The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

The prefect's punishment was reduced, and Liu Xuan and his wife were both taken aback, realizing something was wrong. Liu Xuan hurriedly tried to explain, "We didn't kill him, it was Liu Xu, it must have been Liu Xu!"

"Oh? Liu Xu? Where is Liu Xu? Do you have any evidence to prove that you didn't kill her, but Liu Xu did?" The prefectural governor raised an eyebrow, his expression serious.

"Liu Xu, she..." Liu Xuan and Madam Liu looked at each other in dismay. If they found Liu Xu, they could hand her over to the authorities. But now... that unfilial daughter Liu Xu was probably deliberately causing them so much trouble. If they couldn't find Liu Xu, would the blame fall on them?

Damn willow catkins! This has really put them in a terrible situation. Just now, the prefectural magistrate witnessed them attempting to destroy the evidence. Now, they probably won't be able to defend themselves even if they have a word!

"Can't say? Hmph, I think you're the ones who killed him! Otherwise, why would you have destroyed the body? Luckily, I arrived in time, preventing your evil scheme from succeeding. Guards, take these two suspects to the prison and lock them up first!" the prefectural governor ordered sternly, showing no mercy.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xuan and his wife were stunned for a moment. When they came to their senses, they were already firmly bound by the guards. Both Liu Xuan and his wife were anxious, "Your Excellency, we are innocent! We really didn't kill the person! We are innocent!"

"Whether it's a case of injustice or not, this prefecture will make its own judgment. Take them away!" The prefectural magistrate gave the order again. Liu Xuan and his wife's resistance was ineffective. They glared at the prefectural magistrate and could only resign themselves to being taken away by the constables.

The two men cried out their innocence the whole way, their hearts filled with unease. Today was supposed to be the joyous day for the Liu family to marry the eldest daughter of the Mei family. However, despite their careful precautions against any mishaps, they never expected to suffer such a crushing defeat at the hands of the Liu family's own people.

When the group arrived at the front courtyard of the Liu residence, they saw some maids and servants rushing around. Madam Liu suddenly remembered Mei Yingxue, who had been carried away by Liu Zhan earlier, and hurriedly stopped a maid to ask, "How is the young mistress?"

The maid frowned and stammered, "Reporting to Madam, the young mistress was so frightened... she... she miscarried!"

With a deafening roar, both Madam Liu and Master Liu seemed to have been struck by lightning, their minds going blank for a moment.

What did she say? The young mistress miscarried? How...how could this be? They just discovered the child's existence, how could she have miscarried already?

"Ah..." A series of blows completely broke Madam Liu, and she collapsed, letting out a shrill wail, "Miscarriage... That... that was our Liu family's grandson! Gone... just like that..."

The prefectural governor also heard the news and thought to himself, "The Liu family must have done something terrible in their past life. It's really one misfortune after another." However, he was happy to watch a good show.

"Take him away!" the prefectural magistrate urged coldly once again. Meanwhile, inside the Liu family's bridal chamber, the atmosphere was exceptionally strange.

As Liu Zhan carried Mei Yingxue back to her room, blood continued to flow from beneath her. Perhaps due to the intense pain, Mei Yingxue woke up in Liu Zhan's arms. Feeling the excruciating pain and the fluid flowing from her body, Mei Yingxue was filled with unease. The gruesome death of her elder brother that she had just witnessed in that room flashed through her mind, and her heart remained unsettled for a long time.

When they arrived at the new house, the doctor was also there. Liu Zhan anxiously instructed the doctor to save the child, but the doctor took one look and shook his head, informing the two that the fetus could not be saved!

At this moment, Mei Yingxue lay on the bed, her face pale, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, her hands resting on her lower abdomen, her mind filled with the image of her elder brother's corpse, and she subconsciously clenched her teeth.

Her older brother, her, and Ningxiang all shared the same mother. Although her older brother was somewhat of a womanizer and a philanderer, he doted on his younger sister, Ningxiang. But now…

"Your Liu family killed him...you killed my elder brother..." Mei Yingxue murmured, her originally blank expression now mixed with a hint of madness. Her eyes glared fiercely at Liu Zhan, who was standing not far from the bed. Today was supposed to be her joyous day, but now she was in this situation!

How ironic! On her joyous day, she lost two of her closest loved ones in quick succession: her elder brother and her unborn child!

"We didn't kill them! You woman, don't talk nonsense!" Liu Zhan was also very agitated. Just now, a servant came to report that his parents had been taken away by the prefectural magistrate. He was about to go out, but suddenly changed his mind. If he got involved in this matter, he would only be asking for trouble!

He could only endure it, but he was extremely unwilling in his heart!

The series of events that happened today left him with a pent-up anger that he had nowhere to vent. Naturally, he didn't give Mei Yingxue a pleasant look after hearing her words.

A slight smile appeared on Mei Yingxue's lips as she questioned him with undisguised sarcasm, "It wasn't your Liu family that killed them? If it wasn't you, then why were your parents taken away by the government officials? My elder brother died in your Liu family; that's an indisputable fact. We saw it with our own eyes. Do you still want to deny it? No, I'm going to tell Father. I'm going to tell Father everything!"

Mei Yingxue's eyes flickered as she struggled to get up. However, the moment she made a move, Liu Zhan strode forward, sat on the edge of the bed, grabbed Mei Yingxue's shoulders, and forcefully pushed her down. He gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "You dare! You dare tell your father and see what happens!"

Liu Zhan's stern threat momentarily stunned Mei Yingxue. The Liu Zhan she knew was gentle and refined, never raising his voice to her, and always so tender and caring. But the Liu Zhan before her...

"I'm going to tell my father anyway, what can you do to me?" Mei Yingxue was not one to be trifled with. As the eldest daughter of the Mei family, she was naturally privileged and rarely feared anyone. Liu Zhan in front of her had stirred something deep within her. Mei Yingxue gritted her teeth and met Liu Zhan's cold gaze with determination. She was even more furious. She could see ruthlessness in his eyes.

"What can I do to you?" Liu Zhan leaned closer to Mei Yingxue, tightening his grip on her shoulders. The force made Mei Yingxue wince in pain, as if he would crush her without hesitation at any moment.

After a moment of silence, Liu Zhan's voice came again, each word sharp and piercing, "If you dare to say even a single word you shouldn't, believe me, I'll make you, your older brother, and the child you just miscarried suffer the same fate!"

Liu Zhan's icy gaze cut into Mei Yingxue's heart like a knife. She could hardly believe what she had just heard. She stared incredulously at Liu Zhan's sinister face and couldn't help but ask herself, what kind of man had she fallen in love with?