Chapter 6: The Poison-Avoiding Jade Bead

"What is going on in there? In broad daylight, are they actually setting up a private court?"

Listening to the screams from inside, Shen Yu let out a cold snort; his already poor mood became even worse.

"Sigh, it's starting again!"

Seeming completely accustomed to this, several old men sighed silently, their faces full of sympathy.

"Grandpas, you know what's happening inside—is there no one to manage it?"

"It's someone else's family business; who would dare to interfere? To tell you the truth, this is a muddled account. Who told the Gu family to be poor judges of character!"

Seeming very displeased by this, the old men began to talk incessantly, and Shen Yu also generally understood what had happened.

As the story goes, twenty-seven or twenty-eight years ago, a woman entered the Gu family as a servant. This woman was a widow and brought two sons with her, only this widow was a bit more attractive.

However, she was capable and quite diligent, and she soon stood out among the many servants.

The young master of the Gu family had been sickly since childhood and could not practice Martial Learning, yet the Gu family was a family of martial arts, and he was the only son for three generations. The young master was born to the old master in his later years, and he was deeply cherished by the old master.

About twenty-five or twenty-six years ago, in order to let his son successfully practice martial arts, the old master of the Gu family took a large group of experts into the deep mountains to collect Spirit Medicine, but he never returned.

At first, no one thought much of it, but later, when it was discovered that the old master might truly never return, it was as if a pack of wolves were circling, slowly devouring the Gu family's estate.

The young master of the Gu family, a weak scholar, could not protect the family business at all, and soon, the Gu family's fortunes declined.

During this process, that woman supported him wholeheartedly, showing great skill and desperately preserving a portion of the estate for the Gu family.

Although the family fortunes had declined, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Plus, although the young master of the Gu family could not practice martial arts, he was a proper scholar and had even passed the exam to become a Scholar.

As long as he studied diligently, he might obtain fame through the imperial examinations in the future, and perhaps one day he could even become an official.

A lonely man, teased every day by an attractive widow, coupled with the fact that the woman had desperately protected the family, left a very deep impression on Licentiate Gu.

Therefore, Licentiate Gu became somewhat dependent on this woman, gradually handing over the family business for her to manage. In the end, the woman slowly revealed her true colors.

Although the Gu family's fortunes had declined, there was still some family wealth, and many people wanted to marry into the Gu family.

But those matchmakers who came to the door couldn't even see the young master of the Gu family before they were all driven away by this widow, sometimes even beaten with sticks.

After that, who would dare to come to the door to propose marriage for the young master of the Gu family?

At this point, everyone could actually see that this young master of the Gu family seemed to be firmly controlled by this widow.

Moreover, their relationship was very subtle; although the two had never been married and had not stated it clearly, that widow could almost be said to call herself the mistress of the house.

As the saying goes, there is much gossip before a widow's door; with a man and a woman together every day, it is impossible to explain away the mud on one's trousers.

Furthermore, the young master of the Gu family never explained it from beginning to end. Shen Yu guessed that he was completely "the person involved is confused, while the bystander is clear."

It wasn't that the young master of the Gu family didn't want to find a young, beautiful, and well-mannered wife, but the matchmakers had all been beaten away, so who would dare to come and propose?

In the end, having no other choice, he thought about just making do with this woman, and wasn't he then firmly controlled by her?

As for this woman, she had her own sons study and practice martial arts, using the Gu family's resources to cultivate them wholeheartedly.

Her two sons were also quite promising; the eldest of the Peng family studied and became a Scholar, and later, the woman even exhausted the Gu family's wealth to secure the position of County Assistant for her son.

The second son of the Peng family practiced martial arts, and relying on the Martial Learning left behind by the Gu family, he established a large gang.

With one in civil service and one in martial arts, the two supported each other and soon walked sideways throughout Luhe County.

By this time, the woman slowly began to show her fangs, tricking Licentiate Gu into gradually transferring the family business to her sons.

Once all the family property had been transferred, this family immediately turned hostile and heartless, and from then on, the Gu family became the Peng family.

The dignified young master of the Gu family was reduced to a beggar on the street, or even worse than a beggar.

However, this family also knew that what they had done was not right, and there is no wall in the world that doesn't let the wind through; everyone knew as clearly as a mirror that the Gu family had become the Peng family.

So the best way was naturally to let Licentiate Gu die quietly; once he was dead and time passed, everyone would gradually forget.

But at this time, a rumor suddenly spread that the Gu family had a treasure that was still hidden by Licentiate Gu and had not been passed on to them.

How could they endure this? In the eyes of the two Peng brothers, everything belonging to the Gu family was their own.

But Licentiate Gu refused to take it out no matter what, and despite their threats and inducements, he simply refused to give in.

The two brothers used both soft and hard tactics, even sending their old mother to play the nice person and fish for information, but they still couldn't get it out of him.

That Licentiate Gu said he was entrusted by someone, that the item was only temporarily deposited with them, and that it could only be taken away with a token.

One didn't need to guess to know that such an item must be worth a fortune, and the two sons of the Peng family naturally wanted to get their hands on it at all costs.

But this Xiucai was also a tough man; for half a year, he hadn't said a word, stating bluntly that they could have the item, but there must be a token. People could die, but the Gu family's reputation could not be lost!

This act undoubtedly angered the two sons of the Peng family. In order to get the item, they beat him day and night.

These two were also arrogant; they beat him right in the courtyard and weren't afraid of being heard. According to them, it was their own family business, so who could manage it?

So every day, miserable screams would come from the courtyard, only these screams grew weaker day by day.

This situation was too tragic; if it continued like this, Licentiate Gu probably wouldn't last much longer!

Shaking his head, Shen Yu broke directly through the front gate. The Huwe at the door tried to stop him but was pushed away by a great force and slammed hard against the wall.

"Young man, this is the Peng family; you can't just barge in!"

Seeing this scene, the old men were also anxious. You might want the item, but you can't use force! This Peng family walks sideways now; they are not to be trifled with!

But seeing Shen Yu walk inside, the old men looked at each other, stamped their feet, and followed him in anyway.

As elders, they had a bit of face, and they hoped to be able to save this young man.

"Stop right there!" Charging directly into the backyard and seeing the middle-aged man hanging from a tree in tattered hemp clothes, beaten until he was almost unrecognizable, Shen Yu was filled with rage.

Ungrateful and treacherous—that wasn't even enough to describe the actions of the Peng family!

Upon seeing Shen Yu, the two Peng brothers were stunned, and then the hot-tempered second brother of the Peng family immediately flared with anger.

"Who do you think you are, daring to interfere in our family business? Wait, how did you get in? You bastard, you dare to barge into our Peng family. Someone, beat him for me!"

"What incredible gall!" Unable to help but sneer, Shen Yu then took out the Golden Medal and waved it in front of these people.

"Do you recognize this thing?"

"You think you can scare anyone by holding up a broken medal? I'm not afraid to tell you, the current County Magistrate of Luhe County is returning home, and my big brother will soon be the acting County Magistrate. If you're smart, get out of here quickly, otherwise... Big brother, why are you hitting me!"

He turned his head to glare at his big brother, but at this moment, the eldest of the Peng family had already plopped down on his knees, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

That complexion was even paler, as if there wasn't a drop of blood left in it.

"Big brother, what is this..."

"You bastard, how dare you be insolent in front of Lord Shen? Why haven't you knelt down yet? Kneel down quickly!"

"Lord Shen? Which Lord Shen? Doesn't our Prefect have the surname Chang? Besides, I've seen him when he visited, and he's an old man. This doesn't match up at all!"

"Big brother, didn't you say that as long as the Prefect himself doesn't come, with the influence of our Peng family, we don't need to fear anyone in Jiangjian Prefecture? What are you afraid of?"

"You bastard, you dog, kneel down! That is a Golden Medal bestowed by the Emperor; this is the Patrol Censor, Lord Shen!"

While desperately pulling his younger brother down to kneel, the eldest of the Peng family broke into a cold sweat and explained loudly, "My Lord, it is this subordinate's failure to discipline properly; my younger brother is reckless and ignorant. I beg for your mercy, My Lord!"

"Lord Shen? Big brother, are you talking about that Shen Yu? I... I'm finished!"

Seeming to suddenly understand who his big brother was talking about, the legs of the second Peng brother went soft and he knelt down, his face even paler than his brother's.

Seeing that both the eldest master and the second master were like this, the people in the courtyard all knelt down in a rush.

The last time they saw the Prefect, these two masters had never acted like this. Although these servants didn't know who was in front of them, they knew for sure that the person must be a high-ranking official.

The old folks who had followed them in were also dumbfounded after seeing this scene; how did this young man become a high official in the blink of an eye?

Just as they were preparing to kneel, Shen Yu, who was nearby, hurriedly said, "You elders, you don't need to kneel. Just let them stay kneeling!"

After saying this, Shen Yu didn't speak further, just watching them coldly.

The members of the Peng family kneeling on the ground were covered in cold sweat; the more silent Shen Yu was, the more panicked they became.

In the officialdom of the Southern Border, this Lord Shen was renowned, having become synonymous with an executioner; who wouldn't shiver at the sight of him?

"County Assistant Peng, I heard that you were raised by Licentiate Gu, and that Licentiate Gu is your stepfather?"

After a long while, Shen Yu spoke, and his very first words made the Peng family incredibly nervous.

"Our Dasheng Dynasty values filial piety above all else. Is this how you treat your stepfather? A person like you is fit to be a candidate for County Magistrate?"

"My Lord, My Lord, please hear me out. Licentiate Gu is not this subordinate's stepfather; it is all just hearsay from others!"

Kneeling on the ground, the eldest of the Peng family hurriedly explained, "My mother has absolutely no relationship with that Licentiate Gu. From beginning to end, there was never any physical intimacy, nor was there ever any improper relationship. They are innocent!"

"No physical intimacy, and no improper relationship? And you're 'innocent'?"

Looking at the eldest of the Peng family, Shen Yu scrutinized him with cold eyes. The meaning was clear: Are you kidding me?

If there was no relationship at all, how could Licentiate Gu hand over his family business to you, and how could he devote himself to raising you two brothers? Young man, were you fooled by your own mother?

"My Lord, what this subordinate says is the truth. If you don't believe me, you can ask my mother!"

"Then what your mother says is the truth?"

Stared at by Shen Yu's gaze, the eldest of the Peng family immediately bowed his head, not daring to speak. Shen Yu had no desire to waste words with them either. Shen Yu felt that even saying one more sentence to these people would dirty himself.

"Licentiate Gu? You tell me yourself, is what he just said the truth?"

Licentiate Gu, who was to the side, did not refute this at all after hearing it, but instead silently nodded.

"Damn!" At this, Shen Yu understood completely, and in his heart, he was absolutely floored by the woman's methods.

Impressive! Truly amazing! This is far more formidable than those 'green tea' types; others at most let you be a 'happy father' and raise someone else's child.

This one is even more ruthless. Not only did she not let you take any advantage—let alone sleeping together at night, I suspect there wasn't even a kiss—but in the end, she even made you help her raise her child.

And that's not all; once the child grew up, she started seizing the family business, eating everything up, and in the end, didn't even leave you a scrap of bone.

I've seen it now; this really opened my eyes. This operation is absolute!