"I see," Qin Yuan suddenly realized.
Hongye asked, "Does clinging to Prince Jin's coattails mean we'll offend him?"
Qin Yuan said, "The Xu family still thinks that the Marquis's Mansion offended them first. This matter of Zhen'er is really hard to understand. Besides, no matter how much the two families quarrel, there are still children involved. We are just speculating privately. Let's see how it goes in a few days."
Only Xu Zhen and Madam Gu, the aunt and niece, know the trouble they've caused. Even if Madam Gu is telling the truth, it still depends on whether the Xu family is willing to listen and believe her.
Several sons of the Xu family worked in the gambling dens under the control of Prince Jin, lending money at exorbitant interest rates. Prince Jin and the Crown Prince had previously bribed Physician Liu to sabotage the Marquis's residence. There were many twists and turns involved.
She understood something in her heart, but she couldn't say it.
Seeing that Qin Yuan didn't want to continue the conversation, Cui Ming asked, "Does Hongye have any other news?"
Hongye said, "There's a lot more. I can hear all sorts of nonsense about the Gu family, but if I were to tell you everything, Miss would have to be patient. Oh, and I also heard that the little eunuch by the Crown Prince's side was talking about Sixth Prince's poetry collection..."
A maidservant outside interrupted Hongye's words with her report.
"Madam, Steward Cao has accompanied the Promotion Master to inquire about the case."
"An inquiry?" Everyone was taken aback.
Qin Yuan hurriedly instructed through the window, "Please come into the hall quickly, I'll be there shortly."
The maidservant accepted the order and left.
Qin Yuan quickly tidied her hair in front of the mirror and checked her clothes before taking two maids to see the judge.
As soon as she entered, the judge stood up to greet her. After exchanging greetings, they took their seats, with Steward Cao standing respectfully behind Qin Yuan.
As soon as he sat down, the judge said, "Madam, I have come here regarding the case of Xu Zhen's disappearance."
Qin Yuan asked happily, "Has there been any news about Sister Zhen?"
The judge shook his head, looking troubled: "After the Marquis's residence reported the case, the yamen runners in the residence have been doing their best to investigate. I heard that the Marquis's residence also sent many people out to search, but there was no news at all. Yesterday, the Xu family came to report the case again, saying that Xu Zhen was lost in the Marquis's residence, and the Marquis's residence cannot shirk its responsibility."
Qin Yuan frowned.
Steward Cao then said, "Madam, the Marquis is currently entertaining guests. You are in charge of all affairs in the manor now, so this old servant brought the Magistrate to find you."
Qin Yuan nodded and said, "That's exactly right."
Butler Cao breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Yuan said to the judge, "Sir, the Xu family has made a scene at the Marquis's residence twice over this matter. Although the sixth lady of the mansion was seriously ill, she still forced herself to explain the matter clearly to the Xu family that day. At that time, the two families agreed not to make trouble anymore and to search for Zhen'er together. Who knew that the Xu family would actually report it to the authorities."
The judge did not dare to look up at her, and only stammered, "I have no choice but to say, after all, the Xu family is the real victim. Now the Xu family insists that Xu Zhen was lost in the Marquis's mansion and that she was probably murdered. They keep demanding an explanation from the Marquis's mansion."
Qin Yuan said angrily, "What do you mean by this? The Sixth Madam and Xu Zhen are aunt and niece. She was worried that the Xu family was too small to find a son-in-law, so she begged the old lady to let her stay in the Marquis's mansion. Who would have thought that such a thing would happen? Judge, you must do justice for us."
The judge sighed and said, "To be honest, I am only acting under orders. The Xu family keeps demanding justice, so how could I not come?"
Qin Yuan gave Cui Ming a wink.
Cuiming took out a sachet of silver and placed it on the table next to the magistrate, saying softly, "It's such a hot day, and I'm sorry to trouble you to come to the manor on business. This little bit of silver is just a token of my appreciation. Please have a cup of tea."
The judge declined twice, but eventually accepted it.
“Madam, we shouldn’t take on such a case, since the Marquis’s residence has already reported it to the police and the Xu family has no evidence. But I really have no choice. Now that the Xu family has gained the favor of His Highness Prince Jin, I am only acting under orders. I hope you will not blame me.”
Qin Yuan said, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. The Marquis's mansion is upright and has nothing to fear, but..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that my sixth sister-in-law's health can't withstand the stress. I'm not afraid of being laughed at, sir, but yesterday the manor held a banquet and invited Lord Xu and his wife. Madam Xu and my sixth sister-in-law had been hoarding pepper and lost money. Yesterday, she went to my sixth sister-in-law's courtyard and made a scene. My sixth sister-in-law was so upset that she vomited blood. If I hadn't rushed to find a doctor, I'm afraid we would have had to hold a funeral yesterday. Because of this, my sixth brother and the Xu family got into a fight, and he kept saying he would report it to the authorities. I'm afraid Lord Xu got angry, so he went to report it to the authorities."
The judge frowned: "This..."
He came to ask Madam Gu a question, and after Qin Yuan's words, he didn't know what to do.
Qin Yuan said, "Sixth sister-in-law consulted the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, who repeatedly instructed her to rest quietly and not to be agitated, otherwise she might not recover well. If you don't believe me, you can ask the head of the academy."
The magistrate was also afraid of causing a death, but if he didn't ask, he wouldn't be able to explain himself to his superiors.
He sat there frowning, looking troubled.
He couldn't help but feel resentful towards the Xu family. The two families argued, but instead of properly dealing with the Marquis's mansion, the Xu family relied on the Prince of Jin's influence to drag the government into the mess.
Qin Yuan asked, "May I ask, sir, is there any news regarding the Zhao family's matter?"
The judge also shook his head.
Qin Yuan sighed, "The things that happened at the Marquis's mansion these past few days have been one after another. I really don't know if Zhen'er's disappearance is related to Zhao's disappearance. If they are connected, I'm afraid Zhen'er is in grave danger."
The judge thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid that's the case. Zhao is clearly a ruthless person. If Miss Xu encounters anything, Zhao will probably not let her off the hook."
Qin Yuan said, "I hope she's alright."
The judge, having no other choice, stood up and said, "I will go back to the Xu family first. If they continue to cause trouble, I will come again."
Qin Yuan stood up and said, "Steward Cao, please see the master out for me."
Steward Cao hurriedly saw the judge out, and at the door handed him a red envelope, saying, "If anything happens, please let me know. This is just a small amount of money to buy you some drinks, please don't find it offensive."
The judge laughed and said, "Is there any need to say that? We're all brothers, why are you being so polite? The Marquis's mansion hasn't been very peaceful lately. You should take the opportunity to go to a Taoist temple or Buddhist temple to pray. I think the Xu family doesn't intend to settle things peacefully, so you should make some plans."
Butler Cao nodded in agreement.
The two stood outside the door and talked for a while before parting ways. Butler Cao turned back and bumped into Butler Han, who asked, "What's wrong?"
Steward Cao sighed, "The judge from the Prefectural Governor's Office just arrived."
Butler Han stopped and asked happily, "Which matter has been resolved?"
Butler Cao shook his head: "Nothing has come of it, but trouble has arisen instead."
"What exactly is it? Can you stop keeping me in suspense?"
Steward Cao said, "I don't want to keep you in suspense, but I'd like to ask how you and Sixteen helped Sixth Master handle things yesterday? The Xu family went to report the case and sued the Marquis's mansion."
Butler Han slapped his thigh in anger, "How dare the Xu family?"
Steward Cao said, "They've latched onto the Prince of Jin's coattails and are causing trouble at the Prefectural Governor's office. The magistrate doesn't dare not come to their door."
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