Chapter 279 A Male Beauty's Curse
After two lively events in Yangzhou, a major incident suddenly occurred.
Princess Shou Kang, who came from the capital, suddenly sent her men to smash up the shop of the Xia family, the richest merchant family in Yangzhou, and even beat up Xia Yuanheng.
Everyone was startled. Everything was fine before, so how did the Xia family suddenly offend Princess Shou Kang?
Almost everyone rushed to Chunbuwan Teahouse immediately.
Sure enough, teahouses were the best place for everyone to get information.
"I heard that the princess was avenging the newly chosen tea master!"
"Tea Master? That young master Lang from Hangzhou? How did he get involved with Princess Shou Kang?"
"What's so special about that? That young master Lang is so handsome, his skin is whiter and more delicate than most girls', and he's also an excellent tea brewer."
That princess has a penchant for collecting male concubines.
You see, that tea connoisseur went into the princess's room that day and never came out!
They've landed a great opportunity!
"Oh, I see. It seems that it's not just men who get jealous over girls; princesses and noblewomen also fight over handsome men!"
"Then why the Xia family of all people? Did the Xia family offend the princess or that young master Lang?"
"They must have offended Young Master Lang!"
Otherwise, how could they say that the princesses and nobles have been in Yangzhou for several days without any problems?
Unfortunately, that young master Lang entered the princess's room, and the eldest son of the Xia family was beaten!
It must have been Young Master Lang's influence with his pillow talk!
It must be that the eldest son of the Xia family offended that young master Lang before, and then young master Lang traveled all the way from Hangzhou to Yangzhou just to become the tea champion and vent his anger.
Now things are looking good; we've managed to get close to the princess.
Her Highness is currently smitten with Young Master Lang, so hearing that he was bullied by Young Master Xia has made her furious. Offending Young Master Lang is the same as offending Her Highness the Princess!
"Ah, that young master Lang has really climbed the social ladder; she's a princess!"
"That's right! Her Highness doesn't have a husband yet. What if Young Master Lang serves her well? Maybe he'll become her husband!"
"It's just that the eldest son of the Xia family is a bit pitiful; he's destined to suffer this injustice in silence!"
"That princess is way too arrogant!"
...
In less than a day, the news spread throughout Yangzhou that Xia Yuanheng had been attacked by Princess Shou Kang's men and that the Xia family's shops had been smashed.
Xia Yuanheng's mother could only cry as she watched Xia Yuanheng lying on the bed groaning.
The moment Xia Yuanheng was carried back, she prepared generous gifts and went to the prefectural government office.
But the prefect of Yangzhou didn't even dare to let her in.
"There's really nothing I can do! Her Highness the Princess's people assaulted someone; what can a fourth-rank prefect like me do?"
Do you mean I should send someone to capture Her Highness the Princess?
Putting aside whether I dare to or not, Her Highness the Princess's guards could easily throw me out.
"You'll just have to accept this injustice in silence!" The Yangzhou prefect eventually sent someone to quietly explain to Madam Xia.
Xia Yuanheng's mother felt she couldn't tolerate it anymore.
"Is there... no one who can control the princess? Isn't it said that princes are subject to the same laws as commoners? She's just a princess..."
"Oh dear, Mrs. Xia, why are you so stubborn?"
Those words are just for show; only the one on the dragon throne can decide whether the princess is guilty.
What, do you still want to punish that prince in Yangzhou?
Furthermore, don't you all know what's really going on here?
"Why did that young master Lang choose your family? There are so many young masters in Yangzhou, why did he come all this way just to target your eldest son?" the Yangzhou prefect said bluntly.
"But... but you can't beat my son like that and smash up our Xia family's shop!"
"Is there no place for me to reason with them?" Madam Xia cried in anger.
"Yes! In the imperial court! If you want an explanation, you can only have the censor speak out."
Only the Imperial Censor can impeach Her Highness the Princess. Perhaps after the Imperial Censor impeaches Her Highness the Princess in court, His Majesty will punish her slightly out of respect for the law.
"But can you find an imperial censor to stand up for you?" the prefect of Yangzhou asked.
Mrs. Xia immediately had an idea.
Censor?
She didn't know him, but her brother from her maternal family did!
Her own brother was the former education commissioner of Jiangnan, and she was his youngest sister. Over the years, her son had helped that uncle with many things.
She couldn't swallow this insult.
So Madam Xia immediately took a carriage to her parents' home in Suzhou.
...
Another day passed, and in that single day, Princess Shou Kang smashed up another tea shop belonging to the Xia family.
The people of Yangzhou also knew that this matter was definitely not going to end anytime soon.
"When will this smashing stop?!"
"How long are you going to keep smashing things like this! This is a matter of life and death. They've only smashed two shops so far, but who knows, they might actually be after the eldest son of the Xia family."
"What do you mean? Is there something even more serious going on here?"
Something's definitely up! This is a very big deal.
Well, first of all, let me clarify that I heard this from somewhere else.
That young master Lang came specifically for revenge. His elder brother was said to have died at the hands of the eldest son of the Xia family. There's a murder involved!
"His own brother's life... Young Master Lang would have to risk his life against the eldest son of the Xia family!"
"Tell us what exactly happened here!"
So, whoever got the firsthand information immediately shared everything they knew.
They recounted everything, including the eighty acres of land and the forty acres of tea plantation, which were later mortgaged and transferred to the eldest son of the Xia family. They also explained how the eldest son of the Lang family died.
Everyone listened with great interest; was there really so much going on behind the scenes?
This really is a matter of life and death!
...
Princess Shou Kang leisurely listened to the conversations of the people drinking tea below in the Chun Bu Wan teahouse.
Song Zhimian and Princess Yongxin listened with great interest.
It's so interesting to hear other people gossip about their own area!
"From today onwards, you will be the arrogant and domineering princess that others talk about because of your beauty," Princess Yongxin teased Princess Shoukang with a smile.
Princess Shou Kang chuckled twice.
"Let them say it! Anyway, people in the capital already think I'm arrogant and domineering. At most, it'll just get out of the public eye."
No matter what others say, as long as my eldest sister doesn't think that way, that's fine.
"As for the others... hehe, I don't care!" Princess Shou Kang ate her pastries with ease.
Song Zhimian and Princess Yongxin both nodded.
Yes, as long as His Majesty doesn't think so, that's fine. As for the others...
"Song Zhimian, how's your memorial coming along?"
"It's all good, it's all written."
However, there is some news that needs to be told to Her Highness the Princess. Song Zhimian looked at Princess Shou Kang.
"What is it?" Princess Shou Kang asked, somewhat curious.
"The former educational commissioner of Jiangnan contacted his classmate, who was also an imperial censor. It is said that he has already submitted a memorial, a memorial specifically impeaching you."
"His Majesty has read the memorial and is waiting for us to return!" Song Zhimian said.
Princess Shou Kang said "Oh," put the last bit of pastry in her hand into her mouth, and then clapped her hands.
"That means we can go back now!"
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