Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1129: Biting Back

Interestingly enough, when they arrived at the guesthouse next door, they saw that the door to a guest room was wide open. Inside, Young Master Ren from the Ren Family had been knocked unconscious, and beside him was a jade pendant—the very same one that Young Master Shi had lost.

The Ren Family was a prominent household in Linhe Prefecture, and Young Master Ren’s third uncle was Vice General Ren of the Jianghuai Commandery. Vice General Ren had achieved great merit in suppressing the river bandits back in the day.

The Ren Family had proper upbringing, and Young Master Shi was not foolish enough to suspect that Young Master Ren was the thief who stole his jade pendant. He promptly said, "Brother Tong, quickly get the doctor from the family. Brother Ren must have been knocked out by a thief."

Young Master Tong hurriedly shouted at his servant, "What are you standing around for? Don’t you see that Young Master Ren has been knocked out? Go quickly and call for Doctor Tian!"

"Yes, yes." The servant was also stunned by the night’s events, a bit out of it, and stumbled away to call on Doctor Tian, who served the Tong Family.

Doctor Tian arrived quickly and used a foul-smelling remedy to revive Young Master Ren.

When Young Master Ren awoke, he was still dazed, looking at them and asking, "Brother Shi, Brother Tong, why are you here? What happened to me?"

Young Master Shi explained to him about possibly being knocked out by a thief and losing his jade pendant, finally asking, "Don’t you have any recollection? Do you remember anyone entering the room?"

But Young Master Ren couldn’t recall clearly, "At the banquet today, there was ham; I love glazed meat and drank quite a bit. Once it got dark, I couldn’t hold on and was helped here to rest... I didn’t see anyone, just felt like I was hit on the back of the head. It hurt a lot; I tried to open my eyes to see who it was, but then I fell asleep again."

Young Master Shi: "..."

That wasn’t falling asleep; you were knocked out.

Young Master Shi didn’t ask further; at this point, he had guessed that the thief who stole his jade pendant wasn’t targeting his family but rather aiming for the Tong Family, trying to lure him into exposing Tong San’s affairs.

"Young Master Tong, the jade pendant has been found; I’ll head back first." Young Master Shi assured, "Don’t worry; I won’t speak of today’s events. After all, it’s your family’s private matter, and I understand the etiquette."

Young Master Ren: "What matter?"

Young Master Shi glanced at him, "It doesn’t concern you. Get up quickly; I’ll walk you back to your house. If you don’t return home so late, your parents will be worried."

Young Master Ren couldn’t make sense of the situation and could only follow Young Master Shi.

Elder Tong was already aware of the situation and rushed over anxiously, blocking Young Master Shi and bending his knees, about to kneel. Young Master Shi was startled, quickly helping him up, "Elder Tong, please don’t do this. I’ve already told Young Master Tong that it’s your family’s matter and I won’t say more."

Elder Tong was overwhelmed with joy, "Young Master Shi, you have saved our entire family. Rest assured, my Tong Family will remember your kindness for generations, never daring to forget!"

The matter was too embarrassing, and Elder Tong didn’t want to say more. After hearing Young Master Shi’s promise, he had his servants escort both Young Master Shi and Young Master Ren away.

Young Master Ren remained bewildered, and once they sat in the carriage, he asked Young Master Shi, "Brother Shi, what happened to the Tong Family? Seeing Elder Tong like that, did something catastrophic happen?"

Young Master Shi looked at him and said, "Don’t ask too much... just stay away from Tong San from now on."

Young Master Ren was startled, "Are you saying it’s Tong San who’s in trouble? But he just ranked second in the college examination, became a Scholar, with a bright future ahead. How could there be trouble?"

Young Master Shi: "... Are you trying to extract the truth from me indirectly? I said don’t ask, and if you ask again, I’ll be annoyed."

He couldn’t help but add, "You’ll find out in a while; Tong San surely won’t end well. There were many guests staying at the guesthouse tonight, and someone might spread the news."

In any case, the likelihood of the Tong Family’s affairs being exposed was high, but the person revealing it must not be him.

Young Master Ren understood and nodded, switching to talk about other matters.

...

In the Tong Family, Young Master Tong San had just been awakened from the beating, and Elder Tong sat in the Taishi Chair in the Punishment Room, staring at him with a gloomy gaze, "You disgraceful thing, what do you have to say for yourself?!"

Elder Tong had heard some rumors about Tong San’s behavior while in Jiangnan, so he wasn’t too fond of him. However, seeing his potential, Elder Tong didn’t intend to do anything about it. After all, with the fervor for the Jiangnan Immortal Monarch prevalent, as long as Tong San wasn’t caught in the act and didn’t bring shame outside, he could tolerate it.

But Tong San not only got caught red-handed, Young Master Shi had witnessed it too!

Although Young Master Shi promised not to spread this incident, such a significant matter couldn’t be concealed from Magistrate Shi. By tonight, Magistrate Shi would be aware of it.

To even become a Magistrate, one must have a comprehensive outlook; Magistrate Shi would never allow Tong San, such a disreputable person, to go to the Capital and disgrace Jianghuai students. Before the Provincial Examination, Magistrate Shi would likely employ some tactics to block Tong San, preventing him from participating in the Imperial Examination in the Capital, thereby avoiding a disgrace to Jianghuai students.

Tong San was sobbing, tears and mucus flowing, utterly wronged, "Grandfather, your grandson is innocent. I was drugged and that’s why I acted foolishly."

He then pointed to Liu Wenqing, who was also restrained on the floor, having already been punished, "It’s this shameless person who schemed against me... Seeing him bullied by Liu Wenqing, I found him pitiful and wanted to give him a chance to meet the sons of wealthy families, so I invited him to the banquet. When I found out he got drunk, I even had our servants take him to the guest room to rest. Who knew he’d be so ruthless and deliberately harm me!"

Tong San wailed almost to the point of passing out, yet his words were clear, continuing, "He had someone tell me he was feverish from drinking and wanted me to arrange a carriage to take him home. I was worried he’d cause trouble here, so I went to his room; little did I know, he had lit harmful incense inside. When I realized something was wrong and wanted to escape, it was too late... I was already too weak and was pulled onto the bed by him... Wuwuwu, Grandfather, I’m truly wronged."

Tong San lay on the floor crying, a picture of someone who had suffered a great injustice yet couldn’t clear his name.

Liu Wenqing was stunned by what he heard from Tong San; he never expected Tong San would turn against him like this. Outraged and feeling wronged, he could only look at Elder Tong with his mouth open, mouthing his own innocence silently.

Old Tong was also a ruthless person. He’d rather believe Tong San was wronged than accept that Liu Wenqing was innocent. He pointed at Liu Wenqing, "Gag this harmful thing and lock him in the woodshed. Go inform Second Son Liu’s Family to bring their bastard son over; our Tong Family demands an explanation!"

Liu Wenqing’s grandfather was useless, and after the Liu Family split, their life had become increasingly difficult. As long as he subdued Second Son Liu, insisting it was Liu Wenqing’s despicability that harmed his third grandson, and pressured him, given Second Son Liu’s cowardice, he’d surely comply and quietly dispose of Liu Wenqing, suppressing tonight’s events.

It must be said that Tong San truly is his grandfather’s own grandson; the two of them, grandfather and grandson, were as cruel as each other.