She found it utterly absurd.
All these years, she had held the esteemed title of the Duchess and was also the emperor’s mother-in-law. Everyone bowed and scraped before her, eager to curry favor.
Let alone suing her—ordinary officials couldn’t even dream of getting an audience with her.
And now, officers had actually come to summon her for a court appearance?
She immediately turned to look at Duke Chu.
Duke Chu was even more furious. Seeing that his daughter-in-law was rambling and unclear, he ignored her entirely and strode straight outside.
What kind of yamen officers didn’t know proper rules and protocol?
Even if someone really wanted to bring charges against the Duke’s residence, didn’t officials across the empire know how the game was played?
The usual procedure would be that if someone dared to file a complaint, the officials—eager to ingratiate themselves—would hurry to cover it up, deliver a message to the Duke’s household, and suppress the matter quietly.
He wanted to see which brainless idiot was tired of living and had the nerve to do something this foolish.
Madam Liu also found it baffling. Someone actually dared to file charges against her?
She shook off her daughter-in-law’s supporting hand and followed Duke Chu closely to the front courtyard.
Naturally, the officers weren’t allowed past the gates of the Duke’s estate. As the saying went, “Even a seventh-rank official must dismount at the Prime Minister’s door.” Although the Duke wasn’t a prime minister, his rank and status were nearly equivalent.
When he stepped out the front gate, he saw seven or eight officers standing beside the stone lion statues and immediately demanded, “Which yamen are you from? You dare summon my wife to court? Who gave the order? Do you have official documentation? A writ?”
He fired off his questions in rapid succession, clearly enraged.
But to his surprise, the officers did not cower or stammer as those in the past might have. The one in charge stepped forward, cupped his hands, and replied in a steady voice: “Reporting to the Duke: I am Xing Min, investigating officer from the Shuntian Prefecture. Today I am here under orders to summon the Duchess for questioning regarding a murder case from thirty-six years ago.”
A murder case?
From thirty-six years ago?
Old Madam Liu, who had just arrived at the gate, halted in her tracks and steadied herself by grasping the door ring.
Madam Liu, following step by step behind, saw her sway and, thinking she was unwell, quickly asked, “Mother, what’s wrong? Are you alright?”
Duke Chu’s expression changed slightly as well, but he still barked out sharply: “Outrageous! My wife is a top-ranked titled lady—how can she be subjected to a court summons by you? Who gave this order?”
Xing Min remained composed and replied respectfully but firmly: “Responding to the Duke, the order was issued by our superior, Lord Zhang. This matter—”
Before he could finish, Duke Chu cut him off coldly: “Then have Zhang Yuanzhi come see me in person! There’s no need for any more of your nonsense!”
Xing Min glanced behind the Duke and, spotting Old Madam Liu, gave a faint smirk. “Your Grace, this is a serious matter. The accuser is already waiting at the yamen. Wouldn’t it be better if—”
“Nothing would be better! Get out!” Duke Chu bellowed.
Old Madam Liu’s lips were already turning pale.
And just at that moment, a person dressed in mourning clothes suddenly appeared from who knows where and fell to their knees with a thud.
Duke Chu’s mansion was located near the imperial city—an area densely populated with nobles and high-ranking officials.
Ordinary people could barely get close to this place. But today, as soon as this person knelt down, a crowd of commoners inexplicably surged in from all directions, quickly clogging the entire street.
Duke Chu’s heart sank—he instantly knew something was wrong.
If this hadn’t been planned ahead of time, how could there be so many spectators gathered so quickly?
It was obvious this person had come with ill intent.
Without hesitation, he turned to the steward and ordered, “Bring out the sticks! Drive these troublemaking riffraff away!”
No matter who they were or what they were trying to say—the best course of action now was to make sure they all got lost.
Not a single word must be allowed to come out of their mouths.
The steward quickly responded, not daring to delay, and immediately began summoning the servants.
Xing Min, however, looked somewhat troubled. “Your Grace, please—this person here is one of the petitioners…”
Before he could finish, the person kneeling on the ground suddenly shouted loudly: “Heaven above! Open your eyes and look! Open your eyes and see what kind of wretched woman Ye Jinxiu is! Look at this woman who murdered her fiancé and seduced a married man!”
At that outburst, Madam Liu saw her mother-in-law’s body give a violent tremble—she looked as if she might collapse at any moment.
She was stunned, staring blankly at her mother-in-law, unsure of how to react.
Old Madam Liu was utterly dazed.
She had never imagined that something from all those years ago would be brought up again.
Even more, she never imagined someone would still cry out for justice decades later.
She stared hard at the person kneeling outside, her mind buzzing with chaos, as if countless people were talking all around her.
The onlookers craned their necks, straining to hear every word of this astonishing event.
It was truly unheard of!
The Duchess murdered her fiancé?
Seduced a married man?
Good heavens!
How could the dignified Duchess be no different from some village floozy?
Wasn’t this a living Pan Jinlian?!
Shocking! Unbelievable!
Crowds of commoners packed tightly around them in layer after layer, leaving no room to breathe.
The steward of the Duke’s residence rushed out with a large group of guards, trying to drive the people away.
Naturally, the one crying out for justice was the first to be beaten.
But to everyone’s surprise, the person wasn’t afraid at all and kept shouting loudly: “Heaven, open your eyes and see! That wretch Ye Jinxiu clearly had a betrothal, but in order to climb high and marry into Duke Chu’s house, she murdered her fiancé!!!”
Duke Chu was furious: “Shut his mouth!”
The steward immediately nodded and reached out to cover the person’s mouth.
But before he could do so, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his knee and lost all control of his body—he collapsed forward, eating dirt.
At that moment, the man shouted even louder: “Heaven! Look! Duke Chu married such a poisonous woman, and even killed his first wife for her, framed his own daughter, and now showers that viper with endless favor! Heaven, have you gone blind?!”
Wow!
This was getting better and better!
They’d never heard anything like this before!
Not even in stage plays was the drama this intense!
Even the recent scandal about the Zhou family’s chastity arch couldn’t compare to this!
Tsk tsk tsk!
The Duchess murdered her fiancé. Duke Chu killed his first wife.
What a match made in h*ll!
The steward was scared out of his wits, forgetting all about his knee pain, scrambling up to hold the man down again.
But he hadn’t taken more than a few steps when pain struck his knees again—thud!—he dropped straight to the ground once more.
That man laughed heartily: “Heaven! You’ve finally opened your eyes! Finally let me shout my grievance! Let me seek justice for my brother! Give us miserable souls a chance to speak! Heaven, open your eyes and look! Heaven!”
