Chapter Ninety-Seven: Why Did It Turn Out Like This?
After Chen Jiangyuan left, Shen Qingnian still couldn't stop him. Wu Weiyong summoned two yamen runners to lock Ling'er in the dungeon.
The prison was cold and damp. Through the cell door, Shen Qingnian held Ling'er's icy hand and said, "Ling'er, I'll go back and get you a blanket."
Shen Qingnian gave the jailer some money: "Brother yamen runner, I'm going back now to get a bedding for my sister, and I also want to hire a doctor for her. Please do me a favor."
The jailer tossed the silver in his hand and said with a smile, "You can bring your bedding, but you can't find a doctor."
He was simply following orders from above.
Shen Qingnian was furious, but even if she vented her anger, it would be of no use.
As darkness fell, she didn't linger any longer and hurried to the shop.
Before they even reached the shop, they saw thick smoke rising into the night sky in the distance, turning the originally dark sky a fiery red.
"Fire!" Shen Qingnian heard someone shout.
As she approached, she saw people darting about on the street, each carrying copper basins and wooden buckets to pour water and extinguish the fire.
Zhang Niangzi from the silk shop next door had just poured out a basin of water when she turned around and saw Shen Qingnian.
She grabbed Shen Qingnian: "Madam Fang, the shop is on fire!"
"What happened?" Shen Qingnian's face was tinged gold by the firelight.
"Old Liu's teahouse suddenly caught fire, and the fire spread to our side in no time."
Shen Qingnian lifted her skirt and ran over, only to find her shop engulfed in flames, with no way to extinguish them.
With a "thud," the wooden sign that read "Su's Fragrant Bead Shop" fell to the ground in front of her, one corner of which was charred black.
"How could this happen?" Shen Qingnian collapsed to the ground. This was her and Ling'er's home!
Now that Ling'er has been imprisoned and the shop has been burned down, it seems like everything is gone.
Shen Qingnian bought some medicine for her injuries and walked towards the government prison in a daze.
When the jailer saw Shen Qingnian, he shouted at her, "That girl inside keeps talking nonsense. She probably has a high fever. Go and take a look. I'll go prepare a straw mat."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingnian's heart tightened, and she ran towards the prison gate, where she saw Ling'er lying in a pile of dry grass, curled up in a ball, constantly crying out that she was cold.
Her lips turned purple, which indicated a high fever.
"Ling'er!" Shen Qingnian called out anxiously, trying to wake her up.
Upon hearing Shen Qingnian's voice, Ling'er slightly raised her eyelids, her chapped lips moved, but ultimately no sound came out.
She felt very cold and uncomfortable, and she thought she was probably going to die.
She looked at the blurry figure in front of her and knew it was Miss.
Ling'er tried to smile; it was enough that she could still glance at her mistress.
"Ling'er! Wake up!" Shen Qingnian grasped Ling'er's hand, tears welling up in her eyes.
She felt incredibly guilty; how could she possibly save her?
Meanwhile, at the Chen residence, Chen Jiangyuan dismounted, shoved the reins into the gatekeeper's hand, and quickly ran to Governor Chen's study.
"Father!"
Seeing that he was panting, Governor Chen waved his hand and said, "Don't interfere in Madam Fang's affairs."
Why?
Chen Jiangyuan was somewhat surprised. Before he could even speak, he wondered how his father knew he had asked him to help Fang Niangzi.
Governor Chen slowly opened a booklet, glanced at him, and said nothing more.
"Father! Those Wu couple are clearly deliberately making things difficult for Madam Fang. That girl is almost beaten to death by them!"
Seeing that Chen Jiangyuan was agitated, Prefect Chen slammed the book shut: "I'll say it again, you are not allowed to interfere in Madam Fang's affairs."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jiangyuan became even more agitated: "I'm determined to get involved!"
Governor Chen got up and walked to the door, leaving behind the words, "Whatever you want!" He then went out and locked Chen Jiangyuan in the study.
Chen Jiangyuan realized what was happening and ran to the door, clapping his hands vigorously: "Father, let me out! Madam Fang is still waiting for me!"
Governor Chen stood at the door, listening to his son's pleading voice, and said coldly, "Give up your thoughts about that woman as soon as possible!"
Chen Jiangyuan said again, "Father, let me out quickly, or someone will die!"
Governor Chen did not respond, but began to ponder the matter.
Everyone says that Prince Xie went south to Jiangnan to pay respects to his birth mother, but why did he suddenly come to Yunzhou and become so determined to have the shopkeeper's wife whom he had only met once?
Perhaps there is some unusual relationship between this lady and the prince.
He was trying to steal people from the heir apparent; he didn't want the lives of over a hundred people in the Chen family.
Thinking of this, Governor Chen ignored Chen Jiangyuan and left the study with a flick of his sleeve.
Shen Qingnian watched as Ling'er still had a high fever and her lips had turned purple.
Shen Qingnian wiped away her tears, stood up, and said to Ling'er, "Ling'er, I will definitely save you. Wait for me."
Right now, all we can do is hope that Chen Jiangyuan can invite Governor Chen over to negotiate as soon as possible.
But Young Master Chen has been gone for so long and hasn't returned yet, I'm afraid...
Thinking of this, Shen Qingnian had a bad feeling.
But where else could she go besides the Chen residence? Who else could she turn to?
Shen Qingnian stumbled and fell all the way to the gate of the Chen residence, only to be stopped by the gatekeeper.
She had been here two hours earlier, and the doorman recognized her. But now he was blocking the entrance, acting as if he wouldn't let her in.
Shen Qingnian said urgently, "I'm looking for Young Master Chen. Please inform him."
The gatekeeper gave her a cold look, not only refusing to announce her arrival but also forcing her to take a step back.
Just then, the door was suddenly opened from the inside, and a maid came out. Shen Qingnian had some recollection of her.
She was a maid in Chen Jiangyuan's courtyard, whom she had seen earlier that day.
But the maid looked at Shen Qingnian with dissatisfaction and said, "Madam Fang, because of your matter, the master is furious and the young master has been confined to his quarters."
The maid remembered the old lady's words and added, "You should leave now! Don't come and harm our young master anymore."
"Wait a minute..." Before Shen Qingnian could finish speaking, the maid turned around and closed the door, rudely refusing Shen Qingnian entry.
Shen Qingnian turned around dejectedly, feeling guilty for not being able to save Ling'er and for dragging Young Master Chen into this mess.
At that moment, a bolt of lightning struck from the sky, accompanied by a thunderclap, and a torrential downpour began.
Shen Qingnian stumbled along in a daze, and before she knew it, she had fallen down the steps, splashing water that soaked her clothes.
Heavy raindrops pelted her head, chilling her to the bone, and a wave of sorrow washed over her. She didn't know why she had changed so much overnight.
Shen Qingnian covered her face and sobbed softly in the rain.
She could no longer distinguish between her tears and the rain.
Just then, a carriage slowly approached. Shen Qingnian looked up and saw Yuan Qing wearing a straw raincoat and driving the carriage.
Yuan Qing glanced at Shen Qingnian and saw that she was sitting on the ground, letting the rain soak her, looking utterly disheveled.
Perhaps it was a bit cold, for Yuan Qing saw her shivering in the rain, looking utterly miserable.
Yuan Qing sighed. This time, Master was indeed a bit too harsh on Miss Qing.
He stopped and said to the curtain behind him, "Master, Miss Qing is in the rain."
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