Madam Zhao the Second was momentarily at a loss for words, but she reacted swiftly, jutting out her neck and refusing to admit it.
"Accuse someone of a crime, and you'll surely find an excuse!"
Master Zhao had run out of patience to waste words on Madam Zhao the Second. Just thinking about how this woman had ruined him made his blood boil with hatred. He kicked out at her again.
"You venomous woman! Both witness and evidence are here. You can't deny it!"
Madam Zhao the Second stubbornly refused to admit it.
Twirling her handkerchief, she wailed, "Sir, you only care about the new wife's laughter and ignore the old wife's plight. I'm not afraid of confrontation, but I also know it's useless. Sir only has the madam in his heart. As long as the madam says a word, sir won't care about Xiulian's life anymore."
Zhao Luoning stood to one side, stunned.
Today, she finally saw Madam Zhao the Second's capabilities.
One had to admit that there was a reason why Madam Zhao the Second had enjoyed exclusive favor for so many years.
Even at this point, she could still talk her way out of it?
What a sharp tongue and what a poisonous heart!
However, a venomous woman will surely be punished by a more evil one.
Madam Zhao the Second had used this tactic too many times, and Master Zhao was no longer buying it.
"The evidence is irrefutable. You have no room to quibble!" Master Zhao gritted his teeth in hatred at the sight of her. "If it weren't illegal to kill, I'd really like to eat your flesh and drink your blood!"
Hearing this, Madam Zhao the Second felt a pang of despair.
The man she had served for so many years actually hated her so much.
Madam Zhao the Second suddenly felt that all her years of scheming were meaningless.
Master Zhao was still ill. Slapping and kicking like this was too much physical exertion. After just a few moments, he was out of breath.
He was too lazy to do it himself and summoned a servant.
"Give her twenty strokes with the bamboo board and send her to the government."
Hearing that she was going to be beaten, Madam Zhao the Second quickly pleaded for mercy.
"Sir, your concubine is in poor health. If I take these strokes, I'm afraid you'll never see your concubine again."
"Sir, have you forgotten your oath from back then? You said you'd love your concubine for a lifetime."
"Sir, do you really hate your concubine so much that you want her dead?"
...
But no matter how much Madam Zhao the Second pleaded, Master Zhao remained unmoved.
The bamboo boards were quickly set up.
Master Zhao ordered a stool to be brought over. Dragging his sick body, he personally supervised.
The servants didn't dare to slack off and put all their strength into each stroke.
Madam Zhao the Second, who had claimed to be in poor health, was still able to scold Master Zhao with full force when she received the fifth stroke.
"You're a man who can't tell right from wrong and is utterly incompetent!"
Yes, she realized that Master Zhao wouldn't spare her, so she simply started scolding, shouting for help at the same time.
"Luoyue, Luoming, your mother is about to be beaten to death. Come and save your mother!"
Master Zhao knew that Zhao Luoming would surely come to rescue her when he heard the news, so he had already sent someone to the teahouse to stop him.
But while he managed to stop Zhao Luoming, he couldn't stop Zhao Luoyue.
As soon as Zhao Luoyue entered the door, she heard Madam Zhao the Second's shrill screams.
She quickly ran over to rescue her.
"Dad, what's going on? You used to love Mom and me the most. Why are you being so cruel?"
Ignoring her pleas, Master Zhao coldly ordered, "Continue!"
Seeing that she couldn't persuade Master Zhao, Zhao Luoyue quickly ran to Madam Zhao the Second's side and used her body to protect her. The servants couldn't pull her away no matter how hard they tried.
This put the servant in charge of the punishment in a difficult position.
Master Zhao coldly ordered.
"Let her protect if she wants to. Beat them both!"
Hearing this, the servant had no choice but to obey. The bamboo board was raised high, and Zhao Luoyue panicked.
"You... you dare! I... I'm pregnant."
Hearing this, the servants hesitated.
So did Master Zhao.
The Zhao and Ning families were both prominent families. He couldn't really beat the first grandson of the Ning family to death.
Zhao Luoyue finally managed to save Madam Zhao the Second.
She untied the ropes binding Madam Zhao the Second.
Madam Zhao the Second's buttocks were already beaten to a bloody pulp.
She could barely stand and had to put all her weight on Zhao Luoyue.
Zhao Luoyue was now determined to protect Madam Zhao the Second, which gave Master Zhao a headache.
Of course, seeing Madam Zhao the Second gave him an even bigger headache.
By this point, he was physically and mentally exhausted.
This woman in front of him was someone he truly loved and also truly hated.
He waved his hand and said, "Take her away. From now on, she has nothing to do with the Zhao family!"
This meant he was divorcing Madam Zhao the Second.
Madam Zhao the Second had lost everything and had nothing to fear at this moment.
She spat out a mouthful of blood and sneered, pointing at Zhao Luoning.
"Hehe, do you know how stupid you are? Do you think I'm the only one in this mansion who's been lying to you? Take a good look at the one standing beside you now. Is it a man or a woman? Haven't you ever suspected? Zhao Luoning died and suddenly became a general's wife. She disappeared for over a year, and Luojing didn't show up for a year either! Your family fortune has been swindled by your own daughter, and you're still stupidly defending them. How pathetic!"
After saying this, Madam Zhao the Second left supported by Zhao Luoyue.
Zhao Luoning didn't expect that she had just come to watch the show but would end up getting into trouble.
This Madam Zhao the Second was really a tough nut to crack. Even on the verge of death, she still wanted to drag someone down with her!
Master Zhao supported himself on the chair and stood up.
He said to Zhao Luoning,
"Come with me."
Madam Zhao stepped forward to plead on her behalf, but Master Zhao stopped her.
"This has nothing to do with you!"
Zhao Luoning gave Madam Zhao a reassuring look.
She could handle this situation.
So she followed Master Zhao into the room.
Zhao Luochun watched from the side, worried.
Dad wouldn't discover Luoning's true identity, would he?
Everything else could be dealt with, but the two shops that Luoning had been managing in Luojing's name would be a problem.
Although Luoning had revitalized these two shops, according to the documents left by the old master, they were supposed to be left to Zhao Luojing.
If Dad found out that Luojing was already dead, he would surely have reason to take back the two shops!
All of Luoning's hard work over the years would be in vain.
No, this couldn't be allowed to happen.
With this thought in mind, Zhao Luochun didn't stop.
He had to hurry and find reinforcements for Luoning.
On the other hand, after Master Zhao returned to his room, he sat down on the chair, supported by it.
In just half a day, he seemed to have aged many years.
Zhao Luoning didn't have much affection for this muddle-headed father. But thinking of what her mother had said about his approaching death, she showed a bit more patience.
Maintaining a pretense of family courtesy.
"Who are you exactly? Luoning, Luojing, or Luoyu?"
Master Zhao asked.
He wasn't a fool. Madam Zhao the Second wouldn't bite at Zhao Luojing for no reason. Since she had pointed it out, it meant there must be something wrong with the person in front of him.
Zhao Luoning smiled and showed no sign of panic.
"Elder sister is already gone, and second sister is still missing. Dad, are you so muddled because of the concubine?"
Back then, in order to get her out, Ji Shisu had given her the identity of Zhao Luoyu, whose body had not been found yet and whose death had not been officially determined by the government.