Chapter 98

"This despicable person!" he couldn't help but curse angrily. "When I taught him, I repeatedly reminded and instructed him not to drag me into it. How did he turn around and use me as a scapegoat? The people of the Wang family are so wicked, so wicked."

Beside him, Fang Heng's face turned pale, and he picked up a long stick, ready to stand up.

Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan quickly approached, each embracing their impulsive third brother.

"Don't be hasty, Third Brother," Xu Mo's expression was also grim, but he calmly pinched the bridge of his nose. "From the beginning of this task, we knew that such a scene would happen."

With the power of the Wang family, it wouldn't be difficult to find out who was instigating behind the scenes.

They had prepared various ways to evade, deny, and even planned to bring out the protector appointed by the Anshui County magistrate at a critical moment.

But before the Wang family could make a move, Wang Mingyu exposed Zheng Ruqian in this way.

It wasn't the worst-case scenario.

If Zheng Ruqian could make the Wang family realize that he was Wang Mingyu's deceitful friend, he could escape smoothly.

If not...

He would have to suffer severe consequences.

"Second Brother, you can't go," Fang Heng angrily spoke out, "The Wang family is a treacherous place, you can't go."

They could still escape outside, but once they entered the Wang family, they would be at the mercy of others.

But their main purpose was to sow discord, and Zheng Ruqian always remembered that, never forgetting.

He waved his hand and said, "Rest assured, all of you. I will surely enrage Wang Mingyu on this trip and make him have an endless feud with the Sun family."

Fang Heng was emotionally stirred and wanted to say something more, but the people from the Wang family impatiently rushed into the courtyard.

Helpless, he could only grit his teeth and hide in the inner courtyard.

Xu Mo led the other three brothers and sisters into the courtyard, leaving Zheng Ruqian alone in his original spot. "Master Zheng," the people from the Wang family remained polite, "Our young master requests your presence."

Zheng Ruqian clenched his moist palms and nodded arrogantly, "Is it time to drink again? Let's go."

He confidently boarded the Wang family's carriage.

Then, Second Brother was astonished.

All along, they had been riding the cheap carriage from home, which cost only a few dozen silver pieces. Although it was spacious, the shock absorption was poor, and sitting for a long time would make their buttocks sore and their heads dizzy.

Zheng Ruqian thought that all carriages were like that.

Until today, when he sat in Wang Mingyu's carriage, he realized that cushions could be placed inside the carriage, a table could be set up in the middle, and under the table, fruits and pastries could be hidden, and even writing materials could be placed.

The carriage driver had excellent skills and the journey was smooth and stable, almost devoid of bumps.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Wang family, and Zheng Ruqian still felt a bit reluctant.

When Jiang San helped him down, he secretly told himself that if he could escape successfully this time, he would also get such a large and stable carriage for his family.

Little Jiang Sheng would definitely not complain about a sore bottom, and everyone wouldn't have to worry about Wen Zhiyun's delicate frame being jolted apart, let alone worry about Chang Yan vomiting outside the carriage.

Indeed, money was good.

As Zheng Ruqian marveled, he was led to the presence of the Wang family members.

It was his first time seeing such a complete array of a large family.

Sun Shi, dignified and virtuous in her position, sat at the main seat, with three illegitimate sons on each side eyeing each other. Kneeling in the middle were none other than Miss Wang and Wang Mingyu.

As soon as Zheng Ruqian saw Wang Mingyu, he happily waved his hand and said, "Brother Zheng, come over here and tell them that it wasn't me who started it. It was Wang Yuyao who disrespected me, so I had to teach her a lesson."

His words caught the attention of Sun Shi and Second Master Wang.

In an instant, Zheng Ruqian's back was covered in a thin layer of sweat as his mind raced through his life experiences.

To answer meant offending Sun Shi.

To answer otherwise meant offending Second Master Wang.

Not answering meant offending both.

Fortunately, Zheng Ruqian's mind was still agile. After a brief silence, he chuckled and deliberately exposed his "foolish" nature, scratching his head and shouting, "Brother, what are you talking about? I drank so much that day, I only saw you angrily rushing out..." The rest of his words were left unsaid, as if the storyteller had left a suspenseful cliffhanger.

But Second Master Wang's expression had already softened, and he looked at Sun Shi, saying, "Sister-in-law, the matter has been clarified. It was indeed not Yu'er's fault. Although there shouldn't be conflicts between siblings, the older brother should have a bit more authority over the younger sister."

He was reminding Sun Shi that it was reasonable for Wang Mingyu to discipline Wang Yuyao.

Sun Shi's face grew even darker, her eyes almost killing Zheng Ruqian.

After a while, she sharply exclaimed, "Mingyu grew up under my care. How could he be cruel to his younger sister? I think it's you, the scoundrel, who said something deliberately to provoke this."

She had turned her firepower on Zheng Ruqian.

Another layer of sweat formed on Zheng Ruqian's back, and he became somewhat flustered. He opened his mouth to argue but closed it again.

Because he did indeed provoke them. No matter how he argued, he couldn't deny it, and it would be easy for the Wang family to shift their anger from "blaming" to "suspecting," further exposing the other cousins.

At this moment, he had to follow Chang Yan's example and think in reverse.

Zheng Ruqian blinked and suddenly nodded fearfully, "Yes, yes, Madam is right. It was me who instigated, it's all my fault."

After speaking, he slapped himself in the face.

With this action, not only Sun Shi, but even Second Master Wang was stunned.

Wang Mingyu was so angry that he jumped up, grabbed Zheng Ruqian's arm, and said indignantly, "Father, Aunt is bullying people too much. She actually forced my friend like this!"

Then he looked at Zheng Ruqian and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm here. No one can bully you."

He looked earnest, his eyes filled with genuine anger and no trace of insincerity.

For a brief moment, Zheng Ruqian's heart trembled.

Wang Mingyu may be a prodigal son, a worthless person who couldn't accomplish anything, who had a volatile temper and didn't respect the county magistrate, but he recognized Zheng Ruqian and treated him with sincerity.

With this sincerity, Zheng Ruqian didn't have to do anything. He just needed to endure suffering and show weakness, and Wang Mingyu would make a fuss for him.

For a while, chaos ensued, and everyone was dumbfounded.

Wang Mingyu scolded this person and that person, even disregarding his own father's words, insisting that Sun Shi give him an explanation.

Zheng Ruqian, as a half-guest, was promptly pulled out of the main courtyard to avoid the family's major conflict.

He felt a bit overwhelmed and found the situation both amusing and exasperating. Seated behind the sheltered entrance, he pondered whether he should leave.

A delicate young man with a gentle demeanor, Fang Heng, appeared behind him and softly said, "I have evidence of the Sun family causing harm to the common people. Would you be interested?"