CHAPTER 477: CHAPTER 477: DO YOU TAKE US FOR FOOLS?

Behind Zou Chengji, the children of Zou Yuqian were still kneeling.

Since Ms. Bao collided with the pillar to her death, and Zou Yuqian was sent to Lianshan Manor to be killed, the siblings Zou Chengji and Zou Chengzu had been living cautiously, not daring to speak loudly.

Yet even so, because County Magistrate Zou detested Zou Yuqian, their days were not easy. Under County Magistrate Zou’s indication, the siblings had suffered a lot in these two months, losing weight, their eye sockets sunken, bearing numerous pinch marks on their bodies – all secretly inflicted by the servants because of Zou Yuqian’s wrongdoings.

After Ms. Bao’s death, her family had once come, saying they wanted to take the siblings back to the Bao Family to be looked after. But County Magistrate Zou disagreed; he wanted to slowly torment them to death!

The siblings Zou Chengzu were terrified.

Now, knowing that County Magistrate Zou encountered trouble, the siblings Zou Chengzu had mixed feelings—sorrow, anxiety, and also relief and satisfaction.

Zou Chengzu looked at his trembling younger sister beside him; he, who rarely spoke in these past two months, finally said: "Grandmother, our grandfather is a beast. You have already been harmed by this beast for decades; do you still want to be harmed by him?"

"Chengzu, shut your mouth! How can you speak of your grandfather like that, he is your grandfather no matter what," Mrs. Zou, shocked that Zou Chengzu called County Magistrate Zou a beast, angrily said: "Don’t you be like your father..."

Zou Chengzu interrupted Mrs. Zou: "Grandmother, rest assured, your grandson will not follow in my father’s footsteps, as he too is a beast, and your grandson wishes to be human."

Zou Yuqian may look like a cultured and refined scholar, but in reality, he was worse than a beast, his own selfish desires ruining their entire family... His mother, such a kind person, was agitated by his father to the point of colliding with a pillar to her death.

"You, you disgrace!" Mrs. Zou was livid: "All these years of your studying, where has it gone? To dare to insult your own grandfather and father, you truly want to infuriate me to death."

Zou Chengzu, being scolded, did not talk back but sincerely admitted his wrong: "Yes, your grandson is disrespectful; grandmother, your lesson is correct. However, your grandson must remind you, the news of grandfather colluding with river bandits is now well-known. Now that the river bandits have been suppressed and two magistrates have been arrested, the situation has escalated to such a degree, the Zou family, if not nine clans, at least three will not be spared... If grandmother wishes to protect the Hong Family, the best way is to promptly divorce from grandfather."

He continued: "If we delay further, the officials might not allow grandmother to divorce from grandfather anymore."

Divorcing to escape punishment, for minor crimes it may be fine, but for major crimes it’s not easy to be absolved, as the officials are not fools.

Mrs. Zou, greatly alarmed upon hearing this, hurriedly asked Zou Chengzu: "Chengzu, what do you mean by this? Don’t frighten your grandmother."

If there was anyone in Mrs. Zou’s heart whose position could rival that of County Magistrate Zou, it would be her maternal family, the Hong Family. She would be willing to die with County Magistrate Zou, but could not implicate her own family.

Zou Chengzu said no more, and after prostrating with nine loud kowtows to Mrs. Zou, he left with his sister.

After seeing Zou Chengzu give nine loud kowtows to Mrs. Zou, Zou Yunkun’s wife had a sudden feeling of unease. What was Zou Chengzu’s intention? Nine is the extreme number; a younger family member giving nine loud kowtows to their elder usually signifies an ultimate farewell—could it be that...

Although Zou Yunkun’s wife was astute, suspecting there was something odd about Zou Chengzu’s actions, she thought of him as just a teenager, and now, with the Zou family surrounded by government officials, what could he possibly do to save himself?

Zou Yunkun’s wife set aside these thoughts and continued to weep and plead with Mrs. Zou: "Mother-in-law, even if you do not think of Chengji and the others, you must consider Uncle. Do you really want the entire Hong Family to perish?"

"Shut up, you shrew, how dare you curse the Hong Family, you must be tired of living," Mrs. Zou pointed at Zou Yunkun’s wife and scolded furiously.

Zou Yunkun’s wife was fierce and retorted, "I’m telling the truth. Just look at the crimes that old thing committed; each one is severe enough to exterminate the entire family. Your maternal family is that old thing’s Yue Family, and you still think you can get off scot-free? You must be dreaming!"

Zou Yunkun’s wife no longer knelt and sat straight on the ground, addressing Mrs. Zou, "If you want to die with my father-in-law, go ahead. But, I surely won’t be that foolish. If you don’t make a decision before nightfall today, I will divorce Zou Yunkun. Our mother and sons will not accompany that old thing to death."

She then glanced sideways at Mrs. Zou and sneered coldly, "When the time comes and your grandsons change their surname, don’t blame me."

Upon hearing this, Zou Chengji and his siblings’ eyes lit up, "Mother, are you really serious?"

Zou Yunkun’s wife glared at them... What’s ’really’? What kind of people are in her maternal family? They are no better than Zou Yunkun. If she divorced, her maternal family wouldn’t let her in, fearing involvement, they would issue her a letter severing ties.

She said this only to threaten Mrs. Zou, to make her determined to divorce County Magistrate Zou and then follow Mrs. Zou back to the Hong Family to enjoy their fortune. Although the Hong Family no longer held official positions, they were local gentry, and life wouldn’t be too hard, certainly better than with her own family.

Zou Yunkun’s wife also couldn’t understand her mother-in-law; after being heartlessly betrayed by that old thing for so many years, why was she still not awake? Was she still infatuated with that old thing?

Helpless, Mrs. Zou, in order to protect the Hong Family and her grandchildren, finally decided to divorce County Magistrate Zou by evening.

But the courtyard where she lived was surrounded by people sent by Zou Yuzhen, making it hard to leave... However, under the promise of substantial rewards, there would always be traitors. Mrs. Zou gave a tael of gold to a Protector, who agreed to send their message out.

Soon, the Government Officials surrounding the Zou Mansion received the news and reported back to the county government, informing County Magistrate Xu.

County Magistrate Xu laughed upon hearing this, "Does Mrs. Zou think we’re fools? The river bandits have been wiped out, two Magistrates have been arrested, and now she wants to divorce? What has she been doing earlier?"

If she had come forward within the first three days after County Magistrate Zou was captured, claiming she despised County Magistrate Zou’s character and wanted a divorce, that would be acceptable. But now that County Magistrate Zou’s collusion with river bandits is public knowledge, if he were to judge a divorce in favor of Mrs. Zou at this time, he would definitely bear the blame for shielding the Zou family and preserving their lineage.

This was a blame he could not afford, so he had the Government Officials inform Mrs. Zou, "The case involving County Magistrate Zou is too severe and has already been escalated to the Capital’s attention. I am just a minor County Magistrate and cannot make the decision. Tell her to stay put and wait for the Capital’s judgment."

"Yes," the Government Official returned to the Zou Mansion and relayed County Magistrate Xu’s words to Mrs. Zou.

After hearing this, Mrs. Zou almost fainted and cried out to the two Government Officials through the gate, "Lord, are your words true? Is the Zou family really beyond salvation?"

"These are the exact words of Lord County Magistrate, farewell." The two Government Officials did not elaborate further, conveyed the message, and left Mrs. Zou’s courtyard.

Zou Yunkun’s wife was wailing and berating Mrs. Zou, "It’s all your fault, you Old Devout Woman, for not agreeing to the divorce sooner. Now look at what you’ve done; you’ve doomed us all!"

She also pointed at Mrs. Zou and coldly laughed, "And your Hong Family, the Hong Family is finished too. Hahaha, are you satisfied now?"

Zou Chengji and his siblings were also crying, gasping for breath, uttering words of blame towards Mrs. Zou. Only Zou Chengzu and his sister were hiding in the house and did not come out.