Five days later.
Chen Linchun had been having a great time in these five days. First, his plan had succeeded. Chen Ruxia had been disfigured. Although Chen Wanqiu didn't die, the Marchioness of Yong'an had already harbored hatred towards Chen Miaochun. With a little guidance, he believed she would also bear grudges against Chen Ruxia.
Then came the good news brought by Concubine Zhao. The Wang family members hadn't been redeemed, and a royal physician had selected three of them for a drug trial.
Concubine Zhao had been running around all day outside to save the three members of the Wang family and had also bribed people with silver, which was why she came back so late.
Just thinking about the look on Concubine Zhao's face when she told him about this, Chen Linchun couldn't help but laugh. She thought he was genuinely trying to save the Wang family, but little did she know that he had long wanted to get rid of the three of them.
Now that the royal physician had chosen the three members of the Wang family for the drug trial, it fulfilled Chen Linchun's wish.
Over the years, the Wang family had been leeching off Chen Linchun. They had taken a lot of money from him but had been harsh on Chen Miaochun and had even wanted to sell her.
Chen Linchun and Chen Ruxia had grown up together, but he disliked her extremely. After bringing Chen Miaochun back to the Marquis Mansion of Yong'an, Chen Linchun had hoped that Chen Miaochun would cause trouble for Chen Ruxia. He even wished that she could torture Chen Ruxia to death so that he could watch a good show of sisters fighting each other.
But Chen Miaochun was so useless that she had squandered her good cards. She had only been in the mansion for a few days and had already become annoying. She was no match for Chen Ruxia at all.
However, just thinking about Chen Ruxia's disfigurement and Chen Miaochun being burdened with a bad reputation, Chen Linchun couldn't help but feel happy.
So what if that bitch had left all her dowry to Chen Ruxia? Once Chen Ruxia died, it would still end up in his hands. And since Chen Miaochun had become the arsonist, she wouldn't have a good life in the future.
Thinking of all this, Chen Linchun walked briskly. He still had to urge Concubine Zhao and ask how long it would take for Zhao Pan'er to seduce Yan Mingli. He couldn't wait to send Chen Ruxia to her doom.
But this wasn't urgent. Just now, the Marquis of Yong'an had sent someone to call Chen Linchun to his study. He'd go to the study now and urge Concubine Zhao in the afternoon.
...
In the study of the Marquis Mansion of Yong'an.
The Marquis of Yong'an was standing in front of the desk. He was extremely tall and burly. His eyebrows and eyes were carved out of the same mold as Chen Miaochun's. Just standing there, he exuded a strong aura of intimidation.
Concubine Zhao was kneeling in front of the marquis, her eyes filled with tears. She looked so pitiful: "My lord, you must avenge me! Someone is so vicious that they drugged me... No wonder over the years, I've only had Pan'er with you..."
The woman's sobs were continuous and melodious, which also left the Marchioness of Yong'an, who was sitting beside them, stunned.
She was the step - wife who had entered the mansion less than ten years ago. Although she had heard of Concubine Zhao's shrewdness, this was the first time she had seen how Concubine Zhao behaved in private with the marquis. It was such a posture.
In front of the marquis, Concubine Zhao put on a very delicate and weak appearance. This was a trick she had often used when she was young. But as her daughter grew older, Concubine Zhao had stopped doing this. Now, with her kneeling and crying, the marquis's heart softened.
The marquis ignored his wife beside him and helped Concubine Zhao up, saying tenderly, "Who bullied you? With me here, don't be afraid."
The Marchioness of Yong'an sipped her tea silently, clenching the handkerchief in her hand. It wasn't her turn to speak yet.
Concubine Zhao leaned against the marquis and cried even more pitifully. Then she stamped her foot and said coquettishly, "It's, it's Wang Linchun!"
Hearing this name for the first time, the marquis hadn't reacted yet. Concubine Zhao then told the marquis all about Chen Linchun's background in one breath. She also confessed that she had known the truth for a long time.
Then Concubine Zhao glanced at the Marchioness of Yong'an and exposed that Chen Linchun had harmed the children in the mansion, including the Marchioness's prematurely deceased son.
This series of news hit the marquis like a thunderbolt. He suppressed his anger and ordered his servants to call Chen Linchun over. Then he reached out and grabbed Concubine Zhao's neck: "Bitch, are these words true?"
Concubine Zhao didn't struggle. Instead, she leaned closer on her own initiative.
She looked aggrieved: "My lord, it's my fault. But by the time I found out, it was already too late. The imperial edict for you to enfeoff the heir apparent had already been issued. I was afraid that if this matter was exposed, it would affect you."
This was also the reason why the former Marchioness of Yong'an didn't dare to look for her daughter openly. Concubine Zhao used this as an excuse and successfully won the marquis's soft heart.
After the marquis let go, Concubine Zhao slumped to the ground, falling at the marquis's feet. The Marchioness of Yong'an then began to cry softly.
The Marchioness of Yong'an pressed the corner of her eye with a handkerchief, acting as if she was on the verge of collapse: "My lord, that was our first child! He was actually harmed by a bastard. I originally didn't want to tell you, but I didn't expect this Wang Linchun to be so vicious. My lord, it was also Wang Linchun who disfigured Ruxia!"
Then the Marchioness of Yong'an told the maids to bring in the witnesses and evidence. Concubine Zhao seemed to be inspired and also said, "My lord, I also have evidence. Wang Linchun also wanted to save his own blood relatives."
Concubine Zhao and the Marchioness of Yong'an kept referring to him as "Wang Linchun". With both witnesses and evidence, the marquis's eyes turned red with anger. He gasped for breath and ordered someone to call Chen Linchun over.
As soon as Chen Linchun entered, the marquis told him to kneel down. Then he kicked him hard in the chest, kicking him until he spat out blood.
The marquis stared at him with a murderous look in his eyes: "Wretch! How dare you!"
Chen Linchun struggled to get up and still wanted to defend himself, but was hit in the face with the evidence. Looking at the iron - clad evidence in front of him, Chen Linchun still argued: "It's fake. All this is forged."
The Marchioness of Yong'an wiped her tears with a handkerchief, hiding the upward - turned corners of her mouth. The evidence was indeed forged by her.
Over the years, Chen Linchun had already destroyed all the evidence. But so what? Now she was in charge of the mansion. Whatever evidence Concubine Zhao needed, she could forge it.
If anyone was to blame, it was Chen Linchun for being too overbearing. He had not only harmed her son but also wanted to harm her daughter.
Seeing that the marquis didn't believe him, Chen Linchun quickly looked at Concubine Zhao. He was just about to plead for help: "Concubine Zhao, quickly help me explain..."
Concubine Zhao covered her face and said with a choked voice, "My lord, I've been given a sterilization drug. I can no longer bear children for you."
Chen Linchun finally noticed her. He couldn't help widening his eyes and said gnashing his teeth, "Bitch, how dare you betray me! I'll kill you..."
Before he could finish the word "you", Chen Linchun was kicked flying by the marquis.
The marquis had once held Chen Linchun in the palm of his hand. Now that he knew that Chen Linchun wasn't his own son and had even killed his own son, he wished he could kill him.
Chen Linchun covered his chest and spat out a few mouthfuls of blood: "Kill me! If you have the guts, kill me! You don't know this, do you? I gave you a sterilization drug. If you kill me, the Marquis Mansion will have no heirs!"
Amid the marquis's shock and anger, Chen Linchun laughed maniacally: "Hahaha, it's all your own fault. I didn't plan to drug you at first. But since you had two children at once, I was afraid I couldn't kill them all, so I had to drug you."
Chen Linchun then looked at Concubine Zhao: "I've treated you well. Why did you betray me? Why!"
The reason was simple. Chen Linchun was cruel and heartless. Compared to him, Concubine Zhao trusted the Princess Jingning and Chen Ruxia more.
Moreover, if she didn't help Chen Ruxia, the Princess Jingning would really do something to her Pan'er!
Concubine Zhao leaned against the marquis and apologized in a soft voice. Then she slammed her head against the pillar and died.
The warm blood splashed on Chen Linchun's face. He knew it was all over for him!
He and Concubine Zhao had colluded with each other. As long as Concubine Zhao was alive, he still had a chance to argue. But now that Concubine Zhao was dead, he couldn't shirk the responsibility!
Meeting the marquis's fierce gaze, Chen Linchun shivered. He was really finished.