Speaking of Xiang Lan rescuing Chen Wanquan from prison, the group returned to the Chen household. Madam Xue was lying in bed with furrowed brows when she suddenly heard a commotion in the courtyard. Going out to look, she saw Chen Wanquan being carried back, and joy descended from heaven. However, seeing Chen Wanquan’s face as yellow as gold leaf and his unconscious state, her face turned pale with shock.

Ji Xiang and Shuang Xi carried him on a wooden bench to the bedroom, carefully placing him on the bed. Madam Xue approached, gently lifted his clothes to look, and saw his thighs swollen and grotesque, his legs covered in bruises, bound with bamboo splints – not a single spot unharmed. Her heart clenched. Going outside, she saw Lin Jinlou sitting majestically in the hall, drinking tea.

Madam Xue immediately understood everything. She knelt and kowtowed, saying: “This humble woman thanks Lord Lin for saving our lives.” Her head struck the ground with loud thuds. Shuang Xi hurriedly went to help her up, smiling and saying: “This won’t do, please get up quickly.”

Xiang Lan also went to help Madam Xue, who pulled at Xiang Lan’s sleeve saying: “Lan’er, quickly kowtow to Lord Lin.” She tried to pull Xiang Lan down to kneel.

Xiang Lan, face pale, glanced up at Lin Jinlou, bit her lip, and lowered her head, but still refused to kneel. Madam Xue was displeased, glaring at Xiang Lan, squeezing her hand tightly, and whispering: “Stubborn girl, quickly kowtow to Lord Lin!”

Lin Jinlou stood up and said indifferently: “No need. It’s getting late, I should return.” With that, he walked out.

Madam Xue hurriedly pulled Xiang Lan along to see him off, wearing a smile, saying graciously: “My young daughter doesn’t know better, my lord please don’t take offense… Please walk carefully, we will certainly come to your mansion to kowtow in thanks.”

Lin Jinlou responded casually. At the main gate, he ordered others to withdraw and called Xiang Lan over, saying: “Pack your things, I’ll send someone to fetch you tomorrow… Never mind, don’t pack anything, your old things aren’t worth taking, I’ll give you new clothes and jewelry.”

Xiang Lan was startled and quickly pleaded: “My father just returned, not a single part of him is well. I want to stay home and care for him for a few days…” As she spoke, tears fell, “Please…”

“Tsk, tsk, why do you always cry, as if I’m going to eat you up.” Lin Jinlou reached out to wipe her tears.

Xiang Lan wanted to dodge but forced herself to stay still. This submissive appearance with a lowered head pleased Lin Jinlou. He pinched her small chin and smiled: “Alright, I am a reasonable person. Considering your filial piety, stay home and care for your father for three days, then I’ll send someone to fetch you.”

“My lord, please let me stay a few more days. Once I leave, I don’t know when I can return home… It takes a hundred days for injured tendons and bones to heal, and at home, there’s only my old mother and an ignorant little servant girl…”

Lin Jinlou stroked his chin and said: “Fine, I’ll send two people over.” Seeing Xiang Lan about to speak, he placed his finger on her lips, eyes half-closed in an ambiguous smile: “Five days at most, little Xiang Lan. If you keep singing this tune to me, I’ll get angry.” He untied the small golden jade horse pendant from his waist and hung it on Xiang Lan’s waist, saying: “Go tend to your father. After being a filial daughter, think carefully about how to repay me.” With that, he mounted his carriage and left.

Xiang Lan silently turned back, slowly closed the main gate, and turned to see Madam Xue standing in the courtyard, red-eyed, lips trembling, calling out: “Lan’er…” She couldn’t speak further, clearly understanding everything.

Xiang Lan walked over, forcing a smile: “This isn’t so bad… Father has returned whole, and though the lord has a bad temper, the Lin family is a wealthy place. Perhaps in a year or two, I can return home…”

Madam Xue burst into tears, embracing Xiang Lan and stamping her feet: “My daughter, you’re such a clever and beautiful person, you should have been a proper wife, how could your fate be so bitter…”

This crying made Xiang Lan cry too, but she quickly wiped her tears with a handkerchief and instead consoled Madam Xue. We’ll leave them for now.

Speaking of Han Yaozu, he was uneasy about offending the Lin family and couldn’t sleep well all night. Early the next day, Han Yaozu personally prepared generous gifts and went to the Chen household. The Chen couple was extremely nervous. Han Yaozu showed great concern for Chen Wanquan’s condition and took out fifty taels of silver, presenting it while saying: “Shopkeeper Chen suffered this prison ordeal because I was deceived by villains and believed slander. Please don’t take it to heart, I will certainly give Shopkeeper Chen a proper accounting!” His words were noble, but his eyes unconsciously wandered around, searching for Xiang Lan.

Hearing these words, Chen Wanquan felt immensely honored, never imagining that the imposing County Magistrate from the court would speak to him so kindly. He could barely speak, repeatedly saying: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”

Suddenly, a cold laugh came from the adjacent room. Han Yaozu immediately knew Xiang Lan was next door and quickly said: “This matter started with Xia’s family’s concubine. Xia Yun, as an imperial official, allowed his concubine to defame a pure woman’s reputation with evil words. This is truly wasteful of life and disgraces scholarly virtue – he is a frivolous scoundrel. From today, his ninth-rank official position is revoked, and I have already petitioned the Nanjing Education Commissioner and reported to the Ministry of Personnel to strip his status as a Provincial Graduate.”

Hearing this through the curtain, Xiang Lan was stunned. While she expected Xia Yun to lose his position, stripping his academic credentials seemed too severe. Scholars had always spent lifetimes pursuing the imperial examinations. Xia Yun achieved Provincial Graduate status at a young age and had a promising future. Now with his credentials revoked, who knew when he could pass again? Though Xia Yun had his faults, he wasn’t truly evil, just a relative.

Chen Wanquan was heard saying: “Great righteous official, please uphold justice for our humble family. We are honest, proper people who never invite trouble. Xia Yun took a fancy to my daughter, and when my wife and I didn’t agree, he defamed my daughter’s reputation, and his concubine even tried to attack my daughter…”

Madam Xue added: “Later, Lan’er and I went to the Xia family to plead, giving sixty taels of silver in total. Xia Yun’s mother, his second sister-in-law, and the concubine forced Lan’er to kowtow to Xia Yun…” Her voice choked, and after a pause, she continued, “Where can we seek justice? They did wrong, yet made Lan’er kneel and apologize. Even after Lan’er kowtowed, they didn’t withdraw the complaint at the yamen. When we went to ask about it, we were merely cursed and insulted.”

Han Yaozu said angrily: “How absurd! The Xia family is truly despicable. I will see this matter through to the end!”

The Chen couple repeatedly praised him as a “righteous official.”

Soon after Han Yaozu left, Chen Wanquan’s buttocks and legs were in severe pain, as if being stabbed with needles and cut with knives, and he developed a fever, becoming delirious. Shortly after, someone else came to the door. It was Shu Ran personally bringing an old woman and a servant boy, along with fifty taels of silver, smiling and saying: “This is from the lord for Shopkeeper Chen to buy nutritious food. The Lord cares deeply for Miss and had me select some finest tribute silk from the storehouse, saying he wants to make new clothes for Miss.”

Madam Xue hurriedly expressed thanks, but Xiang Lan found it irritating and stood silently to the side. Seeing Xiang Lan’s expression, Shu Ran knew she was unhappy and was secretly surprised, but changed the subject, spoke of other things, and then took his leave.

For a while, all was quiet.

Speaking of Han Yaozu, after returning to the yamen, his first act was to remove Xia Yun’s official position. He then sent someone to inquire with the Education Commissioner. Hearing that Xia Yun had offended Lin Jinlou and had no powerful backing, the Nanjing Education Commissioner naturally agreed and immediately stripped Xia Yun of his credentials.

When the news arrived, the Xia household was struck as if by lightning. Xia Yun was first dumbfounded, then despite his dizziness, crawled out of bed to go to the county yamen. When Han Yaozu saw him, he said: “Xia Yun, you were incredibly brazen. Without investigating the Chen family’s background, you let your concubine go make trouble, thinking that if you ruined the girl’s reputation, she would have to marry you. And even after causing trouble and them paying compensation, you wouldn’t withdraw the complaint? Now you’ve angered the Chen family and they’ve asked Lin Jinlou to intervene… Ah, this is your karmic retribution. Even execution only takes one strike to the head – you truly went too far.”

Xia Yun felt as if he’d been doused with ice water, muttering: “I had already told my family to withdraw the complaint… Moreover, I never filed any complaint.”

Han Yaozu said: “Your concubine Yin Die came to the yamen to cry injustice.”

Xia Yun remained dazed. Just then, someone announced visitors, so Han Yaozu served tea and saw his guest out, dismissing Xia Yun.

Xia Yun returned home in a daze, where the whole family was gathered at the door. Seeing him return, they all swarmed around him, asking questions from all sides. Xia Yun seemed still in a dream, staring straight ahead as he walked into the house.

Yin Die was holding up a mirror, examining herself from different angles. Seeing Xia Yun enter, she quickly put down the mirror, stood up, and approached: “Master, you’ve returned. What did Magistrate Han say?”

Xia Yun raised his eyes in a daze, seeing Yin Die’s face thick with rouge and powder, suddenly flew into a rage, swung his arm, and struck her hard, shouting: “You wretch, look what you’ve done! Who told you to go to the Chen family? Who told you to file a complaint at the yamen!”

The slap sent Yin Die staggering back several steps. She fell by the kang bed, covering her face and sobbing.

Madam Jin and Second Sister-in-law Xia had been quietly watching at the door. Hearing the commotion, they hurriedly pushed the door open. Second Sister-in-law Xia asked repeatedly: “What’s going on? Could it be that the Chen family’s little wretch is behind this? How could Uncle lose both his position and credentials?”

Madam Jin rolled up her sleeves saying: “If they’re playing tricks, I’ll make sure they have no peace!”

Xia Yun trembled with anger, pointing at Madam Jin and Second Sister-in-law Xia: “I told you to withdraw the complaint at the yamen, why didn’t you go?”

Madam Jin and Second Sister-in-law Xia exchanged glances. Second Sister-in-law Xia wouldn’t speak, but Madam Jin said carelessly: “The Chen family has plenty of money, how could sixty taels be enough? You should have seen their large house, all the antiques inside. You’re an honored Provincial Graduate, an imperial official. In my opinion, this matter couldn’t be settled for less than two or three hundred taels.”

Xia Yun’s face turned liver-colored with anger. His lips trembling, he stamped his feet and cursed loudly: “Foolish! Foolish! You’ve ruined my career and future!” After cursing, tears streamed down his face. His head aching incessantly, his legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground.