Chapter 536: Beating Gongs and Drums, Come Watch the Spectacle
Chapter 536: Chapter 536: Beating Gongs and Drums, Come Watch the Spectacle
At the government office.
The county magistrate heard that Princess Funing had arrived with her three brothers and eagerly rushed over.
He stayed by her side, smiling and trying to curry favor.
But Shen Ningning ignored him completely.
She had summoned a crowd of villagers from Xiangyun Village, each carrying gongs, drums, and even suonas.
"Princess, you... what are you planning to do?" the county magistrate asked, his heart pounding with fear.
’Has Princess Funing had a sudden whim to hold a concert in the government office?’
Shen Ningning looked back at him. "I heard the Wu family already filed a report. I thought you would know."
The county magistrate froze for a moment before it dawned on him. "Ah, that matter... Yes, I am aware."
How could he not know?
Mr. Wu had sent people over first thing in the morning, trying to force them to order government officers to the Xie family residence to arrest someone.
But how would they dare? They had just reported the matter to their direct superior, the Lord Prefect. He was currently on his way, and they were planning to discuss how to properly resolve the situation.
Shen Ningning pointed to the three tall, somber men behind her.
"I’ve brought my brothers. Whatever the Wu family has to say, have them come and face us now."
After speaking, Shen Ningning spun around, her skirt tracing an orange arc, and sat directly down in the Taishi Chair.
With a wave of her hand, the villagers from Xiangyun Village, led by Sister-in-law Liu, ran outside the government office and started shouting while beating their gongs and drums.
"Come one, come all! A scumbag was badmouthing his own fiancée in a brothel, got beaten up by a friend who found out, and now he’s playing the victim and accusing someone else of hurting him!"
"Come and see! Come and judge for yourselves! Let’s get this sorted out at the government office!"
The villagers were extremely loud, and it wasn’t long before they attracted a large crowd of curious onlookers.
The three Xie brothers exchanged a glance and walked over to their little sister’s side.
Xie Mingxu lowered his head and asked softly, "Little sister, is it really a good idea to cause such a huge scene?"
After all, it was a fact that their third brother, Xu Jingxi, had beaten someone in a brothel.
Shen Ningning held her teacup and drank calmly. "Today, I’m going to let everyone in the Capital City know exactly what kind of trash Wu Ke is."
He slandered Ye Shangyi, which was bullying her good friend.
He got beaten, but instead of admitting his mistake, he tried to turn the tables and bully her brothers.
Shen Ningning absolutely would not tolerate it!
The county magistrate watched from the side, thinking, ’This is bad.’
’Princess Funing is determined to get an explanation.’
So, he quickly ordered a government officer to rush to the Wu Mansion and summon them.
Before long, Mrs. Wu arrived with Wu Ke.
Mr. Wu was reportedly not at home, as he had gone to the palace to file an imperial complaint.
To Shen Ningning’s surprise, Ye Shangyi had actually come with the Wu family.
Upon seeing her, Xu Jingxi pursed his thin lips unnaturally and lowered his head.
Xie Ming’an turned his head and whispered, "Does she know you fought for her?"
With a cold expression, Xu Jingxi secretly stepped on Xie Ming’an’s foot.
"Second Brother, shut your mouth."
Xie Ming’an grinned, his dashingly handsome face full of teasing amusement.
He only toned it down a little after Xie Mingxu glanced back at him with a cold, warning look.
’Their little sister was in the main hall, fiercely waiting to stand up for them, and he had the nerve to be grinning?’
Shen Ningning took the initiative and had Ye Shangyi sit beside her.
"Changyi, are you also here to listen in?"
"Yes," Ye Shangyi’s expression was a little grim. She glanced at Xu Jingxi and said meaningfully, "I’ve come to hear why Xu Jingxi hit someone."
Mrs. Wu shouted coldly from her side: "Why else? He’s relying on his family’s influence, acting completely lawless. It’s a good thing the Princess is here today. We’ll get this matter straightened out, lest you accuse us later of being unforgiving when we’re in the right."
Shen Ningning shot her a look. "We’ll soon find out whether you’re being ’unforgiving when right’ or just trying to argue your case when you’re completely in the wrong."
Mrs. Wu’s expression stiffened at these words.
At that moment, the county magistrate had a government officer help Wu Ke to a chair opposite Shen Ningning.
Shen Ningning glanced over. The beating he took was indeed not light.
His head was still wrapped in white bandages.
A large crowd of townspeople had already gathered at the entrance of the government office.
Wu Ke’s eyes darted around. He addressed Xu Jingxi, who was beside Shen Ningning. "Third Young Master Xie, didn’t I tell you this could all be over if you just apologized? You beat me into this state, and now you’ve dragged me to the government office. It’s completely unjust!"
Xu Jingxi said nothing, only staring at him coldly. Before they came, Shen Ningning had told him not to speak unless absolutely necessary.
At this, Shen Ningning lifted her beautiful, crystalline eyes and sneered at Wu Ke.
"Apologize? You insulted Changyi first. Why should my third brother apologize to you? In my opinion, Changyi is his classmate and, more importantly, my dear friend. You humiliated her, and I haven’t even settled the score with you yet!"
Ye Shangyi’s gaze turned dark as she looked at Wu Ke.
Wu Ke hastily denied it. "Changyi, don’t listen to them trying to stir up trouble! How could I possibly insult you in front of my friends?"
Mrs. Wu also gave a cold, subtle sneer.
’They had already taken care of the young masters who were dining with Wu Ke. The fathers of these young men all worked under Mr. Wu. Whoever dared to expose the truth would be ruining their own future.’
Wu Ke knew this as well, so he doubled down on his accusations.
"Xu Jingxi! We have no history of animosity, yet you brought your second brother and brutally attacked me. Now you’re trying to drive a wedge between Changyi and me. Could it be... are you doing all this because you’re angry? Because you like Changyi and can’t stand that she and I are about to be engaged?"
As soon as he said this, the townspeople at the door erupted into an uproar, whispering and murmuring amongst themselves.
"I was wondering why a young master of the Xie family would get into a huge fight in a brothel. So it was over a woman."
"Not just any woman, either. That’s the young lady of the Ye Family, Grand Tutor Ye’s only direct granddaughter."
Xu Jingxi’s mouth remained a tight line. Heeding Shen Ningning’s instruction, he did not speak.
But beneath his sleeve, his large hand had clenched into a fist.
Seeing his silence, Wu Ke pressed on, "Changyi, look! He has a guilty conscience!"
However, Ye Shangyi’s gaze upon him was icy.
"Xu Jingxi and I have always been just classmates. He has never done anything out of line. Isn’t it a bit of a stretch to insist he hit you because of me?"
"Wu Ke, the more I think about it, the more I suspect that you must have said something about me in that brothel, which made my friend, Xu Jingxi, stand up for me."
Wu Ke’s face turned pale. "Changyi! If I said anything bad about you, then may I... may I be struck by five bolts of lightning and die a horrible death!"
Mrs. Wu grew anxious. "Ke! Don’t say such nonsense."
Ye Shangyi pressed her lips together, her eyes growing even darker.
But Shen Ningning, sitting to the side, began to clap. She smiled and said, "Excellent! That’s a fine oath you’ve sworn. The gods are always watching from above. If you’re lying, I’ll just ask Grandfather Heaven to send down three hundred bolts of lightning to teach you a lesson!"
When Wu Ke heard this, he immediately felt his guilty conscience prick him, and he grew even more afraid.
This was Princess Funing, the legendary blessed girl with divine powers. If she really asked the heavens to send down lightning, would he even survive?
Just as Wu Ke was about to make an excuse to flee, a voice came from the entrance:
"Princess, I’ve brought Hong Ying!"
Everyone was confused, wondering who Hong Ying was.
Only Wu Ke’s expression changed dramatically.
’Hong Ying was the girl from the brothel he had been holding in his arms that day. Princess Funing actually brought her here to testify?’