CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER 263: IT’S LIKELY A CONSPIRACY THAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS EXPOSED

In his memory, his young uncle had always been sickly. Yet, his pitch-black eyes sparkled astonishingly, filled with an intense vitality. His face always carried a relaxed expression, as if he weren’t the one who was seriously ill. Ever since he could remember, his young uncle had been ill. He had always thought it was congenital and never entertained any other possibilities.

Fu Bing’s words made his hair stand on end.

Were his young uncle’s illness and Fu Ya’s illness both deliberately caused? If it was poisoning, who could so cleverly keep them bedridden for so long without them dying immediately? Anyone capable of such a thing was certainly no ordinary person.

A name flashed through Su Junxian’s mind.

The deceased Lu Ji!

During his young uncle’s lifetime, Lu Ji had been the Su Family’s doctor.

Su Junxian’s expression turned cold instantly.

These matters were like a colossal, tangled web; no sooner was one knot untied than another appeared.

Su Junxian called Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan answered, his voice tinged with suspicion, "Brother Junxian."

"Are you familiar with Ning Wan?"

"Yes, and she’s even closer to Sister Bing."

"What?"

"She’s Aunt Ning, the one who’s always with Sister Bing." Lu Yuan blinked his large eyes. Are you going to acknowledge Sister Bing now?

Why else would he suddenly ask about Aunt Ning?

"I just met her today, and it reminded me that Lu Ji used to be our Su Family’s doctor."

"I know that. He bragged about it endlessly before he died. What do you want to know? I might have heard something."

"My young uncle’s illness."

Lu Yuan scratched his head. "I haven’t heard much about that. I’ll ask Aunt Ning later."

"You can ask her. Don’t feel any pressure about it."

"Mm-hmm." Lu Yuan couldn’t help but remark, I never expected Sister Bing to be your sister! But on second thought, with her looks and temperament, it’s not surprising she comes from such a distinguished family.

"Keep an eye on her for me. She’s strong-willed and isn’t likely to show weakness. People with that kind of personality are often the ones who suffer the most."

"I understand."

After hanging up, Su Junxian exchanged messages with Fu Bing.

Fu Bing had just arrived at the villa.

Aunt Ning and Uncle He were painting in the courtyard.

Fu Bing stood behind them, watching for a moment before asking, "Aunt Ning, do you remember anything about Su Chu’s illness?"

Aunt Ning replied instinctively, "Su Chu wasn’t ill; he was poisoned."

Then, she quickly realized the implication of her words.

"Why are you suddenly asking about this? Are you thinking of returning to the Su Family?"

"I mentioned my mother’s illness to you before. It was only after discovering I am Su Qinnuan that I realized my mother was very likely poisoned. She might have even been afflicted with the same poison as Su Chu."

Aunt Ning’s expression changed. "What connection does your mother have to the Su Family?"

"My mother and Su Chu were in love."

"So that’s how it was. Back then, Old Madam Su had been deeply displeased that Su Chu had casually chosen a woman who already had a child. They argued several times, but Su Chu paid her no mind. So, Old Madam Su sought out Lu Ji. Both Lu Ji and I are proficient in the use of poisons. Fundamentally, medicine and poison are both potent substances capable of saving lives."

"An overdose of medicine can be lethal, while a small dose of poison can save a life. To us medical practitioners, there isn’t a significant difference."

"After Lu Ji joined the Su Family, Su Chu’s health deteriorated. He initially just had a congenitally weak constitution, but under Lu Ji’s care, his condition only worsened. Yet, Old Madam Su never dismissed him."

Aunt Ning’s expression was grave. "If your mother was poisoned with the same substance, it means Old Madam Su knew your identity all along. Perhaps other members of the Su Family knew as well."

"Xiaobing, this revelation of your identity could very well be a conspiracy. You must handle this with a calm mind."

Fu Bing’s heart was a maelstrom of emotions. Things are becoming more intriguing, and I’m increasingly less inclined to follow the path others have laid out for me.

Aunt Ning looked at her with immense affection. "Whatever you choose, I believe you will choose the best path for yourself."

Fu Bing nodded. "There’s another very important matter I need to handle. I’d like your advice."

"What is it?"

"Over the past two months, more than a dozen of our former cellmates have been released. These women were abandoned by their families even before they were imprisoned. Several of them have been cut off from the outside world for over a decade, and they now face immense difficulties making a living."

"I haven’t figured out how to settle them yet."

These women need encouragement, but also guidance and structure. They lack practical job skills, and without someone to guide them, they could easily drift back to the fringes of society.

Aunt Ning pondered for a moment. "In a few days, I’ll go with you to pick them up."

"Okay."

「That day.」

Fu Bing personally drove a seven-seater vehicle to the Jiangcheng Women’s Prison.

They weren’t all released in the same group but were divided into three batches.

This time, there were five of them.

Fu Bing gazed at the tall, imposing iron gates, her mind drifting back to her own release over a year ago.

Overwhelming anxiety and unease! The fear of facing public condemnation.

Over a year had passed, and her state of mind was now worlds apart.

A loud RUMBLE, and the great iron gate slowly creaked open.

Five timid figures appeared behind it.

Upon seeing Fu Bing, the tension instantly drained from their faces.

Shen Yao cried out, "Sister Bing didn’t lie to us! She really came to pick us up!"

The other four nodded, hurrying over behind Shen Yao.

"Sister Bing," Shen Yao said, running up to Fu Bing, her eyes already rimmed with red.

Shen Yao had been imprisoned because her younger brother died as a result of bullying. The perpetrators, however, had escaped legal punishment. Her parents, devastated by their son’s death, fell into a deep despair. While she was away at school, they ended their lives with a canister of gas. She became an orphan. The ones who had bullied her brother then tried to bully her. In fighting back, she fatally stabbed one of them. Ultimately, it was due to the persistent efforts of numerous lawyers, judges, and members of the public that her sentence was reduced time and again.

Fu Bing’s gaze swept over each of the five women.

"Everyone, get in the car. We can talk on the way."

The five women looked at the clean vehicle, perching gingerly on their seats, hardly daring to touch anything.

After starting the car, Fu Bing explained, "I know you’re most concerned about where you’ll be staying. Aunt Ning and I will take you to see the place first."

"Shen Yao, you’re young, so you’ll adapt more easily than the other sisters. Until they get used to their new lives, I’ll need you to put in extra effort to look after them."

Shen Yao nodded quickly. "Okay, Sister Bing."

Fu Bing had arranged accommodation for them in an older residential complex with excellent transportation links.

Though the complex was old, it was well-maintained, with all necessary amenities nearby.

Buses and the subway were very accessible.

Consequently, despite its age, property prices in the complex remained high.

It was a walk-up building. Since Aunt Ning couldn’t manage the stairs, some of the women offered to carry her while others helped with her wheelchair.

Fu Bing led them up to the fourth floor.

She pointed to the apartment door directly opposite another on the same landing.

"Each of these two apartments has three rooms, so you can arrange your own accommodations. I’ve prepared all the basic necessities. Anything else you need, you can buy yourselves," she said, opening the door.

Shen Yao, Zhang Jing, Liu Erni, Aunt Zhang, and Sister Liu toured both apartments.

Tears welled up in the eyes of all five women.

Not a single one of them had been dealt an easy hand in life.

As women conditioned from childhood to be docile and obedient, how could they have resorted to crime if not driven to desperation?

During their years in prison, they had longed for release yet dreaded it.

The outside world might not accept them.

Aunt Zhang choked back sobs. "Xiaofu, thank you for doing so much for us. We truly..."

She couldn’t finish her sentence before breaking down in tears.

Her crying set off the others, and they too began to wipe their eyes.

Fu Bing did not comfort them.