Favoring a concubine and destroying the wife? I'll abandon my husband and children and wipe out

In Guantang Courtyard, Cheng Nanzhi listened to the news Chen Wang reported as he ran back, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"My mother-in-law is really good at talking; she can make black seem white."

Qingdai was also convinced: "It's a real pity that the old lady can't sing opera. Even the people in the opera troupe who have worked hard for ten years can't sing as well as the old lady."

Chen Wang volunteered, "Madam, would you like me to interrogate those servants you brought back? Don't worry, I've seen a lot over the years and I have some useful methods. Even if there's nothing wrong, I can still get the information you need!"

"No need, you have other things to do."

Cheng Nanzhi sat up straight and instructed, "Take a few men and guard the back gate of the Zhao residence. As soon as Ye Ruyue returns, do not give her a chance to react. Immediately seize her and bring her back."

"And the money she brought back... Take a maid with you, search her body and find it, bring it back as evidence. Remember, don't show anything unusual before you capture her so she notices something is wrong and runs away."

"Yes!" Chen Wang accepted the order and left.

Cheng Nanzhi stood up, supporting herself on the armrest. "Qingdai, help me change. It's time for us to go on stage and sing."

Qingdai smiled, "This servant is skillful and can make you look delicate and graceful, so that the old lady and the others can see how much you've put into preparing for the young master's apprenticeship banquet."

Cheng Nanzhi chuckled and granted Qingdai's request.

Not long after, Lan and Lianruo returned, carrying people and objects.

Lianruo efficiently sent her men to interrogate them separately. She saw Lan have people take the items out of the boxes and place them in the courtyard. She then retrieved the storeroom register and, in full view of everyone, read out the items that should have been in Cheng Nanzhi's storeroom.

When Zhao Ye and Madam Zhao finally arrived, Cheng Nanzhi, who had finished washing up, also came out. She had a chair brought to her in the courtyard and sat down. She had a hot water bottle in her arms to keep warm and coughed a few times, seemingly a little sick.

But neither of them had any concern for her at that moment.

"Cheng Nanzhi, how could you allow someone to search your records in public?!"

Cheng Nanzhi looked up at the right moment, her face full of confusion.

"What do my husband and mother-in-law mean by this? Why can't I do it?"

"Of course not!" Zhao Ye thought to herself. This was just blatantly telling all the servants what they had taken from her storeroom behind her back and what they were going to do with it!

If word gets out unnoticed by many people, where will they put their pride?!

Madam Zhao was also very upset and said, "I've already said that it was my decision to give it to Yue'er as a reward. Are you blaming me, her mother-in-law, for not informing you? Wasn't this for your own good? You, as her sister-in-law, shouldn't be so petty!"

Cheng Nanzhi looked aggrieved: "Mother-in-law, when did I ever say I wanted to hold a grudge? This is just handling the matter impartially and searching for the thief in the house. What's wrong with that? I just wanted to be aware of the situation. I didn't say I wanted back the things you took without permission. How can you accuse me without even knowing the facts?!"

Madam Zhao and Zhao Ye were speechless.

They were talking about what they brought back, but Cheng Nanzhi insisted that it was to find the thief, leaving them with no room for argument.

"That's the case. Just have someone interrogate you. There's no need to check the inventory. Otherwise, people might think you're reluctant to part with the few items you gave away. You should be more generous," Old Madam Zhao said sternly.

Cheng Nanzhi said seriously, "That's not right. It's one thing for my cousin to have other things, but what's with this 'Floating Light Brocade'? Mother-in-law, as far as I know, 'Floating Light Brocade' hasn't been sold in the capital for the past six months; it's only been offered as tribute to the imperial family. Yet my cousin has appeared here. How did she get here?"

"The imperial family has not permitted the sale of these items to the public recently. If she were to purchase them privately and the imperial family found out, it would implicate our entire Zhao family!"

Madam Zhao and Zhao Ye's brows twitched.

"But where did Miss get the money to buy the shimmering brocade?" Lianruo suddenly asked. "Miss, an orphan, has such a large sum of money? Could it be that you're with thieves..."

"Lianruo, don't talk nonsense." Cheng Nanzhi pretended to scold her lightly.

Zhao Ye's face darkened as well: "Madam, keep a close eye on your maids. My cousin isn't that kind of person. She loves Ze'er just as much as you do, so why would she take the money you gave Ze'er for his apprenticeship banquet? Besides, she doesn't come to Guantang Courtyard often, so where would she get the chance to get close to him?"

Cheng Nanzhi looked on in surprise: "Lianruo was just saying it casually, why is my husband so angry?"

Zhao Ye's heart tightened slightly: "I just don't want people to say that we mistreated the orphan girl."

"I think so too. It is essential to clear my cousin's name in this matter." Cheng Nanzhi smiled gently, agreeing readily. "Therefore, when I heard that my cousin had left the manor, I ordered people to search for her and bring her back to the manor for questioning as soon as they were found. I am sure my cousin would not have done something as suspicious as taking a large sum of money with her when she left the manor."

Zhao Ye almost couldn't sit still and got up.

He gave Ye Ruyue a sum of money so she could go to Jinxiu Pavilion to buy some new clothes!

"Husband, what's wrong?" Cheng Nanzhi asked knowingly.

Zhao Ye broke out in a cold sweat. "It's nothing. Here's what we'll do: have Qian Yidong go with her to find Cousin Bai. Just ask her questions, don't neglect her. Qian Yidong can keep an eye on things so she won't misunderstand."

Old Madam Zhao suddenly turned her head to look at him.

Seeing Zhao Ye's restlessness, Old Madam Zhao understood perfectly well what was going on.

His own son must have given Ye Ruyue a sum of money!

Damn it, how could I be so foolish?!

It's over now!

Old Madam Zhao quickly chimed in, urging Qian Yidong to go.

"Wait! Husband, don't be in such a hurry. It's not too late to send someone to find my cousin after we get the answers. Or do you not trust me and think I would be rude to my cousin for no reason?" Cheng Nanzhi said.

Zhao Ye could no longer insist on letting Qian Yidong go, and felt even more uneasy.

Suddenly, Qingdai appeared and exclaimed, "Miss, we've really found out where the thief is!"

Zhao Ye and Madam Zhao subconsciously looked up.

Lianruo followed behind and ordered a servant to bring over a young maid.

Lian Ruo crisply reported, "Madam, this person is a maidservant of Miss Biao. She said that she has seen Miss Biao's maid, Sanmei, sneaking around Guantang Courtyard many times. She wonders if it is related to the thieves this time."

"But after careful investigation, I found that Sanmei did indeed come to Guantang Courtyard to inquire about a lot of information, including your whereabouts. There are people in Guantang Courtyard working together from the inside."

She turned around and called the name of a maid standing in the southeast corner.

The servants cleverly forced the man to kneel on the ground.

"Tell me, when did you get in touch with Sanmei, and how much news from Guantang Courtyard has leaked out!"

"Your wife has treated you well, why are you betraying her?"

"If you don't confess quickly, you'll see if your skin can withstand the beating!"

The maidservant was deathly pale, trembling as she kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy. She recounted clearly how many times Sanmei had come to Guantang Courtyard and what information she had inquired about each time.

Upon hearing the details, Zhao Ye and Madam Zhao's expressions changed drastically.

“Miss Biao even inquired about Madam’s arrangements for the apprenticeship banquet, and what kind of outfits she went to Jinxiu Pavilion to purchase? What is she trying to do? Could it be that she wants to outdo Madam and purchase something better? But where would she get the money to surpass Madam?” Lian Ruo blurted out.

Zhao Ye and his wife's expressions turned even more unpleasant.

Especially Zhao Ye.

Zhao Ye had only been listening to Ye Ruyue's complaints for a short time, so he wasn't surprised that Ye Ruyue wanted to beat Cheng Nanzhi. But the money Ye Ruyue used was given to her by him, not stolen.

But Zhao Ye didn't expect that Ye Ruyue was secretly inquiring about and monitoring the activities of Guantang Courtyard.

Even if Ye Ruyue is innocent, she becomes suspicious in the face of these actions!

"My cousin is actually this kind of person... Why would she do that?" Cheng Nanzhi covered her mouth in astonishment.

“My cousin definitely didn’t do it on purpose!” Zhao Ye spoke up for his beloved. “Madam, you can’t believe what those two maids say. Maybe they’re slandering my cousin? Quickly, give her fifty lashes! Only if she still insists on what she said under severe punishment will she have any credibility.”

Madam Zhao was more than happy that the matter would not be investigated further, and that the so-called witnesses would be silenced, so she nodded in agreement.

The two maids looked slightly flustered and subconsciously glanced at Cheng Nanzhi.

"Madam, spare your life!"

"This has nothing to do with us!"

Cheng Nanzhi slammed her hand on the table, stopping Qian Yidong, and said, "Fifty strokes of the rod, and he won't even be able to speak, let alone survive! Husband, mother-in-law, you weren't such heartless people before, what's wrong with you today?!"

"We are only……"

Just as Zhao Ye was about to defend himself, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

Chen Wang returned, binding the struggling Ye Ruyue and Sanmei!

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Chen Wang carried his bag and spoke so loudly that everyone could hear him.

"Madam, this servant found nine thousand taels of silver notes on Miss Biao, as well as a set of jewelry from the Jinxiu Pavilion worth three thousand taels. I have no idea where Miss Biao got the money!"

"What?" Zhao Ye and Madam Zhao were stunned.