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“Minjun, why do you have to make such a fuss about this? You’re fine now, aren’t you?” Liu tried to coax Pan Minjun, desperate to prevent her from reporting to the authorities.
If she did, her parents would demand her life. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Liu, I know you went to see my brother today and couldn’t find him, so you came to scheme against me. Do you think I’m easy to bully?” Pan Minjun snorted coldly.
Yuan Xu watched Pan Minjun’s fierce demeanor with a hint of amusement in his eyes. This kind of girl was truly lively, unlike those lifeless girls in the capital. They were just not interesting at all.
“Let’s go. I’ll go with you,” Yuan Xu spoke up at this moment.
Liu gritted her teeth. “Does the county Princess’s people always like to meddle in others’ affairs?”
Yuan Xu knew the county magistrate and the Governor. If he went, it would be the end for Liu and Liu Bao.
“This has nothing to do with our lady. I simply can’t stand seeing you taking advantage of others. You took all of Pan Ming’s family property by sneaking into their home and stealing. It’s a pity for Pan Ming,” Yuan Xu said with a hint of sympathy.
The village chief of Pan’s village’s expression changed slightly. This young man was actually associated with the county Princess?
When did the Zhang family become connected to the county Princess? How did they not know about this?
“Sir, the county Princess…”
“I was only here to help Pan Ming deliver some items. It has nothing to do with our lady,” Yuan Xu interjected, speaking coldly, and he could sense the village chief’s restlessness. It seemed that everyone wanted to be associated with the lady.
The village chief felt a bit embarrassed and decided to shift the focus to Pan Minjun. “Minjun, when did your family become associated with the county Princess?”
Upon hearing the village chief’s question, Pan Minjun, although puzzled, didn’t say much. “Our family has no connection with the county Princess. It’s possible that the money-making opportunity my brother found happens to be in the county Princess’s area.”
Yuan Xu chuckled softly. The girl was clever and knew exactly what the village chief was trying to ask and what she shouldn’t say. If these people found out about the connection between the Pan family and the lady, their future days would likely be far from peaceful.
Liu was about to retort but was silenced by Yuan Xu, rendering her unable to speak.
“I see,” the village chief said with a forced smile, trying to brush off the situation.
“Since there’s no issue, let’s all disperse,” he added, showing no intention of getting involved with Liu and her brother.
Yuan Xu was surprised by the village chief’s pragmatism. Without offering any help, he simply left.
As the village chief and his men left, they coincidentally ran into the Zhang family returning home.
“How come you’re coming out from my house, Village Chief?” Pan Changsheng helped the old man down from the cart and asked the village chief with a puzzled expression.
“Go ask your daughter. We have something to attend to,” the village chief replied before leaving. Pan Changsheng was left feeling perplexed, sensing that the village chief seemed somewhat displeased.
After everyone had left, Pan Changsheng led his family back home. When he saw Liu and Liu Bao in the yard, his expression changed.
“What’s going on, Minjun? And who is this young man with you?” he asked.
“Dad,” Pan Minjun explained the situation to her father, and he became furious after hearing it.
Turning to Liu and Liu Bao, he said, “You’re asking for trouble.”
Yuan Xu quickly stopped Pan Changsheng, who was about to grab a hoe to attack Liu and Liu Bao. “It’s not worth it to risk yourself for people like them, Uncle.”
Pan Minjun was also startled. “Dad, let’s report these two to the authorities.”
“Good. Thank you for saving my daughter. What should I call you?” Pan Changsheng asked.
“Just call me Yuan Xu. If you’re taking them to the authorities, I’ll accompany you,” Yuan Xu offered.
“Mom, Dad, I’ll take these two scoundrels to the authorities while you should stay at home,” Pan Minjun said.
“Alright.”
Liu and Liu Bao were taken away, and on the way to the county office, Liu became completely panicked. She looked at Pan Minjun anxiously and said, “You’re unharmed, so who are you to take us to the authorities?”
“Say one more word, and I’ll hit you,” Pan Changsheng, already in a bad mood, became even angrier upon hearing Liu’s words.
He dared not imagine what they would have found upon their return if Yuan Xu hadn’t arrived in time. Would they have found their daughter’s lifeless body?
What kind of person their daughter was, her parents knew better than anyone. If Yuan Xu hadn’t saved her, she wouldn’t have survived such an ordeal.
These two people had nearly caused their daughter’s death, and yet they dared to speak such words.
Liu was still afraid of Pan Changsheng. Seeing his anger, she shrank into a corner, too scared to look at his expression.
Seeing Liu’s cowardly demeanor, Pan Minjun laughed at herself. It seemed that in the eyes of these people, she was the easiest to bully.
Soon, the group arrived at the county office. Yuan Xu went to knock on the door, and the officials quickly went to find the county magistrate upon seeing him.
The county magistrate, upon seeing Yuan Xu, greeted him warmly. “Why are you here today? Aren’t you supposed to be with the lady?”
“I came to help a friend deliver some items to his family and happened to encounter a situation at their home,” Yuan Xu explained quietly to the county magistrate.
The more the county magistrate heard, the more displeased he became. He looked at Liu Bao and his sister, who were tied up, and said sternly, “To think there are still such scoundrels. Take them away, give them thirty lashes, and then we’ll talk.”
The county magistrate detested people like Liu Bao the most. If he had succeeded, a delicate and beautiful girl would have been lost.
Liu Bao was shocked that the county magistrate would order a flogging without hesitation.
“No, I was wrong. It was all Liu’s idea. She told me to do it,” Liu Bao confessed, in order to avoid being punished.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Nonsense? Because you couldn’t find Pan Ming, and he wouldn’t reconcile with you, you held a grudge and wanted to scheme against his sister. Dare you deny it?” At this point, Liu Bao completely disregarded Liu and angrily confronted her.
Liu trembled with anger. This useless person was truly more trouble than he was worth, and yet he acted so recklessly.
“Shut up.”
“Give them both a beating,” the county magistrate ordered, tired of their nonsense. He had already gathered enough from their conversation to understand the situation.
He learned that Liu was actually the former sister-in-law of the young girl. She had done similar things before and had not repented even after being divorced for such behavior. It was truly despicable.
The two were given thirty lashes, leaving their buttocks with open wounds, and the pain left Liu somewhat delirious.
“Minjun, you despicable woman, don’t let me find an opportunity in the future, or I’ll make you wish you were dead,” she threatened. She lived in such misery, so why should Pan Minjun have a good life as a young girl?
Why should she be the one to receive the beating?
She was unwilling.
The county magistrate was furious. “To threaten someone in front of me, you’ll receive ten more lashes.”
Meanwhile, Yuan Xu was considering finding something for Pan Minjun to do, so she wouldn’t be at home. This way, even if Liu wanted to scheme, she wouldn’t be able to.