The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 32 The whole story
"Sir, now that the truth has come to light, should we take Zhong to the yamen now?" Chen Jia, one of Ouyang Lei's companions, asked when he saw that Ouyang Lei remained silent.

Ouyang Lei snapped out of his daze, shook his head, and said, "No, she's not the real culprit. She wasn't telling the truth just now!"

"What?" Chen Jia and his companion Li Kui were both stunned.

Chen Jia suddenly realized, "That's right, the case file transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Court of Judicial Review clearly states that Zhong was not at the inn on the night Guo Yong was murdered. We went to Baijia Village to investigate as soon as we arrived and confirmed that Zhong had returned to Baijia Village on the day Guo Yong was murdered and stayed at her brother and sister-in-law's house that night."

But now, Zhong says that on the night Guo Yong was murdered, he drank a lot of alcohol and returned to the house, where he tortured her even more severely.

Her statements are contradictory and don't make any sense.

Zhong's hands trembled uncontrollably in her sleeves, but she forced herself to remain calm and said, "I... I did go back to Baijia Village that day, but my brother and sister-in-law have always been mean to me. Because I didn't bring them any money back, they sent me back in the middle of the night."

Ouyang Lei sneered, "But Baijia Village is not close to Hongye Town. By the time you get back to town in the middle of the night, it will be dawn. According to the autopsy report submitted by the coroner, Guo Yong should have died at the end of the Chou hour (1-3 AM) at night."

Furthermore, you previously stated that Guo Yong is completely incapable. If he is, how could Guo Yong not be suspicious of your pregnancy with A Xiang's child, and still allow you to give birth smoothly? If I'm not mistaken, Guo Yong likely knew about your affair with A Xiang long ago, and the child's birth was with his consent.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jia and Li Kui both suddenly realized, "What you said is right. Since Guo Yong is impotent, he must know that the child Zhong is carrying is not his. But he still let Zhong give birth to the child. Why is that?"

"Why? That's a good question." Ouyang Lei looked at Zhong's face, which turned deathly pale, and at A Xiang, who was digging his fingers into the floor, oblivious to the blood seeping out. He suddenly felt sorry for them. "Guo Yong is impotent, so he is twisted and tortures Zhong every night. He must have discovered Zhong and A Xiang's affair a long time ago, but he didn't make a fuss. Instead, he let the two continue their affair in secret. When Zhong became pregnant, he used the child in her womb to threaten the two of them and force them to obey him."

Initially, only Zhong was being abused and tortured, but because she became pregnant, A-Xiang also became one of his targets. In fact, the humiliation A-Xiang suffered was even greater than that suffered by Zhong.

Chen Jia and Li Kui were speechless.

Just then, Ouyang Lei suddenly strode up to A Xiang and ripped open his shirt.

The two companions immediately cried out, "How did you get injured like this?"

On Ah Xiang's exposed chest, there wasn't a single patch of good flesh, even more horrifying than Zhong's.

New wounds piled on top of old ones, and due to improper treatment, some areas became ulcerated and oozing pus.

Although Ouyang Lei had guessed that this was the case, he was still quite surprised to witness it firsthand.

The previously dejected Zhong suddenly stood in front of A Xiang, her emotions rising again. "Sir, I am the real culprit. I killed Guo Yong. It has nothing to do with A Xiang!"

“No, you’re not.” Ouyang Lei shook his head, his gaze turning to A Xiang. “He’s the real culprit! He’s the one who killed Guo Yong!”

Zhong Se shouted angrily, "How can you falsely accuse someone like that, sir? A Xiang is not the real culprit, I am the real culprit!"

At this moment, A Xiang suddenly raised his head and stared at her blankly. "Xiao Cui, why are you doing this? I was the one who killed Guo Yong. The magistrate was not wrong."

"No, no... You didn't kill Guo Yong. I'm the one who killed Guo Yong, it's me, I'm the real culprit!" Zhong shook her head desperately in denial.

Ah Xiang smiled wryly and shoved the child back into her arms. "Xiao Cui, stop talking. This man is very perceptive; you can't fool him."

Zhong cried uncontrollably, hitting him hard. "Why did you have to say it? This whole thing started because of me. You did it all for me." Axiang let her hit him and sighed, "A life for a life is a matter of course. We've already made a mistake, causing that soldier to suffer an injustice and bear the blame for murder on my behalf. We can't continue down this wrong path."

Mrs. Zhong collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Ouyang Lei looked at A Xiang, "The fact that you think this way shows that your conscience hasn't been extinguished. Now, can you tell me the truth of the matter as it is?"

Ah Xiang turned his gaze to Zhong Shi, his eyes filled with deep affection. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Xiao Cui and I are from the same village. We grew up together and were childhood sweethearts. We had already secretly agreed to get married. Unfortunately, Xiao Cui's parents passed away early, and her two older brothers and sisters-in-law are the ones in charge of the household."

Her brother and sister-in-law were greedy for money. As soon as Xiao Cui turned fifteen, they couldn't wait to sell her to the landlord in town as a concubine, completely ignoring Xiao Cui's desperate pleas.

In order to save enough for the betrothal gifts, I went out to work. By the time I returned, it was too late.

Although I felt sorry for Xiao Cui, I was powerless to help her. When I learned that she was well-liked by the landlord and was living a good life, I felt relieved and left Hongshi Town.

But a few years later, when I returned, the landlord was dead, and Xiao Cui was sent back by the mistress because she had not borne him any children.

Xiao Cui's brother and sister-in-law were inhuman; they had designs on Xiao Cui again and planned to sell her to a brothel for money.

Upon hearing the news, I immediately gathered enough silver to buy Xiao Cui, but her brother and sister-in-law demanded an exorbitant price of one hundred taels.

Over the years, I have saved some money, but it is far from enough.

Not only was I ridiculed by her brother and sister-in-law, but they also had me beaten up.

While I was unconscious, Xiao Cui's brother and sister-in-law kidnapped her and took her to a brothel. There, they ran into Guo Yong, who took out his money and bought Xiao Cui.

When I woke up, Xiao Cui had already married Guo Yong.

At this point, I gave up hope and decided to leave Redstone Town.

On the day I left, I wanted to say goodbye to Xiao Cui, but I saw her huddled in a corner crying.

Only after asking did they learn that Guo Yong was a hypocritical devil who tormented and abused Xiao Cui every night.

Unfortunately, Guo Yong was known for his kindness in the town, so no one would believe him if he told them this. Instead, they would say that Xiao Cui was heartless.

Seeing Xiao Cui like this, I couldn't leave in peace, so I found a job in town and stayed to take care of her.

Just as the adults suspected, as Xiao Cui and I met more often in private, Guo Yong discovered our relationship. However, Guo Yong did not expose us until Xiao Cui became pregnant. At that time, Guo Yong threatened me with the lives of Xiao Cui and her child, forcing me to work like a slave for him.

For Xiao Cui and the child, I don't care how he treats me..."

Zhong was already sobbing uncontrollably, “No, Brother Xiang, it’s my fault that you’ve been dragged into this. If it weren’t for me, how could you have suffered all kinds of humiliation and abuse from him?”

(End of this chapter)