Chapter 53

Chapter 53

The Lan Shan Temple was located in a remote area, and there were not many pilgrims visiting on ordinary days.

Concubine Liu's carriage stopped at the back gate of the Lan Shan Temple.

Xiao Chuchu, wrapped in swaddling clothes, stared wide-eyed - [they were behind the Buddha statue closest to the entrance of the pilgrims' courtyard!]

Concubine Liu's heart almost turned to stone when she heard this.

This shameless man had the audacity to hide behind the Buddha statue and engage in an illicit affair!

Concubine Liu gritted her teeth and said, "I came to the Lan Shan Temple with my mother once before, and the pilgrims usually stay in the courtyard behind the main entrance Buddha statue. Follow me."

Min Rou's face was deathly pale as she glanced at the little princess in the swaddling clothes, then at the retreating back of Concubine Liu.

She quickly suppressed the turbulent emotions welling up in her heart and hurried to follow.

They soon reached the entrance of the pilgrims' courtyard.

It wasn't long before voices were heard from behind the prayer Buddha statue at the artificial hill.

"Zhou Liang, what do we do now? Your grandfather has been imprisoned, and he has committed such a dishonorable act against your wife. My parents will never allow me to marry into your family."

The delicate voice of the young woman was anxious.Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

Then came the soothing, mellow voice of a man.

"Linr, I truly love you. I have been arguing with my wife daily, and we no longer have any feelings for each other. I'm planning to divorce her. Who would have thought this would happen?"

"But the pressing matter now is that I cannot let you marry into the Zhou family and bear the scrutiny of others, nor the Emperor's wrath."

These words from the man caused the deathly pale Min Rou standing next to Concubine Liu to seethe with rage.

It was the voice of Zhou Muxin!

The same voice that had been constantly doting on her!

Even if reduced to ashes, she would never mistake it.

But what was he saying? That he and his wife had been arguing daily and no longer had any feelings for each other?

Who was it that had been kneeling before her, tearfully begging her not to leave the Zhou family, not to leave him?

"Linr, you are the only one in my heart and mind. Ah, but you know that if I divorce her at this time, the Emperor will hate the Zhou family even more, and everyone will think I'm just a despicable person trying to get rid of a wife who has been violated."

Min Rou clenched her fists, her whole body trembling with anger.

"But, Zhou Liang, I'm already carrying your child..." came the sobbing voice of the young woman.

Concubine Liu, Consort Min, and even Min Rou were all stunned to hear this.

The daughter of the Minister of Justice had already been intimate with Zhou Muxin and was now pregnant with his child!?

[Damn, I knew it, she was already pregnant. No wonder in the novel, Aunt Min Rou didn't pass away for long, less than three months later, Zhou Muxin married the Minister of Justice's daughter!]

[It's obvious, they conceived before marriage, and her belly couldn't be hidden anymore, so they had to hurry and get married.]

Little Xiao Chuchu was engrossed in the juicy gossip.

"Linr, this child... cannot be kept."

"Mother said that a little ice water would only give the child a cold for a few days, and then it would be fine. This was Mother's idea, I couldn't persuade her not to do it, it has nothing to do with me--"

SLAP!

Before he could finish, Min Rou slapped him across the face.

The bystanders were all stunned.

Was this the admirable husband they had praised before?

He was truly despicable!

"Zhou Daren, stop your sophistry, just wait for your imprisonment." Concubine Liu sneered coldly.

Zhou Muxin was drenched in sweat, bewildered and at a loss.

How had he been exposed? How had Concubine Liu found out?

*

A small farmhouse in the suburbs of the capital.

The Emperor had asked the officials to rest, and the imperial censor Hong Xing secretly approached Lord Fang, the Minister of Justice.

But just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by a servant rushing in from the Fang household.

After whispering something to Lord Fang, the latter's expression turned grim.

"What's wrong? Is there trouble at home?" The imperial censor Hong Xing, who was trying to persuade Lord Fang to support the Empress's faction, asked with feigned concern.

Suddenly, a cup of hot tea was thrown in his face!

"Aah!" Hong Xing jumped up, scalded by the tea. "What are you doing?"

Lord Fang pointed at him angrily, his body trembling. "What am I doing?"

"I, Fang, swear that from this day on, I am your mortal enemy!"

He had only one daughter!

And she had been violated by the Zhou family faction!

Lord Fang angrily snatched the guard's sword, cut off his own sleeve, and threw it to the ground.

"From now on, I renounce our alliance!"

"This is to repay the kindness that Old Mr. Tong showed me all those years ago!"

Hong Xing stared in disbelief, wiping the tea water off his face. "You, you—"

Before he could question further, Emperor Xiao Yunzhou had already turned his gaze towards them.

Lord Fang, the Minister of Justice, immediately knelt before the Emperor.

Bowing his head to the ground!

"Your Majesty, I beg you to do justice for my young daughter!"

"The son of Zhou WuXin, a model student raised by the Empress's father, has deceived and humiliated my unmarried daughter!"