Chapter 133 Avenging Yunxi's Old Feud
As soon as Aunt Xu spoke, someone whispered Aunt Xu's information into Gu Nanxiao's ear.
Upon learning that the person who spoke was on Yunxi's list of those to be punished, he waved his hand behind him, and two more guards came forward, dragging out Aunt Xu as well, and slapping her as well.
At this moment, the eldest son of a concubine, who was kneeling in the crowd and was also Xu Yiniang's second child, said to Zhao Maoquan in a sorrowful and indignant voice: "Father, are you going to just stand by and watch Mother be beaten without saying a word to plead for her?"
Although his voice was soft, Gu Nanxiao's gaze swept sharply over him the moment he spoke. Upon learning that he too had bullied Yunxi since childhood, Gu Nanxiao waved his hand again.
Two more guards went over and dragged him out of the crowd. Then, a cracking sound was heard as his bones broke, and the eldest son's shrill scream sent chills down everyone's spines.
This scene terrified Xu Yiniang's youngest daughter, but before the child could even cry, Zhao Maoquan quickly covered her mouth.
He immediately looked at Gu Nanxiao with a terrified expression, fearing that the evil god sitting there might send someone away again if he was displeased.
After hearing the commotion, Gu Nanxiao merely lifted his eyelids lazily, and seeing that you were just a child, he didn't intend to do anything.
This scene in front of the city gate today was something Gu Nanxiao and Yunxi had planned long ago.
Yunxi had long anticipated that, given Zhao Maoquan's character, he must have already planned countless times in his mind how to leverage the power of Prince Xian.
However, given how he had treated the original owner and her daughter, Yunxi naturally wouldn't let him take advantage of her.
Yunxi couldn't take action herself, otherwise she would surely be branded as unfilial to her parents and heartless towards her siblings, which would also tarnish Gu Nanxiao's reputation.
So today, we have the scene of Gu Nanxiao punishing the Zhao family.
It has to be said that Yunxi's guess was very accurate. Given Aunt Xu and Zhao Yunlu's personalities, it was impossible for them not to cause trouble. However, they never expected that this was exactly the moment Yunxi had been waiting for.
After another cup of tea's time, all the guards gradually stopped fighting, because the three people who had been beaten had all completely passed out.
Zhao Yunlu and Aunt Xu's faces were a terrible sight. Countless teeth were missing, and the corners of their mouths and eyes were cracked from the slaps.
Their bruised and swollen skin made them look like pigs' heads; this is probably what it means to be beaten so badly that even your own mother wouldn't recognize you.
Zhao Maoquan's eldest son, born out of wedlock, was beaten by two guards with fists and feet. His condition was naturally worse than that of the mother and daughter who were slapped.
One of his legs and one of his arms lay sprawled on the ground at an odd angle, clearly broken by the guards.
His already less-than-handsome face was now disfigured. His brow bone was split open, and his jaw was dislocated; it was a severe injury that could never be repaired.
Gu Nanxiao then stood up with satisfaction and slowly walked towards the Zhao family members who were kneeling on the ground.
At this moment, when Zhao Maoquan and his concubines and children looked at Gu Nanxiao again, they had long forgotten their desire to curry favor with him. They all lowered their heads desperately, afraid that he would point them out and beat them half to death.
Gu Nanxiao wasn't sure if they had any memory, so he decided to settle things once and for all. He said to Zhao Maoquan, who was trembling like a leaf:
"Tomorrow, I will send a letter severing ties with Prince Xian's residence. From now on, Yunxi will have no further connection with you."
As for Yunxi's birth mother, if she wants to go back with you, you must remember to treat her well. If I hear any bad rumors...
At this point, Gu Nanxiao swept his gaze over the Zhao family members with an extremely imposing look, but ultimately refrained from saying anything that might leave him vulnerable.
But he believed that Zhao Maoquan already understood, and then continued, "If Wu wants to live with Yunxi, Prefect Zhao will send another divorce agreement."
If these two matters are handled to my satisfaction, then we will all keep to ourselves and let bygones be bygones.
If you or anyone in your household remains muddle-headed and does something foolish, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Gu Nanxiao's voice suddenly sharpened, and he coldly questioned, "Did you hear me clearly?"
Zhao Maoquan was so frightened by his rebuke that he trembled all over. He immediately handed his youngest daughter to the concubine behind him and kept saying that he had heard clearly and kowtowed repeatedly.
Gu Nanxiao's expression was unreadable, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. He simply turned coldly and walked towards the city gate, pausing slightly as he met the gazes of the officials, and said:
"I despise those who engage in favoritism and corruption the most. If I find out that anyone is secretly favoring Prefect Zhao, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
After watching such a grand spectacle, what else could the officials not understand? It must be that Prefect Zhao, who had gone too far in spoiling and neglecting his wife in the past, so much so that when his eldest daughter gained power, the first person she dealt with was him.
Moreover, Zhao Maoquan will no longer be able to benefit from Prince Xian's influence. They were already trying to curry favor with Prince Xian, so upon hearing these words, they naturally agreed repeatedly and praised Prince Xian once more.
Zhao Maoquan heard everything Gu Nanxiao said clearly. His clothes were already soaked with cold sweat, but what chilled him even more was the attitude of Prince Xian and his eldest daughter.
His mood was like falling off a cliff; only two words remained in his mind: It's over!
At the same time, he felt even more remorseful that he should not have treated the Wu mother and daughter so harshly.
He recalled that when he first married Wu, he was overjoyed. Although Wu's family background as a merchant family was not entirely satisfactory to him, she was still a good match for him, a poor scholar.
When Zhao Maoquan passed the imperial examination and entered officialdom, he still thought about growing old with Wu and never betraying her affection for him.
Ever since he married Consort Xu, under the instigation of that wicked woman, he gradually began to feel that Wu's merchant background was not worthy of his official position.
It was from that time that he began to treat Madam Wu and her daughter poorly. He was well aware of the methods Madam Xu used against them.
Zhao Maoquan felt that the fact that he hadn't divorced Wu after being transferred to the capital was already a great favor to her.
Later, she even allowed Aunt Xu to suggest sending Yunxi to a farm to take care of her mother in her place. It wasn't until her birth mother passed away that she was brought back.
However, after bringing her back, he still ignored Wu and her daughter. It wasn't until the princess sent someone to hint to him that she intended to have Yunxi enter the Yong Prince's mansion as a concubine that Zhao Maoquan remembered that he had such a daughter.
It was only when Yunxi was being sent out that he realized with astonishment how beautiful and charming his daughter had become.
But in his daughter's eyes, there was only a faint sadness and a cold indifference as if she were looking at a stranger.
Although he guessed that the Wu mother and daughter harbored resentment towards him, Zhao Maoquan never took these trivial matters to heart.
Or perhaps he never respected the Wu mother and daughter, assuming they wouldn't cause any trouble, and therefore never intended to mend his relationship with them.
It's unbelievable that such a trivial matter would lead him to his current predicament.
He was indeed filled with remorse at this moment, but he did not regret his attitude towards the Wu mother and daughter. Instead, he regretted not trying to repair the relationship as soon as he learned that Yunxi was favored.
Otherwise, his dream of becoming a prince-father-in-law wouldn't have been shattered so completely.
No one cared what Zhao Maoquan was thinking. After all, if he couldn't climb the social ladder to become Prince Xian, he would just be a minor local official. Already an insignificant figure, he was now even less worthy of mention.
After dealing with the Zhao family, Gu Nanxiao spurred his horse and quickly caught up with Yunxi's carriage. Through the carriage curtain, it wasn't difficult to hear the conversation between the mother and daughter.
Yunxi asked Wu bluntly, "Mother, would you be willing to divorce Father and live with me permanently?"
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