She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Zhao Jue's face was flushed an unnatural red as he restrained Qiu Chan and engaged in intimate acts typically reserved for husband and wife.

The cicada, its face streaked with tears, cried out pitifully.

"Third Master... please release this servant..."

Shen Mingzhu stared at the scene before her in disbelief, as if struck by lightning.

It wasn't Zhao Yi and Qiu Chan.

Instead, it was Zhao Jue and Qiu Chan.

"My God, the person who destroyed the sacred Buddhist site is actually Master Zhao."

"Third Master Zhao looks very upright on the surface, but he's actually a scoundrel."

"Oh dear, I'm so embarrassed, I can't bear to look. What's the difference between a dignified young master of the Duke's mansion and a stray dog ​​in heat outside?"

"Let's go, let's go. I need to go to Buddha to apologize and recite the Heart-Cleansing Mantra a few more times."

Every word pierced Shen Mingzhu's heart. She had sought out these people to make a fool of Shen Qingtan, never expecting to become such a laughingstock herself.

"You bunch of idiots, why aren't you closing the door? You're making your master a laughingstock!"

Shen Mingzhu vented her anger on the servant, berating him mercilessly.

Amidst the shouts and curses, Zhao Jue regained some of his senses and realized what he was doing. His face instantly turned ashen, and he dropped the trembling Qiu Chan.

He saw the group of people standing at the door, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes: "Get out!"

The servant quickly closed the wooden door.

Shen Mingzhu clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm.

It's easy to imagine that at daybreak, news of Zhao Jue's disgraceful deeds would spread throughout the capital.

Zhao Jue was shameless, and she followed suit.

"Second sister, don't pay attention to those gossiping people." Everything here was within Shen Qingtan's expectations; after all, she had orchestrated it all. She comforted her, "Don't be too sad. What man doesn't have multiple wives and concubines?"

He returned Shen Mingzhu's words verbatim, without alteration.

Killing people is nothing more than that.

Shen Mingzhu reaped what she sowed, and had no one to confide in.

Her people saw Qiu Chan go to find Zhao Yi, and the two left one after the other.

How did it become Zhao Jue?

Shen Mingzhu didn't know where things went wrong.

“Every man takes a concubine, but… but I’ve only been married for a few days.”

Shen Mingzhu cannot accept that Zhao Jue has another woman.

She schemed to make Zhao Yi take a concubine, partly to prevent herself from having any regrets.

Secondly, Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi did not have a marital relationship, but Zhao Yi slept with Shen Qingtan's dowry, which would make Shen Qingtan the talk of the town.

She could only find inner peace when Shen Qingtan was unhappy.

"It was you, wasn't it?" Shen Mingzhu turned her attention to Shen Qingtan, her face contorted with rage as she demanded, "It was you who conspired with Qiu Chan to scheme against Third Master, wasn't it?"

"Shen Mingzhu, is that all the jealousy you have for me?" Shen Qingtan's face turned cold. "You're jealous of my life of luxury and honor in the Marquis's mansion for over a decade, while you've been wandering and suffering. So every time something happens, you pin the blame on me, trying to ruin my reputation?"

Shen Mingzhu's expression changed.

"The same thing happened with Mother Wei, and the same thing happened with Qiu Chan. If anything else happens in the future, will you just push it all onto me without a word?"

Shen Qingtan sneered, "Your being stranded outside is due to the negligence of the Marquis's mansion, while I am completely innocent, bearing the hatred you should not have to bear...

Shen Mingzhu was terrified, almost thinking that Shen Qingtan knew about her past.

Shen Qingtan said coldly, "Qiu Chan is your maid, and her indenture is in your hands. What right do I have to order her to climb into Zhao Jue's bed?"

Shen Mingzhu was convinced that Shen Qingtan was responsible, but there was no evidence.

At that moment, the door of the wooden house opened again.

Shen Qingtan looked in the direction of the sound.

Zhao Jue straightened his clothes and walked out with a gloomy expression.

Qiu Chan's legs trembled as she stumbled behind him, her eyes red and swollen from crying, making her small face even paler and giving her a pitiful appearance.

Shen Mingzhu rushed forward, grabbed Qiu Chan by the collar, and slapped her across the face.

A large hand gripped her wrist, blocking the slap, and then pushed Shen Mingzhu away.

Shen Mingzhu staggered a few steps and looked at Zhao Jue in astonishment, seemingly not expecting him to protect Qiu Chan.

Qiu Chan trembled with fear and huddled behind Zhao Jue.

Shen Mingzhu was so angry that she almost fell backward, wishing she could order someone to catch this little slut and drown her in a pig cage.

Zhao Jue just wanted to find out the whole story. If he let Shen Mingzhu hit someone, it would cause endless trouble.

His gaze was fixed on Shen Qingtan: "You asked me to meet you here so that you could set me up with your maid?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhu's eyes blazed with fury. She knew it was Shen Qingtan who had done it, and she immediately opened her mouth to accuse him.

Zhao Jue gave her a cold, sidelong glance.

Shen Mingzhu felt a chill in her heart, and shut her mouth in frustration, not daring to make a fuss anymore.

Shen Qingtan seemed to have heard a joke and retorted, "Third brother, why would I scheme to have you have an affair with a maid? What loss would you suffer? What benefit would I gain?"

"Then why did you ask me to wait for you here?"

“I am your sister-in-law, and you have shown no respect for me today. I will have someone beat you up to teach you a lesson so that you will behave yourself in front of me in the future.” Shen Qingtan clapped her hands.

Eight burly men, all tall and strong, emerged from the mountains and forests in an instant.

Shen Qingtan explained their origins: "The old lady and I are both weak women. We secretly hired thugs from a security escort agency to protect our safety at Hualing Temple."

Zhao Jue noticed her regretful expression, as if it was because she hadn't been able to get someone to beat him up.

His face darkened, and he suppressed his anger as he asked, "Qiu Chan brought a bowl of tofu soup, saying that you asked her to deliver it. I only fell into the trap after eating it."

"Have you ever seen anyone do bad things under their own name? The person who stole my dowry at least knew to cover up the fakes." Shen Qingtan sneered, "I really suspect that you're claiming someone else's military merits without even noticing this petty trick of framing someone else."

Zhao Jue's forehead veins throbbed as he growled, "Shen Qingtan!"

Shen Qingtan said seriously, "Qiu Chan is not my maid, I can't control her." She curled her lips and said, "With your abilities, you can investigate and find out the truth."

Zhao Jue's face was tense; he didn't think this was a kind remark.

Qiu Chan panicked and knelt on the ground, begging Zhao Jue for mercy: "Third Master, Third Madam saw you and Second Madam meeting in the meditation room during the day. She resented Second Madam for being admired by you, so she gave me a packet of medicine powder to put in the food and gave it to you to drink under the name of Second Madam."

The servant was unwilling to do it, so the third mistress threatened her with the indenture. Left with no other choice, the servant had to put the poison in the tofu soup.

Third Grandma said it was just a medicine that would give you a headache for a few days and sow discord between you and Second Grandma. She never expected it to be an aphrodisiac.

"This servant knows her crime and begs Third Master for mercy. Please don't sell me off; spare my life."

"You're spouting nonsense!" Shen Mingzhu was furious that Qiu Chan had turned the tables on her. "When did I order you to drug Third Master? Am I crazy to scheme to make you my husband's woman?"

The cicada lowered its head and sobbed, seemingly unsure how to defend itself.

Shen Qingtan said, "Second sister, Qiu Chan is an old servant of yours. Mother specially kept her to secure your favor. If you suspect that I have an improper relationship with my brother-in-law, that's why you sacrificed Qiu Chan to make him hate me. Qiu Chan's innocence has been ruined because of you. You should decide to give her a proper status."

If Qiu Chan harbors selfish motives and deliberately schemes against her brother-in-law to climb the social ladder, then such a cunning and treacherous maidservant is at your disposal to be sold off.”

Shen Qingtan's words were very fair and impartial.

Shen Mingzhu panicked, afraid that Zhao Jue might actually find out something. But then she thought, even if he did find out, it wouldn't matter; her goal was to scheme against Zhao Yi.

She steadied herself and said to Zhao Jue, "Third Master, go and find out the truth and clear my name."

Zhao Jue did not miss the fleeting panic in Shen Mingzhu's eyes, while Shen Qingtan remained calm and composed, appearing as if she had nothing to hide.

He couldn't help but think about Qiu Chan's words, and then about Shen Qingtan's last words to Shen Mingzhu. The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.

At this moment, Zhao Jue's attendant arrived: "Third Master."

Zhao Jue ordered, "Go and search the room where Third Mistress is staying." After a pause, he added, "Also, ask two old women to search Third Mistress and her maids."

Shen Mingzhu's pupils contracted, and all the color drained from her face.