Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 194 Complete Breakup
In her confused state, Tan Anfu was completely led by her, and subconsciously tried to deny it: "I didn't, I found that jade pendant in the corridor over there..."

Shentu Zhuo retorted, "My sister-in-law said my net wasn't done well, but I didn't bring the jade pendant to the banquet at all."

"You're in cahoots with her! Of course you'll side with her!"

"Then who can prove that you didn't intentionally frame me?" Tan Huai Ke said. "When I discovered that the jade pendant was missing, I didn't think much of it. I assumed that I had dropped it somewhere in my haste, and I was even thinking about how to explain it to my uncle if I lost it. When I told him that the knot wasn't finished, I wasn't just making it up; there were really a few knots left to finish. Look, it's right here. Thank you, sister, for finishing it for me. However, these knots are not quite the same as my weaving technique, so you can still see the flaws."

"Yes, they are indeed quite different." Madam Shentu, who was standing to the side, held up the two brothers' knots to compare them and nodded. "Zhuo'er's knot is more delicate in the beginning, but the ending seems too rushed. Heng'er's knot, on the other hand, is perfect and even has a blessing bell. Your daughter-in-law is very thoughtful."

Shen Tu Zhuo thought to himself, no wonder his jade pendant had mysteriously appeared here. That day, when he asked if the netting was finished, she deliberately avoided the question. It turned out she was digging a pit in advance, waiting for Tan Anfu to jump into it herself.

Tan Huaike pressed on: "So it's impossible for my uncle to have come wearing the jade pendant today. How did you find it and return it to Aunt Jun? Sister, why did you choose this occasion to try and smear me and my uncle? What did I do to offend you?"

Seeing things were going wrong, Boss Bi, who was pretending to be asleep, pinched his wife. She understood and quickly took the opportunity to defend him: "Madam Bao, so this was all your scheme! It's all my fault for being so stupid and foolish, being deceived by your few words, causing my husband to get drunk and behave improperly, almost framing Lord Shentu and Madam Shentu! Isn't Madam Shentu your own sister? Who would have thought that someone would ruin their own sister's reputation!"

By this time, everyone at the table had concluded that Tan Anfu had orchestrated the scheme, and they all condemned her, saying, "Did she plan to harm the Shen Tu family's uncle and sister-in-law from the very beginning? What a vicious mind she has!"

"Yes, what grudge could possibly lead someone to treat their own sister like this..."

"I heard that this Lady Fu was originally supposed to marry into the Shentu family, but after the eldest son died in battle, she suddenly changed her mind and pushed her younger sister to become a widow instead. Perhaps she was resentful because she saw her sister living a good life while she herself was relegated to a humble family?"

"Oh dear, isn't this her own doing? It's just bad luck for her, who can she blame?"

These words assaulted Tan Anfu's ears, growing louder and louder. She looked around in panic, only to find that everyone's face was contorted with malice, and they were all shamelessly mocking her.

Tan Anfu broke down.

She suddenly chuckled, a desperate sneer in her eyes, and pointed at Tan Huaike, saying, "My sister? Ha, you've all been fooled by her! Everyone's been fooled... She's not my sister! She's not..."

Tan Li had initially thought she was capable of great things, but now, seeing the situation turning sour, he quickly covered her mouth: "What nonsense are you talking about! I think you're drunk too! Come on, let's go back!"

"No, I'm not going back!" Tan Anfu shoved Tan Li aside and shouted at Tan Huaike, "What right do you have to call yourself Madam Shentu under my sister's name? You lowly barbarian woman! You only deserve to be my servant!"

"Tan Anfu! Are you crazy?!" Tan Li shouted angrily.

"I'm not crazy!" Tan Anfu said. "Your Highness, Prefect, I want to report this woman! Her origins are unknown. She impersonated my half-sister Tan Huai Ke to marry into the Shentu family. In reality, she is just a Hu slave I bought from a slave trader!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Madam Shentu said in a trembling voice, "What...what did you say?"
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"Your Excellency, my daughter has gone mad for a moment and uttered nonsense. Please allow me to take her away and discipline her properly..." Tan Li tried to cover her mouth several times but failed. He only wanted to drag her away as soon as possible.

"In that case, take the person away, lest you disturb His Highness's enjoyment." Although Prefect Chi was also enjoying the spectacle, it was, after all, a banquet that the Prince of Qin had gone to great lengths to host, and he couldn't let such a domestic matter steal the spotlight.

However, the King of Qin was not about to let Tan Li off the hook, saying, "It's alright, this is just my private banquet. I told you all not to be so reserved, feel free to speak your minds." He even deliberately gave Tan Anfu a chance to speak, "Madam Bao, what do you mean by that? Is Madam Shentu's identity a forgery?" "Yes, it is a forgery! She is a fake Tan Huai Ke, and a fake Madam Shentu! Everything about her is fake!" Tan Anfu retorted defiantly, "A mere barbarian slave, our Tan family gave her the opportunity to rise to prominence, and now she has forgotten her roots and is opposing us at every turn!"

"You... sigh..." With things having come to this, Tan Li was helpless. He had thought Tan Anfeng was already incredibly stupid, but he never imagined that his seemingly shrewd daughter was an even more utterly foolish idiot.

“Madam Bao, you say she is a barbarian slave, do you have her indenture?” Magistrate Chi interrogated.

“Of course I have it!” Tan Anfu looked at Tan Li. “It’s with my grandfather.”

Tan Li shook his head, feigning ignorance, and said, "What indenture? I know nothing about this." The indenture had been redeemed by Tan Huaike when he took over the Huaqi Street shop, so how could he possibly produce it now?

Tan Anfu exclaimed in surprise: "How could that be? She is clearly the Hu slave I bought!"

Prefect Chi snorted coldly: "To accuse someone of being a barbarian without any evidence, I think Madam Bao is really drunk."

"No, I'm not drunk! She really is the Hu slave I bought! All the maids and servants in the house can testify that she is definitely not my sister Tan Huai Ke! My sister died of illness many years ago!" Tan Anfu said incoherently. "If you don't believe me, ask her yourself! If she refuses to talk, torture her and force her to tell the truth!"

"Madam Bao, stop fooling around!" Prefect Chi gradually lost his patience.

"Tell me yourself!" Tan Anfu gripped Tan Huaike's arm tightly, almost frantic. "Today I'm going to tear off this fig leaf and let them see your true colors!"

Tan Huaike pried her hands off and said frankly, "That's right, I'm not the real Tan Huaike. The Tan family's illegitimate daughter was raised in the old house in the countryside and died many years ago."

Unexpectedly, she admitted it directly. Tan Anfu exclaimed excitedly, "See? She admitted it! She admitted it herself!"

Tan Li knew there was no turning back, and dejectedly retreated to the side.

Tan Huaike ignored the shock and confusion of the people at the table, and only said to Madam Shentu, "Aunt Jun, I'm sorry, I've been lying to you for so long, I had no choice..."

The old lady demanded, "What exactly happened?"

Tan Huaike explained: "My real name is Abduyir Salani, a Mohe person. I came to Daxuan with my father and brothers to do business, but we were robbed by bandits. My father and brothers died tragically at the hands of the bandits, and I was the only one who survived."

"Then the slave trader took me to the black market inside the pass to sell me, and I was chosen and bought by Madam Bao. She was unwilling to fulfill her marriage contract with the eldest son of Shentu, so the Tan family made me marry the deceased Shentu Heng in her place as Tan Huai Ke."

“After being widowed, and with no family support, I had to find a way to start a business on my own. After earning some money, I redeemed my indenture from Boss Tan, so I am now a free person.”

Prefect Chi asked, "Mr. Tan, is that what she said?"

Tan Li nodded helplessly: "That's true."

Prefect Chi's expression hardened: "So it was your Tan family who deliberately tricked the Shen Tu family with a purchased Hu slave in order to make your daughter escape the marriage contract? You don't have to make your daughter a widow, and you don't have to return the betrothal gifts. Mr. Tan, you've really got a clever plan!"
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Next chapter: Is her marriage to Shen Tu Heng still valid?