Perhaps because she had seen so many despicable men in modern times who murdered their wives for insurance money, Tang Zhuyun's mind was now filled with unpleasant thoughts.
--Could it be that Zhou Xu pushed Wu Zhenhai to the brink, causing the latter to attempt murder to silence him?
But then I thought again, given their relationship, would they really need to commit murder in front of everyone to cover it up?
With bandits involved, wouldn't each additional person increase the risk of exposure?
If it really was Wu Zhenhai who did it, what was his purpose in making such a big fuss about it?
Suddenly, an absurd thought popped into my mind.
Could it be that Wu Zhenhai orchestrated this whole thing to marry Zhou Xu...?
That can't be... right?
Didn't he say he liked men? At most, he could like women at the same time, but he never wanted to get married before, right?
What triggered it?
Could it be that he really likes Zhou Xu?
cannot.
What hasn't this kind of old man seen? He's got more cunning than a sieve. You can talk to him about interests, but talking about feelings is pointless.
Sure enough, after Tang Zhuyun shared her guess, Xiu'er said it was impossible.
"Zhou Xu's troubles have been brewing for a while now; Yanran and I have both confirmed this with the Zhou Family," Xiu'er said. "If you were going to marry him, why didn't you do it sooner? Did you suddenly have a change of heart? Impossible."
Linlin said, "Wu Zhenhai is an extremely shrewd schemer. If he is genuinely seeking marriage, the most likely reason is that he knows Zhou Xu's possible identity."
In other words, nobody approves of older men being infatuated with love.
Exactly, thinking about that man's sharp features, he didn't seem like someone who acted on emotion.
You can have a romantic relationship with a twenty-year-old man, but with a thirty-year-old man, it's more realistic to talk about practical matters.
Only Yanran said, "Maybe. For example, I remember that Father was cold and aloof before, but after Mother was born, wasn't he different?"
Perhaps Wu Zhenhai is also going through a period of transformation!
Linlin said coldly, "There are many possibilities. Let's go back and wait for news."
The most urgent task is to test Concubine Yu.
Upon returning to the manor, he arrived outside Concubine Yu's courtyard and said Linlin, "Mother, please wait for me outside. I will go in and speak with her."
Hearing it from his mouth, Concubine Yu wouldn't doubt it.
But if an adult says it, she might doubt its truthfulness.
Tang Zhuyun nodded.
A moment later, Concubine Yu's loud crying came from inside the house. She then stumbled out, her hair disheveled and one of her shoes gone.
The maidservant called out to her anxiously from behind, but couldn't catch up.
Concubine Yu ran out of the courtyard and broke down in tears when she saw Tang Zhuyun. She grabbed Tang Zhujun's sleeve and cried so hard she couldn't speak.
"Xu, Xu'er..." She finally managed to find her voice, "Save Xu'er, please, please..."
Tang Zhuyun helped her up. "Don't worry, tell me slowly."
"Please, please, Your Highness, please save Xu'er..." Concubine Yu was streaked with tears. "Your Highness, I... I have something to say to you privately..."
Tang Zhuyun exchanged a glance with Linlin Xiu'er, then led Concubine Yu inside.
"Your Majesty," Concubine Yu cried, "I am the birth mother the Prince has been searching for. But please, please, don't let the Prince know! I can't acknowledge her, I can't..."
The shoe that had been hanging in Tang Zhuyun's throat finally dropped.
Concubine Yu gripped her wrist so tightly it hurt.
"Don't tell him, don't tell him," Tang Zhuyun tried to reassure her, "But you have to tell me the truth, otherwise how can I help you, right?"
Concubine Yu was anxious and excited, and spoke incoherently, "It's true, I am Bai Lu. Xu'er is the Prince's half-sister, his own sister!"
"Whose daughter is Zhou Xu?" Tang Zhuyun asked.
Concubine Yu: "Mine, she's my daughter!"
Tang Zhuyun: "... What I mean is, who is her biological father?"
"It's Zhou Yushan! I... I didn't do anything wrong, I... I..." Concubine Yu's face flushed red. "I didn't, I..."
"I know, please calm down," Tang Zhuyun said. "The Prince has already led men to rescue Zhou Xu, and he's already gone!"
Concubine Yu looked at her in disbelief.
"Really, I'm not lying to you," Tang Zhuyun said. "Let's stay home and wait patiently. The Prince will definitely bring Zhou Xu back safely."
Concubine Yu covered her face and wept bitterly, "Xu'er, my poor Xu'er."
Tang Zhuyun silently handed over the handkerchief.
Concubine Yu finished crying, Tang Zhuyun said, "I didn't doubt your meaning, but I just feel that since Zhou Xu is a member of the Zhou Family, why would Zhou Yushan bully her like that..."
"Because she is my daughter, because she is a burden to me."
From Concubine Yu's intermittent narration, Tang Zhuyun understood some things.
After Concubine Yu was rescued from the Xiao Family, Xiao Wu somehow found out about it.
Xiao Wu "rewarded" Concubine Yu to Zhou Yushan.
Zhou Yushan was actually one of Xiao Wu's simps!
Zhou Yushan found the "secret" to pleasing Xiao Wu —as long as he said that Bai Lu was being tormented, Xiao Wu would listen to him for a few more minutes.
Furthermore, he vented all the twisted emotions from his unfulfilled desires on Concubine Yu...
For Concubine Yu had never been able to escape the shadow left by Xiao Wu.
The intense hatred probably stemmed from the fact that she resembled Xiao Wu, which the latter felt was an insult.
What a miserable life he led.
Xiu'er, who was peeking through the window paper outside, was so angry upon hearing this that even the Zidu in her belly was wriggling.
Yanran: "Sister Xiu'er, your belly is moving! Let me feel it!"
Linlin looked on with some curiosity as well.
"If I were her," Xiu'er said angrily, "I would have stabbed Xiao Wu to death long ago, even if it meant paying with my own life."
Later, they didn't have to suffer so much, and their own children didn't have to be harmed.
Linlin said in a low voice, "We can't blame her."
Concubine Yu had been a maid since childhood; being timid and obedient was her duty.
Of all the maids they had ever seen, besides Xiu'er who stood out from the crowd, who else was so daring?
Even with Nanxing's resilient character, despite being exploited by the Xiao Family and facing near-death experiences, she was ultimately unable to move on due to the Xiao Family's downfall. It wasn't until many years later, with the encouragement of Tang Zhuyun and others, that she and Pei Shen reunited.
Obedience is ingrained in the very bones of every servant.
"I'll never let her suffer again," Linlin said.
Xiu'er said, "And there's Zhou Xu too!"
Your Highness, a mother-in-law has suddenly appeared out of nowhere—she'll definitely be easily influenced from now on. And then there's this formidable sister-in-law who doesn't play by the rules. It's hard to say whether this is a blessing or a curse.
Zhou Xu is such a perplexing child.
Zhou Xu, who was being targeted, felt that she might suffer a crushing defeat today!
She wasn't afraid of death, but she felt she wouldn't die in peace without witnessing the downfall of the Zhou Family.
No, she couldn't let these unidentified people take her away; she had to find a way to escape.
But what if she's bound like a dumpling in this bumpy carriage?