Chapter 384: Chapter 385: Another Trial

Before Xiao Wanyu could recover from her fury, the government officials from Shuntian Prefecture had already come for her.

The case had originally been closed. But early this morning, a large crowd had flocked to Shuntian Prefecture to watch the spectacle, and all the relatives of the Niu Family had gathered there, demanding justice.

To prevent the matter from becoming even more complicated, the Shuntian Prefect had no choice but to hold another trial.

Seeing the person being led away, Old Mrs. Ning and Fang Yuan both breathed a sigh of relief. If that woman was truly as venomous as the rumors claimed, they, the two stumbling blocks in her path, would likely be her next targets.

Nanny Ou looked at Jin Qianqian, hesitating to speak, which made Qing Mei, standing to the side, glance over frequently as well.

"Nanny, is there something you want to say?" Jin Qianqian put down the list in her hands and asked helplessly. "Just say what’s on your mind."

"Madam, although the Huang family has paid compensation, your and the Master’s reputations have also been damaged. Are you just going to let it be?"

Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected this to be her concern. "Now is not the time. It took a lot of effort for the Xiao Family’s daughter to finally be in the spotlight. We have to let everyone gossip for a while. Otherwise, it would be a huge waste of me sacrificing my reputation to play this game with her for so long."

Nanny Ou was still afraid that the Madam would let things get out of hand. "After all, we have no evidence in her case. The government might not be able to convict her."

But Jin Qianqian shook her head. "Convicted or not? Does it even make a difference now?"

"The two words ’venomous woman’ will follow her for the rest of her life. Besides, even though we didn’t find any concrete evidence, she’s not innocent either. If we let someone like her continue to hide in the shadows, who knows who will suffer next."

From the moment the Xiao Family’s daughter had schemed against Gu Wenheng, she had no intention of letting her off lightly. She had originally planned to gather evidence slowly, but who knew the Huang Mansion would pull a stunt like this? So, she simply played along with their scheme and let them reap what they sowed.

Gu Lehuan didn’t dare to face Xu Nuo directly. Instead, he called Dazhuang outside and asked abruptly, "Will Mr. Xu marry and move away?"

Dazhuang immediately understood his meaning, but this was his master’s private affair. How would he know?

"Young Master Gu, if you want to know, you should ask the owner directly."

Dazhuang pressed his lips together. He and Sanhua were in a difficult position as well. They both wanted Mr. Xu to have a happy future, so that they, her followers, could also have one.

Gu Lehuan scratched his head furiously. ’How could I possibly ask that?’

He was caught in a dilemma. He realized he had been too naive before.

Dazhuang had many things to attend to. Seeing that Gu Lehuan wasn’t getting to the point, he found an excuse and left.

Gu Yuanshui, who had never been insistent on building a workshop in Shangjing, now completely threw caution to the wind, running through the streets and alleys with his young servant.

With surplus silver in hand, he wasn’t stingy. He not only bought things for his own wife and children but also didn’t forget the elders in the clan.

It wasn’t that he wanted to be extravagant; some silver simply had to be spent. He was hoping that a few of the clan elders would put in a good word for him with the Clan Leader and find a different successor.

As soon as Li Cuicui learned that Fourth had no intention of opening a workshop here, she started wondering aloud about when they would go back.

"It’s not very cold yet, and it hasn’t even snowed. I want to take this opportunity to go back early. The journey won’t be as difficult that way."

Jin Qianqian naturally tried to persuade her to stay, but in the end, she deferred to the old madam and promised to help her contact an escort agency in the next couple of days.

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Since they were preparing to go back, they needed to get the New Year’s gifts ready early.

Jin Qianqian drew up a list for the butler to arrange, while she herself took Li Cuicui all over the streets to pick things out.

"This is too much," Li Cuicui said. She never knew her daughter-in-law was such a big spender; they didn’t leave a single shop empty-handed.

Seeing that the old madam was only concerned about the silver taels and didn’t accuse her of being a poor homemaker, Jin Qianqian’s impression of her improved even more.

She had said she wouldn’t meddle after the family property was divided, and she truly hadn’t. Jin Qianqian felt lucky to have met such a mother-in-law.

Riding this wave of happiness, Jin Qianqian led Li Cuicui to the largest jewelry shop in Shangjing.

Looking at the enormous jewelry shop, Jin Qianqian didn’t go anywhere else, directly leading Li Cuicui to the counter at the very front.

Li Cuicui now owned a few sets of jewelry herself, but when she saw the gleaming gold head ornament sets covering the entire counter, she couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed.

Jin Qianqian supported her. "Mother, do you see any that you particularly like? I will buy it for you."

Li Cuicui immediately snapped back to her senses. "No, no. I’ve barely worn the head ornaments you gave me before. Why waste the silver taels?"

"How could this be a waste? We’re family. Besides, you are a respected madam now. When you go out, you should have the proper accessories."

Li Cuicui touched the hairpin in her hair, which Jin Qianqian had helped her put on early that morning. "I already have so many. And there are new ones at home that I haven’t even worn. Buying more would be excessive."

Her other sons’ lives had also improved, but at most, they could only provide a little more care in her daily life. When she thought about it now, most of the expenses were actually covered by Seventh and his wife.

On this trip to Shangjing, Li Cuicui had secretly calculated in her heart. Just from shopping these past two days, over a hundred taels of silver had vanished.

Now, being brought to this jewelry shop, she immediately objected, "I’m just an old woman at home. I have no use for these things. You really don’t need to waste any more silver coin on me."

At this point, she added with a sad expression, "If I pass away before your father, who knows who will end up with all these things? You don’t have to be so insistent. Just being filial like your other sisters-in-law is enough."

Jin Qianqian knew that Li Cuicui must be thinking about the matter between that widow and Gu Dashishi again.

Even though He Guwu had already remarried, Jin Qianqian knew this was not a hurdle that could be easily overcome.

Gu Dashishi had been sent away for now, and with the clan rules in place, he wouldn’t dare defy them. However, as long as he didn’t bring the woman home, no one could criticize him.

"Mother, let’s not say such unlucky things," Jin Qianqian said, quickly pointing to a more delicate gold head ornament set at the front, suitable for an older woman. "How about that set?"

"You Shopkeeper, your big store is bullying customers! This is all gold, yet you think you can send me away with just fifty silver taels?"

Suddenly, a familiar shriek came from the front. Jin Qianqian cursed her bad luck under her breath and felt like grabbing Li Cuicui and walking right out the door.

But before she could act, Fang Yuan walked out and came face-to-face with her. Following closely behind was Old Mrs. Ning.

Jin Qianqian nodded at her, then went back to admiring the head ornaments on the counter with Li Cuicui.

She thought this was just a chance encounter and that their two families would have no further interactions.

But it seemed as if everything was fated. It was unclear if Madam Ning truly didn’t see where she was going, but her cane got caught right on the edge of Jin Qianqian’s shoe, and she nearly stumbled and fell. Fortunately, the old nanny beside her was quick-eyed and steady-handed, helping her regain her balance.

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