Doted By The Regent King-Chapter 706 - 705

On the first day the government office opened its seal, Prefect Wen of Huayang County presided over two cases, one of which was the swine pestilence case of Taiping Town.

The swine pestilence case was caught in the act by the County Magistrate, with victims providing testimony, and evidence of the Lu family mixing bad meat with good and using silver to settle disputes over the past few years was also presented, leading to a collective accusation. With both testimonial and physical evidence available, the Lu family had no choice but to admit their guilt.

After serving time in prison as minor punishment, the Lu family members confessed their crimes swiftly. Considering that no lives were lost, but an extremely negative impact was caused, Lu Da, the head of the family, was sentenced to fifty strokes of the large plank, and the rest received their due beatings as well. Silver was confiscated and paid as compensation to the victims. Moreover, it was decreed that the Lu family, due to their dishonest business practices and disregard for human life, were no longer permitted to sell pork. Should they violate this, they would be prosecuted.

Mayor Ma, the headman, and others who had invested in the scheme couldn’t escape responsibility either. For their negligence in supervision, accepting bribes, and allowing the Lu family to break the law, and other despicable acts such as bullying the market, Mayor Ma was stripped of his position. The land and money acquired through illegal means were confiscated, much to the delight of the citizens of Taiping Town.

You see, they had long suffered under the wrongdoings of Mayor Ma and his son, only keeping silent due to fear. Now, seeing the downfall of such tyrants in Great Xia, how could they not rejoice?

This was the first case settled after the seal was opened, and the second involved a minor theft. The main culprit was beaten with twenty strokes of the large plank, the accomplice ten, and then they were released from prison.

And these two individuals were Madam Lu and Zhou Xuennian.

Thus, when the couple was released, they came face to face with the Lu family members, and both parties were stunned.

Madam Lu and the others had already suffered enough in prison, and upon their release, finding out about the huge changes in her family and being beaten when already weak, her eyes rolled back and she completely fainted.

Outside the prison, the cries of the Lu family filled the air. How could such a huge upheaval happen in just a few short days, leading to such profound dismay?

When Mayor Ma and his cohort came out, clutching their behinds and saw the Lu family, they furiously came forward to fight.

Since the two families had already torn their facades, and the Lu family was not one to be bullied easily, the two groups tangled into a brawl. Fortunately, the fight occurred in front of the Yamen where the Yamen Runners were present. With a shout and a threat to lock them back in prison, each group backed down.

But a grudge was ultimately formed.

Everyone had been beaten, and Lu Da had suffered the most. He cried and howled all the way back to the Lu family home, the chaos indescribable.

While the doctor was summoned to treat the Lu family’s wounds, both Lu Da and Old Lady Lu fainted twice. Madam Lu, who had been imprisoned for over ten days, fainted as well.

Only Zhou Xuennian stood dumbstruck, observing the chaotic state of his wife’s family, almost unable to believe it.

How could everything change so drastically within a year? The Lu family was fine before, but how did it come to this?

When Zhou Xueli learned that Zhou Xuennian was released, he came with an ox cart to pick them up from the Lu family home, where Old Lady Lu berated and cursed them fiercely.

Madam Lu cried and refused to return, but Zhou Xueli was indifferent. It was even better if she didn’t return; the Zhou family would be better off without such a daughter-in-law.

"Big brother, do you also not want to return?" Zhou Xueli asked coldly.

Zhou Xuennian shivered at the question. Return, of course he would return. The Lu family was in turmoil, now branded as criminals. If he didn’t go back, would he stay and be seen as a criminal along with them?

So, Zhou Xuennian left. When Lu Da awoke and found out, he felt as cold as if encased in ice. Zhou Xuennian, this scoundrel, was utterly unreliable, and no man at all!

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel