495 Duke Xu Is Not Dead
Hearing Madam Xu’s crazy laughter, Wu Changxian asked his people to stop. He went over and asked. “Madam Xu, what are you laughing at? Why were you crying earlier?”
First, she cried, then she began laughing. These were clear signs of insanity. Wu Changxian frowned. He really could not understand what had driven her to such an extent.
In the capital, Madam Xu had always been known for being a gentle and virtuous intelligent woman. She had stayed loyal to her late husband for twenty years and had worked hard to protect Duke Xu’s only descendant. Why would she go crazy and dig up her husband’s grave and ruin his corpse suddenly?
Madam Xu’s eyes were lifeless. She was so immersed in her own world that she could not hear Wu Changxian’s voice.
Unable to get anything out of her, Wu Changxian could only order his people to continue going back to the Ministry of War.
Along the way, Madam Xu laughed loudly. After laughing, there was a period of deadly silence.
When they returned to the Ministry of War, Madam Xu didn’t react at all. It was as if she couldn’t perceive anything around her. She was like a pool of stagnant water without any ripples.
Wu Changxian frowned and walked over. “Madam Xu, this is the Ministry of War. You’ve already incurred the wrath of the emperor by digging up Duke Xu’s grave. If you can’t give a convincing reason for your actions, do you know the consequences?”
Madam Xu didn’t respond. She was disheveled and was in an extremely sorry state. If she didn’t speak, Wu Changxian couldn’t do anything to her.
Wu Changxian couldn’t get anything out of her, so he didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, he got someone to keep an eye on her. Since Madam Xu had made up her mind to do such a deplorable thing, she was probably prepared to die.
After the jailer closed the cell door, Wu Changxian left the jail and got someone to invite Liu Sanniang and Xu Lin over.
The ins and outs of the matter had to be investigated before he could report it to the emperor.
When Liu Sanniang received the news, she went to the Ministry of War with Chu Yan.
Xu Lin was also brought to the Ministry of War by the servants.
Yi Zilan returned to the Ministry of War to report after restoring Duke Xu’s grave to its original state.
Anyone who heard of Madam Xu’s act of madness would be shocked. Everyone was waiting for the result of the investigation.
When Yi Zilan came back, he saw Chu Yan and Liu Sanniang. He smiled and greeted them. “Miss Liu.”
Liu Sanniang looked at Yi Zilan and nodded.
Yi Zilan cupped his fists. “Miss Liu, please.”
Liu Sanniang walked into the Ministry of War with Yi Zilan.
Yi Zilan said to Liu Sanniang, “Madam Xu has gone crazy. She shattered Duke Xu’s skull.”
Liu Sanniang listened carefully, but she didn’t know why Madam Xu did this either.
When Wu Changxian saw Liu Sanniang coming in, he said, “Miss Liu, sorry to bother you.”
Wu Changxian only wanted to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible. When they arrived at the cell, Wu Changxian asked the jailer to leave. When the cell door opened, Madam Xu was still in the same state as when he left. She sat there in a daze.
Wu Changxian said, “On the way back, Madam Xu was crying and laughing. Then she fell silent and since then, she has refused to say a word. Master Wu Ju said that only you can resolve this matter.”
Liu Sanniang walked up to Madam Xu and squatted down, looking her straight in the eyes. Liu Sanniang said calmly, “Madam Xu.”
Madam Xu’s glazed eyes suddenly blinked. She looked at Liu Sanniang and gritted her teeth. “Where is he? Tell me, where is he?”
She thought that Liu Sanniang was insulting her by saying that the mother was saving while the father was killing. She thought that Liu Sanniang was accusing her of immoral conduct and cheating on Duke Xu. However, she had never done such a shameful thing. After that, she tested and confirmed that as long as she had thoughts about giving up on her son, her son would be pushed to the verge of death, but if her determination to save her son was strong and unwavering, her son would eventually recover. There was only one possibility. Duke Xu was still alive and was doing something behind the curtain.
Liu Sanniang looked at Madam Xu and said calmly, “He’s already dead.”
Madam Xu’s face revealed that her husband was already dead.
After saying that, Madam Xu revealed a look of hatred. “Impossible.”
He was definitely not dead. He was alive and hiding in the dark.
Madam Xu didn’t seem like she was faking all these emotions. There was only one possibility. A certain part of her memory had been sealed.
Liu Sanniang reached out her hand. “If you want to know the truth, give me your hand.”
Madam Xu lowered her eyes and looked at the hand in front of her. She shook her head and retreated. “Get lost. I don’t believe you.”
Liu Sanniang lowered her eyes and retracted her hand.
Xu Lin was carried in. He was very weak, and the hunger in his stomach was dismantling him from inside. He was also fearful of the light. The journey to the Ministry of War was simply a torture to him. His expression was ferocious, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
Xia Qiluo also came over. She did not want to come at first, but after hearing Wu Ju’s words, she wanted to see why Liu Sanniang was the only one who could find out the truth.
When Xu Lin saw Madam Xu, he immediately begged. “Mother, I beg you. Please give me a quick death. I am better off dead.”
When Madam Xu heard Xu Lin’s voice, she looked agitated and glared fiercely at Wu Changxian. “I was the one who dug up the grave. Why did you catch my son? As long as I’m still breathing, I won’t let my son die! The more he wants Lin dead, the more I have to protect him.”
Wu Changxian frowned. “Madam Xu, who wants your son dead?”
Madam Xu’s expression turned cold. “Who else could it be? Of course it’s Duke Xu. Lord Wu, don’t you want to find out the truth? Then find Xu Quanshu and ask him for yourself.”
Wu Changxian was completely shocked. “But Duke Xu has been dead for many years…”
How could he possibly find someone who was dead? Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted coldly by Madam Xu. “He’s not dead at all. If you don’t believe me, ask Miss Liu. She was the one who told me the reason why my son was in a life-threatening situation so many times. The mother is saving while the father is killing. I raise his son up meticulously just to preserve his bloodline. However, he faked his death and escaped. He even wants his son to die.”
Wu Changxian frowned. How was this possible? When Duke Xu died, there were so many people who went to his funeral to express their condolences.
Madam Xu looked at Xu Lin. Her fingers under her sleeve pierced through her palm, but she did not feel any pain.
Xu Lin felt as if his brain had suffered a heavy blow. He looked at Madam Xu, as if waiting for her to explain.
Tears streamed down Madam Xu’s face.
Xu Lin’s expression was ferocious as he asked with difficulty. “Mother, is he really still alive?”
Madam Xu replied with certainty. “Yes, he’s still alive. He faked his death. He wants you to die, but as long as I don’t give up on you, you won’t die. This is why I can pull you back from the jaws of death every time you’re critically ill.”
Xu Lin was the one she had raised up painstakingly. Naturally, she hoped that he could live well and for long.