Don't disturb me, I won't be a concubine

The trial continued the next day.

After spending a night in jail, Zhou looked very unhappy and had a bad temper. She said to the three adults in the hall, "You must clear my name today. I want to go back home!"

"That depends on Madam's cooperation. We also want to find out the truth as soon as possible." Han Shangshu looked at Madam Wang who was carried up, "After a night, have you figured it out? If you tell me the truth about who ordered you to poison the servant and Qingyan's disappearance, I won't have to torture you."

Mother Wang was lying on the ground, with no one applying medicine to the wounds on her body. She felt excruciating pain every time she moved.

Hearing the word "torture", Mother Wang was horrified, but looking at Zhou's figure in front of her, she gritted her teeth and said, "Even if you beat me to death, I will still say the same thing as yesterday."

"I consider that you are quite old now. If I torture you again, it may really cost you your life. I will give you one last chance to confess."

Zhou was worried that these words would make Wang Madam waver, so she said hurriedly, "You knew she couldn't stand the torture, but you still tortured her to extract a confession. You are just taking human life lightly. I will sue you in front of the emperor!"

"It is precisely because I don't want to see this happen that I give her chances again and again. Since Madam is worried, you might as well persuade her." Minister Han said in a gentle voice.

"Why should I advise you? It's obviously nothing. Do you have to hear that I did everything before you are satisfied?" Zhou almost roared.

"Madam, please calm down. Our goal is the same. We all want to find out the cause of death of Mr. Lu's biological mother and where the missing Qingyan is."

Madam Wang propped herself up and insisted, "Those four servants stole property from the mansion, and I dealt with them according to the rules. It has nothing to do with Madam. Miss Qingyan's disappearance has nothing to do with Madam. The Third Master threatened Madam for her before he went to Xizhou. Madam would never go and get into trouble."

Zhou nodded, "Yes, that's the truth."

Seeing that the master and servant refused to give in, Han Shangshu was discussing something with the other two adults in a low voice. Lu Siheng said, "My lord, I found the new witness."

Minister Han immediately turned around and said, "Since there is a new witness, let's get him in the hall right away."

It was no use leaving the case like this. We couldn't really beat to death the most useful maidservant around the wife of the Marquis of Zhongjing. Han Shangshu hoped that the new witness that Lu Siheng had found would be able to bring in strong evidence.

Everyone looked outside the door and saw a woman in plain clothes coming in.

Zhou opened her eyes wide, "Why are you here instead of staying at home?"

"Who is here?" asked Minister Han.

Ignoring Zhou's gaze, He stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Your Excellency, I am Lu Wenchen's wife, He."

Lu Wenchen walked over with a gloomy face and grabbed He's arm, "What are you doing in court as a woman? Go back now!"

He felt pain and couldn't shake him off. She looked up at him and said, "What's wrong with you, ma'am? I'm here to testify. Let me go—"

"Bold Lu Wenchen, let go of your hands!" Minister Han slammed the gavel.

Lu Wenchen bit his back teeth and whispered a warning in He's ear, "Don't forget who you belong to. If you have something you shouldn't say, just shut up!"

He let go of her hand only after he finished speaking, a threatening look in his eyes.

Meeting his gaze, He's heart trembled. In the past few years since she married into the Marquis's mansion, she followed her mother's instructions and tried her best to be a good wife and daughter-in-law. However, no one took all her efforts to heart. Because she had not been pregnant for a long time, her husband had become increasingly cold to her in the past two years, and her mother-in-law had been mocking her openly and covertly.

Thinking of what Lawrence Lu had done, He’s eyes turned cold.

Lu Wenchen was stunned when he noticed her change. She usually looked gentle and virtuous. How could she have ever looked at him with such eyes?

"He, what do you want to say?"

Minister Han's words caused the two to look away.

He said, "Sir, I can prove that Lu Wenchen and Qingyan have an unusual relationship, and that Qingyan's disappearance was caused by Zhou."

"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Zhou got angry and rushed forward to hit He.

He ran to Lu Siheng in fear and hid there.

"Someone, stop Zhou——"

Two officers, under the orders of Minister Han, stopped Zhou who was out of control.

"Go on." Minister Han pointed at He.

He took a moment to calm down, then stood there and said, "The night before Qingyan disappeared, after my husband and I finished dinner, I saw him looking dazed and restless, and finally he said he wanted to go out for a walk. I was worried, so I secretly followed him and saw him enter my third brother's yard."

"My third brother was in Xizhou at the time, and I was wondering why he went there. When he came back, it was already midnight, reeking of alcohol and drunk. He, he also..." He was unable to speak, "He was still calling Qingyan's name in his dream!"

After hearing what she said, Lu Wenchen's face turned from green to white.

Since his wife had come forward to testify, there was no need to ask about Lu Wenchen and Qingyan's relationship anymore.

Han Shangshu asked another question, "How can you prove that Qingyan's disappearance is related to Zhou?"

At this point, He was no longer afraid. "Knowing that my husband went to see Qingyan, I couldn't sleep all night. The next day, I couldn't help it and wanted to ask her why she seduced my husband."

"I went to my third brother's yard, and was surprised to find no servants inside. When I was looking for Qingyan's residence, I heard some noise in a room. I followed the sound and saw Zhou, Madam Wang, and two housekeepers inside through the window."

"What are they doing in there? Is Qingyan there too?" asked Minister Han.

He's expression of fear appeared again. "I saw Zhou instruct two stewards to put Qingyan into a wooden box and then carry it out of the yard."

"What was Qingyan's condition at the time? Was she dead or alive?"

Even though he had heard it once last night, Lu Siheng couldn't help but clench his fists when he heard Minister Han ask it again.

"I don't know. I was so scared at the time. I only saw Qingyan was unconscious. I really don't know whether she was dead or alive."

The matter was clear, and Han Shangshu said sternly: "Zhou, what else do you have to say now? What have you done to Qingyan? Why don't you come here quickly!"

Zhou stared at He and cursed, "You traitor, what good did Lu Siheng, the evil creature, promise you to frame your husband and mother-in-law? If something happens to us, how can you be good? Idiot!"

If the two officers hadn't stopped her, Zhou would have rushed up to beat He again.

Minister Han couldn't bear it any longer, "Zhou, no noise is allowed in the court!"

Lu Siheng walked up to Zhou step by step and said, "Tell me, where is Qingyan?"

"You want to know?" Zhou suddenly laughed out loud, "I won't tell you, hahahaha..."