Chapter 36 Using Violent Punishment [Revised]
As soon as Fu Heng left the city, the Zhu family, like hyenas lurking in the shadows, led a group to surround the governor's residence and cause a disturbance.
Meng Qingci had been sleeping a lot lately and was deep in a dream when he was suddenly awakened by a hoarse, mournful howl.
She felt heavy-hearted, her eyelids drooping. With slender fingers, she parted the dark blue curtains, her voice tinged with sleepiness and displeasure at being disturbed. "What's that sound? What's happening outside?" she asked.
Xia Guang, who was doing embroidery outside, heard Meng Qingci's question and secretly blamed Mo Song for his incompetence in handling affairs in the outer courtyard, causing a disturbance outside the governor's mansion and disturbing the young lady's peaceful sleep.
Xia Guang hurriedly put down her work, lifted the beaded curtain, and stepped into the room. While deftly pulling up the bed curtains for Meng Qingci, she replied gently, "It's the Zhu family who have come looking for us. Mo Song has already gone to deal with them, and things should calm down soon."
Meng Qingci sarcastically remarked, "Why did you have to come at this time of year? It's really interesting."
After saying this, she got up and left the bed, sat down in front of the dressing table to tidy herself up, and then, holding a round fan, went outside.
Xia Guang followed behind and advised, "If you go, wouldn't that be giving them face? Just let Mo Song deal with them."
Meng Qingci sneered: "Wouldn't it be too easy for them to just send them away? I want to see who gave them the guts to cause trouble in front of the governor's mansion."
Xia Guang worriedly reminded her, "Young lady, you are pregnant. Don't let these ignorant people bump into you."
Meng Qingci: "If we deal with it today, there will be tomorrow. We might as well clean it up properly."
Xia Guang, supporting her, continued to persuade her, "They won't last long. When the adults return, they certainly won't let them off the hook."
Meng Qingci chuckled: "They only came to cause trouble because your superiors weren't here. Did they really think I couldn't do anything to them while your superiors were away?"
When Mo Song saw Meng Qingci coming out of the governor's mansion, he immediately broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly went to greet her: "Why did you come out, Miss? Don't let these blind fools bump into you."
Xia Guang retorted resentfully, "It's all because you're incompetent and woke up the girl from her afternoon nap."
Meng Qingci had someone bring over a chair and place it at the door. She sat down slowly and leisurely, and even took a sip of tea.
Seeing her disdainful attitude, the Zhu family members were furious. The old Madam Zhu, who was sitting on the ground wailing, suddenly glared with her cloudy old eyes and howled hoarsely, "It's you, you vixen, who bewitched the governor and seized my Zhu family's property! You disregarded the law and forced thousands of our Zhu family members to die! How can you be so vicious at such a young age?"
Old Madam Zhu's voice suddenly became shrill, almost tearing the air apart: "Born with such a vixen-like appearance, you've come here to bring disaster to the feng shui of our Minzhou! According to clan rules, a monster like you should be burned alive!"
Xia Guang was so angry that he couldn't help but step forward and scold, "You old bastard, what kind of person are you to dare to act wildly in front of the governor's mansion?"
"Pah, you little whore, how dare you be so arrogant in front of me! You must be just like that vixen!" Old Madam Zhu bared her teeth and brandished her claws, trying to step forward.
Upon hearing this, the guards with swords drew their blades with a swift "whoosh" and stood in front of the Zhu family, their blades gleaming coldly, forcing them to involuntarily take a few steps back. Seeing this, the second and third masters of the Zhu family hurriedly pulled their mother back, feigning to dissuade her in low voices.
Meng Qingci slowly raised her eyes and glanced at the door. There was a huge crowd of people, about a hundred people from the Zhu family, young and old, and even some servants carrying sticks.
Mo Song leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, Miss, Mo Bai has already rushed to the government office to mobilize troops."
Meng Qingci was not annoyed, but only sneered, her voice clear and cold: "What's the use of shouting so loudly? Why don't you tie me up now, set a fire right here in front of the governor's mansion, and let all the people of Minzhou see it. Let's see if I will show my true form and what kind of demon I really am."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhu, as if she had seized upon some enormous incriminating evidence, immediately raised her voice and said, "Everyone heard it! She admitted it herself! Today, our Zhu family will learn from the example of purging the court of corrupt officials and rid Minzhou of this scourge!"
Old Madam Zhu abruptly turned her head and gave her two sons a quick wink. The second son understood, turned to the head of the Zhu clan, and whispered, "Clan head, what my mother said... though unpleasant to hear, makes some sense. Perhaps we should..."
Upon hearing this, the old clan chief looked up at Meng Qingci's young and indifferent face. An overwhelming hatred surged within him. He hated her for seizing the Zhu family's property and clan lands, leaving the Zhu family in imminent danger. His heart wavered slightly. He murmured, about to speak, but was abruptly interrupted by Mo Song's sharp shout.
"Let's see who dares to move!" Mo Song took a step forward, his eyes like knives, his voice resounding: "Today, whoever dares to step forward will surely have their blood spilled on the spot!"
Just then, footsteps approached from afar, and Mo Bai led his soldiers to quickly arrive, surrounding the Zhu family members in an instant.
The shout startled the old clan chief Zhu back to his senses. They were now standing in front of the governor's mansion, not inside the Zhu clan ancestral hall where they could be bossed around. He suppressed the resentment surging in his heart, stepped forward, and forced a bow to Meng Qingci, saying, "Miss, our Zhu clan has no past grievances or recent feuds with you. I don't know why you insist on pushing us so hard, trying to put our entire Zhu clan to death?"
Meng Qingci had taken in the changes in his expression just now, and upon hearing this, she simply smiled knowingly and asked in return, "Where's the evidence?"
Elder Zhu was stunned, barely able to react: "...What?"
Meng Qingci's gaze swept across the crowd again. In addition to the hundred or so members of the Zhu clan, there were also many onlookers gathered around.
This was likely also influenced by spies from other powerful families, all watching this dramatic scene unfold in front of the governor's mansion.
She placed the teacup gently on the small table beside her, making a crisp sound.
"You keep saying I'm trying to kill you all." Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "But aren't you all still standing here, perfectly fine? In broad daylight, in front of the governor's mansion, in a place where the law is respected, you want to smear me, convict me, and say I forced the Zhu family? Either you die now, or you produce the evidence."
She raised the corners of her lips slightly, her words laced with sarcasm: "As for those absurd claims about demons, monsters, and seductive vixens, let them go back to the Zhu family ancestral hall and play those games behind closed doors."
Elder Zhu did not expect that this young woman, though not thin-skinned, would be silenced by her sharp words, leaving him blushing with embarrassment.
Looking at the solemnly standing guards around him, and the young woman who remained calm and composed throughout, he knew that this woman was a tough nut to crack and wouldn't be intimidated by tantrums.
The old clan chief was secretly annoyed: He wondered how his eldest daughter had managed to befriend such a troublesome and difficult person! Seeing that a direct confrontation would be futile, he suppressed his anger, forced himself to maintain the dignity of a clan leader, bowed slightly, and tried to reason with her, saying slowly, "Young lady, please understand. You previously seized all of the Zhu family's property, even the clan land upon which our entire clan depends for survival. Without our property and clan land, how can our Zhu clan survive? It's tantamount to putting the Zhu clan to death. Moreover, this was done without the Zhu clan's consent; isn't that tantamount to robbery? The governor has always been known for his benevolence and integrity; surely you wouldn't want to tarnish his reputation for a momentary act?"
Meng Qingci nodded slightly as if in complete agreement and asked, "In that case, bring me the contract. If what you say is true, I will immediately return the property in full in front of everyone."
Elder Zhu was taken aback again, and asked blankly, "What...contract?"
Meng Qingci spoke with sarcasm, raising his voice several notches: "You say the property is yours, so it is? You keep saying I forcibly seized it, but you should at least produce the written agreement and official seal of the Zhu family's property and clan lands to testify in public."
Her gaze swept over the crowd, and her words suddenly turned sharp: "Can you just say that whatever you say belongs to the Zhu family, it belongs to the Zhu family? Today you say that I forcibly seized the Zhu family's property, so I have become the one who forcibly seized it; if you say that His Majesty's dragon throne originally belonged to your Zhu family, do you also want His Majesty to let you sit on the dragon throne?"
"You...!" The old clan chief Zhu trembled with anger and shock at her outrageous words. He could no longer maintain his composure and shouted, "Stop spouting nonsense and smearing the Zhu family! You are truly vicious, trying to frame our Zhu family with a few words that could lead to the extermination of nine generations of our clan!"
Meng Qingci raised her fan to interrupt Elder Zhu: "Alright, stop joking around. Take out the book and let's confront each other." Her beautiful eyes shone brightly: "Let me make this clear: slander and framing are serious crimes according to the Zhaode Law. Based on the value of the Zhu family's property, the lightest sentence would be exile for three thousand miles."
Seeing that he couldn't fool them at all, the old clan chief Zhu had no choice but to say, "After the eldest son of the Zhu family passed away, the clan didn't have time to go to the government office to settle the matter. But according to the clan rules, my eldest nephew has no children, so the property should naturally be passed on to his brothers and nephews."
Meng Qingci leisurely waved his round fan, listening attentively without even frowning: "This is your clan's own business. It's not that I forced you to miss the handover, after all, I wasn't in Minzhou at that time."
Elder Zhu felt a tightness in his chest from her words, which were both soft and barbed, but he could only suppress his anger and say in a deep voice, "I don't know how you obtained the property, but in any case, I beg you to be lenient and return it to its rightful owner."
Meng Qingci smiled lightly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing on Yang Lun, the clerk who had just arrived. She beckoned him and said, "You've come at the right time. Tell us in front of everyone whether my buying and selling of the Zhu family's property is in accordance with the rules."
Clerk Yang Lun stepped forward and solemnly addressed the Zhu family, saying, "When Miss Meng purchased the Zhu family's property, all the procedures were in order. The contract clearly bears the signature and personal seal of the eldest son of the Zhu family, as well as his handwritten letter as proof. All the procedures complied with the law and were by no means a forced acquisition."
The second master of the Zhu family couldn't help but interrupt sharply: "Impossible! My eldest brother has already passed away, how could he personally hand over the business? His property should naturally be inherited by the descendants of the Zhu family!"
The clerk, Yang Lun, slowly unfolded the documents he had brought and presented them one by one to the Zhu family. The Zhu family members all turned ashen-faced and remained silent in despair. Several literate villagers standing nearby craned their necks to look, and upon seeing what they saw, they were immediately abuzz with shock!
The contract, with its black and white characters and bright red seal, was indeed signed and sealed by the eldest patriarch of the Zhu family, who sold off all of the Zhu family's assets.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances and whispered amongst themselves: "What kind of deep-seated hatred or resentment could drive the eldest master of the Zhu family to such a ruthless act?"
Some people sighed, "I heard that Master Zhu and his two brothers were not born of the same mother. He was probably trying to prevent his family from being wiped out."
Others chimed in, "You know what, there's a real connection. It's said that almost all of the Zhu family's assets were earned by Master Zhu himself, so it's only natural that they wouldn't want others to take them away."
Listening to the increasingly harsh and unpleasant comments from the crowd, the Zhu clan elder's face darkened. He no longer concealed his true intentions and said bluntly, "Young lady, you have been deceived by the eldest daughter. As a woman, she has no right to dispose of the Zhu family's property. The Zhu family's property has always been passed down only to men, not women, and should be decided by the men of the clan."
"That's something your Zhu family does behind closed doors. I only recognize the written rules, not the people." Meng Qingci chuckled lightly, but her tone suddenly turned sharp: "Let's put aside your slander against me for now. I'll just ask one question: You keep talking about the Zhu family's rules, but can the Zhu family's rules really disregard human life? Are they greater than the law? Greater than the national regulations?"
The old clan chief Zhu looked alarmed and quickly bowed, saying, "The Zhu family would not dare, the Zhu family would never have meant that! We have come here today only to ask the young lady to return the property that rightfully belongs to the Zhu family."
Meng Qingci's expression was cold, and his voice, though not loud, was clear and distinct: "Can't you understand human language? I only recognize contracts, and the yamen only recognizes contracts. I bought it with real money, and even if the Zhu family takes it to the capital, the law is as solid as a mountain, and it will remain the same."
"You..." Elder Zhu's beard trembled with rage. "You are breaking the centuries-old rules of aristocratic families! If you take advantage of the Zhu family today, will you treat other aristocratic families the same way in the future? Aren't you afraid of angering all the aristocratic families in Minzhou and being attacked by them all?"
Meng Qingci half-closed her fan, chuckled, and glanced at the crowd: "Where are they? Tell them to step forward. I want to see how they 'attack in a group'."
The onlookers burst into laughter at her words.
The old patriarch Zhu roared, "Do you think you've only affected the Zhu family? You've shaken the foundations of all the powerful clans! They won't let this go!"
Meng Qingci said calmly, "Then they'd better live a long time, so that after they die, their clansmen won't suffer the same fate of being wiped out."
Another burst of uncontrollable laughter erupted from the crowd. The Zhu family members' faces grew increasingly grim.
Old Madam Zhu could no longer contain herself and roared hoarsely, "What are you so arrogant about, you little slut! You think you're so great just because you have a soft, tender body and are good at getting into bed? I'd like to see how long you can keep up your arrogance. Which mistress will tolerate you in the future? The first person to come in will be the one who kills you!"
Meng Qingci glanced at her with a half-smile, then raised her voice and said, "Guards. Insulting me is an insult to the Governor. Slap her."
The prefect went to inspect the naval camp with the governor, leaving only Yang Lun as a clerk. Yang Lun immediately gave a signal to the yamen runners, and the two stepped forward and swiftly forced Old Madam Zhu to kneel on the ground. They then slapped her several times across the face.
Madam Zhu deliberately humiliated Meng Qingci upon their first meeting. She thought that the young girl was still naive and easily frightened, so she would naturally lose her composure and become extremely fearful, and would do whatever they said.
To Madam Zhu's utter surprise, Meng Qingci showed none of the composure expected of a woman from the inner quarters in the face of her humiliation. Today, facing over a hundred members of the Zhu family, this woman remained completely unfazed, her face not even blushing, showing no sign of fear whatsoever.
And now they actually dared to attack her in public. Before she could even react, she was slapped so hard that blood gushed from her mouth. She cried out in pain as a tooth was knocked out.
Master Zhu the Second and Master Zhu the Third shouted urgently, "Stop! Stop right now! You're using torture!"
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Clerk Yang Lun stepped forward with a fierce look on his face, chin held high, displaying the air of an official: "Stop spouting nonsense and turning black into white. Your Zhu family openly gathered a crowd to cause trouble in front of the governor's mansion with weapons, and Old Madam Zhu even insulted Lord Fu's family in public. It was already lenient to have the yamen runners punish her a few times. How can you call it private punishment?"
The old clan chief, Zhu, was indeed shrewd and experienced. Seeing that the Zhu family had not yet truly caused trouble, the governor's office had already mobilized over a hundred soldiers to guard the area. The clerk, Yang Lun, was even more obsequious to Meng Qingci, doing everything he could to curry favor, and he even brought along two constables from the yamen.
Looking at Meng Qingci sitting upright in front of the governor's mansion, she was no ordinary young lady. Although young, her methods were decisive and ruthless. The Zhu family's actions today would not only fail to intimidate this young woman, but if the Zhu family failed to reclaim their property, they would likely become a laughing stock in Minzhou, ending up with nothing and losing all their remaining face.
Thinking of the consequences, Elder Zhu hurriedly stepped forward to apologize: "Please forgive her, young lady! She's senile and spoke without thinking. Please don't take it to heart... At her age, if she continues to fight, someone could die!"
Meng Qingci remained unmoved, her words sharp as knives: "She has shown contempt for the court and insulted an official of the imperial court. According to the law, even if she is beaten to death on the spot today, it would be her own fault."
She no longer looked at the limp Madam Zhu, and seemed completely oblivious to her wails. She summoned Mo Bai and ordered, "The Zhu family has been extremely arrogant, gathering a crowd to cause trouble and slandering officials. All those involved in the disturbance must be apprehended, and the ringleaders and accomplices will be dealt with according to the 'Zhaode Law'."
Mo Bai responded sternly and immediately led his soldiers and constables to arrest and take away all the members of the Zhu family and their servants. He acted swiftly, and the cries of agony and pleas for mercy from the Zhu family members soon subsided.
Yang Lun, a clerk in the government office, had a sudden inspiration. He felt that this was the perfect opportunity for him to show off his skills and curry favor with Meng Qingci, and he came up with a plan.
He took two steps forward, faced the crowd of onlookers, and loudly explained the rules and regulations of buying and selling property. Many of the people were illiterate and had always been afraid of the power of the government. Today, they were surprised to have a clerk personally explaining things to them. Although they were frightened when they saw the soldiers arresting people, they remained where they were, holding their breath and listening attentively.
Yang Lun deliberately avoided using official jargon and flowery language, instead choosing examples from everyday life. He explained things in a simple and clear manner, breaking down the principles in just a few words.
Within moments, people in the crowd began to nod frequently, and some even clapped and cheered loudly.
Someone suddenly slapped their thigh, exclaiming in realization, "Oh dear! It turns out it was those two Zhu brothers who were plotting to devour their elder brother's ill-gotten gains, but little did they expect Master Zhu to be on guard! And then Miss Zhu met with a distinguished guest from the Governor's Mansion. The Zhu family not only failed to seize the ill-gotten gains, but also lost both their wealth and their loved ones. Now, they're furious and deliberately causing trouble in front of the Governor's Mansion, bullying the Governor's family! This is outrageous, utterly lawless!"
A plump old woman said, "Oh dear, I heard from my great-aunts that ever since Master Zhu passed away, the Zhu family has been making things difficult for Miss Zhu under the guise of mourning for him. Luckily, she met the governor's wife; it's truly a blessing from heaven."
A woman carrying a shopping basket next to her curled her lip and whispered, "They didn't come from the same belly, so naturally they want to gnaw the flesh clean and drink the blood clean!"
Someone else hesitantly interjected, "But I heard... that Miss Zhu didn't even leave the Zhu family a single piece of clan land. Isn't that a bit too ruthless for a woman?"
His wife immediately retorted, saying in a low voice, "Look at the Zhu family's situation! If they hadn't been driven to the brink, would a young woman be so ruthless? In my opinion, she must have been tortured so badly that she's become so hateful!"
At this moment, someone in the crowd sighed softly, "Look at the Zhu family's arrogance. They even dared to surround the governor's office. Back then, the eldest patriarch of the Zhu family died suddenly, practically a violent death. Could there be some shady business going on inside?"
Upon hearing this, the clerk Yang Lun frowned and secretly glanced back at Meng Qingci.
She lowered her gaze slightly and nodded almost imperceptibly.
Yang Lun immediately understood and turned around to announce loudly, "Fellow villagers! If you have any doubts about the death of Master Zhu, or if you have any clues to provide, you may come to the yamen to report. If the report is found to be true, the yamen will reward you with silver!"
The onlookers began to whisper amongst themselves, their minds racing, and some even started chatting with the clerk, Yang Lun.
In the past, Yang Lun would have ignored such commoners, but now, if he could find out that there were other secrets behind the death of the eldest master of the Zhu family, wouldn't he be able to win the favor of the governor and Miss Meng? It would be a win-win situation.
Yang Lun's smile became even more genuine and approachable as he listened patiently to the fragmented 'clues' from the people.
In the distance, around the corner of an alley, a blue-curtained carriage was parked. A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the entire scene of the commotion in front of the governor's mansion.
Outside the carriage, the maid Jinxiu leaned forward and whispered, "Miss, the Zhu family is utterly useless. All your planning has been for nothing. I'm afraid they won't be able to withstand the torture in prison and will spill the beans to us."
Inside the carriage, Shen Yunxi straightened her hairpin, her expression unchanged, but a hint of cold sarcasm flashed in her eyes: "It's alright, even if we've been given permission to perform a play, it's time to go on stage."
She never expected the Zhu family to achieve anything; she was merely using this opportunity to test the woman's true abilities. Little did she expect that Fu Heng would be attracted to such a vulgar person, so lacking in manners and prone to arguing in the street.
She indifferently withdrew her gaze and waved her hand lightly.
Jin Xiu understood and turned to leave in a hurry.
In front of the governor's mansion, Meng Qingci saw that the farce was nearing its end and was about to get up and return home.
Just then, a panicked cry from a young woman suddenly rang out: "Please wait, young lady! Please have mercy and save my life!"
Seeing this, Xia Guang quickly summoned two rough-looking women to stop the woman. Seeing her recklessly barging around, she couldn't help but scold her, "Judging by your clothes and appearance, you must come from a respectable family. How can you be so rude, making such a racket and causing such a disturbance!"
The young woman, unable to go any further after being stopped, suddenly knelt down with a thud, tears welling in her eyes, and cried out, "Miss... no, Madam... please have mercy and save my life! I really can't go on living!"
The crowd, who were chatting animatedly with the clerk, were suddenly drawn to the sight of the young woman dressed in fine silk and looking distressed, and they all turned to look at her.
Several kind-hearted older women in the crowd, seeing her weeping and looking so pitiful, couldn't help but raise their voices to persuade her: "Madam, please stop crying. This young lady in front of us is the most compassionate. What grievances and hardships do you have? Why don't you tell us in detail!"
Meng Qingci felt that one thing after another had happened today, as if it had all been planned in advance. She glanced around and saw that the people around her all looked eager, as if they were saying, "We are all counting on you." She couldn't help but find it amusing.
Looking at the young woman, who sometimes called her "Miss" and sometimes "Madam," Meng Qingci found it even more interesting.
Those in the household who knew her well addressed her as "Miss," while outsiders, seeing her with her hair styled in a married woman's bun, called her "Madam," regardless of her age. How could a well-dressed woman be so ignorant of such basic social etiquette?
Meng Qingci smiled slightly, then calmly sat back in his armchair, gently fanning himself with a fan, and leisurely examined the woman from head to toe.
With a smile in her beautiful eyes, she asked, not at all disappointed, "Get up. What do you want from me? Tell me."
The woman remained kneeling, attempting to crawl forward, but was firmly stopped by the governor's servants. Her lips trembled, tears streaming down her face before she could speak, and she began to weep bitterly.
However, the maid supporting her spoke clearly and stepped forward to answer respectfully: "Reporting to Madam, my lady is the fifth mistress of the Cheng family in the city. Since the fifth master took a concubine two years ago, he has become increasingly fond of the concubine and neglected his wife, and has even squandered all of our mistress's dowry."
That's not all. Whenever Fifth Master drinks, he always takes his anger out on our Fifth Madam, either beating or scolding her, never giving her a kind look.
What's even more chilling is that last winter, when the young master fell ill, the concubine deliberately prevented them from calling a doctor, and the young master didn't make it to the end. Such a young child, gone just like that. In the end, the whole family blamed our grandmother for not taking good care of him, making her life even more difficult.
Now that concubine has given birth to a son born out of wedlock, she feels that Fifth Mistress is in her way, and every few days she instigates Fifth Master to beat our grandmother, leaving her covered in bruises, old wounds upon new ones. Life is truly unbearable for her. We've heard of Madam's compassion in helping Miss Zhu, and we beg Madam to also grant our grandmother's request, allowing her to divorce Fifth Master and find a way to survive!
The maid's words were clear and articulate, full of emotion and deep sorrow.
As soon as she finished speaking, her words exploded like cold water poured into boiling oil among the onlookers. The crowd first exchanged bewildered glances, then their eyes widened in shock, and sighs and angry shouts rose up.
"I never imagined that such filth could exist in such a grand mansion."
"What do you know? It's only in grand mansions that filth and filth are hidden, where all sorts of despicable things are done!"
"He actually killed his own legitimate son and tormented his own wife, all to elevate a concubine and a son born out of wedlock."
"That Fifth Master Cheng looks respectable, but who would have thought he would do such a thing as favoring his concubine over his wife and driving his own son to his death!"
Fifth Madam Cheng remained kneeling there, listening to the maid recount her heartbreaking story, especially the tragic death of her youngest son. She felt her heart breaking, her thin shoulders trembling slightly uncontrollably. She knelt there, head bowed, weeping softly, her suppressed sobs fading into the wind.
Immediately, the crowd began to discuss the matter, all expressing their indignation on behalf of Fifth Madam and their disdain for the Cheng family's actions.
"You've got a sharp tongue." Meng Qingci looked the maid up and down with surprise in her beautiful eyes. Seeing that she had said so much in one breath without making a sound, she couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Just one thing, I didn't help anyone. I just bought the Zhu family's property as a favor."
The maidservant slammed her forehead against the ground with a heavy thud: "What you say is true, Madam. You are wise. Everything I said just now was true. If even one word is false, may my soul be left without a home after death, and may I be condemned to eternal damnation in hell, where my tongue will be pulled out and my body shattered, and may I suffer eternal torment!"
In Zhaode, the people deeply respect ghosts and gods. This maidservant's oath, made by swearing an oath using her own soul's reincarnation, is already a very heavy curse.
Whether Meng Qingci believed it or not, everyone around was moved. Their gazes darted back and forth between Meng Qingci and the master and servant. For a moment, everyone was filled with emotion and held their breath, staring at Meng Qingci as if she were the righteous judge who could distinguish right from wrong and uphold justice.
Meng Qingci found it increasingly ridiculous. She was just a woman from the inner quarters of the house, and Fu Heng had only been gone for a day or two, yet she had become the 'upright official' of Minzhou.
Mo Song had already sent a servant to deliver a message to the Cheng family. Now, he returned to Meng Qingci's side, leaned slightly forward, and whispered, "Madam, the Cheng family is a major sugar producer in the Minzhou area. They have a deep-rooted business and have a long-standing and close relationship with our master."
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingci glanced meaningfully at Mo Song, then lightly raised her fan and pointed at the clerk Yang Lun: "Clerk Yang, come here."
Yang Lun immediately responded, taking three steps at a time to ascend the stone steps in front of the governor's gate. He swiftly approached Meng Qingci, bowed, and said, "This humble servant will obey Madam's commands."
Mo Song, who usually managed Fu Heng's businesses, had dealt with Yang Lun quite often and was generally respectful to him, but he had never seen him so obsequious and fawning before. It was as if he were a completely different person. Mo Song's eyes twitched slightly, and he subtly looked away, finding it almost unbearable to watch.
Meng Qingci's eyes flickered slightly, and she gently waved her round fan as she smiled at Yang Lun, saying, "It's quite a coincidence that we're here today. I'll trouble you, Clerk Yang, to make this trip. Please take this Fifth Madam Cheng to the government office and explain things to her carefully: If a husband's family is unkind, can the wife file a lawsuit? How should she do so? If she suspects that a concubine in the household is plotting to harm the legitimate son, how should she report the case to the authorities?"
Her voice was gentle, but her gaze swept over the expectant crowd below the steps. She continued, "Since this matter involves moral principles and is of great concern to everyone, you should handle it publicly and allow the people to listen in. This will also let everyone know how to seek justice from the government if they encounter difficulties in the future."
Upon hearing this, Yang Lun's face immediately showed a hint of embarrassment; this was clearly a hot potato. But his eyes darted around, and he immediately bowed and replied, "I understand, I will handle this matter properly." If his master didn't want to get involved, then he could just let him try to smooth things over.
Meng Qingci nodded slightly, stood up, stepped over the threshold, and walked straight into the mansion.
Just as she stepped behind the screen wall, she suddenly heard the maid behind her cry out in a pitiful voice, "Madam, please wait! Please, Madam, have mercy! They are all afraid of the Cheng family's power, and no one is willing to save our grandmother! Our grandmother only has you left. Please, for the sake of those in the same boat..."
Meng Qingci didn't pause, only turning her head to give Xia Guang a cold sneer: "Go tell Mo Song to send people to keep an eye on things. Find out who's instigating this trouble behind the scenes. Do you really think I'm easy to fool?"
She had just dealt with the Zhu family using the "Zhaode Law" when this "victim" came to her door asking for her help in getting a divorce.
Ha~ If divorce were that easy, why would anyone beg her? It's just that someone saw her help Miss Zhu and assumed she was soft-hearted, easy to bully, and compassionate towards the poor and weak. They somehow managed to bring in the Fifth Madam of the Cheng family, who has deep ties with Fu Heng.
To make her acknowledge the "Zhaode Code," and then break it? Is the intention to force her to publicly contradict herself and break her promise? What a clever tactic.
Or is he trying to drive a wedge between her and Fu Heng? Or does he actually intend to use her to cause trouble for Fu Heng?
But who cares! Whatever their intentions, they've miscalculated. She's never been a pushover.
Jin Xiu stood in a corner outside the crowd, watching as Meng Qingci's figure disappeared into the vermilion gates of the governor's mansion. She then turned around, quickly disappeared into a narrow alley, and boarded a green-canopied carriage inside.
She gently shook her head at Shen Yunxi, who was sitting upright, and reported, "Miss, it didn't work."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunxi slowly put down the book in her hand, remained silent for a moment, and finally let out a soft sigh: "Never mind."
She looked up and saw Jin Xiu hesitate, then asked, "Is there anything else?"
Jinxiu considered it carefully before finally replying, "This servant observes that woman's eyebrows, eyes, and demeanor somewhat resemble the Princess." She paused, her tone becoming increasingly certain, "No, upon closer inspection, she does indeed resemble the Princess quite a bit."
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Author's Note: Completed
Fu Heng: Don't be afraid when I'm not around.
Meng Qingci: Indeed, power brings happiness.
Fu Heng: My wife is capable.
Author's note: Aside from the male lead's cowardice, this is a feel-good story. Just keep it in mind and enjoy the thrill.
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