Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Chapter 16
"Governor, please grant justice for my aunt and me." Fu Yu knelt and cried out for mercy. Initially, the governor did not plan to get involved but given the crowd and the direct plea made in front of him, he could not ignore it. He eventually instructed his people to open the door then stepped down from his carriage.
As the portly man appeared, the crowd showed him respect. The governor looked at the disheveled woman in front of him, his eyebrows raising in a gesture for her to continue.
Fu Yu was happy to see that. She pointed at Yueqian and Aunt Liao, who were not far away.
"Governor, you must ensure justice. That woman from the capital is truly malevolent. My brother was forced to marry her because someone from the capital hired him for 100 silver taels. You know we had no other choice. That money was supposed to help us survive, but that woman is truly wicked.”
“Not only does she treat her husband as if he were a slave, but she also harassed Aunt Liao, who was merely teaching her decorum. When Aunt Liao fainted, that woman told us to lay her on the dirty ground and even undressed her in front of many people. When others came to help us, she told me to drive them away because she was embarrassed by the rebukes.”
“She never admits her faults. Instead, she accused me of not wanting Aunt Liao to be safe because I called for people to gather.”
“Even evil thieves, once being reproached would admit they were a thief, but that woman never admits her guilt. Her thoughts are completely warped. If left unchecked, she will undoubtedly be a danger to others.”
Fu Yu delivered a lengthy tirade, clearly aiming to have Yueqian punished. Whether it resulted in imprisonment or aiding her Brother Heng to divorce this wicked woman, it seemed good either way.
Unbeknownst to her, the governor’s demeanor changed entirely when he saw Yueqian.
“Madam?” His eyebrows raised as if to confirm his thoughts, although he was already sure. This was the woman who had just spent thousands of taels to buy a large amount of land.
Hearing that she paid a man to marry her for 100 silver taels seemed laughable to him. A woman who needed to pay only 100 silver taels for hiring a husband, yet could afford land worth over 4,000 gold taels—or 40,000 silver taels—was that someone deserve to be scorned?
Even for him, a governor, spending such an amount was impossible.
“Nice to see you again, Governor,” Yueqian greeted with a friendly smile. They had some interactions before, and he had even ensured that his people would notify the various villages in advance to make it convenient for her. Thus, Yueqian regarded him more as a friend than a foe.
“Madam Mu, what has happened?” The governor, looking past Fu Yu who was making a lengthy complaint,
Walked past the kneeling woman and approached Yueqian in a friendly manner. This action caused the villagers to glance at each other in shock. It must be said that this governor is a good person. Upon becoming the governor, he first announced a tax reduction and also increased measures to care for the well-being of the citizens. The reduction in thieves and the increased safety in travel is due to the government’s efforts in subduing thieves.
Many villagers thus loved and respected him.
Seeing such a good person converse with someone they had just cursed as villainess, the villagers began to feel surprise. At this moment, they didn’t dare to say a word, just waiting to hear what would happen next.
Fu Yu, who had many supporters earlier, now saw that everyone was silent, letting her speak alone. She gritted her teeth in anger, still not understanding what was happening.
Could it be that... Yueqian had charmed the governor into infatuation as well?
Huh! If Brother Mu Heng knew, what would happen?
The woman, newly married for just one day, now had made him a cuckold.
“We are currently waiting for the doctor to treat the person who fainted.” “I have already administered first aid, but now with so many people crowding around, it’s not quite good for the patient. It would be better if she could get more ventilated air.” Yueqian explained according to her knowledge.
Hearing this, the villagers seemed to realize that they were competing with the sick person for air. Some began to back away.
“Don’t listen to her, Governor. Earlier, it was because these uncles and aunts here supported me, so she wanted to drive them away. Last time, Brother Heng was also misled by her. Now, whatever she says, he believes completely." Fu Yu felt uneasy when she saw the situation not turning out as she hoped, she then shouted to ensure the villagers wouldn’t just believe anything easily.
"Please stop talking, Fu Yu!" A deep voice of a man called out from a distance. The crowd parted again for him. Everyone knew this was another main character.
"Brother Heng, you’re here. Look, these many people disagree with what your wife has done. She is wrong, and you must..."
"Enough," Mu Heng waved his hand as if he no longer wanted to hear what she was saying.
Though he was quite angry, due to the many people around, he chose not to say anything that would dishonor the woman.
What Mu Heng disliked was her speaking behind his back as if he was a fool without his own thoughts, believing everything Yueqian said. Although he truly trusted Yueqian, he had considered that she acted without any prejudice—her eyes only showed a spark of wanting to help others.
While she could have simply sat on the horse cart to avoid the chaos, she was the only one who remained composed and could suggest what to do next.
Moreover, Fu Yu, who spoke ill behind his back, did not appear to have good intentions at all in Mu Heng’s eyes.
"The doctor is here, let him take over. Wife..., you should rest now," Mu Heng expressed his concern for Yueqian ever since he left. Upon his return, seeing the crowd had made him terribly anxious, fearing she would be blamed by others.
He felt somewhat relieved seeing that she was with the governor, assuming she would be safer, since they had an ongoing collaboration. Yueqian’s recent purchase of thousands of gold taels of land had made her a friend to the governor, contributing greatly to the treasury and his reputation.
Mu Heng knew that the governor would side with Yueqian, and he gave him a thankful look.
“Brother, Brother Heng, you don’t even think to believe me? Sob. Are you so infatuated with this fox?" Fu Yu cried her heart out, looking very pitiful, yet no one looked at her at that moment.
The summoned doctor approached Aunt Liao and administered something for her to inhale. Soon, Aunt Liao woke up looking dazed.
"Hmm? Doctor..." Aunt Liao’s weak voice was a relief to the many onlookers. Despite the dispute, it was good that no one was seriously hurt.
"Um, rest now, don’t get up yet. Your lying position is good as it is. Getting up hastily might make you dizzy, and you might fall again," the doctor advised before nodding to Mu Heng, who had fetched him to attend to the injured.
"You did well. If someone faints, it’s correct to lay them down, lower their head Who helped her with her clothes? Seeing the marks on her wrists from being tightly bound, I must say it’s very dangerous. It’s dangerous for others as well. Tight binding can restrict circulation to your organs, which is very risky. Whoever helped loosen her bindings certainly knows the basics. If left as it was, it could have been worse."
"However, as a doctor, I must admonish you. Gathering around like this when someone faints prevent them from getting fresh air. If the patient’s relatives are knowledgeable, they should move the patient to a well-ventilated area. Passersby should not crowd around like this; it can cause the patient to deteriorate."
The doctor’s praise was followed by a lengthy reprimand. Nevertheless, everything he said was meant to educate the villagers on basic care for the incapacitated.
Many people faint and do not survive even though it was a simple situation that could be easily managed.
It’s fortunate that this elderly woman had knowledgeable help.
"Sigh," the doctor’s exhale made the villagers come to their senses. They looked at Yueqian again in surprise, realizing that her actions had been correct all along.
This was a proper way to help someone who passed out. She had not violated or dishonored the woman in any way. Moreover, she didn’t care what they thought or how they scolded her, she just told the niece, who was deeply concerned about her aunt, why what she did was wrong.
In the end, instead of receiving praise, it was her who was criticized.
"M... my niece, she must have some knowledge," Aunt Liao, feeling better after inhaling the medicated aroma, spoke appreciatively.
Well, on this horse cart, there were only Mu Heng, Yueqian, and her Yu’er. Who else would help her remove her clothing? Mu Heng? That couldn’t be, he was a man who strictly follow the decorum, he wouldn’t dare to touch her.
Or Yueqian? That evil was even less likely. The other party might rather wish her dead, so that leaves only her wonderful niece.
As Aunt Liao smiled proudly, the faces of the villagers and her niece changed. Fu Yu seemed repeatedly slapped until her face was flushed, devoid of any strength even to deny that she had helped.
"Aunt Liao, it was my Qian’er who taught these methods. She was the one who helped you loosen your clothing while your niece accused her of dishonoring you," Mu Heng, although not prone to arguing with others, stood up for his wife’s accomplishment. He spoke for all that had happened, shocking Aunt Liao immensely.
"True, when you weren’t here, this lady told us to make way, but the patient’s niece told people to crowd around and slander her, thinking she was embarrassed. This lady told us it was dangerous for the patient, but it was your niece who asked for help to manage it. She even went to the governor to have it handled."
Villagers who had been at the scene felt guilty. Seeing someone else speaking up, they quickly added their voices, at least it was a way for them to compensate for misunderstanding her.
