The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Chapter 1748 Ascension to the Hall

So which side do you prefer?

"I don't favor either side; I only look at the facts." If Cheng Feng hadn't asked her to make the trip, she wouldn't have bothered. Her philosophy has always been that it's better to avoid trouble.

Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Shang Xi went straight to the main hall. She wanted to report to Cheng Feng what she had seen and heard in prison. She knew that although Cheng Feng said he was too lazy to care, he was actually worried about his elder brother's family.

As soon as Shang Xi entered the room, Cheng Tiezhu asked her, "Auntie, how is Xiu doing in prison?"

"Tiezhu's here! Don't rush to sit down and talk." Shang Xi could understand the man in front of her. His rascal mother had died, and his wife had become the murderer. Anyone in his shoes would be as uneasy as Cheng Tiezhu.

"Auntie, have you seen Xiu?"

"I saw her." How could I not see her? She's the Crown Prince's consort; wherever she goes, everyone gives her face!

"How is she!" It was clear that Cheng Tiezhu was genuinely concerned about Su Aixiu.

"Sit down and let me explain slowly."

It's only been a few days, and Cheng Tiezhu, whose mother has died, is even more dejected than Cheng Feng, whose father has died.

"Auntie, is there anything Xiu wants to tell me?"

Shang Xi thought for a moment. Su Aixiu only mentioned Cheng Tiezhu briefly, probably because Cheng Tiezhu didn't trust her and was disappointed in him. "Tiezhu, Aixiu didn't ask me to pass on a message to you. However, she's protesting her innocence in prison, saying that He Bao framed her, and she even suspects that your mother's death is related to He Bao."

Even though Shang Xi didn't say it, Cheng Tiezhu knew everything.

Cheng Tiezhu was so anxious that he kept grabbing his hair, looking agitated. "He Bao is only sixteen years old, and my mother is so biased towards her. She wouldn't do something so outrageous. She's the most favored in this family. I don't believe this has anything to do with her."

Only Cheng Tiezhu still treated Hebao like a child, like a person. Thinking about the suffering Su Aixiu endured in prison, Yu Hua's wavering heart unconsciously sided with Su Aixiu. She asked Cheng Tiezhu, "Then do you believe that Su Aixiu killed this person?"

“That’s even more impossible. Su Aixiu is more filial than me. Why would she kill my mother? It doesn’t make sense.”

Yu Hua said, "When the murder case was heard in court that day, my Uncle Chen was there watching. He Bao testified that Su Aixiu had repeatedly asked Liu Dalan for money but failed, so she decided to kill him. Everyone present thought the motive for the murder was reasonable. What do you think?"

Cheng Tiezhu's voice trembled with tears. "Auntie, I knew every time Xiu asked my mother for money. There were even a few times when I asked her to go. During holidays, there are always gifts to exchange, and every single one of these costs money. My mother controls the family finances, but she never gives us a penny when we need money, so we have to ask her for it. My mother looks down on me and scolds me whenever she sees me. When she scolds me, it involves many people, so I asked Xiu to go to my mother. I never thought that could be used as a testimony. He Bao insists that Xiu killed the person, as if she witnessed the murder herself. She speaks with great conviction, but I believe the real killer is someone else."

Cheng Feng glanced at Cheng Tiezhu, feeling agitated. "Alright, stop crying now. Everything requires evidence. Crying yourself to death won't save your wife without evidence. Shang Xi, what did you find out during this prison visit?"

Shang Xi told the truth: "It won't be easy for Su Aixiu to prove her innocence, but she said she could find those two thugs and ask them if He Bao colluded with them to harm Liu Dalan!"

Cheng Tiezhu denied it outright, "How could that be? Ai Xiu didn't see that hoodlum at all. It was Cu Mei who told her. Cu Mei is not trustworthy. She didn't come to work at my house on the day my mother had the accident. He Bao also said that she didn't know any hoodlum. All of this must have been made up by Cu Mei."

Shang Xi looked at Cheng Tiezhu and didn't want to say anything more. This man must be out of his mind. How could he believe what He Bao said? If he continues like this, he'll never be able to rescue Su Aixiu.

Cheng Feng could no longer tolerate it. This Cheng Tiezhu was blind and ignorant, unable to distinguish between good and bad people. "Tiezhu, it seems you still don't understand He Bao. Let Yu Hua tell you what He Bao did during your few days in Mochun County."

After Yu Hua recounted He Bao's misdeeds in one breath, Cheng Tiezhu was speechless. "He Bao, He Bao colluded with thugs to smash up the birthday celebration stall? And even tried to beat up my aunt?"

Yuhua nodded.

"You're saying that He Bao colluded with thugs to block He Ye, intending to harm the child in He Ye's womb and even let the thugs defile He Ye?"

Yu Hua nodded again.

Cheng Tiezhu was completely shocked and dumbfounded. "I thought she just smashed up the birthday party and didn't want to pay for it. If I had known this would happen, I would have broken her legs."

Cheng Feng was furious. "Alright, stop showing off afterwards. I'm letting you know these things so you can see He Bao for who she really is. Don't think He Bao is innocent; she's been capable of murder for money for a long time."

"I'll go home and ask her for an explanation."

Shang Xi said, "No need. I've already spoken to the prefect. He Bao is a suspect, and by now he's probably already been taken away by the authorities. The priority now is to find those two hooligans and your servant, Cu Mei. You're always in the shop and don't know much about things at home. Cu Mei is different. Although she's a servant you hired, she works in your house every day and knows far more than you do."

Two days later, Constable Sun from the yamen sent someone to say that the two hooligans had been caught and Cu Mei had been found. He asked whether the Crown Prince and Crown Princess would attend the court hearing.

After much deliberation, Cheng Feng decided to attend the meeting as an observer.

On the day of the court hearing, a crowd of people knelt on the ground below, while Cheng Feng and Shang Xi sat to one side.

As expected, Chumi was kidnapped by those two thugs and suffered considerable abuse. Fortunately, she was older and less attractive, otherwise she would have been violated by those two thugs.

Cu Mei believed Su Aixiu and insisted that He Bao had colluded with thugs to murder for money. She said that she had seen the two thugs at the Cheng family's door many times and had also seen He Bao whispering and plotting with them.

He Bao not only retorted on the spot, but also retaliated, "Cu Mei, you lowly slave, you're spouting nonsense! When did I ever know these two people? I think you were involved when Su Aixiu killed my mother."

Cu Mei was not to be outdone. She was also a victim. She knew in her heart that if He Bao hadn't ordered it, how could that thug have kidnapped her? "You're making false accusations. The morning your mother died, I had just arrived at your front gate. I hadn't even entered the yard when two thugs put a sack over my head and carried me away. What does your mother's death have to do with me?"

“That’s right, I have evidence. Cu Mei wasn’t there that day.” As she spoke, Su Aixiu took out the note Cu Mei had written to her that day from her bosom. It was a leave request.