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

Chapter 517 Gu Ruinian's Escape
Gu Baishuang and Gu Dashu, the siblings, were still puzzled as to why the Zheng family had let Gu Ruinian go, but they couldn't figure out the reason.

The middleman entrusted by Gu Baishuang also found the matter unbelievable and could not find out anything about it.

Send Gu Ruinian back in a couple of days. What kind of crazy move is the Zheng family making?

Gu Baishuang's original purpose was to ask someone to inquire about Gu Ruinian's whereabouts in the Zheng family. She did not expect the other party to save Gu Ruinian. Therefore, she felt quite regretful that Gu Ruinian was only beaten a few times.

Gu Baishuang learned from Tong Huaqiong that when Gu Ruinian was scheming against Lian Hengruo that day, Xu Zaohua was also scheming against Gu Taohua.

Moreover, both of them used the most despicable methods.

Since Xu Zaohua and Gu Ruinian are in cahoots, Gu Ruinian should also bear some responsibility for scheming against Gu Taohua.

Gu Baishuang felt that Xu Zaohua deserved to be punished by the Zheng family, and that Gu Ruinian's escape was a sign of God's blindness.

"It's a shame the Zheng family didn't cripple Ruinian. Just wait, I'll make sure he doesn't get away with this when I get the chance," Gu Dashu gritted his teeth.

Gu Baishuang thought for a moment and said, "However, after this incident, Ruinian will never be able to get back up. And Wuji will probably go under."

This can be considered karma.

"Serves him right! When I get back to the village, I'll have to tell everyone what Ruinian did," Liu Yue'e said happily.

Because Yanguan Town is a well-developed commercial port where you can buy almost anything, people from Qinghewan rarely come to Pingchuan, and news from Pingchuan is usually hard to get back to Qinghewan.

Liu Yue'e couldn't wait for her mother-in-law to come back so she could ask for leave to return to Qinghewan.

"My second aunt always berates me whenever she sees me, saying I'm shameless for rushing to be Da Shu's wife, that I have no sense of shame in finding a man for myself. Even if I have no sense of shame, I know I shouldn't touch a married man. Next time I see her, I'll ask her about her shame. Her Ruinian has a sense of shame, how come he's still sleeping with the married Xu Zaohua?" Liu Yue'e said bluntly. She really wanted to grab a handful of melon seeds and have a discussion with Jia Shi about whether it was her shamelessness in rushing to be Da Shu's wife, or Ruinian's shamelessness in warming Xu Zaohua's bed.

Gu Dashu broke out in a cold sweat after hearing Liu Yue'e's words.

During the two days that Tong Huaqiong was away, Gu Honglian frequently visited Tong Huaqiong's residence. Upon hearing Liu Yue'e's words, she flattered, "Of course it's Ruinian who's shameless. Let me tell you, it's fortunate that Ruinian was seduced by Xu Zaohua. Do you know who Ruinian has his eye on?"

Liu Yue'e, Gu Dashu, and Gu Baishuang ignored Gu Honglian, and Gu Ruinian was concerned about even the Second Miss.

Gu Honglian's next sentence almost made Gu Dashu beat up Gu Ruinian.

Gu Honglian said, "Ruinian misses Jingzhe's wife. He said at home that Jingzhe's wife is as white as a fairy, and that such a girl is the perfect match for him."

"Shameless! How dare you covet the third brother's wife."

"When he comes out, I'll cripple him."

Gu Dashu clenched his fists in anger.

Liu Yue'e said, "It's no use thinking about it. He's only good enough to be paired with Xu Zaohua."

Five days later, Tong Huaqiong returned from the prefectural city with Gu Taohua.

A horse-drawn carriage passed by the entrance of Wu Ji Restaurant.

At the same time, Gu Ruinian was pulled out by a horse-drawn carriage and thrown at the entrance of Wu Ji Restaurant.

The Gu and Wu families came out when they heard the commotion.

Under the moonlight, I saw a person curled up on the ground, their painful groans drifting into the night.

"Auspicious year, auspicious year."

A mother's heart is connected to her son's, and Jia immediately recognized him as her son, Gu Ruinian.

Wu Ren glanced around and led his family inside, leaving only Wu Na standing there.

"Ruinian, Ruinian, how are you?" Madam Jia hugged Gu Ruinian and cried bitterly, "My son."

Grandma Gu secretly wiped away her tears.

Passersby and yamen runners all turned to look, and when they heard Gu Ruinian's name, they cast disdainful glances at the person on the ground. "Alright, stop here, hurry up and go inside," Old Master Gu said.

Gu Fengnian stepped forward to help Gu Ruinian up, but found that Gu Ruinian could not move. Gu Xiaoxue silently stepped forward to help lift Gu Ruinian onto Gu Fengnian's back.

Surrounded by the crowd, Gu Fengnian carried Gu Ruinian back to the backyard of Wuji.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, sitting in the carriage, saw everything clearly.

"Mother, the Zheng family didn't beat Gu Ruinian to death, they even released him." Gu Taohua's face was full of disbelief.

Tong Huaqiong also had doubts about this.

After thinking it over, she realized that Gu Ruinian was not one to sit idly by and wait for his fate. He would either shift all the blame onto Xu Zaohua or exchange some benefits with the Zheng family.

The former is unlikely. Regardless of who seduced whom first between him and Xu Zaohua, he, as the adulterer, would not be innocent.

As for the latter, what benefits could a mere student like Gu Ruinian possibly exchange?
A thought suddenly flashed through Tong Huaqiong's mind: Could it be that Gu Ruinian told the Zheng family that he was a time traveler from the future?
She didn't believe that a time traveler would be burned at the stake as a monster if he exposed himself. Given the superstitious spirit of people in this era towards all unknown areas, if Gu Ruinian really had the ability to demonstrate some advanced modern technology, he could really be worshipped as a god or a prophet.

It's just a mystery what this half-baked Gu Ruinian can bring to the Zheng family with his "prophetic" abilities.
Tong Huaqiong waved her hand, and Nie Xiaofeng started the carriage and drove towards the house in the county town.

Gu Ruinian was placed on the bed by Gu Fengnian.

Wei lit a lamp and placed it by the bedside. Under the lamp, Gu Ruinian was wearing clean white clothes and pants. Apart from his slightly swollen face, his exposed arms and neck were uninjured.

Gu Ruinian, however, kept groaning.

His forehead was covered in sweat.

"Ruinian, Ruinian, what's wrong? Where are you hurt?" Jia asked, rubbing Ruinian's head.

With a wave of his hand, Old Master Gu led Madam Wei out with Gu Honglian and Gu Xiaoxue.

Old Master Gu told Gu Fengnian to take off Gu Ruinian's clothes, and Jia Shi did it herself. She was Ruinian's mother, so what was there to hide?

Soon, Gu Ruinian was stripped down to only his underwear.

His thighs, stomach, buttocks, and back were all completely unharmed.

Grandpa Gu's eyes revealed a complicated expression. He reached out and pulled down Gu Ruinian's pants, revealing that the thing in his crotch was still there.

Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu breathed a sigh of relief; as long as their manhood was still intact, they had nothing to fear.

"Ruinian, tell me, what happened to you? Were you poisoned?" Old Master Gu asked.

He had heard of a type of poison that, once ingested, would cause symptoms that would flare up periodically, like insects crawling all over the body, causing excruciating pain that reached the nerves, making the person tremble uncontrollably, and in severe cases, even threatening to kill someone.

Each time it has an attack, the person has to be tied to the bed.

Over time, a person will gradually become emaciated, rot, and eventually die.

Could the Zheng family have poisoned Gu Ruinian like that? If so, that would be too vicious; it's like cutting flesh with a soft knife.

Upon hearing that Gu Ruinian had been poisoned, Madam Jia clamored for Gu Fengnian to find a doctor, while Old Madam Gu wept uncontrollably.

Gu Youtian stopped Gu Fengnian.

From the moment he saw Gu Ruinian, Gu Youtian gritted his teeth and controlled his emotions. He really wanted to beat this jinxed son up.

Since he passed the imperial examination, he has repeatedly caused trouble.

Now that he's caused such a huge mess, how could the Zheng family let him off so easily? They might just expel him from Pingchuan County soon.

How can he possibly turn things around?

Let this son die.