Hearing that Xian Wang had come, Assistant Minister Zhou was first shocked. Then he felt that this was to be expected. With Xian Wang Fei present, it was not strange that Master Xian Wang would make a special trip.
Just as the Zhou Family had predicted, after Xian Wang was welcomed in, he exchanged greetings with the two brothers-in-law and cousin-in-law of the Hua family. Then he sat hand in hand with Xian Wang Fei and occasionally lowered his head to say something to Xian Wang Fei.
"What are you doing?" Yan Jinqiu looked wryly at Zhou Yun Heng who was kneeling on the ground. He turned to Assistant Minister Zhou and said, "Assistant Minister Zhou, what great mistake did your young master make?"
Assistant Minister Zhou stammered and did not dare to speak. A moment later, he said, "This lowly official did not teach his son well. I am ashamed."
"Assistant Minister Zhou is an upright person and a rare good official. What is there to be ashamed of?" Yan Jinqiu looked at Zhou Yun Heng who was kneeling on the ground. "However, your young master's actions are too absurd. The news that your young master's love for a concubine caused his wife's miscarriage has spread through Jing. How do you think this matter should be resolved?"
Assistant Minister Zhou felt helpless and guilty. He said to Hua Qing Mao and Hua Changbao on the side, "This lowly official will discipline this disappointing thing. As to the concubines and tongfang in the fu, I will have people chase them all away. Please …"
"I don't think that is necessary. Otherwise, in the future, it will become that the women of the Hua family cannot tolerate others." Hua Qing Mao put down the teacup and said aggressively, "My sister and your young master are not fated to be husband and wife. Our Zhou and Hua families have been friends for many years, and we need to part on good terms. Please allow my sister and your young master to peacefully separate, and leave some affection so that we can meet in the future."
These words were slightly threatening. If the Zhou Family was not willing to separate, the Hua family would not rest until the Zhou Family was dead. But the Zhou Family was not willing to truly separate. If they did not separate, the Hua family would not dare to act against the Zhou Family because of Hua Yiliu. If Hua Yiliu left the Zhou Family, then the Zhou Family would have nothing to rely on.
"If Assistant Minister Zhou insists on making things difficult, then we can only meet in the Jing Governor's hall. I think that the matter of a peaceful separation can be accomplished." Hua Changbao had seen through the Zhou Family's thoughts long ago. So when Assistant Minister Zhou was hesitating, he threw out another sentence. "The Hua family is useless, but for our young lady, we are willing to suffer more."
Hua Changbao, who had the highest status in the younger generation of the Hua family, had spoken. This meant that the Hua family was extremely dissatisfied with this matter. Assistant Minister Zhou knew that the situation had changed. Unless his daughter-in-law was unwilling, a peaceful separation was set in stone.
"Young mistress has arrived."
Assistant Minister Zhou was overjoyed. He turned and found his daughter-in-law, whom he had not seen for many days, walking in. Her body was very thin as though a gust of wind could blow her over. His brow furrowed. How did his furen torture this daughter-in-law? Why didn't she think about this daughter-in-law's status?
Clang! The teacup was smashed to the ground and shattered. Hua Qing Mao stood up from his chair and pointed at Zhou Yun Heng kneeling on the ground. "The Zhou Family has gone too far!"
The concubine kneeling on the ground trembled in fear. She wanted to squeeze closer to Zhou Yun Heng but was pressed to the ground by two manservants. A handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth so she could not speak.
Zhou Yun Heng looked at his beloved concubine being treated like this and did not dare to speak. He buried his head and wanted this matter to pass quickly. It was fine even if he had to send this concubine away. Without this concubine, he could find a better one in the future.
"This concubine Fahrenheit greets Xian Wang, Xian Wang Fei." Because Hua Yiliu was too thin, the flesh on her face was deeply sunken and made her appear a few years older than her actual age. When she met Hua Qing Mao, the emotions in her eyes were complicated and hard to discern. In the end, her eyes slowly turned red and she called out, "Didi."
"Sister." Hua Qing Mao walked in a few steps in front of Hua Yiliu. Looking at her pale face and thin body, he was so angry he wanted to strangle Zhou Yun Heng to death. He smiled coldly and said, "The Zhou Family has gone too far by treating my sister like this!" Finishing, he pulled Hua Yiliu to walk out. "Let's meet in the Jing Governor's hall."
The Zhou Family naturally did not dare to let Hua Qing Mao walk out like this. They apologized and gave gifts. Mrs. Zhou even knelt in front of Hua Yiliu and made countless promises. She even said that in the future, the Zhou Family would only have Hua Yiliu as the mistress and there would not be any concubines or tongfang.
"Ha." Hua Yiliu smiled coldly at Mrs. Zhou who was kneeling in front of her. "Who do you think your son is? Even if I die, I will follow him. What does it matter if he has any women in the future? You are a woman, but you treat other people's daughters so harshly. Such a vicious mother-in-law, if I continue to stay, I fear my corpse will not even be left. "
After saying this, Hua Yiliu knelt in front of Yan Jinqiu and Hua Xi Wan. "Fahrenheit has been wronged. Wang Ye and Wang Fei, please uphold justice. Ever since this concubine married into the Zhou Family, this concubine has been filial to her parents-in-law and has taken care of her sister-in-law. Even though my husband's personality is dissolute, he has never complained. But this concubine has harmed him to the point that he cannot keep his children. Also, this concubine has been under house arrest and has not seen the light of day for a long time.
The Zhou Family was shocked. They had not thought that the usually gentle Hua Yiliu would do such a thing and use her future to fight against the Zhou Family.
It was not a big matter for a woman to divorce and remarry, but if she sued her husband's family, it would not be so easy for her to remarry in the future. After all, which family would dare to have such a daughter-in-law? She might be sued one day.
But Hua Yiliu had done this, and did not leave any leeway. It was as though she wanted to die with the Zhou Family.
Zhou Furen was afraid, but in front of Yan Jinqiu, she did not dare to do anything offensive. She could only wring her wrists at the things she had done in the past. Then she thought, if she had known earlier, she would have thought of a way to kill Hua Yiliu when she had miscarried. It would have been better than the present situation.
"If that's the case, let's go to the Jingzhaoyin." Yan Jinqiu put down the teacup and glanced at the silent Hua Xi Wan. "Let ben wang accompany you."
Now that the matter had gotten to this point, it was a matter between the Hua Family and the Zhou Family. As Wang Ye, he had no reason to meddle in other people's affairs. Hua Xi Wan was the same. This kind of small matter was not worth a wang fei making a trip to a place like the Jingzhaoyin.
Hua Qing Mao also knew this. Also, Xian Wang was willing to send an attendant with them. This was already very benevolent. If it wasn't that Tang Mei was favored by Xian Wang, Xian Wang would not care about family matters like this.
Hua Yiliu looked down at the toes of her embroidered shoes. When she heard that Yan Jinqiu would not accompany them to the Jingzhaoyin, a hint of a grimace appeared at the corner of her mouth. When she had married Zhou Yun Heng, she should have given up on this thought. Not to mention her present appearance that was neither human nor ghost. Compared to the peerless beauty of Hua Xi Wan, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.
Hua Xi Wan was willing to put down her status as a wang fei and fight against the Zhou Family for her. This was a rare favor in the world. How many married female cousins would be willing to do such a thing for their older cousins? Even though she, Hua Yiliu, was jealous of Hua Xi Wan's present life, she knew inside that she owed Hua Xi Wan a great favor.
If it wasn't for the presence of Hua Xi Wan, the wang fei, the Zhou Family would not be so fearful. Xian Wang would not meddle in her affairs. As to what would happen to her, only the heavens knew.
Yan Jinqiu had spoken, and no one dared to stop Hua Yiliu. So the group smoothly left the gates of the Zhou Family, followed by a string of fearful Zhou Family members.
After leaving the Zhou Family's gates, Hua Yiliu discovered that many people had gathered outside to watch the commotion. The moment she appeared, everyone let out a cry of surprise. It was for no other reason than the fact that the current Hua Yi Liu was frighteningly thin. Her entire body was only left with a skeleton and a layer of skin. At a glance, it was obvious that she had been abused.
People liked to sympathize with the weak. So even though the Hua Family had not said anything, in everyone's eyes, they already believed that the Zhou Family favored the concubine and neglected the wife, and even abused the wife.
In the eyes of the Dazhao people, if two people were tired of each other, they could just divorce. Why torture the other to this extent? They had heard that this wife had even suffered a miscarriage. Could it be that she had also suffered a miscarriage because of excessive abuse?
Hua Yiliu watched as Xian Wang Fu's carriage left. She slowly withdrew her gaze and turned to board the Hua Family's carriage.
After the Jing Governor received the case, he called for people to start the trial. However, he groaned inside. This Assistant Minister Zhou was a member of the royalist faction, but the Hua Family was a prestigious family with hundreds of years of history. Adding on the fact that they had the support of Xian Wang Fu, this matter was troublesome.
Most importantly, the Zhou Family's actions were truly unethical. They were too brainless. If the Hua Family discovered what they had done, would they pretend that nothing had happened?
Sitting in the court, the capital magistrate immediately recognized that a certain person standing to the side was Xian Wang's personal attendant. When he saw that Fahrenheit had been tortured beyond recognition, he made a decision.
When neither side was easy to offend, he would judge the case based on the facts. The Zhou Family's matter of favoring the concubine and neglecting the wife was known throughout the city. He didn't want to become a fatuous official that everyone in the capital despised. The Hua Family had already decided to make a big deal out of the matter. If he continued to help the Zhou Family, then he would be seeking his own death.
As Hua Yiliu made one accusation after another, the capital magistrate's expression became more and more unsightly. After Hua Yiliu finished speaking, he said to the Zhou Family on the other side, "Do you have anything to say?"
The Zhou Family was tongue-tied. They wanted to say that Hua Yiliu was framing them, but they didn't have enough confidence. In addition, Xian Wang's personal attendant was present. In the end, Assistant Minister Zhou could only step forward and apologize to Hua Yiliu. He also agreed to a peaceful separation between Hua Yiliu and his son. The Zhou Family would return Hua Yiliu three times the dowry and wouldn't return the betrothal gifts.
In the end, the capital magistrate considered the Zhou Family's good attitude and sentenced Hua Yiliu and Zhou Yun Heng to a peaceful separation. In addition to the dowry compensation, Zhou Yun Heng was also punished with twenty strokes of the cane. As for the concubine, she was sent to a place of bitter cold.
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