The couple, Geng Tianrong and his wife, were discussing how they would flee to Madam Geng's family home should anything change.
When someone outside shouted that they shouldn't be abandoned, Geng Tianrong frowned.
"They have absolutely no manners, what are they yelling about?"
The plan to flee should anything change was kept secret; only he, his wife, and the housekeeper knew about it.
The person shouting outside was none other than one of his concubines, Yang.
Geng Tianrong angrily ordered someone to bring Yang Shi in, waved for all the servants to leave, and closed the door.
Madam Yang continued to weep, "My lord, if you leave, you must take me and Zhi'er with you."
Geng Zhi is Geng Tianrong's illegitimate son. Geng Tianrong currently has no legitimate sons, only Geng Zhi.
Therefore, she doted on Geng Zhi, and because of her son, Yang Shi gained status and influence over Geng Tianrong.
Even so, after all the servants had left, Geng Tianrong still raised his foot and kicked Yang Shi, who was about to approach him, away.
Geng Tianrong knew some martial arts and was a strong, middle-aged man; with this kick, he sent Yang flying.
She was kicked several meters away before falling to the ground, and Yang coughed up a mouthful of blood.
The kick to the chest was so powerful that Yang almost fainted.
Her ears were ringing, but she could still hear Geng Tianrong's angry shout: "If you want to die, keep yelling."
Yang had no strength left to shout, and lay on the ground for a long time, unable to get up.
"Remember, behave yourself when you get back. I'll take you and Zhi'er with me then. If you keep your mouth shut again, I'll beat you to death."
Geng Tianrong had little affection for his concubines. He would only take care of them if they bore him children, especially boys, whom he would dote on.
No matter how much he favored her, it would never surpass his principal wife, Geng, since she was the wife he had truly married and came from a prominent family.
He was able to become a county magistrate only because of the influence of his wife's family.
After finally recovering, Madam Yang endured the pain and got up. She heard Geng Tianrong say that he would take them with him, and immediately knelt down to express her gratitude: "Thank you, sir."
Madam Geng snorted, and Madam Yang immediately thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Madam."
Geng Tianrong asked, "How did you find out about this?"
In the outer courtyard, the steward and more than a hundred guards were all trustworthy and had already taken care of everything.
Lady Geng of the inner court would not inform her concubines in a public manner.
The concubine doesn't have much property; she can simply take it with her when she leaves.
Or in an emergency, it will be thrown away.
The concern is that someone might be loose-lipped and spread the news that the magistrate is packing his things to flee. If this gets out, it will not only make him look bad, but it could also undermine morale.
It's surprising that Madam Yang received the news. It wasn't leaked from the madam herself; it must have been told by the steward and the guards.
When Yang saw Geng Tianrong asking who had told her, she couldn't help but shrink back.
"I heard it from Xia Jie's maid, Xiao Tao."
Xia was another concubine of Geng Tianrong. She came from a brothel, was slender, and knew how to charm people. After Geng Tianrong saw her, he redeemed her and brought her back to him.
“Call them Xia Shi and Xiao Tao.”
Geng Tianrong instructed the servants outside to summon Xia Shi and Xiao Tao.
Xia and Xiaotao were startled to see blood at the corner of Yang's mouth.
Come over immediately and pay your respects.
Geng Tianrong asked Xiao Tao, "Your name is Xiao Tao?"
"yes."
"How did you know that Madam was keeping her valuables and cash?"
He himself certainly couldn't say that they were planning to escape.
Xiao Tao shuddered. How could she know this news? Of course, it was Xia who told her!
Xiao Tao glanced at Xia Shi, who glared at her. Xiao Tao immediately prostrated herself and said, "Master, yes, I came to Madam's courtyard and saw her tidying up."
Geng was furious: "Slap him."
Geng's personal maid, Biyao, stepped forward, picked up Xiaotao, and slapped her twice.
Xiao Tao's face immediately turned red.
"Aren't you going to tell the truth?"
Xiao Tao knew she couldn't hide it any longer, so she pointed and told the truth: "Yes, yes, my young lady went out yesterday and ran into an old acquaintance who told us that the magistrate is packing his things and is about to flee."
Xiao Tao had served Xia Shi in a brothel, so she always called Xia Shi "Miss".
Geng Tianrong's face burned with embarrassment. He knew that the Xia family had had many patrons before, but he didn't expect that among these patrons, there would be someone who knew that he was packing his things.
It seems his place is full of sieves; the information isn't reliable at all.
"Which acquaintance?" Geng Tianrong narrowed his dangerous eyes as he looked at Xia Shi.
When Xia heard Xiao Tao say it, she naturally dared not hide it any longer.
"It is Qi You, the eldest son of the Qi family."
Qi Jia?
So, he has members of the Qi family by his side.
This is not surprising. The Qi family also has his people, but they haven't been able to find out a single genuine piece of information.
Geng Tianrong slumped down, knowing that his every move could be monitored by the Qi family.
It's estimated that by the time he realized the danger, the Qi family would have already abandoned him and run away.
Where would anyone truly risk their life to protect the county town?
Geng Tianrong gave the order to beat Xiao Tao to death and to lock Xia Shi and Yang Shi up.
Geng Tianrong said to Geng Shi, "We still need to deal with them. We can't afford to offend the Qi family right now, and I doubt many people know what we've done."
The Qi family isn't stupid; they won't publicize our affairs widely. Morale still needs to be stabilized.
Geng nodded.
He instructed Biyao, "Check carefully to see if anything important has been left behind."
"yes."
Geng Tianrong lay down; he was so tense every day that he was exhausted.
"Has your father-in-law replied?"
Madam Geng shook her head: "There's been no reply yet. It's probably delayed on the way. After all, things aren't peaceful outside."
"Well, if you send it a few more times, one or two letters will eventually reach there."
“I know, I’ve already sent out eight.”
Seeing Geng Tianrong's furrowed brows, Madam Geng immediately began to massage him: "Husband, you must take care of yourself. Rest for a while, and I will call you when it's time for dinner."
Geng Tianrong nodded. His wife was a true lady from a prominent family, while he was a student from a poor family.
He finally passed the imperial examination, but because of his poor ranking, he remained a candidate.
Until one day, someone from his wife's family approached him and offered him a position as a county magistrate by marrying a concubine's daughter from their family.
Geng Tianrong was naturally happy to agree. That prominent family was the Xue family, and there were several members of the Xue family currently serving in the Hanlin Academy.
Second Grand Secretary Xue Chuting was a member of the Xue family. Although his wife was a concubine's daughter from a collateral branch of the Xue family, she was someone he could never hope to have.
Moreover, he actually became a county magistrate by virtue of his wife's family influence.
Although his official rank wasn't high, it was already quite good for someone in their early twenties.
With the Xue family's protection, he believed that even if he lost Shanghe County and fled, he could still save his life.
In her drowsy state, she heard a voice from outside: "Madam, should we wake the master? Qi Xiuwu from Bian'ai County has sent someone with a message."
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