Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 577 - 538: Returning to the Liu Family for Double Punishment (2)

Chapter 577: Chapter 538: Returning to the Liu Family for Double Punishment (2)

Luo Zikun had originally been betrothed to Miss Chai, but insisted on breaking off the engagement to marry the ill-tempered Miss Chai instead.

The Pavilion Chief’s second son couldn’t understand what Luo Zikun was thinking.

"Do you think I’m lying to you? I know your young mistress well enough. By the way, Lord County Magistrate is there too. You’d better hurry, or risk angering him and face the consequences." The second son of the Pavilion Chief reported the news before turning to leave.

He wanted to go and see the excitement himself; it’s not often the County Magistrate visits a village for official business.

The Luo family’s servant was stunned and rushed back to the house, shouting, "Granny, Master, Madam, something terrible has happened!"

He kept calling out, waking everyone in the Luo family.

Mrs. Luo instructed her nanny to check the situation. "What’s all the noise about at this late hour? Can’t we get some sleep? Go and see what’s happening!"

Mr. Luo and Mrs. Luo heard the gatekeeper’s panicked voice and quickly sent attendants to investigate.

The Luo family steward was the first to speak with the gatekeeper. "What’s happened? You’ve woken everyone up."

The gatekeeper caught his breath and relayed the Pavilion Chief’s second son’s message to the steward.

The Luo family steward was startled; how could this be happening?

He sent the gatekeeper away and hurried to report to Mr. and Mrs. Luo.

Mr. and Mrs. Luo were speechless with shock for a moment.

Mrs. Luo was so angry that she pounded the bed. Ever since Miss Chai entered the house, she found her more and more unappealing.

As soon as her son was away, his wife would run off to her own family home.

Having a wife felt like not having one at all.

If not for the fact that the wife was pregnant, she would’ve already had her son divorce her.

Now, how nice, there’s a scandal about buying a child.

With the child due any day, went out buying a child, could she possibly not be pregnant and deceiving us?

Mrs. Luo was so furious that it caused her chest pain.

"Truly a family misfortune!" Mr. Luo angrily held his forehead.

News reached Mrs. Luo’s side, and the nanny hurried back to explain to her, "It’s the young mistress, caught buying a child red-handed, which alarmed the Lord County Magistrate. He has gone to the village."

Mrs. Luo was momentarily stunned. "Quickly tell Master, have him send someone to summon Dalang back!"

Luo Zikun was to participate in the county examination in February, and now it was late January, mere days away from the exam. For his studies, he had been cramming in the academy of the county town, so even though Miss Chai was due to give birth, he did not return.

In any case, the family was not short of people, so he thought.

The young mistress had been caught, and the whole Luo family was wide awake with no one in the mood to sleep.

Even Mrs. Luo was so upset she leaned against the bed frame sulking.

Mrs. Luo feared it might affect the elder’s health, so she went over to comfort her.

Mr. Luo did not follow the elder’s arrangement to notify their son to come home. With such a major issue at hand, if their son found out, could he still focus on the examination?

He even ordered everyone in the household not to tell Luo Zikun about anything happening at home.

Whatever happens, it would wait until after Luo Zikun’s examination when he returns home.

After arranging household matters, Mr. Luo, taking Chang Sui, rode in the carriage overnight to Taohua River Village.

.

Taohua River Village tonight was lively as if it were the New Year.

For the villagers who had lived for decades, this was the first time seeing a County Magistrate visit the village for business.

Families, dragging their family members with them, braved the cold of January to watch the commotion.

In Prince Luling’s household, only Princess Consort Luling, Li Yu En, and Guoguo Li Jing had returned home, while Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu stayed with Prince Luling to observe how the Liu family matter was handled.

The Liu Family was most excited, not expecting their household issue to alarm the Lord County Magistrate.

Liu Laoda, accompanied by his son-in-law Hu Shuangcheng, was busy preparing warm fires and wine to entertain County Magistrate Li.

County Magistrate Li politely thanked them but only discussed the day’s matter with Prince Luling.

He had once seen Prince Luling from afar in the capital. After more than two years, Prince Luling, though dressed in simple cloth attire, had not lost any of his previous grace.

Prince Luling appeared to be a kind middle-aged man, but upon speaking with him, one realized his depth was profound.

Whenever County Magistrate Li tried to inquire about Prince Luling’s past, Prince Luling would always laugh it off, skillfully steering the conversation away.

County Magistrate Li dared not probe further and became even more respectful toward Prince Luling.

"Mr. Li, rest assured, with me, the County Magistrate, here, your grandson will get the justice he deserves." County Magistrate Li respectfully referred to Prince Luling as Mr. Li along with everyone else.

Prince Luling said amiably, "Thank you, Lord County Magistrate, for coming all this way at night to advocate for us common folk. It’s truly a fortune for our villagers."

He bowed to County Magistrate Li in gratitude.

County Magistrate Li hurriedly helped Prince Luling up, "It’s my duty, Mr. Li. You’re still my son’s savior. Investigating the case is the responsibility of this county, you need not be so polite."

Mr. Luo, arriving in haste, saw County Magistrate Li and Prince Luling seated together, talking.

He hurriedly stepped forward, bowing, "Lord County Magistrate."

The various prominent families in the town all knew County Magistrate Li.

Sometimes they would visit the County Magistrate during holidays, or the County Magistrate would summon the influential families to discuss court matters upon receiving official documents.

County Magistrate Li nodded towards Mr. Luo and said in a deep voice, "It’s timely that Landlord Luo is here. Please step outside to see if that person is your daughter-in-law?"

If it were any other time, he might have covered for these influential families.

But now, the Luo family daughter-in-law has offended Prince Luling.

She dared to offend someone he wouldn’t dare to; so for the sake of his own official cap, he must be impartial.

When Mr. Luo entered the Liu family’s courtyard, he saw Miss Chai.

The two women tied and sitting on the ground were precisely his daughter-in-law and her maidservant.

Mr. Luo wore a look of shame, "Unfortunate is the family, but we entrust Lord County Magistrate to judge."

"Very well, in that case, this County Magistrate shall fairly judge this case!" County Magistrate Li stood up and walked into the courtyard.

Several government officials stood in two rows on either side, shouting loudly, "Majesty."

Everyone in the courtyard held their breath, remaining absolutely silent.

Liu Laoda brought a few chairs over, inviting County Magistrate Li, Prince Luling, and Li Yuzhu Mu Yuanxiu to sit down.

No one else dared to sit; they all stood, listening to the admonishments.

County Magistrate Li first interrogated the man known as One Tuft of Hair and the skinny-faced woman, then the mother and daughter of the Hu family, and next, Miss Chai and her maidservant.

The crowd discerned that the case was extremely straightforward.

Initially, Miss Chai, due to a misdiagnosis, thought she was pregnant.

She conveyed the news to the Luo family.

Later she found out it was merely a menstrual irregularity.

But by that time, she envied that Chai Eying was pregnant, and out of jealousy, she decided to pretend to be pregnant until the end.

Furthermore, Luo Zikun was often absent from home due to exam preparations; she found excuses to stay at her parents’ home, so her fake pregnancy was never discovered.

As the calculated due date approached, she instructed her trusted maid to contact Huang Kui and Mrs. Qiu, who specialized in child trafficking.

She asked them to find a newborn baby boy within ten days. Upon success, she promised a reward of one hundred taels of silver.

However, unexpectedly, just as she had the baby, before she even had a chance to warm him, a leopard appeared; then, Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu found her.

As for Aunt Hu and her daughter, the matter was simpler: to seize their grandson, they tricked a child into abducting the child out.

But they were out of luck; they had only just gotten hold of the child, not yet seen his face, and he was snatched away.

Finally, County Magistrate Li questioned the human trafficker One Tuft of Hair and the skinny-faced woman.

The two confessed that what Miss Chai and Aunt Hu had said was true.

County Magistrate Li sternly asked, "And what about Mr. Li’s grandson and granddaughter? Tell the truth!"

One Tuft of Hair trembled in fear and honestly confessed the reason.

He regretted it deeply; had he known that little girl was so cunning, he wouldn’t have gone after her.

He had always been the one tricking kids, but that little girl was very strange and volunteered to go with him.

However, the little boy with her refused to go, so he tricked the boy into finding his mother.

Who knew, after taking the two children on the road, trouble came one after another.

He even suspected it was those two little brats that brought people to catch them.

"I didn’t abduct them; they wanted to come with us on their own," One Tuft of Hair shouted, "The little girl said she wanted to ride my ox cart, so I took her."

Prince Luling sneered, "Nonsense, our children wouldn’t fancy riding an ox cart; you’re obviously lying!"

County Magistrate Li shouted, "We have solid evidence and witnesses, yet you still dare to lie? You’re a repeat offender! Someone, give him twenty strokes of the cane to make him honest!"

Amidst cries of "Majesty," One Tuft of Hair was pinned to the ground by two government officials, and two other officials began striking him with canes.

The beating made One Tuft of Hair howl like a ghost.

The villagers watching, however, clapped their hands in joy, saying it was well deserved.

Miss Chai, her maidservant, the skinny-faced woman, and Aunt Hu and her daughter were trembling with fear, afraid they would be next.

But what they feared did happen.

One of the main culprits in the child abduction, the skinny-faced woman, was also dragged away for twenty cane strokes.

After beating her, they gave the same to the maidservant of the Chai family who bought the child.

As for Aunt Hu and her daughter, County Magistrate Li learned that Aunt Hu and her son had severed ties; Hu Shuangcheng had married into the Liu Family, and the child was already registered in the Liu Family genealogy, so Aunt Hu’s mother and daughter had violated the contract by taking the child away.

But because of their blood relationship and no malicious intent to harm the child, County Magistrate Li only ordered them to be given ten strokes each and decreed that they were never to approach the Luo family’s grandson again, or they would face double punishment.

After the ten strokes for the mother and daughter duo, County Magistrate Li ordered them to be released.

Frightened and grateful, they kowtowed to County Magistrate Li in thanks, and supporting each other, hurriedly left.

Although only ten strokes, it was truly painful when landed on the body, leaving them unable to walk properly.

Recalling County Magistrate Li’s warning, that if they came for the child again, they would receive twenty strokes, Aunt Hu swore privately, pledging never to come despite any request.

Life is more important.