As the saying goes, it's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings!
The Peng family, once the local tyrants of Peach Blossom County, have now completely changed their arrogant ways and are behaving themselves.
Those who were unaware of the situation inquired and actually found out the reason.
It turns out that Master Peng once offered his beautiful younger sister to Prefect Lin as a concubine, and she was favored for many years.
However, she was unable to give birth to a son for a long time, and after she grew old and lost her beauty, she found a virtuous woman for Prefect Lin!
Several months ago, the woman happened to be pregnant. A fortune teller calculated that it was most likely a boy, so she was promoted to a concubine, stealing the limelight from Master Peng's own sister...
How long can one rely on beauty to please others?
Master Peng's sister has fallen out of favor, and Prefect Lin is now ignoring Master Peng. If it weren't for the money, he might not have even acknowledged the marriage...
The culprit is none other than that newly arrived concubine; if she were gone...
Master Peng had considered the possibility of assassination more than once, but none of them were appropriate, as they would obviously implicate the Peng family.
Prefect Lin is so old to have a child, he must have arranged for many people to protect him. If something happens to him, the consequences will be unimaginable!
"Sir, we've found it!"
"What did you find?"
"The Zhang family has a grudge against a family in Wujia Village under Taohua County, and they have been plotting against them recently..."
The butler excitedly reported the information he had found to the master, thinking that this time he had finally caught the person who had stolen the young lady's favor!
"Wu Family Village, the Jiang Family, could they be the son of the one who achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations—?"
"Yes, that's the child's mother!"
"Great, excellent! Don't blame me for using someone else to do my dirty work!"
"Your Excellency is wise and insightful; I admire you greatly!"
"Hahaha, Heaven has not forsaken the Peng family!"
......
Many areas are suffering from drought this year, leaving people destitute.
Because Wujia Village is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, and this year its main crops are medicinal plants, the villagers have not felt the inconvenience caused by the drought.
However, Peach Blossom County is not the only county in Jinling Prefecture; there are dozens of other counties, most of which are suffering from drought!
The drought in the original story lasted for five years. It wasn't until the female protagonist, Shangguan Xian'er, met the male protagonist that she gradually invented waterwheels, implemented a series of drought prevention measures, stockpiled disaster relief grain, and figured out how to distribute it effectively...
The female lead is currently around ten years old, and the original protagonist may not have officially transmigrated yet.
At this critical juncture, if we wait another five years, who knows how many innocent lives will be lost!
Perhaps some people will say that the world she lives in is just a virtual, fictional era, and the people here are at best just two-dimensional characters!
But for Jiang Yue, who has lived here for more than a year, everything here is real, and the people here are flesh and blood, with feelings and affection!
When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. She thought it was time for her to do something different for herself, her family, and her village!
County government office —
study.
Magistrate Liu flipped through the thick stack of drought relief manuals, becoming more and more fascinated and alarmed as he read.
Was this really written by a village woman?
This includes early prevention measures, mid-term disaster relief practices, and post-disaster cleanup work, outlining a plan for the division of labor and cooperation among officials, farmers, industry and commerce to jointly manage the drought!
If it is feasible, this achievement will be an unparalleled honor!
Magistrate Liu collected his thoughts and asked solemnly:
"Mrs. Wu, are you sure you want to hand this over to the government without compensation?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, I am willing to hand over this to the government free of charge. I hope the government will expedite the process and take measures to address the current disaster situation in the various counties."
Jiang Yue bowed without the slightest hesitation.
"Very well, very well. On behalf of the officials of all the counties, I am deeply grateful. I will send this item to Jinling as quickly as possible, and it will be implemented after the Emperor's approval..."
This was a matter of great importance, so Magistrate Liu did not make any promises blindly, but instead explained his plans.
Jiang Yue expressed her understanding and said she would wait for good news.
After leaving the county government office, Jiang Yue saw that it was still early, so she took the Ye He sisters out for a stroll.
I'll buy all the rouge and face powder I need.
I didn't buy much fine silk or satin, but I did pick and choose a lot of ordinary fabrics.
I'm an old acquaintance of the shopkeeper. After paying, I asked him to deliver it to the Brothers Hot Pot restaurant so my sons could bring it back when they go home.
"Oh my, who do we have here? It's Aunt Jiang! Tsk tsk, she's from a small town after all, only fit to buy these ordinary things~"
This is exactly the scene described in the saying "enemies meet on a narrow road." Just as Jiang Yue was about to leave, a young woman dressed in gold and silver, looking like a Christmas tree, came down from the second floor.
With all that rouge and powder applied, Jiang Yue couldn't recognize who the other person was for a moment.
It was the maidservant beside her who scolded her:
"You audacious shrew, kneel down before my lady!"
Jiang Yue laughed, then suddenly remembered who this person was, so she smiled and asked, not understanding:
"Madam? What's your wife's surname and given name?"
My wife is—
The maid hesitated, wondering how to phrase it in a way that would demonstrate that the mistress was not a concubine...
"Huan'er, step back."
Zhang Li'er stroked her prominent belly, which looked to be about four or five months along, and a smug, sweet smile appeared on her face.
"Aunt Jiang, you're really lucky! I wonder if it's you who's lucky, or your family who's lucky!"
"Zhang Li'er, you were just married, or rather, perhaps offered to the prefect, and by sheer luck you got pregnant. That's how you became a concubine, a privileged woman."
But a concubine is still a concubine. I advise you, sir, not to be so arrogant in your conduct and actions.
Jiang Yue smiled and revealed the other person's identity without any hesitation.
The fabric shop was quite crowded. Those watching the spectacle gasped in surprise, followed by mocking glances.
So, she was a concubine!
They even had the maid call herself "Madam." I wonder what the real prefect's wife's expression would be if she knew!
"Shut up! Do you believe I'll have the adults confiscate your son's shop and the village's pharmaceutical factory, leaving you penniless and with nothing!"
Zhang Li'er bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
She spoke without thinking, which not only offended people but also brought trouble to her husband!
Jiang Yue shook her head. No wonder people say that you should marry someone from a high-ranking family, or someone of equal social standing!
This pear is truly incredibly foolish~
Since everyone else has become the target, it would be inappropriate for me not to say something!
"Did everyone hear that? Prefect Lin's concubine said she wanted Prefect Lin to frame Chunliang, confiscate his property, and then line his own pockets!"
"My husband's family is from Wujia Village in Taohua Town. Now, thanks to the trust of our fellow villagers, we have opened a pharmaceutical factory and are promoting the cultivation of Chinese medicinal herbs in the surrounding villages so that everyone can earn some money to eat!"
Now, this person, driven by personal grudges, is trying to frame me. Everyone can bear witness—
"If anything happens to me, or to any of my relatives and friends, it will be the work of Prefect Lin, and the work of this concubine!"
"you--"
Zhang Li'er covered her face, afraid that someone would remember her appearance and complain to the master.
"Get out of here—"
"Our Peach Blossom Town will not tolerate such a great figure as you! To be a concubine is shameful and honorable! You are a disgrace!"
By fanning the flames and building up the atmosphere, Jiang Yue caught her opponent off guard, leaving them with no choice but to flee in panic...
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