tallest building

Chapter 187 Changed Sex

Cao Hongyu hesitated for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "What choice do I have? Even if I don't believe you, you still have ways to ruin my reputation, don't you?"

Wen Mingqian remained silent. Cao Hongyu was right; that was indeed the case.

She has no right to compete with herself; even if she wanted to lose to both of them, she would only end up losing even more miserably.

The Prince's Mansion would not protect an unchaste woman; she knew this perfectly well.

The Zhou family will no longer accept her, and there will be no place for her in the entire capital.

Even if Liu Cuiyi is dragged into this mess by then, so what? She won't get a single benefit.

“Lady Wen, whether you mean it sincerely or not, I thank you for not revealing my secrets,” Cao Hongyu said. “I can’t stay in the capital any longer. If you can keep my daughter and me safe, I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life.”

“In that case, I thank Miss Cao for her straightforwardness,” Wen Mingqian said. “Since that’s the case, you should go back and pack your things! I will send someone to escort you away properly tomorrow morning.”

After Cao Hongyu left, Wen Mingqian instructed the leading man: "Brother Ding, please leave a few men behind to keep an eye on the Cao family mother and daughter, in case anything happens tonight."

If she really intends to leave the capital tomorrow morning, you all should escort her out of the city. And give this to Cao Hongyu for travel expenses!

"Don't worry, Madam Wen, just leave things here to us." The burly man surnamed Ding was named Ding Rui, and all of them were convicts.

They had all received kindness from Wen Mingqian when they were on the frontier, and their families were able to survive only because of Wen Mingqian's assistance and help.

The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty allowed for the redemption of crimes with military pay, but the cost was exorbitant, and few could afford it. These people were all redeemed by Wen Mingqian.

That's why they were all willing to do things for Wen Mingqian.

However, Wen Mingqian knew in her heart that she would not let these people show their faces unless she had no other choice.

The more cards you reveal, the more disadvantageous it is for you.

After Cao Hongyu returned home, she told her mother what had happened. Her mother sat there stunned for a long time, and said helplessly, "There's nothing we can do. They have something on us!"

"Mother, let's leave here as soon as possible! We originally came here for the capital, thinking that since this place is under the emperor's nose, we can surely climb the social ladder."

"Now it seems we are no match for them. We might as well find a small, safe place to settle down and live out our lives peacefully." Cao Hongyu had also completely lost her fighting spirit and only wanted a peaceful life. "Besides, Wen Mingqian seems like a kind-hearted person; I hope she won't lie to me."

Neither the mother nor the daughter could sleep, and they packed everything up overnight.

The next day, before dawn, the old woman next to Cao Hongyu opened the door to hire a carriage, but was stopped by Ding Rui and his men.

"The car is ready. Just get on. The city gates don't open until before dawn, so the sooner we leave, the less trouble we'll have."

After loading everything onto the car, Cao Hongyu took out a letter she had written and gave it to Ding Rui: "This is a letter I wrote to Aunt Zhou. You guys figure out a way to give it to her!"

"Don't worry, Miss Cao, we will definitely pass this letter on. This is from my wife, please take it!" Ding Rui took the letter and handed the money bag that Wen Mingqian had given him to Cao Hongyu.

There were some loose silver coins and two silver notes inside.

"Please thank Madam Wen for me!" Cao Hongyu felt a little grateful, but also a little envious, envious that Liu Cuiyi had such a good friend.

Madam Zhou got up earlier than usual today. She hadn't slept well last night, so she felt dizzy and lightheaded when she woke up this morning and didn't feel like eating breakfast.

"Where is the eldest young master? Why can't I see him?" Madam Zhou asked the old woman beside her in an annoyed tone. With such a thing happening in the family, her husband was not at home, her mother-in-law was ill, and her son was nowhere to be found, leaving her with no one to talk to.

"The young master hasn't returned yet," the old woman said. "Madam, why don't you eat your breakfast first?"

"I won't eat, I won't eat, I have no appetite. Where is that wretch?" Madam Zhou asked.

"Madam is in her room. She should be here soon according to the time for her daily greetings."

"Hmph! How dare she show her face?" Madam Zhou muttered under her breath. "You should go and see if she's taken her own life."

Just then, the curtain was lifted, and Liu Cuiyi entered.

She was dressed more carefully than usual today, and her complexion was quite good; she didn't seem guilty at all.

"Greetings to my mother-in-law. Has she not had breakfast yet?" Liu Cuiyi asked softly.

“I have no appetite,” Madam Zhou sneered. “Let me tell you, you’d better tell the truth now, and you’ll have plenty of benefits!”

“Mother-in-law, I’ve been your daughter-in-law for so many years, don’t you know my character?” Liu Cuiyi wasn’t annoyed, and smiled slightly. “How can you believe the rumors of outsiders? We’re family, after all. Outsiders only care about their own gains and losses, how could they care about the reputation and face of the Zhou family?”

"Madam, someone has delivered this letter, saying it was sent by Miss Cao." At this moment, a maidservant walked in with a letter.

"Where is she?" Madam Zhou asked curiously. "What does it mean to send a letter?"

Nevertheless, she took the letter.

Liu Cuiyi watched from the side as Madam Zhou's expression shifted from suspicion to surprise, and finally even some anger.

"What's going on? How could everything change overnight?" Madam Zhou stood up, shaking the letter in her hand so loudly it rustled. "Yesterday she was here swearing and casting spells, and today she's suddenly left the capital. It's truly baffling!"

"What happened to my cousin Cao?" Liu Cuiyi asked.

Mrs. Zhou glanced at her and impatiently tossed the letter over.

Liu Cuiyi picked it up and read the letter. It said that because of her momentary confusion, she had listened to others' instigation and thus framed Liu Cuiyi.

Now he has come to his senses and is ashamed to face the Zhou family, so he explained everything in the letter.

At the end, he also said that he had made many mistakes in the year or so he had come to Beijing, and now he had decided to leave and no longer bother anyone.

“Madam, Sister Cao has already made it clear in her letter. Now you can believe that I am innocent, right?” Liu Cuiyi didn’t know why Cao Hongyu had suddenly changed her mind, but she guessed that someone must have interfered.

“But there’s something fishy about this. Why did she suddenly change her mind? Could it be…” Madam Zhou looked at Liu Cuiyi with suspicion.

“Madam, Eldest Madam, Lady Wen has arrived and says she wishes to see you,” an old woman said as she entered.

"She's here? What's she doing here again?" Madam Zhou disliked Wen Mingqian, but she couldn't afford to offend her too much.

After all, she is now a favorite of the eldest princess and has close relationships with many women from noble families.

So he said calmly, "Since she's here, please let her in."