Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands

Chapter 466 - 442 County Magistrate’s Interrogation (1)_2

"Forgive him? Four days ago he haughtily drove my daughter out, made a scandal of divorcing her known city-wide, and when he swallowed the thousand taels of dowry from my house, did he think of wanting my forgiveness today? Ridiculous!" Mrs. Zhao didn’t care about Miss Qian’s pleas.

No matter how Miss Qian cried and begged, she didn’t even bother to glance at her.

Mrs. Zhao turned around, found a chair, and sat down, waiting leisurely for the County Magistrate to come and handle today’s affair.

The Zhao family has reason on their side, and the County Magistrate is acquainted with the Zhao family. The innocence of her daughter is publicly known and unjust. She’s not leaving today!

Mrs. Zhao, having stewed for four days, finally let out half of her resentment today.

No matter how Miss Qian pleaded, Mrs. Zhao remained unmoved.

Only then did Miss Qian become truly flustered.

In this courtyard of hers, there were only two servants: a wet nurse to look after the children and an old maid for odd chores.

But Mrs. Zhao had brought four servants and a maid with her, how could her people possibly compete?

Miss Qian was at a loss, panic-stricken and disoriented.

Just as things were in chaos, someone else walked in from outside.

Looking out, Miss Qian’s face turned pale again.

It was the Fifth Miss Zhao.

The Fifth Miss Zhao wore a cape covering her hair, and a veil over her face, leaving only her phoenix eyes visible.

Those eyes, usually gentle, were now filled with intense hostility.

Miss Qian’s heart grew even more panicked.

Even Mrs. Zhao changed her usual indifference and said to the Fifth Miss Zhao, "Aren’t you sick? Why are you here?"

The Fifth Miss Zhao replied, "Because it concerns me, I must see the situation with my own eyes, lest I be fooled again."

Sister-in-law Chai, who had come along with the Fifth Miss Zhao, smiled and said, "Aunt, I’ll take good care of our cousin, Fifth Miss Zhao."

Thanks to Sister-in-law Chai, Mrs. Zhao didn’t find this clingy cousin so annoying today.

She showed a rare smile, "Yunniang, then I’ll trouble you to sit with your cousin for a while."

Sister-in-law Chai smiled, "The old lady has always taken care of me, and the Fifth Miss Zhao is the old lady’s most cherished granddaughter. It’s only right for me to take care of her."

She found a place and sat with the Fifth Miss Zhao.

Seeing this setup, Miss Qian was terrified to death.

.

The County Magistrate Mansion.

The female servant of the Zhao family who went to report the case recounted the Zhao family’s grievance to the County Magistrate, who immediately ordered a sedan chair to be prepared, and a few government officials, along with the secretary who wrote the legal document, to head to the front courtyard.

At this moment, in the corridor connecting the front and back courtyards, the County Magistrate encountered the County Magistrate’s Wife, who was about to go out on an errand.

The County Magistrate’s Wife approached him with a smile, "Dear, you’re in such a hurry. Where are you off to on official business?"

Ever since the County Magistrate consumed the tonic prepared by the County Magistrate’s Wife herself, their recent relationship has been as sticky as newlyweds’, sweetly harmonious, to the point of forgetting Aunt Qing completely, with the couple spending every night together.

The County Magistrate looked at his increasingly radiant young wife and said with a smile, "It’s nothing major. Didn’t the Zhao and Qian families make a spectacle a few days ago over their children’s marriage affairs? There’s a follow-up now."

The County Magistrate’s Wife blinked, "Wasn’t one already divorced and the other made a concubine, each walking their own path? How is there still a follow-up?"

The County Magistrate said, "A steward from the Zhao family just reported that the divorce of their daughter by the Qian family holds another conspiracy. When Qian the fourth married a Zhao family girl, he already had a concubine, and now the child is a month old. The Zhao family is dissatisfied and wants to sue the Qian family for deception in marriage and fraud."

The County Magistrate’s Wife had long been displeased with that usurped Miss Qian. She sneered, "Considering the timeline, it means that when Qian the fourth married the Fifth Miss Zhao, that concubine was already more than four months pregnant?"

The County Magistrate said, "Madam’s calculation is not wrong."

The County Magistrate’s Wife sneered, "In my view, as a learned man, Qian the fourth would certainly not be dumb enough to make a concubine official. Perhaps it was the concubine instigating Qian the fourth. Men, after all, have soft ears, don’t they, dear?"

The County Magistrate’s Wife raised the corners of her lips and teased the County Magistrate with a smile.

Recently, the County Magistrate’s Wife had learned to flirt with the County Magistrate, acting coy and irritable. At night, she used her charms to tightly bind the County Magistrate’s body and soul to her bed.

The County Magistrate didn’t want to get out of bed every night and, seeing her teasing eyes now, immediately felt half his resolve slipping away.

He knew she was referring to Aunt Hua’s matter, but wasn’t that all in the past?

Besides, at that time, he didn’t even like Aunt Hua. It was just a matter of health, intending to use her to see to his condition.

But regardless, it was a mistake of his own making, leaving the County Magistrate feeling guilty. He made a respectful bow to the County Magistrate’s Wife and said earnestly, "Madam is right. I will now handle the case impartially."

After speaking, he turned and left.

"Wait a moment," the County Magistrate’s Wife called softly.

The County Magistrate turned around and asked warmly, "Does Madam have any other matters?"

The County Magistrate’s Wife walked over, reached out with her slender white hand, and tidied the County Magistrate’s collar for him, "Isn’t the collar crooked as you go out? You always don’t pay attention to these things at home, but now you’re going out on official business. Mrs. Zhao is a stickler for details; don’t let her make fun of you."

She tilted her head and smirked at the County Magistrate.

Standing nearby, the County Magistrate smelled her fragrance, and his Adam’s apple involuntarily moved. He grabbed her small hand and said with a smile, "Madam’s reminder is apt."

With his collar neatly adjusted, the County Magistrate’s Wife then waved him off with a curtsey, saying gently, "I’ve prepared warm wine for you. Hurry back, dear."

The County Magistrate glanced at her, smiled, and left.

Once the County Magistrate was a good distance away, the County Magistrate’s Wife told Aunt Tian, her stewardess, "Aunt Tian, quietly go and see how my husband handles the case. If he doesn’t punish the Qian family’s concubine, he won’t enter my room tonight!"

As she spoke, she gritted her teeth.

Aunt Tian stifled a laugh, "Yes, Madam."

This couple, as long as there weren’t any evening guests, would retire to their room right after dinner.

Sometimes they would even shut the door during the day and only come out after half an hour.

If the County Magistrate’s Wife were to refuse the County Magistrate entry to the bedroom tonight, the County Magistrate would likely be scratching at the door in urgency.

.

Time ticked by slowly, and about half an hour later, the County Magistrate entered the residence with four government officials and the secretary.

Mrs. Zhao, the Fifth Miss Zhao, and Sister-in-law Chai all stood up and bowed.

"My Lord, I, a common woman, have been wronged." Mrs. Zhao pointed to Miss Qian and started explaining the hidden grievances.

The County Magistrate stroked his goatee with furrowed brows, "Mrs. Zhao, do not worry. Once I summon Qian the fourth and clarify the facts, I will surely restore the Fifth Miss Zhao’s good name."

"Thank you, my Lord." Mrs. Zhao and the Fifth Miss Zhao both bowed deeply to the County Magistrate.

As they spoke, a tall young man rushed in.

Seeing the assembly in the courtyard, his face turned extremely anxious, "Lord County Magistrate, greetings."

Any family of import in the city would have met the County Magistrate; those who hadn’t would recognize the County Magistrate’s attire.

Fifth Miss Zhao turned pale as she saw Qian the fourth, her body swaying slightly.

Sister-in-law Chai hurriedly supported her.

Mrs. Zhao snorted coldly at Qian the fourth.

Qian the fourth frowned at the mother and daughter but said nothing.

The County Magistrate clasped his hands behind his back, looking indifferently at him, "Qian the fourth."

Qian the fourth bowed his head anxiously, "My Lord, I humbly accept your guidance."

The County Magistrate said, "The Zhao family accuses you of deceit in marriage and fraud. What do you have to say? What is the situation regarding Miss Qian’s child? You married Fifth Miss Zhao six months ago, yet the concubine’s child is already over a month old?"

Qian the fourth broke into a sweat, "My Lord, this..." he pointed to Miss Qian, "It... it has nothing to do with me. It’s... it’s this woman’s idea."