Chapter 175

The flower garden of the Du Fu, by the stone table in the pavilion.

Zhao Shi took a sip of tea and asked the dark-faced young man standing with his hands hanging down, "Is Du Ruo really locked in the prison?"

Liu Ya respectfully said, "Yes."

Zhao Shi sneered, "No wonder the master came back from the Ya Men sighing and groaning today, his face pulled long; it turns out that the lowly seed got into trouble, and he's in a bad mood."

Liu Ya stared at his own toes, silent.

"Alright, no need to stand here like a post, go to the street and ask around, report back if there's any situation." Zhao Shi glanced at him.

Liu Ya agreed and turned to walk out.

Watching Liu Ya's back, Zhao Shi hummed lightly, "A piece of wood, moves only when pushed, far worse than his father."

The woman sitting opposite Zhao Shi laughed.

"My Lady, you say that, but Liu Jinu is a servant of many years, how can a young man compare? Although Liu Ya isn't as good at handling things as his father, he is a smart person. Given time, he will surely be able to stand on his own and share your worries."

Zhao Shi sighed, "Let's use him for now. I was thinking of training him so he can be assigned to Zhu'er in the future."

Saying this, she turned the topic to the main business, "By the way, Nanny, the words you said to that Lü Xiue in the prison yesterday, no one else heard them, right?"

Nanny Kang smiled, "My Lady, rest assured, when have I ever made a mistake?"

That was true, Zhao Shi felt much more at ease instantly.

Nanny Kang was her wet nurse and also the person she trusted most.

Back in the Beian Marquis Mansion, she was a small concubine-born daughter, and not particularly good-looking, so she was never liked by her father.

Her birth mother died early, and it was Nanny Kang who raised her.

In the whole mansion, everyone looked down on her; only Nanny Kang treated her well sincerely and thought of everything for her.

Even after she accidentally became pregnant, her father, for the sake of the reputation of the entire Beian Marquis Mansion, planned to secretly execute her, and it was thanks to Nanny Kang that her life and the child in her womb were saved.

Nanny Kang was her servant, but also her benefactor.

She was even more the family member she relied on with all her heart.

Therefore, she didn't feel comfortable handing the matter of using Lü Xiue to deal with Du Ruo to anyone else, so she entrusted it to Nanny Kang.

Nanny Kang indeed lived up to expectations and arranged everything.

As long as Lü Xiue didn't let go, and with Bao Pi's testimony, Du Ruo wouldn't be able to escape this time even with wings!

The two talked for a while, and since Nanny Kang was old and her health wasn't very good, Zhao Shi had someone send her back.

She herself got up and went to her daughter's courtyard.

Clang, before she even entered the door, she heard Du Mingzhu's scolding and the sound of a porcelain bowl shattering on the floor.

"Who brewed this medicine? Are you trying to bitter this young lady to death? Get out!"

Zhao Shi's brows furrowed.

This child, why is she throwing a tantrum again?

She walked into the room, sat by her daughter's bed, and soothed her gently, "Zhu'er, good medicine is bitter to the taste but good for the illness; if you don't drink it, how can your illness get better?"

Du Mingzhu turned her head, her tone muffled, "Don't want to drink it."

Zhao Shi's mind turned, and she smiled, "Are you in a bad mood? How about this, Mother will tell you something, and you'll definitely feel better after hearing it."

She sent all the maids and nannies out, and then told her daughter about Du Ruo being locked in the prison.

After hearing it, Du Mingzhu's eyes indeed brightened, "Mother means that the lowly seed is going to die soon?"

As for that, Zhao Shi didn't dare to be certain.

"Even if she doesn't die, she should lose a layer of skin. Poisoning and murdering a close relative, and also a person, this is no small crime."

The gloom in Du Mingzhu's heart finally eased a little, but she felt that things were going a bit too smoothly, "Has Mother asked Father? Is Du Ruo really beyond saving? Jiang Li likes her so much, it's impossible he won't care about her, right?"

Zhao Shi was dismissive, "Jiang Li is just a constable, without rank or position, what ability can he have? He might want to care, but can he?"

Before, when Zhu'er was locked in prison, she tried every possible way, and in the end, it was thanks to her legitimate brother's intervention that she was barely gotten out.

Now that the lowly seed has committed such a big crime, it would be good if she isn't beheaded; she still wants to fish someone out?

Fishing out a corpse is more like it!

The news of Du Ruo being in jail was like a shot of adrenaline for Du Mingzhu; her mood improved a lot, and she was finally willing to drink the medicine.

Later in the evening, Liu Ya brought back a piece of news.

Previously, because of Jiang Li's relationship, most people bet on the Jiang family to win, but after the first public trial, the wind direction changed.

According to the rules, before the verdict is handed down, one can change their mind.

Now, more than eighty percent of people have placed their bets on Lü Xiue's side, and there are even rumors spreading that Lü Xiue is sure to win!

So more people started to participate in betting; after all, this is equivalent to bending down to pick up money, why not pick it up if it's there?

"Liu Ya, did you place a bet?" Du Mingzhu asked.

Liu Ya shook his head, "I have no money."

Du Mingzhu had Chenxiang take out two silver notes from under her vanity box, plus a piece of two-tael silver fragment.

"Two taels, you help me take it and bet on Lü Xiue to win; as for that two taels of silver, consider it your errand fee, a reward for you."

Liu Ya's face didn't show any joy, but instead, he hesitated, "Is the young lady sure that Lü Xiue can win?"

Du Mingzhu looked at him and narrowed her eyes, "What do you mean by that?"

Liu Ya lowered his brows and eyes, "I just feel that Du Ruo is not such an easy person to deal with."

That woman is harmless in appearance, but in reality, she is deep in schemes and is also devilishly smart.

At least in his view, Du Mingzhu is not her match.

Of course, he wouldn't say this out loud.

Du Mingzhu's mood suddenly turned from sunny to cloudy, in a commanding tone, "Liu Ya, you'd better recognize your own status. You are a servant of my Du Fu. Whatever I tell you to do, you do. Stop acting on your own, do you hear me?"

Liu Ya bent his spine, "Understood, young lady, I'll go do it right away."

Not long after Liu Ya left, Jiang Youyi came. The two best friends whispered in the room for a long time, and then Jiang Youyi left the mansion with a face full of excitement.

After returning home, Jiang Youyi immediately went to find her two older brothers.

In the end, Jiang Youyi took out all her savings, which was one tael of silver, plus the two taels from her two brothers, totaling six taels, and bet it all on Lü Xiue.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, this is the exact news I secretly got from the Du family. When the money is won, you must share some with me," Jiang Youyi said, acting spoiled.

The eldest Young Master Jiang laughed heartily, "Don't worry, little sister, there will be plenty for you."

The second Young Master Jiang echoed, "That's right, little sister, you didn't forget to bring your brothers along when you got rich; we aren't the kind of people who burn bridges after crossing them."

The Jiang family are salt merchants and the richest in Wutou Xian, but that's only limited to Wutou Xian; once they get to the prefecture or the capital, they are completely insignificant.

Not to mention, money—who would think they have too much?

At the same time, Du Ruo also got this news in prison.

The one who brought the news was Qiu Zhanggui.

Qiu Zhanggui gripped the iron bars with both hands, his face, which looked like a Maitreya Buddha, was full of worry, "I say, Du Niang Zi, now all the commoners in Wutou Xian are scolding you, saying you are a fox spirit wearing a beauty's skin, and want Constable Jiang to divorce you!"

Du Ruo burst out laughing.

"It's a wonder you can still laugh." Qiu Zhanggui was worried to death for her, "What to do now? If there's anything I can help with, just say it."

Du Ruo restrained her smile and bowed to him sincerely, "A friend in need is a friend indeed. Thank you, Qiu Zhanggui, for still being willing to believe in me at this time."

Qiu Zhanggui waved his hand, "I've been welcoming and sending off guests for so many years; if nothing else, I'm quite accurate in judging people. Naturally, I trust Du Niang Zi's character."

Saying this, he sighed, "It's a pity, only a few people believe it; everyone else has placed their bets on that Lü Xiue to win..."

Oh? Du Ruo's heart stirred.

"Since that's the case, then I'll give a small fortune to Qiu Zhanggui as a thank-you gift," she smiled.