Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 903: Lady Lai

The room erupted in laughter, making Elder Gu’s face turn dark and his throat taste sweet with a metallic tang as blood surged up: "Shut up, pfft!"

As soon as he opened his mouth, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Gu Chengli hurriedly supported him, saying fearfully, "Grandpa, hold on, you mustn’t faint again. Doctor Xiao said if you faint again, you’ll definitely have a stroke. We don’t have much money left; the remaining silver is needed to treat Brother Zhi and the others."

Gu Chengli kept talking, looking heartbroken over the money, which made Elder Gu so angry he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Lord Lai’s face also turned bad as he looked toward Lawyer Wu.

Lawyer Wu immediately said, "My lord, this is just Tian Xiwang’s one-sided testimony, and there’s no evidence to prove that Lord Lai ever had a secret meeting with Granny Gu."

He continued, "Consider this: Lord Lai has many maids at his disposal; what kind of woman can’t he have? Why would he need another man’s wife?"

These words were quite reasonable, but Magistrate Gu said, "Tian Xiwang already stated that Mrs. Gu Pan was a maid in the Lai family and had long had an affair with Lord Lai, so it’s no surprise if they met secretly again."

"Be careful with your words, my lord!" Lawyer Wu warned, "Lord Lai has always denied being that Young Master Lai, yet you keep accusing him openly. Isn’t this a bit improper, as if intentionally targeting a colleague?"

Magistrate Gu was very frustrated, truly wishing he could pull out Lawyer Wu’s tongue, as conducting a trial for a colleague in the same government office was indeed troublesome.

Seeing Magistrate Gu at a loss, Lawyer Wu immediately said, "My lord, these people’s accusations could be considered defamatory against Lord Lai. To know the truth, why not directly ask Granny Gu? As the person involved, her words would be more credible."

The onlookers called out, "Granny Gu and Lord Lai are in cahoots. What if she lies to protect Lord Lai or to preserve her reputation?!"

Lord Lai’s face turned dark. He indeed told Granny Gu to deny everything if their affair was exposed, but he hadn’t expected the stubbornness of the people of He’an Prefecture.

Ignoring the crowd’s words, Lawyer Wu only asked Magistrate Gu to bring Granny Gu for questioning.

Elder Gu also shouted, "Bring that wretched woman up here, I want to personally ask her if she ever had a secret meeting with that Lai!"

Having said that, he coughed violently in frustration.

Elder Gu had not yet divorced Granny Gu and was still her husband, so although Magistrate Gu knew she would likely lie, he had no choice but to have her brought up.

Seeing Granny Gu made Elder Gu quite emotional; he rushed forward, shaking her as he spoke, "You wretch, tell me, are you a maid from the Lai family? Did you commit adultery with that Lai when you were young? Whose children are Youwen, Youlu, and the little sister?!"

Gu Youfu looked just like him, clearly indicating he was his biological child, so there was no need to ask.

Granny Gu remained calm, simply casting Elder Gu a glance before looking away.

Elder Gu was furious and continued to shout, "You wretch, speak up, say it!"

With a slap, Magistrate Gu ordered, "Someone, take Elder Gu aside; I want to question her myself."

The Government Officials immediately pulled Elder Gu away.

Magistrate Gu looked at Granny Gu and asked, "Mrs. Gu Pan, were you ever a maid in the Lai family? Were your parents house slaves of the Lai family? Did you ever have a secret meeting with Lord Lai? Are Yuan Jinzhi, Gu Youwen, Gu Youlu, and Gu Yuye Lord Lai’s children?"

Yuan Jiagui had said that Granny Gu was meeting in secret with Lord Lai when Yuan Jiaman caught them, leading to her being silenced. It’s very likely that Yuan Jinzhi was not Yuan Jiaman’s daughter but Lord Lai’s.

It was said that Lord Lai treated Yuan Jinzhi very well; the sin redemption silver given to Yuan Jinzhi was from Lord Lai, and it was given immediately, saving Yuan Jinzhi from spending even a day in prison.

As expected, Granny Gu denied everything one by one.

Magistrate Gu reminded, "Mrs. Gu Pan, the slave register is on record. If you lie, I can find out with time, and then your affair with Lord Lai will be exposed to the world, and your punishment will be increased."

Granny Gu sneered, "Go ahead!"

She was nearing death; if she could help Lai Zhi one last time, he would feel indebted to her for life.

One had to admit Granny Gu’s love for Lord Lai was true, helping him until the end.

Her confidence came from the fact that the name Pan Shuangniang was given to her by Lord Lai; when she was a maid in the Lai family, she didn’t have the surname Pan but was granted the Lai family’s surname.

Magistrate Gu was furious at Granny Gu’s "go ahead" attitude. If she didn’t confess, and Lawyer Wu insisted Tian Xiwang and Yuan Jiagui lied to defame Lord Lai, not only would it be impossible to convict Lord Lai, but Magistrate Gu might also get counter-sued by him.

Lord Lai was very pleased to see Magistrate Gu at an impasse, but just as he was pleased, Lady Lai came to deal him a blow.

"Magistrate, my madam, Mrs. Lai Tao, seeks an audience. She has witnesses to prove that Mrs. Gu Pan was indeed a maid in the Lai family," said Yao Huang, the chief maid at Lady Lai’s side.

Magistrate Gu was overjoyed and quickly said, "Please invite Lady Lai in!"

The crowd, hearing Lady Lai was arriving, became excited, turning to look at her.

Lady Lai was cold and indifferent to the stares and whispered gossip about taking down Lord Lai. Supported by Yao Huang, she walked into the hall with two elderly women.

Seeing Lady Lai, Lord Lai almost fainted in anger. He grabbed her wrist and said, "Mrs. Tao, what are you doing here? Get back to the mansion; this is none of your business!"

He threatened in a low voice, "Your family is not as influential as the Lai’s, mere merchants, and you are but a concubine daughter. Your family married you to me to climb the social ladder, and if you harm me, the Tao family won’t forgive you!"

Lady Lai ignored Lord Lai, tugging her arm. Seeing she couldn’t get free, she addressed Magistrate Gu, "Mrs. Tao greets the Magistrate."

Lord Lai, enraged, immediately ordered his servants, "Someone take my wife home. She’s having a fit; take her away and get a doctor!"

Lady Lai smiled, "Lai Zhi, the one who’s sick is you. Do you really think everyone is a fool? Who treats their savior’s descendants better than their own child? Your relations with Gu Youwen and the others would make anyone suspicious."

She continued, "If you loved sons so much, why didn’t you save my Brother Zhuo? Was it because you feared dying on the road during famine? But he was your own son. How could you be so heartless not to stop and get a doctor for him?"

Lady Lai hadn’t cried in years, but at this moment, tears flowed uncontrollably.

Lord Lai was somewhat flustered, shouting, "What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t ruin my reputation here; Brother Zhuo died of illness, and no one could be blamed!"

Lady Lai smiled, no longer entangled with Lord Lai, pointing to an old woman behind her, she said, "Magistrate, she is one of Lai Zhi’s maids. She served alongside Mrs. Gu Pan and can attest that Mrs. Gu Pan was indeed a maid in the Lai household."

She pointed to another old woman and said, "Her name is Pipa; she’s Mrs. Gu Pan’s second sister. She was given by the Lai family to be a maid for a merchant but had no luck. After failing to bear a child, she was sold and ended up at an estate within my dowry. She knows of a birthmark on Mrs. Gu Pan, proving Mrs. Gu Pan is recorded as the Lai family’s maid, named Liu Shiliu."