The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Bitao accepted the order and left.

In less than a quarter of an hour, he returned with several maids.

Bitao's expression was complicated as she handed Chu Wanqing a men's undergarment and an unfinished embroidered purse, which appeared to be men's style.

"Madam, this was found under Zijuan's pillow."

Chu Wanqing took the inner garment. She was very familiar with it; it belonged to Yunheting and was embroidered with his signature character, "Ting." Needless to say, the purse was also embroidered for him.

Chu Wanqing sneered: "Zijuan, I never knew you had such ambitions. No wonder you refused to marry."

Zijuan trembled, unsure how to explain.

Bitao took another box from the maid behind her and handed it to Chu Wanqing: "Madam, this was also found in her room."

Chu Wanqing opened the box, inside were several silver notes, about five hundred taels, and several pieces of jewelry, all of excellent quality, which were far beyond what a maid like Zijuan could afford.

Chu Wanqing closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slammed the box shut.

When I opened my eyes again, all that remained was a cold, resolute look.

She turned around, walked step by step to Zijuan, looked down at her, and said in a voice as cold as iron, "I've never treated you badly. Tell me, where have I wronged you?"

Zijuan lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise her head, only kowtowing repeatedly: "Madam, spare my life... Madam, spare my life..."

"Spare my life?" Chu Wanqing sneered. "I'd like to hear what face you have to beg me for mercy."

She suddenly reached out and lifted Zijuan's chin, forcing her to look into her eyes.

"You were sold to the general's mansion when you were twelve. The matchmaker said you were a jinx to your parents, and no one wanted you. It was my mother who took pity on you and kept you. Later, when I got married, my mother asked me if I wanted to bring a few close companions, and you were the first one I chose!"

Chu Wanqing's voice grew louder and louder, each word dripping with anguish, "I've always treated you well, providing you with food and clothing, giving you dignity, and letting you manage my private treasury. I trusted you so much, yet I never imagined you would betray me!"

Zijuan's tears streamed down her face, her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a word.

"You're sick, so I've asked the royal physician to examine you. Your good-for-nothing brother got into trouble with the law, so I've given you money to settle it. You said you don't want to get married and want to serve me for the rest of your life, so I've respected your wishes and never pressured you."

Chu Wanqing's eyes finally reddened, and her voice choked with sobs, "Zijuan, I treated you like a sister, and this is how you repay me?"

Zijuan lay on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word.

"Speak!" Chu Wanqing said sternly, "What have I done to wrong you? Why would you betray your master and collude with outsiders to steal my dowry?"

Zijuan just cried and kowtowed, her forehead hitting the ground, quickly leaving a bloodstain on the bluestone bricks.

Bitao couldn't hold back any longer. She stepped forward, pointed at Zijuan, and yelled, "Zijuan! The Madam has treated you with boundless kindness, do you have any conscience at all? Touch your heart and see if it's black!"

Qinghe gritted her teeth and said, "I used to call you Sister Zijuan, and this is how you act as an older sister? What did Madam do to you that you would do this to her?"

Zijuan was so humiliated by their insults that she couldn't lift her head, but she remained silent.

Seeing her like this, Chu Wanqing's anger burned even brighter. She squatted down to meet her gaze and said, word by word, "Zijuan, I'll ask you one more time, who ordered you to do this?"

Zijuan raised her head, meeting her gaze, her face streaked with tears, but she gritted her teeth and said, "No one ordered me to do this. It was I myself... I myself became greedy..."

Chu Wanqing's eyes turned cold.

"No one instructed them?" She slapped her undergarment and purse in front of Zijuan. "How do you explain this?"

Zijuan trembled, but still gritted her teeth and said, "It was...it was this servant who had thoughts she shouldn't have had..."

Chu Wanqing looked at her like this and suddenly laughed.

That smile held no warmth whatsoever, only a chilling coldness.

"Zijuan, you've disappointed me greatly." She stood up, looking down at her. "You think I wouldn't know just because you didn't say anything? You think he'd come to your rescue just because you're protecting him?"

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside, and then Yun Heting strode in. His gaze swept over the mess in the room and landed on Zijuan kneeling on the ground. He frowned and said, "What happened again? I could hear the noise from the other side of the courtyard."

Chu Wanqing stared straight into his eyes and said, word by word, "Someone stole my dowry."

Yun Heting's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm. He glanced at Zijuan kneeling on the ground, then walked to Chu Wanqing's side and said gently, "I thought it was something serious. She's just a maidservant. If she dares to steal, just beat her to death. Why get so angry?"

Zijuan suddenly raised her head and looked at Yunheting in disbelief.

So, we just kill them?

She took such a huge risk for him, and this is all she got in return?

Yun Heting glanced down and his heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself that Zijuan was so careless. He cursed inwardly, but put on a surprised expression and said, "I never knew this girl had such feelings for me."

He looked at Zijuan kneeling on the ground with a pained expression: "Zijuan, you've done wrong. Your wife has been so kind to you, how could you... Sigh, I advise you to give up this idea as soon as possible. I will only ever have your wife as my wife, and I will never take a concubine!"

After saying that, he turned to Chu Wanqing and said, "My wife, rest assured, no matter what others think of me, you are the only one in my heart! I will never betray you in this life!"

Looking at the man in front of her, Chu Wanqing felt utterly ironic.

"Alright." She suddenly spoke, a cryptic smile playing on her lips. "Since you say so, my husband, I'll believe you if you swear a solemn oath."

Yun Heting's smile froze for a moment, then he raised his right hand and said solemnly, "Fine, I, Yun Heting, swear to heaven that I will never betray Wanqing in this life. If I have any other intentions, may I... be struck by lightning and die without a burial place!"

"Not ruthless enough!" Chu Wanqing shook her head, dissatisfied, and looked at him, saying each word clearly, "You said: If you betray me, I will make you lose your official position, be utterly disgraced, and suffer the punishment of being torn apart by five horses!"

Yun Heting choked, forcing out an awkward smile: "Isn't it a bit too poisonous?"

Chu Wanqing's eyebrows furrowed: "You dare not send it? Could it be that you have ulterior motives towards me?"

Yun Heting quickly waved his hands: "No, no, Madam, you're overthinking it. I'll make it, I'll make it!"

Left with no other choice, he gritted his teeth and said, "If I ever harbor any disloyalty towards Wanqing in this life, may I lose my official position, be utterly disgraced, and be torn apart by five horses!"

As he swore, he muttered to himself, "Just kidding, God don't take it seriously."

Unfortunately, he didn't know that Chu Wanqing took it seriously. Since Yun Heting had chosen his own way of dying, how could she not grant his wish?

After swearing the solemn oath, he looked at Chu Wanqing: "Madam, do you believe me now?"

Chu Wanqing said calmly, "Okay, I believe you."

Yun Heting glanced at Zijuan kneeling on the ground, sighed, and looked at her with disappointment: "This girl is foolish to have dared to do such a thing. What does Madam intend to do with her?"

Instead of answering, Chu Wanqing asked, "What does Master think is the most appropriate way to handle this?"

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