"So now the Xun family has brought the person back? And my father-in-law's family is preparing to make a public outcry?" Wen Cen still found it incredible and couldn't help but ask again.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded, "The Xun family members are on their way back now. They are traveling by convoy, so they are moving slowly. I came on horseback and got ahead of them."
Qi Zhenzhen reiterated her speculation. Wen Cen shook his head, "The current county magistrate took office two years ago. He is an upright official. If the Xun family wants to use his connections, it's unlikely. I think they will probably do as you said and make that maid take the blame."
"So, what we need to do now is to understand the maid's situation and make a judgment," Qi Zhenzhen said. "Xun Wan Niang has a violent temper and is unpredictable. She wouldn't treat the maid any better, so the maid probably won't willingly take the blame!"
"Leave this to me. I'll go and investigate this matter thoroughly right away. You go back to the noodle shop first. Once I've cleared things up, I'll come and find you immediately."
Qi Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Constable Wen."
"This isn't someone else's business; it's my father-in-law's family's business. As a son-in-law, how can I stand by and do nothing? Rather, I should thank you for coming ahead to inform me. This way, I can prepare and won't be too passive when facing the Xun family," Wen Cen said, stopping in his tracks.
"Although the Song family and the Qi family are two families, they have gotten along very well from the very beginning, like one family. Family members don't need to stand on ceremony with each other."
Wen Cen smiled at Qi Zhenzhen and left in a hurry.
Qi Zhenzhen sat for a while longer before leaving the tea house. Li Jiang was waiting outside and handed the horse to Qi Zhenzhen.
"Thank you, Brother Li," Qi Zhenzhen said to Li Jiang.
Li Jiang waved his hand. "Cough, there's nothing to thank me for."
Qi Zhenzhen invited Li Jiang to have noodles at the noodle shop after his shift ended. Li Jiang happily agreed.
The noodle shop was already open. Yingzi and Zhao Fenglin were wiping tables. When they looked up and saw Qi Zhenzhen, they happily dropped their rags and ran out.
"Sister Zhenzhen, why are you here?"
"I have something to attend to. I'll go around to the back door first. We'll talk later."
If she were alone, she could have gone straight into the noodle shop. But now, with a person and a horse, she naturally had to tie up the horse first.
"I'll go open the door for you."
Lin Ruixue was very happy to see Qi Zhenzhen. She put down her work and pulled her to sit down. "Why did you come without a word?"
Qi Zhenzhen told her about the Song family's affair. Lin Ruixue exclaimed, "How can such a preposterous thing happen?"
"That shopkeeper Xun is absurd enough, so it's normal for his daughter to be absurd. I heard that because shopkeeper Xun had few descendants, he once took eighteen concubines, but none of them bore children. Later, his main wife became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter who bore a striking resemblance to shopkeeper Xun. Shopkeeper Xun doted on her immensely; he truly held her in his hand for fear of dropping her and kept her in his mouth for fear of melting her," Zhang Erniu chimed in. "I don't know if this Xun family daughter was born with this temperament, or if she was spoiled into it by the Xun couple. She does whatever she pleases."
Pure? More like simple-minded, perhaps.
The next morning, Wen Cen arrived early. "The Xun family's maid's parents are in the countryside, and she has an elder brother who is about to get married. The Xun family promised a considerable sum of silver. What's interesting is that the maid signed a living contract, meaning she could leave the Xun family after reaching a certain age. The Xun family said that the girl wouldn't be sentenced to much, and after she was released, they would send her home and give her another sum of money. To show their sincerity, the Xun family sent the girl home yesterday evening, telling her to spend more time with her family."
Now that the person was no longer with the Xun family, it was much easier.
"Constable Wen, shall we go and see that maid? And explain the pros and cons to her properly," Qi Zhenzhen's eyes sparkled.
Wen Cen immediately understood Qi Zhenzhen's intention. By starting with the maid, it would be beneficial to the Song family when they went to court.
The maid's family lived in Luojia Village, ten miles east of the county town. Wen Cen led the way, and the two rode their horses to Luojia Village.
A semi-new, semi-old farmhouse courtyard, with a fence made of wooden stakes and bamboo strips. The courtyard could be seen from the outside.
The maid was squatting by the well, washing clothes, and occasionally lifting her hand to tuck away stray strands of hair from her temples. A woman sat beside her, with a thin quilt draped over her lap. Mother and daughter occasionally exchanged a few words, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Qi Zhenzhen tied her horse to a tree by the entrance and called out from the doorway.
The maid stood up in confusion, wiped her hands on her apron, and walked out.
"Who are you?" the maid asked, puzzled.
"I'm from Xinghua Village, my name is Qi Zhenzhen. This is the constable from the county yamen. We have something we'd like to discuss with you," Qi Zhenzhen said kindly.
The maid calmly invited them into the courtyard.
Qi Zhenzhen didn't beat around the bush and directly stated her purpose. "You're going to take the blame for Xun Wan Niang?"
"It was my fault for not taking good care of my young lady, leading her to do such a thing. I should bear the responsibility," the maid said after a moment's hesitation.
"I guess the Xun family gave your family a sum of money? And then they said that if you take the blame, they would help you manage things, allowing you to be released sooner? And after you're released, they'll give you another sum of money to reunite with your family?"
"Is there a problem?" the maid retorted.
"Miss, I am a constable from the county yamen. My surname is Wen, and my name is Wen Cen. If you admit that the medicine was given to Song Mingze, then it is premeditated murder. Although the crime is not punishable by death, you will be exiled to a cold and harsh region, never to return. Of course, if you are lucky enough to encounter a general amnesty, you might have a chance to come back. In the more than four hundred years since the founding of our Great Feng Dynasty, historical records show only two general amnesties," Wen Cen said to the maid in a gentle tone. "That's once every two hundred years on average. Do you think you can wait that long? Setting that aside, the journey to exile is long. Can you, a young lady, reach the place of exile safely? That place is short of food and clothing, and the conditions are incredibly harsh..."
These were things the Xun family had not mentioned, or had concealed, or perhaps the Xun family didn't know themselves.
The maid's face turned pale, and her hands began to tremble.
The woman sitting on the stool looked agitated. "Your Honor Constable, is what you're saying true? If my daughter takes the blame, will she be exiled? Will I never see her again?"
Wen Cen nodded. "Indeed."
Qi Zhenzhen added, "Even if, as the Xun family said, they will help you after you take the blame, and you spend a few years in prison before being released, have you considered the kind of strange looks you'll receive as a former convict? It won't just be you; your parents and your elder brother will also face such scrutiny. Your original intention was to get money to help your brother get married. Do you think any girl would be willing to marry into your family?"
The maid and the woman's expressions changed. Clearly, they hadn't considered this point.
"Mother, we can't let sister take the blame for Miss Xun. That Miss Xun has a violent temper. When sister was her maid, she was often beaten and scolded for no reason... I, I won't get married then." A young man in his early twenties walked in, carrying a load of firewood. His face was a little red with agitation.