Qingyin Academy, main hall

The eldest lady stood up from her seat and walked step by step towards Zhuang Xinchuan and Zhuang Xinzhong who were lying on the ground in front of her. Although the pace was steady, the hand holding the handkerchief was trembling. Zhuang Xinyan was worried about his mother and wanted to step forward to help him, but he didn't expect that someone would be faster than him.

Qin Tian has been paying attention to the eldest wife, knowing that she is suffering a great blow in her heart, and her current calm and composure is only supporting her.

The eldest lady turned her head to look at Qin Tian, ​​nodded slightly, and put her hand on Qin Tian's wrist.

Behind him, Zhuang Xinyan glanced at Qin Tian's back, followed him, and stood not far from his mother.

Qin Tian helped the eldest wife to Zhuang Xinchuan and the others, and the eldest lady stopped. She lowered her head, looked at Zhuang Xinzhong, took a deep breath, calmed down her emotions, and then said slowly: "In the past two months, a large number of fake teas have spread in Hezhou, Yuanzhou and nearby counties and towns, Xinzhong , do you know about this?"

As soon as these words came out, Second Yiniang, Third Yiniang and Zhuang Xinchuan on the ground were all shocked. The second Yiniang bowed her head in a guilty conscience, the third Yiniang covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and the tears flowed even more fiercely. Zhuang Mingxi quietly tugged at the corner of her mother's clothes.

Zhuang Xinzhong was lying on the ground, not daring to raise his head, his hands were loosened and tightened, and his mood was obviously fluctuating.

"These fake teas are all dried from brewed tea leaves, and processed with orpiment, anthocyanin, plaster of paris, herring gall, cypress juice and other medicinal materials, and they are no different from new tea. Fire is stronger than arsenic, so gypsum is used to detoxify it, and it can make the tea white frost and beautiful. Ordinary people don't see the harm in a short period of time, but after a long time, the yin is affected by its poison, and it is not light. But if a weak person drinks it, it can induce disease and evil, and its harm is not light!"

The eldest wife looked at Nobuyuki and continued, "This kind of fake tea was infiltrated into our prosperous tea team, used our prosperous tea, and shipped it to those areas, Nobuyuki, those teas have your signature on them, Don't tell the aunt, you don't know anything!"

At first, the eldest wife's voice was cold and deep, but after speaking, it became gentle again, and gradually revealed a deep sadness.

Zhuang Xinzhong trembled, and slowly raised his head, his face was full of water, and he didn't know if it was sweat or tears.

He looked at the eldest wife, his eyes turned red, and tremblingly said, "Mother...Mother...I..."

The eldest wife's tears suddenly poured out, she clutched her chest, and said sadly: "Nobuzhong, mother always thinks you are an honest child, how much mother believes in you, but what did you do with mother's trust? I am disappointed!"

"Mother...Mother...it's my fault, I'm sorry for you..." Zhuang Xinzhong's dignified man actually cried in public.

Zhuang Xinchuan lay silent beside him.

The eldest wife glanced at Zhuang Xinchuan, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and continued, "You are not only sorry for me, but also for your deceased father, and over a thousand loyal workers in the tea shop! Did you know that many people drank those fake teas, they vomited and suffered from abdominal pain, and almost lost their lives! The family members of those people have already handed over a petition to us in the local area! If one is not good, our prosperity will be ruined. ending!"

Hearing this, everyone in the hall, including Qin Tian and the servants, were shocked. If there is an accident with the banker, these slaves will not have a good outcome! Now, Qin Tian doesn't sympathize with Zhuang Xinzhong at all, but he didn't expect that the always honest man is also such a greedy person!

Zhuang Xinzhong did not know where the strength came from, struggling to hold up his upper body, and roaring at Zhuang Xinchuan beside him: "Second brother, you clearly said that those fake teas will never hurt people's bodies!"

As soon as the words fell, Zhuang Xinchuan didn't know how to react, and the second concubine on the side pointed at Zhuang Xinzhong and called out: "Shut up for me, you wicked obstacle, don't spit here, frame my Xinchuan, everything. Everything is done by you, and your signature is also on the tea, so why do you have nothing to do with me, Xinchuan!"

"Shut up for me!" The eldest wife turned around and shouted angrily at the second concubine: "Nobuyashi alone is not so capable! Nobuyada can only be regarded as an accomplice, but the main culprit is Xinchuan!" The eldest wife pointed at Zhuang Xinchuan with a sharp voice: "Xinchuan, do you think you can hide from me?"

Zhuang Xinchuan rolled his eyes and quietly turned to look at his mother, the second aunt shook her head slightly. Zhuang Xinchuan struggled to raise his head, looked at the eldest wife and said, "Ma'am, this matter really has nothing to do with me. Even if I were to be killed, I would say the same! Everything was done by Nobu Zhong alone!"

"Second brother, how can you say that!" Zhuang Xinzhong exclaimed, "It's clearly what you told me to do, and it was you who threatened me..."

Zhuang Xinchuan snorted coldly and didn't turn his head. The third concubine and Zhuang Minglan also glared at the second concubine, "You blackmailed us with Minglan's marriage..."

The second concubine glared at the third concubine and interrupted her: "What nonsense are you talking about, about the marriage, don't be full of nonsense!"

"You...you..." The third concubine was so angry that she was speechless.

During the whole process, the eldest lady ignored their argument and just stared at Zhuang Xinchuan coldly, making him feel hairy.

The eldest lady squatted down in front of Zhuang Xinchuan and said softly, "Xinchuan, look at auntie"

Zhuang Xinchuan raised his head and glanced at the eldest wife, but when he met her eyes that seemed to know everything, his heart beat wildly, and he quickly lowered his head again.

The aunt's deep voice came from above her head, "Do you know how I found out about this? It was Lord Zhizhou of Hezhou who was once a student of Lord Prefect Wang. He knew that it was something under his jurisdiction, so he quietly let out his breath. If not For my mother, my relationship with the prefect's wife is quite good, and the prefect will not sell our favor. At that time, we will not only close the tea shop, but also the relevant people, including you and me, Nobuyuki, etc. will be sent to the government for inquiry. The aunt hit you to give you a chance to know what was wrong! If you don't repent, even if the aunt's reputation is damaged by the tea shop, she will cooperate with the government to hand over the main culprit!"

Zhuang Xinchuan raised his head in shock, his originally pale face turned dead gray: "Big... Aunt..."

"Jiang Huaying, how dare you!" The second concubine next to her gritted her teeth, wishing she could rush up and fight with the eldest wife! But he was held back by Jiading.

The eldest wife ignored her and just looked at Zhuang Xinchuan: "Xinchuan, you know, the aunt is the person in charge of the tea shop. I really want to find out the evidence. It's easy! When the time comes, don't blame the aunt for being ruthless!" In a word, the eldest lady almost said it through gritted teeth, but at the same time tears filled her eyes.

Zhuang Xinchuan knew that he was afraid when he saw the eldest lady's expression, he hugged the eldest lady's leg and cried, "Mother, mother, the son knows it's wrong, you must not send your son to the government, mother, the son is only for a while. Only when ghosts are fascinated will they listen to people's instigation and do such unrighteous things. The son will never be in the future. In the future, the son will listen to his mother. Mother, don't be so cruel! You take good care of me! Mother..."

The eldest lady suddenly felt dizzy and fell to the ground, remembering the scene of Xinchuan Chenghuan's knees when the master was alive, tears fell unconsciously...