Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands

Chapter 464 - 0441: Huge Uproar (2)

"Old Mrs. Zhao has a granddaughter who was divorced, supposedly because she couldn’t get pregnant. Now a concubine in the family is pregnant and has been made the main wife. That young woman we saw earlier is her," Li Yuzhu said. "My shop was a gift from Old Mrs. Zhao. Now that Fifth Miss Zhao is in trouble, I can’t justify not helping. Keep an eye on that woman, and I’ll be back soon."

Mu Yuanxiu nodded, "Alright, I’ll stay here."

After making arrangements with Mu Yuanxiu, Li Yuzhu turned and ran back.

When she reached the mule cart, Uncle Gui asked, "Miss Li, why have you returned alone? Where’s Yuanxiu?"

Li Yuzhu waved her hand. "He has something to do. Let’s get in the cart and talk. Hurry back to the shop."

Uncle Gui noticed her urgently climbing into the mule cart and immediately drove the cart down the street to return.

As soon as the mule cart stopped in front of the shop, Li Yuzhu didn’t return to her own shop but instead headed for Sister-in-law Chai’s shop.

Uncle Gui asked in confusion, "Has something happened?"

Li Yuzhu entered the Chai Family’s shop and pulled Sister-in-law Chai into the backyard, quietly recounting what she had seen on the road. "Sister-in-law Chai, I feel something strange about this situation."

Sister-in-law Chai punched her left fist into her right palm and sneered, "Strange, of course, it’s strange! We must get to the bottom of this. Fifth Cousin can’t be wrongfully divorced for no reason." She pressed Li Yuzhu’s shoulder. "Good sister, thank you so much. Fifth Cousin always thought it was her problem that made Liu the Fourth lose interest. She’s been blaming herself to the point of wanting to take her own life. It turns out, it’s Liu the Fourth’s problem! I need to go to the Zhao family immediately to tell Fifth Cousin and Big Aunt. If time permits, we may catch that concubine in action!"

Li Yuzhu said, "Miss Qian doesn’t know we’ve inadvertently discovered where she lives. You don’t have to be so anxious; if we can’t catch her today, we can tomorrow. She won’t move away immediately."

Lady Chai thought for a moment, realizing that such a discreet discovery wouldn’t prompt a quick escape.

She relaxed, informed her husband, called over a servant, and took a carriage to the Zhao family.

Li Yuzhu, along with Uncle Gui, returned the way they came to pick up Mu Yuanxiu.

Mu Yuanxiu appeared quite laid-back, sitting with his legs crossed on a stone at the alley entrance, watching the passersby to kill time.

Li Yuzhu ran over, "Mu Yuanxiu."

"Did you inform Sister-in-law Chai?" Mu Yuanxiu smiled as he stood up.

"Yes." Li Yuzhu nodded and noticed he hadn’t touched the box of sweets in his hand. Surprised, she said, "Why didn’t you eat them? How honest of you."

"I bought them for you. Besides, I don’t like sweets."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Alright, if you don’t eat them, I will."

Mu Yuanxiu glanced at the house in the alley, shadowing his eyes as he said, "No one has come out of the house."

Li Yuzhu said, "Let’s go back. I’ve given Sister-in-law Chai the address. The Zhao family will handle the rest. The house won’t run away, so we don’t need to watch it."

"Alright, let’s go back." Mu Yuanxiu and Li Yuzhu got on Uncle Gui’s mule cart and left.

Inside the cart, Li Yuzhu kept looking at the bracelet on her wrist, complimenting Mu Yuanxiu’s good taste.

"Hey, you gave me a bracelet, what should I give you in return? Reciprocity is important." Li Yuzhu shook her wrist, frowning playfully.

"Take your time to think. There’s plenty of time," Mu Yuanxiu glanced at her and smiled lightly.

"Alright, I’ll take my time," Li Yuzhu responded with a smile. "If you’re not in a hurry for a gift."

"I’m in no hurry." Mu Yuanxiu looked at her.

Now she isn’t starving; she can live a long and prosperous life.

He can always wait.

.

Sister-in-law Chai hurriedly arrived at the Zhao family residence.

Hearing that she had come again, Mrs. Zhao pretended to be ill as usual, not wanting to see her.

Will it never end? Mrs. Zhao was quite annoyed by her.

"Tell her I’ve been having headaches lately, I’m asleep resting, and won’t be receiving guests," Mrs. Zhao said impatiently while flipping through a stack of fabric. These were gifts to be sent to relatives, and she was attending a banquet early the next morning.

The maid acknowledged and went out to convey this to Sister-in-law Chai.

Sister-in-law Chai was very anxious, "I have something important to discuss with Big Aunt. Please let me see her."

With Mrs. Zhao not receiving guests, there was nothing the maid could do.

She shook her head, "Madam has a headache right now and won’t see anyone."

Sister-in-law Chai said, "Even if Madam has a headache, she needs to see me. I’ve discovered something strange. That concubine from the Qian family has a significant issue. I suspect she was the reason Fifth Cousin was divorced by the Qian family."

The maid was shocked, "Miss Yun, is this true?"

"Quickly go relay the message. If we’re too late, that concubine will escape, and we won’t catch her!" Sister-in-law Chai was so anxious she was pacing in circles.

The maid had no choice but to return.

Before she could speak, Mrs. Zhao slammed the table, "What does she want? Hasn’t she left yet?"

She could hear Sister-in-law Chai’s voice outside but couldn’t make out the words clearly because of the distance.

Whenever the maid returned, it meant Sister-in-law Chai was still hanging around, insisting the maid deliver messages, igniting Mrs. Zhao’s temper.

"Madam, don’t be angry. Cousin Yun is here about Fifth Miss’s matter." The maid relayed what Sister-in-law Chai had just said to Mrs. Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao squinted, "The Qian family’s matters? Quickly let her in."

The maid hurried out, "Miss Yun, our madam will see you now."

Sister-in-law Chai exhaled and hurriedly went inside.

"What’s going on? Speak quickly!" Mrs. Zhao urged before Sister-in-law Chai could catch her breath.

Does this look like someone with a headache? Her face was full of color!

Sister-in-law Chai was displeased seeing Mrs. Zhao’s demeanor.

She knew Mrs. Zhao was annoyed with her meddling in Old Mrs. Zhao’s health matters, and if it weren’t for Old Mrs. Zhao’s kindness and her rapport with Fifth Cousin, she wouldn’t bother visiting this distant relative from three generations back.

"It was Miss Li who accidentally witnessed it and informed me," Sister-in-law Chai said, recounting what Li Yuzhu had told her, "She finds the situation very suspicious."

Mrs. Zhao’s gaze deepened, "She didn’t see it wrong?"

"The address is there. It indeed contains several elegant small residences. If Big Aunt doesn’t believe it, you can send someone to take a look," Sister-in-law Chai said and provided Mrs. Zhao with the address.

Regardless of the truth, anything concerning the Qian family wasn’t something Mrs. Zhao wanted to miss out on.

"I understand. I will immediately send someone there." Mrs. Zhao called for a carriage and summoned the housekeeper.

After some arrangements by the servants, Mrs. Zhao, along with four stout housekeepers, took a carriage straight to the small residence.

Sister-in-law Chai then headed to the inner residence to see Fifth Miss Zhao.

Despite Li Yuzhu’s persuasion to eat something, Fifth Miss Zhao was deeply affected and couldn’t shake off the emotional fatigue of the past few days, remaining lethargic in bed.

The two maids, fearing she might not let go of her sorrows, took turns watching over her.

Sister-in-law Chai hurried into the bedroom and went straight to the bedside, "Fifth Cousin, let me tell you a secret. It’s about the Qian family’s concubine."

Fifth Miss Zhao slowly turned her head, offering Sister-in-law Chai a bittersweet smile and weakly said, "I don’t want any news related to the Qian family; I don’t wish to know about any of them."

Upon saying this, she closed her eyes again, her gaze blank and empty.

Sister-in-law Chai insisted, "No, you must hear this. That concubine from the Qian family has already given birth to a child. I suspect she lied to the Qian family that she was only two months pregnant, when in fact the child is already a month old. Don’t you think that’s suspicious?"

Fifth Miss Zhao’s eyes suddenly widened.

She recalled how Liu the Fourth accused her of wanting the Qian family to have no heirs by not being able to get pregnant, claiming he was forced to take a concubine.

It wasn’t his heartlessness; she was at fault, he had said.

But now the concubine’s child was already a month old, while she had only been married to Qian the Fourth for six months.

Given the timeline, that concubine was already pregnant before she married Qian the Fourth.

Gritting her silver teeth, Fifth Miss Zhao threw off her covers and got out of bed.

"Bita! Get my clothes. I’m going out with Cousin Yun."

Bita was quick to help, delighted that her mistress finally agreed to go out, "On it, on it, I’ll fetch your clothes right away, my lady."

Wasting no time, Fifth Miss Zhao and Sister-in-law Chai took a carriage from the mansion gate and headed to the small residence.