Chapter 358
Despite Qiu Jingyuan's harsh words, Qian Shipeng remained unfazed, as if her insults went in one ear and out the other. Shamelessly, he sidled closer, "Cousin, calm down. Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for my actions. I just can't stand that shrew bullying you. I'll get back at her for you!"
"Qian Shipeng, shut up! What kind of cousin are you? How dare you speak to me like that?" Qiu Jingyuan, enraged, yelled. However, being young, she was at a significant disadvantage against Qian Shipeng, a grown man, in terms of presence.
Qiu Jingyuan addressed Madam Qian as "Auntie" because Madam Qian was a distant relative of the third branch of the Qiu family, and by seniority, she was indeed an "Auntie."
Coincidentally, Madam Qian was also distantly related to Madam Qiu's maiden family. Although they were beyond the fifth degree of kinship, if counted from Madam Qiu, née Dou, Madam Qian and Madam Qiu could be considered cousins. This was why Qian Shipeng shamelessly called Qiu Jingyuan "cousin." Otherwise, if he persisted, the辈分 (generations) would be mismatched.
"Alright, alright, cousin. Whatever you say goes. Don't get upset, it pains me to see you angry," Qian Shipeng grinned, his gaze lewd and vulgar. "Cousin, don't worry. The day after tomorrow, Lord Pang will preside over the court. I'll escort you back to the Qiu family in Qianzhong Circuit then."
Raising her head abruptly, Qiu Jingyuan stared furiously at Qian Shipeng, who seemed not to understand her words, "You really won't withdraw the lawsuit?"
"Cousin, you are young. Since I've already filed the complaint, if I withdraw it now, what face would I, Qian Shipeng, have? Outsiders would think I'm afraid of that brat Zhan Feiyu!" Qian Shipeng spoke with immense arrogance, glancing at his right wrist, which was wrapped in gauze. "I won't trouble Zhan Feiyu, but her maid..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear. Qian Shipeng had lost an arm, and he was determined to make He Nuan pay for it with her blood.
"Dong Yan, teach this ignorant fool a lesson!" Qiu Jingyuan's patience ran out. She yelled at Dong Yan. If she had the strength, she would have done it herself.
Dong Yan moved with lightning speed, but she didn't expect Qian Shipeng to dodge. Dong Yan's expression changed drastically; her mistress had misjudged.
"You insolent wench, how dare you!" a furious roar sounded simultaneously. It was a guard beside Qian Shipeng who moved, swiftly stepping forward and engaging Dong Yan in a fight.
From the shadows, the steward of Lord Pang's manor frowned. Although his master was not directly involved, according to the mistress's wishes, Qian Shipeng was to remain in the manor, and therefore, Miss Qiu could not be allowed to act so presumptuously here.
Seeing Dong Yan steadily losing ground, Qiu Jingyuan's face turned red with anger. Qian Shipeng, however, still wore that smug expression, further fueling Qiu Jingyuan's fury.
"Stop!" The steward walked over from the courtyard entrance, his face grim as he looked at Dong Yan and the guard fighting. He shouted angrily, "This is Lord Pang's manor! Who dares to be so presumptuous! All of you, stop!"
As the steward's words fell, several guards from Lord Pang's manor advanced menacingly.
Dong Yan immediately ceased her attack upon seeing this, but her gaze grew even more hostile towards the guard who had retreated to Qian Shipeng's side. She had seen this person many times when she was at the Qian family. She had initially thought he was just a sycophantic lackey, but she hadn't expected his skills to surpass hers. Qian Shipeng had been faking it all these years!
"How can you be so useless?" a scolding voice rang out. Qiu Jingyuan glared at the panting Dong Yan, her anger misplaced. She recalled He Nuan, who was by Zhan Feiyu's side. Both were martial maids, and the difference between them was like heaven and earth!
Dong Yan, outmatched, remained silent, growing increasingly wary of Qian Shipeng. She hoped her mistress would arrive soon.
A moment later, Qiu Jingyuan, with her entourage, left Lord Pang's manor in a dejected manner.
Once they reached the street, Qiu Jingyuan's face no longer showed any anger. Her demeanor was completely different from her usual arrogant and overbearing self.
Dong Yan looked at Qiu Jingyuan, who had a stern expression, with surprise. Although her features were still immature, a hint of melancholy and heaviness had appeared in her eyes, as if she had matured in an instant.
Tea House.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu sitting by the window, sipping tea and enjoying pastries, Qiu Jingyuan suddenly felt a suffocating pain in her chest. Once upon a time, she too had been so carefree, but now she was like a stray dog, forced to humbly beg a country girl.
Perhaps unwilling to lose face in front of Zhan Feiyu, Qiu Jingyuan walked over in a few strides and said stiffly, "Qian Shipeng refuses to withdraw the lawsuit. He has allied himself with Prefect Zhang, and it seems he is determined to deal with He Nuan."
"Sit," Zhan Feiyu gestured for Qiu Jingyuan to sit down and poured her a cup of tea. "Regardless of the outcome, I promised you, and I will fulfill it."
Qiu Jingyuan nodded but couldn't utter a word of thanks. The more arrogant she had been in the past, the more dejected and humiliated she was now. Qiu Jingyuan looked at Zhan Feiyu with a mixture of jealousy and envy. "I will leave Suzhou Prefecture tomorrow!"
After saying this, without waiting for Zhan Feiyu to respond, Qiu Jingyuan turned and walked briskly towards the tea house entrance.
Looking at the still gloomy sky outside, Qiu Jingyuan wiped away the tears welling up in her eyes. What was the point of lingering and not returning to Qianzhong Circuit?
The third branch was ruined. She was no longer the pampered young lady of the Qiu family. Returning sooner or later would lead to the same result. She simply couldn't accept this cruel reality.
Watching Qiu Jingyuan leave, Zhan Feiyu popped the last pastry into her mouth. Even if she wrote a letter to her teacher, the fate of the third branch was sealed.
He Sheng, seeing Zhan Feiyu's worried expression, hesitated before speaking, "If Scholar Gu intercedes, His Majesty will surely be lenient and will not trouble a young lady. The wrongdoings of the Qiu family's third branch have nothing to do with her."
"I know. Today's consequences are due to yesterday's actions," Zhan Feiyu stood up. While she might escape capital punishment, she couldn't escape punishment for her crimes. Without the prestige of the Qiu family's third branch, Qiu Jingyuan had become the daughter of a criminal, someone anyone could trample upon.
Even with the protection of the Qiu family's main branch, Qiu Jingyuan would likely not even be able to marry a scholar from a humble family in this lifetime. If she married into a merchant family, merchants valued profit, and becoming a merchant's wife was something Qiu Jingyuan herself could not accept.
If she married an ordinary commoner, facing the daily struggle for three meals a day, a life of poverty and hardship – could a former official's daughter endure it?
A moment later, on the street, He Sheng glanced behind him and said in a low voice, "Miss, we are being followed."
Zhan Feiyu nodded in understanding. The inn where she was staying was not far from the tea house, and the rare continuous rainy days had finally ended, so Zhan Feiyu had decided to take a walk. And now she was being targeted?
Avoiding the bustling crowds on the street, Zhan Feiyu turned into an alley on the left. Almost simultaneously, the two individuals following them blocked the alley entrance.
He Sheng immediately became vigilant and signaled to the people protecting Zhan Feiyu from the shadows before looking at the two men.
"Miss Zhan, my master requests your presence." The man in the blue cloth shirt cupped his hands towards Zhan Feiyu, slightly turning to allow He Sheng to see his companion blending into the crowd. "Please accompany us."
Was this a case of diplomacy before force? Zhan Feiyu asked with a smile, "They say Suzhou Prefecture is a place where no one picks up lost items and doors are left unlocked at night. Yet, in broad daylight, there are still villains appearing? It seems I really should meet Lord Zhang. Lead the way."
The man in the blue shirt was taken aback. He hadn't expected Zhan Feiyu to guess that it was Prefect Zhang who wanted to see her at first glance. Since it was inconvenient to meet openly, he had resorted to this method.
They went to a clothing store, behind which was a room used for taking measurements or changing clothes for customers. The small room was filled with the scent of sandalwood, and the freshly brewed tea on the table exuded a faint aroma. It was indeed a good place for a meeting.
"Stay here!" The leading man in blue raised his hand to stop He Sheng.
Zhan Feiyu paused her action of pushing the door and turned back, "Since that's the case, then there's no need to meet. Ah Sheng, let's return to the inn."
"Chen Wang, let them in," Prefect Zhang's voice echoed from inside the room. Since he had gone to such lengths to meet Zhan Feiyu, Prefect Zhang certainly wouldn't let her leave like this.
The man in blue then stepped back, still guarding the entrance.
Although He Sheng followed in, he first scanned the entire room to ensure there was no danger, then retreated to stand by the door, not intending to interrupt the conversation between Prefect Zhang and Zhan Feiyu.
Zhan Feiyu didn't want to engage in pleasantries. "I just came from the tea house, so I won't have tea. Lord Zhang, please speak directly if you have something to say."
Prefect Zhang appraised the young girl before him with complex emotions. He, the dignified Prefect of Suzhou, a fourth-rank official of the court, now had to lower his status to negotiate with a young girl.
However, thinking of the precarious situation of the Zhang family, Prefect Zhang could only suppress all his emotions. His slightly aged voice held no hint of resentment. Able to bend and stretch, he treated Zhan Feiyu as an equal.
"Miss Zhan is intelligent and surely understands the plight of my Zhang family." His failed attempt to mend relations with the General's manor, though the General's manor had not retaliated, their attitude was clear.
The Zhang family's enemies and competitors would undoubtedly spare no effort in dealing with them.
The Zhang family had endured for so many years in Longyou Circuit, and they naturally had many unsavory and hidden dealings. If no one investigated them before, but now that someone was targeting them for a thorough investigation, the consequences were predictable.
Prefect Zhang looked at the impassive Zhan Feiyu, his wrinkled old face no longer holding its former dignity and solemnity. He was like an ordinary elder worried about his descendants. "The Zhang family now has only two paths: life or death. Without the ability to restore the marital relationship with the General's manor, the Zhang family must find another patron for self-preservation."
"Seeking help from a tiger is fraught with danger," Zhan Feiyu understood. In the end, the Zhang family was afraid because they were not clean themselves. If they hadn't engaged in murder for gain, why would they fear being investigated?
"Precisely. Therefore, I implore you, Miss, to lend us your assistance. The Zhang family will gladly serve you in the future." Prefect Zhang stood up and bowed respectfully to Zhan Feiyu, adopting the lowest possible posture.
Just like last time, rather than seeking refuge with others, Prefect Zhang preferred to seek refuge with Zhan Feiyu, or rather, with Scholar Gu behind her.
Zhan Feiyu pondered for a moment, and a hint of realization appeared on her delicate, bun-like face. "I heard before that Lord Zhang had established a connection with a certain prince in the palace. I'm afraid Lord Zhang doesn't know who this prince is?"
Gaining merit by supporting the dragon was not easy. Moreover, the Imperial Guards were constantly monitoring officials in various regions. Prefect Zhang likely wouldn't dare to rashly seek allegiance with a prince in the palace, which was why he was willing to lower his status again to find Zhan Feiyu.