Chapter 28: Drag Her Down Together!

Wu Qingchan’s Visit to the Prison

At the Ministry of Justice, Wu Qingchan had a hard time getting in.

She exhausted her sweet words and stuffed a hefty sum of silver into the guards’ hands before they let her pass.

This wasn’t surprising—Wu Que was a major criminal personally condemned by the Emperor, with little chance of reprieve.

For someone practically doomed, the jailers had no fear.

They’d seize the opportunity to extort a fortune.

After all, no one would hold them accountable later.

“Brother, Brother!”

Inside the prison, Wu Qingchan endured the foul, damp stench of decay and hurried toward a cell.

Seeing Wu Que curled up in a corner through the bars, she called out anxiously again.

“Brother, it’s me! Get up!”

Wu Que hadn’t eaten in two days, surviving only on a few sips of filthy water to avoid dying of thirst in the summer heat.

Hearing a familiar voice, he opened his eyes and looked toward the door. Seeing Wu Qingchan, he scrambled to his feet, stumbling to the cell door, gripping the bars tightly as his body nearly collapsed against them.

“Why are you here?”

As he spoke, his eyes darted to Wu Qingchan’s hands and the maid behind her, asking urgently.

“Did you bring any food? Quick, give it to me! I haven’t eaten in two days!”

The sour rice and slop-like side dishes served in the prison were impossible for him to stomach, and he was starving.

But faced with his question, Wu Qingchan froze, then stammered, “I… I…”

She hadn’t brought anything—not a single thing.

She’d come to the prison to pour out her grievances, not to bring supplies.

Raised in a pampered bubble her whole life, when had Wu Qingchan ever had to think about such things?

“You didn’t bring anything?” Wu Que’s eyes widened in disbelief. Seeing her awkward, restrained expression, he understood and deflated instantly. “Forget it. I’m a dead man anyway.”

“Brother, don’t say that! I’ll definitely save you!” Wu Qingchan hurriedly replied.

Wu Que, however, was more clear-headed, letting out a bitter, mocking laugh. “You? Save me? Unless the Emperor himself pardons me, who could possibly help? You’d better hope the Emperor is merciful and doesn’t punish you too. Otherwise, the family of a convicted official faces slavery or worse—being forced into prostitution.”

His words clearly terrified Wu Qingchan. Her face paled further, her hands clenched into fists, unable to speak.

Wu Que’s Desperate Plan

Suddenly, Wu Que seemed to recall something. He grabbed Wu Qingchan’s hand, his voice urgent.

“A married woman isn’t tied to her family’s fate. Aren’t you and that Zhou Zhiqing deeply in love? Go to him now. If he’s still willing to marry you, simplify everything and marry quickly. Once you’re wed, you’re no longer a Wu. The Emperor has convicted me but hasn’t finalized my punishment yet. You still have a chance!”

“Brother!” Wu Qingchan sobbed, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face. “No, I don’t want that! I want to live and die with you!”

“Don’t be foolish!” Wu Que cut her off, gripping her hand tighter, his eyes blazing with ferocity. “Qingchan, look at me. Remember this: as long as you survive, there’s hope. You must live to have a chance to avenge me!”

Raised in a sheltered life of luxury, Wu Qingchan couldn’t process such words.

She only cried harder, tears streaking her face.

“Brother, there must be a way! I’ll beg Sister-in-Law. If she’s willing to help, she can speak for you before the Emperor!”

“I’ll go plead with her again. I’ll kneel and kowtow!”

But at her words, Wu Que’s eyes surged with venom, his entire demeanor turning ghastly and terrifying, like a vengeful ghost.

“It’s useless. She won’t help us. That shameless wretch can’t wait for me to die so she can enter the palace! But how could I let her have her way?”

He pressed his face close to the bars, his eyes wild with rage. “Kill her, Qingchan. If I can’t live, she should go to hell with me!”

His appearance startled Wu Qingchan, her tears stopping as she trembled.

“Brother…”

“You must kill her!” Wu Que seemed deranged, his voice low and hoarse, the words roaring from deep in his throat.

At that moment, the thought of killing Xie Jiu consumed his mind, driving him to the edge of sanity with hatred.

The Jailers’ Interruption

Just then, a jailer’s voice cut through, pulling Wu Que back to reality slightly.

“What are you dawdling for? Didn’t you say you’d just look and leave? Hurry up! If you stay any longer, I’ll lock you in too. I’m taking a risk here—get out!”

“Big Brother, please, just a little more time. Let our miss speak a bit longer with the Marquis…” Wu Qingchan’s maid tried to slip more silver to the jailer, but he struck it away with the back of his knife, the glinting blade making the maid scream in fear.

“You need to be alive to spend money! I don’t dare take more. Get out now!” the jailer barked, his face menacing.

With no choice, Wu Qingchan had to leave.

Wu Que watched her retreating figure, clinging to the bars and shouting after her, “Remember what I said! As long as you survive, there’s hope!”

“Worry about yourself first,” the jailer sneered.

He spat at Wu Que, sheathed his knife, and walked away.

Humiliation and hatred burned in Wu Que’s eyes as he glared at the jailer’s back, wishing he could tear him apart.

But he didn’t dare utter a word.

The beatings and torment of the past two days in prison had taught him to hold his tongue.

Now, he was resigned to his inevitable death, hoping only that Wu Qingchan wouldn’t let him down. No matter the cost or means, Wu Que wanted to drag Xie Jiu down to hell with him.

Unfortunately, he overestimated his sister.

Wu Qingchan’s Next Move

When word reached Xie Jiu that Wu Qingchan, shaken and despondent, had gone to the Zhou household after leaving the prison, Xie Jiu guessed her intentions.

“Should we intervene and ruin this?” Chunrong asked softly, offering a cup of tea.

Xie Jiu took the teacup, her eyes narrowing slightly. “No need. If Zhou Zhiqing is willing to marry Wu Qingchan at a time like this, it shows some genuine affection. I’m curious to see if Wu Qingchan has such good fortune.”

Chunrong smiled at her words and asked no more.

An Unexpected Development

Surprisingly, Zhou Zhiqing and Wu Qingchan seemed truly in love. The next morning, the Zhou family sent betrothal gifts and a marriage contract.

This happened while Xie Jiu was at the palace, so Wu Qingchan made the decision herself, accepting the gifts and setting the wedding for the following day, keeping everything simple.

By the time Xie Jiu returned to the residence, everything was settled.

Wu Qingchan had worried that Xie Jiu, as her elder sister-in-law, might interfere or sabotage the marriage, but Xie Jiu didn’t meddle at all.

This let Wu Qingchan breathe a sigh of relief, but her relief was short-lived. Another piece of news nearly made her faint with anger.

“Miss, you’re getting married, and Madam isn’t stopping it. But with the Marquis in prison, all the residence’s assets have been inventoried by the authorities for confiscation. You can’t take anything from the residence. The boxes you packed must stay, or the authorities might pursue the matter, implicating Young Master Zhou as well,” Qingfang reported after delivering the message.

This wasn’t just to scare Wu Qingchan—it was the truth.

In the past few days, all purchases for the residence had stopped. Wu Qingchan’s daily meals came from the household’s dwindling stores, but she hadn’t noticed yet due to the short time frame.

Unable to take a dowry, Wu Qingchan was both furious and frustrated, but she was too timid to risk breaking the law. Reluctantly, she gave up, packing only a few clothes and the modest betrothal gifts from the Zhou family. At dawn, she left the Weiyuan Marquis Residence in a small sedan sent by the Zhou family.

The departure was quiet, devoid of any festive cheer—more like an escape.

In truth, it was an escape.

Because just half an hour after she left, the Ministry of Justice arrived to confiscate the residence.

Xie Jiu’s Plans

Xie Jiu had requested a day’s leave from Zhao Xingjin today—she had matters to attend to.

After all, today was Wu Qingchan’s wedding day, a joyous occasion worth informing Wu Que, her brother. Since Wu Qingchan was too busy to go herself, Xie Jiu, as her sister-in-law, would deliver the happy news on her behalf.

Besides, with the residence being confiscated and the chaos that came with it, stepping out would give her some peace and quiet.