Zhan Feiyu was almost amused to death by Qiu Jingyuan's "rich and powerful" statement. Let alone her being from the official Qiu family, even merchant families would not dare to say such things as trading money for lives in public. Did she really think the laws of the Great Qing Dynasty were just for show?
The surrounding onlookers were furious. They had almost been trampled to death by the runaway horse earlier and thought it was just a startled horse that caused the carriage to lose control. Even though they were angry, they could understand.
But now, hearing Qiu Jingyuan's words, the people's anger was instantly ignited. Not only did she not repent or apologize, but she dared to speak so brazenly.
"Everyone is raised by their parents. What good are your few taels of stinking silver? If you dare to harm my son, I'll fight you to the death!" The elder sister, holding her crying son, said. It was the New Year, and she was taking her son to the market. Who would have thought they would almost be hit by a carriage.
"You're not old, but your heart is so vicious. This old man wants to know how your parents taught you!" The dark-skinned old man said with a livid face, sternly rebuking, "You dare to ride horses in the market. Even if your parents come, no matter how high their official position, they must give us an explanation!"
"The village chief is right. Who the hell hasn't seen silver? You injured my wife. If I didn't see you were young, I would have beaten you to death with one punch!" The angry young man waved his iron fist. If it were a grown man, he would probably dare to charge forward.
The indignant citizens clamored for an explanation, especially the stall owners whose stalls were overturned due to the chaos.
"You have to compensate me for my lamb soup. I just cooked a large pot this morning, with ten pounds of lamb in it, and it's all ruined."
"And my steamed buns. I only sold one cage, and they all fell on the ground and can't be eaten."
Everyone looked at the aunt who was about to cry. Following her gaze, they saw that it was indeed true. The six stacked steamer baskets were already tall, and in the chaos, no one knew who had knocked over the stove.
The steamer baskets fell to the ground, and the steaming buns rolled all over the floor. Stepped on by the chaotic passers-by, the dozens of buns on the ground were either crushed or stained with mud and snow, making them inedible.
"Pay up! If you don't pay, you're not allowed to leave!"
"That's right, no one's silver comes from the wind!" Not only was the food wasted, but the stalls were overturned, and the goods were broken. It would cost dozens or hundreds of coins to repair them.
Being denounced by all the citizens at once, Qiu Jingyuan trembled with anger. She disdained Zhan Feiyu with her status, let alone these commoners.
Her maid, Qing Hong, who was supporting her, saw the enraged crowd and flinched, "Miss, don't be angry. These people just want money. Just give it to them."
What else could they do? Even though the young lady had brought guards, these useless people were all lying on the ground, unable to get up. Qing Hong looked around. There were almost a hundred angry people. If a fight broke out, they would only be beaten.
Giving money could quell the public anger, and Qiu Jingyuan didn't care about these hundred taels of silver, but she couldn't swallow this humiliation!
She, the dignified daughter of the Qiu family from Qianzhong Circuit, was being blackmailed by a group of commoners. If this news reached Qianzhong Circuit, everyone would probably mock her in private.
Of course, what made Qiu Jingyuan even more annoyed was Zhan Feiyu. She didn't need anything, and these commoners were manipulated by her to target herself.
Especially the parents and relatives of the little fatty, who were now thanking Zhan Feiyu profusely. If He Sheng hadn't intervened, the little fatty would have likely died under the horse's hooves.
In contrast, on one side, everyone was shouting and denouncing her, while on the other, they were expressing their gratitude. They even called her a little attendant of a Bodhisattva. This made Qiu Jingyuan furious, and her sharp, piercing voice rang out in anger.
"You want these commoners to force me to bow my head?" Qiu Jingyuan pointed her hand angrily at the uncles and aunts who had just denounced her, her rage reaching its peak as she grinned sinisterly, "Today, I will not do as you wish!"
Zhan Feiyu looked at the疯邱Jingyuan, wondering what new trick she would play.
Before Zhan Feiyu could figure it out, Qiu Jingyuan suddenly yelled at the guard captain beside her, "Arrest this black monkey!"
Earlier, he had tried to trick the little fatty out of a skewer of meat. Later, Zhan Feiyu generously gave each child two skewers. The skinny monkey had patted his chest and promised Zhan Feiyu righteously that if anyone dared to bully her in the future, he would help her beat them.
It was also because the skinny monkey was brave that he squeezed to the front to watch the excitement. Before he could react, he was grabbed by the guard captain, Xie Ping.
Qiu Jingyuan pointed at the skinny monkey, whose neck was being held, and triumphantly declared to Zhan Feiyu, "Don't you like to meddle in other people's business? Now, you kneel down and apologize, and I'll let this dead kid go. Otherwise..."
The threat was self-evident. Most people would not do such a thing, but Qiu Jingyuan was just a spoiled young girl who only thought of making Zhan Feiyu kneel and beg her to vent her anger.
The guards were not stupid. They quickly got up from the ground and quickly protected Qiu Jingyuan in the middle. They had not forgotten that He Nuan had previously held Qiu Jingyuan hostage in the restaurant. If it happened again, they would really have to die to atone for their sins.
Even Zhan Feiyu, who was usually calm, was stunned by Qiu Jingyuan's outrageous behavior. She knew Zhan Feiyu was a scholar and cared about her reputation, so she deliberately held a child hostage to humiliate her.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu fall silent, Qiu Jingyuan became even more smug. She raised her chin high, her beautiful eyes showing undisguised arrogance and complacency. "Are your ears deaf? If I give the order, this dead kid's neck will be broken, and you will be the murderer!"
"Miss Qiu, on that day, Qiu Jinyu abandoned the people of Xiangwu County and went to Aozi Pass just to climb into the General's Mansion, and ultimately died at the hands of the enemy. Seeing what Miss Qiu is doing now, it's no wonder you are siblings, equally cold-blooded and selfish!"
The clear voice was filled with reprimand and contempt. Since Qiu Jingyuan dared to be so lawless, Zhan Feiyu would take the opportunity to confirm the rumors and completely cut off the third branch's path of seeking favors.
The onlookers were already furious. Now, hearing Zhan Feiyu's words and knowing that Qiu Jingyuan was Qiu Jinyu's sister, their anger instantly reached its peak.
"So she's the sister of that hypocrite!"
"Some people even say that the Qiu family is loyal and righteous. Bah!"
"No wonder I heard that Old Mr. Qiu disliked the third branch of the Qiu family. There's no smoke without fire. This third branch is truly not good people; their hearts are all black."
"These people have no hearts; they've been eaten by dogs!"
On that day, Xiangwu County was besieged by barbarian troops. The men were all on the city walls, and even the stronger women held cleavers and guarded the city walls, because they all knew that once the city gates were breached, the barbarian troops would march in, and the people of Xiangwu County would all be slaughtered.
At this critical juncture, Qiu Jinyu led his men to Aozi Pass. No matter how the rumors spread by Madam Qian tried to whitewash the situation and glorify Qiu Jinyu, the people of Xiangwu County would not buy it.
And now, looking at Qiu Jingyuan threatening Zhan Feiyu with the little skinny monkey, if looks could kill, Qiu Jingyuan would have been riddled with holes.
Listening to the curses and contempt from all around, the arrogant Qiu Jingyuan was furious and yelled sharply, "All of you shut up! Shut up! Whoever dares to talk nonsense again, I'll make sure they have no place to be buried!"
"Zhan Feiyu, are you just hiding behind these commoners?" Qiu Jingyuan's angry gaze fixed on Zhan Feiyu. "Why don't you kneel down and beg for mercy? As long as you kneel, this dead kid will be saved!"
Fearing that the bargaining chip was not enough, Qiu Jingyuan had Qing Hong take out the purse containing silver. Besides some loose silver, it also contained two hundred-tael banknotes.
"Open your dog eyes and see clearly. I have two hundred taels here. As long as Zhan Feiyu kowtows and apologizes to me, I will immediately compensate you with the silver. You can't earn this much in a year!"
Although many passers-by were injured and several small stalls were overturned, the actual amount of money was not much. Even with good business, a small stall could only earn two to three hundred coins a day. The money Qiu Jingyuan took out was definitely too much.
"Riding horses in the market is a minor offense, but holding a child hostage is a serious crime. Miss Qiu, if you release the child, you can still be punished lightly. Otherwise, even your father cannot save you." Zhan Feiyu's expression was calm, her delicate and composed demeanor forming a stark contrast with Qiu Jingyuan's ferocious face.
Seeing that Qiu Jingyuan was about to speak again, Zhan Feiyu interrupted her first, "You don't need to threaten me with a child. I'll say it here today: if you dare to make a move, I dare to make a move. A life for a life. I wonder if Miss Qiu dares to gamble?"
As Zhan Feiyu finished speaking, He Sheng took a few steps forward.
He still looked ordinary, but if He Sheng could save the little fatty from the horse's hooves, he could also take Qiu Jingyuan's head with the protection of the guards.
"You dare to kill me?" Qiu Jingyuan was almost driven mad. She was a young lady of the Qiu family, with a noble status. What was Zhan Feiyu? How dare she kill her! To kill her for a stinking child!
"You dare to kill someone and let the guards take the blame. Does Miss Qiu think I don't dare? Or does Miss Qiu think my teacher is not as good as your father?" With a sneer, Zhan Feiyu looked down at the stunned Qiu Jingyuan dismissively. Wasn't it just about whose background was bigger?
If the little skinny monkey really died at Xie Ping's hands, it went without saying that he would take the blame at the yamen, and Qiu Jingyuan would definitely deny everything. Similarly, if He Sheng killed Qiu Jingyuan, Zhan Feiyu could also escape unscathed.
Threatened, Qiu Jingyuan really wanted to tear off the smug expression on Zhan Feiyu's face. What was she? Just a country girl, how could she be compared to herself!
If it weren't for the good fortune of becoming a disciple of Scholar Gu, Zhan Feiyu would still be living in Jinlin Village, struggling to get by!
But thinking of her teacher being a Grand Scholar of the Cabinet, Qiu Jingyuan's face turned red with anger. She wanted to retort, but her throat felt blocked. Although she was unwilling to admit it, in reality, Zhan Feiyu's status was indeed more noble than hers.
"The constables are here."
"Lord Gao is also here."
The constables, who had rushed over after receiving the news, immediately shouted. The surrounding crowd spontaneously made way. Behind the group of sword-carrying constables was the county magistrate Gao, who had taken office not long ago.
His gaze swept across the entire scene. Magistrate Gao's already stern face became even more imposing and cold. "Send the person to the medical clinic first."
"Yes, Your Honor." Two constables immediately responded and quickly carried away Granny Huang, who was lying on the ground in a semi-conscious state. Fortunately, the medical clinic was only two streets away, not far.
Magistrate Gao looked coldly at Qiu Jingyuan, who was surrounded by guards, and said in a cold voice, "Release the child!"
Fortunately, the little skinny monkey was brave. He was only scared at first when he was held hostage. If it were an ordinary child, he would have been crying and howling by now.
Qiu Jingyuan dared not confront Zhan Feiyu because she was afraid of He Sheng making a move. But Magistrate Gao was only a seventh-rank county magistrate, and Qiu Jingyuan didn't take him seriously at all. The officials who delivered calling cards to her family every year, seventh-rank county magistrates were not qualified to enter the third branch's door.
Qiu Jingyuan, who was already holding back her anger, became angry again. "What if I don't release him? Do you dare to make a move?"
If Qiu Jingyuan didn't relent, Xie Ping, who was holding the little skinny monkey hostage, would naturally not release him. However, the constables had to obey Magistrate Gao's orders.
For a moment, the two sides were in a standoff, and Zhan Feiyu became an onlooker.
"I'll say it again, release the person!" Magistrate Gao roared with a stern and cold face. He was a righteous and upright person who could not tolerate any wrongdoing. Otherwise, he would not have been just a minor investigator in Linzhou Prefecture for so many years.
Therefore, let alone being the daughter of the Qiu family, even if she were a royal relative, Magistrate Gao would still enforce the law impartially and incorruptibly if she fell into his hands.
Angered by the scolding, Qiu Jingyuan pointed at Zhan Feiyu, "You corrupt official, why don't you arrest her! She condoned her subordinate for cutting the carriage shaft, almost killing me. She is the murderer, arrest her!"
Zhan Feiyu finally understood what it meant to fabricate charges. She didn't want to waste any more time and gave He Sheng a look.
While Qiu Jingyuan was still shouting, He Sheng suddenly made a move, so fast that the guards didn't even have time to react.
As for Xie Ping, he did notice it, but when he met He Sheng's icy eyes, he hesitated for a moment, and the little skinny monkey was rescued by He Sheng. Qiu Jingyuan cried out, "You useless trash! What's the use of our Qiu family raising you!"
Xie Ping and the other guards lowered their heads and endured the scolding. If it were ordinary fighting, it would be fine, but this was the county magistrate and constables of Xiangwu County, and this was the territory of the Yang family of the General's Mansion. If they dared to make a move, the young lady would be fine, but they would probably all end up in prison.
"Thank you, brave warrior. Your great kindness is beyond words!" The freed little skinny monkey cupped his fists and bowed to He Sheng in a proper manner, then grinned at Zhan Feiyu and disappeared into the crowd.
On the way, Magistrate Gao had already heard the whole story from the constables. If it weren't for Miss Qiu riding horses in the market, Zhan Feiyu wouldn't have had her attendant cut the carriage shaft. Fortunately, He Sheng intervened in time, and there were no casualties.
"Lord Gao, none of this has anything to do with Miss Zhan..."
The surrounding citizens spoke one after another. Even if Zhan Feiyu hadn't brought He Sheng and the others to resist the barbarian army that night, they wouldn't stand by and watch Qiu Jingyuan frame her, especially since Qiu Jingyuan had already incurred public wrath.