Chapter 176
Ye Yunniang did not understand the hidden meaning in the note, but the only person who called Cai Damei Madam was Bao Min.
Ye Yunniang's hands trembled.
Did Bao Min deceive her?
Or did someone use Bao Min's name to deceive Cai Damei?
After pondering for a moment, Ye Yunniang decided to trust Bao Min.
Jingzhe.
Madam.
Give this note to Jiang Mingzhe, hurry.
Yes. Jingzhe took it and left.
At the abandoned mansion, Bao Min had his men light torches to search for clues.
Jiang Mingzhe was looking at a map of Jiangcheng.
He pondered: if Xing Jinxiu was the one who kidnapped them, where would she hide the hostages?
The Xing residence and several obvious locations were being watched; Cai Damei and her daughter could not be there.
Where could it be?
Master, Madam ordered this to be delivered. A guard handed over a food box.
Jiang Mingzhe opened it to find egg rolls and hot soup.
He took a sip of the hot soup, which relieved the coldness in his body. His heart also warmed up from the hot soup.
He picked up an egg roll; it was filled with his favorite vegetables, perfectly seasoned.
As he was eating, Jingzhe arrived and respectfully handed over the note with both hands.
Jiang Mingzhe read the contents of the note and went to find Bao Min.
Does this look familiar?
It looks like my handwriting, but I never wrote this, Bao Min said with certainty.
Where did you find it? Jiang Mingzhe asked Jingzhe.
Madam found it in Madam Li's room.
Someone forged my handwriting to trick Madam, Bao Min reacted quickly.
Jiang Mingzhe had already figured out who it was. Xing Wenzhi.
Jiang Mingzhe had ordered Wenyuan to investigate the evidence against Xing Wenzhi.
One piece of evidence was that Xing Wenzhi had forged letters between his political rivals and convicted officials, falsely accusing them of being accomplices. This caused his opponents to have their homes confiscated and be exiled thousands of miles away.
Xing Wenzhi and Bao Min interacted frequently at the government office, so they were familiar with each other's handwriting.
Xing Wenzhi forged Bao Min's handwriting, using the relics of Cai Damei's beloved son to lure her out of the house.
Xing Wenzhi, Xing Jinxiu, how dare you hurt my Madam. I will definitely tear you into pieces, Bao Min slammed his fist on the table.
Bao Min was both angry and full of self-blame. Because he was afraid of making Cai Damei unhappy, he had not secretly sent anyone to protect her and her daughter.
You still have not submitted the evidence of Xing Wenzhi's crimes, Jiang Mingzhe said, dissatisfied with Bao Min's slow pace.
I have already submitted it, but the Lin family obstructed it.
Jiang Mingzhe interrupted Bao Min, Is it really the Lin family obstructing it? Or is it that you and the people behind you want to gain greater benefits from it?
Where are you going?
Jiang Mingzhe did not answer. He led his men to the place he suspected.
Bao Min followed him.
When the group arrived at the location, Tong Mo and Wenyuan were already there.
Xing Jinxiu was holding Cai Damei hostage. Behind her, an old woman with triangular eyes held Cai Shuyi with one arm and pressed a knife against Shushu's neck with the other.
The two sides confronted each other in the courtyard.
Seeing the woman and daughter he loved, Bao Min's voice panicked. Madam, Shushu.
It really is you, Xing Jinxiu looked at Cai Damei. An old woman actually managed to hook up with Bao Min.
Let Madam go, Xing Jinxiu, and I can spare your life.
Spare my life? Hahaha... Xing Jinxiu burst into wild laughter. You ruined my entire family and made me a sinner to my clan. And you say you will spare me? Bah!
Xing Jinxiu applied pressure, and the dagger pierced the skin of Cai Damei's neck, drawing blood.
Bao Min's eyes were filled with terror. Don't, don't press any harder. Xing Jinxiu, whatever you want, I will agree to it.
I want you to die. Xing Jinxiu's love had turned into hate; right now, she wished she could swallow Bao Min alive.
Alright, let Madam go. Bao Min did not hesitate at all.
If only Bao Min's deep affection were directed at her.
Xing Jinxiu felt envious in her heart. She looked at Cai Damei's calm face.
He is willing to trade his life for yours. Aren't you touched?
I have nothing to do with him. I am at your disposal, but let my daughter go, Cai Damei did not even glance at Bao Min.
Did you hear that, Bao Min? She does not like you, Xing Jinxiu laughed. What she begged for and could not get was cast aside like old shoes by someone else.
How truly ironic.
A flash of pain and regret crossed Bao Min's face. Madam, no matter what, in my heart, you are the only love of my life, Bao Min. I will never let anything happen to you.
Shut up.
Xing Jinxiu was furious. She could not stand seeing the man she loved express his deep affection to another woman.
I am going to kill you. Bao Min, I am going to kill you.
Muttering to herself, Xing Jinxiu moved the dagger away from Cai Damei's neck and pointed it at Bao Min.
Right at that moment, Tong Mo, who was standing nearby, made a move to snatch the dagger from Xing Jinxiu's hand.
Don't move, or I will kill her, the old woman with triangular eyes called out. The knife in her hand pressed tighter against Cai Shuyi's neck, and a faint red line appeared.
Tong Mo, step back. The expression on Cai Damei's face changed.
Tong Mo reluctantly stepped back, his eyes locked onto Xing Jinxiu, searching for a weak point.
Xing Jinxiu, you are surrounded by our men. You have nowhere to run, so just surrender.
Beside him, Wenyuan was also quietly shifting his position, looking for an opportunity to strike and save Cai Shuyi.
Seeing this, the old woman with triangular eyes held Cai Shuyi tighter and moved closer to Xing Jinxiu.
Calm down, Miss. They are deliberately provoking you so they can save them. You must not fall for it, the old woman with triangular eyes was very loyal to Xing Jinxiu.
Xing Jinxiu quickly calmed down, and the dagger moved back up, pressing tightly against Cai Damei's neck.
Bao Min, you truly are the man I set my sights on. You thought I would fall for your trick? No way.
Another patch of blood flowed from Cai Damei's neck.
Don't. Bao Min wanted to step forward but held back out of caution. Xing Jinxiu, you can name any condition. Just don't hurt my Madam and daughter.
What condition could I possibly have? The Xing family has been destroyed, and my life is over, it is over! Xing Jinxiu's voice was full of madness.
Xing Wenzhi treated human life like dirt and wantonly seized other people's properties. And you, Xing Jinxiu, whenever you found a girl displeasing to your eyes, you would frame them, ruin their reputations, and force them to their deaths. Your family ending up like this today is entirely your own doing. Bao Min had absolutely no sympathy for Xing Jinxiu.
My own doing? I was forced by them, forced by you. If Bao Min had agreed to marry her, none of this would have happened.
Yes, it was Bao Min's fault.
And even more so, it was Cai Damei's fault. It was she who seduced Bao Min and prevented her from becoming the prefect's wife.
As Xing Jinxiu thought about this, the hand holding the knife pressed even harder.
Go to hell.
Ah!
Madam!
Miss!
Mother!