Chapter 80 - 79: Contradictory Emotions

Chapter 80: Chapter 79: Contradictory Emotions

Ye Anqiao spoke, glaring with hatred at Zhu Yan and the young woman in the bean-green dress.

The woman in the bean-green dress—Miao Xianglan—immediately said anxiously, "Anqiao, how can you say such things! I sincerely hope Yanzi and Yu can reconcile, and that’s why I brought Yanzi here!

We all grew up together as sisters. After you and Yu distanced yourselves from Yanzi, she’s been heartbroken, often telling me she hopes to reconcile with you and Yu, so we can all be like we were as children, speaking without reservations, inseparable..."

"Shut up! Don’t make me sick!"

Ye Anqiao suddenly shouted hoarsely, "Zhu Yan, Miao Xianglan, you think Yu and I don’t know? Among us, Yu is the most beautiful; otherwise, the village chief’s son wouldn’t have been interested in her, insisting the chief go to the Zhuo family to propose.

You’ve been jealous of Yu’s beauty since childhood, often badmouthing her behind her back, spreading rumors about her relationships with other men in the village.

Miao Xianglan, Yu and I tolerated you because you’re younger; we’ve always treated you like our own sister, thinking that you’d mature and change for the better. Yet, you repeatedly disappoint us..."

Miao Xianglan’s face turned pale, attempting to speak, but Ye Anqiao suddenly turned to Zhu Yan, gritting her teeth and said, "And you, Zhu Yan, I know you’ve liked Huang Erlang since you were little!

It was understandable when we were kids that you secretly admired him, as he wasn’t engaged to Yu yet, but you never should have continued after Huang Erlang and Yu got engaged, still privately enticing him!

Two years ago, that evening, Yu and I saw it with our own eyes. You used Yu’s name to meet Huang Erlang alone, throwing yourself at him! Fortunately, Huang Erlang is a gentleman, as he pushed you away immediately.

Yet you still claim Yu and I wronged you, deliberately shunning you? If not for the years of sisterhood, we would have already exposed your deeds to everyone!

Now Yu is gone! I don’t care anymore; I just want those who harmed her to go to hell!"

Zhu Yan’s face turned ashen, repeatedly murmuring, "No, you’re lying! You’re lying!"

However, her words seemed so weak against Ye Anqiao’s harsh tone.

Mr. Zhuo looked at Zhu Yan in disbelief, his lips trembling, "Zhu Yan, is what Anqiao said true? I watched you all grow up, how could you harm Yu like this..."

Ye Anqiao continued with a sneer, "Miao Xianglan, you claimed that day you brought Zhu Yan over to reconcile her with Yu, yet when Yu arrived, you pretended to chat with her briefly, then went aside talking amongst yourselves when Yu ignored you.

You were discussing things like the latest rouge and powders, and jewelry, saying how Silver is the best for nourishment, and how Zhu Yan’s family is wealthy, unlike poor girls who have to do housework and farm work every day, wearing down good skin.

When Yu first arrived, her mood was clearly good, but because of you, her state deteriorated, and even her hands trembled while doing laundry..."

Xu Jing heard this and looked intently at Zhu Yan and Miao Xianglan’s hands, noticing they both had manicured nails! Zhu Yan’s nails were longer than Miao Xianglan’s, and both had delicately painted nails.

Unlike the other girls who were bare-faced, Zhu Yan was wearing makeup, with a butterfly pearl silver hairpin on her head that looked quite valuable, and matching pearl earrings, with a skirt made of clearly better material, indicating her family’s wealth.

Although Miao Xianglan wasn’t wearing jewelry, her face was also made up, and her dress, though a bit old, was made of good fabric.

Xiao Yi seemed to understand what she was thinking, and softly said, "Men need to work and usually don’t keep nails, while women from common families help with chores, making long nails inconvenient, so they don’t keep them unless they’re well-off."

Xu Jing nodded silently.

Her concern, however, extended far beyond mere nails.

She beckoned to Chen Hu not far away, who ran over promptly, bending down to ask, "Miss Xu, is there something you need?"

Xu Jing leaned to his ear and whispered a few words, Chen Hu nodded, and went to Deng Youwei, whispering to him.

Deng Youwei glanced at Xu Jing with slight surprise but said nothing, only nodding.

Chen Hu came forward, coughed lightly, and said, "County Magistrate Deng has a few questions for the ladies, starting with Lady Ye: you mentioned Lady Zhuo’s mood worsened due to Lady Zhu and Lady Miao’s words that day. Did Lady Zhuo say anything afterward?"

Ye Anqiao shook her head, biting her lip, "Your Honor, when Miao Xianglan and Zhu Yan were present, I didn’t want to lose face, so I refrained from discussing them with Yu, as if they didn’t exist.

Later, just as they left, I wanted to ask Yu if something was wrong, but I heard my mother-in-law’s voice calling me from afar, fearing I might miss something important, I briefly comforted Yu before leaving.

I... I was wrong, if I had comforted Yu more back then, maybe she would have revived and wouldn’t have encountered such a fate..."

Chen Hu immediately followed up, "Would Lady Zhuo usually be this affected emotionally when encountering Lady Zhu?"

Ye Anqiao was taken aback, her face showing slight confusion, "Not really, Yu may appear weak, but she has a strong personality.

Two years ago, when she discovered Zhu Yan meeting Huang Erlang in secret, she was only heartbroken for a few days, then distanced herself from Zhu Yan, ignoring whatever Zhu Yan said in front of her."

Chen Hu noted the discrepancy, frowning, "If so, why was Lady Zhuo so affected that day?"

Just now, Ye Anqiao said that after Zhuo Yuting arrived, she was so upset that her hands shook.

This seems inconsistent with what she previously stated!

Ye Anqiao’s expression grew more bewildered, "I... I don’t know either, it’s strange. I intended to ask Yu about it after Zhu Yan and the rest left, but there was no time.

Though their words were harsh that day, ever since Yu and Huang Erlang got engaged, others in the village have said nasty things out of jealousy, which Yu always brushed aside..."

Chen Hu exchanged a silent glance with Deng Youwei, then continued, "According to what you said, after Lady Zhu and Lady Miao left, you also left. Were you the last person to leave the streamside, except for Lady Zhuo?"

This question was evidently easier to answer, and Ye Anqiao immediately shook her head, "No, Rong hadn’t left when I did."

A woman nearby, her stomach slightly protruding, stepped forward slowly with a soothing tone, "Your Honors, after Anqiao left that day, I stayed with Yu for a while.

I noticed Yu’s mood wasn’t good and wanted to talk to her, but I’m not good with words. Despite trying for half a day, I failed to comfort Yu, making her look even worse.

I was worried, but I had chores at home, so I left after finishing laundry."

Chen Hu promptly asked, "So Lady Zhuo was the last one among you to stay by the stream?"

"Yes, at least when I left, Yu was the only one by the stream."

The woman paused suddenly, hesitated for a moment, then added, "However, on my way home, I ran into Huang Erlang.

Huang Erlang was usually studying in the county’s private school and rarely came back. That day, he suddenly returned, and I took another look.

I remember Huang Erlang was wearing a sky-blue scholar’s gown, full of joy, hastily walking ahead.

The direction he headed seemed to be toward the stream where we were doing laundry."