Chapter 511 - 513: Swaying Left and Right
Chapter 511: Chapter 513: Swaying Left and Right
Hua Shunming acted as if he didn’t see the complex undercurrents. "This arrangement will be excellent going forward. It will also be a fine opportunity for the ministers to alleviate the pain of missing their daughters."
The ministers: "..." It was true they missed their daughters, but they didn’t want to see them in this manner.
Empress Zhou: "...The Holy Emperor is benevolent."
...
Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected County Magistrate Wu’s letter to arrive so quickly.
Just as she had guessed, the whole staged theft incident had indeed been orchestrated by the Tian Family.
Their goal was simply to ruin her reputation. If they had actually succeeded in framing her, rumors would likely have spread all over Shangjing by now that Mrs. Gu, the Prefect, had a peculiar hobby—a penchant for theft.
One could only imagine what her fate would have been. They might have even managed to take down Ancient Wen Heng in the process.
Ancient Wen Heng patted her head, helping to soothe her anger. "I’ve already written two letters. County Magistrate Wu and Prefect Nan will handle this matter impartially."
Jin Qianqian said, "I’m just so furious. Their methods are truly despicable. If I hadn’t been so vigilant, and if I didn’t have my little cheat, we’d be the ones on the back foot right now."
"Don’t worry. You won’t be seeing them again." Ancient Wen Heng had no intention of letting this insult slide. Since they had the audacity to provoke him, they must have been prepared to bear the consequences.
Jin Qianqian didn’t care what fate awaited them, but her anger had to go somewhere. "I’ve been here for so long and still haven’t written to Sister Yang and the others. This gives me the perfect topic to chat with them about."
The Tian Family’s confidence, their daring to plot against her, relied on nothing more than Xiao Shiyu in the inner courtyard of the Huang Mansion.
’With a maternal uncle like that,’ she thought, ’her life in the Huang Mansion’s inner courtyard probably isn’t going to be easy.’
Ancient Wen Heng replied, "You absolutely should have a good chat. We wouldn’t want a lack of communication to cause us to miss out on so many... interesting stories."
***
Meanwhile, the Tian Family they had been discussing were currently huddled in a small, dilapidated courtyard.
"Can my father still get out?" Tian Mi asked Li Yong, wiping away her tears. Right now, in their entire household, only Li Yong and a few loyal servants remained to protect the mother and daughter.
"Miss, all of our properties here have been seized by men sent from Prefect Nan. We’ve tried everything, but we haven’t even been able to see the master," Li Yong said, feeling a major headache coming on. He had already done everything in his power, but now everyone in Le City was going out of their way to avoid them.
The officials and wealthy merchants who used to call the master ’brother’ wouldn’t even grant him a meeting now.
"The audacity of that Prefect Nan! Seizing our assets without a conviction! I’m going to Shangjing to file a complaint against him." After so many years of living a pampered life, Lady Tian could hardly bear this dilapidated hovel.
Unfortunately, no one in all of Le City dared to take them in. They had only managed to secure this squalid little hut because it was abandoned; they had chased away a few beggar children who were squatting here to claim it as a temporary shelter.
"That’s right! We’ll go find my aunt and uncle! My cousin married into the Minister’s Mansion. I refuse to believe these people won’t be afraid then," Tian Mi declared, standing up. "Mother, let’s leave at once."
"Yes, we just need to find your aunt," Lady Tian said, gripping Tian Mi’s hand. She ordered Li Yong, who was standing to the side, "Take some men and prepare a carriage. We leave immediately."
The sooner they found her sister-in-law, the sooner they could get the master out of jail.
Li Yong replied, "It’s not that I’m unwilling, but everyone in Le City treats us like the plague. I can’t find a carriage anywhere."
Besides, carriages aren’t something a merchant family like ours is even permitted to use. We were only able to use one before because we relied on the master’s brother-in-law and registered it under his name.
Now, we’re just common folk, and his name doesn’t carry any weight anymore. How could I possibly find a carriage?
Lady Tian had also thought of this, but she made an immediate decision. "It doesn’t matter what it is—an ox-cart, a donkey-cart, anything will do. We must get to Shangjing as soon as possible so we can reclaim everything that belongs to the Tian Family sooner."
The Tian Family did have its own escort agency, but in the current situation, they were no longer in any position to command it.
As for other escort agencies, that was out of the question. The smaller agencies in Le City had long looked down on them, and she wasn’t about to go to them now just to be humiliated.
With his orders, Li Yong immediately ran out to find a solution.
The reason these servants had stayed was twofold. First, the Lord Prefect hadn’t found their indentures. Second, they were clinging to the hope that if the Minister’s Mansion intervened, the Tian Family would sooner or later return to its former glory.
And as the ones who had protected their masters through it all, they would naturally become great heroes in the family’s eyes.
With no one else around, Tian Mi gripped her mother’s hand. "We still haven’t sent someone to tell my brother. If we can save the shops in the other counties, then we’ll have nothing to fear..."
Lady Tian replied, "I’ve already sent someone to inform him. I just hope there’s still time..."
"What crime did Father even commit?" To this day, Tian Mi still couldn’t understand. Everything had been fine just a moment ago—they were even hosting banquets for the officials of Le City. How could her father have been arrested so suddenly?
Lady Tian had a vague idea, but she wasn’t certain. Besides, now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. "How should I know? Regardless, we have to rescue your father first."
After some searching, Li Yong actually managed to find two donkey-carts. They escorted the Tian mother and daughter, hurrying toward Shangjing under the cover of night.
「Back Office of the Le City Prefect」
"My Lord, should we stop them?" Housekeeper Wu had received the news and immediately returned to report.
Prefect Nan replied, "Leave them be."
"But..." ’If they bring back reinforcements, we’ll be the ones at a disadvantage.’
Prefect Nan said, "I want them to go to Shangjing. Otherwise, why would I have left them an escape route?"
You don’t actually think I was powerless against those few servants who didn’t have indentures, do you?
"This servant was foolish."
"Even while giving face to Ancient Wen Heng, I must still be wary of Minister Huang."
Even though Miss Xiao is merely Minister Huang’s granddaughter-in-law, as the old saying goes, you have to see who the master is before you beat the dog.
I left this path open for them precisely to test the waters.
If Minister Huang intervenes, then I will naturally have to make a choice. Do you understand?
Housekeeper Wu bowed respectfully. "Your Lordship is truly wise."
"As for Ancient Wen Heng’s side, I can just push the matter onto Minister Huang. I’m sure he will understand my difficult position."
...
***
One day, Ancient Wen Heng visited the first plot of reclaimed wasteland, where they had planted their first batch of crops.
"My Lord, this land has been meticulously cared for, and we’ve used plenty of fertilizer. Even though it’s a new field, this year should still bring a bountiful harvest." The old farmer in charge of this plot couldn’t suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.
All this grain meant they wouldn’t have to go hungry this year.
"It looks well-tended," Ancient Wen Heng commented. Even if he wasn’t an expert in agriculture, he could tell the crops before him were growing vigorously. It seemed all their efforts these past days had not been in vain.