A Good Country Wife-Chapter 682 - 675_1

Quan An saw that Ceng Lu had only lingered for a few days with that exotic beauty presented by the wealthy merchant before he began to long for it obsessively once again, together with Ceng Lu’s usual reactions, it didn’t take much for Quan An to guess what was going on. He had already held resentment towards the Zhao Family; the last time Zhao Lin had shown him such disrespect, he had refrained from taking further action only because of Ceng Lu, but now, having discerned Ceng Lu’s desires, ideas began to teem in his mind.

"My lord, if we really do this, Lin Yue is backed by the Emperor, and even the Magistrate does not dare to touch her. What if..."

"There’s nothing to be afraid of. The Magistrate was merely a bit wary before and didn’t make a move, plus he probably didn’t know of Zhao Lin’s beauty. After seeing her that day, he has been unable to stop thinking about her. I reckon the Magistrate might have the same idea, just hasn’t thought of how to proceed. As his subordinates, isn’t it our job to think ahead for our lord?"

Quan An had climbed to his current position and was valued by Ceng Lu, certainly not just through flattery but also through sly and ruthless methods that couldn’t be openly displayed. Ever since returning from Zhao Family village, Quan An felt that the lord didn’t value him as before and often summoned the butler and legal advisor he had brought from the Capital City. Sensing that he might eventually lose favor with Ceng Lu, Quan An naturally wouldn’t let go of any opportunity.

"My lord, you are right. I will arrange it immediately."

In the dim and damp dungeon, a pungent blend of odors made the air nearly unbearable to breathe. Quan An, having grown up in a poor village environment, was seldom exposed to such filth and entered with a hand covering his nose in disgust.

"My lord, please follow me this way," instructed the prison guard, leading Quan An deep into the prison to a cell near the end before halting and unlocking an iron door. Inside were high-risk prisoners, each of whom, if not executed, was condemned to exile; the guards were naturally stringent.

"My lord, these are the prisoners you wanted to see. I’ve locked them up with chains, so you need not worry for your safety. You can interrogate them freely," the prison guard respectfully told Quan An,

"Understood, you may leave. I have matters to discuss with them. Stand guard outside and let no one approach," Quan An said as he waved his hand to dismiss the prison guard.

"Yes, I understand." Such occurrences were commonplace in the prison and happened often, especially since under Ceng Lu, the enforcement was not as strict as it had been under the previous Magistrate, Chen. Being a favorite in the eyes of the Magistrate, the prison guard dared not say a word and arranged everything for Quan An.

"Who are you, and what do you want with us?!" croaked the leading prisoner, raising his head to reveal a fierce visage. At a sudden realization, Quan An recognized him; it was Jian San, who had incited unrest among the displaced and plotted against the Zhao Family Head a few months prior. Now disheveled, with a haggard and emaciated face, it was evident that his time in jail had been harsh.

Jian San had left Zhao Family village with his followers, initially only seven or eight people, but eventually they grew to over fifty, breaking into homes and looting. They became even more ferocious than bandits, terrorizing the neighboring villagers. Elated by his own success, Jian San did not anticipate that his freedom would be short-lived once the Court began disaster relief efforts, subduing the unrest and comforting the citizens. Those who had taken advantage of the situation were not left with a good fate.

While Ceng Lu wasn’t always known for his dedication to law and duty, often performing his tasks perfunctorily, it was by chance that he found himself in a difficult spot, criticized by officials from the Capital City and eager to show some achievements. Thus, he had Jian San and the others arrested, thrown into the dungeon. For this action, Ceng Lu even received commendation from his superiors.

"I’m not one for idle chatter, so I’ll be direct. I’ve come to offer you a deal. If you can get the job done, then I’m willing to help you escape your death sentence and give you a chance to live."

--

"Madam, although the master has returned from his sea voyage, he is currently busy with the Emperor’s affairs and may not come back soon. Why don’t we move into the Capital for a while? It would be convenient as the master is in the Capital City, and even with the longest arms, no one would dare reach into the Capital. If someone were bold enough, there are those in the Capital who can restrain him," proposed Madam Xu, worriedly. Ever since Eunuch Li left, they had noticed many strangers appearing in the village, ones who took a particular interest in loitering near the Zhao residence – as if the Zhao Family was under surveillance. Lin Yue sent someone to follow these strangers and found out they had been sent by Magistrate Ceng Lu, clearly targeting Lin Yue.

"There’s no need for that. Even if Ceng Lu harbors thoughts, he cannot do anything to me. The master has left enough people here for my protection, and the villagers will also assist us. As long as I remain within Zhao Family village, Ceng Lu can do me no harm. Ceng Lu’s current actions must be out of desperation, intending to make me panic and eventually surrender. Otherwise, why would his men act so brazenly, making no effort to conceal themselves? Madam Xu, as long as you keep a tight rein on the servants in the house, preventing them from being bribed, and as for those flies lingering outside, let’s just pretend they don’t exist," Lin Yue said calmly, not too worried about her own predicament. Ceng Lu posed no threat to her, and had it not been for the Emperor’s continued use for him, Ceng Lu would have fallen many times over. Moreover, with Erhu’s successful return from sea, valued by the Emperor, Lin Yue gained additional confidence.

"But Madam, after all, Ceng Lu is the Magistrate of Xin’an City with some power in his hands, not to mention he has subordinates to scheme for him. He might come up with some vicious plan. It’s better to be careful, Madam. A woman’s reputation is particularly important. If rumors spread, even if the son-in-law is understanding, willing to listen to the young miss’s explanation, I fear some unease will remain in his heart," reasoned Madam Xu, shrewd as she was, pointing out the critical aspect of the situation.

"I am well aware of that. Not to mention anything else, with the master not at home, I must take care of the affairs here; avoiding the problem by leaving is not the solution. It’s better to stand firm so that Magistrate Ceng knows I’m not someone to be trifled with, and he might just drop the notion," Lin Yue declared, never one to back down, especially when she was not in the wrong. It was Ceng Lu who was despicable and vile – why should she be the one to leave?

"You do have a point, Madam. It seems this is the only way, to be more vigilant every day. Things will be better when the master returns; he will surely have a solution. Or perhaps, Madam, you could write a letter to the master, explaining the situation at home, asking him to come back sooner?"