CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 72: A LIFE, A CUP OF TEA

"Did you say you saw the person in the portrait having a secret rendezvous with your mistress?!" Cao Tianbao took a deep breath and directly questioned Little Tao’er, who was trembling on the ground. As he spoke, he signaled his guards with a glance, and the two guards understood, walking forward and pulling Zhuang Zhi a bit further away from Little Tao’er, then standing between them to separate them.

However, this action did not ease Little Tao’er’s anxiety; instead, she trembled even more violently, crying and speaking in a quivering voice: "Y-yes... I saw it with my own eyes...

I don’t know who that person was. I only know that before the incident, the mistress and that man were like glue; he visited her almost every other day. But a few days before the incident, they suddenly had a quarrel, and the mistress cried for two or three days straight.

I saw her refusing to eat just to cry, worried that her body couldn’t endure it, so I tried to comfort her. That’s when the mistress told me that the man claimed he was from an unusual family background, a noble house, and that his family wouldn’t be willing to let him marry a merchant’s daughter; at best, she could only become his concubine.

He also said that since she and he were already like husband and wife, there was probably no other way out.

He said that when he passed the martial examination, even being a concubine would be a social climb for her, given her status.

The mistress felt ashamed and angry upon hearing this, pushing him away. But he still tried to be intimate with her, and she scratched his face, ruining his looks, which made him furious, and he left in a huff.

Feeling more and more wronged, the mistress lost her appetite and spent her days crying alone in the embroidery tower.

I didn’t expect that a couple of days later, the man came again to see her, and the mistress drove me out.

After that, they reconciled, but the man did not visit as frequently as before.

I thought they might have settled things, so my mistress was at ease with him again, but little did I know that not long after...my mistress...my mistress was murdered..."

Cao Tianbao’s expression grew darker and darker as he listened.

Zhuang Zhi, however, seemed to have resigned himself entirely, not afraid in the least that the Great General would be enraged enough to cut him down. He continued after Little Tao’er: "I previously found the boatman, and he can prove everything I said is true! If the Great General and noble gentlemen don’t believe me, take the portrait to the riverbank and ask the boatman about it!"

The guards from the General Mansion all looked towards Cao Tianbao, seemingly waiting for his command.

Cao Tianbao’s face was dark as he was already angered by Zhuang Zhi’s commotion. He snorted coldly and ordered the guards: "You all go now, take the portrait, and bring back any boatman who recognizes who the person in the portrait is for questioning!"

"Guangyi, do not rush; this matter doesn’t need to be solved right now."

Duke Yan, who hadn’t spoken until now, finally spoke in a leisurely manner, glancing at Zhuang Zhi kneeling below. He grabbed Cao Tianbao’s wrist, squeezed it secretly, and addressed him, using Cao Tianbao’s personal name, displaying their closeness, "After all, today is your birthday; why not hand this matter over to Jingzhao Mansion? They will surely uncover the truth."

Upon Duke Yan’s suggestion, the Capital Governor, who was feeling awkward standing on the side, hurriedly stepped out from the crowd and bowed, "Indeed, I will spare no effort to get to the bottom of this case!"

Throughout the years, Cao Tianbao had always followed Duke Yan’s lead. Previously, he was fully determined to clear his family’s name, having already forgotten about celebrating his birthday.

Being grasped and pinched by Duke Yan, he calmed down a bit and nodded quickly: "Duke Yan is right! Everyone has come to my mansion today as guests; we can’t let other matters hold us up here!

So, I will trouble Lord Wu to send constables to investigate.

Someone, please lead the officials to the table and serve the tea and refreshments..."

Before Cao Tianbao had finished speaking, Zhuang Zhi let out a wail, suddenly standing up and rushing towards the coffin beside him. Fortunately, the guards from the General Mansion were beside him, and after reacting, they quickly reached out to hold him back, cushioning some of the impact. Nevertheless, Zhuang Zhi’s head still struck the coffin with a heavy thud, instantly splitting his forehead, and crimson blood gushed out, dyeing half his face red.

"So it is! So it is!" Zhuang Zhi let the blood drip down his cheeks without wiping it away. As if mad, he let out a hysterical laugh, half-crouching on the ground, pointing at the prestigious nobles in front of him, "My daughter’s life is worth less than the tea in your noble hands!

If the Jingzhao Mansion hadn’t delayed and evaded, refusing to give me an explanation, I would not be driven to this point, only to have the matter thrown back to Jingzhao Mansion in the end!

Since you officials protect each other, my daughter’s injustice is destined to go unavenged, and I shall die here today to join my daughter below, so as not to delay you noble gentlemen from enjoying your tea!"

He said through clenched teeth, attempting again to ram into the coffin.

This time, the guards beside him, having gained experience, immediately pinned him to the ground, denying him another attempt.

"Is there no justice, no law anymore?!" Zhuang Zhi cried on the ground, the blood on his face smeared with dust, creating a ghastly scene. He wailed, "My daughter was murdered, and you refuse to seize the murderer; she died unjustly!

I have no place to appeal, and when I try to follow my daughter in death, you will not let me!

Are our lives, as common folks, not ours to command, and only live or die at your discretion?!"

"Quickly drag him away and stop letting him cause a ruckus here," Duke Yan glanced at Zhuang Zhi with disgust and gestured to the guards to take him away.

"Hold on!" Cao Tianbao spoke up at this moment, stopping the guards who were about to act, and said with restrained anger, "Evidently, if I don’t convince you today, the black mark of oppressing others will hang over the Cao Family!

Very well, your words just now were quite bold, so allow me to clarify today!

Someone, go find the boatman by the river!

It doesn’t matter even if today’s my birthday, but the name of the Cao Family cannot be tarnished for no reason.

If it turns out that this affair involves my nephew, I, Cao Tianbao, will not cover for him one bit.

But if it turns out that your daughter has no connection to my nephew, and your accusations were baseless slander, then I shall show you the price of ruining my name, Cao Tianbao!

The life I reclaimed from the battlefield is not for the likes of you, a lowly market slave, to ruin or defile. If there is but one falsehood in your words today, I will personally send you to reunite with your daughter!"