After Picking Up Five Brothers, No One Dares to Offend the Capital City

Chapter 148

Chang Yan was looking for a house for Wen Zhiyun.

The Hairpin courtyard that they rented for 25 taels back then was mainly because the courtyard was very shabby and required a lot of maintenance. Also, because Wang Fufeng was not interested in managing it at the time and had a casual attitude.

The other houses nearby did not have these problems. They were all clean and new, with red walls and green tiles, very spacious inside.

Similarly, the prices were also very good.

Just looking at the two-room courtyard to the left of Hairpin courtyard, it was only one-fifth the size of Hairpin courtyard, yet cost eighty taels a year.

The one-room courtyard behind cost fifty taels a year.

Although there were some savings in the family, expenses were also high. They couldn't waste money like this.

Chang Yan's face darkened slightly. When he returned to Hairpin courtyard, he saw a servant from the Wang family waiting for him.

Seeing the master, the servant took out a land deed from his arms after greeting him, "The Liu family has sent a gift of thanks. Young Master took a look and left this land deed, hoping Young Master will like it."

Chang Yan took it. It was the one-room courtyard he had seen before, sharing a wall with Hairpin courtyard. Although not big, it was exquisite and elegant. He didn't expect it belonged to the Liu family.

He was even more surprised that Wang Fufeng had sent it to him.

For the first time, Chang Yan felt what it meant by "the heart being as intricate as a seven-holed crystal". Young Master Wang was so smart, it was really hard not to admire him.

He kept the land deed with a sigh, sincerely said, "Thank you, Brother Fufeng."

No more words were needed, but their relationship had progressed one step further. If he needed help in the future, it would just take one sentence.

"Young Master Chang is too kind." The servant bowed and took his leave, "Don't worry about our Young Master's matters. But do pay more attention to the Sun family."

The reason why Young Master Wang Fufeng could be plotted against by Third Master Wang was fundamentally the prefect He's retaliation against the Wang family.

In Prefect He's mind: the Wang family had ideas, the Sun family carried them out.

The former displeased him, the latter angered him.

Therefore, the ones who really bore the brunt of Prefect He's emotions were the Sun family, Sun Yu's brother, Sun Ning.

What trouble could he cause?

Could it be that he had discovered the truth about the Wang family plotting against the Sun family?

Back then, everyone thought Prefect He came to support the Sun family, and was the mainstay of the Wang family's first wife.

But after coming for months, he only targeted Hairpin courtyard, and did not give any extra favor to the Sun family, or even met the Wang family's first wife surnamed Sun.

This Prefect seemed like a lonely big radish, standing tall in the field, mighty, but not grouping with the other radishes.

While Chang Yan was puzzled, he kept his mind on it, waiting to ask Zheng Ruqian about Shopkeeper Hao of You Ran House when he returned.

"You mean Shopkeeper Hao?" Just returned from delivering beans, Zheng Ruqian downed a cup of tea in one gulp, "I just got back from delivering peas today. He's fine. I heard his wife and children were going back to Fengjing Province to visit relatives a few days ago but didn't go in the end. Maybe they found they couldn't pull a carriage by themselves."

The corner of Chang Yan's mouth twitched. He knew the Sun family had not discovered the Wang family's deliberate plot, and was relieved.

What would they do then?

Soon, everyone knew.

In early October, the Wang family's scandal had just ended, with Wang Haoran betrothed to Zhou Wan, scheduled to marry after obtaining merit in the imperial examination.

This was enough to show Wang Haoran's confidence in his literary skills.

As well as the Zhou family's efforts to salvage their dignity.

By late October, Anshui Prefecture was unusually quiet for a while, with everyone busy with their own matters and striving for the future.

But on a dark and windy night, two thieves sneaked into the prefect's residence and caused havoc in the backyard before leaving.

Everyone in the residence was furious.

This was the prefect’s residence. To think thieves could still sneak in, what would the commoners think? How would they doubt Anshui Prefecture's public security?

That night, lights shone all over the backyard of the prefect’s residence, with everyone carefully checking what exactly was lost.

Thankfully, no valuables were lost.

While the people were relieved, they rummaged through the final chests and boxes. When they checked the prefect’s wife’s personal boxes, the head maid found in shock that three sets of the madam’s intimate apparel were missing.

Although not made of luxurious material, they had been worn many times, and were embroidered with the madam's name.

Why did the thieves want to steal this?

The head maid did not understand, and reported to Prefect He Chengzhang. Seeing the master smashing a cup in anger, she finally understood the severity.

"Seal all the news, don't let it spread." He Chengzhang suppressed his anger and urged in the darkness.

After the head maid left, he flicked his sleeves, smashing all the teacups and utensils on the ground.

This was too outrageous, too disgusting.

They clearly knew the madam was his reverse scale, yet still dared to make a move on her.

Did they think he, He Chengzhang, only knew how to eat and drink?

In the deep night, the man in his thirties laughed furiously, then sinisterly drooped his mouth corners.

The next day.

Although the people in the prefect's residence tried their best to cover it up, there were still rumors spreading.

Some said the prefect's residence was robbed, and the thieves took the prefect’s wife’s intimate belongings.

Others said it seemed to be a theft on the surface, but it was possible the prefect’s wife did something improper, discovered by the prefect, who had no choice but to cover it up to save face.

Some even outright slandered the prefect’s wife’s conduct.

He Chengzhang stopped all these before they could reach the madam’s ears.

But what others said outside, he could not cover up.

In Hairpin courtyard, the six siblings were also discussing this matter.

Although they were in opposition with Prefect He, and he had schemed against them before, none of them could laugh seeing the prefect’s wife being slandered like this.

Xu Mo said solemnly, "Using a woman's reputation for sinister purposes, the person behind this has despicable and contemptible means."

Wen Zhiyun also nodded, "Sister Xiaozhu told me the prefect's wife is an extremely good person."

Jiang Sheng was eating her meal.

Today’s dishes could be considered abundant, with chicken, duck, fish and meat, as well as the preserved pork ribs freshly made by their aunt, very tasty.

But after a few bites, Jiang Sheng stopped eating and quietly asked, "Why do men drag women into their fights?"

Because women cared more about reputation, because women were more fragile, because women were easier to deal with.

The system and customs of the Dayu Dynasty left behind by their ancestors were full of restraints on women, yet had few requirements for men.

For example, in the Wang family scandal, Wang Haoran was only talked about a little, while Zhou Wan's reputation was completely ruined.

Men could have concubines, being romantic could be seen as a merit, yet women had to teach their husbands, had to be faithful.

In short, the tolerance in this world towards women was too low, so a woman's reputation was as fragile as glass, easily shattered by those with malice. 𝖋𝖗𝖊𝖊𝖜𝔢𝔟𝖓𝖔𝔳𝔢𝔩.𝔠𝖔𝔪

The people behind this had vicious thoughts, slandering the prefect's wife, and stealing her intimate apparel.

If the underwear fell into the wrong hands, the prefect's wife’s reputation would be tainted, impossible to clear even if you scrubbed hard.

"If I were the people behind this, I would make good use of the underwear." Chang Yan said slowly, "I would certainly put it in the home of the person I hate most."

That way, the Prefect would stop at nothing to avenge his wife, just like how he dealt with the Sun and Wang families before.

As Chang Yan finished speaking, everyone in the courtyard froze.

Then, they all stood up without finishing their meals, urgently searching the entire courtyard.

Not in the bedrooms, not in the workshop, not in the yard either.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Zheng Ruqian pulled two pieces of cloth from the donkey cart he just brought back, "Huh, what are these?"

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