Chapter 447: It Seems You’re Not Truly Mad, Just Stupid

Chapter 447: It Seems You're Not Truly Mad, Just Stupid

These days, the Emperor was residing in the Princess's Mansion, and every movement of its inhabitants was under surveillance. When a commoner came to see Zheng Jinyu, and shortly after, Zheng Jinyu left the mansion, the news quickly reached the Emperor's ears.

"Consort Chen Wang went to a small courtyard behind the Lu family residence. That commoner is her younger brother from their rural days. She went there to visit the family's sister."

The informant detailed everything they knew to the Emperor.

The Emperor was not concerned with such mundane matters, but he did not dismiss them outright.

After a moment of thought, he asked, "Did she have the parents of that family executed?"

"Yes, they were beheaded last year."

"Since that's the case, how can they still be associating given the enmity of patricide?"

"This... Your servant did not specifically inquire about their entanglements."

The Emperor was a very meticulous person. These trivial matters might seem unrelated to Xie Peiyu, but who could be certain?

Feeling something amiss, he said, "Find out the details."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zheng Jinyu suspected she might be under surveillance, but she did not care.

Her entanglements with Fang Erya, Fang Sanbao, and Fang Jinxiu were purely personal grievances, and she had nothing to fear from an investigation.

Even if it revealed anything, it would only embarrass the Lu family, which suited her just fine.

She soon arrived at the small courtyard where Fang Sanbao lived. She had not visited for a long time and was shocked by the mess and filth of the place.

But then again, Fang Sanbao lived alone, and he was someone who had been ruined by Da Chuan and his wife. He could not even pick up chopsticks without help; what could one expect him to do?

He certainly wouldn't clean the house.

The courtyard had three bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen, which would be considered a good home for an ordinary family.

Yet, Fang Sanbao had turned it into a garbage dump.

The pots in the kitchen were rusted through.

"How do you live like this?"

Fang Sanbao, embarrassed, whispered, "Young Master Lu gives me five taels of silver each month for living expenses. I don't know how to cook, so I give three taels to my neighbors, and they share their meals with me. They also wash my clothes."

Hmm? Indeed, money makes things easier.

In the capital, even commoners living here were better off than those in the countryside.

But giving three taels a month was quite generous.

"The remaining two taels cover my stationery and seasonal clothing, which is enough."

Besides, Fang Erya occasionally supplemented his income. Though he had no parents, his life was quite comfortable.

Fang Erya's room had closed windows and doors. While Fang Sanbao did not understand postpartum care, he knew some basics, such as avoiding drafts, so he kept the room tightly sealed.

But it was summer, and the heat was unbearable.

As soon as the door opened, Zheng Jinyu was hit by a nauseating stench.

She forced herself to endure it and instructed Chunmei to open the windows.

Fang Sanbao said, "I heard that one shouldn't be exposed to drafts during confinement."

Zheng Jinyu told Fang Sanbao, "If it were winter, keeping the room warm would make sense, but in this sweltering heat, you should keep the windows open for ventilation. Don't suffocate your second sister and make her ill."

With that, she approached the bed.

The person on the bed stirred slightly, emitting weak groans.

Zheng Jinyu stood by the bed for a moment before speaking, "Speak your mind. I know it was you who sent Fang Sanbao to find me."

Fang Erya slowly turned over.

Her face was pale, her eyes sunken, and her lips devoid of color.

Her dirty hair stuck to her face, making her look utterly wretched.

Seeing her condition, Zheng Jinyu was taken aback.

"Fang Jinxiu is heartless. She accused me of infidelity and claimed my child wasn't Lu Shen's. Lady Lu believed her and had someone bring medicine to induce a miscarriage."

As she spoke, she extended a hand from under the covers, holding a clump of rotting flesh—a dead fetus.

Chunmei screamed in horror.

Fang Sanbao recoiled in fright, bumping into the door with a thud.

Zheng Jinyu was also startled but managed to compose herself better than Chunmei and Fang Sanbao.

No wonder Fang Sanbao said she was mad.

"Do you plan to keep it and show it to Lu Shen?"

"Yes, I was carrying Lu Shen's child. How dare they slander me? I want to show him and expose Fang Jinxiu's viciousness."

"Hmph." Zheng Jinyu sneered, "How naive. A putrid dead fetus will only terrify Lu Shen and serve no other purpose."

If this were the modern era, a paternity test could prove her innocence, but this is the ancient world.

Erya blinked, tears streaming down her face, yet stubbornly held the stillborn child and said, "I heard that blood can be used to verify kinship."

Zheng Jinyu: "…"

She looked at Erya in shock, "This… cough cough, child, cannot be tested with blood."

"But I've heard of bone testing for kinship. Even if he rots, I will keep his bones."

Zheng Jinyu: "…" Indeed, she's gone mad.

"Bone testing is unreliable. Bones from those who have been dead for a long time become porous; even water or urine would seep in. But if it's someone who died only a couple of years ago, nothing would penetrate. Do you plan to give Lu Shen these bones years later?"

Erya looked at her in shock, her lips trembling.

Zheng Jinyu spoke calmly, "Don't believe me? You can try it yourself. Don't go to Lu Shen for a blood test; you'll never clear your name if it fails. Try it on yourself first."

Erya listened silently, tears continuously falling.

Seeing her like this, Zheng Jinyu softened her tone and advised, "Even when others torment you, don't give up. You must live on. Otherwise, if you die here, they won't bear any responsibility. They'd be glad to see you dead."

Erya cried even harder, wailing, "Why is my life so miserable?"

Zheng Jinyu was somewhat speechless.

"It's not that your life is miserable; you're just too naive and don't listen to advice. Haven't I told you that without some cunning, you shouldn't enter a noble household?"

Erya stopped crying and stared at Zheng Jinyu blankly.

"Fang Jinxiu has some tricks up her sleeve and is ruthless. She also has a son and the support of Lady Zheng. What do you have to compete with her?"

The key is that she has a halo around her.

With Fang Jinxiu's halo, it took Zheng Jinyu a lot of effort to bring her down. Erya, lacking both a halo and wit, dared to challenge her? It's suicide.

Erya began to cry silently again.

Zheng Jinyu had said all she needed to say. Whether Erya lived or died was now up to her.

"You take care of yourself."

Leaving these words, she walked away.

Unlike noble ladies, Erya had strong resilience. Being humiliated and losing her child did not break her spirit.

Zheng Jinyu observed that although Erya looked disheveled, her eyes were clear—she wasn't truly mad.

From then on, she started eating normally and took out the silver she had hidden to ask Sanbao to hire a doctor, get medicine to nourish her body, and buy a chicken. She asked her neighbor to help stew an old hen soup for her.