After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

He Manniang said breathlessly, "Jiang Zhihuan was just like you, looking half-dead, but he was luckier than anyone else!"

"Once he rose to power and became a high-ranking official, he turned around and bullied us ordinary people! Because of that incident in the palace, he arrested us and made us choose between poison, a dagger, or a white silk ribbon to commit suicide!"

"What did you say?" Liu Yuansheng shook her head, completely unable to believe what He Manniang said. "You said Jiang Zhihuan is going to kill you? No, impossible, he's not that kind of person."

"Not that kind of person? Then go ask him if he has my husband's and son's blood on his hands!" He Manniang said with heartache. "After he caught me, I didn't want to die, so I struggled and finally managed to break free from the guards' hands and run away, but I was shot by a dagger and fell into the stream."

"I was swept away by the stream, which saved me from certain death. Even though I recovered from my injuries, I was crippled! At that time, I told myself that as long as I lived, I would seek revenge on you!"

Liu Yuansheng was completely dumbfounded.

Jiang Zhihuan arrested Cao Tong's family and intended to kill them?

Is this even possible?

In her memory, Jiang Zhihuan had always been gentle and kind, a good person who wouldn't even step on an ant. How could he possibly kill someone?

He killed for her!

"I don't believe you! You're lying to me!" Liu Yuansheng looked at Xiao Jinghan. "Your Highness, you're well-informed. Is what she just said true?"

Xiao Jinghan's smile was meaningful. "You probably wouldn't believe me even if I told you. Why don't you go ask Jiang Zhihuan himself?"

Liu Yuansheng's knees buckled.

Since Xiao Jinghan has said so, it's highly likely that this matter is true.

For a moment, Liu Yuansheng was in a state of utter confusion, her mind preoccupied with why Jiang Zhihuan wanted to help her get rid of Cao Tong's family. She even forgot about interrogating He Manniang. It was only in time that a nanny reminded her, "Third Young Madam, this woman must have a mastermind behind her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to infiltrate our Duke's Mansion."

Liu Yuansheng nodded. However, the answer was already obvious.

It was either Su Tinglan, Liu Nianxi, or Yuan Min. Besides these three, Liu Yuansheng couldn't think of anyone else she could suspect.

"Who helped you sneak in?" Liu Yuansheng asked. "Tell me honestly, and maybe I can make your suffering less."

"Pah! I won't tell you!" He Manniang wouldn't shed a tear until she saw the coffin. "You little slut! It's all because of you that my family was destroyed, and I lost my husband and son! I wish I could eat your flesh and drink your blood! I look forward to the day you're tortured to death, and I'll be waiting for that day with a smile, hahaha!"

He Manniang laughed maniacally, as if she had gone mad. Liu Yuansheng stared blankly at He Manniang, feeling an immense sorrow in her heart. However, Xiao Jinghan, who was used to this, remained unmoved. He waited for He Manniang to finish laughing before slowly giving the order, "Go and pry open her mouth. Remember, there can be no bloodshed in the manor today. You can torture her slowly. After today, you can even drain her blood dry!"

"yes!"

Two old women lifted He Manniang up and escorted her to the torture chamber. The just-arrogant He Manniang was now terrified, stammering, "What...what are you going to do?"

"Liu Yuansheng, don't forget, I am your adoptive mother. I raised you!"

"You stayed at Shuiyue Nunnery for so long, yet you, a monk, have such a vicious heart."

As He Manniang was dragged away by two maids, she cursed tremblingly. Seeing that Liu Yuansheng remained unmoved, she suddenly cried out and struggled violently, saying, "I really owe you something! Every time I think about dealing with you, I'm the one who ends up suffering. Why are you so unlucky for me?!"

He Manniang cried with increasing despair, finally kneeling on the ground and resignedly saying, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"Explain clearly," Xiao Jinghan said, "start from when your husband's son was killed by Jiang Zhihuan."

Liu Yuansheng's heart skipped a beat.

Then He Manniang said in a trembling voice, "Fine, I'll tell you. After I miraculously survived, I went back to my parents' home to recover from my injuries. Then I extorted some money from my parents' home and wandered around the capital from time to time, always looking for an opportunity to take revenge on you."

"Later, one of your maids found me, arrested me, and questioned me about my motives. I told her that I had a grudge against you and wanted to kill you to vent my anger. After hearing this, she found me a place to stay, told me to settle down, and told me to calm down."

"I settled down in that courtyard. Not long after, the maid came to inform me that your mansion was about to hold an engagement banquet for some young master and asked me to help her sneak in and help me take revenge."

"I know I've been used, but I hate you! The thought of you bewitching my husband and son makes me so angry that I don't want to do anything all day but want to vent my anger on you."

Liu Yuansheng forced herself to listen, and after listening, she only asked one question, "What's the name of the maid you mentioned? What does she look like?"

"He just looked so-so, and I can't even remember his name..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuansheng went to look at Xiao Jinghan. Just as Xiao Jinghan was about to speak, a commotion came from the direction of the wedding hall. Then, a group of people hurriedly rushed to the inner flower hall.

The inner flower hall was a place for guests to change and rest. So many people rushed there; something must have happened. Liu Yuansheng hurriedly asked Xiao Jinghan, "Young Master, would you like to go and take a look?"

"Let's go take a look together. First, let them take her to the torture chamber," Xiao Jinghan said.

Liu Yuansheng: "Me too?"

"Yes, you're going too." Xiao Jinghan took Liu Yuansheng's arm. "I know you're exhausted, but you still need to cheer up. I told you, there will be many scenes today, each one more exciting than the last!"

Liu Yuansheng had no interest in watching the spectacle, but Xiao Jinghan insisted on taking her to the inner flower hall.

The inner hall was in complete chaos. When Liu Yuansheng arrived, he saw Liu Nianxi, disheveled, covering her ears and sobbing uncontrollably, crying, "I don't want to hear it! I didn't seduce this person! He suddenly rushed in and bullied me!"

"You, you're talking nonsense!" said a man who was also disheveled. "I was resting in the flower hall when you suddenly barged in and said you liked me or something. I only slept with you to please you, and I even complained about you..."

"Shut up!" Liu Nianxi wailed angrily. "If you dare utter another word, I'll have my father tear your mouth apart!"

"Your father, Prime Minister Liu?" the man said dismissively. "Come on, everyone knows you, Liu Nianxi, are nothing but Prime Minister Liu's adopted daughter. Your biological parents are probably lowly commoners from who-knows-where. How could you be worthy of me? If you behave yourself, I might take you as a concubine. But if you insist on making a scene..."

The man chuckled, "So you were just played for free by me!"

"You! You beast!" Liu Nianxi exclaimed, "You, a son of a concubine, want me to be your concubine? You're dreaming!"

Liu Yuansheng stared at the two from afar and gasped.

What a grand show!

That Lord Wang's son actually...