Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Seven
Yao Shuheng was still somewhat uneasy and signaled to the servant boy beside him to go and make the necessary arrangements.
What Yao Shuheng didn't know was that his every move had long since fallen into Li Zhiwei's sight.
Li Zhiwei held great respect for her uncle. However, she harbored little affection for this cousin. This cousin of hers had absolutely no right to collude with outsiders to harm her.
Thinking of the past, her mother would often reminisce about how good her uncle was to her. Every year, her uncle would have people send many fine things to her and her mother.
Li Zhiwei merely cast a somewhat complicated glance at Yao Shuheng.
The group soon arrived at the county yamen.
Official Cao was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Li Zhiwei, but he didn't pay her too much mind.
After all, to him, the Li family was merely a merchant household wealthier than most. Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—no matter how rich they were, they still had to bow to him when they met.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Li. What wind blows you to my humble office today?" County Magistrate Cao, putting on his official airs and holding his head high, inquired.
"Official Cao, we are here to report a crime. This man actually kidnapped us. If not for my guards arriving in time, his vile scheme would have succeeded," Li Zhiwei said, having her people bring forward the bound Liu Mazi.
"Oh?" County Magistrate Cao was inwardly suspicious. Looking at the man on the ground, he only found him somewhat familiar.
However, at this moment, Liu Mazi was gagged and bound. Seeing Li Zhiwei had many people with her, he dared not make trouble.
He only thought that once he could speak to his cousin-in-law and plead his case, nothing too serious would happen to him.
"Official Cao, under your governance, our Li'an County has always been peaceful. This man doesn't look like he's from Li'an County. We must not allow wicked trends from other places to take root and ruin your promising official career, must we?" Seeing County Magistrate Cao's less-than-enthusiastic reaction, Li Zhiwei sneered inwardly. In the past, her father had contributed no small amount of silver to the county yamen for building bridges and roads.
Now that Li'an County was peaceful, he was putting on official airs.
Did he really think the Li family's money was so easily taken?
"Mother, doesn't the magistrate of Li'an County oversee public security? Why were we kidnapped just for going out to stroll the streets?" Xu Qingshi, seeing that this man, though dressed in official robes, showed no intention of helping them, was also somewhat annoyed.
"Is this your stepson, Miss Li?" County Magistrate Cao was aware of Li Zhiwei's marriage into the Ruan Marquis Manor in the capital. However, at the time, the Marquis of Ruan's attitude could hardly be described as favorable.
He had been present then. The Marquis of Ruan had practically used threats and inducements to force Li Tianyou to agree to the marriage.
Originally, he thought that even if Li Zhiwei married into the capital, her life probably wouldn't be too good.
But now, seeing she could bring the young master of the Ruan Marquis Manor back to her maternal home, it seemed things weren't that bad after all.
County Magistrate Cao then looked at Yao Shuheng beside her. He didn't look much like the Marquis of Ruan, but it was possible he took after his mother.
Jumping to conclusions, County Magistrate Cao mistakenly assumed this person was Lin Jitong.
He even bowed respectfully to Yao Shuheng.
Yao Shuheng was momentarily startled, thinking only that the servant's arrangements had worked, and quickly returned the bow.
"County Magistrate Cao, how do you intend to deal with this man?" Li Zhiwei frowned, clearly sensing the magistrate's lack of seriousness.
She was furious.
"Miss Li, don't be anxious. This official will naturally send someone to investigate this matter," County Magistrate Cao said with a smile, uttering evasive words.
After all, since Li Tianyou left for the capital, he had many areas requiring silver expenditures.
Now that the Li family had a matter requiring his help, he could naturally use this to make the Li family contribute more silver for Li'an County.
"County Magistrate Cao, does this matter still require investigation?" Li Zhiwei was angered by these words.
A county magistrate, with the villain right before him, wasn't immediately dealing with him but wanted to investigate?
Investigate what?
Thinking this, Li Zhiwei couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.
"County Magistrate Cao, my father is now serving as a Vice Minister of Revenue in the capital. This villain's actions constitute harming the family members of a court official." Li Zhiwei had no choice but to bring out Li Tianyou's status to pressure this presumptuous County Magistrate Cao.
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Cao was inwardly shocked.
Li Tianyou had become a Vice Minister of Revenue?
That was a third-rank official position.
He thought of how he, once passing the imperial examinations as a jinshi, had been assigned by the Emperor to Li'an County as a ninth-rank magistrate.
Yet now, a mere merchant, simply because his daughter married into the Ruan Marquis Manor, had leapt to become a third-rank official.
This filled County Magistrate Cao with resentment, yet he dared not offend the Li family.
After all, the Li family now was no longer the merchant household he could push around as he pleased.
Thinking this, a flattering smile curled at the corner of County Magistrate Cao's mouth: "This humble official has been poorly informed. I had no idea Master Li has now become Official Li. This humble official is ashamed!"
"County Magistrate Cao, I wonder if the matter of this villain forcibly abducting an official's family members can be dealt with immediately now?" Li Zhiwei felt that using her father's status to pressure this county magistrate should be sufficient.
If not, there was still her future title as the Princess Consort of An, as well as Xu Qingshi's identity as the heir.
"This humble official will convene the court immediately to try this villain." County Magistrate Cao now dared not show any neglect.
After all, the current Li family was not one he could afford to offend.
At this moment, Concubine Liu, who was just about to go out, happened to witness this scene.
"Where did this vixen come from, trying to seduce the master?" Concubine Liu said displeasedly, twisting the handkerchief in her hand.
"Concubine, don't you think that person looks somewhat familiar?" The maid had seen Liu Mazi before. Although Liu Mazi was bound now, her sharp eyes had recognized him.
"Who looks familiar?"
Li Zhiwei had her back to Concubine Liu. Looking over, Concubine Liu only saw Li Zhiwei's back, and what she saw was County Magistrate Cao smiling obsequiously at Li Zhiwei.
At this moment, her face twisted with jealousy. So that was it; recently, the master had started to become distant with her.
"Concubine, the one on the ground... I think he looks like Third Master?" The maid said somewhat uncertainly.
Liu Mazi was the third in his generation in the Liu family. Usually, the maids called him Third Master.
Only then did Concubine Liu notice Liu Mazi on the ground.
It was fine not looking, but once she looked, wasn't that her own cousin?
Concubine Liu wanted to step forward and ask what was going on, why her cousin was bound.
"Concubine, you'd better wait. If you go over now, you might not save Third Master and could even incur the master's displeasure," the maid quickly grabbed Concubine Liu and said.
"Then what do you suggest? That shameless hussy! Don't let me find out who she is, or I'll definitely skin her alive!" Concubine Liu said angrily.
Concubine Liu glared fiercely at Li Zhiwei's back, cursing venomously.
Xu Qingshi suddenly felt a malicious gaze directed at them. Turning around, he saw the woman glaring at Li Zhiwei with bared teeth.
Xu Qingshi tugged at Li Zhiwei's sleeve, pointing at Concubine Liu behind them, and asked puzzledly, "Mother, do you know her?"
Li Zhiwei, puzzled, turned to look at Concubine Liu.
When Concubine Liu clearly saw Li Zhiwei's face, she was utterly stunned. How could it be her?
