Chapter 132: A Chaotic Mess at the Yang Zhou Dock [Many Thanks for Everyone's Support

At this moment, Wang Shi was panting like an ox, her eyes wide open.

She had arrived in a furious rage, but suddenly Wang Wang Ruofu's mind went blank; looking at the shrew-like Elder Xiao Zhangshi, she shouted, "You! You! You! This is all nonsense!!!! Nonsense!!! It was clearly your family's Bo Ye who personally made a promise to my family's master!! He is definitely coming to deliver the betrothal gifts! Along with you!!!!"

"It was your family that agreed!! Your family! Your family's Bo Ye made the promise!!! What does this have to do with you???!!!"

Tears glistened in Wang Wang Ruofu's eyes as she screamed loudly, "It was your family's disastrous affairs that implicated my Hua'er!!! And you still have the face to speak of our family!!!! I! I! I! Will beat you, you old hag!!! You shameless, stinking woman!!! You bastard spawn!!!"

"Hey, hey, hey!!!"

"Da Da Niangzi! Stop!"

"Save them!!"

Mama Liu and others hurriedly rushed forward to intervene.

But that Elder Xiao Zhangshi did not dodge; instead, she threw herself forward seeking a beating! Shouting loudly, "Aiya!!! My family traveled a thousand li to deliver betrothal gifts, yet the many are bullying the few!! The Sheng family is beating people!!! Beating the Da Da Niangzi of a noble house!!! My Shao'er!! Your fate is so bitter, to encounter such in-laws! Won't you be bullied to death!!!"

Yuan Wen and his wife also hurriedly disembarked, shouting as they stepped off the boat:

"Why aren't people coming to help quickly! Come, people!"

After speaking, Elder Xiao Zhangshi began wailing to the heavens and earth on the dock.

In an instant, the dock descended into chaos.

At this time, Department Magistrate Hong of Yang Zhou also arrived at the dock; because he was on good terms with the elderly master of the Bai family, and since both the Lady Ningyuan Hou Fu and Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu had arrived in Yang Zhou, he felt compelled to appear and meet them.

Because Bai Shi was a female family member, he also brought along his own Da Da Niangzi, Peng Shi, who had arrived earlier.

Then he witnessed the scene on the dock.

Looking at the group of people being mocked by others,

he hurriedly instructed the Yamen Runners, "Quickly separate them! Maintain order, and do not let the common people move any closer!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw that not far away, a fleet of three ships, much larger than the Yuan family's vessel, was already lowering its sails to slow down.

Sheng Hong was physically and mentally exhausted; sitting in the carriage with his hand covering his brow, his face filled with despair, he sighed repeatedly, thinking to himself, "The face of my Sheng family is ruined today, completely ruined!"

He had calculated everything in a thousand ways, yet he truly never calculated that the Yuan family's Da Da Niangzi would be such a woman; they were all from high-ranking noble households, so how could they be so shameless! Even the most shameless street shrew would not go this far.

After Feng Shi disembarked from the carriage, Mama Wen hurriedly followed; she was truly afraid that her own Da Da Niangzi would also rush over to scratch Elder Xiao Zhangshi with a slap.

Fortunately, Feng Shi merely looked at Wang Wang Ruofu, who had collapsed powerlessly from anger at the Yuan family members, and she hurriedly walked over to help Mama Liu support her to the front of the Sheng family carriage.

Upon seeing Feng Shi, Sheng Hong hurriedly helped Wang Shi into the carriage to sit down, then thanked Feng Shi, but Feng Shi paid him no heed.

"Sheng Hong, look at what kind of family you have found for us!"

Inside the carriage, Wang Wang Ruofu gritted her teeth and stared at Sheng Hong as she spoke!

Sheng Hong was already so grief-stricken that his heart felt dead; he simply allowed the powerless, anger-filled Wang Wang Ruofu to pound on him.

Just as the dock had quieted down, someone suddenly shouted loudly, "Look quickly!!!! Someone is jumping into the water!!!"

Sheng Hong shivered! He hurriedly leaned out.

Wang Wang Ruofu was also stunned, her heart panicking, thinking that one of the Yuan family's Da Da Niangzi had jumped into the water.

"No, no, no, I didn't tell her to jump, it has nothing to do with me!!!" Saying this, Wang Wang Ruofu trembled as she watched Sheng Hong jump out of the carriage and run toward the dock ahead.

Feng Shi had just helped Wang Wang Ruofu back and was returning to her own carriage when her line of sight happened to catch who the person jumping into the water was.

Sheng Hong walked quickly past her side.

Feng Shi turned her head to look at Wang Wang Ruofu's desolate expression on the carriage; knowing she had misunderstood, Feng Shi walked back and said, "Little Sister, it is a female servant from the Yuan family's boat, not those two women from the Yuan family."

Wang Wang Ruofu blinked, looking at her sister-in-law from her maiden family with eyes full of confusion; so no one had died! Thank goodness! As soon as she relaxed and closed her eyes, she fainted straight away.

Mama Liu shouted from the side, "Da Da Niangzi!!! Oh Heaven! What sin has been committed to cause this!"

Feng Shi waved her hand and said, "Chang Bai, let's go, I will accompany you and your mother back." Then she glanced at Wen Ye and said, "Mama Wen, find those among the copied court gazettes who can read, give them a few coins as a reward, and have them distribute and read them aloud. This family needs to be taught a lesson!"

"Yes, Da Da Niangzi."

"Also, take my card from the carriage, tell that Department Magistrate's Da Da Niangzi over there who my cousin is, and ask her for help," Feng Shi instructed further.

On the dock, Xu Xu Zaijing and Gu Gu Tingye, who were on the first boat of the Bai family, were curiously observing the crowd on the dock.

Gu Gu Tingye asked, "Brother Jing, why are there so many people, and so many carriages?"

Xu Xu Zaijing replied, "They must be the official families of Yang Zhou coming to welcome your mother."

Standing beside Xu Xu Zaijing, Gu Gu Tingye looked at the women wrestling together in the distance on the dock, namely Elder Xiao Zhangshi and Wang Shi, and tilted his head curiously to ask Nanny Chang behind him, "Nanny, does Yang Zhou have such customs and rituals for welcoming? Uh... it is quite novel."

Looking at the common people watching the spectacle on the dock, Gu Gu Tingye added, "It is indeed quite lively."

Frowning and craning her neck to look, Nanny Chang said, "I have been away from Yang Zhou for more than ten years; I do not know if there are some new customs."

The fleet took some time to slowly approach,

At this moment, the boat captain, who was directing the large ship to slow down, pointed at the Yuan family's boat from the deck and shouted, "Look quickly! Someone is jumping into the water!" Having worked on boats for several decades, his voice was naturally very loud.

Nanny Chang, who also had a warm heart, shouted, "Quick! Save them!"

As she spoke, the boat captain took out a long bamboo pole, as thick as a bowl's mouth, from the side of the hull.

The crowd on the dock, startled by this shout, hurriedly looked in that direction.

Xu Xu Zaijing snatched the bamboo pole and said, "Boat captain, direct the slowing down; I will save the person." Gu Gu Tingye also shouted from behind him, "Brother Jing, I will help you!"

"Brother Ye, do not go and cause trouble!" Nanny Chang shouted anxiously.

At this moment, someone on the Yuan family's boat also took out a long bamboo pole; because the boat was slowing down, Xu Xu Zaijing thought someone was attempting a rescue, but upon focusing his gaze, he was surprised and hurriedly shouted, "What are you doing!!!"

Gu Gu Tingye also shouted, "Brother Jing, they are poking the person into the water!!!"

But at this moment, the large ship that was still slowing down continued moving forward, and it was about to pass by the Yuan family's boat.

Without another word, Xu Xu Zaijing held the thick, long bamboo pole in his hand and began running on the Bai family's large ship like a pole-vault athlete from his previous life.

Xu Xu Zaijing's actions naturally caused the common people and officials on the shore dock to look surprised; many pointed at the ship where Xu Xu Zaijing was located, and some also shouted, "The Yuan family is not saving people!! They are poking the person into the water!"

At this moment, Xu Xu Zaijing had already plunged the thick, long bamboo pole in his hand into the water; using it as a fulcrum, he vaulted toward the Yuan family's boat. Although he was young and not very heavy, he still bent the bamboo pole somewhat.

The common people on shore exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this scene.

Flying onto the Yuan family's boat, Xu Xu Zaijing gave a gentle push, causing the Yuan family's steward to fall to the ground; with a somewhat ugly expression, he said, "This... she... is escaping!"

Xu Xu Zaijing glared at him again, then lowered the bamboo pole and shouted, "Grab hold!"

Zhu Zhu Manniang, feeling quite uncomfortable from the shock of the icy water, hastily grabbed the bamboo pole; she felt a tremendous force surge through her, and by the time she opened her eyes, she was already on the shore.

Looking at the crowd surrounding her, she trembled as she spoke: "Save... save the Earl in the cabin! He's been drugged! Save him!"

By the time Sheng Hong arrived at the scene, the woman had already been swung ashore directly by Xu Xu Zaijing.

This caused the many laborers who had prepared to carry bundles to work to widen their eyes in surprise, whispering among themselves: "This young master possesses such tremendous strength."

"Indeed! I estimate his strength far exceeds mine!"

"Did you not see that he used only one arm?"

"Truly a formidable figure from Bianjing!"

"Excellent!!!"

"Bravo!!"

"Well done, young master!"

"What incredible strength, young master!"

Amidst these cheers, and while the three members of the Yuan family looked on in terror, Sheng Hong led Dong Rong and Prefect Hong as they quickly boarded the ship.

They had naturally understood the meaning behind the words of the woman who had jumped into the water.

Upon boarding the ship, Sheng Hong saw Xu Xu Zaijing, who had grown taller, display a smile that did not reach his eyes, revealing the dimples on his face as he nodded and said, "Han Wulang, very well done!"

"Thank you, Uncle Sheng, for your praise."

Prefect Hong shouted, "Seize them! Do not let them enter the cabin!" He was commanding the Yamen Runners he had brought along, referring to the members of the Yuan family.

The Yuan family ceased their clamor, while both Xiao Zhangshi, elder and younger, as if having lost their souls, spoke in low voices: "We are from the Count's Manor in Bianjing; let us board!!"

Xu Xu Zaijing, seeing the situation behind Prefect Hong from aboard the ship, immediately shouted, "Bring that woman up! Stop them!"

Just moments before, the Yuan family had attempted to break through the Yamen Runners' blockade to capture Zhu Zhu Manniang, who had jumped into the water, leaving blood streaks on the faces of some runners.

Hearing Xu Xu Zaijing's words, the Yuan family was blocked by the Yamen Runners and failed to rush to the side to intercept Zhu Zhu Manniang; trembling, Zhu Zhu Manniang walked onto the gangplank, her head bowed, the corners of her mouth quivering as she forced a smile.

Seeing this situation and realizing the Yuan family could not board the ship, the elder Xiao Zhangshi cried out, "Does the Yang Zhou government intend to unjustly condemn our family to death?"

Xu Xu Zaijing followed behind Sheng Hong and Prefect Hong into the ship's cabin, where a medicinal scent drifted toward them.

Dong Rong searched ahead and soon shouted, "Master, the Earl is here."

Dong Rong had previously accompanied Sheng Hong to Bianjing and naturally recognized Yuan Bingkai.

"Send someone to fetch a Physician!" Prefect Hong ordered.

Zhu Zhu Manniang followed over at this moment; upon seeing Xu Xu Zaijing at the rear, she paused briefly, then approached, squatted, and bowed, saying, "Thank... thank... thank you, Young Master."

Once inside the ship's cabin, Zhu Zhu Manniang, having warmed up slightly, said, "The Earl was just forced to drink a calming decoction; he may not wake up easily."

Prefect Hong frowned as he looked at Sheng Hong, indicating that Sheng Hong should ask the questions.

Sheng Hong said, "What exactly happened? Explain it in detail! Go, find a quilt to cover her."

After being draped with a quilt, Zhu Zhu Manniang trembled as she spoke a few sentences, explaining essentially that Earl Yuan had intended to return upon receiving news while on the Grand Canal; if he received no news, he would come to Yang Zhou to apologize to Sheng Hong, and if there was still a possibility, he would proceed with the marriage alliance using double the betrothal gifts. If there was no possibility, he would still offer a slight apology, acknowledging the man's side was at fault, so that after offering gifts and apologies, both families could part ways amicably.

However, Yuan Bingkai had been angered to the point of fainting by Yuan Wen and both Xiao Zhangshi, elder and younger; consequently, the two Xiao Zhangshi instigated Yuan Wen to forcibly finalize the marriage arrangement for Yuan Yuan Erlang, and then, using the excuse of the Earl's poor health, they planned to take Sheng Sheng Hualan back to Bianjing for the wedding.

Listening to Zhu Zhu Manniang's words, Sheng Hong's hand trembled uncontrollably, until finally he slammed it heavily upon the table.

"Shameless! The height of shamelessness! Shameless! Despicable!"

Patting Sheng Hong on the shoulder, Prefect Hong asked Zhu Zhu Manniang, "And why did you jump into the river to seek help?"

Zhu Zhu Manniang replied, "The Earl promised me the position of a noble concubine for the Yuan family's Second Young Master; with no path to survival before me, I could only risk everything."

"Very well. You have saved an Earl of Great Zhou; I shall certainly submit a truthful memorial on your behalf."

"Thank you, thank you, Father and Mother!"

Sheng Hong glanced at Yuan Bingkai, who lay unconscious on the bed, then angrily flicked his sleeve and walked to the cabin entrance, where he bowed with clasped hands and said, "Honorable Sir, this matter can only be resolved through your mediation. Dong Rong, you remain here."

"Rest assured, Assistant Prefect, I shall uphold justice myself. Someone, go below deck and ask Da Da Niangzi to dispatch several trustworthy nannies to care for this young lady and Earl Yuan. Furthermore! Escort those several members of the Yuan family onto the ship and ensure they are guarded with utmost caution."

Prefect Hong's personal attendant bowed and replied, "Yes, my lord."

Sheng Hong and Xu Xu Zaijing disembarked together; upon seeing the Yuan family, Sheng Hong pointed a finger at the utterly bewildered Xiao Zhangshi, elder and younger, and said, "Truly shameless!" Before flicking his sleeve and departing the area.

Prefect Hong's personal attendant followed them off the ship and exchanged a few words with the Yamen Runners; some runners then went into the city to fetch specialized female servants to come and escort the women of the Yuan family.

After walking a few steps, Sheng Hong saw Lady Feng's personal nanny leading a young maid; she was standing beside Peng Shi, the wife of Prefect Hong, who had received word and was arranging personnel.

Noticing that no one from the Sheng family was present on the dock, he felt a sudden impulse, walked over, exchanged bows with Peng Shi, and spoke a few words with Nanny Wenye.

Wenye then spoke a few words to the young maid from the Wang family beside her; the maid then boarded the Yuan family's ship to serve as a witness for Sheng Hong's side, standing guard alongside Dong Rong inside Yuan Bingkai's cabin.

Seeing Zhu Zhu Manniang shivering violently from the cold, Mama Wen said, "My lord, perhaps I should take her to change her clothes."

"Mm, go ahead, but do not bathe her yet; simply have her change clothes and wait here, and make sure she drinks plenty of ginger water to dispel the chill."

"Yes, my lord."

Below the ship, Sheng Hong exhaled a long breath, turned around, forced a smile, and revealed the two large dimples on his cheeks as he said, "Han Wulang, I apologize for this undignified spectacle."

"Uncle Sheng has worked hard. Your nephew will now proceed to the dock near Hou Fu."

"Han Wulang may go ahead; I shall follow shortly," Sheng Hong said, before donning his cloak again, returning to the Yuan family's ship, and inviting Prefect Hong to accompany him to the dock to welcome the noble ladies from the two Hou Fu in Bianjing.

Before departing the ship, Prefect Hong turned his head and said, "Ensure this ship is strictly guarded; report immediately once Earl Yuan awakens!"

"Yes, my lord."

The official families of Yang Zhou, who had previously been watching the commotion from elevated positions on the periphery, also spotted the fleet from Hou Fu and witnessed Xu Xu Zaijing's bravery; at this moment, they followed their parents in a rush to the docking pier.

Bai Shi was naturally the first to disembark, supported by Xu Pingmei at her side; behind them came the siblings Gu Gu Tingye and Gu Gu Tingyi, followed by Nanny Chang, Qingxia, Sister Qingzhi, and a host of other maids and female servants.

Naturally, fierce personal soldiers from Hou Fu were present here to maintain order; they did not possess the gentle demeanor of the Yamen Runners, and upon seeing anyone cross the boundary, they immediately drew their swords in warning.

Thus, before the Bai family boarded their carriages, Bai Shi exchanged greetings with the various officials and official families of Yang Zhou, saying, "In that case, I shall host a banquet another day; I hope you will honor me with your presence."

Prefect Hong, Sheng Hong, and the other officials and official families of Yang Zhou naturally all bowed in response, agreeing, before watching the long procession depart toward Wuyi Lane in Yang Zhou City.

Xu Xu Pingmei also accompanied Bai Shi to the Bai residence.

As for Xu Xu Zaijing, he remained at the dock with the rest of the Xu family.

So tired.

Three chapters for monthly votes.

One chapter for donations; I've barely finished repaying my debt.

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Guaili: Eccentric and unreasonable.

Wangba gaozi: An insult meaning bastard.

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(End of Chapter)