The actor playing the bride was actually a man who specialized in cross - dressing as female characters. With a flexible twist of his body, "she" made the Short Lame Man stumble and fall, looking extremely embarrassed.
"Bravo!"
The villagers cheered in unison.
The old men and women were illiterate and uneducated, not understanding grand principles. However, their simple view of good and evil didn't allow them to watch a nice girl being bullied like this.
Lu Xi, Pearl, and Jinbao clapped their hands until they turned red.
As the gongs and drums sounded, the Short Lame Man got up from the ground.
His parents stood at the door, constantly giving him tips: "Go on, stupid son. How much strength can a little girl have? Reach out, grab her, push her onto the bed, and pull down her skirt. What can she do?"
As soon as these words were spoken, someone threw a fruit pit at the actors playing the parents.
Qin Yi immediately stepped forward and stopped them: "Don't hit people."
The angry villager's face turned red: "These scoundrels are so infuriating!"
Qin Yi said coldly: "Still, don't hit people."
The villager stared at the parents on the stage angrily.
On the stage, the Short Lame Man opened his arms towards the "girl": "Wife, don't hide. Husband will make you feel good."
Shouting, the Short Lame Man pounced on the girl and tore at her clothes.
The actor playing the girl on the stage was wearing three thick layers of clothes. Symbolically, he took off the outermost layer, then hugged his body and sat on the ground, sobbing softly to show that he had been exposed.
The Short Lame Man pounced forward, stretching his neck to kiss the girl. The girl struggled and grabbed the red candle on the table, smashing it on the Short Lame Man's head. The Short Lame Man exaggeratedly made a motion of throwing his head back and then fell to the ground.
The Short Lame Man's parents, who had been watching the play outside, immediately rushed in, "My son!"
While wailing, they cursed the girl. Finally, they shrilled in a singsong voice: "I will surely report this to the authorities and make you, the murderer, pay with your life for my son!"
The girl cowered in the corner in fear, clutching her outer garment and shedding pitiable tears.
"This scoundrel is even going to report it to the authorities?"
"Killers should be put to death. This girl might have to pay with her life. How pitiful."
"Girl, kill these two as well and then run!"
Suddenly, a villager shouted.
Yan Tongshu rubbed his forehead. Auntie, your spirit of resistance is commendable, but this play is not for inciting murder; it's for popularizing the law.
Qin Yi pursed his lips tightly.
He heard the voices and feelings of the people.
Immediately afterwards, everyone was taken to the courtroom. The law - enforcement officers heard the discussions among the crowd, learned about what had happened, and voluntarily defended the girl.
In the courtroom, everyone presented their versions of the case.
At this time, Snowfluff, who had just woken up, opened his eyes and saw Yuanzi.
Yuanzi was sitting in Yan Tongshu's arms, holding his long and slender neck high.
Wow.
Snowfluff stared at Yuanzi motionlessly.
So beautiful.
So cute.
Snowfluff jumped out of Qin Yi's hand and ran in front of Yuanzi, "Meow—"
Yuanzi's ears twitched, but he ignored Snowfluff.
Snowfluff: "Meow - meow～"
Yuanzi disdainfully turned his head to the side. Ugly thing, don't want to look, an eyesore.
Snowfluff walked half a circle and came in front of Yuanzi again: "Meow～Meow - meow～"
Yuanzi turned his head to the other side.
Snowfluff's voice began to sound aggrieved: "Meow～"
It got closer to Yuanzi, trying to rub against him. Yuanzi raised his paw and slapped Snowfluff hard, as if saying: "Get out of here, ugly thing."
Snowfluff covered his face and meowed painfully.
Both Qin Yi and Yan Tongshu were attracted by the noise and looked down.
Qin Yi gave Yan Tongshu a sharp glare: "Your Yuanzi actually hit my Snowfluff?"
"This...this...this..." Yan Tongshu was so shocked that he couldn't speak coherently. "My...my...my Yuanzi is very well - behaved. It must be your Snowfluff that provoked Yuanzi. Otherwise, it wouldn't hit other kittens for no reason."
Qin Yi said angrily: "My Snowfluff is timid and has always been very well - behaved..."
Before he could finish his words, Snowfluff moved closer to Yuanzi again and even tried to lick him. Yuanzi got completely angry, meowed twice, raised his paw, and punched Snowfluff twice more.
The reality hit hard.
Yan Tongshu looked at Qin Yi with an expression of "See, I told you so".
Qin Yi raised his head and concentrated on watching the performance.
Yan Tongshu: "..."
On the stage, the magistrate wanted the girl to pay with her life. The law - enforcement officer argued forcefully, presenting the law and refuting point by point. Finally, the Short Lame Man's parents were arrested and sent to prison for the act of fraudulent marriage.
The law is merciless, but the principles of law are not beyond human feelings. An official should not lose basic humanity.
The girl was forced into a corner and accidentally killed the villain in self - defense. She was not an intentional murderer, so she was exempted from punishment and allowed to go home.
The villagers below cheered desperately, "This is how an honest and upright magistrate should judge!"
"Well - judged! It should be judged like this!"
"Girl, if anyone bullies you in the future, just shout. We're all your family."
Hearing the villagers' shouts, Pearl and Jinbao nodded vigorously. Yes, yes, it should be judged like this.
An old woman took out the fruits that she was reluctant to eat and handed them to the man playing the bride: "Girl, you've suffered."
The old woman wiped her tears. She couldn't tell the truth from the falsehood. She just thought this girl was so pitiful: "Take these and eat. Go home quickly. Find another matchmaker and try to marry a good man this time. May you be happy in the future."
The actor playing the girl held these wild fruits, and his eyes got red.
The play was over, and it was time to disperse. Everyone discussed merrily about good deeds being rewarded. They even made an appointment to come again tomorrow with their friends and relatives.
Yan Tongshu wanted to stand up, but when he looked down.
Yuanzi was standing on the ground, arching his back and hissing at Snowfluff.
Snowfluff kept trying to get closer but was always hissed back by Yuanzi.
It meowed pitifully.
Qin Yi: "..."
Qin Yi held his head painfully. The cat he raised, the imperial cat, was so shameless. It had no backbone at all.
It was such a disgrace to him.
Qin Yi hesitated for a moment and finally said, "Let's go."
Snowfluff tightly grabbed the cloth on the ground with his paws, stared at Yuanzi firmly, and meowed, "Meow～" Never.
Seeing Qin Yi's face gradually turn gloomy, Lu Xi quickly squatted down and reached out to loosen Snowfluff's paws from the cloth. He said softly, "Snowfluff, it's time to go. Let go. Quickly let go."
"Meow～"
Snowfluff refused. That was his goddess. No, he just wouldn't.
No one could stop him from being with his goddess.
After trying very hard, Lu Xi still couldn't free Snowfluff from the cloth. So he simply wrapped Snowfluff in the cloth, held him in his arms, and then looked at Qin Yi with a smile: "Sir, it's okay. We can go now."
Snowfluff meowed plaintively: "Meow～"
Just then, Yan Tongshu stood up holding Yuanzi. Yuanzi snorted and arrogantly turned his head away.
Qin Yi gave Snowfluff a disdainful look: "What a disgrace."
Yan Tongshu gently stroked Yuanzi's fur and said proudly: "Actually, you don't have to feel embarrassed. It's normal for Snowfluff to like my Yuanzi because my Yuanzi is a famous beautiful cat within a radius of ten li. The cats pursuing it can line up from here all the way to the northern frontier."
Qin Yi scoffed disdainfully. "Snowfluff has snow - white and silky fur. Its heterochromatic eyes shine like precious gems, and its muscles are firm and powerful. Your Yuanzi is just passable in appearance, but that big black spot on its nose is a major flaw to its looks."
So what if it has a black spot!
Yan Tongshu got annoyed and huffed out of her nostrils.
When Pearl and Jinbao saw this, their hearts skipped a beat.
There were three things you couldn't say to the young master: you couldn't say the food she chose was unpalatable, you couldn't say the self - portrait given by Lord Qu didn't look like her, and you couldn't say Yuanzi was not good - looking.
It was over. The emperor had violated the taboo, and the young master was definitely going to explode.
The two of them quickly stepped forward and whispered in Yan Tongshu's ears one by one, "Young master, calm down. Please, stay calm."
Yan Tongshu glared at Qin Yi and gritted her teeth. "Sir, you simply don't understand cats. My Yuanzi is a calico cat, the beauty of the cat world. In the cat world, white cats are the ugliest."
Yes, that's right. In the eyes of cats, your Snowfluff is a third - rate cripple, an oily and ugly man.
Qin Yi frowned. "Are you saying I have bad taste in aesthetics?"
Isn't that the case?
Yan Tongshu asked angrily, "Then, Your Majesty, do you think I'm good - looking?"
Qin Yi carefully examined Yan Tongshu from head to toe. "Today, you are..."
Yan Tongshu raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to say "just so - so".
Qin Yi gently parted his thin lips, with a serious expression and a sincere tone. " ... Absolutely stunning."
Yan Tongshu was taken aback for a moment, and then a wave of anger rushed from her heart to the top of her head.
That damned emperor was doing it on purpose.
He was definitely doing it on purpose!
He usually said she was just so - so, but when it came to questioning his aesthetics, he used such nonsense as "absolutely stunning" to shut her up.
Yan Tongshu clenched her fists tightly. "Sir, you said last time that we are friends."
Qin Yi didn't understand what she meant and slightly nodded.
Yan Tongshu handed Yuanzi to Pearl. "Friends are equal. You also pardoned me for all crimes of disrespect."
Qin Yi raised his eyebrows slightly. So what?
Yan Tongshu said, "Then please prove that you keep your words."
Before Qin Yi could react, Yan Tongshu stepped forward two steps, raised her hand, and forcefully pushed him. He staggered back two steps. After venting her anger, she turned around and ran away.
Pearl and Jinbao were caught off - guard. When they finally realized what Yan Tongshu had done, they were so scared that their souls almost flew out of their bodies. Holding Yuanzi, they dashed off to chase after Yan Tongshu.
After running a long way, Yan Tongshu stopped when she was out of breath. She patted her chest.
How terrifying.
She had actually laid hands on the emperor.
But she was really too angry to bear it.
How dare he criticize her Yuanzi?
Her Yuanzi was so beautiful and lovely. That damned emperor just had poor taste and didn't know how to appreciate.
He used to call her a clumsy and fat goose, and now, just to shut her up, he suddenly changed his tune to "absolutely stunning".
It was so infuriating.
After a while, Pearl and Jinbao ran over, out of breath.
Yan Tongshu asked, "Did he chase after us?"
Pearl and Jinbao looked behind and shook their heads.
Well... that damned emperor at least kept his promise.
Yan Tongshu thought carefully. Then, if that damned emperor was looking for trouble again, badmouthing Yuanzi, could she kick him next time?
Yan Tongshu shook her head. No, no. That would be too presumptuous. The emperor would surely take back the imperial edict of amnesty and have her family executed and their property confiscated.
Yan Tongshu led Pearl and Jinbao back to the carriage. After Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu finished packing up, they all went home together.
Pei Jin'an looked at Yan Liangyu reluctantly and tugged at her sleeve. Yan Liangyu smiled, bent down and said a few words to him. He immediately nodded obediently and left.
Yan Tongshu looked at Yan Liangyu curiously. "What did you say to him? He looks so happy."
Yan Liangyu's slender eyelashes slowly drooped. "I just said that I'd look for him tomorrow to perform in other villages."
Yan Tongshu nodded in understanding.
People in love are so easily satisfied.
The journey home was long. The three of them chatted to pass the time. Yan Liangrong said with a smile, "Although we can't tip off the enemy, I still asked someone to secretly send some food to Tao Jiang. She and her sister are all alone and have no way to earn money. They often go hungry."
Yan Liangyu said, "When I finished work just now, I vaguely saw a figure in the distance. It seemed to be Tao Jiang, but I'm not sure. When I wanted to take a closer look, the figure had disappeared."
Yan Tongshu held Yan Liangyu's hand. "It doesn't matter. The villagers really like our performance. Word will spread. Whether it's Tao Jiang or other victims who have been enduring in silence, they will hear and see our efforts."
Yan Liangyu nodded.
The carriage traveled for a long time. Finally, it turned into the alley in front of the Yan Mansion and then drove for a while before coming to a smooth stop.
Jinbao reminded the sleepy people, "Young master, young ladies, we're home."
Yan Tongshu yawned, got off the carriage with Pearl, and then went to help Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu.
Jinbao went to park the carriage.
Yan Tongshu and the other three dragged their tired bodies and were about to go back to their rooms to rest.
Just as they entered the main gate and passed through the first courtyard, the steward came up. He bowed to each of them in turn. "Eldest young master, eldest young lady, second young lady."
Everyone looked at the steward in unison.
The steward said, "Eldest young lady, your ex - husband, no, Lord Zheng is here. He's waiting for you in the side hall."
The side hall was closest to Yan Liangrong's courtyard. If someone wanted to talk to Yan Liangrong privately about family affairs, it was the most suitable place.
Yan Liangrong didn't know what Zheng Chun wanted from her, but it must be something between the two of them. So she smiled and told Yan Tongshu and Yan Liangyu to go first, then followed the steward to see Zheng Chun.
Zheng Chun sat coldly in the main seat of the side hall. In front of him, Nanny Du Xinping from Yan Liangrong's courtyard was kneeling.
Zheng Chun was a gentle - natured man. When he was with Yan Liangrong before, even when he was angry, he would just sulk and say nothing. He rarely looked so stern. Seeing him like this now, Yan Liangrong was even more puzzled.
She asked softly, "What's going on?"
Zheng Chun pointed at Nanny Du and said sternly, "Let her tell you herself."
Yan Liangrong walked to Nanny Du's side. "What's wrong? Is it about Ke'er?"
After Yan Liangrong divorced Zheng Chun, in order to let Zheng Ke know that his parents would always be his parents no matter whether they lived together or not, Zheng Ke was picked up and sent to school by the Zheng family and the Yan family on alternate days. On the monthly rest day on the first day of each month, Zheng Chun would take Zheng Ke out to relax.
In recent days, Yan Liangrong had been busy with matters at the law department and had no time to pick up and send Zheng Ke to school. So she entrusted it to the servants in the mansion, and Nanny Du was the main person in charge.
Of course, Nanny Du wasn't the only one responsible for picking up and sending Zheng Ke. There were also two maids and a coachman. But Nanny Du was in charge.
Nanny Du's lips were white, and she hung her head in shame. "Eldest young lady, punish this old servant."
Yan Liangrong frowned. "What on earth happened?"
Nanny Du's voice was hoarse. "This old servant is useless. I went to pick up the young master from school today. On the way back, I saw a juggling troupe performing. The young master was eager to watch, and I thought that he had been working hard on his studies recently, so it wouldn't hurt to let him relax a bit. So I asked the coachman to stop the carriage and took the young master to watch the juggling show."
"The old servant is useless. I overestimated my physical strength. After leading the young master to watch the human pyramid for a while, more and more people gathered. The young master was so excited watching it. I'm old and my eyes are dim. Without paying attention, I grabbed the wrong person," Du Momo pleaded guilty.
"What?"
Yan Liangrong was shocked. "Then where is Ke'er now?"
Zheng Chun snorted. "He's already back."
Yan Liangrong covered her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
Du Momo continued to plead, "I lost the young master. I quickly gathered the maids to look for him and also sent the coachman to inform the mansion. The old madam sent out all the servants, but we still couldn't find the young master. It wasn't until it got dark that the lost young master ran into a friend of Lord Zheng. Lord Zheng brought the young master back to the mansion."
Yan Liangrong said, "I'll go and check on Ke'er."
After this scare, Yan Liangrong didn't care about anything else. She just wanted to confirm Zheng Ke's safety.
She went into the room. Zheng Ke hadn't gone to sleep yet. He was very sleepy, but still forced his heavy eyelids open and sat on the bed waiting for Yan Liangrong.
"Mother~" When he saw Yan Liangrong, Zheng Ke called out weakly.
Yan Liangrong quickly walked up to him and carefully examined his head, body, hands, and feet. "Are you okay, Ke'er?"
Zheng Ke shook his head. "Mother, I'm fine."
Yan Liangrong heaved a big sigh of relief. "You scared mother to death."
Zheng Ke grabbed Yan Liangrong's arm. "Mother, Ke'er is really okay. It was Ke'er who was naughty and asked Du Momo to get off the carriage. There were so many people on the street. Ke'er wanted to see more clearly, so I squeezed in, which made Du Momo grab the wrong person. Please don't let father punish Du Momo."
Yan Liangrong held Zheng Ke's shoulders and made him sit up straight. "Are you telling the truth?"
Zheng Ke nodded.
Yan Liangrong stroked his face. "But, she was specially chosen by mother to take care of you. It's her responsibility to watch over you well. You're still young, only six years old. Her eyes should never leave you. In this regard, she made a mistake."
Zheng Ke grabbed Yan Liangrong's arm and pleaded, "Mother, it was really Ke'er's fault. It was Ke'er who let go of Du Momo's hand first."
Yan Liangrong stroked Zheng Ke's face. "Silly child, she's more than thirty years older than you. She's an adult. An adult taking care of a child should never let the child out of sight. It was because she let you out of her sight that she grabbed the wrong person. Mother knows that you like Du Momo. Du Momo loves you like her own grandson and takes very good care of you. So, don't worry. Mother will only punish her moderately."
Zheng Ke pouted unhappily.
Yan Liangrong comforted him a few more times and repeatedly promised that she wouldn't punish Du Momo too severely. Only then did he agree to lie down and sleep.
After comforting Zheng Ke, Yan Liangrong returned to the side hall. She sat down and said calmly, "Du Momo, you didn't take good care of Ke'er."
Du Momo buried her head even lower. "Yes, this old servant knows her mistake and is willing to accept the punishment."
Yan Liangrong continued, "You've taken good care of Ke'er all these days. I've seen your efforts. When I went there just now, Ke'er was so sleepy that he kept nodding off, but still forced himself to plead for you. Considering your past dedication and Ke'er's plea, I'll fine you one month's monthly salary. Are you willing?"
Du Momo was stunned. Then she looked up in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe what she had heard.
Losing the master's son, without any severe punishment but just a one - month salary fine?
Immediately, tears rolled down her old face. She knelt down on the ground and bowed. "Thank you, young mistress."
Yan Liangrong said softly, "Thank Ke'er. You'll still be in charge of picking up and sending Ke'er to places, but I'll assign another maid to go with you."
Du Momo said tearfully, "Yes, this old servant guarantees that I'll never let the young master out of my sight again. I'll never stop the carriage on the way back to the mansion. I'll take good care of the young master and will never let anything happen to him again."
Yan Liangrong was satisfied with Du Momo's response and nodded. "Go down."
Du Momo cried, "Yes."
She stood up shakily. She had been kneeling for a long time before Yan Liangrong came. Now her legs were numb and her knees ached. She almost couldn't stand steady.
Yan Liangrong called a maid to help Du Momo down.
Zheng Chun pursed his lips. There was still a hint of resentment in his eyes. He said to Yan Liangrong in a deep voice, "You still want her to pick up and send Ke'er? Aren't you afraid that something will happen again?"
Yan Liangrong smiled. "You don't understand Du Momo. She's never been married and doesn't have any children. She has deep feelings for Ke'er. She respects Ke'er as the master and loves him like her own grandson. This was just an accident. I believe that after this, she'll be grateful and take better care of Ke'er."
Zheng Chun sighed and compromised. "You know that I've always respected the way you manage the inner courtyard."
Yan Liangrong stood up. She was really tired after a long day.
She rubbed her shoulders wearily. Just as she was about to bid farewell to Zheng Chun, Zheng Chun suddenly said, "But, Liangrong. Such things never happened before."
"Hmm?" Yan Liangrong looked at Zheng Chun in confusion.
Zheng Chun's gaze was deep. "Liangrong, Ke'er is our child, your own flesh and blood. He should be the most important."
He paused. "You used to pick him up in person."
Yan Liangrong's eyes darkened, blending into the night.
She said slowly, "You're wrong. I didn't pick him up in person every time before either."
Surprise flashed in Zheng Chun's eyes.
Yan Liangrong said, "If you're trying to blame me for neglecting Ke'er because I'm busy with the legal department's affairs recently and not picking him up every day, thinking that I used to pick him up in person every time, then I have to say that you don't seem to know what our life was like before."
Zheng Chun frowned. "I'm not blaming you. I just think that Ke'er's priority should be above everything else."
Yan Liangrong was silent for a moment and sighed. "You always don't want to speak clearly and are used to leaving things in a vague state."
Yan Liangrong sat down again. "But I want to clarify. Zheng Chun, I didn't pick Ke'er up in person every time before. In the past, I had to help you with socializing, make connections, build your reputation, and also manage the shops I brought as my dowry to make money. I had a lot of things to do and couldn't pick Ke'er up 'in person' every time. Most of the time, when I was too busy, the maids and nannies in the mansion did it."
"Just like after the divorce, you didn't pick Ke'er up in person every time either. Most of the time, your mother took on this responsibility," Yan Liangrong looked at him. "Zheng Chun, you can't think that I'm an irresponsible mother just because I'm busy with official duties now, just because I used to do well and the maids and nannies were lucky enough not to let anything happen in the past."
"I don't think you're irresponsible. I just think that you seem to be putting everything else above Ke'er now. He's your son. Shouldn't he be the most important?" Zheng Chun retorted.
"No," Yan Liangrong said firmly.
Zheng Chun was shocked. "What?"
Yan Liangrong's eyes were full of tenderness. "Look," she said, "I've always said that our natures are incompatible. Even though you once said you'd change and support me, what you truly want deep down is a woman who puts you and your child in the most important position. But I'm not that kind of woman. In my heart, I'm the most important one. I love Ke'er very much. If danger comes, I'm willing to sacrifice my life to protect him. However, over the long course of life, I'm the top priority."
