Transmigration: The Main Character is Not Becoming the Cannon Fodder!-Chapter 240 - 5: The Beautiful General’s Wife (Part 5)

Chapter 240: Chapter 5: The Beautiful General’s Wife (Part 5)

Little Yin followed Li Shuning’s instructions and went directly to report to the authorities. It wasn’t long before officers and soldiers arrived.

Li Shuning directly took out the General Mansion’s official seal, which the old lady had given her a few days earlier to manage household affairs.

Seeing the seal, the person leading the team felt their head swell with anxiety.

He recognized the person on the ground; it was Young Master Zhang.

And the person reporting the incident was from the General Mansion, indicating that something major was about to happen.

It wasn’t long before everyone arrived at the Shuntian Prefecture.

Li Shuning explained the situation, making even the prefectural magistrate feel that something was amiss. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Naturally, the shopkeeper from the Brocade Pavilion was also brought over.

Initially, the shopkeeper was quite assertive, claiming that the Brocade Pavilion had always conducted business peacefully and would never do anything detrimental to the ladies.

Once something like that occurred at the Brocade Pavilion, there would be no point in doing business anymore.

The matter was originally at a standstill, and the news had already reached the Prime Minister’s Mansion, which had already dispatched someone, while the old lady from the General Mansion also sent someone over.

Soon after, the shopkeeper from the Brocade Pavilion suddenly changed her tune.

Originally kneeling indifferently below the hall, Li Shuning had been paying close attention to the shopkeeper.

Suddenly, the shopkeeper’s expression changed, turning pale.

"Lord, it was my greed that clouded my judgment. Previously, the young master from the Prime Minister’s Mansion had someone come to the Brocade Pavilion, instructing me not to conduct business today and gave me three hundred taels of silver as payment. He even compensated a day’s revenue for the Brocade Pavilion. At that time, I didn’t know what the young master intended, thinking he was the Prime Minister’s son, so I agreed."

"After all, business can be conducted another day. Today’s profits were already secured, so why not do the young master a favor."

"Later, when the General’s wife and others arrived, the young master’s men even informed me to allow them to do business with them. I truly didn’t know the young master intended to do such a thing. The Brocade Pavilion aims to serve ladies and young ladies. If I had known, I wouldn’t have dared to accept that money. If something happened, how could the Brocade Pavilion continue its business? I plead, Lord, please see the truth. I did not intend to harm the General’s wife."

The prefectural magistrate’s eyebrows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly. He understood that the Brocade Pavilion didn’t have such audacity, but since it involved the Prime Minister’s Mansion, he hesitated.

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside. The magistrate, already agitated, slammed the gavel: "Who dares to make noise in the courtroom, quiet!"

A soft laugh echoed: "Lord Wang, how imposing. I am here on behalf of the Brocade Pavilion."

The prefectural magistrate was startled: "Prince Gong."

He was about to rise to greet him, but Prince Gong shook his head: "No need for formalities, Lord Wang; we have important matters to discuss."

"Today, I am here regarding the Brocade Pavilion incident. The Brocade Pavilion was originally bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager. I had entrusted it to my servants to manage, and I did not expect such an occurrence today. It is my lack of guidance for my servants. Here, I wish to apologize to the General’s wife."

Prince Gong took out some silver notes and some testimonies from that day regarding those Zhang Rongxuan sought help from.

Lord Wang, seeing these items at this moment, was even more convinced that the young master of the Prime Minister’s family was infatuated with the General’s wife and attempted to forcefully take her.

Li Shuning, however, looked curiously at Prince Gong, her eyes lighting up.

He looked so much like Yun Zimo.

Indeed, the royal family bore the surname Yun.

During the night banquet, Prince Gong did not attend. Does this imply a difference in the storyline, suggesting that this Prince Gong might have also been replaced?

Li Shuning gazed at Prince Gong, who also glanced at Li Shuning, his eyes warm and indulgent.

The sight of this gaze sweetened Li Shuning’s heart; it was indeed him.

However, there was no exchange of words between them; their tacit understanding was unlike that of ordinary people.

After this incident, the Prime Minister’s Mansion paid a steep price to ensure the General Mansion did not pursue further.

Nonetheless, public opinion about the Prime Minister’s son was tumultuous.

If he dared to seize the General’s wife, what about the good girls from ordinary families who had disappeared mysteriously recently? Could they have been taken by the young master as well?

Overall, this incident had a significant impact on the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

The Emperor even inquired about it, expressing some anger, urging the Prime Minister to properly discipline his son.

The Prime Minister, therefore, placed Zhang Rongxuan under house arrest.

However, the Prime Minister was also quite frustrated, seeing that Zhang Rongxuan was evidently set up in this incident.

Who delivered that note to Zhang Rongxuan?

Who wanted to sow discord between the General Mansion and the Prime Minister’s Mansion?

Unable to find the suspicious person, the Prime Minister, though rational, still harbored resentment towards the General Mansion, accusing Li Shuning of disregarding the relations between the two families and causing the Prime Minister’s Mansion to be so passive.

Thus, our Prime Minister secretly retaliated, naturally applying some pressure on the General Mansion.

Upon Li Shuning’s return, the old lady was furious.

"Shuning, I thought you were a well-mannered girl, but you turned out to be so reckless. Do you realize you have made a great enemy for the General Mansion?"

After saying these words, the old lady wanted to drive her out, unwilling to say another word or see that face again. It was often said that beauty is a curse, and it was indeed so.

Li Shuning suddenly spoke, "Mother, do you know what I encountered today? Young Master Zhang attempted to assault me. If I didn’t resist, should I just let him have his way? Wouldn’t people then accuse me of not adhering to my duties, and wouldn’t mother blame me too? At that point, who would I seek justice from with a divorce letter?"

"Besides, to speak frankly, the reason I went out today was because the old lady asked me to, wasn’t it? Why did Cousin leave me behind? Why did she have to personally buy snacks? What are the maids for? Isn’t there something else suspicious about this? Speaking of which, I have never interacted with Cousin. Why would she suddenly want to go out with me? Mother, you chastised me today, but have you considered how I felt? I always regarded mother like a birth mother, believing that you too treated me like your own child, but now it seems..."

Li Shuning paused and suddenly laughed, bowing before retreating.

The old lady was so angry she couldn’t breathe, smashing a cup with a single throw, how dare she talk back, such insolence.

Li Shuning’s spiritual power naturally took in the old lady’s situation, and she smiled coldly in her heart.

In truth, this was indeed the old lady’s nature: cold and selfish.

As long as it did not interfere with her interests, she would be kind to you based on your performance. But when it truly involved her and the General Mansion’s interests, how could she defend an outsider?

Therefore, in the storyline where Li Shuning encountered those events, how could the old lady possibly see her?

Most likely, the person who hated her the most at that time was the old lady, having tarnished the General Mansion’s reputation.

Back then, the old lady wouldn’t even consider whether Li Shuning did anything, or if she was trapped, would she?

Li Shuning shook her head. It was better this way.