Chapter 185: Absolutely Deny
As for the Zhou Family, since Granny Zhao refused to acknowledge anything, Madam Zhou had no choice but to say, “Escort this old hag away and keep her under guard!”
She wouldn’t resort to torture for now, feeling it hadn’t reached that point.
“Go and fetch that bitch for me, I’ll question her face to face!” Madam Zhou ordered someone to find Liu Cuiyi.
“Aunt, in my opinion, it’s better to wait until Cousin’s Wife arrives and tell her directly that Granny Zhao has confessed. It will likely save some trouble,” Cao Hongyu planned to trick her. She felt that with even the lover’s name revealed, Liu Cuiyi would surely be unable to cope.
As expected, when Liu Cuiyi entered, Madam Zhou immediately cursed, “Shameless slut! Kneel down! You’ve defiled the Zhou Family’s reputation!”
“Madam, please calm your anger. Everything has a reason. I have done nothing to betray the Zhou Family.” After Liu Cuiyi woke up and didn’t see Granny Zhao, she heard she had been summoned by Madam and knew it wouldn’t be good.
But she had long since made up her mind not to be as weak and incompetent as before when facing the Zhou Family members. At worst, she would die.
But even if she died, she would fight to the bitter end, never to passively await her fate.
Having thought this through, she had nothing to fear, so her expression was calm and unhurried.
“How dare you say that! You have a thick skin!” Madam Zhou said hatefully. “I already know about your affair with that man named Sang, and I have witnesses here! Granny Zhao has also confessed that she was the lookout every time you two met in secret. What else do you have to deny?”
Cao Hongyu quickly added, “Cousin’s Wife, just admit it. I saw it with my own eyes. I also had people follow you for a long time, and there’s no mistake. You always entered and exited through the back door of Sang Ji Silk Shop, isn’t that right?”
Liu Cuiyi was truly shocked by their words, not expecting them to know so much.
But she didn’t believe Granny Zhao would betray her, so she steadied her mind and said, “I do often go to Sang Ji to buy fabric, but there’s no talk of an affair. You say Granny Zhao confessed; let her come and confront me. I’ll listen.”
Madam Zhou didn’t expect Liu Cuiyi to be unfazed and couldn’t help but look at Cao Hongyu.
Cao Hongyu, of course, had no turning back. She said sharply, “Cousin’s Wife, I used to think you were a virtuous woman, but now it seems you are so cunning. I saw it with my own eyes, could it be false?”
“Cao Big Miss, I believe I have treated you well, yet how have you treated me? If anyone else said these words, it would be one thing, but it’s you. I know what you’re plotting, you know, and Madam knows. Why do you stand there pretending to be a good person?” Liu Cuiyi glared, “Let alone the Zhou Family, even outsiders know you’ve been coveting my position for more than a day. Now that you see I’m pregnant, you can’t hold back and have come up with this malicious method to slander me.
Madam, please open your eyes and don’t be deceived. What I carry in my womb is your own grandson.
A Cao Family daughter who can’t get married is being forced into the Zhou Family. Little do they know, their family is also struggling financially, merely putting on a brave face to the outside world.
Cao Big Miss, why aren’t you wearing your favorite pair of Seven Treasures bracelets? I presume they’re still lying in the warehouse of Yourun Pawnshop?”
“You… you’re talking nonsense!” Cao Hongyu’s face instantly turned red. “No matter what, I’m cleaner than you! In recent years, Cousin’s children have either miscarried or been born with congenital deficiencies. You’re the same, so why is this pregnancy so stable?”
“Cao Big Miss, you’ve never given birth, yet you say such things. Have you no shame?!” Liu Cuiyi sneered, “Our Eldest Young Master is in his prime and very healthy. Why do you curse him like this?
Moreover, if he were truly like that, why would you be so eager to marry into the family? Is it to live as a widow? Or to have no heir yourself? Or perhaps, you yourself are infertile, which is why…”
Cao Hongyu had been married before, but divorced less than half a year later.
“I… I… Aunt, I am absolutely not lying. I can swear to heaven that if anything I said is false, may lightning strike me!” Cao Hongyu was flustered. She truly hadn’t expected Liu Cuiyi to become so sharp-tongued.
“May lightning strike you? You choose quite the time to swear, choosing the first month when there’s no lightning.” Liu Cuiyi was now certain they had no conclusive evidence and continued, “I want to go to court with you now. Will you swear before the magistrate there as well?”
“Madam, setting aside everything else, just call Granny Zhao up now. If she says to my face that I had an affair with someone else, I will accept my unjust death without another word of defense,” Liu Cuiyi cried out. “The reason this pregnancy is stable is because Sister Wen obtained a secret recipe from the Grand Princess for me, and I took it, which is why it’s so effective. Why doesn’t Cao Big Miss say that the Grand Princess is the one who set me up?”
Liu Cuiyi said this because she calculated that the Zhou Family would not dare to question the Grand Princess.
“This…” At this point, Madam Zhou was in a dilemma. She had initially leaned towards Cao Hongyu, but now she was conflicted.
If it were true that the Cao Family was out of money, as Liu Cuiyi claimed, then even if Cao Hongyu married in, how could she help their family?
It would be better to have the Liu Family!
Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Cao Hongyu regretted underestimating her opponent.
But how could she be willing to give up? So she said, “Cousin’s Wife, there are spirits three feet above your head. If you don’t want others to know, you shouldn’t do it. Whether you had an affair or not, you know, and I know. You’re just relying on the fact that there was no catching you in the act. I’ll go find evidence later!”
“Cao Big Miss, since you’ve slandered me like this today, I won’t let you off the hook. If you can find evidence to prove me guilty and kill me, so be it. But if I’m still alive, you won’t have a peaceful day either!” Liu Cuiyi hated Cao Hongyu to the core. She had never harmed her in the slightest, yet Cao Hongyu had always opposed her, wishing her dead.
Why did she have an affair with Sang Sanyang? Wasn’t it because they had pushed her step by step, forcing her down this path?
Since it had come to this, she absolutely could not show any discouragement.
At least she could be sure that neither Granny Zhao nor Sang Sanyang would betray her.
And no matter what, she had to hold on and not betray these two.
Furthermore, this matter not only involved the three of them but also her child and Wen Mingqian, among others.
Cao Hongyu left in a bit of a panic. She didn’t go home but headed straight for the Liu Family.
Sitting in the carriage, she felt quite resentful. The Liu Family was a prestigious Prince’s Mansion. Since they wanted her to be their pawn, they should have provided irrefutable evidence, not put her in such a passive position.
Now that Liu Cuiyi refused to admit anything, and Madam Zhou was so indecisive, she could only go to the Liu Family for advice.
