Zhao Ning was pulled away and stood there stubbornly, her black-and-white eyes filled with anger.
Uncle Sixth, whose legs were shaking and body trembling, slowly got up. His eyes were swollen at the corners, and his face was deathly pale, as if he had come back from the dead.
Fu Qilang looked at the crowd and said in a low voice, "When such a disgraceful thing happened in the Fu family, did I ever want to expose it? If Fourth Concubine hadn't hired assassins to get rid of me, why would I have caused such a stir at the cost of the Fu family's century-old reputation and my father's name?"
If the affair between Fourth Concubine and Uncle Sixth and the existence of their grown - up son had already left everyone dumbfounded.
Then what Fu Qilang said completely confirmed the heinous crimes of Fourth Concubine and Uncle Sixth.
It turned out that Fourth Concubine had been paving the way for her and Uncle Sixth's biological son!
Qilang was the legitimate son of the main wife, and his eldest sister was the mistress of the wealthy Shu family.
Originally, there was no doubt that the position of heir would be his.
It was no wonder Fourth Concubine wanted to kill him!
Even if there was no Fourth Concubine, there were still Fifth Concubine, Sixth Concubine...
So many concubines had sons. Who didn't have the ambition to climb to a higher position?
For a moment, everyone looked at each other, their eyes filled with unspoken thoughts.
Fu Qilang continued, "To prevent some people from saying that I've wronged Fourth Concubine, I've had the evidence in my hands for quite some time. Fourth Concubine painstakingly plotted and bewitched her cousin Ni Er to lead pirates to hunt me down and even raid the home of my benefactor! But unfortunately, although you made perfect plans, even God didn't help you! I've come back intact. You'll never have a peaceful rest of your life! A gentleman never leaves a score unsettled. I, Fu Chengyi, am no coward! Come on, bring the people up!"
Fourth Concubine's hairpins and rings were in a mess. Now that the truth was out in the open, she no longer hid her venomous thoughts. "Fu Chengyi, who do you think you are! A good - for - nothing who only knows how to eat and play. Do you know anything about doing business? Do you know how to deal with officials and merchants? For the sake of seizing the family fortune, you don't even care about your father's reputation. Bah, you little slut don't deserve to be the heir!"
Madam Fu's eyes turned cold. Without her saying a word, the tall maid beside her stepped forward and gave Fourth Concubine two sharp slaps.
Fourth Concubine's face was turned to one side.
She fell to the ground and laughed eerily, looking terrifying.
Uncle Sixth's face turned blue and purple. He gritted his teeth tightly, and his body couldn't stop trembling.
He regretted it!
If he had known this would happen, he would never have touched Fourth Concubine no matter what.
Soon, a group of dusty men came from the front yard.
The man leading the group walked with his head held high, his eyes sharp like an eagle's and his gaze vigilant like a wolf's. Who else could it be but Fang Qian?
Fu Qilang and Master Shu quickly stepped forward to greet him.
"Your Excellency has had a hard journey."
Fang Qian exchanged a few words with them and said, "I've handed over the criminals Ni Er, Hei San and others to the authorities in the prefectural city. I'm sure they'll summon Young Master Qi in a few days."
When Fourth Concubine heard that Ni Er had been captured, she immediately lost all her strength. She visibly withered away and closed her eyes in despair.
Uncle Sixth's face looked even worse, as pale as gold paper. He never expected Fourth Concubine to be so cruel. Now he only hoped that he wouldn't be implicated in this murder case.
Master Shu looked at his wife and said gratefully, "Thank you, Magistrate Fang!"
Fang Qian's arrival and the news he brought made the Fu family even more in a mess, but Madam Fu remained calm.
She told the steward to prepare tea, food and wine for Fang Qian and his men and invited them to the guest courtyard.
*
It was two months later when Qi Jiao and Pei Xia received the news from the Fu family.
It was only September, in the third autumn.
The osmanthus in the Pei family's small courtyard was in bloom, with golden stamens emitting a sweet fragrance for miles.
It was another year when the autumn scenery filled the garden.
Qi Jiao was sitting by the window of the east wing, cutting the fourth batch of olive soaps while listening to Pei Jin read the letter from Fu Chengyi.
"...The prefectural yamen sentenced Fourth Concubine to be hanged, Uncle Sixth to be caned, and Ni Er is also doomed to death. For a while, the family has been cleansed. Due to the chaos, I've only just found the time to pick up the pen. Your family has saved my life and given me a new life. I'm willing to be a beast of burden to repay you..."
Pei Jin suddenly laughed while reading, "When did Fu Chengyi become so pedantic? This letter doesn't seem to be written by him at all. Could he have asked someone else to write it for him?"
Qi Jiao put a cut olive soap into the bamboo basket and said with a smile, "It's true that Qilang is a playboy, but he has also received a proper education. After all, he's a member of the Fu family. His learning can't be too poor and embarrassing."
Pei Jin let out an "oh" and refolded the letter and put it back into the envelope.
She could hardly remember what Fu Chengyi looked like.
She only remembered that he was quite annoying, with a pair of shiny, thievish eyes...
Seven days later, a magnificent fleet suddenly docked at the Yinwan Wharf.
The scale and grandeur of it were something the fishermen here had never seen before.
When had their small Yinwan Wharf ever attracted such a first - class fleet!
Just as everyone was marveling in surprise, a young gentleman in a light fur coat and precious belt gracefully stepped off the main ship. Leading a team of people, he headed straight for the Pei family in Baiyun Village.
School ended early today. Due to the recent surge in orders, Pei Jin was eager to help in the family workshop. After separating from Pei Li outside the duck farm, she hurried back home.
She walked very fast.
Unexpectedly, a team of people suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and the two sides met on the narrow path.
Just now when Pei Jin heard the footsteps, she thought it was someone's funeral.
She didn't care and just walked with her head down.
At that moment, the man passed by her.
He had already walked past, but for some unknown reason, a clear sound like jade bi colliding rang in her ear. "Wait. Miss, I seem to have seen you before."
Pei Jin's face flushed red, and she gritted her teeth in her heart. What a cheesy pick - up line!
She was just about to scold him when she suddenly looked up and met a pair of glistening peach - blossom eyes.
Pei Jin was stunned for a moment. "You..."
Fu Chengyi also didn't expect that the first person he met when he returned to Baiyun Village was Pei Jin.
The young miss in front of him had beautiful maid - like buns on her head, fair skin, and charming eyebrows and eyes. After not seeing her for three months, she seemed to have grown taller. This face as bright as the moon had appeared in his thoughts and dreams again and again...
He smiled and took a half - step back. "So it's A Jin. No wonder I thought it looked familiar."
Pei Jin secretly curled her lips and then looked up with a smile. "At this time, why has Young Master Fu come?"
Fu Chengyi pointed to the "gift - giving team" behind him. "I'm here specially to thank your whole family. By the way, I want to talk to Aunt Tang and your elder brother and sister - in - law."
Pei Jin looked at the people behind him. She couldn't see the end of them.
The servants in black either carried or held boxes and things, all covered with red silk.
If someone didn't know the situation, they would definitely mistake him for someone coming to propose marriage, and from a super - wealthy family at that.
But Pei Jin didn't think too much about it. She just thought Fu Chengyi was a rich fool.
If he wanted to thank them, let him do it.
Last time, when thieves like Ni Er suddenly raided at night, their whole family had almost lost their lives.
Thinking of this, the sudden inexplicable joy Pei Jin felt when she saw Fu Chengyi disappeared completely.
She glanced at Fu Chengyi, and her face turned cold. Pei Jin lifted her chin. "Since you're here specially to thank us, then follow me." Then she turned around and walked away gracefully.
The servant beside Fu Chengyi was indignant when he saw that Pei Jin, a mere fisher girl, even though she was somewhat beautiful, treated his master so disdainfully.
But he saw his master following her obediently, while she didn't even give him a glance.
The way his master was smiling so stupidly was really annoying.