Blocking the Carriage

"I... I..." Upon Jia Songlin as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his whole body turning ice cold.

If these words reached the Emperor's ears, would they have any chance of survival?

He opened his mouth to argue, but found that Kang An's words were reasonable and well-founded, and he couldn't find any words to refute them. He was so anxious that he broke out in a cold sweat.

"Steward Kang, don't worry, when that scoundrel comes back, I'll definitely break his legs and make him apologize to Mister Kumu and Fifth Miss Zhao." He could only repeat this sentence over and over again.

"No need for apologies. Just let the Marquis of Earl of Suiping's Residence go, let Fifth Miss Zhao go, and don't let the Zhao Family be destroyed." After saying this, Kang An politely bowed and withdrew.

Jia Songlin his hand, wanting to explain a few more words to Kang An, but found that even if he kept Kang An there, he couldn't say anything else, so he could only lower his hand in vain. Looking at him, he seemed to have aged several years inexplicably.

He composed himself, racking his brains for a way to salvage the situation. He wondered if he should first go to the Emperor to apologize. If he took the initiative to admit his mistake and explain things to the Emperor, perhaps the Emperor wouldn't punish him and his son too harshly?

But what if Mr. Kang Shilin comes to them to vent his frustrations and then lets it go, without intending to complain to the Emperor? After all, it was Fifth Miss Zhao who offended his wayward son, not Kang Shilin himself. Wouldn't it be a bit of an overreaction for Kang Shilin to complain?

If that's the case, then if he voluntarily confesses, wouldn't that be an admission of guilt?

Seeing that Kang An had left, and Jia Songlin was still standing there in a daze, his expression shifting unpredictably, it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Moreover, after what had happened, Jia Songlin probably wasn't in the mood to drink with them anymore; he'd probably be looking for that unfilial son to beat him half to death.

They exchanged a glance, stood up, and walked over, saying, "Lord, we've finished eating. We still have some matters to attend to at home, so we'll take our leave now."

Jia Songlin a state of utter confusion and naturally wouldn't keep them. With a stiff smile, he exchanged a few pleasantries with them and then earnestly instructed, "What happened just now was a misunderstanding. It concerns the reputation of our Earl of Zhongqin's Residence, so please don't spread it around. I beg you."

He summoned the steward. "Take out those bolts of imperial silk I received the other day and give two bolts to each of the gentlemen."

Seeing that the others were declining, he said, "These palace silks were originally intended for you to take back, so please don't be shy."

The men knew that refusing the gifts would be tantamount to refusing to "spread rumors," which would inevitably offend Jia Songlin. So they stopped refusing, bowed, thanked him, and left.

As soon as the man left, Jia Songlin's face darkened, and he ordered, "Men, seize that unfilial son and punish him according to family law."

Jia Junze, as the heir of the Earl of Zhongqin's Residence, was spoiled and mistreated because the Wife of the Earl of Zhongqin only had this one biological son, and the Wife of the Earl of Zhongqin had a higher status than Jia Songlin; Jia Songlin was able to hold a position in the court entirely because of his wife's family's support. Therefore, the Wife of the Earl of Zhongqin was very domineering at home and spoiled her son so much that he became lawless.

At this moment, Jia Junze was having an affair with a male prostitute. When he heard his father summon him, he reluctantly let go of the male prostitute and went to the front yard. Before he could react, Jia Songlin ordered the servants to tie him up and beat him with a board.

When Wife of the Earl of Zhongqin arrived after hearing the news, Jia Junze had already been beaten with more than twenty lashes and was in a semi-conscious state.

"You old bastard, I'll fight you to the death..."

While chaos reigned at the Earl of Zhongqin's Residence, Zhao Ruxi sat silently in her carriage, staring blankly at Zhao Ruyu outside.

Last time, Zhao Jingli stopped her carriage at the alley entrance; today it's Zhao Ruyu's turn.

"Sister, I have something to tell you. Could you let me into the carriage, or come sit in my courtyard?" Zhao Ruyu pleaded, her expression pitiful.

"No need. You can say what you have to say here. I need to rush home for dinner; it's too late and Grandma will worry." Zhao Ruxi refused without hesitation.

Zhao Ruyu bit her lip. "It's not convenient to say this here."

"Fine, don't tell me then." Zhao Ruxi couldn't stand her innocent, naive attitude, and looked up to tell Uncle Lu to drive the carriage.

"No, no, no, I'll say it here then," Zhao Ruyu quickly said.

She glanced at Gao Weiqiang, and seeing that he showed no intention of avoiding the question, she had no choice but to speak, "I heard that the Heir of the Marquis of Pingnan once came to propose marriage to you?"

Zhao Ruxi grew impatient. "Stop testing me with these questions, just say what you mean."

Zhao Ruyu quickly said, "Actually, I think you can agree, sister. Just remind him not to fall into the trap, and he definitely won't die on the battlefield. The Heir of the Marquis of Pingnan has both status and character. Looking at the entire capital, there are almost no men more outstanding than him who are not yet engaged."

Saying these things in front of Gao Weiqiang, Dianjiang Bo, Uncle Lu, and Qingfeng was extremely embarrassing for a young girl like her, especially since it involved rebirth. But Zhao Ruxi didn't give her a chance to speak alone, so Zhao Ruyu deliberately brought up the matter of her previous life so that Zhao Ruxi wouldn't dare to be so perfunctory with her again.

"Give up," Zhao Ruxi said calmly, looking at her. "If you want to marry Fu Er, go ahead. I absolutely will not marry Fu Da just to please you. You're not that shameless."

She turned and ordered, "Uncle Lu, let's go."

Zhao Ruyu hated Zhao Ruxi's bad temper; it was as stinky and hard as a rock in a latrine.

Before the carriage could start moving, she said firmly to Zhao Ruxi, "This isn't for my sake! I'm saying all this for your own good. If you don't want to marry Heir Fu, do you want to marry the Heir of the Earl of Zhongqin?"

Zhao Ruxi's previously calm expression suddenly darkened, and her eyes flashed with cold light as she looked at Zhao Ruyu: "If I ever hear you linking me to that beast again, I'll make you understand what hardship is. The only reason you're still standing here talking to me is because you haven't deliberately harmed me before, so I'm not holding it against you. If you provoke me, you can go back to Little Banyan Village and be Xu Family girl."

Zhao Ruyu's expression changed instantly.

She knew that given Zhao Ruxi's current status and position, as long as she offered Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Jingli Zhao Jingli a benefit, Zhao Yuanliang would definitely send her back to Little Banyan Village.

The thought of that dilapidated and filthy village and houses sent chills down her spine.

Watching the carriage slowly move forward, she quickly took a few steps back and called out to it, "I just thought it was a good marriage and came to persuade you. If you don't want to, that's fine. I didn't do anything to you. You... Sister, don't be angry."

Zhao Ruxi ignored her and left.

Back at the manor, Zhao Ruxi told Lady Zhu about it, saying, "The news about our manor spread over there in just two days. Who spread it? If this matter becomes known throughout the capital, Mother, do you know the consequences?"