The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 239 The Prefect
"Father, mother."

Xu Zaohua knelt down in front of her parents-in-law with a thud, tears streaming down her face.

"Let me tell you the truth, the original formula for the medicine to remove ear rot was not prepared by me, but by someone else. You all know this person, it's Widow Tong from Qinghe Bay," Xu Zaohua said.

When Zheng Juren and his wife heard Xu Zaohua mention Tong Huaqiong, their faces instantly darkened.

If it weren't for Widow Tong going back on her word, perhaps her granddaughter would have married into the Zheng family to bring good fortune, and their eldest son would still be alive.

Widow Tong is the enemy of the Zheng family.

"This widow Tong is so capable, she even has the skill to prepare medicine?" Scholar Zheng asked incredulously.

Xu Zaohua said, "I don't know what luck I had, but this medicine was indeed prepared by her. I thought she was an enemy of the Zheng family and I couldn't let her be proud, so I secretly took the pesticide she distributed to the villagers and found someone in the prefectural city to prepare it. I originally thought that the prescription would enhance the prestige of my Zheng family, so I first had my uncle take it to try the effect. I didn't expect it to ruin the crops now."

"But I really don't know whether the problem lies with the medicine I prepared, or whether my uncle prepared the medicine without permission, ruined the crops, and then pinned the blame on me. My uncle is the kind of person who will insist that it was me no matter whether I provided the prescription or not. Father, Mother, please forgive me this time for the sake of my deceased husband and the child in my womb."

"If my reputation for making counterfeit medicine gets out, not to mention how our Zheng family conducts business, it will also tarnish my husband's reputation while he was alive."

Xu Zaohua clutched her stomach and wept bitterly.

Her words about her husband and child touched Madam Zheng.

With red-rimmed eyes, Madam Zheng ordered her maid to help Xu Zaohua up.

"My lord, I think this is all caused by Widow Tong. Why don't we pin the blame for this fake medicine on her?" Madam Zheng said through gritted teeth.

Even if a widow from the countryside is very shrewish, she'll probably be as spineless as a crab when she enters the courtroom.

Zheng, the scholar, shared the same idea and nodded, then arranged for someone to go to the county government office.

Xu Zaohua hurriedly stopped her, saying, "No. I heard that Widow Tong has climbed up to Lord Liu's coattails and tricked him into recognizing her as his godmother."

When Zheng Juren and his wife heard this news, they were shocked once again. This crazy countrywoman had actually gotten Lord Liu to recognize her as his godmother. Was the world too crazy, or had Lord Liu gone mad?

Madam Zheng said, "This widow is quite capable."

Then Madam Zheng began to complain about Xu Zaohua again. She knew perfectly well that this crazy woman was Magistrate Liu's godmother, so how dare she steal Widow Tong's prescription?

Now they've shot themselves in the foot, and the Zheng family is being laughed at along with them.

Especially when Widow Tong made fun of him.

What a shame!

If possible, Xu Zaohua would certainly like to pin the blame for the fake medicine on the widow.

I'm afraid Magistrate Liu will favor Widow Tong.

However, what if they reported it to an official of higher rank than Magistrate Liu, such as the Prefect?

Thinking of this, Xu Zaohua said, "Father, Mother, in the end it's all Widow Tong's fault. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have had the idea of ​​dispensing the medicine. Since I used Widow Tong's prescription to dispense the medicine, there must be something wrong with it. Magistrate Liu is biased towards her. I wonder what will happen if the Prefect finds out."

Zheng, the scholar, had a bright look in his eyes.

He was so angry about Xu Zaohua causing trouble that he forgot to take the opportunity to deal with Widow Tong.

Is Magistrate Liu's thigh as thick as the Prefect's thigh?

The newly arrived prefect was practically his junior brother. He had met this junior brother twice when they were studying at Wanliu Academy. He simply couldn't believe that the prefect would side with a shrew instead of him in the matter of the fake medicine.

"Quick, quick, bring me a pen, I need to write a letter," Zheng, the scholar, shouted repeatedly.

Soon, writing materials were presented. Zheng, the scholar, used all his talent to write about Tong Huaqiong's evil deeds of making counterfeit medicine, took his seal, and then sent a trusted confidant on horseback to deliver it to the prefect.

After her confidante went to the prefectural city, Madam Zheng said, "It would be good to take this opportunity to deal with Widow Tong, which would be avenging my eldest son."

Tong Huaqiong was unaware in Qinghe Bay that Xu Zaohua and the Zheng family were plotting against her.

Since Tong Huaqiong was one of the parties involved in the "fake medicine" scandal, she also needed to go to the county government to testify. Gu Jingzhe accompanied Tong Huaqiong to complete the testimony.

Xu Yong has consistently refused to plead guilty, placing all the blame on Xu Zaohua.

Based on Tong Huaqiong's understanding of Xu Yong, this "fake medicine" was definitely concocted by Xu Zaohua.

It was only because Zheng Jia and Xu Zaohua's unborn child were temporarily saved that she survived.

Tong Huaqiong felt regretful; she really wanted to confront Xu Zaohua in court.

Tong Huaqiong was about to leave the county government office after completing her certificate.

Then someone announced that the prefect had arrived, which startled Magistrate Liu so much that he almost dropped the gavel in his hand.

What brings the Prefect to Pingchuan County?

Could it be that the fake medicine scandal in Pingchuan County has spread to Ningcheng?
Magistrate Liu went out to greet them.

"This humble official greets Lord Yao. What brings you here, sir?"

Magistrate Liu bowed to Prefect Yao, and seeing Prefect Yao's cousin Lu Zhaoyang beside him, he felt somewhat at ease.

"I have come here for pesticides to eradicate ear rot," Prefect Yao said.

Magistrate Liu didn't know whether Prefect Yao was after fake or real medicine.

Prefect Yao had only been in Ningcheng for two months, and Magistrate Liu was not very familiar with the new prefect.

The medicine prescribed by Tong Huaqiong has now been prepared.

It was first implemented in Yanguan Town, and then promoted in various towns and villages of Pingchuan County. Magistrate Liu had not yet had time to inform Prefect Yao.

It must have been my cousin who told Prefect Yao, since my cousin and Prefect Yao have a close relationship, and his family's cornfields have already started using the medicine given by Tong Huaqiong.

I wonder if Prefect Yao will complain that he only cares about his own county when he gets good things, and doesn't care about the villagers of Ningcheng.

“Lord Yao, I was just planning to go to Ningcheng in a few days to meet with you and discuss this matter,” said Magistrate Liu.

Prefect Yao nodded.

Tong Huaqiong carefully examined Prefect Yao, the highest-ranking official she had encountered since transmigrating into the body of Tong Dajiao.

Lu Zhaoyang had already spotted Tong Huaqiong. He stepped forward and called out, "Aunt Tong," before excitedly saying to Lord Yao, "Senior brother, this is Aunt Tong, the one I mentioned to you who formulated the pesticide to remove ear rot."

Lord Yao strode over to Tong Huaqiong's side and said with a friendly expression, "I've heard from my junior brother that Aunt Tong from Qinghe Bay is extraordinary, and seeing her today confirms it."

Tong Huaqiong's lips twitched. This high-ranking official looked older than her, yet he called her Aunt Tong.

However, since Prefect Yao is Lu Zhaoyang's senior apprentice, it's not unreasonable for her to agree to his request from Aunt Tong.

Tong Huaqiong wronged Prefect Yao. Prefect Yao may look mature, but he is actually a young and talented man.

Prefect Yao passed the imperial examination two years ago and was just transferred from the capital to Ningcheng this summer to serve as prefect.

He was originally from Shengjing, but came to his maternal grandfather's home in Ningcheng when he was young and studied at Wanliu Academy.

His maternal grandfather's house was connected to the Lu family's house. Lu Zhaoyang had known him since childhood, and they also had a brotherhood from their time at Wanliu Academy. As a result, the two were like brothers.

Tong Huaqiong searched through Tong Dajiao's mind and remembered that in her previous life, Prefect Yao had also played a part in beating Gu Jingzhe to death.

When Prefect Yao heard in Ningcheng that someone in Pingchuan County was producing counterfeit medicine that had caused several acres of corn to wither and die, he was furious.

At this time, Zheng's letter arrived.

Prefect Yao didn't have much of an impression of his senior brother, who was much older than him. It was only after the messenger said that the letter was about counterfeit medicine in Yanguan Town, Pingchuan County, that he ordered someone to bring the letter in.

The letter revealed that the fake medicine was prepared by Widow Tong, the owner of Peach Blossom Dessert Shop in Yanguan Town.