I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 202 Commitment

Chapter 202 Promise

"Zhang Shifang, please, let's get a divorce!" Wang Wenzhou pleaded desperately.

Zhang Shifang wiped away her tears, biting her lip so hard it almost bled. Her husband was so devoted to that little bitch, why wasn't she the woman he loved? Was it because she was ugly? Could being pretty put food on the table?

Zhang Rong suddenly walked up to Zhang Shifang and whispered a few words in her ear.

Zhang Shifang nodded slightly and said, "Husband, if I can get you to marry that little bitch, can we not get a divorce?"

Wang Wenzhou scratched his head awkwardly and said apologetically, "Zhang Shifang, I'm sorry. Ru Ru said that she would only marry me if I divorced you."

"Hmph!" Zhang Shifang snorted coldly. "I knew it! It must have been that little bitch who egged my husband on to do this. Just you wait!"

“My lord, it takes a hundred years of cultivation to share a boat ride, and a thousand years to share a pillow. We’ve been husband and wife for so long, can you give me a chance? Just give me ten days. If I can’t let you marry that little slut, then you can divorce me. If you do marry her, can you please not mention divorce again?” Zhang Shifang said solemnly.

"You can convince her?" Wang Wenzhou was a little skeptical.

“Husband, we are both women. Women can understand each other. Don’t worry, get up quickly. Your injury hasn’t healed yet.” Zhang Rong hurriedly went over and helped Wang Wenzhou up.

"Okay! It's a deal!" Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and decided to go with it. After all, he had slept with that ugly woman; if he didn't agree and just dumped her like that, it would be too much of a jerk. Although Wang Wenzhou was a conman, he never lied to women's feelings.

"Sigh..." Zhang Shifang sighed softly. In terms of family background, social standing, and character, how am I inferior to a lowly brothel girl? Why do you only like pretty girls, my husband? Is looks really that important?

"Ugly freak, stop kneeling and get up! You're pregnant, you need to take care of yourself," Wang Wenzhou said irritably.

Zhang Shifang quickly stood up, almost moved to tears. Although her husband's words were harsh, it was the first time he had shown her such concern.

"Alright, I'm going back! Baby, can you see me off?" Wang Wenzhou glanced at Zhang Rong.

Zhang Rong blushed all the way to her neck. She was very clever and knew that her husband would definitely try to touch her along the way. She looked at Zhang Shifang.

Zhang Shifang nodded and said, "You take your husband back. His injuries haven't healed yet, so someone should be there to take care of him. Those sedan chair carriers are clumsy; you should go instead."

"Okay!" Zhang Rong nodded and took Wang Wenzhou's arm.

Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. He had just teased Ru Ru, so he stood up to salute her. He figured he'd have to have some fun with his baby on the way.

Wang Wenzhou's idea was good, but they still couldn't have sex. Zhang Rong insisted that they could only have sex after the woman had given birth. Wang Wenzhou tried to persuade her, but to no avail.

Zhang Rong insisted on this because she didn't want to get pregnant before Zhang Shifang. Neither she nor Zhang Shifang knew that Zhang Shifang was actually pregnant.

Helpless, Wang Wenzhou let the baby bite him and returned to Zuihualou dejectedly.

When Wang Wen entered the room on Monday, he felt that something was wrong.

Li Yinshui, Geng San, and other important figures under Wang Wenzhou were all present and waiting.

"What's wrong?" Wang Wenzhou asked.

“Hmm…” Li Yinshui pondered for a moment, looked at Sheng Lan, and said, “Madam, why don’t you explain to the master?”

Sheng Lan took out the book "The Corrupt Official Wang Wenzhou" and handed it to Wang Wenzhou, saying softly, "Wang Wenzhou, your injury hasn't healed yet, don't be angry, take a look first."

Wang Wenzhou nodded, picked up the book, flipped through it for a while, and then suddenly flew into a rage: "Fuck the hell! Who the hell wants to cause trouble?"

Wang Wenzhou looked around at everyone and asked, "Have you found out who's behind this?"

Li Yinshui cupped his hands and said, "Sir, please don't be angry. I have been investigating these past few days, but I haven't been able to find the mastermind. The shop that prints the books has been taken into custody by me. He said that he has never seen the person behind the scenes either. I interrogated him repeatedly and found that what he said was true."

Damn it! This mastermind is too evil! Wang Wenzhou was furious. He had finally managed to put the title of "Upright Official" on his head, but with this book published, he would be lucky if he wasn't called a corrupt official, let alone "Upright Official".

To be fair, some things in the book are indeed true. For example, Wang Wenzhou became the magistrate of Hanshan County without taking the imperial examination. Another example is that Wang Wenzhou married five wives at once.

However, the same event can be described in vastly different ways by different people. For example, if someone marries five wives, to put it kindly, Wang Qingtian is a romantic and talented man with beautiful wives and concubines, the envy of everyone. To put it bluntly, Wang Wenzhou is a lecherous fiend, a debauched scoundrel.

Moreover, the book contains many baseless accusations, and if these accusations are substantiated, Wang Wenzhou will be unable to clear his name even if he jumps into the Yellow River.

Li Yinshui cupped his hands and said, "My lord, please don't blame me. I heard about this book a few days ago. At first, I didn't pay any attention to it, but in the past few days, this book has been widely circulated, and people who want to duel because of this book are lining up in long queues."

Li Yinshui and the others initially didn't want to tell Wang Wenzhou about this, because Wang Wenzhou's injuries hadn't healed, and they were afraid it would upset him. However, in the past few days, they dared not hide it any longer. The matter had escalated, and now the people of Hanshan were divided into two factions.

One faction firmly believes that Wang Wenzhou is a just and upright official who wholeheartedly serves the people. After all, since taking office in Hanshan, Wang Wenzhou has done many good deeds for the people. The proportion of people who support Wang is about 6%.

Another faction believed Wang Wenzhou was a notorious corrupt official. How could an honest official marry five wives at once? How could an honest official travel in a luxurious sedan chair, live in brothels and theaters, and eat in restaurants and eateries? Honest officials are all poor, but was Wang Wenzhou poor? In just a few months, he amassed millions of taels of silver. If such a person is an honest official, then there would be no corrupt officials in the Ming Dynasty. The faction criticizing Wang Wenzhou comprised roughly 20% of the populace. Although smaller in number, they were mostly scholars and held considerable influence.

Another 2% of the public didn't care at all. They thought, "Whether Lord Wang is an honest official or a corrupt official is none of my business! As long as I can eat my fill, that's all that matters!"

Wang Wenzhou frowned deeply. This matter needed to be handled properly, or his reputation as an upright official would be ruined. Which scoundrel was trying to harm him?

"Wang Wenzhou, don't be angry. Your injury hasn't healed yet. Don't upset yourself." Sheng Lan saw Wang Wenzhou frowning in deep thought and quickly comforted him gently.

"Lazy Blue, sweetie, I'm not angry. Come here and give me a kiss!" Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.

"Sigh..." Sheng Lan sighed softly. "My lord, can't you be a little more serious? You want to kiss in front of so many people?"

But Sheng Lan couldn't bear to refuse Wang Wenzhou, so she quickly leaned in and kissed him.

Li Yinshui and the others quickly lowered their heads.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go back. I understand what happened. Continue investigating the mastermind behind this. I'll find a way to guide public opinion," Wang Wenzhou said.

Hmm? None of them understood what public opinion was. But since Lord Wang had said so, everyone believed that he would be able to quell the matter.

Li Yinshui and the others were filled with rage, wishing they could tear the mastermind behind it all apart. Their fates were now intertwined with Wang Wenzhou's; if Wang Wenzhou prospered, they would prosper, and if he fell from grace, they would fall with him. They were determined to find the mastermind!