The Yun Family left.

Yun Chu remained in front of the mourning hall, her face as calm as still water.

Yuan Shi lowered her head in shame.

Things had reached this point, yet this daughter-in-law was still willing to remain in the Xie Family, never abandoning them… And what had she done? She had actually conspired with a concubine over her daughter-in-law’s dowry.

“Madam…” Tingyu clutched her own hem tightly, speaking with lowered head. “This concubine was just too frightened—frightened that the madam would leave the Xie Family, frightened that Yun’er would have no one to rely on. Madam, this concubine knows she was wrong…”

She truly hadn’t expected that even with the Yun Family stepping forward, the lady would not take advantage of the situation to divorce.

But instead chose to remain in the Xie Family.

However, if the lady remained, then the lady would certainly manage the household. The lady’s intention was to return to Jizhou.

Having seen the prosperity of the capital, how could she accept Yun’er growing up in that dilapidated place back in Jizhou…

She had many, many thoughts in her heart, but she no longer dared to speak them.

“It was all you instigating this!” Yuan Shi looked coldly at Tingyu. “Although my Xie Family has become like this, it’s not your place as a concubine to bully the mistress. Kneel down. Kneel before Jingyu’s memorial!”

Tingyu knew today’s incident was entirely caused by herself. She obediently knelt on the prayer mat.

Yun Chu’s expression was indifferent.

She had long since seen through Tingyu—someone extremely selfish would never be content with an ordinary life.

As for Yuan Shi, having left Jizhou and finally reached the capital, being told to return to Jizhou must fill her heart with extreme unwillingness.

If these two were unwilling, they would certainly cause trouble.

She had sent Duoxi to the prison to inquire about Xie Shi’an’s situation.

This person was the most formidable threat in the entire Xie Family. In her previous life, the Yun Family’s tragic fate was entirely orchestrated by Xie Shi’an.

Although Xie Shi’an had been thrown into the dungeon, she still felt somewhat uneasy.

Duoxi quickly brought back news: “The jailer said the Ministry of Justice wrote a confession for the eldest young master, but the eldest young master refuses to sign and acknowledge guilt. He’s tortured daily. The eldest young master’s face is covered with iron brand marks. They say one eye has even been blinded by the branding iron… If this continues, the eldest young master will either be tortured to death or, unable to withstand it, confess and be executed by beheading…”

Yun Chu waved her hand, dismissing Duoxi.

She stepped forward and offered three incense sticks for Xie Jingyu.

She spoke slowly: “Did you hear? Your proudest eldest son, Xie Shi’an, probably won’t survive…”

Xie Jingyu was dead, and Xie Shi’an would be soon too. The Xie Family could no longer stir up any trouble.

Yun Chu pressed her lips together.

There was no exhilaration from great revenge achieved—more of an indescribable feeling of desolation.

People she had lived with for so many years in her previous life, people entangled with her for two lifetimes—just like that, they were gone, like a gust of wind carrying everything away…

It seemed she had instantly lost some goals and became somewhat confused.

But this confusion lasted only a moment. She knew that besides the Xie Family, there were many, many more important matters.

Xie Jingyu’s body lay in state at the Xie Family for seven days. During these seven days, aside from the Yun Family coming to demand divorce, no one else came to pay respects. There were, however, many who came to watch the spectacle.

After the lying-in-state ended, the official funeral procession began.

When Old Lady Xie had passed away previously, the Xie Family had purchased a burial plot. Xie Jingyu was buried beside the old lady.

The coffin was lowered and slowly covered with yellow earth, buried bit by bit. Concubine Jiang and Tingyu supported Yuan Shi as the three women embraced each other, crying bitterly.

After crying enough, they returned home.

Just arriving at the residence gate, Yun Chu saw Chengxu waiting by the Xie Family’s side entrance. Seeing her descend from the carriage, he stepped forward respectfully: “Lady Xie, regarding the case of the former Marquis Xuanwu, our Prince has some questions for Lady Xie.”

Yun Chu nodded and followed Chengxu to the Court of Judicial Review.

Entering the Court’s gates and walking to the dungeon, the light grew dim and the air became damp. Walking to the end, she saw Chu Yi dressed in black.

She called out: “Your Highness.”

Chu Yi glanced at the plain white flower in her hair and spoke: “Qin Mingheng is inside.”

After obtaining Qin Mingheng’s case, he had prepared to have someone bring her here.

But—

The next day, he learned that the Yun Family had arrived at the Xie residence in grand formation to divorce, only to be refused by Yun Chu.

She said she would never abandon the Xie Family.

Yet she had the old tofu seller impersonate an imperial physician to treat Xie Jingyu.

After Xie Jingyu died, she remained steadfastly at the Xie Family.

He couldn’t understand what the woman before him was thinking.

Did she have feelings for Xie Jingyu?

If so, why not enter the palace to request a real imperial physician?

If not, why still advance and retreat together with the Xie Family?

Unable to figure it out, Chu Yi could only set it aside for now. He kicked open the prison door and led Yun Chu inside.

Inside, the space was large. Qin Mingheng’s hands were suspended and locked to a wall. The cell contained all eighteen types of torture instruments. Fire heated iron brands, yet it remained cold and damp.

Hearing movement, Qin Mingheng slowly opened his eyes.

His face was covered in wounds. Opening his eyes hurt, and he couldn’t help but gasp. But when he saw the woman suddenly appearing before him, he immediately laughed: “Yun Chu, I knew you would come.”

Having escaped on the exile road, he deserved death. Even the lowest-ranking guard could stab him to death.

Yet he had lived these many extra days. He knew the Yun Family had the ability to let him live a bit longer.

He just hadn’t expected Yun Chu would actually request Prince Pingxi to step forward.

Prince Pingxi… hehehehe, Prince Pingxi!

Qin Mingheng laughed aloud.

“Yun Chu, before you question me, have the person beside you leave first.”

Before Yun Chu could speak, Chu Yi said: “I’ll be right outside. If anything happens, just call out.”

Yun Chu curtsied: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Chu Yi gave her a firm look, walked out, and closed the prison door.

“I heard Xie Jingyu died?” An evil, wild smile appeared at the corner of Qin Mingheng’s mouth. “I heard two jailers discussing that he died suddenly from drinking too much alcohol. Is that right?”

Yun Chu curved her lips: “Of course not. You two conspired to destroy my reputation and killed my child. Neither of you will escape unscathed.”

Although he had already guessed the truth, Qin Mingheng’s eyes still showed disbelief: “So Xie Jingyu truly died at your hands. You murdered your husband yet escaped unscathed, with all of the capital praising your feelings and loyalty. How could you have such deep scheming and cunning… My Marquis Xuanwu title passed down for so many generations, and just like that it’s gone—also your doing… Back then when I first met you, you were so pure, purely beautiful like the whitest cloud in the sky. Why, why have you become like this? I don’t recognize you anymore… How could I have fallen in love with such a scheming, sinister woman!”

Yun Chu smiled.

It was Xie Jingyu and Qin Mingheng who conspired together to destroy her.

Now he still had the face to question her about why she had changed.

If she remained as pure as before, she would only end up with the same fate as her previous life.

She spoke coldly: “Qin Mingheng, that night, you hadn’t finished what you were saying.”