Phi-Fic Chapter 51.2 Avoid Offending, and Experience Great Ups and Downs.
Chapter 51.2 Avoid Offending, and Experience Great Ups and Downs.
At the door, Mrs. Song stood holding an empty tray, smiling awkwardly and reluctantly.
Chu Wenchen was both surprised and angry when he saw Song Shi. He hadn't expected her to follow him and eavesdrop, and that she would be discovered.
He scolded, "This kind of thing can be done by a maid. Why are you making a fuss? Go down now, I have important matters to discuss."
He then said to the Prefect of the Capital, "My lord, this is my wife. I apologize for making you laugh."
"Ah, Madam meant well." The Prefect of the Capital waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned.
Knowing she had caused trouble and embarrassed her husband, Song lowered her head and turned to leave. However, remembering what she had overheard, she couldn't take another step.
She lingered, reluctant to leave, but the yamen runners nearby kept a close watch on her, seemingly without any attempt to conceal it. Annoyed, Madam Song finally left.
However, she wasn't sure what to do, so after thinking it over, she went to find someone again.
The door closed again.
The Prefect of Jingzhao bowed in congratulations and said to Chu Wenchen, "I must congratulate the Duke of Zhenguo. Your goddaughter has caught His Majesty's eye. It seems that her rise to prominence is just around the corner."
"What...what could she possibly have that His Majesty would value? You jest, sir." Chu Wenchen's forced, polite smile could barely hold up.
The Prefect of the Capital smiled and continued, "I'm not joking. When Miss Chu came to report to the authorities that day, she was accompanied by His Majesty's men, which gave me quite a fright. Miss Chu said that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion had paid someone to kidnap her, and the evidence was conclusive. I was in a very difficult position, and it was only with great difficulty that I managed to appease Miss Chu."
"No, no, no, how could I do such a thing? I would never stoop to such methods, much less harm my niece!" Chu Wenchen vehemently denied it, insisting that he hadn't done it.
“Alas, Lord Chu, I do not wish to say more about whether you did it or not. However…” The Prefect of the Capital looked troubled and remained silent.
Chu Wenchen knew he had no choice but to spend money, but he didn't have any silver notes with him today, so he called his confidant over and took out several hundred taels of silver notes and put them in a box.
With a forced smile, he said to the Prefect of the Capital, "The roads are slippery due to the snow, it must have been hard for you to make this trip. Here's a small token of my appreciation, please have some tea."
The Prefect of the Capital's expression flickered slightly before he smiled, accepted the gift, and handed the box to a yamen runner.
He then slowly said, "This matter involves you, Duke Zhenguo, on one side, and Miss Chu on the other. I don't want to offend either side, which is why I made this special trip."
Chu Wenchen was slightly taken aback for a moment before replying, "You've worked hard, sir."
He thought to himself: I thought he came here to use Steward Zhao to make trouble for me, but I didn't expect it to be like this.
It seems that this Prefect of the Capital can be won over and utilized.
If I had known this would happen, I should have listened to Wen'er, falsely accused Chu Lengyu of theft, cooperated with the government, and seized that inheritance.
He regretted it; he shouldn't have listened to Song's plan. Now the thieves had failed, not only had he lost Steward Zhao, but he was also now living in fear.
The Prefect of the Capital asked calmly, "So, Lord Chu, have you thought about how to resolve this matter?"
"What ending?" Chu Wenchen looked surprised and pretended to be confused, saying, "Sir, what you're talking about really has nothing to do with me."
The Prefect of the Capital glanced at him sideways and snorted coldly, "I misunderstood. Farewell."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
Chu Wenchen was truly confused now and quickly stopped him: "Sir, let's talk this out. I really don't understand what you mean."
The Prefect of the Capital frowned as he looked at him, sighed, and looked as if he had come to save someone from suffering.
He said bluntly, "Lord Chu, haven't you understood yet? His Majesty knows about this! I only came to inform you out of consideration for your feelings, so that things wouldn't escalate and make things look bad for everyone. I didn't expect you to pretend you don't know anything. Do you intend to deceive His Majesty in the same way when you go back to him?"
"How could this be?" Chu Wenchen felt intimidated when he heard him mention the emperor, and his heart pounded with fear at the thought of his imposing appearance.
"Lord Chu, I only came here out of kindness. Please take care of yourself in the future."
This time he really left, and Chu Wenchen was unable to stop him.
Back to Jingzhao Prefecture.
The yamen runner, holding a box containing silver notes, said in surprise, "This new Duke of Zhenguo is truly... an extraordinary person. His wife is the same; she's so secretive. I thought she was a concubine, but it turns out she's his wife."
"I never expected that the Four Kings and Eight Dukes' mansions would ever be so polite to us. They even personally gave us benefits." Another yamen runner opened the box, took out the silver notes, and counted them. "Sir, three hundred taels of silver, not too much, not too little."
The Prefect of the Capital chuckled and said, "I had long heard that the Second Master of the Chu family was born out of wedlock and that he was petty in his actions. Now that I have seen it with my own eyes, it is indeed true."
The constable boldly asked, "But, sir, it seems like your trip here was pointless?"
“How is it useless? Here it is, three hundred taels.” The Prefect of the Capital glanced at the silver note and said, “Second Master Chu still harbors a glimmer of hope, unaware of the magnitude of his mistake. However, with other princes protecting him, even if this prefecture has conclusive evidence, it will be difficult to punish him.”
"Yes..." The yamen runner also knew that these powerful and influential people could practically control everything, and the Jingzhao Prefecture had no power over them.
The Prefect of the Capital thought to himself that in this matter, he could not afford to offend any of the people behind Chu Lengyu and Chu Wenchen, or the Emperor and the Four Kings and Eight Dukes.
As for how this matter will ultimately end, he should try to gauge Chu Lengyu's attitude again. This girl is rather strange; he's unsure how to handle her.
However, he had a vague feeling that the case might be resolved soon.
……
After the Prefect of Jingzhao left, Chu Wenchen was filled with anxiety and unease.
It turns out that the reason why the Prefect of the Capital suddenly changed his attitude that day, and declared that he would not hesitate to offend the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion in order to stand up for Chu Lengyu, was because of... the Emperor?
But he simply couldn't believe that Chu Lengyu had a relationship with His Majesty the Emperor.
"How could that be..." he murmured to himself.
Suddenly, Chu Wenchen remembered the invitation to the snow appreciation banquet that he had personally torn up.
For some reason, those bright red fragments suddenly made him extremely uneasy.
He didn't even dare to think about it any further.
A moment later, Mrs. Song arrived with her son, Chu Lin, and daughter, Chu Wen'er.
She had been dejected just moments before, but now she was beaming with joy, rushing in and exclaiming, "Master, great news!"
Upon seeing Song Shi, Chu Wenchen was furious. It was all her fault for coming up with that terrible idea!
He frowned and scolded unhappily, "Look at you! Walk properly, what are you doing rushing around like that?!"
Song stood there awkwardly, having stopped in his tracks.
Chu Wen'er protested, "Father, there's really great news!"
"What happy event?"
"Princess Jin'an is coming to our residence tomorrow!"