The scene was quiet and the atmosphere solemn. In such circumstances, no matter how many important figures were present, everything would ultimately have to wait for the arrival of the Prefect before it could be officially considered to have begun.

“Prefect.”

“Lord Lu.”

“Prefect…”

Various greetings and calls followed one another, and then, among the injured, there was a confused chorus of "Please, Prefect, seek justice for us, students." These were all scholars with some degree of academic success, at least licentiates, and were not required to kneel. Lu Tuizhi was also known for his humility, and he waved his hand to allow everyone to sit down. His gaze shifted to Ning Yi's side, and he saw that the latter was also sizing him up. Ning Yi then cupped his fist and bowed in salute: "Prefect Lu."

Lu Tuizhi nodded, and immediately someone nearby shouted, "Impudence! As a live-in son-in-law, how dare you not kneel upon seeing the Prefect!"

"It's alright," Lu Tuizhi waved his hand. "Everyone has come here today to attend this gathering, and are all honored guests of this prefecture. Although there are disputes among you now, the truth is not yet clear, and this prefecture will not treat you with official authority.”

As he said this, Lou Linjin narrowed his eyes. Lu Tuizhi's gaze swept over him, and then paused on Ning Yi's face: "But if it is found later that someone here today has acted tyrannically and violently, they must bear the responsibility. This matter has resulted in so many injuries, and next, it is my duty to meet with that person in the yamen!"

These words were spoken with sharp edge. As his voice fell, Ning Yi smiled. The scholars on the side echoed in agreement, some of them pulling at their wounds and wincing. Lou Linjin cupped his fist and nodded, and said loudly, "In this matter, Lou has a friendship with the elders of the Jiangning Su family. If it were just a small misunderstanding between the younger generation of the two families, Lou would rather let it pass. However, this matter has caused such a great uproar and affected so many people that Lou cannot condone it. My son's character is direct and rash, and he is not amenable to instruction. Lou believes that he must be at fault in this matter. When Your Lordship investigates, please punish him severely!"

"Father! I didn't do anything wrong…" Lou Shuheng stood up from there with a swollen face as Lou Linjin finished speaking. Immediately, there was a chorus of support around him. This wave spread out and engulfed the onlookers behind them, and many people were speaking justly for Lou Shuheng, and the scene became turbulent for a time. After a long while, when the wave of voices gradually subsided, Lou Linjin glared at Lou Shuheng and shouted, "You unfilial son! Sit down! Is this a place for you to talk back!" Then he apologized to Lu Tuizhi before sitting down at a nearby round table.

Lou Shuwan was also sitting in the crowd nearby, and as a live-in son-in-law of the Lou family, Song Zhiqian had already arrived at this time, found his wife, and sat with her. The two did not speak, and Song Zhiqian did not notice his wife's slight frown and subsequent closing of her eyes.

My father loves my second brother the most. Lou Shuwan actually understood this best in her heart. In the family, her father was strict with her eldest brother, and somewhat discouraged and helpless with herself, but he was only doting on her second brother. From the moment she saw her father's expression just now, she knew that her father was truly angry this time. After all, from the bottom of his heart, her father looked down on the other party's status as a live-in son-in-law, and because he looked down on him, his anger was even greater.

If it weren't for this, her father would not have shown himself to be so sharp from the very beginning, personally going to talk to the other party, hinting at the Prefect and provoking the crowd's rebellious spirit with a few words. She didn't necessarily fall in love with Ning Yi, but she did have some admiration in her heart. She had seen many outstanding men, but this was the first time she had seen such an outstanding and complex man. But it could only go this far. It would be difficult for Ning Liheng to have a way out again. She knew that the other party was related to Qian Xiwen and was very surprised at first, but their relationship was only based on a visit once in two months. It could only be said that they knew each other. Under her father's full suppression, it was impossible for Qian Xiwen to stand up for him.

On the other hand, her second brother seemed to be really moved by Su Tan'er.

As she thought about these things, Su Wending, who had not been present just now, came over with a medicine box—those doctors before did not give it to him, so Su Tan'er asked him to take it from the houseboat—successively, Qian Xiwen, Mu Bochang and others had also arrived. Lu Tuizhi got up to greet them and take their seats—what he was waiting for was Qian Xiwen's arrival.

After communicating with Qian Yu, Lu Tuizhi actually had an outline and direction in his mind. After Lou Linjin's few words just now, the idea in his mind became clearer: although there was the relationship on Qian Xiwen's side, he still had to convict this Ning Liheng.

This was a very difficult decision to make, but if he sided with Ning Liheng, it was clear that too many people would not agree. If he wanted to convict Ning Liheng, he only needed to convince Qian Xiwen alone, and he could eventually borrow the momentum of the current enraged crowd. Once things were impossible to do, Qian Xiwen would also understand: convicting this Ning Liheng, and then privately giving a favor to let him live, would be a triple win. He would be selling a favor to Lou Linjin and all the Hangzhou scholars, selling a favor to Qian Xiwen, and also selling a favor to Ning Liheng.

Anyway, this was also the most impartial way to handle things. That Ning Liheng had really beaten so many people after all, incurring public anger.

Not long after, he began to ask questions. After a moment, the emotions of the crowd in the hall began to boil…

********************

The wind on the lake brushed over the row of large boats. In the hall of the official boat, hundreds of people gathered together, and several officials, famous people, and veteran elders sat together in the front, asking about the fight just now.

Among the crowd, Song Zhiqian, who was sitting next to Lou Shuwan, actually had some sympathy for Ning Liheng, who was being questioned in the front with the same status as a live-in son-in-law. Although… his calmness in the front made Song Zhiqian feel very strange, even uncomfortable. Although everyone didn't have any deep friendship after getting to know each other, except for meeting once during the initial visit to the Lou family, after that, they just met on the street once and greeted each other. But in any case, he felt like they were in the same boat.

It wasn't long before he realized that Ning Liheng was not in the same category as him at all.

The process of Ning Liheng beating people and everyone being beaten could actually be easily reconstructed. After a moment, the focus was placed on Ning Yi's status as a live-in son-in-law. In Song Zhiqian's eyes, Ning Liheng was indeed a bit strange. When asked about his status as a live-in son-in-law, he bluntly nodded and said yes. When asked about the process of beating people, he replied: "There were twenty or thirty people coming at me, and I was only one person, with a girl behind me. In this situation, I don't think it should be called me beating people…" He referred to the maid as a girl.

This answer was actually very good, and even Prefect Lu nodded, but the problem was only in one point. He explained the girl behind him, and Lu Tuizhi emphasized: "So you were indeed protecting Miss Xiaochan behind you?" He also nodded. Song Zhiqian felt that this guy was a fool.

And when Lu Tuizhi asked him what he thought about who was right and wrong in this matter, he thought for a while and said, "I think it's actually a misunderstanding. There's nothing right or wrong to say." There was a burst of cold laughter in the hall.

"Regarding this matter, it was actually my recklessness," Lou Shuheng said when he stood up to answer. "My Lou family and the Su family have always been family friends. My father and Miss Tan'er's father have long been acquaintances. This Ning Liheng is a live-in son-in-law, and I originally treated him with brotherly courtesy. Who knew that with his status as a live-in son-in-law, he would actually be flirting with a maid in broad daylight. Prefect, if it were a normal thing, it would be fine, but I… I saw them holding hands under the tree with my own eyes, and I remembered that I had just seen Miss Tan'er not long ago. I was suddenly filled with anger and rushed over to try to pull them apart and question them. I admit that I did hit someone at the time. But he is a live-in son-in-law who hooks up with a maid, and he can't escape that. At the time, there should have been more than just me who saw this kind of thing!"

When the words were spoken here, several people also stood up and claimed that they had seen it just now and thought that the two should be husband and wife… Song Zhiqian waited for the Prefect to ask Ning Yi with a stern expression, but the answer he got was also a positive answer. But only the next sentence made him feel a little incomprehensible.

"Xiaochan and I are in love with each other, and in a few days, I will take her as a concubine."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a sudden uproar. Lu Tuizhi frowned, and Qian Xiwen, who had been drooping his eyes and seemingly not caring about anything, also frowned. There was a sound of whispering. Lu Tuizhi looked at the always quiet Su Tan'er: "Su, he… is a live-in son-in-law in your family, what do you think about this matter?"

"Reporting to Your Lordship, this matter was arranged by me." The woman, who had been sitting quietly and saying nothing with no expression, opened her mouth at this time, looked at Ning Yi, and smiled lightly.

"A live-in son-in-law… how can a live-in son-in-law take a concubine?"

"The Great Wu law doesn't say that a live-in son-in-law can't take a concubine."

Her voice was gentle and moving, and she answered naturally at this time. Everyone looked at this incomprehensible couple with strange eyes. Song Zhiqian looked from afar, blinked, and was dumbfounded. Then he reacted: "A lie… she actually told this lie for this womanizing man…" However, Su Tan'er had already taken a step forward, crossed Ning Yi's body, and bowed slightly.

"Your Lordship is right to be surprised. Ning Lang is indeed a live-in son-in-law in my family, but Xiaochan is indeed married to him by my decision. I was originally a merchant's daughter, and the elders in my family had a betrothal agreement with the elders in Ning Lang's family. In my generation, my father only has me as a daughter. In business, I have managed the family's business since I was a child. Ning Lang knows my family's situation and pities my hard work, so he came to be a live-in son-in-law…"

Although Su Tan'er cleaned Ning Yi's wounds before, she had always seemed silent, even a bit cold. In everyone's eyes, they thought that she had complicated feelings and was angry. Even if she took the overall situation into consideration, her mood must be extremely complicated. It wasn't until this time that she spoke. Although some people reacted instantly and thought that she was lying, Su Tan'er said word by word, softly but sincerely. For a time, no one could interrupt her.

"Although I was born into a merchant family, my parents also hired people to teach me poetry and prose since I was a child, and I have read women's books and women's training. If it weren't for the burden of the family, which I have carried since I was a child and cannot let go, I would rather marry Ning Lang myself, rather than let Ning Lang be a live-in son-in-law. I now know that this is my selfishness, which has made Ning Lang… make too many sacrifices. Unfortunately, it is already difficult to change my mind…"

These words were very persuasive. Although she came from a merchant family, Su Tan'er was indeed taught like a young lady since she was a child. At this time, she was dressed in white, with a dignified and gentle appearance. Standing there, she was tall and elegant. As she spoke, she looked at Ning Yi, and her eyes were already red. Others were probably already guessing that the two of them had a betrothal since childhood, and later Su Tan'er had to take over

the family business. Ning Liheng was willing to be a live-in son-in-law. This kind of sacrifice seemed strange, but it really happened before their eyes…

"As for Xiaochan, she and I grew up together since we were young, and it is no exaggeration to say that we are like sisters. Ning Lang has a humble personality, and after marrying me, he treats the maids and servants in the family with kindness. Everyone who came to Hangzhou with me knows this. When we got married, I asked Xiaochan to serve Ning Lang, and Ning Lang treated her like a sister. It has been more than two years now, and everyone in the family knows this…"

"That's right, Xiaochan has been serving my brother-in-law since he entered the Su family," Su Wending raised his hand and interjected.

Su Tan'er put one hand in front of her and reached back with the other, gently holding Ning Yi's hand, looked up, and smiled as she took a breath.

"Although I have read poetry and prose since I was a child, I don't really understand poetry and prose. Ning Lang is a famous talent in Jiangning, and I have always admired him. Although he is a live-in son-in-law, I respect him and love him, and I have never been different from ordinary women. I have always remembered his pity and tolerance for me, and this heart is sincere, and heaven and earth can attest to it…"

She said these words word by word. To be honest, it was a bit cheesy. People were conservative at this time, and many people probably had never thought of such a scene in their lives, but the woman stood there, and the words echoed in the hall one by one, saying it with reason and frankly. For a time, the boat was so quiet that a needle could be heard falling.

Many women, after the initial shock, now had some redness in their eyes. As for the many men, including Song Zhiqian, they were all continuously dumbfounded, and they didn't know what kind of feeling they had in their hearts, envy, jealousy, or hate… Lou Shuwan pursed her lips, put one hand on her chin, turned her head and glanced at him, and after a moment, turned back blankly…

***********

Ahem, this is ps: Speaking of which, I have always been justified in asking for votes. Although I often have interruptions, that is just a small matter, right? What I value most is quality, etc., etc.—I have always told myself this, so I usually don't think that updating is a very, very important criterion that cannot be used to ask for votes, but after updating the previous chapter this afternoon, after I issued the declaration of asking for votes because I had updated four chapters in a row, I suddenly felt that probably no one had ever done this before on Qidian. Asking for votes for this reason seems a bit without integrity—of course, that must be an illusion.

But then I coded another chapter, so I am obviously very moral.

I came up to see that everyone has already helped to brush it to sixteenth place, so… let's continue to brush it ^_^

The main text is full of 3,800, ps is not counted as money… Actually, every time I post this kind of chapter, I feel that I would be better if I were better at watering… Vote for the 3,800 too.

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