Chapter 139 Getting Beaten
The couple didn't recognize the mother and daughter who had just stepped down from the carriage. At first, they didn't pay attention to what the woman was saying, but then they heard a familiar name from the middle-aged woman:
"Don't be afraid, the person who came is Princess Shanmin. She has come to our house to see the pardon she was granted. She will leave after she has seen it."
Sheng An suddenly stopped and met Xu Jinnian's gaze, with only one thought in his mind: This is too damn coincidental!
Xu Jinnian frowned slightly and gently reassured her, "It's alright."
Sheng An couldn't help but look at the mother and daughter who had just passed by. They were dressed in fine clothes and had more than a dozen maids, servants, and guards with them, clearly indicating that they were from a wealthy family in Pingzhou.
Seeing that the couple was interested in the mother and daughter who were talking, Zheng Wenying cleverly identified them: "These are Mrs. Chi and Miss Chi. The Chi family is a large family with a history of thousands of years. Many great figures have emerged from their ancestors, but they have gradually declined in this dynasty."
Thinking of Mrs. Chi mentioning her family's pardon, Zheng Wenying guessed that Sheng An might be interested, so she couldn't help but say a few more words: "The Chi family's ancestor received a pardon from the Yu Dynasty, which has been enshrined in the ancestral hall for thousands of years and is not seen by ordinary people."
Sheng An pondered, "A thousand years have passed, so this get-out-of-jail-free card is probably useless now, isn't it?"
Zheng Wenying solemnly said, "It's useful. In the previous dynasty, someone from the Chi family committed a crime and was pardoned from the death penalty thanks to this 'golden token of immunity'."
Otherwise, the Chi family would have been so gluttonous that they would have kept this "immunity from death" plaque in the ancestral hall.
Sheng An didn't ask Zheng Wenying why she knew so much, but whispered to Xu Jinnian, "Did Princess Shanmin come to Pingzhou specifically for a pardon from the Yu Dynasty, just out of curiosity to take a look?"
Xu Jinnian, unfamiliar with Princess Shanmin, shook his head: "It's hard to say."
Sheng An felt a bit sorry for the Chi family. Given Princess Shanmin's personality, if the Chi family didn't treat her well, she would probably cause a huge uproar.
Perhaps knowing that Princess Shanmin was no pushover, the Chi family mother and daughter came to Zhongshan Temple early in the morning, just to avoid direct contact with Princess Shanmin.
Since it wasn't her business, Sheng An made a guess in her mind and then let it go, and started strolling around with Xu Jinnian.
The temple fair at Zhongshan Temple was indeed lively, with believers coming from afar to offer incense and pray for blessings, as well as ordinary people coming to join in the fun. Many vendors seized the opportunity to set up stalls and sell goods, and there was a full range of food, drinks and entertainment available.
When Sheng An saw a local specialty snack that he liked, he would buy it all and eat it from beginning to end.
She couldn't possibly eat so much by herself, so she usually only tasted a few bites of each dish before handing it over to Xu Jinnian.
Even with Xu Jinnian's large appetite, he couldn't eat that much, so it ended up being enjoyed by Zheng Wenying.
Sheng An told Zheng Wenying to keep any leftover food that could be stored so she could take it home for her younger siblings to try.
This gesture moved Zheng Wenying once again.
When the three of them reached the top of the mountain and saw the solemn and dignified Zhongshan Temple with its flourishing incense, Sheng An couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, so many people!"
It truly lives up to its reputation as a renowned temple in Dongjiang Prefecture, receiving a great deal of incense money every year!
Thinking of the famous abbot of a certain temple in his previous life, who amassed a fortune, had many wives and concubines, and a house full of children and grandchildren during his tenure, and finally received a silver bracelet, Sheng An's gaze toward Zhongshan Temple became somewhat subtle.
Xu Jinnian noticed that his wife's mood was off, and he tightened his grip on her hand slightly: "What's wrong?"
Sheng An snapped out of her reverie and quickly shook her head: "I just thought of something interesting."
Xu Jinnian became interested: "Can you tell me?"
Sheng An refused decisively: "No!"
I definitely can't say it. I'm surrounded by believers. If I say it, I'll be accused of disrespecting Buddha and I'll be bombarded with their spittle.
Seeing his wife's resolute refusal, Xu Jinnian stopped asking and led her to an open area to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Zhongshan.
Xu Jinnian kept his promise and composed a poem on the spot with Zhongshan Temple as the theme.
Upon hearing the last word, Sheng An clapped enthusiastically and flattered him: "I only knew you were good at writing essays before, but I didn't expect you to be such a good poet too!"
Zheng Wenying clapped her hands and said, "Young Master, your words flow so eloquently; you are truly a genius."
Looking at him with admiration from his wife, Xu Jinnian felt a rare surge of vanity, but his expression remained unchanged: "It's just writing a poem, it's not difficult. I'll teach you when we get back."
Sheng An had no interest in writing poetry, but he obliged, saying, "Okay, okay."
The three lingered on the mountain for a long time, only setting off back to the city as the sun set.
On the oxcart, Sheng An gave Zheng Wenying the other half of the payment.
Zheng Wenying refused to accept the money, saying that she had received a lot of food that day, enough to offset the remaining thirty coins.
Sheng An threatened that if he didn't accept it, he wouldn't be allowed to lead the way for the next few days, and Zheng Wenying finally accepted it with red eyes.
Watching Zheng Wenying walk away wiping away tears, Sheng An couldn't help but sigh: "She's a pitiful child too, having to shoulder the responsibility of supporting her family at such a young age. It's even harder than it was for the two of us before."
Before, the two of them had a hard time and didn't have enough money to squander. Unlike Zheng Wenying, who not only had to support herself, but also her three younger siblings.
A young child supports a family struggling through storms; only Zheng Wenying herself knows the hardships and sorrows she endures.
Xu Jinnian was not a sentimental person and did not have a deep feeling for Zheng Wenying's situation, but he was willing to go along with Sheng An's emotions: "This kid is smart and has a good character. Give him more hard-earned money later."
Sheng An also had this idea: "Hmm."
It wasn't that she had too much money to burn; it was that she saw her past self in Zheng Wenying.
In her past life, she was an orphan. She was fortunate enough to grow up and make a name for herself because she met many kind people. The dean, teachers, and classmates gave her a lot of help along her path of growth.
When she has no shortage of money, she is willing to help those who deserve it, such as Zheng Wenying, to the best of her ability.
Instead of going straight back to the inn, the two went to a nearby restaurant for a meal.
Sheng An didn't call for a private room, and sat in the lobby with Xu Jinnian.
It was lunchtime, and most of the tables were occupied, so the waiter led them to a corner.
Sheng An didn't mind, picked up his teacup and took a sip of water. He overheard the guests at the next table mentioning the Chi family, so he focused his attention and listened carefully. He was surprised to hear that a major event had occurred in the Chi family that day.
"I heard that Master Chi offended a powerful figure and was whipped half to death. Half of the top doctors in Pingzhou City were summoned. It is said that he is now lying in bed unable to get up."
"What kind of powerful figure dares to just slap someone like Master Chi on a whim?"
"The Chi family has long since declined. They are only slightly better off than families like ours. In front of the real imperial family, Master Chi is not even a human being."
"Hiss, that's true! Master Chi is so old and has suffered such a misfortune. I wonder if the rest of the Chi family will make a scene. This is Pingzhou, not the capital."
"Who knows? I heard that the noble lady was a princess who wanted the Chi family's get-out-of-jail-free card. Master Chi refused, which is why he was beaten like this."
Upon hearing this, Sheng An's heart skipped a beat.
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