Song Ning glanced around. Li Ji stood proudly to one side, next to a middle-aged man in official robes.
"Uncle, it's her! She's the one who cheated our Li family out of their money! You absolutely cannot let her get away with this. She doesn't respect our Li family, which means she doesn't respect you either! You must punish her severely!"
It seems that Li Ji really took Song Ning's words to heart last time and didn't try anything underhanded.
Let's get straight to the point.
If it's Ming, things will be much easier.
"Are you the new owner of this shop?" the middle-aged man next to Li Ji asked with an authoritative expression.
Song Ning stepped forward, his expression calm, and asked knowingly, "Indeed, may I ask who this gentleman is...?"
"How dare you! This is the Prefect of Huzhou! How dare you not kneel before the Prefect!" Li Ji shouted.
Song Ning ignored him and looked at the middle-aged man, smiling, "So it's the Prefect. I'm so sorry. May I ask what brings you here today, Prefect?"
As he spoke, he glanced at the Su siblings who were tied up to the side.
The Su family members are now filled with regret. Why couldn't they have persuaded Song Ning to stay?
If they had been persuaded, things wouldn't be like this now.
Having offended the Li family, even if he survives, he probably won't be able to stay in Huzhou any longer.
It wouldn't be a big deal if they died, but there are still children at home to take care of. If they really die like this, what will happen to the children?
"Your Excellency, could you please release them? They were just working for me and know nothing about this."
Prefect Cao didn't move, looking at her smugly: "I heard that you cheated my nephew out of his money. Do you admit to this? If you do, I will naturally release these people."
It's clear they've come to seek justice for Li Ji.
Since we can't resolve this secretly, we'll use force to suppress people.
"My lord, I'm truly innocent! I didn't cheat Young Master Li out of his money."
Although I am a young woman, I am still familiar with the laws of the Jin Dynasty. I would never dare to cheat people out of their money. Song Ning feigned fear.
"It was clearly you who said your mother was sick and needed money for treatment, so I gave you five hundred taels of silver."
You even said you'd repay me with your body, using this shop as your dowry, and you'd be willing to be my concubine!
Li Ji seemed to be afraid that the people around him wouldn't hear him, so he deliberately shouted it out loud.
A woman's reputation is very important. In the eyes of others, it is shameful for a young woman to be so shameless as to offer herself up to them.
"I heard this shop was sold just a few days ago, and this girl is the new owner?"
"I think this girl is quite pretty, and she seems like a well-behaved person. Why would she like to be someone's concubine?"
"Who is the Li family? They are the richest family in Huzhou. If we could really get into the Li family, we would have more than just this one shop."
The crowd began to criticize Song Ning, one after another.
Song Ning's eyes welled up with tears: "Young Master Li, I have no grudge against you, why do you slander me like this?"
I've heard that you, Young Master Li, are also a scholar. Is this all your teacher taught you?
I've only been in Huzhou for a few days, and you're already accusing me of cheating you out of money and trying to make you my concubine. Do you have any evidence? If you don't, you're breaking the law."
In the laws of the Jin Dynasty, defamation was also a crime.
I heard that this rule was added not long ago.
Before the Jin Dynasty, there was a princess who was arrogant and domineering and did many things that violated the rules.
Moreover, this princess was straightforward and innocent, and never hid what she did.
As it happened, someone had a grudge against the princess and deliberately imitated her actions, falsely accusing her of doing the same thing.
The princess could no longer tolerate it, so she made a big scene and insisted on getting justice.
She said that she was bold and responsible in her actions, but she would admit to things she had done, and would absolutely not admit to things she hadn't done.
After it was finally discovered that she had been wronged, and because she was a princess, the Jin Dynasty added the crime of defamation and slander to its laws.
This princess is Xie Linzhou's mother.
Princess Jianing told her mother about this.
“Young Master Li, I respect you as a scholar and know that the Prefect is your uncle, but you can’t just disregard the laws of the Jin Dynasty because of your family’s connections.”
Or is it that the laws of the Jin Dynasty are useless to you?
That's a very serious statement. Ignoring the law is tantamount to disrespecting imperial authority, which is a grave offense.
Li Ji's expression was not good, but what evidence do you need for spreading rumors?
Public opinion is a powerful force; the more it is said, the more falsehoods can become truths.
"I am the eldest son of the Li family, with immense wealth. Do you think I would make things difficult for a young girl from out of town like you?"
That makes a lot of sense. Although the Li family is dominant in Huzhou, there haven't been any particularly serious scandals involving them so far.
Li Ji, in particular, was discreet in his actions and had a good reputation outside. He was also a scholar, so most people were willing to believe him.
"Young Master Li, after I bought this shop, you were the one who forced me to buy it. Now that the deal is not going through, you want to ruin my reputation."
"If you really want my shop, then take it. There's no need to humiliate me like this just because you're the prefect!"
Song Ning spoke with righteous indignation, her eyes red-rimmed, looking weak and helpless.
People have always sympathized with the weak. Now, a group of grown men are surrounding a little girl. Isn't that a bit immoral?
People in the crowd began to whisper again. There are no secrets that stay hidden forever; no matter how well you do it, it will eventually be exposed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am just a woman who originally came to Huzhou to make a living."
But to my surprise, after only a few days here, I was humiliated like this by Young Master Li simply because I refused to sell the shop for two hundred taels of silver. The Li family has powerful backers, but I have nothing. You all must judge for me!
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