```

Stealing a sidelong glance at the Liao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Dai Qiangsheng's eyes flickered with triumph and malice.

The Grandma of the Liao family always looked sad, as if she hadn't seen Dai Qiangsheng's gaze, but the grip on her daughter-in-law's arm grew tighter and tighter, fully revealing her nervous and panicked state of mind.

Meanwhile, Fang Qin kept her head down, making it impossible for others to see her expression. However, her body trembled faintly, and if it weren't for leaning closely against her mother-in-law, she might have already fallen to the ground.

Having observed the unusual behavior of the three, Yang Mengchen furrowed his brows slightly, his eyes dark and deep, and he sighed almost inaudibly.

"Responding to the official, as far as this commoner knows, Liao Xiaofu has never had any deep grudges with anyone," replied Dai Qiangsheng after pondering for a moment. "It's just..."

"Just what?" Xiao Hongtao pressed.

Feigning a pained and reluctant expression, Dai Qiangsheng glanced at the Liao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law before slowly saying, "A month before Liao Xiaofu was killed, that day I happened to be at home.

I heard the quarrel next door and intended to mediate, but then I heard Liao Xiaofu angrily accusing the Lady of the Liao family of being unfaithful, sneaking around behind his back with Mu Songlin, and, as a commoner..."

"Dai Qiangsheng, if you spout any more nonsense, this old woman will tear your mouth apart!" roared the Grandma of the Liao family, interrupting him: "Who in the village doesn't know that my daughter-in-law is gentle and virtuous, respectful, and sensible, busy with household chores all day long, without even time to chat with the village women, let alone approaching men—how could she commit such an act?

If you dare slander my daughter-in-law, I will not let you off even at the cost of my life!"

"Mother, please forgive your unworthy daughter-in-law for not being able to attend to you in your old age. In the next life, I still wish to be your daughter-in-law, and I promise to serve you well!" Fang Qin suddenly knelt to the ground and kowtowed three times to her mother-in-law, then flung herself towards the wooden frame over the well in a resolute manner.

Hai Tang, having received orders from Yang Mengchen, had been watching the Liao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law closely. Thus, she was able to save Fang Qin in time, preventing the tragedy. After handing Fang Qin back to the Grandma of the Liao family, she retreated to Yang Mengchen's side.

Clinging tightly to her daughter-in-law, the Grandma of the Liao family wept profusely: "Qin'er, how could you be so foolish? If anything happened to you, Er Dan and I wouldn't want to live either!"

"Mother..." Fang Qin's tears fell like rain, her pale face covered in despair and sorrow.

Everything happened so quickly that everyone was stunned. Once they came to their senses, they felt relieved that the Lady of the Liao family was safe, and they condemned Dai Qiangsheng.

The Jinquan villagers, in particular, knew best the character of the Lady of the Liao family. Mu Songlin, too, was known for being diligent and honest, and he wasn't much of a talker. It was impossible for the two of them to have done such a thing. But now, Dai Qiangsheng had baselessly defamed their reputation and almost caused a man's death—this was going too far!

Facing the condemnation, Dai Qiangsheng panicked: "I heard this from Liao Xiaofu himself; I'm not making this up! Furthermore, Liao Xiaofu treated the Lady of the Liao family poorly, and Mu Songlin lived in the Liao household. I've seen the two of them come and go together several times, laughing and talking. If you say there's nothing between them, the devil would believe it."

"You old hag, I'll fight it out with you!" The Grandma of the Liao family, releasing her daughter-in-law, furiously lunged at Dai Qiangsheng. Fortunately, several older women held her back. Unable to free herself, she could only loudly question Dai Qiangsheng: "We have no grudges with you, why do you frame us? Do you have to drive us to death to be satisfied?"

Fang Qin fainted into the arms of a woman. Yang Mengchen quickly stepped forward to help, and after a while, she slowly regained consciousness. Looking at Yang Mengchen, her eyes empty and distressed: "Ninth Sister Yang, why did you bother saving me? My reputation is ruined; it would have been cleaner to die!"

"Death is easy, but have you considered your mother-in-law and son? They have already lost a son and a father. Do you have the heart to leave them with no one to rely on?" asked Yang Mengchen calmly, her voice nearly indifferent.

Fang Qin was taken aback, and then she and her mother-in-law embraced and cried in silence.

Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but feel compassion, with even some emotional women taking out handkerchiefs to wipe their tears.

Dai Qiangsheng, with an aggrieved expression, had a flash of triumph and cruelty in his eyes, but when he suddenly caught Yang Mengchen's penetrating gaze, he shuddered and hastily looked down.

Yang Mengchen looked at him and said coolly: "Go ahead, what are you really trying to suggest by bringing up this matter?"

"I speculate that day Liao Xiaofu most likely caught the Lady of the Liao family and Mu Songlin in their unsightly affair, which is why he beat her so fiercely. Fearing their illicit relationship would be exposed, and wanting to be together long-term, they conspired to kill Liao Xiaofu," said Dai Qiangsheng.

"Have you actually seen them kill anyone?"

"No," Dai Qiangsheng shook his head. "But that night, when I got up to use the privy, I saw the Lady of the Liao family and Mu Songlin sneaking out of the Liao household, carrying a heavy hemp sack. I think that sack must have contained the dead body of Liao Xiaofu. After that, he was never seen again. When villagers asked, the Liao family said he had gone to town to gamble and hadn't returned.

Although I was suspicious, without evidence, I kept silent about this. I never expected that they indeed killed Liao Xiaofu and even threw his body into the well."

Yang Mengchen raised an eyebrow: "So you're saying, everything is just your speculation?"

"But apart from the Lady of the Liao family and Mu Songlin, who else would kill Liao Xiaofu?" Dai Qiangsheng craftily retorted.

"If it's as you say, and the Lady of the Liao family and Mu Songlin killed Liao Xiaofu, why didn't they just bury the body nearby, instead of throwing it into a well far from home, causing the entire village to contract the epidemic? Could it be that the Lady of the Liao family and Mu Songlin hold a grudge against the whole village?

But looking at how the villagers treat the Liao family, they don't seem to bear any grudges, so how do you explain that?"

"This..." Dai Qiangsheng was at a loss for words, Ninth Sister Yang seemed gentle and harmless on the surface, but in fact, she was cunning and sly, leaving him completely defenseless. However, the slightly clever Dai Qiangsheng immediately shifted the focus: "Lady of the Liao family, do you dare to swear to heaven in front of everyone that you didn't kill Liao Xiaofu?"

Fang Qin's complexion turned deathly pale in an instant, her gaze flickering, her tightly pressed lips losing all color.

Hearts skipped a beat among the onlookers: Could it be true that the Lady of the Liao family killed her own husband?

"It was me who killed him!"

```

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.