Reciting It Once

The Xuanyun Textile shopkeeper heard this, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply maintained his signature smile and asked in a soft voice, "Do the two young ladies know that person?"

Xuanyun Textile's businesses were spread throughout the entire Great Zhou Dynasty. To be chosen as a shopkeeper, one naturally had to be a person of great tact and resourcefulness.

He had seen countless people. Xu Suwen's clothing and demeanor were not those of an ordinary person.

What's more, Xu Suwen's speech carried a subtle hint of a Capital City accent.

After thinking for a moment, the shopkeeper said, "If the two young ladies require it, we at Xuanyun Textile can also drive that scoundrel away."

At this moment, outside the Xuanyun Textile shop, a clamor and Liu Xudong's shouts could be heard continuously: "I told you, the distinguished guest you let in is my concubine! Why are you stopping me?"

"My name is Liu Xudong. Have someone go inside and ask her if she recognizes me."

Listening to the commotion outside, Xu Suwen's eyebrows furrowed slightly. She had secretly asked people from the Nanzhou Prefecture yamen to investigate Jiang Yun.

She had also glanced at Jiang Yun's group of unsavory friends, and they were somewhat familiar to her.

Is it him?

But when she looked back, Jiang Qiaoqiao's expression was tinged with fear. She asked softly, "Sister Xu, Tong Sheng Liu is a good friend of my brother's. Could what he's saying be true?"

Seeing this, Xu Suwen said, "Your brother cherishes you so much, how could he possibly marry you off to someone else as a concubine?"

"It seems that scholar Liu is spouting nonsense."

"You rest here for a moment. I'll go out and take a look."

After speaking, Xu Suwen stood up and walked out with a sharp gaze.

Originally, Xu Suwen had intended to have the Xuanyun Textile shopkeeper simply drive Liu Xudong away.

But on second thought, that wouldn't be appropriate. If Liu Xudong continued to spread such rumors, Jiang Qiaoqiao's reputation would be ruined.

The crowd outside would spread the word from ten to a hundred, and who knew what it would eventually turn into.

Quite a few passersby had already gathered outside the Xuanyun Textile shop, eager to watch the spectacle. It was human nature to enjoy a good show.

Moreover, this scholar was causing a scene right outside the Xuanyun Textile shop, drawing many people to stop and watch.

At this moment, Liu Xudong, dressed in a clean white scholar's robe and holding a folding fan, was being blocked by the Xuanyun Textile staff, preventing him from moving forward.

Seeing that he couldn't force his way in, Liu Xudong could only spread his hands and turn back, shouting loudly, "Everyone, please judge this matter fairly today."

"I am Liu Xudong, courtesy name Chen Yun. Not long ago, I made an agreement with Jiang Yun of Jiayun Street to give me his sister, Jiang Qiaoqiao, as a concubine, in exchange for ten taels of silver."

"Shut up..."

A pleasant voice suddenly came from behind. Liu Xudong turned his head and his eyes lit up.

Xu Suwen was tall and beautiful, with a demeanor rarely seen in the entire Nanzhou Prefecture.

Liu Xudong couldn't help but curse Jiang Yun inwardly, that scoundrel, for marrying into a family and finding such a beautiful wife.

Judging by her attire, she was likely wealthy.

Xu Suwen's gaze was cold, and she paid no attention to Liu Xudong's lecherous stare. Instead, she said, "Jiang Qiaoqiao has no relation to you."

"I am Liu Xudong. May I ask the young lady's esteemed name?" Liu Xudong quickly bowed, adopting a scholar's demeanor.

He knew very well that Jiang Yun wouldn't actually give his sister to him. He was doing this simply to extort some money from this wealthy young lady.

He had encountered many such wealthy young ladies. As long as one was thick-skinned and persistent, they would eventually choose to give some money to settle the matter.

Xu Suwen narrowed her eyes, not replying. Liu Xudong chuckled and said, "Miss, you say she has nothing to do with me, but is that enough?"

"Their parents died when they were young. The elder brother is like a father. Jiang Yun personally promised to marry her to me as a concubine."

"Unless, Miss, you give me..." Liu Xudong paused, carefully considering, and then boldly said, "Twenty taels of silver!"

"Otherwise, this matter will not end. Once everyone in Nanzhou Prefecture knows she is my concubine, let's see which family dares to marry her?"

Liu Xudong was clearly adopting a stance: if you don't pay, I'll spread slander everywhere.

Xu Suwen glanced at the crowd and saw people whispering. Her eyebrows furrowed, knowing that if this matter wasn't handled properly, it could damage Jiang Qiaoqiao's reputation.

Immediately, Xu Suwen said calmly, "Twenty taels of silver for you, no problem."

"Paper and brush," Xu Suwen called back to the Xuanyun Textile shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper quickly took out paper and brush and handed them over.

"I can give you the money," Xu Suwen said, taking out a bag of silver and weighing it. "There are thirty taels of silver here."

"All you need to do is write on this paper that everything that happened today was your fabrication and slander against Jiang Qiaoqiao."

Liu Xudong's eyes widened as he looked at the bulging bag of silver, but he still frowned, "But what I said is the truth..."

Xu Suwen made a move to put the money away. Liu Xudong hurriedly said, "I'll write if you add another five taels of silver."

"I'll add another thirty taels for you."

As she spoke, Xu Suwen took out a silver note and had the Xuanyun Textile shopkeeper exchange it for silver.

After receiving the silver, Liu Xudong counted it several times before looking satisfied.

Disregarding his appearance, he squatted on the ground, his rear end sticking out, and began to write an article.

"Are you satisfied, Miss?" Liu Xudong put away his brush and ink, handing the paper over.

Xu Suwen took the paper, glanced at it, and nodded. "To prove you wrote this, sign your name and press your thumbprint below."

"Shopkeeper, could you please fetch the ink pad?"

Liu Xudong nodded, a smile on his face as he signed his name and pressed his thumb into the ink pad.

Xu Suwen crossed her arms and reminded him, "Read it aloud, in front of everyone."

"After you read it, I'll give you another ten taels of silver."

"Alright, alright! If Miss wants to hear it, I'll read it as many times as you like," Liu Xudong picked up the paper and said loudly.

"I, Liu Xudong, courtesy name Chen Yun, hereby declare that everything I said today at Xuanyun Textile was fabricated. Jiang Qiaoqiao is innocent and has no engagement contract with me."

A wave of disdain swept through the crowd, looking down on Liu Xudong a bit.

To do such a thing for a bit of money, and he's supposed to be a scholar.

But when they thought about the seventy taels of silver he was about to receive, they gritted their teeth in envy.

Seventy taels of silver! That was enough to buy a small courtyard in Nanzhou Prefecture's Prefecture City.

After reading, Liu Xudong handed the paper to Xu Suwen. "Miss, if there's nothing else, I shall take my leave..."

"Wait." Xu Suwen took the paper and then, using the brush, added:

'For this matter, I extorted seventy taels of silver from Xu Suwen and Jiang Qiaoqiao. The evidence is conclusive, and I confess my guilt.'

"You, what are you doing?" Liu Xudong's face changed when he saw her added words. He even raised his hand to snatch the paper.

Bang!

Xu Suwen kicked him to the ground and stepped forward, her cold shoe pressing down on his face.

Liu Xudong struggled to get up but couldn't move at all. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Everyone saw it. You added that last part yourself!"

"I'm being framed!"

Xu Suwen pressed on his face and gently blew on the ink to dry it. "Whether you're being framed or not, you can tell Constable Qian when he gets back."

"He should enjoy hearing your story."