"What kind of bullshit marquis? Bah! He's just a fraud! I'd like to see who dares to touch me!" Peng Youcai got up from the ground, put his hands on his hips, and looked at Ning Chengzhu with a nonchalant air. "My uncle is the county magistrate! You dare to touch me? Bah!"
"Shut up!"
Upon receiving the news, Zhou Ke rushed over. Hearing Peng Youcai's words, sweat beaded on his forehead. He grabbed Peng Youcai and made him kneel down. "Hurry up and apologize to the Marquis!"
Peng Youcai broke free from Zhou Ke: "Uncle, don't be fooled! He's not a marquis at all! He's definitely an imposter!"
"Shut up! This is the Marquis Zhongyong! How could I possibly admit my mistake?" Zhou Ke roared, then said, "My lord, the child is ignorant, please forgive him!"
Seeing Zhou Ke's expression, Peng Youcai realized he was scared. He knelt down tremblingly, his face full of shock.
He was dressed like a country bumpkin, how did he become... a marquis... This is too unbelievable!
Ning Chengzhu snorted coldly: "A child? He's sixteen already, isn't he? Still calling him a child?"
Zhou Ke wiped the sweat from his forehead, listened to Ning Chengzhu's words, and glared at Peng Youcai again; "Quickly apologize to the Marquis!"
"No need for an apology. I was just about to go see him anyway. Lord Zhou, you must know about Peng Youcai's crimes, right? Huang Mingyou and Peng Youcai, haha, these two are practically treating human life like dirt! What, are you only punishing Huang Mingyou, but not Peng Youcai?"
Zhou Ke quickly shook his head: "No, my lord, there's no... I'll take him into custody right now!"
As he spoke, Zhou Ke ordered someone to take Peng Youcai away as well.
Peng Youcai was furious: "You can't arrest me! You can't arrest me! Uncle! My mother and the others won't let you get away with this! Zhou Ke! You old bastard! Let me go right now!"
Zhou Ke remained silent as he listened to Peng Youcai's insults.
Ning Chengzhu looked at Zhou Ke with sympathy: "Lord Zhou is really pitiful. Lord Zhou, come and sit down."
When the two arrived at the pavilion, Bai Tuantuan poured a cup of tea for Lord Zhou.
"I dare not accept such praise, thank you so much, Your Excellency..." Zhou Ke accepted it with trepidation.
Ning Chengzhu asked curiously, "Tell me, isn't Peng Youcai Huang Mingyou's son? Why does he have the surname Peng?"
Hearing this, Zhou Ke breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they weren't asked whether their crimes were related to him, he could tell them anything else.
"My lord, you may not know this, but Huang Mingyou married into the Peng family, which is why Peng Youcai has the surname Peng."
"Just who are the Huang and Peng families? I've heard that Lord Zhou's official position seems to be related to the Huang family?"
Zhou Ke looked somewhat awkward and said, "My family is poor, while the Huang family are merchants with some wealth. They married their eldest daughter to me. After I passed the imperial examination, they also paid for my advancement. The Huang family has helped me a lot, so it's normal that my official position is half theirs."
"What about the Peng family? Given the Huang family's status, why would they allow their only son to marry into the Huang family?"
Zhou Ke smiled and waved his hand; "The Peng family has someone who knows the Minister of War. I heard that the current patriarch of the Peng family is the Minister of War's uncle. Moreover, there are people in the Peng family who hold official positions in the capital. The Huang family has wanted to abandon commerce and enter politics for a long time. It just so happens that the Peng family only has one daughter, so the Huang family sent Huang Mingyou to them. However, the Peng family is not unreasonable. If the first child is a son, he will take the Peng family surname; if it is a daughter, she will take the Huang family surname. If any children are born after that, regardless of gender, they will all take the Huang family surname."
Upon hearing this, Ning Chengzhu nodded: "The Peng family is quite good."
Zhou Ke nodded: "But since Peng Youcai was born, my sister-in-law's health has deteriorated and she can't have any more children. As a result, the Huang family and the Peng family have spoiled Youcai, which has led to his arrogant personality. I hope you will be more tolerant of him, Lord Marquis."
"Heh, if it were just arrogance, that would be one thing, but Lord Zhou should know better than I do. He has done a lot of heinous things."
"I'm not an unreasonable person; I just follow the rules."
Zhou Ke looked embarrassed and quickly nodded, saying, "Yes, yes, Your Excellency is right."
After finishing his tea, Ning Chengzhu waved his hand and said, "Lord Zhou, you may go about your business."
Zhou Ke quickly stood up, bowed to Ning Chengzhu, and then left.
After walking out, he jogged up and said, "Go quickly to the Huang family and inform Madam that I'm going to the Peng family."
Meanwhile, Huang Qian, who was anxiously waiting at the Huang family home, almost fainted upon hearing the news; "Father, Mother, what should we do? Youcai has also been imprisoned by that Marquis!"
Huang Qian's trembling voice betrayed her fear.
"This, this, how could this be? We didn't receive any news that the Marquis would be coming!" Old Madam Huang was also anxious. "Master, what should we do?"
"Sigh..." Master Huang sighed, "We have no way to deal with things in officialdom, we can only rely on the Peng family."
Master Huang paused for a moment, then continued, "Qian'er, do you think the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion is someone who needs money?"
Huang Qian shook her head: "It doesn't seem like it."
Master Huang frowned deeply: "Then we have no other choice. Let's go to the Peng family."
At this moment, the Peng family was also frowning. When they heard that Master Huang and the others had arrived, they quickly had them invited in.
"My dear in-law, is there any way?" Master Huang didn't beat around the bush. "Just who exactly is this Marquis Zhongyong?"
“He’s a simpleton,” Old Peng said irritably. “That Marquis Zhongyong was born a commoner, but because of his martial arts skills, he was appreciated by the emperor. After fighting several tough battles, he was granted the title of Marquis Zhongyong by the emperor. He is the most loyal and is therefore the emperor’s second favorite.”
"That Marquis Zhongyong is stubborn and unyielding when faced with injustice. Now that Mingyou and Youcai have fallen into his hands, they are likely in grave danger!"
"Waaaaah!"
Miss Peng, Huang Mingyou's wife, and Peng Youcai's mother, who was standing to the side, burst into tears; "Father, you must save them, Father!"
"Don't cry, Xi'er. Your father will definitely find a way," Old Madam Peng quickly comforted her daughter.
Mr. Peng sighed deeply; "I will write to the capital, hoping they can help us."
"If all else fails, there's only one last option left." Master Peng looked at Master Huang, a ruthless glint in his eyes.
Master Huang instantly understood, his face turning deathly pale; "But, that's the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor..."
"No one knew that the Marquis of Zhongyong had come to Jinzhou."
Master Peng said, word by word.
Upon hearing this, Master Huang fell silent, clearly acquiescing to Master Peng's plan.
Meanwhile, in Ning Chengzhu's room at the county government office, Bai Tuantuan and her two companions appeared.
After Ning Chengzhu explained the relationship between the three families to the three men, Mu Yangzhi couldn't help but sigh, "I really didn't expect it, it actually involved the Minister of War..."
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