Lin Ruixue blushed with embarrassment at the teasing, turning her head away from Qi Zhenzhen.
"After the Song family's affairs are settled, we'll have your maternal grandparents come over first to finalize things. Then, you'll come back with us. Your second brother Zhang can continue to look after the business here. With Aunt Lu and the others helping, and since your second brother is capable of handling anything, there's no fear of the business being delayed. We'll all go back and prepare your dowry together. Once the date is decided, the noodle shop will close for a few days, and we'll do things as they should be done," Qi Zhenzhen said.
This was the best possible solution, allowing the noodle shop to close for the shortest possible time.
Lin Ruixue nodded, agreeing with what Qi Zhenzhen had said.
The next morning, Qi Zhenzhen left for the Wen family after breakfast, with Zhang Xiaoniu hurrying to follow.
"What are you doing?"
"Didn't I tell you? The Crown Prince instructed me to keep a close eye on this matter. The Xun family has many people, and if there's a conflict, I can be there to shield you. I haven't been training in the martial arts arena for nothing. Believe it or not, even my second brother isn't my match now," Zhang Xiaoniu said proudly.
Gu Sinian's instructions? Qi Zhenzhen couldn't believe Gu Sinian would bother with such trivial matters. It would be understandable if it concerned the Zhang family, but the Song family was completely unrelated.
Thinking further, Qi Zhenzhen realized this was likely directed at her.
How did she feel? Conflicted.
Ever since their last unpleasant parting, Qi Zhenzhen had forced herself not to think about Gu Sinian. Gu Sinian had indeed not appeared before her again, but what did this instance mean? Was it purely help from a friend, or was he still not over her?
She considered asking Zhang Xiaoniu, but the boy was too simple-minded to understand such things. At most, he would think Gu Sinian was repaying a life-saving favor. But that was ridiculous; how long could a life-saving favor be repaid?
Never mind. She would pretend not to know.
With a heavy heart, she arrived at the Wen family's residence. Upon seeing the Song family, Qi Zhenzhen finally put her thoughts aside, and they proceeded to the yamen.
Wen Cen, as a constable, could not accompany them in this situation and went ahead to the yamen.
Song Mingze beat the drum to appeal for justice. The deep sound of the drum carried far.
Soon, it attracted a large crowd of onlookers.
An yamen runner quickly emerged, and Song Mingze presented the petition he had personally written.
After the court session began, the onlookers learned the nature of the case. The son-in-law was suing his father-in-law's family for abetting his daughter in committing violence and attempting to murder him on their wedding night.
The Xun family was soon summoned.
Xun Wan Niang saw Song Mingze kneeling in the hall and grinned, greeting him, "Husband, why are you here too?"
Song Mingze glared fiercely at Xun Wan Niang, that vulgar and ugly woman who had almost ruined his life. Even now, she showed no remorse and had the audacity to ask why he was there.
Stallholder Xun pulled Xun Wan Niang and bowed to the county magistrate, "My daughter is ignorant; I implore your honor to investigate thoroughly."
The county magistrate slammed his gavel and said sternly, "Xun Tianlai, Song Mingze accuses you of abetting your daughter in violence. Do you know your crime?"
Stallholder Xun replied calmly, "Your humble servant does not know what crime he has committed. As for my daughter, Xun Wan Niang, she dotes on Song Mingze immensely. Your honor has seen her attitude when she saw Song Mingze just now. How could she commit violence?"
Song Mingze systematically recounted the events of the wedding day. Before the county magistrate could react, the crowd outside erupted.
"Has this daughter of the Xun family not touched a man in lifetimes?"
"Dragging a man into bed in broad daylight?"
"This young man is handsome and refined, while Xun Wan Niang looks like a lump of coal. It must have been difficult for the young man."
"It's right that the young man was unwilling."
"If he was unwilling, why did they agree to this marriage?"
"To use such a despicable drug, the two elders of the Xun family are truly shameless."
People love to watch a spectacle, and such an event was rare and peculiar. The more they talked, the more animated they became.
"Regarding the drug, it is true. My Wan Niang is simple-minded, and we as parents were only trying to do what's best for the young couple. The drug, used sparingly, would absolutely not harm the body, only make the young couple inseparable. As for what my son-in-law said, your honor, I have something to say," Stallholder Xun said neither subserviently nor arrogantly. "Because I knew my daughter was ignorant, I entrusted the matter of the drug entirely to her maid. I am very sorry for what happened, but you cannot blame us for this. It was a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"
"Where is the maid?"
Lu Qingshui was quickly brought up, her face filled with fear, her head bowed.
"Is she the maid by Xun Wan Niang's side?" the county magistrate asked.
Lu Qingshui nodded, her voice trembling slightly, "Answering your honor, yes, she is the maid by Miss's side."
"Xun Tianlai, you said the drug that harmed Song Mingze was in your possession, and you administered it to Song Mingze. Is that true?" the county magistrate asked.
Lu Qingshui glanced fearfully at Xun Tianlai and Xun Wan Niang, "I, I..."
"Speak your mind, don't look at me. Don't worry, knowing you did it for your young lady, our family won't blame you," Stallholder Xun said gently to Lu Qingshui. "You didn't do it intentionally, and the county magistrate will deal with you leniently."
*Crack—*
The gavel struck heavily, and the county magistrate looked displeased at Xun Tianlai, "Was I asking you a question?"
Xun Tianlai immediately shut his mouth and remained silent.
Lu Qingshui knelt down stiffly, "Your honor, I, I did not... I don't know about any drug, I didn't do anything. After this incident, I returned to the Xun family to report. Our master brought a group of people to the Song family. The two families could not reach an agreement, and the master forcibly took the young lady and me away from the Song family. Later, he told me that if the Song family refused to let it go, I should take the blame for this matter, and the master would give our family a sum of money... After much thought, I cannot do such a thing, otherwise, my conscience will never be at peace."
Lu Qingshui's words flowed more smoothly. It wasn't something she had done, and she resented the Xun family's deception. Now, how could she listen to Stallholder Xun?
"Your honor, we can testify. At the time of the incident, this maid was guarding my son's door," Song Zhishu said loudly.
"You are Song Mingze's father, of course, you would speak for your son," Stallholder Xun retorted.
"This maid is your Xun family's maid, and she has spoken the truth. Stallholder Xun, why are you still quibbling?" Song Zhili said unhurriedly. "Don't tell me your Xun family's maid is siding with our Song family."
Stallholder Xun was speechless. He had been careless and hadn't expected the maid to turn against them.
"Perhaps your Song family used some despicable means to threaten Qingshui," Stallholder Xun said, unable to endure it any longer. He stubbornly refused to admit it, and no one could do anything about it.