Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 94 Shame
Those bursts of laughter seemed to transform into sharp blades piercing the Zhao family.

Enraged, Zhao refused to allow anyone to slander her son. She didn't know where she got the courage, but she reached out to grab the yamen runner next to her. The runner was on duty and could not tolerate such provocation. He pushed Zhao away and she fell to the ground.

"How dare you!" the bailiff shouted before Zhao even landed, "You dare to obstruct the yamen from carrying out its duties."

"If you dare to come forward again, lock us up and take us to the yamen."

The yamen runners, their faces grim, grew even more menacing, which truly frightened the Xie family. The servants, too, couldn't even look at Zhao Shi, and kept apologizing to the yamen runners.

After falling, Zhao regained some of her senses. Her anger dissipated, leaving only fear. If what the constable said was true, it would be like the sky had fallen for her. In her disheveled state, she turned her head and happened to see Xie Qi.

Unlike them, Xie Qi appeared completely calm, as if what was happening before his eyes was entirely within his expectations. Xie Qi's demeanor only made Zhao Shi more panicked. She wanted to accuse him, but found that she had no evidence whatsoever. Suddenly, the scene of Xie Qi drowning years ago flashed through her mind. Xie Qi looked up at the people around him, his hand trembling as he raised it, his fingertips seemingly trying to point at someone, but ultimately he had to lower it.

Back then, she only felt joy; now…

Ru Yan was also stunned and dared not shout anymore, following the yamen runner forward.

When Xie Chongjun came out, he saw this chaotic scene. He was about to go over and ask what was going on when the steward stopped him and said, "Master, you can't go. There are also people from the patrol office who came with you. They have just gotten angry. If you go forward, I'm afraid it will cause trouble."

Xie Chongjun's expression changed several times, and he said in a gloomy voice, "Go directly to the county government office."

Arguing with these yamen runners is pointless. What's important now is to figure out what happened and why the patrol office got involved.
Xie Chongjun hurriedly mounted his horse and asked the steward on the way to the county government office, "What happened to the maid who was taken away?"

The steward said, "She is Steward Cui's daughter, the one who... went to buy mountain land but failed, got into a dispute with the master, and was imprisoned."

Xie Chongjun immediately reined in his horse: "What did you say?"

It turns out to be this family.

Since Ru Yan didn't go with her father and brothers to buy the mountain land, she naturally wouldn't be implicated in their fight with the master's family. So, it could only mean... another change.

Xie Chongjun understood this point and became even more anxious. He spurred his horse forward and arrived at the county government office before the constables who were arresting the man.

A large crowd had gathered in front of the county government office, and a woman was pleading her case to those around her.

"It was just a piece of woodland that brought about such a disaster."

The woman continued, crying, "First they forced me to buy it, then they beat my family members, and now they're threatening me. If I don't withdraw the lawsuit, they'll throw my baby into the well."

“My daughter-in-law went up to grab it, but she was pushed aside and hit her head. Look, I’m covered in her blood.”

"Please, Your Honor, redress my family's grievances and do justice!"

The onlookers were buzzing with discussion.

"I heard it's the Xie family."

"The one whose family owns a rice shop and a porcelain shop."

"Oh my. No wonder, there's nothing those kinds of people wouldn't do."

Upon hearing this, Xie Chongjun clenched his fists. Could it really be that Brother Zhang sent someone to threaten him? A familiar anger rose in his heart. In the past, this was because of Xie Qi, but now it was because of his eldest son.

Xie Chongjun reprimanded and punished Xie Qi, but his eldest son…

Xie Chongjun looked at the steward: "Why aren't you going to the yamen to find someone? Are you suggesting that the yamen should just let these people talk nonsense?"

The steward was about to disperse when he saw another group of people approaching.

"The adulterer is in the yamen."

The man in the lead shoved the woman, saying, "Everyone saw it just now. The two of them were doing something illicit in the house, and I caught them red-handed. If I don't punish them this time, how can I face anyone in this world?"

“We all saw it, and they can all testify for you in court.”

“Not only did we see it, but the constables who arrested people also saw it clearly.”

"No matter whose son or master he is, he must not be allowed to get away with this despicable act." Xie Chongjun's brows furrowed even deeper, his face showing disgust. Every day, the yamen had to deal with all sorts of cases, especially such sordid matters...

No matter what method he uses, he has to get Zhang Ge'er out as soon as possible, so that he won't be locked up with those people in prison.

“Sir,” the steward advised, “the young master may just be confused for a moment. Don’t worry, we’ll think of a way and we’ll definitely be able to handle it.”

Xie Chongjun ignored it. The most important thing right now was to see Zhang Ge'er and find out what really happened. If someone was framing his eldest son, he would fight to the end, even at the cost of the entire Xie clan.

"The Xie family, right?"

The clerk from the criminal investigation office came out.

The steward immediately bowed and said, "This is my master. He wants to ask if my master has been brought to the county government office?"

The clerk nodded: "Xie Zizhang hired someone to kill someone, but the attempt failed..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Chongjun's heart sank completely, but the clerk had not yet finished speaking.

"The perpetrator has confessed that he accepted ten strings of cash from Xie Zizhang, and there are witnesses present to testify to this."

"In addition, Xie Zizhang also committed adultery. The victim brought people to file a complaint, and you should have seen him in front of the yamen just now."

"What?" Xie Chongjun stared at the clerk in disbelief. He had heard every word the clerk said, but he didn't understand a thing.

adultery?

The clerk looked at Xie Chongjun: "After the thugs were caught, they confessed that Xie Zizhang was among them. The yamen runners went to look for him based on what the thugs said. Xie Zizhang was caught from Ge Si’s house. He was disheveled at the time, and the neighbors on both sides can testify to that."

impossible.

It's impossible for both cases to fall on Brother Zhang's shoulders.

Xie Chongjun was stunned for a long time, and then a possibility suddenly flashed through his mind.

"It was Xie Yuyan...it was that woman who framed Zhang Ge'er."

The land purchase was related to Xie Yuyan, so she set a trap to lure Zhang Ge'er into it. Although he didn't know the details, Xie Chongjun was certain that Xie Yuyan was behind it all.

Xie Yuyan wanted to ruin Zhang Ge'er's future.

Xie Chongjun's forehead throbbed violently, and his eyes turned bloodshot.

He had been eagerly anticipating Zhang Ge'er's participation in the preliminary examination, but then Xie Yuyan suddenly appeared.

"I need to see the magistrate," Xie Chongjun's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, "I have important matters to report to the magistrate."

The clerk replied, "Master Xie, you should first clarify the current case; there's no rush for the rest."

“What I’m about to say is related to this case,” Xie Chongjun said patiently. “If the magistrate doesn’t get involved now, it might cause a major blunder.”

The clerk replied, "Sir, you are very busy with official duties. If Master Xie insists on seeing you, then please come again tomorrow!"

Even a lowly clerk could make things difficult for him.

A wicked thought suddenly arose in Xie Chongjun's mind. He turned and walked out of the county government office, and the steward hurriedly followed.

The master and servant walked out of the government office. Xie Chongjun looked at the steward and said, "Go and send a letter to the prefect. Tell him that we have been framed and ask him to help the Xie family."

“I have evidence in my hands. As long as I have the opportunity to present the evidence to the authorities, they will know whether what I said is true or false.”

Since Xie Yuyan dared to attack them like this, he would make her taste his power.

If the imperial court can find out about the copper mine, they can atone for their crimes, so it is necessary to take the officials to Sanhe Village.

(End of this chapter)