But where was Chen Wanyue going to find proof?

She did have proof. ’In my past life, my cousin was married to Li Cun for ten years but never had a son or a daughter. Isn’t that enough to prove she’s infertile?’

But she couldn’t say that now. No one would believe her even if she did.

So Chen Wanyue made something up. "One time I went to the county town and happened to see my aunt taking my cousin to an apothecary. I was curious, so I followed them to have a look..."

Chen Wanyue spun a web of lies, painting her cousin’s marriage to Zhao Jing as a scheme by the first branch of the family, full of ulterior motives. She claimed they were planning to wait a while after the wedding, then have her cousin fake a pregnancy. Using the excuse of severe morning sickness, her cousin would return to her maiden home to "nurture the fetus," only to come back ten months later with a baby they had acquired elsewhere.

To make her story more believable, Chen Wanyue even mentioned that the first branch of the family had bought a house in the county town.

She didn’t know that Mrs. Zhao was already aware of this. She embellished her story, saying, "If you don’t believe me, you can go to the county town and ask around yourself. It’s in the Weaving Workshop district, a two-courtyard residence, decorated quite lavishly. My aunt bought that house specifically for my cousin’s fake pregnancy..."

Chen Wanyue spoke with such conviction that for a moment, Mrs. Zhao almost believed her.

After all, pure lies are easily exposed, and even pure truths can arouse suspicion. It’s a story woven with truth and falsehood that is most likely to win a person’s trust.

And as it happened, Mrs. Zhao really did know that the Chen family had bought a two-courtyard residence in the county town, located right in the Weaving Workshop district.

But soon, Mrs. Zhao’s reason returned. "That’s absolutely impossible! Chen Song and Suying are not that kind of people. Wanyue, you’re so young, how can your heart be so malicious? To slander a young woman so horribly, how is Wanqing supposed to face anyone in the future?"

"Get out of my sight. Go on, get away from here, and never come to my house again."

"Mother, who are you talking to so late at night?"

Zhao Jing’s voice came from a distance. It turned out he had already returned after seeing someone off.

’How is he back so soon?’

’Good thing I’ve already said what I needed to say.’

Chen Wanyue made to leave, but kept talking, "Auntie, this is just between you and me. Please don’t spread it any further. She’s my cousin, after all, and I feel for her too. She just got a crooked idea for a moment and went down the wrong path. Once she marries in, you just need to discipline her well..."

Seeing Zhao Jing’s footsteps quicken and knowing he would be upon them in an instant, Chen Wanyue turned tail and ran.

As she fled, she glanced back. In the moonlight, she saw Mrs. Zhao’s face was ashen with rage, and a wave of satisfaction washed over her.

’Did I say all that just to make Mrs. Zhao believe my lies and cause a huge scene with the first branch of the family?’

’No!’

’It was to make Mrs. Zhao sick with anger!’

’Mrs. Zhao’s health is poor; she can’t handle getting angry. It was my family’s excessive demands last time that made her sick.’

’Now, she’s exhausted from arranging Zhao Jing’s wedding. With the exhaustion and the anger combined, I’m certain she’ll end up bedridden.’

’I would love for Mrs. Zhao to just drop dead. Then Zhao Jing would have to stay home to observe the mourning period. But I’m afraid she won’t die that easily.’

’But no matter. I’ll just come by every few days and make sure her condition never improves. If this goes on long enough, I might just wear her down to her death.’

’Amitabha. What a sin, what a sin.’ 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

’Then again, Mrs. Zhao is fated to die anyway. An early death would be a release for her; a late one would only be torture.’

’So really, I’m doing a good deed. If Mr. Zhao knew of this from the underworld, he ought to thank me.’

After Chen Wanyue left, Zhao Jing came up.

He was startled to see his mother’s face ashen, so enraged she could barely breathe. He quickly supported her and helped her toward the house.

Mrs. Zhao was truly incensed. Once she felt a little better, she hurriedly told Zhao Jing what Chen Wanyue had said.

"Isn’t this just trying to harm people! How can that girl’s heart be so venomous! I don’t believe a single word she said, but what if she tells this to others? What are we to do?"

Zhao Jing’s brow tightened, but his tone remained gentle. "It’s nothing serious, Mother. I’ll handle it. Just don’t believe a word she said. I don’t mean to speak ill of her, but I fear her motives are malicious. If you believe her, you’ll be falling right into her trap."

"Of course I don’t believe her. I’m old; her petty tricks can’t fool me. She’s just afraid that Wanqing will have a good life after marrying into our family, so she’s deliberately trying to ruin her reputation in front of me. *Sigh*, she used to be such a nice girl. How did she turn out like this? She says Wanqing can’t have children, but if Wanqing does have a child, won’t her lie be instantly exposed? Why would she tell a lie like that? What do you think she’s trying to achieve?"

Mrs. Zhao rambled on, not noticing that Zhao Jing had lowered his eyes, his expression deep in thought.