitched all those high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital. How come she ended up here?"

"Her daughter looks exactly like her."

"You mean Cui Zhiyi? I wonder what exactly happened that night?"

Cui Wenyuan's face darkened. He walked straight to the backyard, looked at Liu Meiniang, and said, "Liu Meiniang, what exactly do you want to do?"

Liu Meiniang wiped away her tears, looking aggrieved, and said:

You clearly told me that you would only have children for me if I became your legal wife.

Now that I've given you two sons and a daughter, do all those things you said mean nothing?

Cui Wenyuan roared:

"I'd like to make you my legal wife, but you'd better be presentable!"

Besides, I now owe Zhao Qiuping over a hundred loads of dowry; what am I supposed to do?

Are we able to repay it?

Liu Meiniang said, "Didn't you plan to kill her? Why are you returning her dowry?"

Then Zhao Qiuping walked in from outside and said:

"Why should I return my dowry? You two scumbags, how dare you say such a thing?"

Cui Wenyuan, I have no grudge against you, how dare you treat me like this?

As for your two sons, I've already revealed their identities.

So that you and your two sons won't scheme against me again.

Zhao Qiuping was also afraid; these two were in cahoots, and it wouldn't be surprising if they did something wicked.

Cui Wenyuan's face darkened even more:

"Zhao Qiuping, you're really ruthless."

You raised them both from childhood, how could you be so cruel?

Zhao Qiuping laughed loudly, tears streaming down her face. "Who's really the vicious one here? My son was drowned by you at birth, and you're telling me you're vicious?"

Cui Wenyuan looked at her and said, "You... you're talking nonsense! There's no such thing."

Zhao Qiuping immediately had two wet nurses brought over, and Cui Wenyuan trembled when he saw them.

Zhao Qiuping looked at him and said, "Cui Wenyuan, even though both wet nurses have acknowledged it, this matter is not over."

Zhao Qiuping took the wet nurse directly to the county government office, but Cui Wenyuan quickly stopped her, saying, "What exactly do you want to do? Zhao Qiuping, don't go too far."

Zhao Qiuping looked at him and said, "Who went too far? I've already reported you. You'll be going to jail!"

Cui Wenyuan snorted coldly and said:

"Zhao Qiuping, this isn't Beijing, so your word doesn't count."

Besides, this county government is full of my people. Do you really think you can turn the tables?

You should be grateful that I spared your life and returned your dowry.

How dare you come to the county government to sue me?