Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 884: Seeking Divorce for Mrs. Fei

Magistrate Gu feared the case would encounter further complications, so he immediately said, "Mrs. Gu Pan, quickly confess how you plotted to harm Mrs. Fei!"

Granny Gu did not wish to say a word, but Lord Lai was still watching her, with unabated pleading in his eyes, urging her to confess quickly so the case could be closed; he could not afford further embarrassment.

What the noble wanted was someone who could help him dominate Jiangnan, not someone who would drag him down.

Granny Gu felt that she had spent her life trapped by this old tree on Lord Lai, and upon seeing Lord Lai’s expression, she painstakingly confessed, word by word, how she had plotted against Mrs. Fei.

After Yuan Jiaman died years ago, the Yuan Family People were unhappy with her, and rumors spread that she was responsible for Yuan Jiaman’s death, intending to drown her in a pig’s cage.

To avoid being secretly killed by the Yuan Family, Granny Gu began courting men, seeing that Elder Gu’s family lacked parents and that Mrs. Fei’s family brothers were deceased, making him a target, she seduced Elder Gu.

The tales of encounters with evil men and heroes saving beauties were all fabricated by Granny Gu.

Once she connected with Elder Gu, in just three days they became involved, using it as a reason to urge Elder Gu to marry her. Elder Gu readily agreed but was only willing to take her as a concubine.

At the time, Elder Gu was just over twenty, and concerned with his reputation, feeling that to take in an equal wife while living off his wife’s dowry would be unsightly.

But Granny Gu was anxious, unwilling to wait, and began to sow discord between Elder Gu and Mrs. Fei, while seeking out Bloodthorn Vine to give to Elder Gu, telling him to take it back for Mrs. Fei to consume, ultimately killing her.

As for how Bloodthorn Vine was obtained?

Granny Gu was clever; she recognized Bloodthorn Vine, finding it herself in the deep mountains, to avoid purchasing it from a pharmacy, where an investigation would surely expose her.

In the end, she successfully used Elder Gu’s hand to poison Mrs. Fei.

A month after Mrs. Fei’s death, she moved into the Old Gu Family, residing in the large green brick house built with Mrs. Fei’s dowry money.

She knew everyone disliked her as the successor wife, often marginalizing her, so to ensure her children lived well, she tirelessly sowed discord between Elder Gu and Gu Dashan, leading Elder Gu to believe Gu Dashan was not his flesh and blood.

Granny Gu, paralyzed, could only speak word by word, and it took a full two hours for her to narrate, causing the gossiping populace to stick close together, nearly faint from hunger. Yet their curiosity kept them, willing to endure hunger to listen.

Mrs. Chen was clever, noticing the crowds, she brought Gu Dagui, drove a mule cart to a small eatery and bought three baskets of pancakes, hauling them to the government gate to sell.

The aroma of pancakes nearly tormented the onlookers to death, who quickly went to buy, "Three pancakes, please."

Starving, three were needed to suffice.

Mrs. Chen saw the customer offering thirty Copper Coins, slightly raising an eyebrow, a hint of a smile on her lips, she said, "Prices have increased, fifteen cents a piece, that’s forty-five cents in total."

The customer was shocked: "Fifteen cents each? You’re robbing money! The Han Family’s coarse grain pancakes have always been ten cents each, now fifteen?"

Mrs. Chen: "Then go buy at Han Family’s shop. Don’t want to, can’t bear to miss out, then just pay an extra five cents, such a deal, what are you complaining about? Hurry up and pay, there’s a big crowd waiting behind."

With no choice, the customer handed over an additional fifteen cents, totaling forty-five cents to Mrs. Chen.

Mrs. Chen happily took the money, while Gu Dagui handed pancakes to customers. He dared not lift his head, ashamed by the situation, as this woman hoarded piles of private savings yet felt she was poor, scavenging every cent.

They came to the Prefecture for business, and she unexpectedly chose to sell pancakes for profit!

Another customer presented Copper Coin: "Boss, two pancakes, quickly, I’m starving."

Mrs. Chen chuckled, accepting the money, and instructed Gu Dagui to hand out pancakes; busy not more than forty-five minutes, the pancakes were all sold out, with some customers still seeking food, offering money for Mrs. Chen to purchase.

Mrs. Chen and Gu Dagui ran three trips to ensure all the onlookers were fed.

Magistrate Gu, smelling the incoming aroma, felt his stomach pain with hunger, glaring at the government gate with hostile eyes, determined to punish whoever dared sell pancakes while he was hungry.

Before Magistrate Gu fainted from hunger, Granny Gu finally uttered her last word.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, at last, it was over.

Magistrate Gu immediately looked to the clerk, asking, "Is it written? Take it to Granny Gu and Yuan Jinzhi for a signature."

Gu Dagu was bewildered, crying, "Lord, the civilian woman hasn’t harmed anyone, is not guilty, you cannot force me to confess guilt!"

Magistrate Gu said, "You committed two crimes: one for aiding Mrs. Gu Pan in concealing the murder and two for false testimony, both are serious offenses, punishable by beheading."

Beheading!

Granny Gu was anxious, shouting toward Lord Lai.

Lord Lai knew that if he didn’t save Jinzhi, Pan Shuangniang would definitely not follow his wishes, so for himself, as compensation to Jinzhi, he instructed Steward Yue to tell Magistrate Gu, "Sir Magistrate, although Yuan Jinzhi has a crime, it does not warrant death, according to Great Chu Criminal Law, Silver can be used to atone for sin, Lord Lai is willing to pay the Silver, what do you think?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Magistrate Gu, hearing this, nodded in agreement, but: "It must be a substantial amount of Silver."

Steward Yue said: "Rest assured, to repay Pan Family’s old benefactor’s kindness, Lord Lai will pay any amount."

Magistrate Gu then said to Gu Dagu: "Considering your youth at that time, instigated by Granny Gu, I sentence you to exile, you may atone with ten thousand taels of Silver."

Lord Lai nodded at Granny Gu, indicating he would pay on behalf of Gu Dagu to atone.

Granny Gu finally felt at ease.

Gu Jin’an had no objection to this, as it was Great Chu Criminal Law, moreover, Gu Dagu had Qian Guangzong and Qian Chengcai to deal with her, she couldn’t cause more trouble. If she dared to act recklessly again, Xiao Yu had ways to handle her.

Two clerks took the two confessions to Granny Gu and Gu Dagu for signatures before handing them to Magistrate Gu.

After reviewing them, Magistrate Gu declared, "Mrs. Gu Pan is maliciously intent, to marry Gu Shengxiang as the official wife, she plotted against Gu Shengxiang’s original wife, causing Mrs. Fei’s death, according to Great Chu Law, sentenced to public beheading, execution at the end of the month!"

"Ms. Qian Gu, originally named Yuan Jinzhi, for concealing murder for Mrs. Gu Pan, falsifying testimony, sentenced to exile, but may atone with ten thousand taels of Silver."

"Gu Shengxiang, foolish and ignorant, allowed Mrs. Gu Pan to harm his legitimate wife, personally gave poison to his legitimate wife, suspected accomplice, sentenced to five years in prison, may atone with five thousand taels of Silver."

Five thousand taels!

Elder Gu nearly fainted again from fright, he couldn’t go to prison, where they ate slop, how could he endure such hardship?

He knew Gu Dashan had money and was soft-hearted, so he immediately looked at Gu Dashan, tearfully pleading, "Dashan, my son, Dad knows his mistakes, it was all that wretched Mrs. Gu Pan’s instigation, she’s the ruin of our family, she’s facing retribution now, our father-son should reconcile... You must pay Silver to save Dad, Dad can’t go to jail!"

Gu Dashan heard this, snorted coldly, ignoring Elder Gu, instead addressed Magistrate Gu, "Sir Magistrate, I want to file for divorce on behalf of my mother Mrs. Fei from Gu Shengxiang, I hope you grant it."

What?

Divorce on behalf of Mrs. Fei!

The onlookers were astounded, asking, "You want to file for divorce for your mother from Elder Gu?"