Yan Qingqing stopped dwelling on Li Xiangjian's matter, after all, it was a distant solution that couldn't address her immediate needs. Even if she missed Li Xiangjian, there was nothing she could do.
Fortunately, Xiao Mochen changed the subject, and the whole family started talking and laughing again.
Yan Qingqing looked at Xiao Mochen and said, "Mochen, you can't stay on the mountain all the time. If possible, you should move back home. After all, it's more comfortable to live at home."
Xiao Mochen replied with a smile, "That's exactly what I was planning to do. I said I wanted to learn from my aunt, but I've been busy lately and it's been delayed. I'll move back as soon as I've finished dealing with my current matters."
Yan Qingqing nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
After staying at home for a day, Li Xiangkang was about to return to Xifeng Academy to study. Yan Qingqing naturally hadn't forgotten about Chen Teng, so she specially asked Li Xiangping to escort him back to the academy.
Why did Yan Qingqing want Li Xiangping to go? It was because Yan Qingqing was afraid that Xifeng Academy would try to smooth things over. Li Xiangping was, after all, an eighth-rank agricultural official, and he could put some pressure on them.
After Li Xiangping returned, he went directly to Yan Qingqing's room to report the matter to her.
After weighing the pros and cons, Xifeng Academy persuaded Chen Teng to leave. The academy would protect Chen Teng's reputation and not hold his mistakes against him, but he could no longer stay at Xifeng Academy.
This outcome was within Yan Qingqing's expectations. After all, Chen Teng was backed by Prefect Shen, and Xifeng Academy did not dare to offend him. They simply persuaded Chen Teng to leave, thus giving him face.
This also serves as an explanation to Yan Qingqing.
However, Yan Qingqing was not satisfied with the result. Chen Teng was clearly of questionable character, yet the academy had let him off lightly. If such a person gained power in the future, he would surely cause trouble for the region.
However, from the academy's perspective, this is the best way to handle it, as it avoids offending either side.
After being expelled from the academy, Chen Teng felt as if he had suffered a great humiliation and went straight to the prefectural city.
Three days later, when he arrived in the prefectural city, it was already very late.
The gatekeeper of the Shen family was annoyed to be woken up by the knocking. He opened the door and said impatiently, "Can't a man get some sleep in the middle of the night?"
Despite Chen Teng's prestige in Chengyang County due to his connection with Magistrate Shen, he dared not put on airs when he arrived at the Shen family's residence.
It was because his sister was only a concubine. Although she had three sons, they were still illegitimate children.
After recognizing the visitor, the gatekeeper frowned and asked, "Young Master Chen, why have you arrived at this hour?"
The gatekeeper was Madam Shen's man, so naturally he wouldn't let Chen Teng in easily.
Chen Teng said anxiously, "I'm here to see my brother-in-law. Someone at the academy is bullying me."
Upon hearing this, a hint of contempt flashed in the servant's eyes. How dare a concubine's younger brother call their master "brother-in-law"? Where did he place their mistress?
So the servant said, "Young Master Chen, please wait until dawn before coming back. Our master has already gone to rest."
Upon hearing this, Chen Teng immediately became anxious. He was unfamiliar with the city and no one knew him. Where was he supposed to go in the middle of the night?
So he slipped a piece of silver to the gatekeeper and said, "Brother, please help me. I really have urgent business with my brother-in-law."
The servant's attitude improved considerably after he took the money, but he still didn't let him in.
Instead, he said, "It's not that I won't let you in, but our master is staying in our new concubine Narcissus's room and has ordered that no one is allowed to disturb her."
While explaining aloud, the young man was secretly thinking that this new Aunt Narcissus was truly a remarkable person.
She was sold into servitude to bury her father when her master took a liking to her and bought her back into the mansion.
Her looks and figure, every smile and frown was captivating.
Moreover, she was a strong-willed person, and their master had to go to great lengths to get his hands on Concubine Shuixian.
He's still enjoying it, and he stays in her room every day.
He really didn't dare to disturb his master's good time.
Chen Teng's eyes lit up when he heard the word "aunt," but he didn't care about daffodils or anything like that.
He was so desperate that he almost forgot about his sister.
So he pleaded again, "I won't see my brother-in-law, can I see my sister instead?"
To everyone's surprise, the servant's face darkened and he said, "No! You are an outsider, while Consort Chen is from the inner courtyard. How can I let you in so easily in the middle of the night? If you go to the wrong courtyard and disturb the other concubines, the master will skin me alive."
After saying that, he slammed the door shut.
A wave of grievance washed over Chen Teng. Ever since Chen Ji's business was shut down, not a single day had gone smoothly for him.
But now he had nowhere to go, so he could only squat at the gate of Shen Tongzhi's house.
Fortunately, the weather is hot now, so there's no need to worry about catching a cold, but there are too many mosquitoes, and Chen Teng is covered in bites all over his body.
Chen Teng entered the mansion the next morning.
When Aunt Chen heard that her younger brother had stayed outside the gate all night and saw that he was covered in bruises, she became furious.
Since Chen Ji was investigated, Magistrate Shen's favor towards her has waned day by day.
Now that he has taken in a young and beautiful concubine, Narcissus, Magistrate Shen has not entered his own room for half a month.
How could she tolerate even a gatekeeper bullying her like this?
Aunt Chen lost her mind and led her people into Lingxian Pavilion.
Lingxian Pavilion is the best-equipped courtyard in the entire Shen Mansion, and it has two floors. Standing on the second floor, you can have a clear view of the entire Shen Mansion.
Aunt Chen pleaded many times, but Magistrate Shen refused. However, Huo Shuixian didn't even need to ask; Magistrate Shen offered her a place to live on his own initiative.
As soon as Magistrate Shen got up, Huo Shuixian was helping him get dressed.
A soft, boneless hand accidentally brushed against Shen Tongzhi's body, causing Shen Tongzhi to react immediately.
He stared at Huo Shuixian with burning eyes, but Huo Shuixian seemed oblivious and continued to help Chen Tongzhi get dressed.
Her head was lowered, revealing her fair neck, but a hint of mockery flashed at the corner of her mouth. Shen Tongzhi, recalling the pleasure of the previous night, could no longer restrain himself and pounced on Huo Shuixian onto the bed.
Huo Shuixian feigned reluctance, saying, "Master, you can't. Wasn't it enough that you tormented her all night last night?"
"You had business at the yamen today, didn't you? If the madam and the others find out, they won't let me off the hook."
At this moment, Magistrate Shen had no time to worry about his duties at the yamen, and hurriedly took off the clothes he had just put on.
Just as the two were engrossed in their conversation, Aunt Chen stormed in angrily.
Huo Shuixian seemed to be startled and shouted loudly, then wrapped herself tightly in the quilt.
Prefect Shen was also startled and immediately softened.
Aunt Chen never expected that such a thing would be happening in broad daylight.
But no one stopped her when she came in.
Shen Tongzhi also felt the changes in his body and was greatly alarmed. Then came an overwhelming anger, and he slapped Aunt Chen across the face.
Magistrate Shen slapped her with all his might; Aunt Chen felt her teeth loosen and half her face burned with pain.
Before she could even defend herself, Magistrate Shen said, "Aunt Chen has no manners whatsoever. She is demoted to a concubine and locked in the woodshed to await further punishment!"
A hint of contempt flashed in Huo Shuixian's eyes. In just one round, Aunt Chen was completely defeated.
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