The voice was unmistakably that of the county magistrate. Widow Yu looked up and exclaimed in astonishment, "Oh my, Your Excellency! I... I am Widow Yu!"
The magistrate had no time to care who she was.
He strode towards them: "Madam, what's wrong?"
Liang Shuyan struggled to her feet, her face pale: "No, it's alright, I'm fine, thank you, sir!"
The magistrate, his face grim, rebuked, "Who pushed the lady down?"
Widow Yu hesitated for a moment: "No, it's...it's a misunderstanding, Your Excellency, we've met before!"
The magistrate's face darkened further. He glared angrily at Widow Yu, his hand gripping the fan so tightly it made a cracking sound.
He took a step forward and shouted sternly, "Do you know the consequences of deceiving me?"
Widow Yu trembled with fear, but she tried to compose herself and whispered, "Sir, I didn't deceive you. It was indeed a misunderstanding..."
"A misunderstanding?" The magistrate interrupted her. "I saw it with my own eyes, how can you call it a misunderstanding?"
Widow Yu was anxious. She looked up at the magistrate and found a cunning glint in his eyes.
She was startled and knew she couldn't let this misunderstanding continue.
Zhao Heng rushed over: "Father, this widow Yu claims to be the county magistrate's wife?"
Upon hearing this, Widow Yu quickly waved her hand, saying, "You, you mustn't talk nonsense. This matter still needs the magistrate to decide. How can you speak so carelessly?"
The magistrate, his face grim, looked at Widow Yu and asked, "Who are you?"
"I... I was introduced to you by the matchmaker! Didn't the old lady agree?"
The county magistrate exclaimed in surprise, "What? When did I agree to that?"
Widow Yu looked anxiously at the magistrate's wife, only to find that she also looked bewildered, even somewhat frightened, as she looked at the magistrate.
"This is really strange. The old lady clearly agreed to let me meet with the master first, but just now, I don't know how,..."
Widow Yu's voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, clearly showing her guilty conscience.
The magistrate sneered, "I don't care where you're from, a mere widow dares to spread rumors and cause trouble in front of this county magistrate. I think she's tired of living!"
As soon as she finished speaking, several constables came in, making a move to take Widow Yu away.
"Help! Your Honor, I know I was wrong, I shouldn't have done that!"
The widow was so frightened that she knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.
"This county has no wives, and we will not allow a woman like you to become the wife of this county!"
The widow Yu was so frightened that she knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy: "Your Excellency, it was my fault for not recognizing your greatness. I didn't know you already had a wife. No, this is not a misunderstanding. I was wrong. I deserve to die!"
Widow Yu, pale-faced, kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Yes, it's my fault. I didn't know the magistrate already had a wife. I... I shouldn't have seduced the magistrate..."
The magistrate clenched his fists, his chest heaving with anger.
"You," he pointed at Widow Yu, "you vicious woman, how dare you be so insolent before this county magistrate!"
The magistrate casually remarked, "The title of Lady was bestowed by the Emperor himself; how dare you people slander her so easily? I like Lady, but she simply does not wish to receive it!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes widened in horror!
The magistrate's face was grim, and his tone stern. He glanced at Widow Yu, who immediately trembled. She stammered, "Yes, yes, it's like this. Last night, while I was taking a walk in the street, I met this young man, he..."
The magistrate slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Are you saying that this young man was disrespectful to the Lady? You unruly people are truly lawless! You know that the Lady was appointed by the Emperor and represents the face of the court, yet you dare to slander her! I like the Lady, but she simply doesn't want to!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes widened in horror! The magistrate's words shocked them; they couldn't believe their ears.
.
The young man was even more astonished. He stared blankly at the magistrate, as if struck by lightning.
Liang Shuyan's eyes said, "Your Excellency, this matter is unnecessary. I don't care about it. Everyone, please go back!"
Zhang returned, carrying a bamboo basket on her shoulder, and walked over from afar: "Mother, a guest came to the restaurant, saying they want to buy our cold jelly recipe!"
Liang Shuyan smiled and said, "Your Excellency, this matter is unnecessary. I don't care about it. Please go back!"
Zhang returned, carrying a bamboo basket on her shoulder, and walked over from afar: "Mother, a guest came to the restaurant, saying they want to buy our cold jelly recipe!"
Liang Shuyan's face lit up with joy: "Really?"
Zhang nodded: "It's true, they're waiting in the restaurant, they told us to hurry over!"
Liang Shuyan was very tired and shook her head: "Forget it, I don't want to go! Tomorrow!"
Zhang nodded: "It's true, they're waiting in the restaurant, they told us to hurry over!"
Liang Shuyan was very tired and shook her head: "Forget it, I don't want to go! Tomorrow!"
“Okay!” Zhang nodded with a smile.
Liang Shuyan glanced back at the tightly closed door. Then she turned back and said, "Alright, let's go back!"
Zhang walked over and said, "Then I'll be going now!"
Liang Shuyan picked up her bicycle: "Let's go!"
The two walked together along the street as the night deepened.
Liang Shuyan glanced back at the tightly closed door, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end she only sighed and turned to leave. Her shadow gradually lengthened in the night, eventually becoming a black dot.
Zhang walked over, gently patted the half-open door, and said, "Then I'll be going now."
Liang Shuyan took her hand and smiled slightly at her: "Let's go."
The two walked side by side along the street as the night deepened.
Zhang walked over, gently patted the half-open door, and said, "Then I'll be going now."
Liang Shuyan took her hand and smiled slightly at her: "Let's go."
The two walked side by side along the street as the night deepened.
Zhang hesitated several times before finally speaking, but never uttered a word.
Liang Shuyan said calmly, "If it's inconvenient for you to speak, then I'll speak first."
Zhang's expression changed slightly, and she said softly, "It's my fault, I..."
She couldn't bring herself to say it, only saying, "It's my fault."
Liang Shuyan smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, I don't blame you."
Zhang's complexion improved slightly.
Liang Shuyan added, "I just want to know who sent you to the county government office."
Liang Shuyan smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, I don't blame you."
Zhang's complexion improved slightly.
Liang Shuyan added, "I just want to know who sent you to the county government office."
Zhang looked troubled, unsure whether she should speak.
"If you tell me, I won't make things difficult for you, and I'll even reward you with some silver." Liang Shuyan took out a silver ingot from her bosom and placed it on the table.
Zhang's eyes lit up, and she quickly replied, "Yes, it was Aunt Li who sent me to the county government."
Which Aunt Li?
“It’s…” Zhang hesitated for a moment, “It’s that old lady Li in front of the county government office.”
Do you know why she sent you to the county government office?
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