Chapter 134: Someone Set a Fire

Not long after, Magistrate Li arrived with officers from the yamen. In the past, he wouldn’t even dare utter a word against the Sun family, but today, he directly arrested the troublemakers from the Sun family and brought them to the yamen.

He threw the divorce letter and a list of Lady Li’s crimes in front of Lady Li’s elder brother and warned him that if they dared to cause trouble for Liu Niangzi again, he would report the matter to Prefect Zheng.

Prefect Zheng was known for his integrity and would never cover up for the Sun family, no matter their connections with the Wu family.

Hearing this, the Sun family finally quieted down.

However, Lady Li refused to give up. She conspired with her brother and sister-in-law, planning to harm Liu Niangzi.

That night, just as Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruizhen had gone to bed, they were awakened by a commotion outside the courtyard.

It was Zhou Zhao.

“Brother, Sister-in-law, something happened! The shop is in trouble!”

Startled, Du Wanchun hurriedly put on her clothes and rushed out. “What happened to the shop?”

Zhou Zhao anxiously replied, “Just now, Liu Niangzi’s rouge shop caught fire! The flames are spreading fast, and they’re about to reach our store!”

Zhou Ruizhen, already getting dressed, stepped forward. “Has anyone gone to put out the fire?”

Zhou Zhao quickly responded, “Yes, but several carriages have been deliberately parked near Liu Niangzi’s shop, blocking access. No one can get close.”

Without hesitation, Zhou Ruizhen strode forward. “I’ll go see for myself.”

Du Wanchun quickly followed. “Husband, I’m coming with you.”

Zhou Ruizhen turned back, taking her hand. “It’s dangerous. Stay home and wait for me.”

Du Wanchun looked toward the burning shops in the distance. “It’s fine. I’ll just watch from afar.”

Zhou Ruizhen wanted to refuse, but Zhou Zhao urged, “Brother, there’s no time to waste! We have to hurry!”

Du Wanchun also insisted, “Let’s go, husband.”

After a brief hesitation, Zhou Ruizhen decided to bring her along.

By the time they arrived, Liu Niangzi’s shop had already been reduced to ashes.

As everyone scrambled in panic, a sudden bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a torrential downpour.

“It’s raining?” Zhou Zhao, still seated in the carriage, stretched out his hand to catch the falling raindrops, his face full of surprise. “The moon was just shining brightly, and now it’s suddenly pouring?”

Du Wanchun smiled. “This is a good thing. The rain will put out the fire.”

As the rain continued to pour heavily, the fire at the Liu family shop was soon extinguished, leaving nothing but a pitch-black, charred ruin.

At that moment, Madam Xu came running over, her face filled with terror. “Liu—Liu Niangzi is still inside the shop!” she cried out.

Since Liu Niangzi lived alone, she had chosen to stay in her shop for convenience.

Without hesitation, Madam Xu rushed toward the burning remnants of the shop.

Inside, everything was pitch black. Even if someone had been there, they would likely have been reduced to ashes by now.

Meanwhile, the carriage that had been blocking the road had quietly left.

Madam Xu looked up, her face contorted in fury. “It must have been Madam Li! She was the one who sent people to set the fire! She was the one who had that carriage block the road!”

The onlookers murmured among themselves.

“That Madam Li is truly ruthless!”

Before long, Magistrate Li arrived at the scene. He stood frozen in shock at the devastation before him, then suddenly dropped to his knees and began to sob uncontrollably.

Madam Xu kicked him hard. “Why are you crying?! Will crying bring her back?! It’s all because of you, you coward! If you couldn’t protect her, why did you ever get involved with her in the first place?! This is all your fault!”

Madam Xu had known Liu Niangzi for several years, and their bond had grown deep.

Magistrate Li fell to the ground from the impact of the kick, then frantically crawled toward the charred ruins.

Just then, someone noticed something was wrong. “Quick! Stop Magistrate Li!”

A group of people rushed forward, restraining the magistrate before he could take his own life.

Looking utterly devastated, he was supported by his officers, but soon after, he collapsed in a dead faint from grief.

Zhou Ruiyuan quickly stepped forward, dispersing the crowd before leading Du Wanchun back to their shop.

Zhou Zhao shut the shop doors behind them, sighing. “So Shopkeeper Liu is really dead? What a terrible shame.”

Du Wanchun sat down, took a sip of tea, and then smiled. “She’s not dead. Shopkeeper Liu is alive.”

The moment she finished speaking, a woman suddenly stepped out from the inner room.