Chapter 356: Accidentally Slipped
In the middle of winter, matchmaker Qian was soaked like a drowned rat. Only then did she understand that Qin Mengyue was unwilling.
"Madam Qin, you don't want to? That's the Sun Mansion! It's a big house in Youzhou City! How many young girls are vying for marriage, even if it means becoming a concubine! You don't want to? Madam Qin, you should think about it carefully..."
"Bah! If you don't leave, don't blame me for chasing you away with a broom!" Qin Mengyue continued with a cold face.
Before Madam Qian could say anything, Nanny Li, who came with her, pulled her aside, stepped forward and sneered:
"Madam Qin, you don't have to act so arrogant in front of me. We in the Sun family are well aware of your background. Weren't you the Empress and the Crown Princess in the past? The Crown Prince is dead, and you were deposed and exiled to this remote place. My master wants to take you as a concubine because of this! I advise Madam Qin and Madam Shen to be more sensible, otherwise, we in the Sun family will make you suffer the consequences...ah!"
Before Nanny Li could finish her words, there was a loud splash and a bucket of ice water was poured on her head.
Chen Fenghe held the wooden barrel and said innocently and guiltily, "Oh, I'm sorry, my hand slipped accidentally. Madam Li, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly..."
As he spoke, he placed the empty bucket on the ground. At the same time, Shen Yichuan, Xiao Yunhao, and Shen Qingxing, hearing what Shen Fenghe said, were tremblingly carrying a wooden basin of water over.
Chen Fenghe took the wooden basin and looked at Li Ma and Qian the matchmaker innocently and sincerely.
Nanny Li and Matchmaker Qian, the two wet rats, looked at each other, and then looked at the wooden basin in Chen Fenghe's hand.
Nanny Li was used to being high and mighty, and had never been treated like this before. She subconsciously threatened, "Don't get so cocky... Ugh!"
With a "splash", a basin of water poured over his head again.
Chen Fenghe laughed and said, "Oh, my hand slipped again..."
Matron Li: “…”
Nanny Li was so frightened that she took two steps back. After she got away from him, she shouted fiercely, "You...you just wait and see how my master will punish you!"
Having said that, he ran away in anger.
Qin Mengyue was filled with indignation, but couldn't help but worry.
"Feng He, what is the background of this Sun family? What should we do if they really cause trouble?"
Chen Fenghe smiled and said, "Mom, don't worry about it. If the Sun family was powerful, the young master wouldn't have been beaten up. Besides, isn't His Highness still here? Nothing will happen."
Sure enough, Xiao Yunshuo came through the secret passage that night.
Thinking about the Coptis chinensis she had given him, Chen Fenghe felt a little guilty, not knowing whether he would bear a grudge or not. She smiled and said, "My mother and I pickled a lot of spicy cabbage today. We'll send it to the Yun Mansion in three or five days. Eating this in winter is the best way to warm your body."
Xiao Yunshuo nodded, but didn't say much. He just said, "I'll send someone to handle the Sun family's affairs. You don't have to worry."
Chen Fenghe nodded and said with a smile, "I understand."
After saying that, she couldn't help but feel a little worried. Xiao Yunshuo arranged people to handle these matters. If he was discovered by the people monitoring him in the palace, his identity would most likely be exposed.
Therefore, she thought for a moment and said, "Actually... if His Highness doesn't send anyone to take action, it won't be a problem. My mother and I are in such a low position that ordinary people wouldn't dare to act recklessly. That Mr. Sun must be getting old and confused. If he continues to make trouble, my mother and I just need to go to the government. I don't think the government will force anyone to become a concubine, right? If His Highness acts rashly, what if..."
Xiao Yunshuo glanced at her and interrupted her, saying, "There's no such thing as a contingency. Don't worry, I know what to do. The emperor is far away here, and I'm sure these local officials and gentry won't be wary of your status."
Sure enough, just as Xiao Yunshuo said, the next day the Sun family sent a carriage and a dozen servants to Shili Village in a menacing manner, heading straight to Chen Fenghe's house.
The Sun family also arranged two sedan chairs, with Nanny Li and Matchmaker Qian jogging along each side of the sedan chair.
The two of them were sneezing as they ran, obviously catching a cold from the cold water they were splashed with yesterday.
In addition, the Sun family was accompanied by a financial advisor from the yamen who was in charge of affairs in the area.
When the villagers saw this, they all ran over to watch.
Village chief Wu also hurried forward to ask the financial advisor Liu what was going on.
Master Liu glanced at Village Chief Wu and asked, "Are you the village chief who fled with the villagers and settled in this village?"
Village Chief Wu quickly replied, "Yes, the younger one is."
Master Liu sneered, "Oh! You're so bold! The prefect agreed to let you settle down in this village and even gave you some land. Is this how you repay him?"
Village Chief Wu was stunned for a moment, not understanding. "Master Liu, this...where do you get this from? Our village has always been honest and dutiful, paying taxes on time..."
Mr. Liu interrupted him impatiently and said coldly, "Being honest and dutiful? I think you've gone too far! Do you know who came to the village today? It was Master Sun! Master Sun's daughter is the prefect's favorite eighth concubine! Master Sun has fallen for your village's widow, that's your village's good fortune! You, the village chief, didn't even send someone to persuade Madam Qin and Madam Shen, but actually let them kick Nanny Li and the matchmaker out? I think you don't want to live a good life in this village anymore!"
Village Chief Wu then understood that it was Matchmaker Qian who went to Madam Qin's house yesterday and asked her to be his concubine.
He said speechlessly, "Master Liu, since ancient times, marriage has always been based on mutual consent. Madam Qin and Madam Shen don't want to, so even if I'm the village chief, I can't force them to remarry, right?"
Seeing that Village Chief Wu was stubborn and didn't know how to adapt, Master Liu was so angry that he waved his hand to shut him up and said:
"Don't want to? How can they let it be? I tell you the truth, Master Sun is waiting for his reply in the carriage right now! You should go and explain things to them quickly and persuade them to obey! Master Sun has even brought two sedan chairs today. If they are willing to get on the sedan chairs, it's fine. But if they refuse, Master Sun will tie them up with ropes immediately and carry them to Youzhou City. Master Sun will not hesitate to sell them to brothels!"
Village Chief Wu's eyes widened in shock upon hearing this. "Master Liu...Master Liu? Master Liu, you must be aware of the original identities of Madam Qin and Madam Shen, right? How dare Master Sun sell them out so easily?"
Master Liu sneered, "What were their previous identities? Haha! Weren't they just the deposed Empress and the Crown Princess, and were both exiled by the Emperor's decree? Now they're prisoners, worse than ordinary people! And you still dare to act like that? Since they're prisoners, the government naturally has the right to deal with them. Master Sun is the prefect's father-in-law, so even if they were sold off at will, what could happen?! If they just report a sudden death, won't the palace send someone to investigate? Also, I'm giving you a chance to talk your way out of this. If you can't, starting this year, all corvée labor and taxes in your Shili Village will be doubled!"
Seeing that he was so confident, Village Chief Wu couldn't help but feel a little panicked.
In a place where the emperor is far away, isn't it the local officials who have the final say?
He hurriedly found his wife and Madam Yang and asked them to go and talk to Qin Mengyue and Shen Fenghe about this matter.
After hearing what Madam Wu and Madam Yang said, Chen Fenghe couldn't help but sneer twice and said, "Aunt Wu, Aunt Yang, thank you for your reminder. However, no matter what they say, my mother and I will definitely not agree. I'd better go out and talk to that so-called legal advisor."
Qin Mengyue also said: "I'll go out with you. I want to take a look."
As Chen Fenghe spoke, she and Qin Mengyue walked out of the courtyard together, and glanced at Master Liu with her clear eyes.
When Master Liu saw two women coming out, one still graceful and elegant, the other charming and beautiful, his eyes widened.
Even Master Sun, who had been sitting in the carriage without showing his face, couldn't help but get out of the sedan chair and ran over to ask, "You...you are Madam Qin and Miss Shen? I didn't expect you to be so beautiful! Miss Shen, my son...ahem...my son is useless. I'm afraid it would harm you if I let you marry him. How about this, you and your mother-in-law, marry me together, your mother-in-law will be the fourth concubine, and you will be the fifth concubine, okay?"
Chen Fenghe: “…”
I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone this shameless...
Qin Mengyue was so angry that she was about to curse, but was stopped by Chen Fenghe.
Chen Fenghe glanced indifferently at Master Sun, Master Liu, and the others, and said, "Is this Master Liu? Master Liu, although my mother and I were deposed and exiled, the imperial decree only demoted us to commoners, not slaves. Therefore, even if we remarry, there is no reason for us to become concubines or maids. The laws of the Great Yu Dynasty stipulate that those who force good women to become concubines will be imprisoned. If you insist on forcing my mother and me today, then we will report it to the prefect and let him judge the case!"
In ancient times, the status of a concubine was similar to that of a slave. They could be given away or sold at will by their master, or even killed at will, and no one would care.
Therefore, even the daughter of a poor family would not easily become a concubine.
When Master Liu and Master Sun heard this, they couldn't help but sneer.
Master Sun laughed and said, "Reporting to the prefect? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard! Which way does the prefectural government's gate open? I'll show you today! It seems that Madam Qin and Miss Shen don't want to get in the sedan chair? Come on, tie them up and carry them to the sedan chair!"
The villagers were all a little angry when they heard this, but due to the status and power of Master Liu and Master Sun, they did not dare to step forward to stop them.
The dozen or so servants brought by Master Sun surrounded them with ropes and were about to tie up Qin Mengyue and Shen Fenghe and take them away.
At this time, a voice came: "Wait a minute!"
Everyone turned around to look and saw Xiao Yunshuo wearing a fox fur cloak, supported by Yuan Xu, walking slowly towards them.
Seeing that he was a handsome young man, Master Sun thought of his own face, which looked as old as the bark of a locust tree. He couldn't help but feel a little ashamed and annoyed. He scolded him coldly, "Who are you? Why do you come out and meddle in other people's business? What are you still standing there for? Why don't you tie him up!"
Seeing this, the Sun family's servants immediately approached Qin Mengyue and Shen Fenghe again.
However, as soon as they moved, many guards and servants of the Yun family rushed over and knocked all the servants of the Sun family to the ground one by one.
At this moment, both Mr. Sun and Mr. Liu were stunned.
"This...! Good boy! You even dared to hit the master's men! Master Liu, you saw it! Why don't you quickly ask the officers and soldiers you brought to capture them and bring them to the prefect!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunshuo smiled and said, "To see the prefect? It's just right. Madam Qin and Madam Shen have both clearly stated that they don't want to be concubines again. I've also reminded you that forcing women of good character to become concubines is a violation of the law. You still want to forcibly kidnap someone. I'd really like to know what the prefect will decide."
Neither Master Liu nor Master Sun had ever seen such an arrogant person.
Master Liu sneered at the officers he had brought over and said, "What are you still standing there for? Tie up all the people involved and take them back to the yamen. The prefect will hold a hearing tomorrow to make the final decision!"
As he said this, he glanced at Master Sun.
Mr. Sun naturally understood.
A lot can happen in one night.
If they capture the people first and take them to Youzhou, then they will be able to do whatever they want, right?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunshuo said calmly, "There's no need to go to the government office. I just happened to have the prefect here as a guest today. Judging by the time, his carriage should be arriving soon. If you want to make a decision, we can do it today."
When Master Liu heard this, he was suddenly startled and looked at Xiao Yunshuo in shock.
"You...what did you say? You invite the prefect...to come...to be a guest at your house? Who...are you?"
Mr. Liu had taken a half-month leave a few days ago, so he didn't know that Xiao Yunshuo was the prefect's guest of honor.
Before Xiao Yunshuo could answer, a cold voice said, "Master Liu, didn't you say you were going out on official business? Why are you hanging around here?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Liu couldn't help but shrink his head. He looked over and saw that it was indeed the prefect, Lord Wang!
He was so frightened that he knelt down quickly: "Sir, why are you here?"
Xiao Yunshuo coughed twice, then stepped forward and bowed to Lord Wang, saying, "Lord Wang, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come all the way to attend this banquet."
Lord Wang ignored Master Liu and instead politely bowed to Xiao Yunshuo, saying with a smile, "Master Yun's banquet, no matter how busy I am, I must come."
Mr. Sun and Mr. Liu felt a little uneasy when they saw that Lord Wang was so polite to Xiao Yunshuo.
However, Master Sun, relying on his daughter's current favor from Lord Wang and the generous gifts his family had given to Lord Wang, boldly stepped forward and said, "Sir, you've come just in time! This brat is out to ruin my plans. Lord, you must take charge!"
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