Chapter 260: We Do Not Fear Authority

He drove all the servants out of the courtyard, stood in the courtyard, and his legs instantly knelt on the ground.

"Honored master, please show mercy; it was my clumsy Jing who spoke what should not be spoken and did what should not be done. I beg you, great sir, to overlook my minor faults and spare my wife, okay?"

After speaking, his head struck the ground, producing three especially loud thuds.

Qiao Mai is a Golden Core stage cultivator, already able to conceal herself in midair; her fingers moved through the air, and golden large characters appeared.

The Old Duke watched the miraculous scene, "He who tied the bell must untie it!"

They were all clever; with just a few words the Old Duke understood what was happening.

Qiao Mai achieved her goal, vanished in a flash, and the Old Duke the next day sent someone to bring the Old Duke and his wife back home, then wrote a memorial to the Heavenly Court requesting leave to go obtain medicine for his lady.

Now what year are they still celebrating? The family made some preparations, left the elder to guard the house, and took the Old Duke's lady, the princess, and two younger brothers onto the northbound official road.

On the way, Mu Guniang kept pursing her lips; at home her father had already told her the whole story, and although she felt sorry for her mother, she was even more angry at her birth mother.

In the carriage she covered her mother with a blanket, "Mother, your daughter never lies, always tells the truth; it is your daughter who wants to marry into that family, it is your daughter who actively flirted with that boy, what you are doing is illegal, do you know or not."

She accepted it, but said, "Only this once; after that you may not send any more. If you send again, we will cut ties."

This year Jixiang Yuan was livelier than in previous years; Zhu Xianling and Town Mayor Qian had arranged to meet, coming to Jixiang Yuan for a meal every first day of the year, and this year they happened to catch Prefect Wang, Lord Wang.

Yuan Jiaqi was also on holiday; he and the old master did nothing each day, constantly catering to the three of them, while Qiao Mai used her specialty, giving a Pill each day for the three brothers to take.

She gave Town Mayor Qian a big chubby boy; the birth went smoothly, and Mayor Qian cherished him like a treasure.

"Does marrying into a prestigious family mean I won't suffer grievances? How many times have I said, how many families in the capital treat you like this? There are none, so a daughter marrying any family isn't happy; only marrying a man she likes is the happiest. How can you, for my sake, trample on others' lives?"

Since the Tian Family was dealt with by Qiao Mai, they have been very honest; not only have they become honest, but even the Qiao Family and Yuan Family have become honest.

Recently, they haven't been seen across from Jixiang Yuan.

"I say, Qiao Niang, as a person from Yi County, you always help Shexian; can you also cultivate some seedlings for our county?"

He could not imagine how, over a road of thousands of miles, this Qiao Niang managed to come and go at will, unless she were an immortal.

Since that incident, Yunfeng has been diligent, practicing martial arts diligently at night, sleeping very lightly; any slight movement makes him draw his sword to patrol.

After speaking, Mu Guniang gave a wry smile; her own mother wanted the life of someone's son, sent assassins, and she didn't know whether this time she could obtain forgiveness.

The weather was too cold; after the postpartum period, Mayor Qian still didn't host guests, saying he would make up for it when the weather warmed, and he served good food and drink every day, and Lu Sanniang had gained three circles.

"What happiness can a fifth‑rank minor official have?"

Whatever his own daughter‑in‑law does is right; the Tian family deserves it, the daughter‑in‑law does things well, cleanly and efficiently, without him having to wipe her bottom himself—great!

Since sending his mother away, Tian Sanzhuang no longer dares to make any move on Ling'er.

Nowadays the people of Tianshui Town both respect and fear Qiao Mai.

She does not fear authority, lacks no money, resides in one place, is overwhelmingly awesome, and the Old Duke imagined many scenarios along the way.

He truly feared that if he were careless, Qiao Mai would kill him.

"Mother, this is my lifelong happiness; I will not act rashly. You only see that his family's status is low, why can't you see the good in his family?"

Although Prefect Wang Zongsheng holds a higher rank than they do, everyone's family background is similar, so getting along is relatively easy.

Jixiang School was also on holiday; to let the two brothers relax and take the imperial examination, the school gave a half‑year break.

Of course, Ling'er also has one.

She also had people send each family's return gifts; the old lady and her party would not return to Fucheng this year; this year Wang Zongsheng's family of three will come here for the New Year, and Qiao Mai had people prepare extra New Year goods.

Over at the old lady's side, wine and dishes had already been prepared, and six adults sat around the warm kang, eating and drinking.

He isn't afraid of death; he fears that his actions might cause his family to be injured.

The Old Duke looked out the window and shook his head; he dared not continue thinking further.

What Pill? Of course it's good for the brain; she specially brewed it for them.

The ones who were brought into the household at the end of the year now live especially comfortable lives.

The matter of the assassin's visit, the old lady and her party didn't know, and Qiao Mai never told Yuan Jiaqi; they're all scholars, and even if told it would be in vain, yet they still caused them unnecessary fear.

Such a trivial matter is something Qiao Mai doesn't care about at all; the year still has to be celebrated.

Yuan Jiaqi knows this matter was certainly done by his wife; as an upright official, a good official, he can certainly discern right from wrong.

Knowing full well that in a few days it wouldn't pass, they came to visit the house, and she didn't mention a word.

The Old Duke is certain that Qiao Niang's behind‑the‑scenes scheming skill is unmatched in the world.

"Seeing is believing, hearing is false; I hope mother, this time you go, you must watch carefully."

While speaking, the conversation turned to the children's marriages; everyone expressed their own views, and Qiao Mai's mouth was truly tight, stubbornly not mentioning the Mu family at all.

Fengyun and Chuan'er, because of this incident, gained a new understanding of martial arts, and they were very enthusiastic in their daily morning and evening training.

When Qiao Mai returned home, it was the twenty‑fifth day of the twelfth lunar month; the New Year gifts from each family had arrived. The Wang family had sent five hundred thousand taels last year which Qiao Mai didn't take, and this year they sent one million taels, demanding she accept.

"Mother, aren't you still afraid that you'll marry into such a family and suffer grievances?"

If one wishes to dominate others by force, with the Qiao family daughter‑in‑law's reach, they could wipe out the Town Duke's family in a single night; they know nothing of her true background.

Lu Sanniang gave birth in mid‑November; now she is still doing postpartum confinement at home.

Having children at home isn't boring at all; these little boys, as soon as they meet, gather to play together, requiring no worry.

At this moment, the Old Duke's lady's tears fell.

Everyone suspects Qiao Mai regarding the Tian family's affairs, but there is no evidence; they also dare not state it openly, lest it be slander.

Probably Yunfeng won't forgive herself either; Mu Guniang wiped her tears, lamenting that as a princess she truly feels pitiful, yet she has high standards; the man she likes, his mother happens to be so formidable.

Upon learning this, Qiao Mai let out a contemptuous cold snort, thinking she still needed to be dealt with; she was scared after just one person died, "Bah!"

On New Year's Eve, Wang Zongsheng arrived with his wife and children; Zihan this year, like Chuan'er, passed the Tongsheng exam; Chuan'er placed second, while Zihan was first.

Mainly, Yuan Jiaqi gave the Yuan brothers four one‑year jobs, and also the Qiao brothers; with silver in hand, they naturally would not incite the old man to cause trouble, and would help Qiao Mai and others block the old man.

Tian Laohan even more so; after his daughter‑in‑law died, he immediately had a matchmaker arrange a widow twenty years his junior.

They can only keep a low profile, visiting in the guise of ordinary people; otherwise, the outcome is unknown to anyone.

"Who am I doing all this for? You say that, Mother?"

Well, to put it plainly, marry the right man and you live like a Princess; marry the wrong man and you live like a servant.

"Give money and they'll raise it."

"Then let's just drop it; we don't have the solid foundation you have."

"I'm just cultivating seedlings for myself; the wasteland is something I bought properly, it's not the court's, so what? Are you jealous?"

"Yes, you're jealous; do you have any plan next year to arrange some more benefits for your Xianggong's County Town?"

(End of Chapter)