Yindie gritted her teeth and said, "How dare she set her sights so high! That seductress luring one man after another... Miss, you don't know this, but Xianglan was originally ordered by Da Nǎinai to be sold off. Yet somehow she managed to turn her fate around—not only did her whole family gain their freedom from servitude, but they suddenly became wealthy, buying property and land, and have now become a respectable family. That little enchantress was already getting above herself before, and now she's completely insufferable. If I don't deal with her, how will I ever have a chance to rise?"
Cao Lihuan regarded Xianglan as her mortal enemy. Hearing that she was now living well and that Xia Yun was even eagerly seeking to marry her, she felt so enraged her head spun. Gnashing her teeth, she was consumed by bitterness, resentment, and fury. She cursed, "Pah! Heaven has no eyes! A lowly creature like her ought to be sold to a brothel!"
Yindie immediately found a kindred spirit and joined Cao Lihuan in cursing Xianglan. Cao Lihuan pressed for more details, and Yindie recounted the whole story from beginning to end.
After pondering for a while, Cao Lihuan suddenly revealed a cold smile and whispered, "Sister, it's not hard to vent your anger. Just do as I say..." She leaned close to Yindie's ear and instructed her in detail, step by step.
Yindie was startled and afraid. "This... will it work? I don't dare."
Cao Lihuan took her hand and laughed. "What is there to fear? I'll handle everything. To be frank with you, my husband now has considerable influence with the county magistrate. If I tell you to do this, you can be sure it's the right move."
Yindie still hesitated. Cao Lihuan sneered, "Why are you so timid? I remember you as someone who can't tolerate even a grain of sand in your eye. Your whole family has been ruined by Xianglan—can you really bear to see her now living in luxury and throwing her weight around? Unless you drive her to ruin and destruction, can you swallow this anger?"
Thinking of her own plight, Yindie clenched her silver teeth and said, "Of course I can't!"
Cao Lihuan smiled. "That's more like it. Chen Xianglan and I also have a deep-seated enmity. Let's deal with that wretch together. Just do as I say and go ahead—I guarantee you'll be safe." As she spoke, she took a tael of silver from her sleeve and said, "Take this silver for now, sister. Buy some good food and drink to calm your nerves."
After repeated coaxing and persuasion, Yindie finally made up her mind. The two women settled on their vicious plot, but for now, we will set this aside.
Meanwhile, Chen Wanquan had escorted Xia Yun back home. The Xia family naturally refused to let the matter rest. Chen Wanquan sealed ten taels of silver as compensation and sent over some chickens, ducks, and meat. Xia Yun, feeling somewhat guilty himself, did not press the issue too hard. However, Jin Shi and Xia Ersao wailed and cursed incessantly, demanding that the Chen Family pay additional compensation.
No sooner had Chen Wanquan returned home than there came a furious pounding at the door. When he opened it, he saw two fierce bailiffs who seized him and tried to drag him away. Xue Shi and Xianglan, greatly alarmed, rushed out. The bailiff sneered and said, "Chen Wanquan has dared to assault an official of the court! The county magistrate has ordered him detained for trial!" With that, they shoved and pushed Chen Wanquan away.
It turned out that Cao Lihuan had incited Yindie to file a complaint at the county yamen, accusing Chen Wanquan of assaulting Xia Yun. Han Yaozu initially had little interest in dealing with such a trivial matter. But Cao Lihuan returned to the yamen and said to him, "My lord, you may not be aware, but Xia Yun has now caught the eye of the Lin Family. Didn't you see that Master Lin gifted him a beautiful concubine? Moreover, he serves under you. Now that he has been wronged, how can you not intervene? At the very least, have the man arrested and beaten to appease the Xia family's resentment."Han Yaozhu thought for a moment and found Cao Lihuan's reasoning sound. He nodded and said, "If that's the case, then have the man brought in, given a beating, and released."
Cao Lihuan quickly added, "Don't be in such a hurry to release him, Master. I've heard that Chen Wanquan's family has some wealth. He works as the manager of a pawnshop and is skilled at appraising antiques. In just a year or two, he's made a fortune. But he's just a commoner with no powerful backing. Such a fat sheep deserves to be fleeced—let him bleed a little... Aren't you, Master, recently seeking an official post outside the capital? Where wouldn't you need silver for that?"
Han Yaozhu stroked his beard and smiled, tapping Cao Lihuan on the nose. "You really are a Little Fox Spirit, thinking of such things."
Cao Lihuan smiled gracefully. "I only have your future in mind, Master." She picked up a grape and fed it to Han Yaozhu.
As Han Yaozhu chewed the grape, he noticed Cao Lihuan's finely drawn long eyebrows. Her fair skin, flushed pink from the heat, glowed with a subtle radiance. The corners of her mouth curved into a smile as she cast seductive glances. She wore a sapphire-blue embroidered jacket, beneath which glimpses of a crimson undergarment contrasted with her snow-white skin. Below, she wore a delicate green skirt that revealed a pair of bound feet. Though Cao Lihuan's features were plain and her figure unremarkable, her coquettish charm and understanding nature made her stand out, captivating all. Han Yaozhu felt his desires stir. He embraced Cao Lihuan and kissed her a dozen times, saying, "My dear, someday soon, leave that useless husband of yours, and I'll divorce that shrew of a wife. Then we can be together forever."
Cao Lihuan squinted her eyes and giggled. "Don't let your harridan at home hear such talk, or who knows how she might torment me." As she spoke, she reached out to fondle Han Yaozhu below the belt.
Han Yaozhu hurriedly began to undo Cao Lihuan's clothes. Hand in hand, they retreated to the inner chamber to indulge in passion. After their lovemaking, Han Yaozhu ordered Chen Wanquan to be given twenty strokes and held in custody for the time being.
Meanwhile, Chen Wanquan's arrest had thrown Xue Shi and Xianglan into a panic. After discussing the matter, Xianglan rushed to the prison, using silver to bribe the guards and smooth the way. She learned that Chen Wanquan had been beaten but was not allowed to see him. She told Xue Shi, "The Xia family is only after money. We'll have to offer more silver to avoid disaster and persuade them to withdraw the lawsuit."
Xue Shi agreed. The next day, she personally sealed fifty taels of silver and, along with Xianglan, humbly went to the Xia family to plead. Jin Shi, Xia Ersao, and Yindie berated them harshly, insisting that Xianglan kowtow and apologize. Clenching her teeth, Xianglan went straight to Xia Yun's room and kowtowed three times toward the bed, saying, "Master Xia, I apologize. My father injured you accidentally, and our family is willing to compensate. There's no need to have him arrested." She then presented the fifty taels of silver.
Xia Yun was shocked to learn that Yindie had filed a lawsuit. He repeatedly ordered the withdrawal of the complaint. The Xia family agreed in his presence, but as soon as Xianglan left, Yindie said, "We can't just drop the lawsuit for nothing. Don't you see the master is bedridden? The Chen family must suffer for this!"For days, Jin-shi had sent matchmakers to the Chen Family's doorstep, only to be rejected each time. Now, she finally felt vindicated and declared bitterly, "Exactly! Did they think a few silver coins could settle this? Not a chance! Are they treating us like beggars?" She then praised Yindie, saying, "You did excellently. The county magistrate holds Third Son in high regard; he will surely seek justice for him."
Xia Ersao suggested, "Oh my, did you see? The Chen Family sent ten taels yesterday and another fifty today without batting an eye. We can't let this slide. They must pay hundreds of taels before this matter is over!"
Having made up their minds, they all kept it from Xia Yun and did not withdraw the lawsuit. Xia Yun, who had injured his head in a fall, lay bedridden, completely unaware of the situation.
Meanwhile, the Chen mother and daughter returned home and waited half a day, but no one was released. Xianglan went to the yamen to inquire and learned that the Xia Family had not withdrawn the accusation. When they went to the Xia residence to ask, Jin-shi and Xia Ersao blocked the door, hurling insults and refusing to let them see Xia Yun.
Xue Shi frowned with worry and said, "The Xia Family still wants more silver. We have no choice but to gather more to send them."
Xianglan pondered and replied, "Sixty taels is already a substantial amount. The Xia Family is clearly insatiable. If you send another fifty, they'll expect hundreds. Even if we bankrupt ourselves, they won't withdraw the lawsuit."
Upon hearing this, Xue Shi fainted on the spot. Xianglan was horrified, repeatedly calling out "Mother!" as she wiped Xue Shi's face with a damp cloth and pressed her philtrum. When Xue Shi regained consciousness, she clutched Xianglan's hand and wept, "What are we to do? Xia Yun holds an official position in the yamen. As the saying goes, officials protect one another. How can your father possibly be rescued?"
Xianglan was equally anxious and unsettled but forced herself to appear calm. She comforted Xue Shi, saying, "Mother, please rest assured. I will go to the prison to visit Father, bribe the jailers, and ensure he is treated better. Then we can plan our next steps."
She promptly prepared herself, changing into plain clothes and wearing only two or three pieces of jewelry. She tucked some silver coins into her sleeve, gathered Chen Wanquan's belongings and medicinal supplies, instructed Hua Shan, and hurried straight to the yamen. After bribing the guards, Xianglan entered the prison and saw a dark, cramped cell. Chen Wanquan lay unconscious on a pile of rotten straw, his face as pale as gold foil. His buttocks were mangled from beatings, and a pool of blood had formed, swarmed by buzzing flies.
Xianglan was heartbroken, her lips trembling as she called out, "Father..." Tears streamed down uncontrollably.
In her previous life, the last time she saw her family before execution had been just as tragic. Her grandfather and parents were covered in bloodstains; her grandfather's ten fingers had all been broken from torture, and he lay in the foul, damp cell. Her father, shackled and unable to straighten his back, had smiled and comforted her, telling her not to cry. Now, it was Chen Wanquan in that position.
Xianglan felt as if her heart and liver were being torn apart. She called "Father" several times before Chen Wanquan groggily awoke. He lifted his eyes to look at Xianglan and murmured, "My child, why have you come here? Go back quickly. This is no place for you..." before losing consciousness again.Xianglan wiped her eyes, forcing back the tears as she thought to herself, "Chen Xianglan, in your past life, your father was a refined scholar of noble character, transcendent and magnanimous, praised by all as a model of virtue. In this life, your father is nothing but a vulgar troublemaker from the streets, petty and cowardly, who drinks and curses, spewing foul language. One taught you the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, preaching integrity and tolerance in life; the other only schemes to marry you off to a wealthy family, even gloating when someone of power and influence takes a fancy to you as a concubine. Yet the care they have for you is the same, not diminished in the slightest by the breadth of their vision. In your past life, you failed to save your family; in this life, you must rescue your dearest ones from this prison!"
Her resolve firm, she rose to her feet and strode out the moment she settled on her plan. Just as she reached the prison gate, before she could even speak to the guard, she spotted a woman approaching, swaying as she walked. Adorned with a head full of pearls and jade, she wore a lotus-root silk jacket with a front opening, green sleeves embroidered with gold patterns, and a peach-red skirt with intricate trimmings, all while fanning herself with a handheld fan. Xianglan looked closely and recognized the woman as none other than Cao Lihuan.
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