Chapter 227: Couples in Poverty, Separated in Wealth
"Father, why are we keeping our distinguished guests out?" Hu Yu'er immediately offered each other a way out.
Madam Hu was already unsteady on her feet, but she still forced a smile and walked over to stand beside Hu Wen.
"What are you doing, lady? I didn't want you to associate with my husband, so I burned the portrait he painted of you. This is not my husband's fault; you should be pointing your sword at me."
It must be said that Mrs. Hu is quite clever; even with danger right in front of her, she can still spread rumors out of thin air.
However, she embellished the facts slightly, blurring the lines between truth and falsehood, making it easy for someone not involved to believe it.
The people outside the prefectural governor's mansion could hardly believe their ears. Did the prefectural governor paint a portrait of the lady in the way they thought?
So this is a case of two women vying for one husband. On one side is his wife, and on the other is a powerful and influential woman. If they were Prefect Hu, they wouldn't be able to make a decision either way.
Judging from this situation, it seems the lady of the house is forcing the prefect to make a choice.
Once anything becomes tainted with romance, onlookers will let their thoughts wander and speculate on the "truth" they want to see.
Chunzhi didn't take the bait. "Will you admit it yourself? Or should I have someone investigate? It's only a matter of time. Every trace leaves a mark. With your abilities, you can't possibly clean up the mess completely."
However, Chunzhi did not give Madam Hu a choice. With a gesture, the secret guards immediately appeared.
"Go and bring over the documents that manage the household registration files. Let's examine them carefully in front of everyone."
Mrs. Hu's smile crumbled.
Hu Wen finally realized something was wrong. He had initially thought Chunzhi was taking her anger out on him because of the heavy losses in battle, but now it seemed that the reason for the army's advance was that there was a traitor within Yangcheng!
Out of consideration for their years of marriage, Hu Wen didn't lay a hand on him. Instead, he gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice, "What exactly happened? Tell me the truth!"
How could Madam Hu dare to admit it? With so many people watching outside, if they knew that she was the one who led the thieves into Yangcheng, she, the wife of the prefect, would be nothing more than a pretty but useless figurehead.
Hu Yu'er didn't know what to do either. Anyone with eyes could see that something was fishy in the current situation.
But how could she, as a daughter, persuade her mother to confess her crimes and accept punishment?
Although Yangcheng won this battle, four thousand people died.
Four thousand people! Who are their fathers, husbands, and sons?
But could she protect her mother? The answer is, of course, no; even if she wanted to, she wouldn't be able to.
The guards swiftly scaled walls and rooftops, and soon arrived at the gate of the prefectural governor's mansion carrying the household registration documents.
"Is there any literate brother here? Please help me check the household registration documents."
Of course, few of the common people were literate, but the steward of the former official's residence in Yangcheng was well-versed in writing.
Immediately, many people volunteered.
When Hu Yu'er married into the family, she offended all the former officials in Yangcheng. Not only did they have to pay a large sum of money as a dowry, but they also almost lost their lives. From then on, the former officials of Yangcheng severed ties with the prefectural government.
This is an old grudge. The approaching army is a new one. If Yangcheng falls, these former officials may not necessarily be dismissed, but their family wealth will definitely be looted.
Not everyone is as reasonable as Chunzhi.
It's not hard to find; just look at the most recent page of your household registration.
"On the first day of the fourth month, ten people, all brothers of the same clan, settled in the main city of Yangcheng and came to seek refuge with relatives and friends..."
Chunzhi sheathed her sword and turned to look at the people on the street.
"Fellow villagers, April 1st was exactly five days ago. What a coincidence! The day before, they obtained Yangcheng household registration and could freely enter and leave the city gates. The next day, thieves appeared in the city and murdered people in the streets. Why don't you all come and identify whose relatives these ten people are?"
Soldiers had already dragged over the thief's body, which was identical in appearance and build to the one recorded in the household registration file.
The old clerk in charge of household registration also rushed over, breathless.
The crowd automatically parted to make way, and the old official knelt down in front of the bluestone steps.
"General, spare my life! These ten people were personally greeted by the Prefect's wife. She said they were relatives of her family. I didn't suspect anything, so I registered them and put them in the household register."
Now everything is clear: the disaster in Yangcheng was clearly caused by the prefect's wife inviting a wolf into the house.
The fighting had just ended, and the bodies had not yet been claimed, but the city was already filled with grief and indignation.
Yangcheng has been peaceful for a long time, and has never seen such a tragedy before? The innocent people who died in the streets, especially those who were nearby at the time—if they hadn't escaped in time and the soldiers hadn't arrived quickly, they would have almost become victims of the swords!
For a time, the area in front of the prefectural governor's mansion was filled with shouts and shoving, but due to Chunzhi's imposing presence with her sword, no one dared to take a single step forward.
Hu Wen was furious and could no longer bear it, so he slapped Mrs. Hu across the face.
"You vile woman! Do you know how much effort I've put into Yangcheng? You want to ruin me?!"
Madam Hu covered her cheek as she was hit, her eyes flashing with coldness.
"So what if you've put in so much effort? In the end, it's all for someone else's benefit. Do you really want to divorce me, your legal wife, and marry your nominal sister-in-law?"
Madam Hu's words were like a bombshell, leaving the crowd blocking the entrance to the prefectural capital looking at each other in disbelief.
What? The lady is the sister-in-law of Prefect Hu? Are they related by blood?
Hu Yu'er was thoughtful and meticulous. Seeing that this matter had to be resolved, she wanted to minimize the harm.
“Father, let’s go inside and talk. You are, after all, the Prefect of Yangcheng. Don’t let the people of the city laugh at your family matters.”
At this moment, Madam Hu suddenly went mad and shoved away Hu Yu'er's hand that was supporting her.
“A joke? I am the biggest joke in the entire Yangcheng. Hu Wen, you were just a street artist at the beginning, begging for a living with a few strokes of your brush. I didn’t care that you were penniless, and I married you without hesitation, bore you children, and took care of all the big and small affairs in the house.”
Later, you climbed the social ladder and became a minor official. It was I who helped you navigate the social circle of your superior's wives, and through their influence, I propelled you to great heights.
"The first thing you did after becoming prefect was to follow the ways of other officials and take concubines and maids. The ladies I knew all advised me that men are just like that, and that I should be more magnanimous and welcome them into the household. But why should I? Why should I stay with you from humble beginnings, and now that you're rich and powerful, you want to take other women into your life?"
Hu Wen's fingers trembled with anger as he pointed at Madam Hu's nose and cursed, "You really are from a humble family! How can you be so short-sighted? If it weren't for my scheming, where would you get the honor of being the wife of the prefect? You are also a beneficiary, so what right do you have to accuse me of having three wives and four concubines?"
Madam Hu's eyes were bloodshot and brimming with tears.
"And what about her?" Madam Hu pointed at Chunzhi. "It's one thing for you to take other women as concubines, but I'll take charge and bring her into the house. It won't tarnish your reputation as the prefect in the slightest."
Madam Hu suddenly shouted angrily, "But tell me, when did you first develop feelings for her? What gives you the right to have such thoughts about her?"
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