Chapter 49: Father-Daughter Dispute – Xu Nian’s Revenge

“Nian’er, you may not understand the workings of the officialdom. Leave this matter to me,” Xu Yaozu said.

Xu Nian stared directly at her father, and suddenly, it felt as if a fire had ignited in her heart.

“Father, I may not understand the twists and turns of officialdom, but I finally understand why so many people say it’s a murky swamp. You are no longer the father I once knew.”

Xu Yaozu’s chest heaved with anger at her words.

“Is this how you see me? Do you think I’m only protecting my position? Do you even know the depths of the Liu family’s influence? If they seek revenge, do you think your father, a mere Assistant Registrar, can protect you all?”

Seeing the redness in her father’s eyes, Xu Nian felt a pang of guilt.

“I’m sorry, Father. But I will still go through with this. Please trust me—I have confidence in my case.”

Xu Yaozu let out a deep sigh and finally said, “I know you are a determined child, but remember, rigidity leads to breakage. A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years. There’s no need to act on impulse for the sake of pride.”

Xu Nian nodded, but deep inside, she thought: I am no gentleman. I am a petty person. My revenge is like an arrow nocked and ready to fly.

She gently touched the jade pendant hidden in her sleeve, feeling a surge of reassurance.

Seeing his daughter’s unwavering resolve, Xu Yaozu no longer tried to dissuade her. In truth, he was just as furious as she was—he only blamed his low status and lack of influence.

Noticing her father standing beside her in silent support, Xu Nian tugged lightly at his sleeve.

“Dad, I’m sorry.”

“Hmph, when you’re mad, you call me ‘Father.’ When you’re happy, you call me ‘Dad’.”

Seeing her father return to his usual demeanor, Xu Nian let out a soft chuckle.

After waiting for about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, a group of yamen officers finally emerged.

Xu Yaozu explained from the side, “They’re going to summon the defendant. Wait here—I’ll go with them to oversee.”

His main concern was securing the evidence—there was no guarantee that these officers hadn’t been bribed.

The group arrived at the Liu residence, where the officers announced their purpose. However, the gatekeeper claimed that the young master was not at home. When asked where he had gone, the gatekeeper feigned ignorance.

It wasn’t until Xu Yaozu ordered them to enter and summon him directly that the officers stormed into the Liu estate.

Upon seeing the commotion, Liu Fu, the head of the Liu family, flew into a rage.

“How dare you! Do you even know whose residence this is?”

Xu Yaozu sneered. “Such arrogance! Anyone who didn’t know better might think you were the county magistrate himself.

Where is Liu Wangfu? If you refuse to be honest, be careful—these officers might barge in on your womenfolk.”

Liu Fu pointed at Xu Yaozu, stammering “You… you… you…” for a long time without completing a sentence.

“Search the premises,” Xu Yaozu ordered.

The officers moved in and eventually found Liu Wangfu in the study of the front courtyard. When they discovered him, he was in the middle of flirting with a servant girl.

Xu Yaozu then accompanied the officers as they searched for the weapon used in the assault. It was clear that Liu Wangfu had grown arrogant and reckless—he had carelessly left the bloodstained wooden club lying in his own courtyard.

With evidence and suspect in hand, the officers escorted Liu Wangfu back to the county yamen. Xu Yaozu and his group led the way, while Liu Fu and his wife, Madam Yang, trailed behind, complaining incessantly.

That day, Magistrate Wu witnessed an unprecedented level of efficiency from his yamen officers—something he had never seen before.

With everything in place, preparations for the court session began.

At that moment, the magistrate’s advisor whispered, “My Lord, do you really intend to proceed with this trial?”

“I have already hinted at the political risks involved, yet Assistant Registrar Xu still personally went to summon Liu Wangfu. This shows that the Xu family is not afraid of the Lius.

Besides, don’t forget—the Xu family’s young lady is not an ordinary girl.”

Understanding dawned on the advisor, who then flattered, “My Lord is truly a just official, always standing up for the people.”

Magistrate Wu chuckled and stepped toward the main hall.

“Bang!”

The gavel struck, and Magistrate Wu’s stern voice rang out.

“Court is now in session!”

“All—rise—!”

Inside the courtroom, Liu Wangfu still dared to act arrogantly.

“Little girl, do you even know who my brother-in-law is? If I tell you, you’ll be scared out of your wits!”

Xu Nian knelt properly, not even sparing him a glance.

Magistrate Wu’s anger was visibly rising. To be so brazen in his courtroom—this was outright contempt for his authority.

With just a glance from him, the officers stepped forward and delivered two hard strikes of the punishment staff.

Liu Wangfu’s screams and Madam Yang’s curses instantly filled the courtroom.

Of course, Yang Shi was cursing at Xu Nian.

“You shameless little wench! You seduced my son, and now you want to file a complaint? Be careful, or my son-in-law will skin you alive!”

Yang Shi, who had rushed over in a panic, still had no idea what crime her son had committed. Seeing that Xu Nian was beautiful, she assumed that her son had once again acted out of lust.

Xu Nian, unhurried and composed, replied, “As far as I know, your daughter is merely a concubine of the Assistant Magistrate. Since when did the esteemed Assistant Magistrate become your son-in-law?

Or has your daughter been promoted to the status of a formal wife?”

Yang Shi assumed that Xu Nian was frightened and smugly responded, “Even if she isn’t now, she soon will be.”

Thinking about how much favor her daughter received, along with the fact that the Assistant Magistrate’s wife was constantly ill, Yang Shi believed it was only a matter of time before her daughter became the official wife.

But as soon as Xu Nian heard this, she burst into laughter.

“According to the Sheng Law: A concubine is of low status. If one takes a concubine or a servant girl as a formal wife, the penalty is one and a half years of penal servitude.

I wonder if the esteemed Assistant Magistrate acknowledges your daughter as his lawful wife?”

Hearing this, Yang Shi turned pale with fear. She knew nothing about the law.

Magistrate Wu, seeing that the courtroom had finally quieted down, nodded to himself. Assistant Registrar Xu truly had a capable daughter.

This case was perhaps the easiest one Magistrate Wu had ever handled. The witnesses and evidence were all in place, so there was no need to instruct the officers to gather more.

According to the Sheng Law: Striking another with bare hands results in forty strikes of the cane; using an object to cause injury results in sixty strokes of the staff.

Liu Wangfu had indeed used his hands, but it was the servants who had wielded the clubs.

In the end, several servants were given sixty strokes each, while Liu Wangfu received forty lashes. Additionally, the Liu family had to pay a total of 184 taels of silver in compensation—160 taels of which were for the damaged potted plants.

Liu Wangfu had never suffered such torment before. His back burned with excruciating pain, as if it had caught fire, and the courtroom was soon filled with his wailing cries for his parents.

At this moment, Liu Fu approached Xu Yaozu with a dark expression and said coldly, “Assistant Registrar Xu, you are being quite unreasonable. Be careful, or you may suffer setbacks in your official career.”

Xu Yaozu replied indifferently, “There is no need for you to worry about me, Master Liu.”

Hearing this, Xu Nian, standing beside them, rolled her eyes. All this fuss over having a daughter who is merely a concubine to the Assistant Magistrate. Anyone who didn’t know better would think your daughter was the Empress.

Liu Fu was so furious that he huffed and glared, determined to inform his daughter about what had happened.

With the case concluded, Xu Yaozu took leave and accompanied Xu Nian to the medical clinic.

To their surprise, upon entering, they found two people snoring loudly in deep sleep.

Feeling slightly guilty, Xu Nian rubbed her nose and walked over to nudge them awake.

As soon as the two men opened their eyes and saw Xu Nian, they immediately sat up straight with a start—showing no signs of severe injury at all.

Xu Nian tugged at Xu Fugui’s sleeve and gave him a meaningful glance. “Second Uncle, are you still feeling nauseous?”

Xu Fugui glanced at his stern-faced elder brother, then at Xu Nian.

“Yes, nauseous! My head is still spinning. Just now, everything went black—did I pass out?”

At that moment, Xu Nian really wanted to cover her second uncle’s mouth. Saying too much wasn’t good either—her third uncle had done it just right by simply nodding.

Sigh… a miscalculation.