Chapter 5: Getting Beaten Up

Having arrived in this strange world, even with fear and unease, I had always forced myself to endure. People are like that; when they lack a sense of security, they always push themselves to be strong because they know crying solves nothing, and they can’t rely on others.

But now, meeting Duo’er and seeing Jiang Duo’er cry, Yan Huan suddenly couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, making the hearts of Yan’s brothers’ ache.

One by one, their gazes towards Jiang Duo’er turned unfriendly.

They had all seen it; their precious little sister was crying because of this crazy girl.

Jiang Duo’er had a terrible reputation in the capital. Not only was her temperament erratic, but she even dared to fight men in the streets. Such a person had the words “female bully” written all over her face!

Seeing the Yan brothers glaring at their little sister, the Jiang brothers were not to be outdone. They all cracked their knuckles, ready for a fight.

The Jiang family had served in the military for generations. The Jiang sons had all grown up on the battlefield. They had never been afraid of a fight. Compared to the Yan family’s group of weak scholars, any one of their men could easily defeat them all!

The atmosphere between the two families became explosive, on the verge of erupting.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The jailer fiercely struck the prison door several times with his iron rod.

“What are you doing? Rebelling? You’ve come to this place, and you still think your young masters and young ladies? What? Want to fight? I think you’re just too full and idle. Search them! Search them all! Stand up, line up, no talking!”

Yan Huan looked up and saw the man glaring fiercely at their family.

The two families hadn’t fought or made a fuss. Compared to the noisy atmosphere around them, they had been relatively quiet. Yan Huan didn’t believe this person had come without looking for trouble.

After all, he had been staring directly at the Yan family, not even glancing at the Jiang family. His intention to cause trouble was completely undisguised.

Yan Qing, who originally didn’t want to speak, looked at his wife and children beside him, slowly stepped forward, and bowed. “Officer, the children are just playing around. Please don’t take offense.”

The man gave a strange laugh, his words barely concealing his excitement. “Oh dear, isn’t this our Grand Tutor Yan? I can’t possibly accept your calling me ‘officer’.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Yan Huan knew things were bad. If Yan Huan could see it, how could Yan Qing not?

Now, even if he was aloof and unwilling to get entangled with petty people, he had to find a way to protect his wife and children.

“I don’t know when I offended you, Officer. I apologize to you here, hoping you will be magnanimous.”

After saying these words, Yan Qing’s face was already flushed. In this life, he had always been devoted to teaching and educating, acting openly and honestly, and living with integrity. He never expected to find himself in such a situation.

But the person in front of him didn’t fall for his act at all. A look of satisfaction first flashed across his face, followed by a gloomy expression. He loudly rebuked, “What do you take the Dali Temple for? You come here and still think of bribing me? Appealing to sentiment? I always thought Grand Tutor Yan was upright and unyielding, but I never expected you to be this kind of person!”

“Oh dear, look at my mouth. I almost forgot, you’re not the Grand Tutor anymore.”

“They all say scholars are aloof and pure. Hah, that’s all there is to it.”

The more he spoke, the more excited the man became, and his voice grew louder.

When this man came to make trouble for the Yan family, the surrounding people had already fallen silent and were looking over. Now, hearing these words, the way everyone looked at Yan Qing became somewhat ambiguous.

These people were all imprisoned because of the Crown Prince’s affair. They were naturally familiar with each other and knew Yan Qing very well. Some had even tried to get closer to the Crown Prince through Yan Qing, but he had refused them all.

Who didn’t know that Yan Qing was a man of utmost integrity, disliking such petty tricks?

Yet, unexpectedly, he was the first one trying to cozy up to the jailer.

Even if some people didn’t believe the jailer’s words, seeing Yan Qing’s flushed face made them believe it a bit more.

Many thought to themselves, so Yan Qing was actually such a hypocritical person.

Yan Qing now understood that he had been wrong from the start. He shouldn’t have said a single extra word to this person. His face was gloomy as he stood aside, unable to utter a word.

He had always believed in not arguing with petty people, and now facing such a person, he was naturally at a loss.

But Yan Huan was different. She had lost her parents at a young age and grew up in an orphanage, enduring countless scornful looks and bullying. How could this little matter trouble her?

Smiling, she said, “Officer, your words are inevitably biased. Who outside doesn’t know that our family and the Jiang family have a good relationship? Now that we’re down on our luck, we’re even more like ants on the same rope. How could there be any discord between us?”

“Everyone knows my father’s character. It’s not something that can be judged by a few words from others. What my father wants to do is just protect his wife and children.”

With a few words, she tied the Jiang family, and the Yan family together and conveniently cleared Yan Qing’s name.

Although this was in prison and he could make things difficult for everyone, not everyone had such sinister intentions as him, and it wouldn’t be easy for him to have his way completely.

There were rules even in prison. If anyone could vent personal grievances and seek revenge at will, it would be chaos.

As soon as Yan Huan said this, the gazes of the crowd changed again.

Someone beside him tugged at the jailer’s sleeve and whispered, “Boss, why don’t we just let it go? I heard they’ll be exiled tomorrow. Once they’re on the road, won’t there be plenty of opportunities to vent your anger?”

Upon hearing this, the jailer’s eyes widened. “Paraded through the streets? Isn’t that happening anymore?”

“I heard it’s not.”

Speaking of this, the person lowered their voice even more. “Boss, do you think these people might have a chance to turn things around someday? Otherwise, why would they suddenly cancel the street parade?”

The jailer turned his head and spat in the person’s face. “Is this your first day working in the Dali Temple? How many people who come into our custody leave alive? Especially with charges like theirs. His Majesty is benevolent enough not to have sentenced them to death. They still think they can turn things around?”

“Even the former Crown Prince has been exiled. What waves can they possibly make?”

Although Yan Huan’s words prevented him from being too blatant in front of everyone, he had no intention of letting them off so easily.

The jailer’s surname was Song, his given name Donglai. He had no personal dealings with the Yan family, but his younger brother, Song Nanlai, had his career ruined because of the Yan family.

Song Nanlai was the only scholar in the Song family, the pride of everyone. However, he was caught cheating in the imperial examination by the chief examiner at the time, Yan Jinhao, and his future was destroyed.

Thinking of this, Jailer Song’s teeth itched with anger.

In the past, the Yan family was high and mighty, and he had no way to get to them. Now that they were in his hands, how could he not seize the opportunity to avenge his brother?

Thinking of this, the jailer took a few steps forward, opened the Yan family’s cell door, and said with a sinister look, “Hurry up! I now suspect you are carrying weapons. All of you stand against the wall for a body search!”

Knowing that he was just looking for trouble, the Yan brothers and the servants hurriedly surrounded Yan Huan and the women of the Xu family in the middle. Song Donglai’s eyes flashed with malice as he swung the stick in his hand towards the crowd.

Although the few servants left by the Yan family were quite strong, they didn’t dare to fight back against an official. The scholars in the Yan family’s group had never seen such a scene before. In a moment, the brothers were all beaten to varying degrees.

Watching her brothers protect her even as they were being beaten, Yan Huan’s eyes turned red.