bullyxtreme Chapter 223 Shameless Compromise
Chapter 223 Shameless Compromise
The two nannies Zhao Chengye mentioned were both maids who accompanied the Duchess of the State.
Later, she married the steward of the mansion, and the whole family relied on her and her son.
Emotionally speaking, Zhao Chengye is someone they watched grow up, and they have a very close relationship with him.
From a practical standpoint, they also do not want the crown prince to be replaced.
Every emperor brings a new court, and these women, having cared for the prince as he grew up, held absolute power and prestige among the servants of the mansion.
If the Crown Prince's wife can only be adopted by a collateral branch, she herself might not be able to guarantee her own life, let alone theirs.
Despite their fear, the two men immediately knelt down to pledge their loyalty after hearing the Duchess's instructions.
Granny Zhao even personally found arsenic. After sending the servants away, the two of them, one guarding the door and the other cooperating with the Duchess, forced the medicine down the throat of the old Duke.
This Duke is really unlucky.
Things that had absolutely nothing to do with him suddenly started targeting him.
It's quite bizarre that Zhao Chengye and his mother-in-law seem to be on the same wavelength; both of them are smart and know how to find alternative paths.
It's just a pity that the Duke suffered this undeserved calamity; he died without understanding why his wife had targeted him.
It's really speechless. Even in his dying moments, the Duke was thinking about his wife having an affair and getting pregnant, but he didn't think about his daughter-in-law at all.
He didn't even remember his daughter-in-law's name, but because his daughter-in-law died, his son had to find a suitable reason to lose his life.
The Li family patriarch frowned upon receiving Zhao Chengye's message, but after all, Li Mingyue had not yet divorced him.
If things escalated now and he started blaming me, it would be troublesome, so I had no choice but to patiently make the trip.
Zhao Chengye had changed into clean clothes and washed his face. He sat expressionlessly in the flower hall, his fingers tapping unconsciously.
He carefully considered his words, trying to figure out how to intimidate the old man from the Li family.
His mother has already sent word to his father that the matter has been resolved, and now he is going all in, his life hanging by a thread.
Anyway, killing one's wife is death, and killing one's father is also death; I've never heard of anyone being able to kill twice.
He was, after all, the heir of a duke's mansion, and the law did not apply to officials; at worst, he would be executed immediately, not to the point of being torn apart by five horses.
The Li family patriarch gave a fake laugh at his posture.
Zhao Chengye, not wanting to waste time with pleasantries, simply said one sentence that froze the old man in place.
The Li family patriarch stood up abruptly.
"What did you say? You killed Mingyue?"
"Young Master Zhao, Zhao Chengye, do you really think the Li family has no one to rely on?"
Zhao Chengye slammed his fist on the table. "Chief Li, aren't you even going to ask me why I killed that bitch?"
Old Man Li was so frightened that he took two steps back, wondering to himself if Li Mingyue had exposed their family's plan to report Zhao Chengye.
But timing is crucial, so he could only feign composure and assertiveness.
"Even if Mingyue does something wrong to you, you can just divorce her."
At the very least, you should inform your family and the two families can discuss a solution.
"A life for a life, you killed someone..."
Zhao Chengye interrupted Clan Chief Li with a cold laugh.
“Li Mingyue poisoned my father, Clan Chief Li, isn’t that enough of a crime?”
Are you going to accuse me of murdering my wife?
Okay, go ahead and sue!
I, the young master, will also beat the drum to appeal to the emperor. My father, a dignified Duke, was poisoned to death by your Li family's daughter.
Let everyone see, is my beating of my wife to death a bigger issue, or is your Li family's issue a bigger issue?
The Li family patriarch's voice changed, "Impossible, Mingyue doesn't have that kind of guts."
No, why would Mingyue poison the Duke for no reason?
This is a frame-up.
Zhao Chengye was like a mad dog, his bloodshot eyes seeming to see right through people's souls.
"Because I want to divorce my wife. Li Mingyue is jealous by nature and also a barren hen."
We have been married for almost a year and have no children. I am not filial to my mother-in-law and have no ability to manage the household.
What use is a daughter-in-law like that?
Your marriage to me, Li family girl, was already a step up for you. If it weren't for the underhanded tactics you used back then...
What right does the daughter of a low-ranking official have to become the wife of the heir apparent?
Now that I mentioned divorcing her, she's gotten angry and wants to poison my father so I can observe mourning and won't be able to remarry.
Zhao Chengye's excuse was exactly the same as Madam Li's idea, but it was absurd yet reasonable.
Chief Li sat blankly in his chair, weighing the pros and cons. Zhao Chengye was not in a hurry; his eyes were fixed on him, revealing a resolute madness.
If we were to discuss this matter with Li Mingyue's parents today, we might not be able to reach an agreement.
However, if he were to talk to the other party's clan leader, Zhao Chengye was 70% confident.
Li Mingyue's family was neither the direct line nor the most successful branch of the clan.
Old Man Li wouldn't ruin the future of other members of his clan for the sake of his family.
Zhao Chengye is actually quite good at understanding people's hearts, which is quite remarkable for his age.
Old Man Li was indeed as he had thought.
Li Mingyue is dead, and without this witness, they have no chance of accusing Zhao Chengye of treason.
They're all barefoot and have nothing to lose; if things escalate, neither side will benefit.
That was a dignified Duke; if it were revealed that he had been poisoned, it would be a shocking case.
Regardless of the outcome, the Li family will be thrust into the spotlight.
Although he knew that Li Mingyue was most likely innocent, Zhao Chengye must have evidence to back up his claim.
Even if there was nothing to begin with, it would be easy for someone to fabricate evidence in their own home.
Once the matter becomes public and the charges are proven true, all the women in the Li family will suffer.
Not to mention those who are not engaged and will not be able to get married, even those who are already married will probably be divorced by their husbands' families.
One move can affect the whole situation; the death of Li Mingyue is not worth risking the future of all the women in his clan.
Chief Li finally gave in, and Zhao Chengye's sinister voice still echoed in his ears.
After leaving the Duke's mansion, Clan Chief Li went to Li Mingyue's house.
He had a private conversation with Vice Minister Li for more than an hour, after which the two sanctimonious fellows took a few servants to the Buddhist hall where the Li family practiced meditation.
Li must not die, but she must not be allowed to go out and cause trouble anymore.
Li Shilang had other sons and daughters, so he naturally prioritized the overall situation, but Li Shi only had Li Mingyue.
This woman loves her daughter dearly but is extremely cunning. If she knew Li Mingyue was dead, she wouldn't care about anyone else's life or death.
When Madam Li saw the two men's imposing manner, her first thought was not about her own situation, but rather she asked them in alarm what had happened to Mingyue.
Li Shilang sighed and turned away reluctantly, but the Li family patriarch had his men restrain her and force-feed her the medicine.
Only when Madam Li collapsed to the ground, unable to speak, did he slowly recount Li Mingyue's affairs at the Zhao family.
Madam Li's face was streaked with tears, and her eyes were filled with unconcealed hatred.
Mingyue was already planning to divorce, so there was no need to take this step. Her daughter was silenced.
After Madam Li orchestrated the arranged marriage, she was stripped of her power as head of the household and her Buddhist temple was closed.
Although Li Mingyue could visit her family often, she couldn't interfere in her family's affairs. The housekeeper's aunt had already purged almost all of her people over the past year.
Now, she had been drugged and thrown onto the bed, completely helpless and unable to get help.
Unfortunately, Minister Li underestimated Madam Li's methods, and even more so, he underestimated a mother's love for her daughter.
Madam Li withstood the effects of the medicine, biting her ten fingers and writing a letter in blood with her own bedding.
The old woman guarding the gate had long since gone to sleep by the time night was over.
A slender figure tiptoed in, biting her lip tightly, afraid to cry out.
Li rolled up the blood-stained clothes and repeatedly wrote "Jiang Xinyu" on the girl's hand.
The woman nodded emphatically and whispered in Li's ear,
"I understand, I'll go find Miss Jiang."
"Don't worry, Madam, I will come back to rescue you."