Chapter 904: Evil Receives Evil

"Liu Shiliu? So Granny Gu’s real name isn’t Pan Shuangniang."

"She also has a sister. Come, let’s see if they look alike? Oh wow, look at those distinctive eyes passed down the family. They really do look quite similar!"

The curious crowd squeezed in, craning their necks to look at Leng Pipa.

Leng Pipa looks more gentle than Granny Gu, and her distinctive eyes aren’t as pronounced. But at a glance, they really do seem quite alike.

"Tsk tsk, even with that appearance, she managed to catch Lord Lai’s eye and bore so many children."

Some nosy townsfolk asked Lord Lai, "Lord Lai, what did you see in Granny Gu? Was she a fairy in her youth?"

Lord Lai was dumbfounded by Lady Lai’s move and had no time to respond to the curious crowd, pointing at Leng Pipa and another old woman, "What benefits did Mrs. Tao give you to help her frame me like this!"

Then he pleaded with Lord Magistrate, "My Lord, I am innocent. It was Mrs. Lai Tao, stricken with hysterics after our child passed away, who specifically found these two old women to falsely accuse me. My relationship with Mrs. Gu Pan is pure, without any affair!"

The curious crowd couldn’t hold back after hearing this and rebuked him, "Lord Lai, how come whenever someone comes forward as a witness, you claim they’re intentionally framing you? Are all those who don’t help you considered bad people? Lady Lai is your wife! If even she is against you, maybe you should reflect on yourself? If you hadn’t committed so many wrongs, would your wife act out of righteous indignation and expose you?"

Magistrate Gu was a bit surprised; you folks barely know any words but you’re using idioms.

Lord Lai was tongue-tied after the rebuke, and Lawyer Wu threatened, "How dare you insolent peasants, speak slanderously about court officials again, and I will immediately file a lawsuit against you. You’ll find yourself thrown in prison!"

"Pah!" The insulted individual was completely unfazed, spitting at Lawyer Wu, "Court official? If your Lord really did conspire with Granny Gu to murder her husband, would he still keep his position?"

Lawyer Wu was furious, while Lady Lai saw this, a scornful smile played upon her lips. Like owner, like pet; Lai Zhi wanders aimlessly, attracting all types of riffraff. Lawyer Wu is like a brainless proud rooster, always looking down his nose at others, yet if real skill is involved, he wouldn’t match up to even a fingertip of Steward Yue.

Unfortunately, the one person who could truly assist Lai Zhi, Steward Yue, is already gone.

Granny Gu looked at the situation, feeling very uneasy. Why did Leng Pipa come? Shouldn’t she have died long ago? Years went by without word, yet suddenly she appeared.

And a birthmark?

Granny Gu was puzzled; it seemed she didn’t have any significant birthmarks.

Magistrate Gu and Judge Tang were delighted; things had taken an unexpected turn. Originally, they thought they’d lose to Lord Lai today, but unexpectedly Leng Pipa appeared.

"Leng Pipa, Lady Lai says you know where Granny Gu’s birthmark is. Speak quickly!" Magistrate Gu ordered. As long as the birthmark matches, then Granny Gu and Lord Lai’s lies will be exposed.

With reverence, Leng Pipa bowed to Magistrate Gu and said, "Little Sister’s birthmark is rather special, located atop her head, it’s about the size of half a fingernail. She herself may not know it exists; it was first discovered when she was a newborn with sparse hair. As she grew older and her hair became fuller, and the copper mirror distorted reflections, it became hard to see."

Upon hearing this, Granny Gu finally panicked. She seemed to recall a maid mentioning her head bleeding when she washed her hair once.

She touched it then and didn’t find any blood, thinking the maid was lying. After all, at that time they were all potential maids who wouldn’t hesitate to kill each other.

Granny Gu screamed, spitting out words, "Lies, lies!"

Rather than argue about lies, isn’t it easier to just see for oneself?

Magistrate Gu immediately ordered the government official, "Come now, unravel Granny Gu’s hair and see if there is a birthmark on her head."

"Yes," Squad Leader Zhang stepped up, intending to unravel Granny Gu’s hair. Lord Lai hastily ordered his servants to block, causing Magistrate Gu to rage, slamming the gavel, "Lord Lai, reckless behavior in court! What do you intend? Is this court your private property? Just because you have backing, do you think you can behave so arrogantly? If the noble behind you finds out about your brazen actions, they might not tolerate you!"

The fact that Lord Lai has backing is well-known, but not spoken aloud. When it is spoken, it means true face-off.

Lord Lai’s heart sank; Magistrate Gu truly intends to break ties.

Elder Gu charged over, blocking the Lai Family, yelling, "Get the hell out! Mrs. Gu Pan is my wife. What does your Lai Family have to do with any of this? Controlling heaven and earth, are you trying to meddle in another man’s wife’s affairs too?"

Elder Gu was extremely angry, wanting to know the truth and wishing not to be swayed by the Lai Family.

Squad Leader Zhang seized the opportunity, bypassing the Lai Family’s servants, reaching Granny Gu, unravelling her hair, revealing a birthmark about an inch from atop her head, the size of half a fingernail.

The birthmark is bloody red, looking like it’s bleeding at first glance.

Squad Leader Zhang promptly reported to Magistrate Gu, "My Lord, there’s indeed a red birthmark exactly as Leng Pipa described."

Given the gravity of the matter, Magistrate Gu and Judge Tang personally inspected Granny Gu’s head.

"Indeed so, Granny Gu is the Lai Family’s Liu Shiliu."

"Mmm mmm mmm, no!" Granny Gu panicked, vehemently denying. She couldn’t admit being Liu Shiliu; acknowledging this would spell doom for Master Zhi.

Upon hearing, Elder Gu rushed over, seeing the red birthmark on Granny Gu’s head, astonished... Indeed, a birthmark exists; Pan Shuangniang truly is Lai Zhi’s maid Liu Shiliu!

The maid, Liu Shiliu, Lai Zhi, Lord Lai, Yuan Jinzhi, Gu Youwen... secretly meeting at Lin’s Embroidery Shop for years, the last meeting resulting in Little Sister Gu’s birth.

Elder Gu’s mind was swarmed with images of Granny Gu secretly meeting with Lord Lai, the covers concealing their actions, with each child springing forth from beneath them, leaving him standing outside catching each little bastard!

"Ah!" Elder Gu screamed in fury, going berserk, beating Granny Gu, "Wretch, you wretch, I’ll end you, end you!"

With several slaps, he tugged at Granny Gu’s hair, smacking her multiple times.

Granny Gu was paralyzed, unable to move, enduring the beating, her cheeks swollen and bruised, covered in scratches, with handfuls of hair pulled loose, bleeding slightly.

Granny Gu wished to deny, but Lady Lai presented a book and a jade pendant to Magistrate Gu, "Lord Magistrate, this is the Lai Family’s Slave Registration Book with Liu Shiliu’s name. She was sold months after my sister married in but wasn’t sent far. Learned Lai bought her back, gave her a new identity, and kept her hidden as a mistress."