The Yizhou Prefecture in early September, a lingering autumn heatwave showed no signs of abating, with the scorching sun high in the sky.
The heat made people impatient.
There wasn't even a trace of wind in the air, and a wave of heat struck one's face.
Su Yurou waited anxiously, wanting to hear Su Xiaoqi personally declare she wasn't a Su family member.
Zhao Xiaohua had said that if this matter was revealed, her family could resume marriage negotiations with Shen Yun.
Then she could finally marry the person she loved.
Of course, whether this matter succeeded or failed rested entirely in her hands.
"Speak up, tell him in front of Young Master Shen, who you are," Su Yurou provoked Su Xiaoqi.
"Do you really think I wouldn't dare to say it?" Su Xiaoqi looked at her dismissively.
"Then tell him loudly, who you are." Su Yurou was overjoyed, sensing Su Xiaoqi's impatience.
If she provoked her a little more, she would surely reveal herself.
"If I say it, who's afraid? Husband, I am..." Su Xiaoqi's initial words were decisive, but then she suddenly faltered, as if deliberately teasing Su Yurou.
Su Yurou's heart was screaming, "Say it, say it."
However, Su Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow and suddenly pointed at the approaching constables in the distance. "Someone's coming."
Su Yurou turned to look and saw a group of constables in dark blue robes.
She didn't understand.
The Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate beside her said, as if seeking credit, "Sister Yurou, they are bullying your elder brother like this, it's right to report it to the authorities."
Su Yurou choked. Reporting to the authorities was good, no, reporting to the authorities was not good at all.
Although she was angry that Shen Yun had injured her second brother, what if the constables' intervention ruined his future?
He was the man she most wanted to marry at the moment.
She inwardly cursed the Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate for meddling, but as things stood, she couldn't refuse. She could only curtsy and thank him with a forced smile.
As they spoke, the constables arrived and inquired about what had happened.
Before Su Yurou could hesitate, the Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate had already explained the situation.
He said that Shen Yun, a distinguished scholar who had topped the provincial examination, lacked personal virtue, was violent in nature, and had publicly beaten a fellow student, causing a fracture of his hand, which had truly incensed the public.
It had to be said that the Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate, having spent years frequenting the streets and alleys of the capital, had truly honed his speaking skills to perfection.
His account was so reasonable and convincing.
To anyone who hadn't witnessed the events from the beginning, Shen Yun truly appeared to be someone who resorted to violence indiscriminately and should be arrested.
The leading constable immediately waved his men towards Shen Yun.
"Slow down..."
"Wait a moment!"
Two voices spoke simultaneously.
One was crisp and melodious, unhurried, while the latter was filled with anxiety and urgency.
It was Su Xiaoqi and Su Yurou who spoke at the same time.
The two glanced at each other, a discordant glint in their eyes.
Seeing that Su Yurou was about to speak up for Shen Yun, Su Xiaoqi, happy to watch them turn on each other, turned her head away and stopped talking.
"Officer, there might be some misunderstanding here." Although she wanted to teach Shen Yun a lesson, she didn't want him to be branded as someone who had beaten his own brother-in-law.
They would be in-laws in the future, and making things too difficult would make her life unpleasant after marrying Shen Yun.
Su Yurou thought quite far ahead, but she always believed that if a person doesn't plan for the distant future, they will inevitably face sorrow close at hand.
However, the Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate didn't see it that way.
He had called the constables over precisely to display the prestige of his noble family in front of Su Yurou.
He then instructed a servant to take some silver and gold and discreetly bribe the constables. Soon, the leading constable waved his hand, signaling his men to go forward and arrest Shen Yun.
Shen Yun, who had been the subject of everyone's discussion, stood there as if nothing had happened.
Even when the constables aggressively approached him, he remained fearless, raising his head to face them.
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Su Xiaoqi quickly whispered a low instruction to Guo'er, who was following her, and asked with concern, "You've only been there once, can you find your way?"
Guo'er nodded, saying that while she wasn't good at anything else, she had a good memory for directions. Only then did Su Xiaoqi feel relieved and watched her hurry away.
Meanwhile, Shen Yun had come face to face with the leading constable.
He stood there, solemn and stern, with an air of pride.
As the constable approached, he was met by Shen Yun's deep, penetrating gaze, and an unconscious wave of fear washed over him.
His heart pounded violently, and though he wanted to apprehend Shen Yun, he found himself unable to make a move.
"Hurry up and arrest him! Is this really the most famous Yizhou Prefecture in the southwest?
Are you going to let a man who beats others go free and let him run rampant?" The Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate frowned in displeasure.
Damn it, they had already taken the money, and they dared to pull this stunt on him.
"It seems this guest from the capital holds a deep prejudice against my Yizhou Prefecture.
If you truly find my Yizhou Prefecture disagreeable, then do not stay here.
Constable Xing, escort him out. Yizhou Prefecture will not welcome him again."
"Insolent! What are you, to dare to expel me? Do you know who I am?" The Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate felt his dignity utterly shattered by being confronted like this.
The polite facade he had maintained instantly collapsed, replaced by a fierce and sinister expression.
His reputation in the capital was already poor, which was why he had traveled so far to the land of Bashu.
His family publicly claimed that the Marchioness of Yong'an had brought her son back to their hometown for a visit.
In reality, it was he himself who had caused trouble in the capital and ruined his reputation.
Anyone with some standing and status was unwilling to marry their daughter to him.
At twenty-seven or twenty-eight, there were no suitable women who dared to associate with him.
Since finding a bride was impossible, his mother, the Marchioness of Yong'an, had brought him back to this remote region of Bashu.
The intention was to find someone in this distant land who was unaware of his reputation.
This was how he came to fancy Su Yurou.
He heard the female voice behind him and turned to look.
His eyes narrowed instantly.
Du Yiyi, who had rushed over after receiving Su Xiaoqi's message, recognized him at a glance and covered her mouth, bursting into laughter.
"Hey, I wondered who it was, but it's the Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate, the leader of the Four Great Scions of the Capital! Hahaha, long time no see."
This "long time no see" instantly pulled the Young Master of Yong'an Marquisate back to a year ago in the capital.
At that time, he had been bullying men and women in the streets when he encountered someone who soundly thrashed him.
Needless to say, that person was Du Yiyi, who referred to herself as a female knight.
Her horsewhip had made his elbow ache for over ten days.
Even now, recalling the incident, he inexplicably felt a pang of pain in his arm.
It was a pity that Du Yiyi's family had too much power in the capital, which made his punishment seem to have been in vain.
He had never forgotten this incident, considering it a great humiliation.
It was truly a case of enemies crossing paths, and he never expected to meet her here.
Hmph, it wasn't the capital now, and she didn't have the powerful Duke of Yu's Mansion as her backing.
He was determined to seize this opportunity to teach her a lesson.