binnovel Chapter 237 I Know It's You
Chapter 237 I Know It's You
Looking at her mother, Bai Chanzi, she said,
"Mother, do you find it tiring to take care of two children?"
Bai Chanzi smiled and shook her head.
"I'm so happy! This courtyard used to be so quiet, but now it's much more lively and there's a lot more laughter. I also want to thank you for bringing these two little darlings over to keep me entertained."
Huan'er added,
"That's right, these two kids are so sensible and obedient, they never cause us any trouble, they're so well-behaved, we love them all."
Xiao Caiwei also smiled and said,
"Indeed, when I was bedridden, these two always came to see me, talk to me, and never made a fuss. They were truly two well-behaved children."
Suddenly, the image of Meiniang's alluring face flashed into Qiao Qingshu's mind. If Meiniang heard these words, she would surely be very happy.
After having a meal in the bamboo forest, Qiao Qingshu returned to the Xiao family.
The Xiao family had already hung up white banners, and the entire mansion was shrouded in an inexplicable silence, which was very desolate.
Heading into the inner courtyard, two coffins were prominently displayed in the main house, their blackness taking up half the room.
There were young maids kneeling and burning paper money, but not a single master of the Xiao family was to be seen.
The eldest branch of the Xiao family vanished almost overnight. Madam Xing and the eldest son both died, the only legitimate son, Xiao Chengyan, went mad, and the princess divorced and returned to the palace. It seemed that the eldest branch had nothing left.
Just as Qiao Qingshu was about to turn and leave, she saw a thin figure blocking the doorway.
Liu Wan'er, dressed in mourning clothes, glared at Qiao Qingshu with a venomous expression and gritted her teeth.
"Did you do this?!"
Liu Wan'er married Xiao Chengyan because she dreamed of becoming a concubine and empress in the palace. Now that Xiao Chengyan is not a prince and has gone mad, her dream has been completely shattered.
Qiao Qingshu squinted as she examined Liu Wan'er, knowing that Liu Wan'er had been having a difficult time lately.
With Princess Yongxian keeping her in check and Madam Xing keeping her in check, although Xiao Chengyan would still visit her from time to time, she had no dignity whatsoever living in the Xiao family.
However, for the sake of the future, Liu Wan'er endured it even though she was unwilling, because what she wanted was in the near future.
Liu Wan'er looked much more haggard than when she was in the Qiao family. After all, she was a concubine and didn't eat or drink very well.
Being suppressed, she naturally always showed a look of suppressed anger and grievance on her face.
Now, her face was etched with an inescapable layer of regret, remorse, and resentment. That expression made her delicate eyebrows and eyes appear even more sharp and mean. She had lost all her former charm, leaving only endless desire, making her look utterly repulsive.
Looking at her unhappy face, Qiao Qingshu smiled.
"Do you know, Liu Wan'er, the reason I held back from killing you for so long was so that you could see your beautiful dream shattered. I wanted to see for yourself how resentful, unwilling, and frustrated you would feel."
Laughter rose slowly, and Qiao Qingshu said,
"Looking back now, it really feels satisfying."
Enraged, Liu Wan'er lunged forward to hit Qiao Qingshu, but Xia Zhi, standing behind Qiao Qingshu, held her down.
Liu Wan'er was restrained, but she still looked up and shouted defiantly.
"Qiao Qingshu, I won't let you get away with this! You bitch!"
Qiao Qingshu waved her hand and said,
"Please come up."
Two officials walked in carrying a portrait, glanced at Liu Wan'er, and said...
"Damn, it really is him! After all these years on the run, we've finally caught him!"
Back then, Liu Wan'er and her daughter escaped on their way to exile, and this escape lasted for decades. If it weren't for the Qiao family's deliberate protection, they would probably have been captured long ago.
Now that Qiao Qingshu has personally reported Liu Wan'er to the yamen, the officials and soldiers will naturally come to take her away. Since her mother is already dead, they will arrest Liu Wan'er and take her back to report!
The two officers bowed slightly to Qiao Qingshu.
"Thank you so much for your help, Madam!"
Qiao Qingshu smiled and nodded.
The soldiers kicked Liu Wan'er, tied her up, and carried her away.
Liu Wan'er was still unwilling to give up, and twisted her neck to shout.
"I am the concubine of the eldest son of the Xiao family's main branch. I am extremely favored. Let's see which of you dares to arrest me!"
The official who was arresting people was a burly man who found Liu Wan'er's arguing annoying.
He slapped her across the face and yelled gruffly.
"You call yourself the eldest son of the first wife? The first wife is gone, and the eldest son has gone mad. What are you pretending for, you old hag!"
The slap was so powerful that it made Liu Wan'er's head buzz, and she didn't come to her senses for a long time.
Qiao Qingshu then slowly moved in front of Liu Wan'er, smiled, and whispered meaningfully in her ear,
"How about I tell you another secret?"
Liu Wan'er looked up at her and saw Qiao Qingshu smiling and saying,
Do you know why you can't get pregnant now?
Liu Wan'er was startled. How did she know that she was desperately seeking medical treatment to conceive?
After losing a child, Liu Wan'er was unwilling to accept it and hoped that she could get pregnant with Xiao Chengyan's child as soon as possible to consolidate her position. However, she tried all kinds of medicines and folk remedies, but none of them seemed to work. She even drank a bowl of talisman water, but her belly showed no signs of pregnancy.
She thought that the loss of her first pregnancy had damaged her vital energy, making it difficult for her to conceive again, so she took a lot of nourishing medicine.
But she never showed her eagerness to have a child; she did it all in secret.
How could Qiao Qingshu have known!
A strange light flashed in Qiao Qingshu's tears as she smiled and whispered in her ear,
"Because I have already given you a potion that will prevent you from having children, so you will never be able to have any more children in this lifetime."
After speaking, her eyes gleamed with the satisfaction of revenge, and Qiao Qingshu's mind drifted to the image of the child who had died young in her womb in her previous life.
My child, your mother has avenged you...
Qiao Qingshu murmured silently.
Liu Wan'er's eyes widened in shock, her whole body trembling, and she screamed.
"Ah!! Qiao Qingshu! You heartless, despicable woman!"
The officer beside her frowned. Seeing how arrogant she was, he slapped Liu Wan'er hard across the face again and dragged her away.
Watching that departing figure, Qiao Qingshu stood there for a long time.
Qiao Qingshu turned her head and looked at the white silk hanging on the high-hanging plaque. She remembered that when she had just returned from her rebirth, when she was in charge of her mother's funeral, the white was also the first thing she saw.
But her mood was completely different now; she had vented most of her anger.
I feel so happy!
At that moment, an elderly figure slowly walked in, supporting herself on the door frame. It was Madam Xiao.
Seeing that the old lady was walking alone and her steps were unsteady, Qiao Qingshu hurriedly went to help her.
Madam Xiao shook off her hand and slowly walked alone to the altar, where she lit two sticks of incense.
Qiao Qingshu stared at the suddenly aged figure, unsure of what to say. She turned to leave.
Then I heard that old voice come from behind me.
"I know it was you. If it weren't for you, Zhijie wouldn't have been able to return to the royal family so smoothly."