After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 535 - 530: Confrontation

Mrs. Wu tightened her handkerchief and lowered her gaze, saying, "I don’t know who Third Sister is talking about? We, our family, are all safe and sound..."

Zhao Hanzhang sneered and ordered outside the ancestral hall, "Invite the doctor to come forward."

Zeng Yue pushed open the door of the ancestral hall and had someone guide the doctor up.

Those waiting outside, including Zhao Ji, recognized the doctor at once; it was their family doctor, who had been treating the Zhao Family members.

Back when the Capital City was in chaos, he also fled, but later found his way back on his own; the world is difficult, yet following the Zhao Family offered a sliver of hope.

More than two years ago, when Zhao Hezhen fell from her horse, it was he who first treated her.

Speaking of which, he hadn’t seen Third Sister Zhao for over two years; the previously steady yet sly young lady has grown up, becoming even more dignified and imposing. The doctor merely glanced up before kneeling down, honestly bowing his head to reply.

"Tell her about my condition after being carried home."

The doctor reported truthfully, "At that time, Third Sister Zhao seemed to have injured her head, and for a while after returning, she stopped breathing; I even thought Third Sister Zhao wouldn’t survive."

Mrs. Wu’s face turned pale.

Zhao Hanzhang looked into her eyes and said, "I was already dead then."

Mrs. Wu was so frightened that she fell limply to the ground.

Zhao Hanzhang squatted down, looking directly into her eyes and said, "I went to the underworld and lingered at the entrance, unwilling to leave. My heart was full of resentment. Aunt, Grandfather had long chosen Uncle as the heir, and Second Son is dazed, unable to inherit the Zhao Family; our main lineage has retreated again and again, why wouldn’t you let us go?"

"I, I didn’t..."

"Out of resentment, I came back to life suddenly," Zhao Hanzhang smiled at her and said, "Clearly, heaven never leaves one with no way out. It is fair; it blocked my door, but always opens a window unexpectedly. I understood much after coming back to life."

"But what’s been done cannot be erased. Aunt, also knowledgeable in poetry and books, should understand the principle of repaying grievance with directness, right?"

Mrs. Wu shook her lips and said, "No, it wasn’t me, it, it was the elder sister who misunderstood. She wanted to play a trick on you siblings, not intending to harm your lives. Spare her..."

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but laugh, turning her head to look at the tightly closed door of the ancestral hall, "Did you hear that, Elder Sister? Aunt said you were the mastermind."

Zeng Yue pushed open the door, and outside, Zhao Hewan collapsed to the ground, looking incredulously at her mother inside the ancestral hall.

Mrs. Wu avoided her gaze, trembling her lips without speaking.

Zhao Ji couldn’t hold back his anger, "Zhao Hezhen, what exactly do you want, Mrs. Wu is your elder, and the elder sister is your big sister!"

Zhao Hanzhang stood up and glanced at him disdainfully, saying, "Uncle, in this family, anyone is qualified to speak in front of me, except you."

"You, you are simply arrogant!"

Zhao Hanzhang sneered and said, "It seems that Uncle has been well protected by Great-uncle, not letting you hear the gossip outside. Otherwise, how would you dare to speak in front of me?"

"On the way south, your abandonment of the main lineage and fleeing, and the abandonment of Grandfather’s coffin, are world-renowned; you wouldn’t be unaware, right? Since you succeeded as Shangcai Marquis, the court has never summoned you. Do you think it’s for what reason?"

Zhao Ji’s face suddenly turned as pale as snow, "You, you..."

"Third Sister," Zhao Yi stepped forward to shield in front of his father and siblings, asking, "Why did you call us over today?"

"I wish to know the truth, I wish to smooth out grievances," Zhao Hanzhang looked at this boy only a few months older than her and said, "Some matters, unclear without examination, uncomprehensible without sorting."

Zhao Hanzhang turned back to look at Mrs. Wu kneeling on the ground, and coldly laughed, "Although Uncle is stupid, he is extremely cowardly. As long as my Grandfather was alive, he was always weighed down by Da Shan; he absolutely dared not plot against me and Second Son’s lives."

Zhao Zhongyu had to live under Zhao Changyu’s shadow, let alone Zhao Ji.

Since Zhao Zhi’s death, Zhao Changyu intended to nurture Zhao Ji; although he didn’t ultimately succeed, Zhao Ji was indeed educated by Zhao Changyu, spending not less time beside him compared to Zhao Zhongyu.

So he feared this uncle more than Zhao Zhongyu, and he also understood Zhao Changyu. If he dared to target Zhao Hezhen and Zhao Erlang, Zhao Changyu would rather select an heir within the clan than pass on the title to him.

So back then Zhao Ji truly was unaware of that matter.

It’s also for this reason that Zhao Changyu was willing to reduce big issues to small ones, for Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji, even Zhao Yi were unaware, it was a matter stirred up in the inner quarters.

Zhao Changyu was annoyed with Mrs. Wu, but blamed Mrs. Wang more; he felt this daughter-in-law couldn’t even take care of the children, hence his initial anger at Mrs. Wang.

Zhao Changyu might blame Mrs. Wang, but Zhao Hanzhang would not, because she was her mother!

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Aunt refusing to admit is fine, in judging a case, besides the criminal’s confession, the testimony of witnesses is even more important. Someone, bring the people up."

Zeng Yue personally went down, shortly dragging up three people.

When they saw the people being dragged up, Mrs. Wu, Zhao Hewan, and Zhao Hewen all cried out.

Fang Gu, the most capable steward by Mrs. Wu’s side, also her dowry mate, Cai Yun and Cai Yu were maids of Zhao Hewan and Zhao Hewen respectively. When they came to the ancestral hall earlier, everyone was fine; they were merely left outside the courtyard, but in such a short time, all three were covered in blood, looking terrifying.

Especially Fang Gu, her face was devoid of blood, appearing barely conscious.

The three were thrown outside the ancestral hall door, facing Mrs. Wu inside.

Mrs. Wu was so frightened she took a few steps back, but her back suddenly hit the altar, panicking even more, "You, how could you privately use punishment on them..."

Zhao Hanzhang ignored her and walked to the three people and said, "Speak."

All three trembled without speaking.

Zhao Hanzhang squatted in front of Fang Gu, placed a handkerchief under her fingers to lift her chin, looking at her paper-white face, she laughed and said, "Unwilling to speak to me, then should I call up the one who executed the punishment?"

She softly said, "Although I only know how to kill with a swift blow, I have many capable people under me, including one very skilled in punishment. He can pull out the tendons of the foot, stretching them long, yet the person remains alert. In my army, we have good doctors who can ensure that after employing one hundred and eight punishing methods, you can still live well." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Fang Gu trembled all over, tears streaming down.

The Zhao Family, old and young alike, were thoroughly frightened; even the self-confident Zhao Ji shook his legs without speaking.

"I, I will speak..." Fang Gu held back tears, ready to confess.

Zhao Hanzhang placed her finger in front of her lips and said, "Make sure to think clearly before replying. Whether what you say is true or false, I can discern. I have more than just the three of you as witnesses; my daring to directly confront Aunt and you is because I already know the entire truth."