At Changyou.
The carriage was galloping speedily along the way. Manager Yu, whose head and mouth were full of blood, went back to his mansion and immediately report this to his father, Secretary Yu, who then visited the mayor's mansion at night.
Hearing Secretary Yu's report, Wei Zhida, the mayor of Changyou city, contemplated for a moment, asking, "What's your opinion?"
"Sir, in my view, I think the governor of Tianxiang city wanted to dominate the dock to his own."
"In real terms, Tianxiang city is a province while our Changyou city is a county. From land occupation and official-ranking, we're one-level lower than them. If he really wanted that, he could just say it. He didn't have to set up a trap like this."
"He must also want a good reputation, being a good man in surface while playing dirty tricks from behind."
"How dare him! Though he ranks higher than I am, he has no great family to back him while I have Wei family to prop me up."
"I heard that Xin Yun have Xie family behind him. It was because of the recommendation of Xie family that he was able to get promoted. Otherwise, by an ordinary person like him without family background, how could he possibly sit on the throne of a governor?"
Xie family was one of the three super-families in Tianqi Dynasty. Its power couldn't be underestimated.
There were three super-families in Tianqi dynasty. Ning family mastered the economy of the world; Su family had many members who were general in the imperial court, with military power in the grip; Xie family produced three impresses, belonging to imperial relatives. It would be unwise to offend any one of them.
"Then, what's your opinion? Just give up like this?"
"I think…"
*
At Jian mansion, Tianxiang city.
Listening to the report of the servants and watching his daughter's feeble look, master Jian roared and stamped his feet, "Who on earth is the woman that is so daring to ruin my daughter's reputation?! Are you servants dead at that time?"
The furious master Jian cast the cup to the ground. Bang. All the old and young male and female servants kneeled down onto the ground in an instance.
Jian Qingyou sat on a chair, but since she had fallen into water and got a cold, she curdled in the arms of a nanny as soon as she got back home.
With her father hitting the ceiling and her nanny, who had been treating her well, kneeling down to beg for forgiveness, she frowned, "Father please don't blame that woman. It was her that saved my life. Though her method was extreme, I heard doctors say that she was giving me air. But for the air, I might have lost my breath now…" Her slow and gentle voice was persuasive.
Mrs. Jian listened to her and shed tears, "My poor child."
She stood up and pointed at the one of the people who had been bound up, ordering, "Come on. Beat this evil person to death and sell all of her families as slaves to the remote. Let them do hard labors for their whole life. Then make an investigate to find out who is the person behind this…"
As the madam demanded ferociously, someone had come out and pulled away the servant woman who had "accidentally" bumped the eldest young lady into water.
Old madam Jian, "Well. No matter what, be sure to figure out who was the life-savor and send her our gratitude. We should do that, otherwise people would call us mean and ungrateful. In addition, seal up the dirty mouths and stop rumors from spreading."
"Mother, you're right, I'll get down to that right now." The great families all valued a lot on filial piety and were renowned for their benevolence. With his mother's words, master Jian held back his rage.
"But now Qingyou's reputation is stained. How could she marry to a great family? Only if mother has agreed the proposal by eldest young lord Xin. Though Xin family was not an aristocratic family, it's an emerging one in Tianqi Dynasty and a little related to Xie family…"
On hearing master Jian mentioning young lord Xin, Jian Youqing's eyes turned bright.
Old madam Jian, "What are you talking about? An aristocratic daughter should only marry an aristocratic son. No matter how powerful Xin family is, their humble unsteady background never deserves our legal young lady."
"Mother what you're saying is completely right. The life-savor is also a girl, which could not hamper my daughter's reputation. Even though she can't marry a first-ranking aristocrat, by her talents and virtues, she far more deserves a second-ranking aristocratic eldest young lord…"
The brilliance in Jian Qingyou's eyes turned off. She stood up, under the help of her nanny, silently bowed and left.
*
At mansion of Governor Xin.
"Luckily, old madam Jian didn't agree upon the proposed engagement, otherwise our Xin family will be laughed at. Today at the dock, an accident happened to Miss. Jian." Governor Xin laughed about the accident, showing contempt on his face.
"Father, I'll still go to make a propose. I want to marry eldest young lady Jian." Xin Yiming frowned, eyes teemed with misery and clenching fists in secrecy. Hadn't this man been his father, he would spring up and beat him up.
"What? How could you! You've lost your mind…"
"Father, you've compromised me…" The tone sounded calm but there was rage in his eyes.
"It's a different time now!" Xin Yu smiled awkwardly.
He had always a little feared his son. The reason why he could so be achieved was his son's wise plan and financial support. Since ten years ago when his mother passed away, this son had taken over the business and made it prosper. Now even the father could say that he understands his son.
This time thanks to his son's connection with Xie family that he could be promoted to the governor. Shame that the capable son didn't want to be an official. He must find a good way to talk him into that.
It seemed that the women that concubine Li had arranged into his room last time were all useless. This time he himself would take actions…
"Well well well. Put aside about your marriage. I heard that there was an accident at the dock. The people assigned by county magistrate Wei Zhida were beaten up by someone and scared away? Did you arrange that?" The old cunning father seemed to be suggesting something.
"Do you that I'm that free?" Disdain shot out from his eyes. Just a dock. Did he need to play that kind of dirty tricks?
"You'd better not. Help me investigate if there is someone who intends to set us up against Wan family of Changyou. Though Wans are no longer as powerful as us, we had no foundation. We can only befriend with and never make an enemy against them."
Xin Yu didn't care about his son's attitude towards him, as long as he was willing to assist him, "Yet, on the flip side, it would be great if you could marry eldest young lady Jian. As least Jian family has a solid foundation in Tianqi Dynasty."
"I want to marry her not because of her family background!"
Xin Yiming, frowning, cut in. He hurriedly turned around and got out of the study room even without bowing to his father, leaving Xin Yu alone, stunning, and recovered only after a long time, thumping hard on the table, "What a son…"
*
At Baiyunju.
It was late at night, but Su Qi stayed in the study room and immerged himself in his pondering.
The Tianyou Dock connected the capital. Of course he would send someone to take a look.
When Azhao had arrived there, he happened to witness the scene of eldest young lady Jian falling into water. If it hadn't been her, Azhao wouldn't care. If the life-savor hadn't been Mo Qianxue, Azhao would never take one more glance.
Azhao's report astounded him! The Sus knew more or less medical skills. He had heard of the technique of air-blowing. However, but for intimate people, no one would ever try because it might cause serious consequences.
This silly woman. Didn't she know how risky that could be? What if…
What made such a weak woman like her do such an astonishing action? And what kind of benevolence she had to save people and leave silently?
The bright smile replayed again in his mind. He was even jealously of the woman who had fallen into water…