A Good Country Wife-Chapter 675 - 668_1

"The official merely wanted to make sure Your Excellency’s stay was comfortable, but since Your Excellency is reluctant, I won’t insist. This courtyard does look quite inviting; no wonder Steward Li settled in and didn’t want to move. The official would quite like to stay here for a few days. Madam Lin, would you arrange that for me?" Ceng Lu said with a suggestive glance at Lin Yue.

Lin Yue had always found Ceng Lu repugnant, and seeing that he felt entitled to stay in her home, she naturally couldn’t agree. "My lord, in our humble countryside, there are not many yards available, and the living space is limited. Accommodating Steward Li and his entourage has already maxed out our capacity. I’m afraid there is no room for a revered Buddha-like figure such as yourself, my lord. Please return to your grand mansion. Do not trouble this lowly woman."

Being rejected time and again, even in the presence of a beauty, soured Ceng Lu’s expression. Nevertheless, he controlled his temper; a thorny beauty always stirred an itchy yet helpless heart. "Why must Madam Lin be in such a hurry to refuse? The Zhao Family has flourished these past days, and their residence is grand enough to accommodate many. As the Magistrate of Xin’an City, staying here would allow me to better understand the commoners’ plight. Please arrange it well, Madam Lin; the official will not shortchange you."

Quan An was initially brooding, but Ceng Lu’s words set his mind abuzz with calculations. He was not content to make this trip for naught. If he could stay with the Zhao Family, he might find an opportunity to benefit or uncover some secrets. Securing a hold over the Zhao Family would ensure a steady flow of silver gifts sent his way in the future.

Lin Yue let out a cold laugh, not bothering to save face for Ceng Lu, nor fearing his possible wrath. "The official must be jesting. This humble woman would not dare take advantage of you. Besides, my husband is currently away, and it is inappropriate to host an unrelated man in our home. As the fatherly Magistrate, you should understand and sympathize with the common people; surely you would not wish to trouble this lowly woman?"

Ceng Lu’s face darkened completely. "Lin Family, don’t toast me only to force me to drink a punitive one. The official deigns to stay at your place as a sign of respect—should you..."

"Should you what, my lord? Do you intend to retaliate for this? The Great Zhou Dynasty is a land of laws. The Emperor is sagacious, and even as the Magistrate of Xin’an City, you must act according to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty. What can I do if I am unwilling? Surely, the Magistrate does not plan to force his stay."

As Lin Yue said this, she let out another cold laugh when Ceng Lu remained silent. "Should the official wish to stay by force, I naturally cannot stop you. After all, you are the esteemed Magistrate, and we commoners cannot oppose you. However, this rural area teems with unclean things. Should the Magistrate fall ill from spoiled food or be bitten by some venomous snake or insect, I cannot be held responsible."

By the end of her speech, Lin Yue’s threat was naked; the message was clear: I cannot contend with you, as you are the Magistrate, and you can enforce your stay if you like. But if something were to find its way into your food, or if a venomous snake or insect were to make an appearance, you would have no one to blame but yourself.

"How dare you," he exclaimed, "by acting so brazenly, you clearly show contempt for this official. Come, seize this defiant woman and bring her back to my residence for punishment." As expected, Ceng Lu was enraged by the humiliation, his mind buzzing with the itch for the beauty’s proximity—an urge that couldn’t be satisfied. And given Lin Yue’s staunch demeanor, he feared that gentleness wouldn’t work; it was time to employ harsher methods.

In the past, Ceng Lu had engaged in such schemes more than once and had calculated his moves astutely. Once he had the woman within his walls, a single touch, and the deed would be done; cooked rice turns to porridge, and the Lin Family, however reluctant, would have to comply and meekly accept his wishes. Even if Zhao Erhu were to return, the deed would be done, and anger aside, the most he could do would be to divorce her. If Lin Yue were wise, Ceng Lu thought he might just trouble himself to bring her into his household as a concubine. After all, Lin Yue was attractive and delicate in her youth, and although she had been enjoyed by Erhu, why should he care about such matters?

Unaware of Ceng Lu’s vile thoughts, Lin Yue saw his agitated state and the attempted aggression towards her and considered him a complete fool. Anyone with a bit of sense would know that her family was under the Emperor’s protection and would not dare to attack so recklessly, especially just after receiving a royal gift. Such actions were tantamount to opposing the Emperor himself.

"You’ve been given an inch and now you take a mile, truly ignorant of what’s good for you. Have you not heard the official’s order? Why haven’t you arrested this troublesome woman yet?" Quan An, seeing that a dispute had erupted between Ceng Lu and Lin Yue, began to jump in eagerly, directing the officers that had accompanied them from the government office.

"Let’s see who dares to touch me! The very gift bestowed by His Majesty is still being offered in the main hall. Do you dare such actions and risk His Majesty’s wrath, leading to the severing of your heads? Go ahead and try if you believe your necks are too sturdy!"

Lin Yue was no coward either, and with the backing of the Emperor, the Jiang Family, Princess Yongle, and Commandery Princess Roujia, her confidence was substantial. As long as she held firm, especially on Zhao Family’s turf, Ceng Lu wouldn’t be able to harm her. Even the few officers he brought would be no match for her household’s servants—this hesitance explained why the officials had yet to lay a hand on her, despite Ceng Lu’s orders.

The Zhao Family’s servants watched intensely from the sidelines, ready to pounce if necessary. They were few against the Zhao household’s retainers, especially when some of the servants were refugees who had suffered because of this ’dog official’ Ceng Lu. Bearing grudges, they longed for a chance to beat him for the hardships endured, and now that he dared to assail the mistress, they would risk their lives to prevent her abduction.

Already intimidated by the Zhao Family’s servants, the officers felt more fear when Lin Yue mentioned the Emperor, threatening decapitation at every turn. Even as Quan An directed them, they dared not move closer to Lin Yue, let alone lay a hand on her. However, their inaction further incensed Ceng Lu, making it clear that he couldn’t control his subordinates, and he lost all face in front of the Lin Family.

Eunuch Li had never held Ceng Lu in high regard, and to his astonishment, this fool dared to trouble Lin Yue before his very eyes. Sent by the Emperor, he was there to honor and comfort the families of the meritorious. Anyone with a normal brain would know better than to take such action at this particular moment. Watching the tensions escalate to the point of drawing swords and bows, he could no longer stand idly by, for the Emperor’s wishes were clear to him. Although this matter didn’t originally pertain to him, if he let Ceng Lu torment Lin Yue without intervention and she came to harm, he feared the Emperor would hold him accountable.