TGCFNM -Chapter 74 A Bitter-Fated Woman

The storyteller paused at just the right moment. The crowd around him widened their eyes, whispering in shock. Wasn’t this about the affair between the Lu family and the Lu family?

Could there be another hidden truth?

The storyteller swept a glance over the audience and struck the wooden clapper, calling everyone back to attention. “Tell me—look at it yourselves. Old Madam Xu suspected the cause of her son’s death. Was she right to do so, or not?”

“Of course she was!”

“She absolutely should’ve suspected something! How could bandits just appear out of nowhere like that?”

“Exactly…”

The storyteller nodded heavily. “Naturally, Old Madam Xu grew suspicious. So she asked the Xu clan’s uncles to investigate. Though the investigation turned up nothing, she watched Xu Shu’s every word and action, committing them to memory. In time, she began to suspect her own daughter-in-law. That was when she learned that Xu Shu had once saved Madam Li—and that people had seen him chasing after Madam Li’s carriage more than once.”

“Well then—Old Madam Xu’s anger reached its peak. But how could a widowed old woman contend with a man in his prime? And so she began laying plans that would span more than a decade.”

“She saw through Xu Shu’s feelings. Claiming that her son had been secretly harmed by Xu Shu, she forced Madam Li to marry him. Not even half a year after the mourning period began, she compelled her daughter-in-law to wed her son’s supposed killer. She even provided land and property as part of the dowry, sending her off in splendid fashion.”

“Everyone praised the old lady as kind as a bodhisattva—treating her daughter-in-law like her own daughter, arranging her remarriage, even adding extra dowry of her own. But in truth, she did not personally escort the bride. Instead, she instructed Madam Li to obtain evidence and avenge her son.”

“But more than ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Madam Li found no proof. And Xu Shu cherished her like a treasure—careful and attentive in every possible way. Even though they had no children for many years, he still held her dearly in the palm of his hand. Madam Li also shared a close bond with Xu Shu’s son—they were like mother and child. The family often gathered in the study to read and write together. They seemed like an immortal couple, blessed beyond measure.”

“Unfortunately, Madam Li finally became pregnant. And after lying dormant for more than a decade, Old Madam Xu received this news—and went mad with fury. She summoned Madam Li out, and the two held a private conversation before returning to their respective homes. After that, Madam Li grew distracted and thinner by the day. Helpless, Xu Shu searched everywhere for folk remedies for pregnant women.”

The storyteller slowly shook his head. He remembered once encountering Madam Xu of the Lu family on the road—thin and fragile like a willow in the wind. He had merely assumed it was discomfort from pregnancy. Who could have known the truth was like this?

“One day, Xu Shu’s son happened upon a farmer carrying a shoulder pole. The farmer mentioned that hawthorn was sour, and pregnant women might like it. So he bought an entire basket and happily brought it home. At the same time, a letter from Old Madam Xu arrived. In her dazed state, Madam Li felt she had wronged her former husband—and wronged her current husband as well. So she took out the dagger she had long prepared and attempted to take her own life.”

“She could never repay the Xu family’s kindness, nor Xu Cheng’s devotion. But Xu Shu’s affection for her tormented her day and night. At last, the final thread in her heart snapped. Hardening her resolve, Madam Li chose to end her own life.”

“Just then, Xu Shu’s son returned home. He rushed forward to stop her—but he was a step too late. The dagger had already plunged into her abdomen! He pulled desperately, and blood sprayed everywhere. Madam Li collapsed to the ground, her fragrant soul departed—one corpse, two lives lost.”

The storyteller sighed deeply. “In the end, Madam Li was the true bitter-fated one. A bitter-fated woman indeed.”

The listeners could not help but raise their sleeves to wipe away tears. Their noses stung; their eyes overflowed.

Madam Li had loved her husband deeply—only for him to die tragically. Pressured by her mother-in-law, she had no choice but to remarry during her mourning period. Her new husband treated her with kindness and devotion, which only made her feel more ashamed and tormented.

When all was said and done, Madam Li was innocent.

“But were there really mountain bandits who killed him?”

“Yes—who exactly was the murderer?”

The storyteller’s heart trembled, but he still gritted his teeth and said, “Xu Shu was naturally not the murderer. A destitute scholar with no spare money at home—how could he possibly afford to hire bandits to kill? Think about it. With Xu Cheng dead, who benefits the most? Whoever gains the most has the greatest suspicion.”

At this point, the truth was on the verge of breaking through.

“It was Xu’s uncles!” someone shouted.

“No wonder the investigation led nowhere—it was their own doing!”

“Greedy for the Xu family’s wealth, wanting to seize it all in one move. Who would have thought Old Madam Xu would turn it into a dowry and give it away?”

“Hah! Old Madam Xu schemed her whole life, only to find her son’s killer and let him bully her poor daughter-in-law. Utterly foolish!”

Then someone murmured in a low voice:

“Isn’t this exactly the matter of the Lu family and the Lu family?”

Chu Ling held her teacup and stood up. She walked to Lu Gao’s side, crouched halfway down, and looked at him. “You helped her, but you couldn’t hide your feelings. Your self-righteous devotion became the talisman that drove her to her death. You’re a murderer too.”

Lu Gao’s eyes turned blood-red. Tears slid from the corners of his eyes, and he closed them weakly.

Lu Shiming’s eyes brimmed with tears. His body felt rigid, as if frozen in place. He couldn’t even turn his head—he could only stare blankly at the storyteller. It felt as though something was lodged in his chest, and breathing gradually became difficult.

Chu Ling suddenly slapped his back and scolded with a frown, “The affairs of elders have nothing to do with the younger generation. Do not burden yourself with such a heavy weight.”

At last, Lu Shiming burst into tears. “My lord… so… so my mother wasn’t killed by my elder brother. She… she was killed by Grandmother and Uncle Lu.”

Chu Ling pressed her lips together and patted his shoulder. “The shackles placed upon women in this world are far too heavy. She had to be filial. She had to remain chaste for her husband. She had to take care of her son. She wasn’t allowed to fall in love with Lu Gao—but she did…”

In the study, the storybooks and texts placed together. The two reclining chairs set side by side. The matching tea set. The two pear blossom trees growing close together…

It was nothing more than suspicion—there wasn’t even any evidence to support it. Yet that suspicion killed her.

“Do you think this storybook can save Lu Anming?” Chu Ling asked, looking at Lu Shiming.

Lu Shiming wiped away his tears. Only determination remained in his eyes. “My lord, it can. I’ll go beat the drum of grievance. I’ll save my elder brother!”

In this world, there is no justification for letting the innocent suffer unjust accusations. None!

Yang Huaishan pushed himself up from the table and gave Chu Ling a deep bow. “My lord, when I was writing this story, I kept thinking—how could this be possible? But the truth is exactly so. How ironic it is, my lord.”

Tears streamed down Yang Huaishan’s face. His heart ached so badly he could barely breathe.

The story had flowed from the tip of his brush, making him feel it all the more deeply—and all the more painfully helpless.

Chu Ling’s gaze was clear, her tone slightly lifted. “Yang Huaishan, study well. Do well in the imperial examinations. Become a good official in the future. A good official, back then, would have strived to uncover the truth, found those so-called bandits, solved the case—and none of these later tragedies would have been entangled into it.”

Yang Huaishan bowed once more, firm and resolute. “Rest assured, my lord. I, Yang Huaishan, swear here and now to uphold my conscience and be a good man.”