There are people who know the truth?

As bystanders, people often instinctively believe the weaker party.

Over twenty years ago, the Lin family was a Duke’s mansion, while Wen Rugui was merely a poor scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. The Duke’s daughter took a liking to the young and handsome newly successful candidate, and with the Duke’s mansion’s power, forced him to abandon his wife and marry another—wasn’t this just like a story from a novel?

The spectators already believed most of Wen Rugui’s account, and hearing there were people who knew the truth, they became even more spirited.

“Who are these people who know the truth?” the Old Madam demanded sternly.

She and the old master had been husband and wife for many years. She absolutely did not believe the old master would force someone to abandon their wife and remarry.

“I would have Lord Taishui know that for this year’s spring examinations, when spring began, this son-in-law’s cousin came to the capital with his son and is currently residing temporarily at the Wen Mansion,” Wen Rugui’s expression grew increasingly calm. “When my cousin and I married, everyone in the village knew. Just ask my cousin and the truth will be revealed.”

Wen Hao stood at the Old Madam’s side without drawing much attention, but hearing this, her heart turned cold as ice.

Father truly had not a shred of conscience.

Wen Family Village was located in a remote area—a round trip would take at least two months. He was counting on no one making the effort to verify the truth.

Taking a step back, even if someone really did go, in that kind of closed, clannish village that had enjoyed the benefits of Father’s rise to success over the years, who would tell the truth?

But to what degree must a person’s conscience be corrupted to be able to force one’s wife and daughters into a desperate situation without changing expression?

In her previous life, Grandmother had died of rage, Mother had gone mad with foolishness, and her and Elder Sister’s lives—hadn’t they effectively ended at that time as well? The more Wen Hao thought about it, the more she hated it, yet her face became expressionless instead.

Compared to Wen Hao’s composure, Wen Chan was somewhat panicked.

This couldn’t be blamed on her.

Although she now knew Father kept a mistress, she was a girl who had grown up for eighteen years in an environment of parental affection. How many could imagine that Father would brazenly tell such a monstrous lie in public?

Wen Chan’s heart was both panicked and afraid.

She neither wanted to believe what Father said was true, nor was afraid that what Father said was true.

If it really were as Father claimed, how should Mother conduct herself?

What should she and her younger sister do?

Wen Chan’s ice-cold hands trembled as she gripped Wen Hao’s hand.

No matter what the outcome, she would protect her younger sister!

Sensing Wen Chan’s fear, Wen Hao gripped her hand in return and leaned close to her ear, saying softly: “Father is lying.”

Wen Chan’s pupils suddenly contracted, her expression shocked.

She didn’t know where her younger sister’s certainty came from, but she believed her almost without hesitation.

Should she not believe her deeply affectionate younger sister and instead believe the father who wanted to cast Mother and them into hell?

This was a choice that required no thought.

Holding her younger sister’s hand, Wen Chan suddenly stopped panicking.

What she feared was that Grandfather had used dishonorable means to coerce Father, that Mother’s status as wife had been stolen from the beginning, that she and her younger sister’s very births were unfair to another woman.

If these things had never happened, what was there to fear?

Even if Father deceived the world, in terms of conscience, the strong one was definitely not Father.

“Then let’s find your cousin and ask him clearly!” The Old Madam couldn’t tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes and declared without hesitation.

Wen Rugui secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

What he worried about was the Old Madam, regardless of everything, going directly to the palace to cry before the Empress Dowager. Fortunately, he understood this Lord Taishui fairly well. With the incident happening suddenly and in her rage, she had indeed followed his lead as expected.

The Old Madam didn’t even take the carriage. She lifted her feet and walked toward the Wen Mansion. After a few steps, she cursed: “Wanqing, what are you standing there stupidly for? Why aren’t you supporting your old mother!”

Lin Shi, who had been in a daze all along, instinctively walked toward the Old Madam. Walking too hastily, she nearly stumbled.

The Old Madam extended her hand before her daughter, her voice loud: “Walk steadily!”

Lin Shi’s muddled gaze regained some clarity as she supported the Old Madam’s arm.

Seeing the Old Madam and her group heading to the Wen Mansion, the spectators followed without hesitation.

What’s more painful than having no spectacle to watch? Watching a spectacle only halfway through.

The previously congested street became empty in the blink of an eye, leaving only the officials who had come to maintain order.

“Chief, what should we do?”

The lead official hesitated for a moment, then said with great reluctance: “Continue patrolling.”

Though the spectacle was good to watch, they were officials after all. What if the two sides started fighting?

One side was the General’s Mansion, the other the Vice Minister’s mansion, and the two families were related by marriage—this was a hot potato they couldn’t handle.

The Wen Mansion wasn’t far from here. The mighty crowd arrived before long.

The steward Wen Ping rushed out: “Master, what is—”

Wen Rugui barely noticed Wen Ping and asked in a deep voice: “Is Eighth Uncle at home right now?”

Wen Ping’s peripheral vision swept over the Old Madam and the others. Understanding in his heart that the time for the showdown had arrived, he dared not show it on his face: “Eighth Uncle went out early and doesn’t seem to have returned yet.”

“Doesn’t seem?” Wen Rugui was not satisfied with this answer, and even less satisfied with Wen Rusheng.

This morning he had specifically sent someone to tell his cousin not to leave the house today. How could he have gone out?

“This old servant will ask the gatekeeper.” Wen Ping hurriedly questioned the gatekeeper and gave a definite answer. “Master, Eighth Uncle hasn’t returned.”

Wen Rugui’s expression turned somewhat ugly: “Send someone to summon Eighth Uncle back.”

The people who had followed to watch the spectacle were somewhat anxious.

The witness wasn’t there. If they entered the Wen Mansion to wait, wouldn’t they miss the spectacle?

Sure enough, they heard Wen Rugui say: “Lord Taishui, why not move inside the mansion to rest for a bit.”

Wen Chan suddenly stepped forward: “Grandmother, we don’t know when Eighth Uncle will return. Please enter the mansion and have some tea first.”

She observed coldly—these spectators clearly favored Father, and Eighth Uncle and Father were from the same clan, so there was a high probability he would echo Father’s words.

Once Eighth Uncle testified for Father in front of so many people, Mother’s side would be in trouble.

The Old Madam saw the worry in her granddaughter’s eyes and nodded slightly.

Wen Chan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly supported the Old Madam’s arm.

Just then, a timid voice rang out from the crowd: “Ten, Tenth Brother—”

Seeing Wen Rusheng, Wen Rugui’s heart leaped with joy: “Eighth Brother, where did you go?”

“I just went out for a stroll. What happened at home? Why is everyone outside?” Wen Rusheng’s eyes flickered, unable to control himself from glancing in Wen Hao’s direction.

What his peripheral vision caught was a pretty face devoid of expression.

Cold yet beautiful.

Wen Rusheng’s heart and liver trembled, and he nearly covered his eyes.

This demon wasn’t afraid of light or people—she gave people no way to live!

Wen Rugui had no idea of his cousin’s current terror. Seeing him like this, he only assumed he wasn’t accustomed to such public settings.

Dull and unable to handle social situations—this was people’s impression of the kind of honest and dutiful person.

“Lord Taishui, my cousin is an honest man. You can ask him directly.”

The Old Madam’s gaze fell on Wen Rusheng’s face: “You are Wen Rugui’s cousin?”

“Yes.”

“Then tell me, when did Wen Rugui marry?”

Wen Rusheng instinctively looked at Wen Hao. The young lady’s slightly curved lips made his scalp tingle. Very naturally, he looked around left and right, his gaze finally settling on Lin Shi’s face.

“When Tenth Brother married, no one knows better than sister-in-law.” The honest man said with puzzlement.