Peasant Woman’s Decreed Life as a Wife

Chapter 1738: Chapter 1735: Taking the Fall

The officers have come twice and recorded statements.

The Third Master Liu, known for being a good-for-nothing, paced anxiously in the room upon hearing the news. Unable to bear such silence, he angrily said, “No, Mother, we cannot plead guilty. If we admit guilt, we’ll lose our lives.”

Indeed, the crime of murdering an official of the imperial court only leads to beheading, and no one knows what else Chu Heng might know.

“Even if we don’t plead guilty, we can’t protect ourselves.” Old Madam Liu’s aged eyes were filled with tears: “Without the Gao family, how could the person above possibly let us be?”

“Mother, but if we confess, my husband will lose his life. He is innocent!” cried the Eldest Daughter-in-Law of the Liu Family, unable to shed more tears, her swollen eyes filled with indignation and anger. No one wants to die, especially not as a scapegoat!

Although the Liu family’s development over the years hasn’t been as good as the Gao family’s, the Liu family has officials and a status that even the Gao Family can’t match.

The Second Madam Liu dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief: “Mother, if my husband loses his life, how will we survive in the capital? The children are not grown yet, how can they be left without a father?”

Old Madam Liu, looking like a withered branch, sat powerlessly in the chair, her eyes red, patting her thigh in grief: “What to do, what should we do!”

“Mother, if my husband is gone, how could we women alone maintain such a large family estate? They could support other families to take over our position, even if we agree this time. Without the ability to protect what we have, the person above will eventually abandon us.” Second Madam Liu, being an Official’s Wife, was more insightful than her sisters-in-law.

The Third Young Master Liu said somewhat displeased: “Isn’t there still me? Although I don’t want anything to happen to Big Brother or Second Brother, you can’t just belittle me.”

The Second Madam Liu glanced at him and merely responded, “Third Brother, are you certain you have the ability to safeguard such a large family estate?”

The Third Master Liu: “…” Although very embarrassed, after being a profligate son for so many years, indeed his belly was full of wine; he really didn’t have such capability.

But for the sake of face, he mumbled a few words, saying he’s not that bad, that doing business was quite simple.

Upon hearing this, the other members of the Liu family were even more despaired.

Letting a profligate son, a good-for-nothing take charge was already foreseeing the collapse of the Liu family mansion.

“Mother, I have an idea.” The Second Madam Liu sniffed, a cold light flashing in her eyes as she made a decision: “We cannot agree to plead guilty.”

“How so?” Old Madam Liu naturally did not want to see her two sons die, especially the most capable ones, and she asked anxiously upon hearing the Second Madam Liu’s words.

The others also turned to her.

The Second Madam Liu squinted her eyes and said: “It’s simple; the Gao family must pay for what they’ve done. We can only push the Gao family out and swallow their estate to replace their position, becoming the primary choice of that person. By then, we’ll have saved our lives, and the Liu family will be elevated even further.”

The Third Master Liu swallowed hard, somewhat fearful: “But, Second Sister-in-law, are you sure we can do that? Even if Big Brother and the others testify that it was people from the Gao Ren Faction, with the capability of the Gao Family, they can swiftly produce a scapegoat. Once this matter is over, we would be finished.”