Chapter 389: Ultimately Betrayed by Those Closest to Her

Chapter 389: Ultimately Betrayed by Those Closest to Her

Zhou Shi was not Zheng Jinyu's wet nurse; she was only her wet nurse. Zhou Bo was not one of the Zheng brothers; he was merely her elder brother. Whatever they did, mother and son, was for her benefit, and they would never betray her.

But Fang Jinxiu recalled the incident at the temple that day. Her whereabouts had been known to Lu Shen with such precision.

Lu Shen claimed it was a coincidence?

But who was Lu Shen? Why would he go to the temple without reason?

So it was impossible for them to meet coincidentally at the temple.

She knew it all along—Lu Shen had deliberately plotted against her.

How could it be so smooth without an insider?

Why did she faint? Was it because of the incense in the meditation room, or the water she drank earlier?

Yes, she remembered.

She had overlooked some details due to the intoxicating scent.

She didn't faint because she entered the meditation room; rather, she went there to rest because she felt dizzy. She fainted because... she drank the water Zhou Bo brought, claiming it was spring water from beneath the Buddha statue. Yes, that was it.

Right, she remembered again. When she first married into the Lu family, Lu Shen still cared for her and treated Zhou Bo well, even saying that once he inherited the family business, Zhou Bo would become the chief steward.

It was only after she fell out of favor that the matter of Zhou Bo becoming the steward was no longer mentioned.

So, Lu Shen's care for Zhou Bo was because they had some secret deal?

"No... No."

Fang Jinxiu swayed, feeling as if the whole world had gone silent. She couldn’t even hear what Zhou Bo was saying in the hall.

They were different from the Zheng family; they had no blood ties with Zheng Jinyu, so they would always stand by her side, right? They wouldn't betray her, would they?

It must be Zheng Jinyu. She must have seen her misfortune and wanted to sow discord between them.

Fang Jinxiu’s mind was in chaos until two officials came in and asked her to leave.

She didn’t know how she left until she stood before Zheng Jinyu, and her thoughts gradually returned.

"You wretched woman, you ruined me. Why did you come back? Why didn’t you die outside?"

Everyone in the hall looked bewildered.

Zheng Jinyu sneered at her.

Lord Yu slammed his gavel and coldly said, "Please, Madam Lu, do not evade the issue. We are currently investigating the murder of the maid Qiujú."

Fang Jinxiu’s head buzzed, and her soul truly returned.

"This court has determined that these two are the murderers. Zhou Shi has confessed. What about you, Madam Lu? Were you aware?"

Before she could say anything, Zhou Shi knelt and kowtowed, "She knew nothing. She is unaware of everything. I planned it all. My son Zhou Bo did hit Qiujú a few times, but it wasn’t fatal. I killed Qiujú. I confess to everything."

Lord Yu frowned and glanced at the confession written by the clerk.

He also reviewed the coroner’s report and Zhou Bo’s statement.

Both were questioned separately, and their accounts matched.

Zhou Bo admitted to hitting her, but the location and severity were consistent and non-fatal.

However, Zhou Shi’s hits were lethal, directly causing death.

Lord Yu knew they were lying, having concocted their story after the murder to prevent discovery.

A mother would naturally take the blame to protect her son.

But the two coroner’s reports were too perfect, leaving no room for error.

The two witnesses only heard voices and did not see how they killed the person.

In the end, Zhou Shi was convicted of murder, receiving a life-for-life sentence.

Her son Zhou Bo was spared. The beating was not severe enough to warrant a death sentence, and he received three years in prison for aiding and abetting.

In ancient times, punishments for physical assault were flexible, usually involving corporal punishment or compensation. Three years in prison was already a harsh sentence.

Three years in prison could ruin someone’s life.

Zheng Jinyu glanced at Fang Jinxiu. How ironic, Zhou Shi protected them, probably hoping Fang Jinxiu would protect her son.

Fang Jinxiu must now suspect Zhou Bo’s betrayal. She would hardly care for him.

For Zheng Jinyu, today’s outcome was perfect.

...

After returning home, Chunmei asked for leave to burn paper money for Qiujú.

"I entered the Zheng household with her and grew up together. We were close friends, but I never expected this. Now that she’s dead, standing up for her today can be considered avenging her. I want to tell her myself."

Zheng Jinyu handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Go ahead. You’re off today."

Chunmei sniffled, "Thank you, Miss."

Later that evening, Zheng Jinyu heard that Lady Zheng had come but was not allowed into the southern courtyard of the Zheng residence. Lord Zheng had added more guards, preventing her entry.

At this moment, Zheng Jinyu did not wish to see her either, so it was for the best that she did not come in.

The following day, Xie Peiyu arrived and presented her with a genuine leather cloak to ward off the cold, which also served as a birthday gift.

In fact, her birthday is still two months away.

In the dynasty she belonged to, the young did not celebrate their birthdays, for they believed their own birth was the day of their mother's suffering. In an era where medical science was underdeveloped, countless mothers perished on the day of childbirth; how could they celebrate their birthdays joyfully on such a day?

Usually, only the elderly celebrate their birthdays.

The weather is getting colder and colder, and before we know it, another winter will be upon us.

"It is my third year back," said Zheng Jinyu.

"Well, it has been three years since we've known each other."

She was born in the twelfth lunar month, just before the New Year's celebration.

The year she returned was the summer of her fourteenth year. Her first New Year at the Zheng Family was when she turned fifteen, the second when she turned sixteen, and today, as the New Year approaches again, she will turn seventeen.

This year for the New Year, she will not be spending it with the Zheng Family.

Because their wedding banquet is in half a month.

Xie Peiyu gently helped her to gather the heavy cloak around her, which was slightly oversized, but he thought she would grow taller, and once she did, it would fit her perfectly.

Very satisfied.

"Soon I shall be able to take you as my wife."

Soon she would be leaving the Zheng Family.

"Are you happy or not?" Xie Peiyu asked.

Zheng Jinyu nodded, "Delighted." As the chapter of the legitimate daughter was about to turn.

Xie Peiyu gently rubbed her face, "Why don't you smile even when you're happy?"

Zheng Jinyu: "..." She has always been like this, very indifferent.

She suddenly turned to Xie Peiyu and asked, "What do you like about me?"

Xie Peiyu was taken aback, realizing that she was lost in her wild thoughts again.

"Why don't I like you? You don't think you're that bad, do you?"

Ugh... Sometimes she truly felt she had no shining qualities. Encountering so many unpleasant things, her heart was always filled with negative energy, and there were even moments when she despised herself.

Fortunately, everything is about to come to an end.