Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Lock Up All the Onlookers!
Because Heir Pei had attacked earlier, he swiftly moved forward.
It’s just that Qu Fulan’s poison was quite potent, acting almost instantly, rendering two great masters useless.
It was as if they were instantly defeated by a frail woman.
Qu Fulan didn’t want this either, but she even less wanted to place her hopes in others. Her life was her own; the slightest mistake, and she could lose it.
So she decided to rescue herself. At this moment, her whole body was covered in medicines, especially ones targeting the Thousand-faced Monster Hand. He had been hit by her medicine pouch earlier, leaving a scent on him. That scent wasn’t an ordinary fragrance; if combined with another drug, it could cause instant suffocation and unconsciousness.
At this stage, the Thousand-faced Monster Hand was truly captured.
To prevent future troubles, Pei Ji’an crippled the opponent’s martial arts on the spot. Once a cripple, forget a thousand faces, there wouldn’t be even one.
Seeing this, Qu Fulan suddenly had a moment of epiphany. Could it be done like this?
Had Xiao Shiqing crippled the opponent’s martial arts the moment they were caught, how could today’s troubles have occurred?
Just like a novel’s male protagonist, always placing righteousness first.
In that instant, Qu Fulan also understood why she preferred to stay by Pei Ji’an’s side as a maid rather than seek refuge with Xiao Shiqing.
It’s due to personality.
As the original male lead, Xiao Shiqing represents the side that must embody justice, so he wouldn’t do anything that might violate morals.
In his eyes, right is right, and wrong is wrong. He believes what he sees, embodying both loyalty and filial piety.
Such a person, you can’t say he’s bad. At least he’s a person of principles.
Yet, such a person can be a good minister, a good son, but he won’t be a good husband, and not even a good boyfriend.
Because you would rank behind loyalty and filial piety.
It sounds quite rational, but life is a lifetime affair. At any time, you’re always behind, and your emotions and feelings are insignificant compared to loyalty and filial piety.
So in the original work, when Li Jirou was aggrieved, it wasn’t that she hadn’t thought of seeking Xiao Shiqing’s support or that she hadn’t cried to him. But she was his mother, and filial piety comes first; what could he say?
After exiting the bamboo forest, people saw the child was fine, and the villain was caught. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and felt thrilled—the excitement today was truly worthwhile and satisfying.
That Madam Chen, seeing her son being carried out, felt her heart shatter. She staggered forward to take her son, seeing him in such distress, her resentment towards that girl grew.
Madam Chen had determined her son was implicated and opened her mouth to criticize the girl again; otherwise, she couldn’t feel at ease.
"Pity my son was dragged into this, and as a mother, I can’t stand up for you..."
Onlookers felt they should deliver justice once more, so their trip wouldn’t be in vain. Thus, they joined in denouncing the maid.
"One should call the human trafficker to get rid of that girl; keeping such a scourge will eventually lead to trouble!"
"Isn’t it so? This kind of girl shouldn’t be kept around; she looks improper at first glance. No wonder the Thousand-faced Monster Hand chose her above others."
"She should kneel and apologize to this young master of the Chen Family, as it’s her fault."
...
When Pei Ji’an came out, he heard these comments, smirked coldly, and said in a frigid voice, "Arrest all these bystanders watching the spectacle, regardless of age. Don’t let a single one go!"
The Pei Family guards, upon hearing this, immediately surrounded those people.
The crowd screamed and questioned the reason.
Pei Ji’an chuckled coldly, "According to our current laws, Article 132, anyone obstructing official duties will be detained for five days and flogged twenty times. Those, young and old, unable to endure flogging, will have it transferred to strong men of their households."
Having said this, Pei Ji’an rubbed his brow in irritation and said, "I’ve tolerated you spectators for a long time. Not one shall be exempt; take them all away!"
As his words fell, those wanting to stand up for the Chen Family in the crowd were taken away amidst screams and resistance.
Ji Nishang watched this, feeling that the hard-won patrons she had entertained were gone just like that; all her efforts previously were in vain. She immediately tugged on her aunt’s sleeve.
Mrs. Xiao understood and quickly approached her son, saying, "Nothing much happened anyway; one should be lenient whenever possible. Why make a big issue out of it?"
Pei Ji’an sneered, "Weren’t you enjoying the spectacle earlier, caring little for making it big? Now you understand that making it big isn’t a good idea?"
Mrs. Xiao was choked with Pei Family Heir’s impoliteness. A junior should have no place meddling when elders speak; "Heir Pei, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda; one should accumulate virtues for oneself, or you will fall into eighteen layers of hell in the future."
"Such righteousness indeed." Pei Ji’an clapped his hands, "Since you’re this righteous, Mrs. Xiao, then please proceed; don’t forget you’re also counted among those obstructing official duties."
Hearing this, Mrs. Xiao was shocked and immediately retorted sharply, "Heir Pei, speak not nonsense. I came out of concern for my son, not to obstruct official duties!"
"Under the guise of caring, you commit acts that obstruct official duties." Pei Ji’an had no time for Mrs. Xiao’s nonsense, directly looking at Xiao Shiqing, and smiled, "Prince Xiao has always enforced the law impartially. This time, surely you wouldn’t show leniency just because they are your family, right? Actually, this wouldn’t be impossible, but might it be difficult to win public support? If Prince Xiao could persuade those captured to forgive, then I’ll pretend I never said anything."
Xiao Shiqing surely didn’t have the power to persuade people to forgive. Besides, Xiao Family members violated the nation’s laws.
If arrested, everyone should be. Otherwise, it would be hard to win public support.
Xiao Shiqing was left with no choice but to take severe action against his relatives, ordering that Mrs. Xiao and Ji Nishang be taken away.
He still said this though.
"Mother, rest assured. You only need to stay inside for a few days, and I’ll bear the punishment."
Mrs. Xiao looked utterly incredulous.
Ji Nishang was dumbfounded too. Had she known, why did she need to hassle her aunt to come out?
Watching the Xiao Family leave, Qu Fulan also found it a bit unbelievable.
"I thought the law wouldn’t punish a large group," Qu Fulan inadvertently said out loud.
Pei Ji’an looked at her with some surprise, "Where did you hear such nonsense about ’the law won’t punish a large group’? Attempting to obstruct official duties is a crime. Moreover, action was already taken; they should be punished."
Qu Fulan instantly recalled that this was feudal ancient times, not the 21st century, where the idea of "the law won’t punish a large group" could exist. In such a monarchy, imperial power was supreme. Anything that obstructed royal authority could get an entire family or clan punished, let alone a puny ’large group’ offense?
But on another note, the strictness of ancient times had its advantages.
At least in such excitement, one might worry about committing a crime.
It was somewhat ludicrous yet satisfying.
When she returned to her room, Qu Fulan received a piece of news.
Xiao’s Milk Tea Shop had opened several branches in the Capital City, with renovations completed, and was set for a grand opening in five days.