Chapter 953 - 947: Hush Money
The government officials hurriedly ran to the government office prison, asking for Mr. Wei, who was beaten to near death, to be released.
Seeing the whip scars on Mr. Wei’s body, the government officials trembled with fear.
This is the junior apprentice brother of Princess Consort Zhenbei.
Although Princess Consort Zhenbei is still quite young.
Especially those prison guards who whipped Mr. Wei, they were so terrified their legs went weak...
Sun Prefect and Mrs. Sun hurriedly arrived at the Wei Mansion in a soft sedan chair.
By then, Su Jin and Housekeeper Zhou had also arrived at the Wei Mansion.
One of the servants sent to deliver the congratulatory gift was the driver, while the other was picked by Housekeeper Zhou from the Zhou Family’s servants.
The servants from the Beauty Pavilion naturally belonged to Princess Consort Zhenbei, acting confidently.
The Zhou Family’s servant felt guilty and was just there to make up the numbers, basically silent.
Su Jin feared that the driver wouldn’t be able to handle it alone, knowing Sun Prefect’s character, he would shamelessly come back, so she had to personally keep an eye on things to feel assured.
Sure enough, as she expected, once Sun Prefect knew Imperial Physician Wei was indeed Princess Consort Zhenbei’s mentor, he shamelessly came back.
Looking at Sun Prefect’s plump appearance, it was clear he had extorted quite a bit of wealth from the people.
He opened his mouth and called them relatives, which made Xingxing shiver with goosebumps; if she were a Wei Family servant, she’d directly chase them away with a broom.
Mrs. Wei’s face was indifferent, "This one call of ’relative’ from Sun Prefect, my Wei Family cannot bear!"
Sun Prefect knew he was in the wrong, he said, "What are relatives saying here? The Wei Family’s matchmakers and official betrothal are all ready for my daughter to marry into your family, the marriage agreement is still here, how is it not relatives?"
Mrs. Wei was aggravated and clenched her teeth, "Marry? Does Sun Prefect plan for his daughter and my son to hold their wedding banquet in the government office prison?!"
"Misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding before," Sun Prefect said with an apologetic smile.
"The Wei Family’s visit to annul the engagement angered me..."
Mrs. Wei trembled with rage.
Xingxing felt she could hardly hold herself back; this was shameless, wasn’t it?
Su Jin signaled the driver with her eyes, who then looked at Sun Prefect and said, "Where is Mr. Wei, my Princess Consort’s junior apprentice brother?"
"He, he’ll be returned right away," Sun Prefect’s voice trembled.
While speaking, the government officials carried in Mr. Wei.
Beaten black and blue, his body full of whip marks.
Mrs. Wei saw him, feeling as if her heart was being cut.
Sun Prefect felt like hacking the officials to death; didn’t they think to change Mr. Wei’s clothes before returning him, at least cover those whip marks, fool the servants, wouldn’t that work?!
Stupid as pigs!
The driver looked at Sun Prefect and said, "If it weren’t for our Princess Consort sending us to deliver congratulations, would Sun Prefect have beaten Imperial Physician Wei’s top disciple to death?!"
"How could that be?" Sun Prefect denied outright.
"That’s my son-in-law, how could I, as a father-in-law, be so cruel?"
Su Jin witnessed today what kind of face is thicker than a city wall.
Sun Prefect’s skin probably wouldn’t be cut even with a knife.
Sun Prefect hurriedly said, "My daughter and Mr. Wei are destined, today is not a good day, I’ll choose another day for them to marry."
Speaking, he signaled Master.
Master walked over to the driver, practically dragging him away, "Rarely here in Su State, let me take you around."
The driver turned to look at Su Jin, Su Jin just smiled without speaking.
Driver, "...."
Princess Consort, you can’t be like this.
Master pulled one away, the other followed suit and left.
The Wei Mansion suddenly became quiet, Mrs. Wei was too angry to stand, glared at Sun Prefect, "You..."
Without the servants sent by Princess Consort Zhenbei, Sun Prefect no longer feared Mrs. Wei and said, "This is Su State, I make the decisions."
"When Mr. Wei recovers, we’ll handle the marriage."
Xingxing wanted to speak, Su Jin stopped her.
Sun Prefect obviously seemed ruthless; ruining his plans wouldn’t end well for them.
Su Jin looked at Sun Prefect and said, "Princess Consort Zhenbei has only this one junior apprentice brother, and for such a significant event as his marriage, is Sun Prefect really intending to handle it in this small place of Su State?"
Mrs. Sun then noticed Su Jin, she asked, "Who are you?"
Su Jin smiled and said, "I am the Second Steward of Beauty Pavilion."
Mrs. Sun quickly put on a friendly face and said, "So you’re a steward from Beauty Pavilion, why weren’t you with those two servants just now?"
Su Jin said indifferently, "What I have to handle is different from theirs; I’m on a mission to the border, but since Zhou Family’s ship needs to dock in Su State for a day or two, I came along since I had nothing else to do."
"I didn’t expect to witness such a spectacle."
Sun Prefect’s face darkened, blaming Su Jin for meddling too much.
"What did Second Steward mean by what he just said?" Sun Prefect asked.
Su Jin sat down and said, "Doctor Wei is now working at the Imperial Hospital, so he probably won’t return to Su State. Mrs. Wei and Mr. Wei will go to the Capital City to reunite with Doctor Wei."
"Although Doctor Wei hasn’t taught the Heir’s wife any medical skills, he has greatly helped her. The Heir’s wife has acknowledged him as her master."
"The importance of being the mentor of Princess Consort Zhenbei is something Sun Prefect should know better than I do. If Mr. Wei’s wedding banquet is held in the Capital, many high-ranking officials and dignitaries will personally congratulate him. As the Wei Mansion’s relative by marriage, Sun Prefect can gain considerable benefits from this."
Su Jin paused, and then glanced at Sun Prefect.
Sun Prefect, seasoned in the officialdom, was well aware of the benefits involved; a promotion in rank would not be difficult.
But why did he need to remind him?
Doubt flashed in Sun Prefect’s eyes.
Su Jin’s hand rested on the chair, seemingly inadvertently twitching his fingers.
Housekeeper Zhou’s eyes twitched.
The motion for asking benefits was too skillful.
You are the Heir’s wife.
You’re the Princess Consort Zhenbei who owns the profitable Beauty Pavilion.
You’re the Emperor’s most beloved Princess Jin Ning.
This gesture is too down-to-earth, undermining your status.
Sun Prefect’s face darkened again; he hadn’t expected someone to dare openly demand a bribe from him, yet this was a bribe he couldn’t refuse.
Mrs. Wei’s face was grim; she wanted to speak but was interrupted by Housekeeper Zhou, "Is Mr. Wei alright?"
Mrs. Wei, not wanting to stay any longer, ignored Sun Prefect and left, supported by her maid.
Sun Mansion’s steward invited Su Jin to sit in the pavilion outside.
Su Jin went.
Sun Mansion’s steward handed a silver note of a thousand taels to Su Jin.
Su Jin chuckled, "Are you trying to bully me because you think I haven’t seen money before?"
"Whether Sun Prefect can latch onto the high branch of being the mentor of Princess Consort Zhenbei depends entirely on my word. You think you can get rid of me with just a thousand taels?"
"How much do you want?" Sun Mansion’s steward asked.
"Five thousand taels."
Sun Mansion’s steward gasped, "Isn’t that asking for too much?"
Su Jin smiled faintly, "As the steward following Sun Prefect, haven’t you heard that Princess Consort Zhenbei even robbed the Empress Dowager?"
"As servants, how can we disgrace her reputation when we’re out?"
Sun Mansion’s steward was speechless.
Isn’t what he’s doing disgraceful?
Steward Sun handed over five thousand taels, "I can give you the money, but if you dare say a wrong word, be prepared for the consequences!"
Su Jin smiled, "It doesn’t matter to me who Mr. Wei marries; we have no relation, so there’s no need to turn against money."
Keeping the silver note in his pocket, Su Jin walked away.
Master entered, nodding to Sun Prefect.
Sun Prefect felt relieved and rose to leave with his wife.
Although the marriage certificate was torn up, in the government office, his words were the final say; reissuing one was easy.
With Eldest Young Madam Liu around, why worry about the Wei Family pulling tricks?
Eldest Young Madam Liu is Wei Family’s only daughter, born to Doctor Wei and Mrs. Wei. Without Wei’s good son-in-law, Doctor Wei’s position wouldn’t have been so easily exposed.
Su Jin entered the room, and the Wei Family’s maids and servants glared at her with anger.
The Princess Consort Zhenbei trusted him so much, making him the Second Steward, yet he’s disloyal!
Su Jin didn’t explain and went to see Mrs. Wei.
Mrs. Wei also misunderstood Su Jin, but Steward Zhou said, "Could you let the maids leave first?"
Mrs. Wei waved her hand, and the maids left.
Only then did Su Jin look at Mrs. Wei and say, "In Su State, Sun Prefect rules with an iron fist. The Wei Family depends on Princess Consort Zhenbei. Sun Prefect is currently afraid that the marriage won’t go through; Mrs. Wei’s firm attitude will only force them to act recklessly. It’s best to hold them down. After one to two months, this marriage will naturally come to nothing."
Mrs. Wei was angry and confused. Thinking carefully, she realized it made sense.
Once in the Capital, there’d be no need to fear Sun Prefect.
Mrs. Wei apologized to Su Jin for misunderstanding her, and Steward Zhou smiled, "No need to rush into the Capital, lest it raises suspicions."
Mrs. Wei repeatedly nodded.