Exile after Divorce? Empty the Scumbag Husband First!-Chapter 330 - 322: You’re Biting Back—Did Ruan Mian Threaten You?
"You old woman clearly hold a grudge against my daughter and want to avenge your son, that’s why you’re spewing nonsense to deceive everyone! My lord, you..."
"Mother."
Ruan Mian moved forward, touched, to calm her: "Let us hear what Lin’s nanny has to say."
With Prefect Lin speaking, Nanny Shen dared not conceal anything, and after kowtowing, she spoke decisively.
"My lord, please be discerning, this old woman has kidnapped many children. That day, she even drugged us women and Lin, and tried to coerce me into colluding with her to frame Miss Ruan."
As these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked! The old woman looked at her in disbelief, furious.
"You must be crazy!! Your Lin is dead! Killed by that bitch Ruan Mian! Don’t you feel sorry for the child?"
"Are you biting back on me because Ruan Mian threatened you?! Nanny Shen, don’t be afraid. With the magistrate here and so many common folks, the Ruan cannot lay a hand on you!! You don’t have to mind her, just tell the truth!"
The old woman was a bit panicked, eager to have Nanny Shen change her story.
However, Nanny Shen pointed at her indignantly with bloodshot eyes: "You conspired with that Miss Wen behind the scenes to kidnap the children, leaving them drugged in a cellar to drag Miss Ruan down with you. You harbored resentment against Miss Ruan and harmed so many children for your selfish gains."
"My lord, please investigate thoroughly!"
Prefect Lin didn’t expect things to turn out this way and was also very anxious: "Where is the place where the children are held?"
Without waiting for Nanny Shen’s answer, the old woman suddenly stood up, pointing at Rui, who was lying on the ground, playing the victim.
"Everyone, don’t be deceived by this Ruan Family! She appears kind to us on the surface but engages in shady business behind the scenes! She’s just a merchant, and a female merchant at that. How good-hearted do you think she can be? Otherwise, where do you think all her silver coin comes from?"
The old woman raised her voice at this moment, appearing extremely hateful as she spoke: "Lin! She even grew up with his care, yet she could be so ruthless, how could she..."
However, before she could finish, Lin, who had been lying motionless on the ground, suddenly sat up.
Instantly, everyone gasped in shock!
The old woman was so frightened she fell to the ground, her face turning pale as she looked over: "You... you... you all..."
Lin stood up, supported his mother from the ground, then knelt down properly to speak truthfully to the magistrate.
"My lord, I’m not dead at all. This old woman kidnapped us and instructed my nanny to poison me. My nanny, out of love, didn’t do it, so I pretended to be dead at her advice."
"Impossible! Impossible! When brought out, the child was clearly not breathing, how could..."
The old woman couldn’t understand; she had personally supplied the poison meant to kill the child to set up this situation.
But how did the child not die? How did Nanny Shen have the nerve to turn on her?
In panic, the old woman quickly looked to the crowd, hoping someone sent by Miss Wen could step out to defend her.
But looking around, no one was willing to stick up for her, only those fierce and cruel eyes that seemed to want to flay her alive and feed her to the dogs!
"Scum! You heartless beast! Anyone who would harm children deserves the harshest punishment!"
"My lord! How could a child lie? A child wouldn’t favor criminals, so it must have been the old woman alone. Please, my lord, quickly find those children and harshly punish this old woman!"
The crowd outside shouted angrily, the old woman glaring with wide eyes: "How can you trust what this old nanny says? Just by her words alone, you would..."
But before she could finish, Ruan Mian interrupted her.
She smiled slightly, reminding her: "Aunt Yan, you truly are getting old, forgetting your own words just now so quickly?"
"But you said yourself she’s Lin’s nanny. What she says can surely serve as testimony, and moreover, Nanny Shen can lead the officers to find those children."
Saying this, she looked to the magistrate: "My lord, the urgent matter is to find the children first."
"Miss Ruan is absolutely right. This old woman lies to frame others with malicious intent! Drag her out temporarily for thirty paddles! Once the children are found, we will decide on further punishment!"
"If the children’s testimony corroborates, this official will brook no leniency!"
Then he ordered the officers to follow Nanny Shen to rescue the children, and the people gathered outside looking for the children set out grandly alongside them.
Mrs. Zhang was also anxious but instinctively felt it wasn’t simple, quickly grabbing Ruan Mian’s hand, quietly asking.
"Mianmian, what on earth has happened? Rui..."
"Mother, Rui is fine, we’re going to find him now. As for today’s events, I’ll explain to you later."
At that moment, a cry of pain from the old woman came from behind, as the paddles struck her relentlessly, soon leaving her bloody and mangled.
There was no time to lose, rescuing the children was the most pressing matter.
Amid the onlookers, Lord Lin, leading a group, joined Ruan Mian and the others to the underground cave where the children were held.
By the time they arrived, the huge moisture at the cave entrance, along with a strong pungent smell of clay coal, assailed their nostrils.
Several children lay there motionless, and after collectively bringing them out, Ruan Mian quickly moved forward to examine the children.
She had them drink the already-prepared spiritual spring water, prescribing some remedies to clear the mind for the families of the children.
"Rest assured, the children are not seriously harmed, just drugged. Take them home to rest, feed them herbal soup and medicine, and they will naturally wake up."
Upon hearing that the children were alright, those people finally felt relief from the burdens in their hearts.
They began thanking her profusely.
And Rui was held tightly in Mrs. Chen’s embrace, not letting her guard down for a moment.
On the way back to Jinsha Village, the mother inquired about the matter, and only then did Nanny Shen explain the cause and effect to them.
"In fact, it was Miss Ruan who found me, suggesting we counter the old woman with her own methods, leading her to the government, ensuring she couldn’t escape! Moreover, by turning her back in public, we could safeguard the children."
It turned out that the Birds and Beasts had already sensed the children’s presence that day, and Ruan Mian followed the trail to the cave.
Taking advantage of the old woman’s absence, she then entered and found Nanny Shen and the children all drugged, completely unresponsive.
She used the water from her spatial spiritual spring to awaken the old woman, and after inquiry, learned that the old woman was coercing Nanny Shen to cooperate in accusing her at the government. Moreover, she wanted to throw dirt on her name.
