bookrebus Chapter 869 The纨绔 (playboy) cries out in injustice, the governor arrives
Chapter 869 The纨绔 (playboy) cries out in injustice, the governor arrives
"Ah—! My hand! My hand—!"
A piercing scream, like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, tore a hole in the noisy banquet, instantly drowning out the sounds of music and clinking glasses. Everyone turned to look, and there lay Wang Hu, the once arrogant and unruly young master who had run rampant in the city, now curled up like a maggot on the cold stone slab. His hands were twisted at an unnatural angle, blood gushing from between his fingers, staining his expensive robes and soaking the ground. His face, already swollen from drinking and womanizing, was now contorted with pain, tears streaming down his face—all traces of his usual arrogance were gone.
Before him stood a graceful woman in an elegant dance dress. She was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a stunningly beautiful face, but now her eyebrows were furrowed, her phoenix eyes filled with murderous intent, and she tightly gripped a broken jade hairpin in her hand—the very weapon she had used to defend herself in the heat of the moment. She was Yunniang, the dancer who had performed at the banquet and was the one whom Wang Hu had harassed and tried to take advantage of under the influence of alcohol.
The surrounding guests were already terrified and retreated hastily, fearing they might be caught up in this enormous disaster. Who didn't know that Wang Hu was the beloved son of the former Military Advisor Wang? He was a notorious bully, tyrannical man who committed countless atrocities, relying on his father's long-established connections in the city, leaving victims with no choice but to suffer in silence. And now, a mere dancer dared to injure him? This was utterly outrageous!
"stop!"
Just as the deathly silence was broken, with only Wang Hu's pig-like screams echoing, a sharp and authoritative voice suddenly rang out, like a thunderclap from a clear sky.
The crowd parted rapidly like Moses parting the Sea, and a middle-aged man in a scarlet brocade robe, a jade belt around his waist, and a gloomy face strode over, surrounded by several burly guards. He was slightly overweight, with triangular eyes and a mustache. At that moment, his triangular eyes were fiercely scanning the entire scene, finally settling on Wang Hu, who was groaning on the ground.
"Little Tiger! My son!" The middle-aged man was Wang Hu's father, the former Military Advisor Wang. He had been drinking with some old friends in another corner of the banquet hall when he heard the commotion and his son's screams. Terrified, he abandoned all pretense of decorum and rushed over. Seeing his son's hands crippled and him writhing in agony, his pitiful state was like a knife twisting in his heart!
Lord Wang's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his chest burning with rage that seemed about to burst. He abruptly turned his head, his gaze as venomous as a snake's, fixing on the still-standing, icy-eyed Yunniang. He roared, "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how dare you commit violence and injure someone at the governor's banquet, crippling my son's hands! What audacity! Guards! Seize this madwoman! I will make her wish she were dead!"
Although he was no longer a military advisor due to the change of dynasty, "a lean camel is still bigger than a horse." Having cultivated his influence in Jiangzhou for decades, his network of protégés, former officials, and associates was deeply entrenched, and his power was still considerable. How dare a lowly dancer so blatantly insult the Wang family! This not only harmed his son but also slapped him, Lord Wang, in the face! If he wasn't severely punished today, how could he ever face anyone in Jiangzhou again?
"Yes!" Several fierce-looking guards responded in unison and were about to pounce on the unarmed Yunniang. Although Yunniang was afraid, she still stubbornly raised her chin, her eyes showing no sign of begging for mercy, thinking of Wang Hu's ugly face and her own humiliation.
"Wait a minute!"
At this critical moment, a clear and penetrating voice fell like sweet rain, instantly freezing the chaotic scene once again.
Immediately following was a series of hurried and orderly footsteps, accompanied by a loud announcement: "Lord Lin, the Prefect of Jiangzhou, has arrived!"
What?! Your Excellency the Governor?!
A murmur rippled through the crowd. This banquet was a welcome feast for the newly appointed Prefect of Jiangzhou, Lin Ping, to help her establish connections and familiarize herself with government affairs. However, Prefect Lin was young and a woman, new to the position, and many didn't know her well, nor did they take her seriously. Now, hearing of her arrival, everyone instinctively held their breath. Even Lord Wang was momentarily stunned, a flicker of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes, which quickly turned into a cold smile. Perfect timing! He wanted to see how this newly arrived female prefect would answer to him, a "veteran of the previous dynasty"!
Lord Wang quickly straightened his slightly disheveled robes, his face instantly contorted with a mixture of grief and resentment, and hurried forward. A group of constables escorted a young woman in official robes, with a slender figure, as she approached. She wore a black gauze hat and the scarlet robes of a prefect, her face beautiful, yet possessing an imposing and dignified air, her eyes clear and sharp, seemingly able to pierce the heart. This was none other than the newly appointed prefect, Lin Ping.
"Your humble servant Wang Qian greets Your Excellency the Prefect!" Pretending to be respectful, Wang bowed respectfully, but his voice trembled with tears. Pointing at Wang Hu on the ground, he cried out in anguish, "Lord Lin, you've finally arrived! You must avenge me and my son! Look, look… In broad daylight, in full view of everyone, this madwoman, this lowly dancer, dared to commit such a heinous act, cruelly breaking my son's hands! Such a wicked person must be severely punished to appease public anger and uphold the law!" As he spoke, he secretly observed Lin Ping's expression, plotting how to use this incident to give the new Prefect a "baptism of fire," while simultaneously using the opportunity to rebuild his own prestige in Jiangzhou.
Lin Ping's gaze calmly swept over Wang Hu, who was groaning on the ground, and then fell on his obviously crippled hands, her brows furrowing slightly. Then, her gaze turned to Yunniang, who was surrounded by guards in the center, yet still stood tall and straight.
When Lin Ping saw Yunniang's tear-streaked yet stubbornly defiant face, her pupils suddenly contracted, and a barely perceptible shock and...heartache flashed in her eyes.
She walked forward calmly, ignoring Wang Hu on the ground and Lord Wang crying beside him, and went straight to Yunniang. Her voice softened, carrying a hint of concern only between family members: "Yunniang, are you... alright?"
Yunniang?!
Upon hearing this affectionate address, everyone present, including Lord Wang, was stunned. Did the governor know this dancer? And why was he addressing her so intimately?
When Yunniang saw Lin Ping, she was first taken aback, then the stubbornness in her eyes instantly crumbled, and tears of grievance rolled down her cheeks like a broken string of pearls. She opened her mouth, her voice trembling with sobs, and choked out, "Sister...Sister..."
Sister...older sister?!
This was like a thunderbolt from the heavens striking Lord Wang's head, leaving him instantly stunned, his mind blank, and his expression frozen like a stone sculpture.
He glanced at the new governor Lin Ping, who was dignified and imposing without being angry, then at the dancer Yun Niang, whom he considered "lowly," and then at his own arrogance and harshness just now... A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!
Yunniang is actually the governor's younger sister?!
He just now actually tried to "capture" the governor's own sister and make her "unable to live or die"?
Lord Wang felt his legs buckle, and with a thud, he knelt down, his previous arrogance completely gone, replaced by a deep-seated fear and despair. He opened his mouth, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word; cold sweat instantly soaked through his brocade robe.
The surrounding guests were stunned, their eyes filled with pity, or rather, contempt and schadenfreude, as they looked at Wang Hu.
Wang Hu's wailing seemed to stop abruptly at this moment. He stared blankly at his father kneeling on the ground like a dead dog, and then at Lin Ping and Yun Niang standing together like sisters. His face, which was contorted with pain, was now filled with endless terror and disbelief.
Who would have thought that Wang Hu, who had been domineering and tyrannical his whole life, would actually kick a hornet's nest today just for flirting with a dancer, and that the governor's own sister was such a formidable obstacle!
Now, not only are his hands ruined, but the entire Wang family is probably doomed because of his lustful impulse!
Wang Hu, you really are a complete...disaster!
Lin Ping glanced coldly at Lord Wang, who was slumped on the ground, and then at Wang Hu, whose face was ashen. A hint of disgust flashed in her eyes. She ignored Lord Wang kneeling on the ground, and gently took Yunniang's hand, carefully checked her for injuries, and said softly, "It's alright, Yunniang. With your sister here, no one will dare to bully you anymore."
Then, she slowly turned around, her gaze sweeping across the room like a sharp sword, finally landing on Wang Qian, who was kneeling on the ground trembling. Her voice was icy cold, devoid of any emotion: "Wang Qian, you have failed in your duty to raise your son, allowing him to commit such a heinous act. He dared to harass respectable women at this governor's banquet, and even condoned your wicked servant's attempt to harm my relatives. What else do you have to say?"
Wang Qian was already terrified, and could only kowtow repeatedly, begging, "Spare me... Your Excellency, spare me... It was my fault for failing to raise my son properly, it was my fault for being blind... Please, Your Excellency, for the sake of our past relationship, forgive me this time..."
"Past favors?" Lin Ping's lips curled into a cold smile. "When you allowed your son to bully the villagers and wreak havoc, did you ever think about the word 'favors'? Today's matter is clear, with irrefutable evidence and witnesses. Do you still dare to deny it? Guards!"
"Yes, sir!" the constables from the state government behind him replied in unison.
"Take down Wang Qian and his son and throw them in jail! Thoroughly investigate Wang Qian's crimes of embezzlement, bribery, and forming cliques during his tenure! Confiscate his family's assets!" Lin Ping's voice was resolute and brooked no argument.
"Yes!"
The constables swarmed forward and ruthlessly dragged the distraught Wang Qian and his son away. Wang Hu no longer had the strength to cry out, only able to sob in despair. Wang Qian was even more ashen-faced, and as he was dragged away, he didn't forget to turn back and give a venomous look to his beloved son who had ruined his reputation.
The farce ended with the spoiled brat Wang Hu reaping the consequences of his own actions and the downfall of the former official Wang Qian.
As everyone watched Governor Lin and her sister Yunniang calmly depart, a chill ran down their spines. This newly arrived female governor was clearly not someone to be trifled with; on the contrary, she was ruthless and had a powerful background. Wang Hu's "traitorous" act was destined to become a source of amusement and cautionary tale for Jiangzhou City for a long time to come.