Wu Caiwei walked out of Xinghua Hutong, shook off her pursuers, and in a secluded spot, changed back into her own clothes. She then went to the yamen to beat the drum and plead for justice.
Soon, yamen runners showed up. Disregarding the protests of the servants, they forced their way in and found the critically ill Madam Liu. The doctor took her pulse and confirmed she had been poisoned. If nothing changed, she would die within three to five days.
Madam Liu looked at the yamen runners, bewildered. She had no idea why they were there. While she wanted to live, her past actions wouldn't stand up to scrutiny. She knew she wouldn't fare well at the yamen.
Alas, she was too weak to speak and too frail to resist. She could only watch as her servants carried her onto a stretcher and took her to the yamen.
By the time the Prime Minister arrived, it was too late; the yamen runners had just left.
The Prefect was the Emperor's confidant. He had tried to bribe him before, but the Prefect, loyal to the Emperor and unwilling to form factions, had politely refused. Knowing things were about to turn bad, he hurried home, instructed his wife to prepare a gift, and rushed to the Prefect's residence.
The Prefect's wife accepted the gift on the spot and promised to have a good talk with her husband. They left full of gratitude.
Unfortunately, their joy was short-lived. The Prefect summoned all suspects to prison that very night and subjected them to torture. Before long, someone broke and confessed what they knew.
With the relentless use of various torture devices, the truth quickly came to light.
The next morning, after the morning court, the Prefect, accompanied by all the confessions and the Prime Minister's wife's generous gifts, met the Emperor.
The Emperor had previously perceived the Prime Minister as henpecked and devoted, but looking at the evidence, he regretted appointing him to such a position. How could a man so foolish in his domestic affairs handle matters of state?
He immediately summoned the Prime Minister to the palace and threw the evidence before him.
The Prime Minister, not understanding, quickly picked them up to examine them. The more he looked, the paler he became, his hands trembling slightly. His worst fears had come true.
Without a word, he immediately admitted his mistakes.
Seeing his contrite attitude, the Emperor's anger subsided.
"Minister Lin, you've had many family matters recently. Go home and take care of them. I will find another minister to handle court affairs."
Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister broke out in a cold sweat and quickly expressed his gratitude.
Madam Liu returned to her small courtyard. She noticed that her servants were no longer as respectful as before, and their gazes were as if they were looking at a dead person. A cold dread washed over her, and a bad premonition lingered in her heart.
To her relief, upon her return, no one forced her to drink any more medicine. After a day, she could speak again, though her voice was hoarse.
She asked her maid to fetch a doctor, but the maid completely ignored her.
She inwardly cursed. If the Prime Minister hadn't replaced all her trusted confidantes, she wouldn't have anyone to do her bidding.
Only after she promised two bracelets and two golden hairpins did the maid risk trying.
The doctor took her pulse, shook his head helplessly, and sighed, "Prepare for the funeral. It's a matter of days."
Madam Liu felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Disbelieving, she spent more silver to have the maid fetch another doctor. The result was the same.
She had thought the Prime Minister had a change of heart, only to realize she was at her wit's end, and he was too lazy to act. Lying in bed, she wept silently, deliberately ignoring the maid's impatient expression.
After paying a hefty sum, she had the maid deliver a jade pendant and a message: she wished to see him one last time.
The Prime Minister was initially resentful towards her and unwilling to meet. He rubbed the jade pendant she had sent, recalling their past. This jade was their token of love. He hadn't expected her to keep it. Fine, fine. A person on their deathbed speaks wisdom. He would see her one last time and hear what she had to say, the Prime Minister thought to himself.
It had been a long time since they last met. Seeing her weakened state, the Prime Minister's heart softened.
Madam Liu's face was filled with surprise. She struggled to sit up, but after much effort, she couldn't. The Prime Minister sighed, walked over, supported her, and placed a pillow beneath her waist.
Looking at his actions, Madam Liu's tears streamed down her face. In a weak voice, she reminisced with him about their childhood days.
Thinking that she would soon pass away, the Prime Minister could only recall her past kindness and responded with emotion.
"I am leaving soon. In the next life, I want to marry you again and be your main wife, not a secret concubine who cannot be seen." Madam Liu said to him, her eyes full of affection.
The Prime Minister hesitated. In his heart, his wife occupied a more important position than her.
She gave a wry smile and changed the subject. "It's too late for anything now. It's just a pity about my Chen'er. So young, so intelligent, with a bright future, yet he left us so early. Although I have done many wrong things, I have paid the price with my life. Today, I offer you a toast with tea instead of wine. Let all that has passed be forgotten."
With that, she reached out her trembling hand, trying to grab the teapot nearby, but failed after several attempts.
The Prime Minister saw her sweating profusely just trying to perform such a simple action and couldn't bear it. "Don't rush, I'll do it."
He turned, poured two cups of tea, handed one to her, and held one in his own hand.
Madam Liu raised her teacup and clinked it against his, then drank it down. Seeing that he hadn't drunk, she quickly asked, "Why aren't you drinking? Don't you want to forgive me?"
"No, I'll drink. I'll drink." Could he admit that after knowing what she had done, he felt a sense of fear towards her, afraid she might have poisoned the water?
However, he then thought that she loved her children so much, and his living would only benefit them. Coupled with her earnest, expectant gaze, he gritted his teeth and drank the tea.
"That's wonderful. You've forgiven me. I'm about to die, but I'm still worried about the two children. Can you allocate some of your assets to them? Just to comfort me." Madam Liu wanted to fight for her children one last time.
"Don't worry, I will take good care of them." The Prime Minister had always been generous to his children, and her request was not unreasonable. Without a second thought, he promised.
"I trust you, but the Madam is an unpredictable factor. She hates me so much, how could she possibly let you treat my children kindly? Just to let me die in peace, even if it's not assets, money will do." Madam Liu pleaded, performing the role of a mother devoted to her son and daughter's welfare to perfection.
The Prime Minister was somewhat moved. Although she was wicked, her love for her children was genuine. He then ordered his attendant to retrieve all his private savings from his residence and hand them to her.
Her objective achieved, Madam Liu felt content. After speaking so much and doing so much, she was already exhausted, her face even paler.
The Prime Minister wisely turned and left. With no one around, Madam Liu hooked the corners of her stiff lips. If she couldn't have a good life, neither could anyone else.