Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1043 Flaws revealed

Madam Li remained calm and looked at Tao Yanyan, her eyes moist: "My mother never mentioned how she survived, but ever since I can remember, she has always said that she is a young lady from the Gu family in the capital, and that I should save up enough money to go to the capital to find my relatives."

As she spoke, she looked at Tao Yanyan: "My mother was bedridden for a long time. Let alone saving money to find her relatives, it was very difficult to even save money to treat her illness. It's also my fault for being useless. I had nothing of value and couldn't earn any money. In the end, my mother died of illness without ever being able to go to the capital to find her relatives."

Everyone had different expressions, but Tao Yanyan didn't interrupt her and listened to her continue making things up.

“I finally managed to save up some money three months ago, but I spent too much on the journey and now I have no money left.” After saying that, she glanced at Li Mo with disdain in her eyes: “I wandered here and met this Li Mo. He took a liking to me and forced me to marry him. I am just a woman and I could not resist, so I had no choice but to submit.”

After saying that, she quickly glanced at He Linzhang: "But I threatened to kill myself so that I would never let him touch me, so... so I am still a virgin."

Although the two looked almost identical, He Linzhang didn't even glance at the kneeling Li family lady. When he heard her say that she was still a virgin, he secretly looked at Tao Yanyan, afraid that Tao Yanyan would misunderstand that he was a womanizer.

The Empress's possessiveness towards him is growing stronger, and he is riding high on his success, so he mustn't let the Empress misunderstand.

Mu Yu didn't believe a single word of it.

He personally witnessed Tao's body being pulled from the river, and he also personally buried her. A person cannot be brought back to life. It was precisely because he watched helplessly as his first wife killed Tao and their daughter that he broke with her and left Penglai Island to live alone on a small island next to it, where he remained for over a decade.

"Hmph, according to you, our birth mother only recently passed away? Then let me ask you, where was she buried? Is there anyone to testify?" Tao Yanyan asked.

Li's wife said, "I don't know where my mother lived before. I asked her but she wouldn't tell me. However, I have lived in Yuecheng ever since I was born."

Tao Yanyan didn't know where Yuecheng was, so he looked at He Linzhang.

"It's right next to the border city between the Great Zhou and the Xia Kingdom."

Tao Yanyan had read the Gazetteer of the Great Zhou Dynasty; Yuecheng and Penglai Island were in opposite directions. Even if her mother had miraculously survived, how could she have possibly gone to live in Yuecheng? This woman's inconsistencies were becoming more and more apparent.

"In Yuecheng, my mother and I have always lived in rented houses. If you don't believe me, you can ask the neighbors," Mrs. Li said confidently.

"And what about your biological father?" Tao Yanyan asked, staring at the woman.

The woman lowered her eyes and said, "My mother never said where my father went. But... I think, since I look so much like my sister, maybe... maybe our fathers are the same person."

Mu Yu clenched his fists. To hell with the same person!

The Empress Dowager gave him a look, telling him to calm down. Mu Yu didn't dare to lash out, but just clenched his fists and stood aside, staring at the imposter in front of him with such fervor that he almost burned with anger.

"I think this girl is quite pitiful. We're just passing through Yuecheng anyway, so why don't we take her along and check if the neighbors she mentioned are the same as her," the Empress Dowager said, glancing at He Linzhang and Tao Yanyan.

At this point, Li Mo objected, saying hurriedly, "No, no, this is my wife, you can't take her away!"

What a joke! You finally manage to marry a goddess, and before you've even touched her, she's going to be taken away? Where in the world would such a thing happen?

Madam Li angrily said, "I told you long ago that I came to the capital to find my relatives, but you trapped me here and even forced me to marry you. Now that I have met my own sister, she will naturally rescue me from this misery. Don't even think about keeping me trapped here any longer!"

After she finished speaking, she immediately kowtowed to the Empress Dowager: "Please save me, Madam. I will serve you like a slave from now on!"

The Empress Dowager chuckled: "Since your own sister is my daughter-in-law, I will naturally treat you well."

The last four words were emphasized, and He Linzhang and Tao Yanyan exchanged a glance and silently shut their mouths.

If the Empress Dowager wants to play, then let her play. Anyway, the checkers game is off the table, and now that a live person has come to play with the Empress Dowager, let's indulge her.

He Linzhang was not afraid that the woman would cause any harm, because he had already checked and found that she did not possess any martial arts skills.

Madam Li was overjoyed: "Thank you so much, Madam! Thank you so much, Madam!"

"Then what am I supposed to do? You can't take my wife away!" Li Mo said with a dark face, ready to fight the crowd.

"What are you yelling about? You spent ten taels of silver to marry me, and now I'll return the silver to you. From now on, we're severed ties!" As she spoke, Madam Li took out the silver and threw it at Li Mo, then took out the marriage certificate from her bosom and tore it up.

Tao Yanyan raised an eyebrow: This person carries a marriage certificate with him when he goes out? Ha, he really came here specifically to wait for them, he came prepared.

She could think of this, and so could the Empress Dowager and He Linzhang, who both looked at the Li family lady with cold eyes.

"How can the marriage certificate be torn up? No, I won't get a divorce!" Li Mo grabbed his wife and wouldn't let go.

Madam Li shoved him away: "We haven't consummated our marriage. According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a woman can divorce her husband at any time if she is still virgin after six months of marriage. If you continue to pester me, I will go with you to see the magistrate. The magistrate won't be on your side then!"

Lady Li was arrogant and haughty. She now had an older sister who was the Empress, although her sister had not revealed her true identity, so she pretended not to know.

Li Mo continued to cause trouble, but Ying San simply dragged him away.

"Oh my, I never expected to encounter such a novel thing while out and about." The Empress Dowager said with a delighted expression, "By the way, what's your name?"

Lady Li was still kneeling on the ground. The Empress Dowager gave Eunuch Qin a look, and Eunuch Qin stepped forward to help her up.

“Reporting to the old lady, my name is Gu Yuanyuan.”

The Empress Dowager tapped the table lightly with her hand, a smile playing on her lips: "Yuanyuan? Yan Yan. Heh, interesting."

He Linzhang didn't have as much patience as the Empress Dowager. A whole morning had already wasted a lot of time, and they had to hurry on their way. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to reach the next city before dark and stay at an inn. If they couldn't stay at an inn, they wouldn't be able to sleep with the sweet and soft Empress, and they would miss out on many perks.

He ordered his men to pack his luggage and set off immediately.

"By the way, Yuanyuan, do you want to go back and get your luggage?" the Empress Dowager asked Tao Yuanyuan very kindly.

Gu Yuanyuan smiled and said, "I've wandered here and have nothing on me, so there's no need for me to take anything."

It was just a casual question, and the Empress Dowager didn't bother to answer it, so she got into the carriage.

Gu Yuanyuan looked around and, seeing that the children were well-behaved, stepped forward and said, "You must be my children, right? I'm your aunt. May I ride with you?"

He Yanran said calmly, "It's inconvenient, our carriage is full." After saying that, she led her three younger siblings into the carriage.

Gu Yuanyuan felt a little awkward. She couldn't very well ask her to ride in the Emperor and Empress's carriage directly, could she?

Having just gained a little trust, she dared not take any risks.