Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Tan Bawang’s Righteous Accusations

“I also did not expect to meet Miss Mu here. Back then, you claimed to be from the Han family. You made me search for you for quite some time!”

Tan Bawang’s gaze grew increasingly dark and vicious. In his heart, he wished he could tear Mu Yunyao into ten thousand pieces.

Back then, on the streets of Huai’an City, she had taken an oil-paper umbrella and beaten him soundly, forcing him to rest in bed for more than a month. What enraged him even more was that ever since she had kicked him between the legs, he had discovered that he could no longer function as a man. He had invited every famous physician he could find, yet there had not been the slightest improvement. How could he not hate her until his heart bled?

“Did I ever say that? I have been busy with many things recently, so my memory has become worse and worse. Why do I not remember ever saying I was from the Han family? I wonder what instruction Young Master Tan has for me, coming here with such great fanfare?”

Tan Bawang gave a cold laugh.

“You snatched away my concubine, yet you still ask why I came here? Miss Mu’s ability to play the fool is truly admirable.”

“Young Master Tan has many concubines in your residence. Unfortunately, I have had no fate to meet even one of them. Besides, my residence does not lack servants to wait on me. Why would I snatch your concubine?”

Tan Bawang was so angry his insides trembled. His concubines had all been chosen with the utmost care. How had they become servants waiting on others once they passed through her mouth? Although he himself did not take those concubines seriously, hearing Mu Yunyao say this made him feel as if she had stabbed him where it hurt.

“Miss Mu, stop playing tricks. Hand over Cai Qing!”

“The concubine you speak of is Cai Qing?”

“That is right. This morning, I already signed a contract with Cai Qing. She willingly entered my residence as a concubine, with Matchmaker Liu of Jingling City as witness. I was just about to discuss bringing her back to Huai’an City when you sent people to forcibly snatch her away. I would like to ask you, what reasoning is there in that?”

Mu Yunyao frowned.

The hatred in Tan Bawang’s heart burned fiercely. Seeing her like this, he could not help laughing inwardly with delight. In order to make the contract real, he had even found a matchmaker. Now that the evidence was conclusive, he wanted to see how Mu Yunyao would still argue her way out of this.

“What is it? Nothing to say? According to the laws of the Dali Dynasty, the crime of snatching away another person’s concubine without cause is punishable by exile eight hundred li away. Mu Yunyao, if you kowtow and admit your mistake now, perhaps this young master may let you off!”

The surrounding commoners began discussing among themselves. They did not know Tan Bawang and his people, but who did not know Mu Yunyao? Now, hearing that she had snatched away someone else’s concubine, they could not help feeling curious. If a man had snatched another person’s concubine, that would still make some sense. But why would Miss Mu snatch someone’s concubine?

Someone could not hold back and stepped forward to speak for Mu Yunyao.

“This young master should not make reckless accusations. How could Miss Mu snatch your concubine without reason? There must be some misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding could there be? The one who went to snatch her was that subordinate of hers called Liu Liang. He even injured two of my followers. Men, quickly carry them forward and let everyone see how miserable my two followers are!”

As he spoke, two men were truly carried forward. Their faces were bruised purple, and blood covered them. They lay on stretchers and wailed without stopping. They looked extremely miserable, causing many people around them to retreat two steps, not daring to look at them directly.

Tan Bawang’s face was filled with anger.

“Mu Yunyao, you simply have no regard for law or order. You have gone too far in bullying others. Hurry and hand over my concubine, Cai Qing. Otherwise, I will report this to the authorities right now and ask the County Magistrate to arrest and interrogate you.”

Someone quietly spoke to Mu Yunyao.

“Miss Mu, it is not worth making such a fuss over a concubine. If that Cai Qing truly is in your residence, you may as well hand her over to him. A contract has already been signed. No matter how one puts it, she is already his person…”

Mu Yunyao shook her head slightly.

“Many thanks to this young master, but the matter is not as Tan Bawang says.”

Seeing Mu Yunyao shake her head, Tan Bawang gave a sinister laugh inwardly. His eyes carried the pleasure of revenge that was about to arrive.

“Mu Yunyao, you keep refusing to hand her over. Could it be that something has happened to my concubine in your residence? I remember now. Cai Qing once told me that her younger brother Nan’er accidentally offended you before. Could it be that you held a grudge because of this, captured both Cai Qing and Nan’er, and wanted to take revenge on them?”

“Do not speak nonsense. Miss Mu is not that kind of person!”

“That is right. Miss Mu selflessly taught embroidery stitches and helped the women of Jingling City gain a skill to rely on. How could she be such a vicious person as you say?”

“It is hard to know a person’s heart by their face. Who knows whether she was only fishing for fame? If she is not guilty, why has she still refused to hand the person over? Does she think forcibly occupying another person’s concubine is reasonable?”

Tan Bawang pretended to cry out in surprise.

“Could it be that you really did something to Cai Qing? Hurry and hand her over. If you keep making excuses, I will bring people inside to search for her!”

Steward Qin immediately led people to guard the entrance.

Tan Bawang gave a cold laugh. Seeing Mu Yunyao act like this, he became certain that Cai Qing had taken the poison and died, and that Mu Yunyao felt guilty, which was why she refused to hand her over. His arrogance grew even stronger.

“Mu Yunyao, do you think this can cover up your crime? Let me tell you, I have already sent someone to report this to the authorities. Today, I must seek justice for Cai Qing!”

As he was speaking, the crowd suddenly parted. County Magistrate Zhao, dressed in official robes, entered with constables.

“I heard there was a case involving human life here, so this official came to take a look. Miss Mu, what exactly is going on?”

“Greetings, Lord Zhao. I merely brought Miss Cai Qing and her two younger brothers to my home so they could recover from their injuries. This Young Master Tan came to make trouble at my door and insisted on falsely accusing me of snatching away his concubine. He also repeatedly hinted that I had murdered someone. To be honest, I am not clear on what exactly happened either.”

County Magistrate Zhao turned to look at Tan Bawang.

“Who are you, and why are you causing trouble here?”

“Greetings, Lord Zhao. I am Tan Bawang, the young owner of Caiyue Pavilion. My concubine, Cai Qing, was captured by Mu Yunyao. Now her life or death is unknown. That is why I went to the yamen to report the case. I hope Lord Zhao will handle this impartially.”

County Magistrate Zhao frowned.

“No matter who is involved, this official will handle it impartially. Explain the case clearly.”

Seeing that County Magistrate Zhao intended to question the case right there in the street, more and more commoners gathered around. Because the constables were present, they only watched quietly and did not dare make a loud noise.

Tan Bawang immediately recounted the matter in vivid detail. Especially when he spoke of Mu Yunyao sending people to capture Cai Qing and A'Mao, his expression became particularly filled with righteous indignation.

Matchmaker Liu also stepped forward to testify for Tan Bawang, saying that Cai Qing had indeed pressed her handprint onto the document, signed the contract, and willingly agreed to become Tan Bawang’s concubine.

As for the two beaten followers, their words were even more pitiful. Those who heard them felt sorrow, and those who listened shed tears. Quite a few people could not help feeling sympathy for them.

After County Magistrate Zhao finished listening, his expression remained stern, making it difficult to read his thoughts.

“Miss Mu, is the matter truly as Tan Bawang says?”

Mu Yunyao shook her head slightly.

“I am not very clear on the details either. It would be better to let Cai Qing speak for herself.”

“What?”

Tan Bawang could not hold back a cry of surprise. According to their plan, should Cai Qing not have already taken poison and killed herself by now?

Mu Yunyao looked over. A trace of ridicule flashed across the corners of her lips.

“What is it? Young Master Tan seems rather disappointed that Cai Qing is still alive?”

“How could that be? I am only afraid that you secretly threatened her…”

“From what Young Master Tan said earlier, you and Miss Cai Qing share mutual affection and deep love. You even made a special trip from Huai’an City to this place specifically to bring her back. With such deep feelings between you, how could she harm you because of one or two threats?”

Mu Yunyao turned to look at Jin Qiao.

“Go invite Miss Cai Qing out.”

“Yes, Miss.”

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