Chapter 174 – Beating The Drum Outside The Governor’S Door
Chapter 174 Beating the Drum Outside the Governor’s Door
Granny Zhou bit her lips. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and her body shook, but she forcefully restrained it.
The lady in front of her looked extremely weak. Granny Zhou’s first memory of Qu Moying was that she was a little baby wrapped in a swaddling cloth. She was so soft and cute. Her entire hand was so tiny. In an instant, the baby grew so big. Not only was she so grown now, but she was also so calm and steady.
So much so that even with just her petite body, she stood out to avenge Ji Yanyue, her younger cousin sister.
A strange sorrow welled up in Granny Zhou’s heart. If nothing had happened to the Second Madam, although Fourth Lady Qu was somewhat weak, she would definitely have a mother who truly loved her. She would definitely not have had such a difficult time. Her lady had not yet reached the marriageable age, but she was able to handle things so calmly.
If it had not been for her experiencing too many hardships, how come a lady was not gentle and delicate?
Even when the Crown Princess was at Fourth Lady’s age, there was still some innocence to her. Her identity at that time represented the calm and noble life of the future, but she still revealed a trace of weakness from time to time.
“Concubine Xiang, Cousin Hanyue and Uncle are gone. If you were also gone, there would be no one in this world who can uphold justice for Cousin Yanyue. Those who killed Cousin Yanyue will only keep laughing when Cousin Yanyue becomes the one who died for nothing. As a daughter of a high-rank General and also the wife-born lady of Earl Ling’an’s Mansion, not only did she die for an unknown reason but her reputation was also ruined. In this case, even though she has died, she will not have a good reincarnation.”
Qu Moying said coldly.
Even though her eye veil had blocked everything, others could still feel the coldness in her eyes. Everyone in the carriage was shocked.
These words were extremely cruel. There was a bit of contempt and ridicule in them. There was even a bit of killing intent in them. Qu Moying’s beautiful lips curved up slightly. Her smile slowly showed. It was very gentle, but it also made people palpitate. Even Yu Dong couldn’t help but lose his usual cool.
At this moment, he felt that the Fourth Lady, who was in front of him, looked more like his powerful and cold Master.
This kind of smile looked very gentle, but it made people feel as if a sharp knife was cutting through their bones and making crisp sounds.
“I… I understand!” After a long time, Concubine Xiang finally came back to her senses and gritted her teeth.
She should be afraid, but she inexplicably felt at ease. In fact, she was not familiar with this Fourth Lady Qu in front of her. All she knew was that Fourth Lady Qu had always been in a bad situation in Qu Mansion in the past, and Madam could not do anything about it. After all, this lady was the wife-born lady of Qu Mansion. Madam could only secretly let people watch over her when she was young.
Madam had even helped her out of danger. However, later, Madam’s health worsened, and after she fell ill, First Lady took over this matter. As a result, Concubine Xiang did not bother about it anymore. Now, she did not expect that she would meet Fourth Lady Qu again under such circumstances, and that Fourth Lady Qu would set up such an exquisite plan.
There was no one left in Ji Family’s first branch now, and this sad reality made Concubine Xiang grieve. But, at least there was Fourth Lady Qu, right?
Fourth Lady Qu gave Concubine Xiang a very strange feeling. She looked very weak, and her voice was very gentle, but she could make arrangements so calmly. Because of this, Concubine Xiang felt that she should believe Fourth Lady Qu. She should not say something like “Princess Ji and Second Madam won’t do that” again. She thought about it carefully. If Princess Ji and Second Madam had not done something, then where did Third Lady go?
“Fourth Lady Qu, I will go and seek injustice for Third Lady soon. Even if Third Lady is dead, I will make sure her name is cleared. And I will not let those who hurt Third Lady get away with it.” Concubine Xiang lowered her voice and said firmly.
Her eyes no longer wandered, and she was no longer distracted. She looked at Qu Moying with burning eyes.
Qu Moying nodded and breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. She was afraid that Concubine Xiang would not believe that something had happened to her sister. If the person who filed a complaint did not even believe, how could others be expected to believe her?
Moreover, this involved Crown Prince’s Mansion.
Qu Moying needed to draw out a shocking case from this matter bit by bit. She had never even thought about the future of this path, but even if she had to sacrifice her life for the sake of it, she would still continue walking this path.
No matter what, she had to let the truth be revealed to the world. Even if she would be smashed into pieces one day, she had nothing to fear.
The carriage stopped. Yu Dong lifted the curtain and looked at the tall governor’s office outside. She said to Qu Moying, “My lady, we have arrived at the governor’s office.”
Qu Moying nodded.
“Fourth Lady Qu, I will get off now,” Concubine Xiang said.
“Be careful. I will watch out for you,” Qu Moying said.
Concubine Xiang no longer said anything. She turned around and decisively got out of the carriage. Then, she picked up the hem of her dress and walked up the high steps.
There was a big drum at the door of the governor’s office. It was for people who came to sue to beat. However, there was a price to pay for this—the person who came up to beat the drum would be flogged ten strokes without being asked the reason, and it would definitely not be light strokes. After that, the governor would definitely accept this case.
Qu Moying’s original intention was to let Concubine Xiang make a complaint to pass down the message. However, Concubine Xiang went straight to the drum. Since she was going to make a complaint, she naturally would make a bigger scene out of this matter and let more people know about it. Only then would it be a better way to seek justice for Third Lady.
Through the curtain, Qu Moying saw Concubine Xiang walking towards the big drum. Tears flashed in her eyes. She pressed her hand against the curtain and did not go up to stop Concubine Xiang. This was indeed the best method. Compared to directly going to the governor to make a complaint, beating the drum would indeed alert more people. Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s status was not ordinary at the moment, but with Concubine Xiang’s method of reporting the case, it would attract even more attention.
She also knew clearly that even if she were to sue now, it would probably end up unsettled. However, she would still do it. As long as there was a complaint record, there would be a chance to overturn the case. This complaint was utterly critical.
The more people who knew, the better!
Concubine Xiang rushed straight to the big drum. The guards guarding the office originally wanted to come up to stop her and question her, but looking at her, they gave up. The office had ordered that people who wanted to beat the drum to make a complaint should not be stopped.
Concubine Xiang went to the front of the big drum, picked up the stick by the side, and used all her strength to beat it.
When the drum sounded, many people who walked past stopped and looked at Concubine Xiang, who was standing on top of the steps, in shock. Such a weak woman standing in front of the big drum and beating it with all her might—she would definitely not do this unless she was greatly wronged. What happened?
Which family’s injustice was it that she even needed to beat the drum? Ten heavy strokes were not something ordinary people could bear, let alone a weak woman.
More and more people gathered at the door. Some people were in their carriages, and Qu Moying’s carriage was among them. In this way, her carriage was inconspicuous.
The chief came out and brought Concubine Xiang inside, leaving only a group of people standing outside the door pointing and talking about who this person was. They had never heard of anyone suffering from such great injustice that they had to come complaining so desperately.
Qu Moying’s eyes fell on the door of the governor’s office on top of the steps. Her cherry lips were tightly pursed, and her hand slowly pressed against her chest. Her eyes were slightly closed, and she forcefully calmed her emotions, about to ask the carriage to turn back to the mansion. She could not interfere in what happened next, but she knew that Concubine Xiang would not be in danger for the time being.
She was the plaintiff now…
However, she heard someone outside ask, “Is this Fourth Lady Qu’s carriage?”
Qu Moying abruptly opened her eyes and looked outside.
After receiving her signal, Yu Dong lifted the curtain slightly and saw that it was a clever-looking young servant outside. He immediately nodded. “It is.”
“I work for Lord Wei. He just came out and saw Qu Mansion’s carriage. He guessed that it might be Fourth Lady Qu, so he specially asked me to ask whether Fourth Lady Qu’s injury in Crown Prince’s Mansion last time was serious. Does she need Lord Wei to have someone send an Imperial Doctor to your mansion to have a look? He heard that she sprained her ankle, which is an injury that normally takes a hundred days to recover.”
The young servant said with a smile. His words were very polite.
However, Qu Moying was speechless.
She had indeed been injured from the fall, and it had indeed happened in Crown Prince’s Mansion, and she had indeed sprained her ankle. However, this had nothing to do with this Lord Wei. The person who had bumped into Lord Wei’s young servant was Yu Dong. What did Lord Wei mean? Did he mean that she was the one who had bumped into his young servant?
Did he really not know anything, or was he doing it on purpose?
As expected, none of the men of the royal family were easy to deal with. Even Lord Wei, who was said to be sick and weak, had a myriad of thoughts that could not be guessed so easily. In his seemingly gentle words, the meaning was not quite friendly. It was even somewhat insulting. Was he afraid that he would be implicated with her?
“Help me thank Lord Wei. I bumped into the rockery myself. It has nothing to do with Lord Wei. Also, the person who bumped into Lord Wei’s young servant was my maid. The maid is fit enough and she did not suffer from any injury. It’s fine, really. I appreciate Lord Wei’s good intentions.”
Qu Moying said slowly. No matter what this Lord Wei’s goal was, she had to make it clear. She could not hesitate.
“Fourth Lady Qu, you are injured so badly. Lord Wei feels really sorry about it. Why don’t…” The young servant’s smile became kinder as he continued to speak politely.
“It was I who bumped into Lord Wei’s young servant. It has nothing to do with my lady.” Yu Dong interrupted the young servant unhappily.
“No, what Lord Wei means is…”
“Thank Lord Wei for me. My maid is fine. It’s just a small matter. Lord Wei really doesn’t need to care about this,” Qu Moying said coldly.
The commotion and the word “Lord” had already been noticed by people around them.
“Let’s go!” Yu Dong glanced at the young servant and ignored him. He then ordered the carriage driver.
The carriage driver turned the carriage around in another direction. He carefully drove the carriage out of the crowd and then went to Qu Mansion. Qu Moying had no intention of staying to argue with Lord Wei’s young servant.
After a moment of surprise, the young servant turned around and walked to an alley by the side door of the governor’s office. There was a large carriage. The curtain of the carriage was slightly rolled up. Lord Wei, Pei Qingmin, leaned there weakly and coughed a few times in a low voice. Although his pale face was sickly, he looked beautiful and gentle.
“Your Highness, Fourth Lady Qu said that the one we bumped into was her maid. Fourth Lady Qu fell on her own and has nothing to do with you.” The young servant took two steps forward, stood in front of the carriage, and bowed respectfully.
Pei Qingmin coughed a few more times and wiped the corner of his lips with a handkerchief. After he raised his eyes, he looked at the crowd outside, asking, “Was the person just now brought here by Fourth Lady Qu?”
He happened to come out from the side door of the governor’s office and happened to see Qu Mansion’s carriage stop. The moment it stopped, a woman came down, and sleeves were seen moving inside the carriage. When the carriage behind stopped, a wheelchair was vaguely seen. Only then did he guess that it was Qu Mansion’s Fourth Lady Qu.
The wheelchair was very familiar. Pei Qingmin frowned unhappily. He did not like to be blackmailed. He did not think too much about it before. Now that he saw the wheelchair, it made him think a little more…
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