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

Cheng Nanzhi gave her a cold look.

Granny Jiang trembled slightly and subconsciously shut her mouth.

Just then, someone announced that Madam Zhao, Zhao Ye, and Ye Ruyue had arrived.

"What exactly happened?" Old Madam Zhao asked dramatically, and as Ye Ruyue helped her walk toward Cheng Nanzhi, she said with a pained expression, "Nanzhi, I don't believe you would poison me, this is fake, isn't it?!"

Cheng Nanzhi also gave them a cold look.

Because the moment they entered, their inner voices also rang out.

They're really crying wolf!

She even overheard them saying that they wanted to use this to confirm her murder, to hold her hostage, and to make her do whatever she wanted to them, such as paying a large sum of money to renovate the clan school.

People can actually laugh in a state of extreme speechlessness.

"Sister-in-law, what kind of expression is that? This matter is of great importance, how can you still laugh? You despise your aunt so much, could you really do something like poisoning her?" Ye Ruyue seized the opportunity to kick her while she was down.

Madam Zhao's expression showed displeasure.

Zhao Ye, with a long face, openly expressed his dissatisfaction.

“Cousin, what are you saying? I’m just happy that my mother-in-law believes me, is that not allowed? If you say that, people who don’t know better will think that you still hold a grudge against me and can’t stand to see me doing well.” Cheng Nanzhi stood up and asked the servants to bring stools for them to sit down.

But without Ye Ruyue, she could only stand beside Old Madam Zhao.

Zhao Ye defended her, saying, "Madam, you've gone too far. My cousin is just worried about how things are going."

Ye Ruyue cooperated by putting on a wronged expression.

"Is that so? I've been holding off on the trial until my mother-in-law arrives so that we can get justice. Let's begin now." Cheng Nanzhi sat down.

Qingdai understood and stepped forward to speak, asking Granny Jiang to recount the whole story from beginning to end.

When Granny Jiang saw Zhao Ye and Old Madam Zhao, she seemed to have found her pillar of support and immediately began to tell a vivid story.

It turned out that Granny Jiang had noticed something amiss at the apprenticeship banquet. When the kitchen was preparing tonics for the old lady, someone had been sneakily putting something in the food. Fortunately, she was keeping a close eye on the dishes at the banquet to avoid any mistakes and noticed it in time. However, the kitchen was very busy, with people coming and going, so she couldn't catch the culprit.

Granny Jiang left the tonic behind, intending to deal with it after the apprenticeship banquet. Unexpectedly, trouble arose and an internal search for traitors occurred, causing delays. It wasn't until this morning, when everything was finally settled, that she had time to check it.

An investigation revealed a shocking discovery: the supplements had been poisoned!

Granny Jiang was terrified and immediately tried to find the maid. After interrogating her, she learned that she came from Guantang Courtyard, so she brought people to investigate.

"I never expected the investigation would lead to Madam. We have both witnesses and physical evidence!"

The maidservant kowtowed in alarm: "It was Xiao Tao who gave me money to do this. The other maids didn't know anything about it. Please forgive me, Madam!"

Xiao Tao also kowtowed: "This servant is only following Madam's orders. This servant does not want to do it, but this servant's indenture is in Madam's hands, and I have no choice but to obey!"

"You still know that your indenture is in Madam's hands, yet you still dare to slander Madam like this!" Lianruo said angrily. If Qingdai and Jianlan hadn't been holding her back, she would have rushed forward and slapped Xiaotao twice.

"Nanzhi, is it really you?" Old Madam Zhao turned to look at Cheng Nanzhi, her lips trembling, as if she had been greatly shocked.

Zhao Ye also looked incredulous.

"Do you know that murdering your mother-in-law is a grave crime! Madam, you are foolish!"

Cheng Nanzhi said calmly, "This is only their side of the story. I haven't even said anything yet, and my mother-in-law and husband have already made up their minds. Don't you think that's a bit too frivolous?"

“Sister-in-law, the evidence and witnesses are all there, there’s no way anyone can doubt it. You…sigh, you’ve really let down your aunt’s trust in you.” Ye Ruyue sighed dramatically.

Old Madam Zhao's eyes reddened, and she took a deep breath, saying sadly, "I never expected you to... But Nanzhi, I won't blame you. I've always considered you my own daughter. Alright, let's just let this matter pass..."

“If it were me, what reason would I have to murder my mother-in-law?” Cheng Nanzhi suddenly shouted.

The three paused slightly.

Granny Zhang gave Xiao Tao a meaningful look.

Xiao Tao immediately raised his voice: "Madam, have you forgotten that you said you felt the old lady was too biased towards Miss Biao? Not only did she give Miss Biao your things, but she also didn't punish her even when Miss Biao almost ruined the young master's apprenticeship banquet. So you are very dissatisfied!"

Madam Zhao immediately feigned shock and disbelief.

Cheng Nanzhi, however, completely ignored her performance and suddenly stood up, took a few steps to Xiao Tao, and raised her hand.

"Clap! Clap!"

Several heavy slaps landed, and the entire courtyard fell silent instantly!

Madam Zhao, Zhao Ye, and Ye Ruyue were all stunned by this sudden scene and forgot to react.

"You say it's me, then fine, I'll ask you."

"You're just a third-class maid, not even qualified to serve me. I don't even remember you. Why should I leave my personal maid to do something as important as poisoning?"

"When did you first meet me? Was there a third person present when I gave you the poison? And when did you and that maid come into contact with the poison?"

Xiao Tao was knocked to the ground, her cheeks swollen and blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She was completely stunned.

Belatedly realizing the searing pain, Xiao Tao said, "It was Madam who said that it would be difficult for others to guess who was looking for me, and that others would only be watching your personal maid and wouldn't pay attention to me, making it easier for me to successfully poison someone!"

"That poison was given to me by you the night before the apprenticeship banquet, after you dismissed the servants. I secretly gave it to Dongmei that very night!"

Dongmei was the little maid who was caught in the kitchen.

Her hesitant and timid response was an affirmation.

"When did I give it to you?" Cheng Nanzhi asked coldly.

"This...this servant can't remember..."

"Can't remember? Fine, then I'll give you a good wake-up call. Guards, drag her out and give her forty lashes!"

Xiao Tao suddenly looked up, her face full of fear.

Zhao Ye said, "Madam, there's no need for that. If you really hit her with the rod, won't people think you've killed her..."

"You don't need to concern yourself with matters of the inner quarters, husband. Just take care of your own official duties." Cheng Nanzhi interrupted coldly, and with a wave of her hand, Lian Ruo, who had been unable to restrain herself, rushed forward to personally drag Xiao Tao out and beat her with a board. The scene was extremely frightening.

Xiao Tao couldn't take it anymore: "This servant remembers, it's the hour of Xu (7-9 PM)!"

Upon hearing this, Lianruo stopped.

Cheng Nanzhi also turned her head and looked at Zhao Ye with a half-smile.

Zhao Ye was already annoyed that Cheng Nanzhi had disrespected him in public, but upon hearing this, his heart skipped a beat and his face turned ugly.

Old Madam Zhao just wanted to resolve the matter quickly, saying, "Since the evidence is complete, then..."

“Mother-in-law, at 7 PM the night before the apprenticeship banquet, I was discussing the banquet with my husband. The servants in my courtyard and the people around my husband can all testify to this,” Cheng Nanzhi said with a sneer.

Old Madam Zhao stopped abruptly.

Ye Ruyue immediately glared at Zhao Ye.

Xiao Tao realized she had made a mistake and hurriedly said, "This servant has remembered it wrong. It is three quarters past Xu Shi, almost Hai Shi."

"At that time, the master was about to leave, and the lady ordered a bath. Many people knew that! Where would he find the time to see you in private!" Lianruo slapped Xiao Tao and scolded him as she got her wish.

Qingdai sneered, "One minute it's 7 PM, the next it's 9 PM, how long has it been and you can't even remember? With such a bad memory, you dare to slander my young lady. It seems that beating you to death will make you remember more clearly."

Seeing Lan shout, "Guards, drag him out!"

The servants looked at each other in bewilderment and rushed forward.

Xiao Tao sensed danger and became terrified. She cried out to Granny Jiang for help, but Granny Jiang, seeing the situation was not right, had already shut her mouth and dared not say anything more.

In her desperation, Xiao Tao called for Granny Zhang.

Cheng Nanzhi looked over with a half-smile.

Zhang Mama's heart tightened, and she reacted with lightning speed: "You audacious wretch! Not only did you harbor ill intentions and harm your master, but you also sowed discord between the Madam and the Old Madam! You deserve to die! Do you think the Old Madam is kind-hearted and will spare you? Impossible!"

Now that we've caught them out, if we investigate further, the lady will surely discover that it was them who did it.

That's the only way. Let Xiao Tao take all the blame.

We can't let them be affected!

Granny Zhang gave Old Madam Zhao a meaningful look.

Madam Zhao understood perfectly well, and though she was unwilling, she had no other choice. She angrily shouted, "Drag her away and beat her to death with sticks!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao struggled violently in fear, trying to beg for mercy and say that she knew, but Zhang Mama quickly instructed someone to gag her. She was dragged out of the courtyard, sobbing, as the dull thuds of the sticks falling continued to echo, making Old Madam Zhao, Zhao Ye, and Ye Ruyue all look grim.