Chapter 346 Saving Cen Mingzhu
Seeing that he was really anxious, Cen Li's expression softened a little, "It's no use for you to be anxious. My elder brother is really being harmed this time. Originally, he could at least be promoted to the second rank, and it wouldn't be a problem for him to be a third-rank general. But because of Mingzhu's disturbance, the emperor only promoted him to the first rank, and lost all other rewards.
These are not the most important things. Originally, half of my eldest brother’s power in the military camp was divided out. Now his side is also a mess, and he has to clean up your mess. He is really capable!”
Zhu Yixuan was scolded so badly that he couldn't even raise his head, but he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Cen Yingfan still recognized Cen Mingzhu as his daughter, everything else could be dealt with later.
In order to show his sincerity to Cen Mingzhu, Zhu Yixuan suggested: "Uncle, I have a suggestion for this situation. It will not offend Yong'an Marquis and can also protect Mingzhu."
"What?" Cen Li raised his eyebrows and looked at him leisurely.
Zhu Yixuan told her his plan, "Let the county magistrate sentence Mingzhu to exile and pay her some silver as compensation. This should be able to appease the people's resentment. When Mingzhu goes to the border, with her father-in-law by her side, she can still live a comfortable life without suffering any hardship. I can also go with her and take good care of her."
Cen Li's eyes lit up, but he was still a little hesitant, "Can you really leave Zhaohua County? Does your father have any objections?"
Zhu Yixuan bowed confidently, "Of course, my father is in charge of the family business, and I can get some good goods from Longxia Country when I go to the border, which will be beneficial to the family business."
"Okay! Then let's do as you say!" Cen Li breathed a sigh of relief and finally smiled.
With his help, Cen Mingzhu, who had been imprisoned for half a year, finally saw the light of day again.
She had a shackle around her neck and was wearing bracelets and anklets. She was escorted by officials out of Zhaohua County step by step. Along the way, angry people threw stones, rotten eggs and vegetable leaves at her, and some even spat on her.
Cen Mingzhu was so angry that she lost all expression and wanted to skin everyone alive.
The officials did not untie Cen Mingzhu until the exile team left the territory of Zhaohua County. They politely explained to Cen Li, Zhu Yixuan and others who came to greet them, "We have tried our best to protect her, but there are too many people watching."
Zhu Yixuan expressed his understanding and gave a generous gift of thanks.
After receiving the money, the officials became more polite and went to rest aside on their own initiative. Here they only had to follow the Zhu family's carriage and did not have to walk all the way to the border as before.
Zhu Yixuan sent the official away before looking at Cen Mingzhu.
Cen Mingzhu in front of him was dressed in rags and exuded all kinds of bad smells. Her eyes were gloomy and vicious, as if she looked at everyone with ill intentions. Zhu Yixuan frowned subconsciously.
"Okay, let the maids wash Mingzhu and clean her up first. We will set off after she has rested for two days."
After Cen Li spoke, the maids and servants hurried forward to escort Cen Mingzhu into the guest room.
When Cen Mingzhu came out after packing up, Cen Li felt sad when he saw his niece who looked much older. "You kid! You ignored everything your father said to you before you got married! This time you even caused trouble for your father's promotion. Many people in the clan have opinions about you. We will take you back to the border first. Don't go anywhere for the time being. Try to stay in the house for the next few years and don't go anywhere. We will talk about it after the storm has passed."
"Uncle! You think it's my fault too?" Cen Mingzhu threw her chopsticks in anger. "Those are just low-class people! They were the first to speak rudely to me. What's wrong with me teaching them a lesson? Why should I go to jail? I am the most distinguished lady in the Cen family! My father is a great general who has made great military achievements. Why should he, a mere county magistrate, have the right? Why!"
Two lines of tears slid down Cen Mingzhu's stubborn face, her face full of resentment, unwillingness and stubbornness.
Cen Li was so angry that his heart ached. "Is that the county magistrate's business? The one you offended was the Marquis of Yong'an! The Marquis who was officially canonized by the emperor! He is also a Marquis who has made great contributions. He is more capable than your father!"
"I don't even know what Marquis Yong'an is!" Cen Mingzhu curled her lips, still not convinced.
Cen Li gritted his teeth and simply told the whole story, "Shen Yi of the Shen family is the adopted son of Yong'an Marquis. If you provoke Yong'an Marquis' adopted son, you will offend Yong'an Marquis! On one side is Yong'an Marquis, and on the other side is a fourth-rank general. What do you think the county magistrate will choose? You deserve to be imprisoned!"
"No! Impossible! That Chen Yi is just a peasant! And those untouchables, they are all untouchables! There is absolutely no way they are related to Marquis Yong'an!" Cen Mingzhu refused to believe anything.
Cen Li closed his eyes in exhaustion, "Anyway, I've already said everything. The reason you can still stand here is because Yixuan and your father have put in a lot of effort. Stop messing around!"
"Mingzhu, your uncle is right. A lack of patience can ruin great plans." Zhu Yixuan advised.
This sentence successfully angered Cen Mingzhu.
"How dare you say that to me! If it weren't for the fact that you're obsessed with that bitch, why would I go to such a poor place to cause trouble for the Shen family! It's all because of you!"
"Yixuan, what's going on?" Cen Li looked at Zhu Yixuan with dissatisfaction.
Zhu Yixuan stood up and explained to Cen Li with a look of regret, "Mingzhu was talking about the mistress I once kept outside. If a man does not indulge in romance when young, those were all mistakes made when young and ignorant. I have already sent Ke's mother and son away, and then married Mingzhu. Now no one knows where Ke's mother and son are, but Mingzhu has been holding on to this matter. If I knew she would mind so much, I would not have kept a mistress in the first place."
After listening carefully, Cen Li did not think there was anything wrong with Zhu Yixuan. After all, it was normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. The Zhu family was rich, so there was nothing wrong with having some concubines. What's more, the concubine was taken in before he married Cen Mingzhu, so there was nothing to say.
"Mingzhu, stop messing around!" Cen Li looked at Chen Cen Mingzhu seriously.
Cen Mingzhu became more and more angry, "You all won't help me! If he didn't have that mistress in his heart, why did he go to the courtyard where the mistress lived and stay there for most of the day?"
Zhu Yixuan narrowed his eyes dangerously, and when he realized that Cen Mingzhu was following him, his expression became much colder. "Although Ke had lived in that yard, it is also the property of my Zhu family. I was just thinking of dealing with some of the family property in the mansion. How did it become that I stayed in that yard for most of the day?
In fact, I went to more than one other courtyard during that period. Madam was suspicious, so I dealt with all the extra courtyards. Shouldn't you feel more at ease?"
Cen Li nodded in agreement.
Cen Mingzhu was so angry that she jumped up and down, "Okay! Since you said you don't care about that mistress, why did you hide her whereabouts from me? It's obvious that you have something to hide!"
Zhu Yixuan laughed angrily, "I've already told you that I sent them away. They left before I returned home. I don't care, so I naturally won't have anyone watching their whereabouts. You ask me, but who should I ask? My mother's body is still warm, and I don't have the extra energy to care about those insignificant people. But you want to make a fuss, what can I do?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
