Chapter 603 The Disheveled Young Master He

"Ooh ooh ooh!"

The crowing of roosters, one after another, awakened Dahe Village.

Cheng Liwan didn't sleep well last night because in the middle of the night, the men in black locked in the woodshed in the back woke up. Fifty or sixty of them suddenly started making a ruckus, disturbing everyone's peace. So, they had to use electric shocks again to make them faint.

She yawned, got dressed, washed and combed her hair, and pushed open the door to go out.

The morning at the end of August was slightly chilly, and the yard was already bustling with activity. Little Zhuzhu, who had gotten up early, was playing with the geese and dogs in the yard.

Zhao Ergou was supposed to go to the Grand River Banquet, but because he hadn't settled things at home yet, he stayed home, holding his son in his arms, patiently teaching him to recite the Three Character Classic. Unfortunately, the little guy couldn't speak at all, just babbling incessantly.

Little Zhuzhu, however, began to read along with her second uncle: "At the beginning of life, people are inherently good, and their natures are similar..."

Her soft, sweet voice warmed the heart of anyone who heard it.

Cheng Wanwan couldn't help but sigh. In just one more year, her eldest granddaughter would be three years old and ready to go to school. Time really flies.

Now the eldest daughter-in-law is about to give birth, and soon the second son's wife will probably be pregnant too. Judging from this, their family will grow bigger and bigger. There's also San Niu getting married, and Si Dan will also have to get married... Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

"Auntie!" Cheng Jia hurried over from the backyard. "Lord He has woken up and says he wants to see you."

Cheng Wanwan picked up her eldest granddaughter: "I felt nauseous when I saw those people this morning. Let's set out breakfast first."

Wei Hongying nodded: "Breakfast is ready, I'll bring it up right away."

Breakfast was very plentiful, including dumpling soup, pork stew, steamed buns, fried dough sticks, tofu pudding, potstickers, pastries and fried dough sticks... Everyone in the family could eat whatever they wanted as soon as they got up. They didn't have many complicated rules in their family.

Cheng Wanwan had just eaten about 80% full when Yan Hong came over from the main gate: "Madam, the Prefect and the County Magistrate have arrived."

"I thought they wouldn't arrive until 7 AM, I didn't expect them to be here so early." Cheng Wanwan handed the child in her arms to Yan Hong and had someone take the children to the side courtyard.

She straightened her clothes and stepped outside.

Two carriages were parked at the entrance of the mansion. One was carrying Magistrate Shen Dongming, and the other was carrying Prefect Zhu Gaoliang of Huzhou.

Behind the carriage followed four or five servants. Their eyes were filled with anger and hatred as they looked at Cheng Wanwan. She smiled. These must be the people He Ling brought to serve him. She was waiting for these people to go and inform him. If the prefect didn't come, the big show that followed couldn't take place.

"Greetings, Your Excellency the Prefect."

Cheng Wanwan walked down the steps, slightly bent her knees, and performed a standard curtsy.

"People of Sui'an, please don't stand on ceremony." Prefect Zhu raised his hand slightly. "I came to Dahe Village this time because I heard that the eldest son of the He family in the capital appeared here yesterday. Is that true?"

Magistrate Shen explained from the side, "The servants of the He family went to Huzhou overnight to report to the authorities. This matter involves the He family in the capital, which is why the Prefect made this special trip. The people of Sui'an can simply report the situation truthfully."

Cheng Wanwan's gaze immediately turned serious: "So he really is a member of the He family. No wonder he dares to be so arrogant."

Prefect Zhu's expression was also grave: "So, the people of Sui'an really imprisoned Young Master He?"

He Hanhai of the He family is a second-rank official in the imperial court, and the eldest son of the He family is a third-rank official in the imperial court. Both are important officials in the court. How dare the people of Sui'an...

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. "People of Sui'an, release Young Master He first, and we can talk things over slowly."

Cheng Wanwan pursed her lips: "Since the Prefect has spoken, please come in with me."

She stepped into the courtyard, and Prefect Zhu and Magistrate Shen quickly followed.

After sitting down in the courtyard, her servants served tea, and then she instructed Cheng Jia to untie He Ling and bring him over.

From afar, one could hear angry shouts.

"That vile woman from Sui'an dared to treat me like this! Does she really think that just because this place is far from the capital, she can do whatever she wants?"

"The Ye family was plotted against by you. It's because the Ye family is stupid. My He family is a century-old family. You don't think you can deal with the Ye family the same way, do you?"

"I'm telling you, release me, or I'll make sure you die a horrible death!"

Prefect Zhu sat in the courtyard, listening to the angry shouts, and could hardly believe it.

Although he wasn't an official in the capital, he had heard of the deeds of the eldest son of the He family. He was said to be a refined gentleman, polite and courteous, and one of the four young masters of the capital... But those indiscriminate curses just now actually came from the mouth of this young master from a prominent family, which almost made Prefect Zhu's jaw drop...

He stared at the corridor and saw He Ling coming out being led by Cheng Jia and Cheng Yi.

This doesn't look like a young master from a noble family at all... He's muttering curses, his hair is a mess, his face is dirty, and his clothes are tattered...

He Ling is almost going crazy.

He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the eldest son of the He family, and was pampered and spoiled. He had never experienced anything like this before.

Just thinking about last night, when he was bound hand and foot, forced to squeeze into a woodshed with fifty or sixty people, lying on a filthy pile of weeds, constantly attacked by cockroaches and rats, his whole body aching terribly, and his stomach growling with hunger... he dared not recall that miserable state a second time.

The moment he saw Cheng Wanwan, his eyes blazed with fury. He completely forgot about his image as the eldest son of the He family, his humility and politeness as one of the four young masters of the capital, the face of the He family, and the reputation of a century-old family.

But he dared not rush over; this vile woman seemed to possess sorcery, for as soon as he got close, he would suddenly collapse and convulse...

He looked up and saw Prefect Zhu and County Magistrate Shen in their official uniforms. He knew that his reinforcements had arrived.

"You audacious Prefect of Huzhou, seize this criminal woman at once!"

He Ling straightened his back and released his aura, but he was in such a sorry state that he couldn't release his aura at all.

Prefect Zhu stepped forward and bowed, "Your humble servant greets Lord He. There must be some misunderstanding between Lord He and the people of Sui'an. Why don't you sit down and talk it out..."

"Ha, a misunderstanding? This vile woman says it's a misunderstanding?" He Ling was so angry he was delirious. "I came to Dahe Village on official business, but this vile woman tied me up, beat and humiliated me. This vile woman has committed insubordination, intending to murder a high-ranking official of the court. Her crime deserves death! She harbored a fugitive of the court and repeatedly resisted. Her entire family should be executed! Prefect of Huzhou, what are you standing there for? Where are the officers? Let them in and take everyone here to the jail for interrogation!"

Although Prefect Zhu was afraid of the He family, he would not listen to only one side's story. He turned to Cheng Wanwan and asked, "What do the people of Sui'an have to say?"

“Since Young Master He is unwilling to sit down and talk properly, then I can only ask the Prefect to uphold justice for our Dahe Village!” Cheng Wanwan said solemnly, instructing Zhao Ergou beside her, “Jingcheng, go and get all the injured villagers here so that the Prefect can see for himself what our Dahe Village has gone through.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Ergou immediately went to do it. When the villagers learned that the Huzhou prefect had entered the village, they all came to watch the fun.

As soon as Zhao Ergou spoke, the injured people rushed in.

Several elderly men and women, including Uncle Zhao, were carried on stretchers. Several patrolmen, including Wang Yongcheng, had their legs clamped between wooden boards. Several old women, including Old Lady Zhu, were helped in, their heads covered in blood-soaked gauze. Many other villagers had bloodstains on their faces or broken arms. This scene immediately ignited the magistrate's anger.