Chapter 177

Seeing the angry villagers about to rush forward to vent their fury, Xiao Er stepped forward, his voice like a great bell: 'Stop!'

That sudden shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly silencing the tumultuous crowd.

Xiao Ningxun called out loudly: 'Elders and villagers! Please hear me! The crimes committed by Village Chief Luo will be judged by the imperial court's law.'

'If you, in a moment of anger, take private vengeance, you will bring disaster upon yourselves; think carefully—is it worth sacrificing yourself for such trash?'

Two artisans from the Ministry of Works also shouted loudly: 'Please, everyone, do not act rashly!'

The chaotic scene gradually grew quiet.

The shrew sitting slumped on the ground suddenly lifted her head, her pair of blood-red eyes fixed tightly on Tuan Tuan, her eyes full of mad hatred.

'She's not human! She's a monster!'

She screamed hoarsely: 'She's never come to my house! How could she know where everything is?'

'Under the firewood pile! Inside the pillow! In the rice bin! She knows it all! She's not human! She's a harmful monster! Burn her to death! Burn this evil thing to death!'

Village Chief Luo, awakened by his daughter-in-law's words, as if grasping at a last straw, also shouted: 'Exactly! Exactly! It's her doing!'

'She's a monster! Those things never existed in my house before! She conjured them to frame me!'

The villagers froze, many faces showing uncertain, doubtful expressions.

Yes! This little girl has never come to the village before—how could she know the village chief's household so well?

Could she really be a monster?

Everyone's eyes were filled with confusion and fear, all gazing at Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan looked astonished; Xiao Er scooped her up in his arms and held her tightly.

Xiao Ningxun stepped before Xiao Er, his face full of killing intent.

He snorted coldly: 'Ignorance! My sister is the Princess Jiayou bestowed by His Majesty, an Immortal Envoy appointed by His Majesty to pray for rain for the people, bearing the Mandate of Heaven!'

He looked down on Village Chief Luo and the shrew, his face grim: 'Do you dare, with your lowly selves, to utter filth here and slander her at will?'

'An Immortal Envoy! She is the one who prays for rain?'

'My Old Heaven Lord! So an Immortal Envoy has come to our village!'

'No wonder she knows everything! The Immortal Envoy must be guided by the gods!'

'Old Luo, you wretch! Your hearts are black and your guts rotten! How dare you slander the Immortal Envoy as a monster! Aren't you afraid of heavenly thunder?'

Village Chief Luo's family bowed their heads completely, not daring to speak again.

A middle-aged man about forty years old parted the crowd and walked quickly forward.

The villagers shouted in unison: 'Chief! The chief has come!'

The chief looked at everyone, then lowered his gaze to all the evidence and the ashen-faced Luo family, walked straight to Xiao Ningxun, bowed, and said: 'Sir, I am Luo Mingsheng, the chief of this village.'

Luo Mingsheng had once passed the xiucai examination and enjoyed a good reputation in the countryside.

'The circumstances, I have already been informed by the villagers upon my arrival.'

'Thank you, sir, for your keen perception in removing such scum from our Luo family village and restoring a clear sky for the villagers.'

Xiao Ningxun gave a slight nod: 'No need for many formalities, chief. Given your opinion, how should this matter be handled?'

Luo Mingsheng let out a long sigh, his tone earnest: 'I have a request to make; please, do not report this to the authorities.'

'Once reported, it will surely spread.'

'Then outsiders will only think our Luo family village's morals have collapsed, that we are all lawless.'

'What about the reputation of our girls? Which village's decent maiden would still want to marry in? The face of our Luo family village, passed down through generations, would be utterly ruined!'

Hearing this, the villagers lowered their heads.

Luo Mingsheng pointed at Village Chief Luo: 'Your virtue is lacking; you are unfit to be the village chief!'

'You family, pack up immediately and get out of our Luo family village! From now on, you may not set foot here again! Your names will be erased from the village genealogy!'

He turned to look at Xiao Ningxun: 'Until a new village chief is elected, I will temporarily manage all village affairs. Do you agree to this arrangement, sir?'

Xiao Ningxun nodded, seeing that it was good enough: 'Then let it be as the chief says. I hope you handle affairs impartially and do not betray the trust of the elders and villagers.'

Xiao Er set Tuan Tuan behind him and untied the ropes binding Luo Mai Tun.

The three, as if granted a pardon, scrambled back home, hastily packed a bundle, and left in disgrace amid the villagers' spit and curses.

Xiao Ningxun loudly addressed all the villagers: 'Villagers, by the grace of His Majesty, the Women's Bureau is established here; it shall surely benefit the locality.'

He looked to Luo Mingsheng: 'Chief, please tabulate which households in the village are willing to let their daughters learn a skill; regardless of age or marital status, they may register.'

'All food, lodging, and tuition fees are waived! After completing their studies, the Ministry of Revenue will uniformly assign positions, and all earnings will belong to the individuals!'

The villagers instantly erupted in an uproar.

'Really? All free? Is there really such a good thing?'

'This Women's Bureau is great!'

'My girl wants to go! She will definitely go!'

Luo Mingsheng was overjoyed: 'Your benevolence, sir! I, Luo Mingsheng, on behalf of all the villagers, thank you for your great kindness! From now on, should the Women's Bureau need anything, our Luo family village will certainly lend strong support, without hesitation!'

Xiao Ningxun nodded: 'Thank you, chief. Thank you, elders and villagers.'

A few days later, all construction was completed, and the Women's Bureau took on a completely new appearance.

The courtyard walls had been reinforced and heightened; above the gate hung a gilded plaque bearing the three large characters 'Women's Bureau', sealed with the imperial stamp of Emperor Xiao Jieyun.

The front courtyard's buildings were expanded to be especially bright and spacious, used for teaching and instruction.

In one corner of the courtyard, a newly built kitchen of considerable size was capable of feeding over a hundred people.

Passing through a small gate, the rear courtyard consisted of rows of closely arranged lodgings, dedicated to accommodation, quiet and private.

In the sunniest corner of the courtyard stood a huge doghouse, just slightly smaller than a ordinary dwelling, lined with soft cotton mats; the great wolf lay lazily at its own doorway, eyes half-closed, basking in the sun.

On either side of the main gate stood a row of newly built lodgings, now fully occupied by the ten guards of the Prince's Mansion.

Although the Women's Bureau was not lavishly splendid, it was everywhere clean, orderly, and practical.

"Second Uncle," Tuan Tuan tugged Xiao Er's hand as they walked through every corner, her small face full of pride, "Is it pretty?"

Xiao Er nodded, "Hmm. Now it really looks like an academy."

He paused, "Miss, where should we invite a master to teach? Should we post a notice to recruit talent widely?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes flicked, "No need to make it so troublesome! Let's go find Snack Auntie! Her pastries are the best, so the master must be top‑notch too; we'll invite her right away!"

The two arrived at the Crispy Delicacy Pavilion, where Xie Yunshu was inside flipping through the ledger.

Tuan Tuan excitedly told Xie Yunshu about Nüzi Jian's need for a master, "Snack Auntie, your pastries are the most famous in Jingcheng, so I've come to find you!"

"Could we ask the master here to teach the girls?"

Before Xie Yunshu could speak, a woman about forty standing nearby shook her head and said, "Shopkeeper, that's not possible; the pastries of the Crispy Delicacy Pavilion are famous throughout Jingcheng, all made from our own carefully crafted secret recipes, how could we share them?"