Chapter 26: A Scourge in the Capital

“The Heir’s reminder is correct. When Rong’er was at home, I always disciplined her strictly, and I got used to it for a while…” Jiang Qingrong apologized in a low voice and immediately moved on from the topic:

“Quickly summon a doctor to properly examine nephew Shen’s injuries.”

Shen Wenyuan hated Jiang Rong to the core, but at this time, he naturally would not deny Jiang Rong’s words. Compared to being caught meeting in private…

Getting beaten up was not unacceptable.

“It’s getting late, it’s time for dinner. Heir, Rong’er, let’s go to the front hall for dinner.” Jiang Qingrong said to ease the atmosphere.

Jiang Rong didn’t say anything more and held Xie Lingxi’s hand as they went to the front hall together.

Only Jiang Wan felt jealous and hateful in her heart.

Jiang Rong was clearly rude and beat someone, but the Heir treated her so differently.

She must replace Jiang Rong.

…

On the way back to the mansion, Jiang Rong held the dowry boxes she had retrieved and was in a good mood.

As they approached the King’s mansion gate.

They saw a stretcher placed at the entrance, on which lay a young man in fine clothes. A middle-aged man in official attire stood at the gate, looking wronged and indignant.

Xie Yuanwen invited him into the mansion, but he refused to enter, deliberately shouting loudly:

“I’m not going! Let Xie Lingxi come out and apologize to my son. I dare not go in, I’m afraid Xie Lingxi will beat me too!”

The passing commoners around stopped and watched the excitement from a distance.

Xie Yuanwen seemed troubled, but in reality, he was secretly delighted:

“Lord Zhou, please go in and wait for a moment. My second brother is not in the mansion at this time. When he returns, I will definitely make him apologize to your son. Don’t worry, with me here, I will never let him act recklessly.”

“First Young Master, you are a reasonable person. If the Heir had half of your virtue… how could he become a scourge in the capital!” Minister Zhou sighed long and short, looking like a victim who had been bullied.

“Lord Zhou, please don’t say that. My younger brother is still young and ignorant…” Xie Yuanwen said hypocritically.

The surrounding commoners watched the excitement, pointing and whispering.

“The Xie family’s First Young Master is refined and polite, but it’s a pity he’s not the heir to the Northern King’s mansion.”

“How did the son of the Minister of Justice end up on a stretcher?”

“I heard that last month, there was a civilian girl who sold herself to bury her father. Young Master Zhou kindly saved her, but this dissolute Heir forcibly snatched the civilian girl and injured Young Master Zhou! Lord Zhou just returned to the capital yesterday and came to seek justice!”

“Poor civilian girl who sold herself to bury her father, but fell into the hands of this bully…”

Inside the carriage, Jiang Rong’s gaze gradually cooled down. Xie Lingxi, sitting opposite her, clearly felt the little woman’s gaze gradually being covered by autumn frost and snow.

Xie Lingxi did not explain, remaining silent.

There were many misunderstandings among the world. If Jiang Rong had distanced herself from him earlier, it would have saved him a lot of trouble.

But the next moment…

To his surprise.

Jiang Rong lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the two people at the mansion gate who were acting in concert, and said loudly:

“Who is selling themselves to bury their father at our King’s mansion gate? It’s quite pitiful, Big Brother, you should give more money.”

Minister Zhou turned around, saw a masked young woman cursing him, and said angrily:

“What nonsense are you talking about? Who is selling themselves to bury their father?”

“I just vaguely heard someone discussing selling oneself to bury their father… I saw a person lying on this stretcher, and then I saw your expression like your father had died… Is that not the case?” Jiang Rong asked with a sincere expression.

Xie Lingxi, who got off the carriage with her, almost tripped and stepped on the footrest.

His Heir’s Consort had a bit of passive aggression in her.

“Sister-in-law, how can you be so rude to Lord Zhou? Didn’t you see Lord Zhou’s official attire? How can you say such rude words as selling yourself?” Xie Yuanwen blamed her.

Jiang Rong retorted righteously, “Big Brother, that’s not right. How many good officials who plead for the people are honest and live a hard life? Can’t officials be so poor that they have to sell themselves to bury their father? This sounds like you’re saying Lord Zhou is corrupt and doesn’t lack money.”

“This old man is naturally honest and never corrupt. This is my son, you can see clearly!” Minister Zhou was angry and didn’t know how to refute, so he could only point to Zhou Hongyang, who was pretending to be unconscious on the stretcher, and said.

Jiang Rong looked at him and sighed, “At such a young age, he… Alas, a white-haired person sending off a black-haired person, Lord Zhou, please accept my condolences. We are fellow villagers and should help each other. Ying Xia, bring a hundred taels of silver so that Lord Zhou can give his son a proper burial. So it was selling oneself to bury a son… I’m sorry, I misheard just now…”

“My son isn’t dead either!” Minister Zhou was so angry that he gritted his teeth, pointing at Jiang Rong with trembling fingers:

“You… you… wicked woman… wicked woman!”

Jiang Rong looked innocent, “Lord Zhou, why are you speaking ill? I meant well, although I didn’t help much. Next time for sure.”

“You, you, you…” Minister Zhou’s eyes saw stars, and he was so angry that he almost couldn’t breathe. He clutched his chest, his face flushed purple.

Xie Lingxi looked at the little woman beside him, a fleeting smile in his eyes. This little girl was very good at infuriating people.

Couldn’t help you bury your son this time, next time for sure?

Minister Zhou wasn’t angered to death, so his health was still good.

Xie Yuanwen saw that Minister Zhou was so angry that he couldn’t speak, so he quickly brought the topic back:

“Second Brother, Minister Zhou is here because of you forcibly snatching a civilian girl and beating Young Master Zhou. Quickly apologize to Young Master Zhou.”

Xie Yuanwen knew that Xie Lingxi’s character would never apologize. It would only further highlight his arrogant reputation, making the world feel even more that he was not worthy of being the heir to the King’s mansion.

Before Xie Lingxi could speak, a cold female voice refused:

“He is not worthy of my husband’s apology.”

Xie Yuanwen looked at Jiang Rong in surprise and frowned, “Sister-in-law, how can you be so rude…”

“Truly a nest of snakes and rats… a nest of snakes and rats…” Minister Zhou pointed at Jiang Rong and Xie Lingxi, looking resentful.

“Lord Zhou, don’t be anxious. On the 27th of last month, I went out to buy rouge and saw your son forcibly snatching a civilian girl on Sifang Street. My husband acted bravely, saved that civilian girl, and incidentally taught your son a lesson.” Jiang Rong looked at him and said:

“That civilian girl is in the King’s mansion at this moment. Jingzhe, bring Qiuniang over.”

Jingzhe looked at Xie Lingxi for instructions, and the latter did not object.

Jingzhe immediately went down.

In just a moment, a woman wearing mourning clothes was brought in. She was only sixteen or seventeen years old, with a beautiful face and the temperament of a delicate young lady from a modest family.

Seeing Zhou Hongyang lying on the stretcher, a trace of hatred flashed in Qiuniang’s eyes, but she restrained herself from rushing up to hit him and respectfully bowed to Xie Lingxi and Jiang Rong.

“Commoner Qiuniang… greets the Heir and the Heir’s Consort.”

“Someone said my Heir forcibly snatched you. Is this true?” Jiang Rong looked at her and asked.

“The Heir’s Consort is wise, it was Zhou Hongyang who forcibly snatched this commoner! Thanks to the Heir for saving me!” Qiuniang immediately explained.

Minister Zhou’s face darkened, “My son forcibly snatched a civilian girl, and he saved someone? Heh, this girl, were you bribed? How can you say such things that turn black into white, who would believe it?”

The surrounding commoners pointed and whispered, and indeed, few people believed it.

After all…

Xie Lingxi had a bad reputation. Say he kindly saved someone? The crowd would rather believe he bullied men and women.

That poor civilian girl must have been threatened!