Lu Ye said in a deep voice, "Continue investigating. This matter is indeed difficult to get to the bottom of, but do your best."
"Yes, Sect Master," the Embroidered Uniform Six Envoys replied respectfully.
"You may all withdraw," Lu Ye commanded calmly.
"Yes!" Two Embroidered Uniform Envoys bowed slightly and retreated.
Qing Yu approached Lu Ye, stepping closer, and said respectfully, "Sect Master, news from Qian Ye indicates that Prince Yu has been secretly investigating Madam's background."
Lu Ye suddenly looked up. "Why is he investigating my wife's background?"
Prince Yu likes Madam too.
Qing Yu concealed a fleeting moment of awkwardness and answered truthfully, "According to Qian Ye, Prince Yu wants to find out who made Madam a slave and then cut off their heads."
Lu Ye's expression darkened. After a moment of silence, he asked, "What has he found out?"
"Currently, all that is known is that the slave camp where Madam was held was half Qing Huang Kingdom people and half Great Xia Kingdom people. This means Madam is either half Qing Huang Kingdom or half Great Xia Kingdom."
Lu Ye paused and said to Qing Yu, "Understood. This matter must not be made public. Send our people to investigate as well. We must uncover the truth before Prince Yu. Also, have Qian Ye continue to monitor Prince Yu's side and report any news immediately."
"Yes! Sect Master!" Qing Yu cupped his hands.
Lu Ye stood up and said softly, "I will go to Qing Liu Street later. You two return to Yu Hua Lane. Do not slacken in the training of the sect disciples. We, the people of Sheng Men, must all be top-tier experts."
"Yes!" Qing Yu and Wei Han responded in unison.
When Lu Ye went to Hong Fen Jia Ren on Qing Liu Street, Bai Sheng and the others were working with great enthusiasm.
Lu Ye smiled and rolled up his sleeves, preparing to join the labor.
"Husband! Why are you here? Weren't you going to help a friend with some matters?" Bai Sheng, upon seeing Lu Ye, ran to him like a joyful child, hopping with excitement.
Lu Ye leaned down and touched his forehead to hers, smiling indulgently. "It's the Wei brothers next door. They wanted to hire me to help with some work, and I promised them I'd help whenever I had time, mainly with some thorny issues. After I finished with their matters, I rushed over. After all, no one is more important than my precious darling."
"Husband, you're the best!" Bai Sheng rubbed her head against his chest.
Lu Ye laughed, picked her up, and spun her around a few times.
Everyone else, seeing their affectionate display from a distance, pretended not to notice. Those who couldn't pretend forced themselves to count their toes.
Only A Qiu and A Dong remained calm, unaffected.
Lu Yin secretly gave them a thumbs-up, praising their courage.
Everyone worked together, and it wasn't until almost evening that the three-story building was scrubbed sparkling clean.
Everyone got into the carriage, ready to go home. The carriage had barely moved a few steps when they saw the street ahead completely blocked, with people seemingly arguing loudly.
Since they couldn't pass for a while anyway, everyone simply jumped off the carriage to watch the commotion.
In ancient times, with little entertainment, watching a spectacle was a popular pastime.
Ga Mei, pulling Lu Hua, had already jumped off the carriage. Lu Yin and Lu Tie had long since squeezed to the very front of the crowd.
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye sat in the carriage and also lifted the curtains.
In the center of the tightly packed circle, a charming woman in her early thirties was fiercely scolding a plump man. "You old pervert! I've been working in your broken shop for half a month, and how many times have you touched my backside when I wasn't paying attention? Today, you even touched my breasts! Isn't that molestation?"
The plump man's face turned ashen. He pointed at the woman and said sternly, "You promiscuous whore! You actively seduced me, and now you dare to blame me!"
"Bah! I seduced you? Go pee and look at yourself! You look like a white steamed bun, with a bulging belly, uglier than a pig! Do you think I'd seduce you?"
The plump man snorted, "Who says you were after my body? You were after my money! You said it yourself, five wen for each time I touched you!"
The woman trembled with anger and shouted, "Fine! You old pervert! How dare you slander me! I'd rather starve to death than do such sordid things! Today, I'll scratch your face off!"
The woman, still shouting, lunged at the plump man with her hands outstretched.
"Su Jinfeng! Stop!"
At this moment, a man in his thirties pushed through the crowd and shouted. Behind him were two boys, one older, about twelve or thirteen, and the younger one about seven or eight.
Both boys looked at the scene before them with terrified expressions.
Su Jinfeng had already scratched five finger marks on the plump man's face. Upon hearing the man's voice, she suddenly turned, her face filled with tears, and wailed, "Husband, you've come! The owner of Hua Shang Clothing Store molested me! You must seek justice for me! Wuwu..."
The plump man, seeing Su Jinfeng's husband arrive, became even more fearless. He dusted off his clothes and said disdainfully, "Lu Dapeng, your wife seduced me and then blamed me. Look at my face! How are you going to settle this debt!"
The man named Lu Dapeng's face immediately showed anger, and his fists clenched with a cracking sound.
Seeing this, Su Jinfeng hurriedly explained, "Husband, don't listen to his nonsense! I only have you in my heart and would never seduce other men. He has harassed me repeatedly! Today, he tried to force himself on me, and when I refused, I ran out of the shop. Then he framed me. If you don't believe me, ask them; they've also been harassed many times!"
Su Jinfeng stepped forward and tugged at two other women, trying to prove to her husband that she wasn't lying.
The two women looked embarrassed, lowering their heads and remaining silent.
Lu Dapeng turned his gaze to the two women and asked coldly, "Is what Su Jinfeng says all true?"
The two women hesitated for a long time before whispering, "No... no, boss didn't... didn't harass us."
Upon hearing the two women's words, the onlookers erupted. Many began to accuse Su Jinfeng of being promiscuous, unfaithful, actively seducing others, and then framing them for harassment.
The plump man's face showed a smug expression. Lu Dapeng was furious. He rushed forward, grabbed Su Jinfeng by the collar, and slapped her several times. "You unfaithful shrew! I'm divorcing you!"
Su Jinfeng cried even harder. "Husband, you... you actually don't believe me? How could I seduce this ugly thing? Just looking at him makes me sick!"
Seeing Lu Dapeng's indifferent expression, Su Jinfeng then threw herself at her two sons, grabbing her elder son's arms and shaking him. "Dakang, Mom didn't wrong your Dad, it's a bad person who bullied your Mom! Quickly, persuade your Dad!"
The boy named Dakang, with an angry expression, coldly pushed her hands away. "You're shameless! You don't deserve to be my mother!"
A flicker of despair crossed Su Jinfeng's eyes. She then grabbed her younger son's arm. "Xiaokang, you must believe Mom. Mom has absolutely never done anything to betray Daddy!"
Xiaokang bit his lip, remained silent, and wiped away his tears with his hands.