Chapter 50

At this moment, Zheng Shirong was crying like a tearful person, "I didn't want to hide it either, but I couldn't let the Zheng family's reputation be humiliated. So I didn't dare to say it, Father, the child is sorry for your teachings..."

County Magistrate Zheng was so angry that he slapped his son twice and scolded: "Father has always taught you: 'Female beauty is the axe that cuts down one's nature!' How could you commit such a big mistake because of a moment of greed!"

He turned around and solemnly bowed to Dongfang Yan, saying: "Your Highness, this matter is indeed this bastard's lack of private morality, and this official will strictly punish him according to family law later. As for the deceased Miss Wang... she is a commoner's daughter, and indeed cannot enter the Zheng family's door with the status of a proper wife..."

At this time, relatives and friends of the Zheng family stood up one after another to help speak:

"Our Zheng family is an aristocratic family with a history of hundreds of years; not to mention that Shirong is a legitimate son, even a concubine's son in the family couldn't marry a village girl as a wife."

"Although Shirong has faults, in the end, he was also seduced by that village girl."

"Yes, Shirong even promised to take her as a concubine, but she delusionally wanted to fly to the top and become a proper wife. The one who caused her death was clearly her own greed!"

"Hmph, taking the initiative to offer herself to seduce a man, what kind of good woman could she be?"

"His Highness Prince Jin, don't be deceived. That woman is cunning and greedy, and her family is certainly not good either; they must be trying to use this to threaten and get benefits!"

County Magistrate Zheng sighed and said magnanimously: "The dead are the greatest, let's not gossip anymore. Your Highness, my Zheng family is willing to give that Miss Wang the status of a concubine, so that she doesn't become a lonely ghost and have no peace."

So those friends and relatives began to praise again:

"As expected of the Zheng family, the family style is upright!"

"A woman born lowly who delusionally wants to climb a high branch, what decent family would want her? Not to mention she's dead."

"The Zheng father and son are both benevolent gentlemen, which is why they are willing to swallow this anger."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yan's heart also began to doubt: Was that Wang Ling'er really so vicious? Seducing Zheng Shirong while alive, and after death, dragging him into a ghost marriage and causing trouble for the Zheng family?

He was just about to speak when he heard a "Bang!" and Lin Qingyue slapped the table, shattering all the fruit plates and cups.

"Sure enough, people's words are to be feared. People are already dead, and they still have to be whipped by your vicious language!"

County Magistrate Zheng said: "Princess, I know you sympathize with that Miss Wang. But the chasm between classes has existed since ancient times, and not just anyone can cross it. For example, you, if you weren't the legitimate daughter of a Marquis Mansion, a noble lady of an aristocratic family, even if you and the Prince were..."

He paused and didn't continue, but the incident where Prince Jin was drugged and stayed in the same room with Lin Qingyue unclearly had long been no secret in the aristocratic circle.

"If your status were that of a commoner or a humble family, even if your relationship with Prince Jin were good, the Emperor would never have granted a marriage between you and Prince Jin."

"Shut up!" Dongfang Yan scolded, "Do you dare to discuss this Prince and the Princess?"

County Magistrate Zheng hurriedly apologized: "This official does not dare to discuss, I just want to explain that the difference in family status is indeed a chasm that cannot be crossed."

Dongfang Yan turned to Lin Qingyue and said: "Regarding the previous matter, Wang Ling'er also had faults. Even if she wanted revenge, that would also..."

"Do you really think that was the truth?" Lin Qingyue interrupted Dongfang Yan's words.

She looked at Zheng Shirong and sneered, "Do you think that once people are dead, the truth will never be known? Your lies are still too clumsy."

Dongfang Yan frowned: "You mean, he is lying?"

Lin Qingyue said: "Living people can lie, but memories cannot be fake; why don't we take a look at that real past memory, Young Master Zheng, do you dare?"

For some reason, Zheng Shirong felt some fear when he saw Lin Qingyue's smiling appearance, and he subconsciously backed away: "I didn't lie, everything I said is true, true."

Lin Qingyue didn't care whether he agreed or not; she flipped her palm and cast a talisman, reciting: "All things in the past, Heaven can testify. With blood as a guide, trace the dream and return to the shadow!"

Her movements were fast, and in just an instant, the talisman turned into a golden light and struck Zheng Shirong's mind.

Zheng Shirong was stunned, his mind muddled, and the truest memories of the past slowly emerged—

A galloping horse traveled through the pouring rain, and after a neigh, it stopped in front of a civilian house.

A richly dressed young master led people to rush in, and what met them was the young girl's panicked face.

"Who are you people, why did you break in?"

"My young master is the legitimate son of the County Magistrate's family, borrowing your place to hide from the rain! Why are you so long-winded, why don't you hurry up and make hot tea and get towels?"

This young girl was Wang Ling'er. After being frightened, hearing that the other party was the son of the County Magistrate's family, she didn't dare to refuse and hurriedly went to pour tea and get towels.

Zheng Shirong wiped his wet hair, sat on a long bench, and stared straight at the young girl.

A fifteen-year-old girl in her prime, fresh and pretty, her wet eyes overflowing with unease.

"Where are your parents?" he asked.

"My parents are doing business in the capital and haven't returned yet." The young girl said, unable to help but look out the window, hoping her parents would return sooner. But the rain was still very heavy at the moment, so she thought her parents must also be trapped, right?

"How old are you? What's your name?" Zheng Shirong's questions seemed to be many, his burning gaze stuck to the young girl, moving slowly from her face to her chest, waist, and buttocks.

"You look really good, are you engaged?"

Wang Ling'er felt extremely uncomfortable being looked at by him, turned around and entered the inner room, and just as she was about to close the door, the simple wooden door was pushed open by a great force.

Zheng Shirong entered, closed the door behind him, and ordered his men: "Keep an eye on things, don't let anyone disturb this young master's elegant interest!"

His elegant interest, however, was the beginning of the young girl's nightmare.

The crying and shouting were all drowned out by the torrential rain.

After a period of time, the heavy rain outside finally stopped, and the dripping residual rain fell along the eaves, like strings of pearl tears.

The beast put on his clothes and became a humble gentleman again.

"I... I want to report you!"

He heard the young girl's words behind him and suddenly laughed: "You want to report me? Do you know who my father is? My father is the County Magistrate, and our Zheng family is a famous and noble family. You want to report me? Report me for what? Breaking into a private house, or raping a commoner woman? Do you think my father will believe you? Will he convict me? Hahaha..."

He laughed wildly: "Go ahead and report me. As long as you dare to say it, your parents' faces will be lost by you, and their business won't be able to continue! This young master has plenty of ways to make your family ruined and dead!"

He pinched the young girl's thin chin: "A lowly commoner girl being favored by this young master is your supreme honor! You should be grateful, do you know that? If you don't know what's good for you and go make a scene, this young master will send you to a brothel to be ridden by thousands and slept with by ten thousand!"

Leaving the young girl behind, he led his men and rode away.

And the young girl silently wiped away her tears, put on her clothes, and endured the discomfort to wipe the bloodstains on the bed clean.

Since ancient times, the common people have not fought against officials, not because they didn't dare, but because they couldn't fight them.

So, she hid everything. After her parents returned, she even forced a smile and talked to them.

She wanted to treat that day's events as a nightmare and just quietly forget it.

But she never expected that a few days later, that beast would come again.