Chapter 105: Miss Mo Learns the Truth

Miss Mo looked different from the gentle women of Jiangnan. Even while pregnant, she carried an air of heroism and appeared to have a straightforward personality.

After hearing Zhang Qiuhua’s words, she immediately took a handful of scented pills and handed them to Zhang Qiuhua. “How much silver is this in total?”

Zhang Qiuhua was momentarily stunned, standing frozen in place, unable to reach out and accept the payment.

Du Wanchun quickly stepped forward and roughly calculated. “Madam, the total is six taels of silver.”

Miss Mo immediately took out six taels of silver from her pocket and handed them to Du Wanchun.

After receiving the silver, Du Wanchun smiled and said, “Madam, I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Are you from out of town?”

Miss Mo, who liked the Zhou family’s fragrances, was happy to chat with Du Wanchun. “No, we are from Cheng’an County, but we spent many years beyond the borders.”

Du Wanchun feigned surprise and said, “Beyond the borders? There are frequent battles there. My sister Zhang’s husband is serving as a soldier there.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Zhang Qiuhua standing beside her.

Miss Mo nodded slightly. “Yes, there have been many battles beyond the borders, though things have improved in recent years.”

Du Wanchun quickly added, “Madam, may I ask for your help with something?”

Miss Mo asked, “What is it?”

Du Wanchun hurriedly explained, “My sister Zhang’s husband went to serve beyond the borders three years ago. Their child is now over two years old, yet he has not returned. I was hoping you could help inquire about his whereabouts and see if he is still alive.”

Upon hearing this, Miss Mo suddenly recalled what had happened yesterday. She looked at Zhang Qiuhua and asked, “The sister Zhang you’re talking about—is it her?”

Du Wanchun nodded.

Miss Mo furrowed her brows slightly. “Yesterday, she almost mistook my husband for hers.”

Zhang Qiuhua lowered her head, biting her lip, her body trembling slightly.

Du Wanchun quickly stepped in to shield her and explained, “Sister Zhang truly misses her husband too much.”

Miss Mo was a kind-hearted person and asked directly, “What is her husband’s name? I can send someone to inquire.”

Du Wanchun slowly replied, “Her husband’s surname is Liu, and his given name is Shengyuan.”

Miss Mo was taken aback. “My husband’s surname is also Liu.”

Du Wanchun then continued, “Liu Shengyuan is his childhood name. He also has a formal name—Liu Hansheng.”

In reality, there was no such thing as a childhood name and a formal name. Liu Hansheng was the name he had deliberately changed for himself after securing a connection with Second Miss Mo.

Miss Mo’s face showed shock. “His name is really Liu Hansheng?!”

As she spoke, she didn’t forget to scrutinize Du Wanchun with a wary expression.

Without beating around the bush, Du Wanchun asked, “Madam, have you ever heard the story of Chen Shimei?”

Miss Mo’s face darkened, but she remained silent.

Du Wanchun continued at her own pace, “There was once a man named Chen Shimei who was deeply in love with his wife. Later, he traveled to the capital to take the imperial examination and became the top scholar. The emperor then selected him as the imperial son-in-law. Years passed with no news from him, so his wife took their child and went to the capital to find him. However, not only did Chen Shimei refuse to acknowledge them, but he even sent people to assassinate his wife and child in the middle of the night.”

As Miss Mo listened, her face gradually paled. However, she was not a weak woman who had spent her life confined to the inner chambers. She looked at Du Wanchun seriously and asked, “So, what you’re trying to tell me is that my husband is just like Chen Shimei—that he abandoned Sister Zhang here?”

Du Wanchun arched her brows and nodded slightly.

Miss Mo let out a cold snort. “And why should I believe you just because of a few words? Why should I believe you over my own husband?”

Du Wanchun remained composed and said, “Madam, since you have ties to the military, you should know that every soldier is recorded in the official registry. If you don’t believe me, you can check your husband’s household registration. See if he is listed as a resident of Changliu Village in Cheng’an County.”

Miss Mo was momentarily stunned.

Then, Du Wanchun leaned closer and whispered a few words into Zhang Qiuhua’s ear.

Zhang Qiuhua then took out a piece of poisoned pastry from her sleeve and handed it to Miss Mo. “Madam, the truth is, after Liu Shengyuan saw me yesterday, he came to find me. He even brought these pastries.”

Miss Mo lifted her gaze and immediately recognized them—they were pastries from Su Xiang Pavilion. She had asked Liu Shengyuan to buy pastries from there a few times after they returned home.

Zhang Qiuhua’s hands trembled slightly. “He brought these pastries for me and my child. They look good and smell fragrant—but they are poisoned.”

The word “poisoned” struck Miss Mo like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

She suddenly realized the gravity of the situation, and her brows slowly furrowed.

Last night, her husband had indeed behaved strangely. He had said he was going out to buy pastries for her, but he didn’t return until midnight—covered in stings from wasps.

Wasps were uncommon in Cheng’an County; they were usually only found in the nearby villages.

How could someone who merely went out to buy pastries suddenly be attacked by wasps? And why were his boots covered in mud?

At that moment, Miss Mo understood—her husband had lied to her last night.