Chapter 136: Magistrate Li Wants a Divorce

After returning from the shop, Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruizhen read through the letter once more.

“Husband, should we deliver this letter directly to the Emperor?” Du Wanchun asked Zhou Ruizhen.

Zhou Ruizhen’s gaze darkened as he stared at the letter for a long time. “The people who framed my mother back then have already disappeared. A single letter might not be enough to bring down Consort Wu from her position.”

Du Wanchun nodded. “Then what do you plan to do?”

Holding the letter up to the light, Zhou Ruizhen studied the name Liu Xiangxiang written on it and said slowly, “If Liu Niangzi’s sister is still alive, everything will be much easier to resolve.”

Du Wanchun followed his gaze. “Husband, there’s a chance she’s still alive.”

Zhou Ruizhen turned to look at her. “Why do you think so?”

Resting her chin on her hand, Du Wanchun pondered for a moment before replying, “Think about it, husband. Liu Niangzi and Liu Xiangxiang are biological sisters. Liu Xiangxiang knew Consort Wu’s secret. If she were dead, would Liu Niangzi still be alive? I believe Consort Wu deliberately kept Liu Niangzi alive to use her as bait to lure out Liu Xiangxiang.”

Zhou Ruizhen fell into deep thought. “You make a good point. The eldest son of the Sun family has close ties to Consort Wu, and he has been residing in Qingzhou Prefecture. It seems he was placed here to keep an eye on Liu Niangzi.”

Du Wanchun nodded. “That seems highly likely.”

Zhou Ruizhen slowly stood up. “If we can find Liu Xiangxiang before they do, and combine her testimony with this letter, even if the Emperor wanted to protect Consort Wu, he wouldn’t be able to.”

Du Wanchun followed him. “Husband, we must be cautious of that Sun family elder brother and sister-in-law. We can’t let them report our movements to those in the capital.”

Zhou Ruizhen carefully stored the letter away and pulled Du Wanchun into his embrace. In a low voice, he said, “The Sun family will meet their downfall sooner or later for their crimes of murder and arson.”

Du Wanchun gazed out the window and nodded in firm agreement.

—

The massive fire in Cheng’an County, which resulted in casualties, quickly reached the ears of Prefect Zheng in Qingzhou.

Magistrate Li wasted no time in filing charges against Lady Li, as well as the Sun family elder brother and sister-in-law, before Prefect Zheng.

The Sun family elder brother, emboldened by his past relationship with Consort Wu, carried himself arrogantly in front of Prefect Zheng, as if he were royalty.

“Who says I set the fire? Which one of you saw it with your own eyes?” Sun scoffed coldly.

Magistrate Li pointed at him and shouted, “If not you, then who?! You were the one who caused Liu Niangzi’s death!”

Sun folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Magistrate Li, evidence matters in all things. You can’t just assume I set the fire just because I had a grudge against Liu Niangzi. You should know that the weather has been dry, and accidental fires are common.”

“What about the carriages? The ones blocking the road!” Magistrate Li trembled with anger.

Sun sneered. “And what do those carriages have to do with me? Magistrate Li, you’re an official of this county. How can you convict me without solid proof?”

Lady Li, standing beside him, chimed in with arrogance, “That’s right, husband! You just want to divorce me, so you’re making false accusations against my brother.”

Magistrate Li’s hatred for these people burned deep, especially for his wife, Lady Sun. If he had ever felt any lingering affection for her as his wife in the past, now he had nothing but loathing.

If it weren’t for Lady Sun, he would have already married Liu Niangzi. They might even have had a child by now, living happily as a family.

But what was the reality?

His originally intended bride had been switched out by Lady Sun. Not only that, she had been replaced by a vicious woman who brought chaos to his household.

And then there was his eldest son

Madam Sun had spoiled her eldest son since he was a child. No matter whether he was right or wrong, she always defended him, raising him into the irresponsible man he was today.

Now, having countless women outside was already bad enough, but Madam Sun was still busy arranging concubines for him.

One wasn’t enough—she arranged a second.

The more Magistrate Li thought about it, the angrier he became. “Sun Ying! This all happened because of you! How dare you still have the audacity to speak here?”

Lady Li turned pale from her husband’s rebuke. She knelt beside him, crying as she pleaded, “Husband, I swear it wasn’t me! I admit I don’t like that wretched woman surnamed Liu, but I never ordered my elder brother to set fire to her shop! Please believe me, husband!”

Magistrate Li’s hand trembled as he pointed at her. “My entire life has been ruined by you!”

With that, he took out the divorce letter he had prepared earlier. “Our marriage has come to an end! Sign this and leave my household as soon as possible!”

Lady Li was stunned. “Husband, are you really so heartless toward me? I bore you a son and a daughter!”

Magistrate Li’s face twisted in pain. If not for their children, he would have killed Sun Ying himself.

Her elder brother, Master Sun, stepped forward to shield his sister. “Sister, you don’t need a man like him. I will find you a better marriage!”

Lady Li burst into loud sobs.

Governor Zheng, watching this family dispute unfold, rubbed his temples as a headache began to form. “Magistrate Li, I will personally assign people to investigate the fire at the Cheng’an County shop. However, as for your family matters, please handle them in your own home.”

Magistrate Li clenched his teeth and shot a sharp glare at the Sun family and Lady Li before bowing to Governor Zheng. “Understood, Governor Zheng.”

Governor Zheng had always been a fair and just official. Seeing that he was personally taking charge of the investigation into Liu Niangzi’s shop fire, Magistrate Li felt reassured. He left Lady Li behind and stormed home in anger.

Qingzhou Prefecture was still some distance away from Cheng’an County.

Lady Li and the Sun family hurried after him, following him all the way back to the Li residence.

The moment Magistrate Li stepped through the doors of his home, his eldest son, Young Master Li, and his second daughter, Miss Li, rushed toward him.

“Father, you can’t abandon our mother just for that cheap woman who sells cosmetics!”

Young Master Li shouted, his plump face flushed with anger, his small eyes burning with rage.