Chapter 812: Slanderous Words Break Family Reputation

Judefang, Ningrong Street.

At a teahouse on the street corner, in the first-floor shop, Liu Liu Binfang occupied a table alone, sipping slowly, looking leisurely.

At the table next to him sat four yamen runners, each wearing a sword and carrying shackles, their presence somewhat intimidating.

The tea drinkers in the hall deliberately kept their distance from these two tables. People from the government sitting together with unfriendly expressions always made people feel uneasy.

Most of the families living on Ningrong Street were relatives of the Jia family's eight branches in the Divine Capital.

Although their wealth varied, they were branches of a great clan, and their family education and traditions meant they were more constrained by rules than ordinary families; those who committed crimes were extremely rare.

Many speculated which family's scion had committed a crime, or perhaps the officials were just passing through and stopping to rest.

At this moment, a man entered from outside the shop. It was Constable Xu, the head of the Zhen'an Prefecture's detective office, who often accompanied Liu Liu Binfang.

He walked to Liu Liu Binfang's side and whispered, "Prefect Liu, I have arranged manpower at the street opposite the East Courtyard and the back street. Anyone entering or leaving the courtyard is being watched."

"The brothers also have Chen Chen Fushou with them. As soon as that kid shows his face, he will definitely be recognized by the old man. Everyone is waiting for your order."

"Prefect, are we really going to enter the Jia residence to make arrests? This is a Duke's mansion; won't we be stirring up trouble?"

Liu Liu Binfang looked leisurely and said, "If there is trouble, I will bear it; it won't implicate you. Don't worry about unrelated matters; just do your job well."

Constable Xu looked somewhat awkward and said, "Look at what you're saying, Prefect. I, Old Xu, am not a man who fears trouble. As long as you give the word, I am at your disposal."

"Prefect, our manpower has all arrived. Why are we still waiting here? Wouldn't it be cleaner to go in early and get it done?"

Liu Liu Binfang said, "Wait for Clerk Zhao to arrive. Since we are already doing this, we must do it thoroughly. We shouldn't miss the final step."

They only waited a short while when a man entered the teahouse entrance. He wore Confucian robes and had an ordinary appearance; it was Zhao Kun, a scribe of the Zhen'an Prefecture.

Liu Liu Binfang's eyes brightened as he asked, "Was the letter delivered? How did that person respond?"

Zhao Kun whispered Jia Cong's reply into his ear, and a smile appeared on Liu Liu Binfang's face.

He stood up abruptly and said, "Constable Xu, surround the entrance of the East Courtyard and send men to guard the back alley of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture. I am going to enter the residence to handle official business!"

The tea drinkers in the teahouse saw this group of officials suddenly stand up and rush out like a gust of wind, their momentum somewhat overbearing.

The direction they were heading was precisely the main Lady Rongguo Prefecture. Many passersby were surprised to see such a formation, and many stopped to watch.

A few knowledgeable people recognized that Liu Liu Binfang was wearing a sixth-rank official uniform and that the accompanying runners were Zhen'an Prefecture constables. This posture clearly indicated an arrest.

It was not until the runners surrounded the main gate of the East Road Courtyard and Liu Liu Binfang stepped forward to knock on the door knocker that many realized the Jia family's main residence was in trouble.

Many recalled that a few years ago, the Ningguo Prefecture had also been involved in a lawsuit, and as a result, within half a month, they were raided and convicted by the imperial court.

The Duke's mansion, which had stood for nearly a hundred years, collapsed overnight. The noble father and son of the Ningguo Prefecture were thrown into prison in an instant, ultimately ending in death and conviction.

The astonishing wealth of the Ningguo Prefecture was all confiscated by the imperial court. The branch of the Ningguo line lost its foundation, and many families fell into poverty and distress.

Could it be that the Lady Rongguo Prefecture was also going to follow in the footsteps of the Ningguo Prefecture and cause a massive disaster……

The sight of the officials surrounding the East Road Courtyard spread rapidly through Ningrong Street, ripples turning into waves, spreading quickly.

……

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Lady Wang's words were light and airy, excusing Qin Yong's past misdeeds. Although the Matriarch was moved, she didn't believe it entirely, but she didn't take it to heart either.

There were so many servants in the Lady Rongguo Prefecture; how could every one of them be a rule-abiding person? That some were good and some were bad was the most normal thing.

Family servants were private property of great households; even if they were rotten wood, they could be used to prop up a table. They could never be left idle and wasted.

A capable and intelligent housekeeper would use servants to their strengths and would never let them sit idle, consuming the household's rice and grain.

The Matriarch had been a housekeeper for half her life and felt that her daughter-in-law had the same mindset. Even if Qin Yong was a useless wretch, her daughter-in-law wanted to make use of him; this thought wasn't wrong.

Wang Wang Xifeng mentioned that the second branch would increase its expenses by thirty percent next year, a statement the Matriarch dared not underestimate.

The two branches had not yet divided the household. If the second branch increased its expenses like this, would the first branch, which cherished its own family property, remain indifferent?

Otherwise, why would Phoenix Girl rack her brains to come up with bad ideas like cutting monthly allowances and maids?

But the Matriarch's heart was always biased toward the second branch, naturally calculating for her second son.

Cutting the second daughter-in-law's monthly allowance and maids in exchange for a thirty percent increase in the second branch's expenses—sacrificing small interests for big practical benefits—was also a very cost-effective matter.

As long as Jia Baoyu and the first-class maids lived decently, she would be at ease. If Phoenix Girl's methods succeeded, the first branch would have no other faults to pick.

Since Jia Cong had taken a liking to Yu Jin Chuan, she would just give the maid to him. Blocking her grandson's mouth meant he wouldn't say much more.

……

It was just that the Matriarch knew clearly in her heart that her second daughter-in-law was a stubborn person who loved face, and now she was becoming increasingly difficult to handle.

If she wanted to touch her monthly allowance and maids, she had to give her some benefits first, letting her know the principle of give and take, so that future management would be smoother.

She said, "This matter isn't too difficult. I will call Phoenix Girl over to discuss it face-to-face. Arranging a servant's position is also a convenient matter."

Lady Wang felt a bit nervous hearing this. She had originally thought that if she weren't present, it might be easier for the Matriarch and Wang Wang Xifeng to discuss this matter.

She and her niece already had a rift, and now that she held the power of household management, she was becoming increasingly arrogant and domineering.

If she were to lose her temper and not give her face in front of her, the matter would be deadlocked.

She had already promised Qin Linjiang Xian's wife; if she were rejected by Phoenix Girl, the Qin mother and son might harbor two hearts……

But since the Matriarch had already spoken, she couldn't stop her, as that would be too obvious. She could only watch as Sister Yuanyang went out to call for her.

……

After a short while, Sister Yuanyang and Wang Wang Xifeng entered the hall. The Matriarch relayed Lady Wang's request, asking Wang Wang Xifeng to estimate and assign a position on the farm.

She added, "Phoenix Girl, even if the servants in this household have some faults, it's not good to let them sit idle and eat. Your aunt's thinking isn't wrong."

"Assign a position to the Qin boy so your aunt can save face in front of others. In the future, there will be room for discussion in household matters, and managing the household will be smoother."

When Wang Wang Xifeng heard the name Qin Yong, she was extremely unwilling in her heart. Everyone knew he was a piece of trash, yet her second aunt valued him so much.

Not only did she want to assign him a maid, but she also wanted to give him a respectable position. How many boys on the farm had worked for five or six years without becoming a steward?

Why should a piece of trash like Qin Yong become the firewood steward as soon as he went over? How could everyone be convinced?

Did her second aunt still think she was the mistress of the house, saying whatever she pleased? Did she have such a big face?

……

But the Matriarch's words—"there will be room for discussion in household matters"—were heard by Wang Wang Xifeng, who was as shrewd as a ghost, and she naturally understood the meaning.

It was nothing more than giving her aunt some sweetness before cutting the second branch's monthly allowance and maids, occupying the moral high ground so that things would be smoother.

Although Wang Wang Xifeng was unwilling, she understood the principle of sacrificing small interests for big ones, and there was also the Matriarch's face involved.

She had to say, "Matriarch, since you and my aunt have both spoken, I will handle it with care."

"The West Prefecture has two farms outside the city and one in Tongxian, all of which are usually overseen by Lin Lin Zhixiao."

"I will go back and ask him clearly which place has a suitable vacancy, and then I will assign it to the Qin boy."

The Matriarch was satisfied in her heart. She knew Phoenix Girl had said Qin Yong was unbearable and naturally wouldn't want to assign him a position.

She was still clever enough to understand her meaning—to settle the two daughters-in-law and let the household live in peace was truly not easy……

……

Lady Wang felt a sense of relief when she heard Wang Wang Xifeng agree to the matter.

Wang Wang Xifeng, however, was thinking of finding the filthiest position among the three farms. Even if he held the empty title of steward, she would make it impossible for Qin Yong to continue.

If he couldn't bear the position himself, then he couldn't blame her. He should roll away early to save the farm from having another spy for her second aunt.

Just as they were each lost in their own thoughts, they suddenly heard footsteps outside the hall, sounding somewhat hurried and panicked.

The Matriarch saw the warm curtain at the entrance being lifted, and Lin Lin Zhixiao's wife walked in quickly, her expression showing a hint of panic.

She said, "Matriarch, things are not good. Many officials have come to the East Road Courtyard and have already surrounded the mansion gate."

"The leader is the Vice Prefect of Zhen'an. He says the government received a complaint from a victim that the second branch's servant, Qin Yong, committed a homicide, and the Zhen'an Prefecture wants to arrest him."

"The East Courtyard steward, Qin Linjiang Xian, has already panicked. Now the government officials are blocking the door, and it looks like they are about to rush in to make arrests."

"The Eldest Grandmother received the news in the inner courtyard and sent someone to report it, asking the Matriarch and Mistress to think of a response. If the government officials really break into the mansion, the talk will be too ugly to hear." ===== CHAPTER 813 =====