Chapter 42: I Would Recognize You Even If You Turned to Dust

When Yunjiao was called over by the maid, she happened to hear these words from Shen Changdong.

Without pausing, she directly lifted the door curtain and walked in.

The moment Shen Changdong saw her, he immediately clamped his mouth shut.

"I wonder what kind of explanation my good brother-in-law is looking for?" Yunjiao asked softly as soon as she entered the room.

"You brought me to such a state, yet you feel not an ounce of guilt, and now you still think you can just sweep this under the rug?" Shen Changdong flared up instantly.

Since she was the one behind this, she couldn't deny it. Did she really think he could do nothing to her just like this? Even in his ruined state, destroying her would be a piece of cake.

"What is brother-in-law talking about?" Yunjiao looked astonished. "I brought you to this state? What virtue or ability do I possess to bring brother-in-law to such a state?

"Is it based on the maid I brought along? Or on the pageboy sent by my concubine-mother?"

Yunjiao's words were logical and well-grounded. She was at most a half-grown child, not yet of age, and a girl at that—how could she possibly have the great capability to do such a thing to Shen Changdong?

"Do you think that by refusing to admit it, this matter will have nothing to do with you?" Shen Changdong laughed out of extreme anger.

"Brother-in-law, speaking and acting requires evidence. You cannot simply make unfounded accusations with a red mouth and white teeth, and arbitrarily pin everything on me out of nowhere." Yunjiao's eyes brimmed with tears, looking deeply aggrieved. "If you bully me just because my birth mother is a concubine, I am not a person utterly destitute and without support. Today, my aunts are present here, and since they cherish me deeply, they will not stand by and watch you frame me without reason."

As she spoke, she retreated behind her aunts, tugging at the eldest aunt's sleeve with a pitiful air.

Having already heard Qian Xianglan's account, those aunts had already developed a strong aversion to Shen Changdong. Seeing him now still stubbornly trying to splash dirty water on Yunjiao, they instantly united in shared indignation.

Although they were now married, each with her own preoccupations and no longer pulling together as a single rope—such that even when their biological mother fell ill, they could hardly spare the time to tend to her carefully—their protective affection for that rarely seen, bitterly unfortunate younger sister remained identical.

Back when they were all unmarried, they had all shown exceptional care for their youngest sister. Coupled with how that younger sister's marriage had eventually turned out, each of them held a pent-up grievance in their hearts.

Whenever the matter was mentioned in daily life, they could not help but sigh. At this moment, seeing their younger sister's flesh and blood being bullied in such a pressingly aggressive manner by Shen Changdong, they naturally would not sit idly by and watch.

Seeing them all siding with Yunjiao, Shen Changdong grew somewhat anxious. "Things have come to this, and you still want to deny it!"

"Spare us the idle talk. Since you keep insisting that Yunjiao harmed you, do you have evidence?" Qian Fangji grew impatient. "Even if we were to take this to a court of law, we must produce evidence. Otherwise, you are nothing more than a slanderer of the innocent!"

"That woman cook is the witness," Shen Changdong blurted out. "It's just a pity that the woman cook has already been..."

"Already been what?" Yunjiao retreated timidly and asked in a small voice.

"That woman cook must have already been sent far away by your arrangements! I know that woman cook is your person!" Shen Changdong's face showed certainty, though his heart was actually devoid of any real confidence.

He had only hoped to trick Yunjiao into revealing her true thoughts with this bluff, but how could it be that easy?

Xiaoli had gone out and still hadn't returned to report by now; it was utterly outrageous, showing complete disrespect for him. When he got the chance in the future, he would definitely give him a severe thrashing and throw him out!

Yunjiao's pretty face fell into an aggrieved pout, and rather than arguing with Shen Changdong, she simply looked toward the Qian family sisters. "Aunts, I truly did not do such a thing. Why must brother-in-law frame me like this?"

"Yunjiao, do not be afraid," the second aunt, Qian Fangyi, pulled her into her embrace. "Wait until your aunts investigate this clearly, and we will return justice to you."

Yunjiao nodded obediently, saying no more.

"Whether you did it or not, you know it in your heart. You little vixen, stop putting on such an act here!" Shen Changdong snapped, losing his composure in his anger. This cheap wretch was always good at putting on airs and manipulating everyone to a T. He truly shouldn't have underestimated her from the start!

"Shen Changdong!" Qian Fangji's face hardened.

Shen Changdong immediately shut his mouth, knowing that speaking so improperly in his moment of agitation was a mistake.

"Yunjiao, come here." Only then did Qian Fangji pull Yunjiao behind her and speak up: "Shen Changdong, how did you know that the woman cook from the mutton soup shop had run away?"

"I already sent my pageboy to check. If Yunjiao can find that woman cook to confront me face-to-face, I will believe this matter has nothing to do with her. Otherwise, crippled though I may be, as long as I have a breath left in me, I will seek justice for myself!" Shen Changdong intentionally spoke with a resonant voice; otherwise, since he had already become a useless cripple, who would pay him any heed?

"Which pageboy was it? Call him over and let's question him," Qian Fangyi pondered and said.

"It was Xiaoli," Shen Changdong had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply.

Although he felt unsure inside, he guessed the situation was likely eight or nine parts true.

Xiaoli was summoned in shortly.

Before Qian Xianglan and in the presence of so many mistresses of the household, he did not dare to act presumptuously, so he obediently paid his respects and waited for inquiries.

"Xiaoli, let me ask you: when I sent you to check on that woman cook today, had she already fled?" Shen Changdong asked preemptively.

Xiaoli shook his head. "This humble servant went to check, and the woman cook is still at the shop. When this humble servant arrived, she even invited me to have a bowl of soup!"

"You lie!" Shen Changdong's eyes turned red. "Xiaoli, you've been bought off as well, haven't you?"

"Master, what are you talking about?" Xiaoli wore a look of utter terror and grievance.

"You are lying! That woman cook couldn't possibly still be there!" Shen Changdong refused to believe that Yunjiao had the audacity to commit such a deed without removing the witness far away from this scene of trouble.

"If Master does not believe it, you may send someone to summon that woman cook here for a confrontation," Xiaoli thought to himself with considerable resentment, though constrained by the presence of so many people, he found it improper to speak too harshly to Shen Changdong.

Chunniang was invited over very quickly.

"Chunniang greets all the mistresses," she smiled sweetly, offering a comprehensive bow to the group while deliberately avoiding Shen Changdong and refusing to even cast a glance at him. "I wonder for what reason Chunniang has been summoned?"

"You are Chunniang?" Qian Fangji stepped forward two paces, sizing Chunniang up.

Chunniang lowered her head. "Indeed I am. I wonder what business the mistresses have with me?"

"Do you recognize the man lying on the bed?" Qian Fangji asked.

"I recognize him." Chunniang glanced at Shen Changdong. Even if he were reduced to ashes, she would recognize him.

"Why did you not offer him a greeting?" Qian Fangji asked further.

"This dissolute scoundrel is not worthy of my greeting.

"May all the mistresses judge this fairly: the other day, I merely accepted an invitation to boil a pot of mutton soup, and this man ran into my shop attempting to commit a vile outrage. Fortunately, my husband returned in the nick of time, or else you ladies would not be seeing me today!" Chunniang pointed indignantly at Shen Changdong with a look of shame and anger.

Shen Changdong's face turned ashen: "Let me ask you, do you recognize her?"

He pointed at Yunjiao.

Chunniang glanced at Yunjiao. "Naturally I recognize her. She is the young lady who drank mutton soup with you that day, along with this lady here."

As she spoke, she gestured toward Qian Xianglan.

"Aside from drinking mutton soup the other day, have you ever met her in private? Or her maids and pageboys?" Shen Changdong asked aggressively.

Chunniang showed no fear whatsoever. "Never."

"It was clearly she who instructed you to lure me out, beat me into this state, and cripple me, all to avenge the grudge from when I previously wanted to take her as a concubine!" Shen Changdong gnashed his teeth. "And you still want to cover for her?"