Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1053 - 451_1

Chapter 1053: Chapter 451_1

Jingrui and Brother Ri, Jinghao plus the two brothers Zhiwen and Zhiwu—these five rode their horses toward the city gate to greet Jingrui, with several carriages trailing behind carrying gifts that Jingrui had brought back for everyone as well as Yun’er’s dowry.

Upon hearing the title "Magistrate" being called out, Jingrui instinctively turned his head and saw Master Fang and his daughter, Fang Wanping, both looking terrified, being seized by the bailiffs.

The quintet had to stop in front of the crowd because the way was completely blocked by onlookers. Despite being on horseback, they couldn’t get through.

Noticing that Jingrui stopped, Master Fang voiced out louder: "Magistrate, save me! These two are claiming that I’m crazy and are instructing the bailiffs to arrest me! I admit, I had the information that they plotted against you in a bid to seduce you, yet I didn’t stop it, so I share some responsibility. But I’ve already been punished—dismissed as a government official. Little did I expect that as soon as I was released from jail, they had sold everything in the house! They absconded with all our family’s wealth and escaped to the Imperial Capital to remarry! Magistrate, all I want is to reclaim what’s rightfully mine! You are a fair and righteous person. I implore you to uphold justice for me!"

Master Fang’s words held a considerable amount of information, shocking the bystanders who were watching the scene.

This decent-looking young lady actually harbored such filthy thoughts, attempting to lure the Magistrate. Not only did she cause her own father to lose his job, she and her mother then sold all of their property and eloped to remarry!

Ruthless! This is simply too ruthless!

In all their lives, they had never seen a wife and daughter behaving in this way!

The crowd started whispering amongst themselves. It’s not every day one gets to see such a spectacle!

As a constable of the Imperial City, he was familiar with many young masters from influential families. Naturally, he also recognized Jingrui and his companions. Hence, he stepped forward to greet them and recounted what had happened. He then asked Jingrui: "Your Highness, is this gentleman really the husband and father of this lady and young miss? And not some lunatic?"

Jingrui nodded: "As far as I know, the lady and the young miss indeed stand in these relations to him. As for seeking justice, Master Fang, you should report this case to the Government Office. This is not Nanyue Prefecture and I can’t meddle in such matters."

Jingrui didn’t bear goodwill towards Fang Wanping, her mother, or Master Fang, didn’t favor anyone over the other, only to speak the honest truth.

However, he was astonished by the behavior of Fang Wanping and her mother. Surely, different people could act in surprising ways!

Fang Wanping was in despair. How did this situation evolve into such a scene on the street? How was she supposed to live following this debacle?

She glanced at Brother Ri but only saw him looking at everything impassively, as if he was irrelevant to the whole drama, without any sign of him looking at her. Then she looked at Liu Zhiwen and saw his face filled with disbelief.

No, she couldn’t let her reputation be ruined in a split second. So, she shook her head and, sobbing, said, "It’s not like that. He forced me to seduce the Magistrate! When things went wrong, my mother and I worried about being killed by my father, so we escaped. As for the property at home, all of that was my mother’s dowry! Why couldn’t we take it?"

After speaking, Fang Wanping cast a pitiful, tear-filled glance at Brother Ri, hoping to earn his pity.

However, Brother Ri didn’t even spare her a glance. His eyes were concentrated on a shop across the street, where most of the clothes were designed by Yun’er. His Yun’er was truly amazing.

Zhiwen stared shockingly at Fang Wanping. He could never have imagined that she was capable of doing something like this. Now, he couldn’t help but probe into her motives further: had she saved him back then because of her personal agenda? Was she trying to get close to him in order to reach Jingrui?

No, that’s not right. Right now, Fang Wanping was staring at Brother Ri. Was this maiden’s heart easily swayed?

Maybe she was truly what his mother had described!

Zhiwu said to his older brother: "Whoever marries such a woman will definitely have bad luck. Who doesn’t encounter some adversity in life?"

Zhiwen didn’t comment, but he agreed deep within him. It’s true that the wife and husband are like birds in the same forest that fly separately when disaster strikes. But if everyone behaves this way, where are loyalty and fidelity?

"Yes, everything I took was my dowry!"

"Bullshit! When did Fang family’s fortune become your dowry? Don’t forget that you were no more than a humble woman when we married. And when did I ever force you? You came up with the whole scheme! I was merely aware and did nothing to stop it!"

Jingrui had no intention of intervening in their domestic dispute. He glanced at his servant, who promptly announced: "Everyone, step aside! The noble master needs to head back. Please do not obstruct the way!"

Hearing these words, Master Fang seemed somewhat flustered: "Magistrate, help me! No one knows about this matter better than you!"

Jingrui pulled the reins and looked at him, "Why not report the situation to the authorities? The Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion is known for his sense of justice. As long as you’re innocent and your statement is truthful, once the government investigates and ascertains the truth, they will naturally redress your grievances."

A wife who flees with all her husband’s wealth is guilty according to the law. The government follows the law in handling such cases. As a former government official, should Master Fang not be aware of this?

Jingrui just shook his head and departed with a jolt of the horse’s belly.

What Jingrui didn’t know was that it wasn’t that Master Fang didn’t know the law, he was simply worried about encountering collusion among officials! After all, he himself had previously done such things. Only the last time he had offended Prince Rui and the Magistrate, which was why no one dared to protect him.

The others followed Jingrui and left.

With Jingrui’s words, Master Fang was relieved. His fear was that this cunning woman’s new husband would bribe the Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion and make him unable to defend himself. Now that the Magistrate had spoken out and proven that he was aware of the situation, no one would dare tarnish him.

But Fang Wanping and Mrs. Fang felt as though their world was collapsing.

Why did the heavens always persecute them, mother and daughter? Just when they saw their good days coming, this man turned up again!

Mrs. Fang regretted not bribing some bandits to get rid of Master Fang, thus allowing him the chance to come to the Imperial Capital and ruin the happiness they had finally found.

Seeing the two distracted women, Master Fang gained a sense of satisfaction. Indeed, heaven would never spare wrongdoers!

He told the constable: "I want to file a report, to expose the evil deeds of this mother and daughter!"

The constable ordered his men: "Take them away!"

Fang Wanping and Mrs. Fang were frightened. Mrs. Fang knelt and pleaded with the constable: "Don’t wrong us! What he said isn’t true!"

"Yes, everything we took is my mother’s dowry!"