Chapter 241 Visiting in person to apologize
Liu Laolao and the others didn’t know that they had been noticed the moment they walked out of the village and stepped onto the official road.

Two days ago, Li Hu sent people to clean up the house in the other courtyard, and then a large group of soldiers came to impose martial law. Such a big commotion naturally could not be hidden from the officials of Wanping County. They were naturally afraid, and not only did they send people to monitor the surrounding villages, but the Wanping County Magistrate personally led a group of yamen runners to sit in the town closest to this side, and if anyone caused trouble, they would suppress it immediately.

Since the county system was established in the Qin and Han dynasties, government rule only extended to the county level, that is, “the royal power ends at the county government.” Below the county was the sphere of influence of the gentry and clans, and the court’s decrees and laws had to be announced to the people through the gentry class.

A melodious sound of music floated from the squire’s hall.

The flower hall was warm as spring and the music was pleasant.

Several singing girls from the county town were playing music, with melodious flutes and gentle songs.

At the table in front of the screen, a plump country gentleman was pouring wine for the Wanping County Magistrate, who was dressed in plain clothes.

The fat squire finished his drink and said with a smile, “Thank goodness, God, for heavy snowfalls one after another. If there is another heavy snowfall for several days and nights, all those untouchables will be frozen to death.”

As soon as these words were spoken, all the gentry present burst into laughter.

After laughing, the fat squire continued, “I would like to ask for your help with those vacant unowned lands.” Then he raised his wine glass.

Several other gentry also raised their glasses.

The Wanping County Magistrate did not say anything, but drank the wine silently.

The gentry smiled at each other and drank together.

At this moment, the head of the yamen runners hurried in and whispered something in the ear of the county magistrate.

The county magistrate’s face darkened.

Several local gentry looked at the county magistrate in surprise and suspicion.

The county magistrate stood up and was about to turn around and leave when he suddenly remembered something. His eyes flashed and he whispered something in the fat squire’s ear.

The fat squire was stunned.

The county magistrate frowned and said, “What’s the matter? Is there any difficulty?”

The fat squire laughed and said, “What’s the difficulty? I’ll take people to catch those untouchables right away!”

The county magistrate then smiled and said, “I’ll wait for your good news.”

The fat squire stood up and said, “Please wait a moment, sir. I’ll be back soon.” Then he turned and walked out.

The county magistrate glanced at the head of the yamen runners and motioned him to follow.

The head of the yamen runners hurriedly followed him out.

The first chapter of the Book of Filial Piety says: “One’s body and hair are given by one’s parents. One should not damage them. This is the beginning of filial piety.” Mr. Mei’s wound was on his head, and it was very inconvenient to suture the wound or change the dressing.

Mr. Mei sat on the bed, grimacing in pain. The doctor stood by the bed and changed the dressing and re-bandaged him.

Mrs. Mei felt sorry for her son and did not bother to avoid suspicion. She sat beside her son’s bed, holding his hand with one hand and wiping her tears with the other.

After a while, Master Mei’s head was wrapped tightly with white silk again.

Mrs. May spoke: “Please go out for tea.”

The servant standing by led the doctor out.

Mrs. Mei stood up and helped Mr. Mei lie down on the high pillow at the head of the bed.

Mrs. Mei: “How is it? Does it still hurt?!”

Master Mei did not respond to her. He gritted his teeth and said, “Mother has sent someone to tell the Xue family that if they don’t send the eldest daughter of the Xue family here tonight, they will have to wait to collect the body of that bastard Xue Pan!” As he turned around, he pulled his wound and grimaced in pain.

“Lie down and don’t move!” Mrs. Mei said hurriedly.

Mr. Mei: “Why don’t you send someone to tell them?”

Mrs. Mei: “No hurry! Once you take the medicine, mother will send someone to the Xue family.”

“Why are you sending people to Xue’s house?” Mei Hanlin appeared at the door. The bedroom immediately fell silent.

Mrs. Mei was a little panicked: “Why is the master back?”

Mei Hanlin did not answer. He walked over, looked at Mr. Mei, then looked at Mrs. Mei, and asked, “Why are you sending people to the Xue family?”

Mrs. May: “No, nothing.”

Mei Hanlin’s face darkened: “Speak!”

Before Madam Mei could say anything, Master Mei couldn’t help but say, “Ask the Xue family to send Xue Pan’s sister over here.”

Mei Hanlin’s mind buzzed: “What? What did you say?”

Seeing this, Mrs. Mei no longer concealed anything and told him everything.

When Mei Hanlin heard this, his head buzzed and blood immediately rushed to his face.

Mrs. Mei was startled: “Master!”

Mei Hanlin’s fingers trembled as he pointed at Madam Mei: “Foolish woman! You are handing the evidence to the Xue family!”

Madam Mei said with disdain: “As long as the prince does not interfere, the Xue family will be fish on the chopping board. I will send someone to get the letter back now!”

Mr. Mei immediately said, “Bring the eldest daughter of the Xue family here.”

“Shut up!” Mei Hanlin yelled.

Madam Mei: “Why are you yelling? The Xue family has offended Prince Zhongshun, and our son is helping them by taking the eldest daughter of the Xue family as a concubine. Who knows, the prince might let the Xue family off for the sake of the old master. And the second daughter of the Xue family, if she hadn’t been engaged, she wouldn’t be worthy of being our son’s wife.”

Mei Hanlin was so angry that his face turned pale and he raised his hand to slap Mrs. Mei.

Mrs. Mei jumped up immediately: “Great! You are so capable now that you dare to beat me. If it weren’t for the support of my parents’ family over the years, how could you be where you are today? And how could I have lost all my dowry? Why didn’t you beat me then? Tell me, tell me!” Then she burst into tears loudly.

Mei Hanlin’s face suddenly turned red: “You, you are unreasonable”

Madam Mei: “I know that now that you have found a backer and have a promising career in government, you have begun to dislike us and want us to leave you. You should find another young and beautiful lady from an aristocratic family!”

Mei Hanlin was startled, his face suddenly turned red, he couldn’t breathe, and started coughing violently.

Mrs. Mei hurried forward and gently massaged his back.

Mei Hanlin gasped and said, “No, don’t worry about me. It’s better if I die.” Then he started coughing violently again.

Mrs. Mei panicked: “Master”

Master Mei also got off the bed and quickly picked up the spittoon on the ground and handed it over.

Mei Hanlin spat, looked at Mr. Mei, then at Mrs. Mei, closed his eyes, and said, “Xue Pan has been released.”

Mrs. Mei was shocked and asked anxiously: “Did the prince interfere?”

Mei Hanlin sighed and said, “It’s Prince Zhongshun.”

Mr. Mei was stunned for a moment: “Why?”

Mei Hanlin did not answer, but said to Mrs. Mei: “If the Xue family takes that letter to the Censorate, dismissal from office would be the lightest punishment, but they may even be exiled.”

Madam Mei was really panicking, sweat was oozing from her forehead, and she said in a trembling voice: “How about we go and ask Prince Zhongshun for help?”

Master Mei: “Yes, let’s go and ask Prince Zhongshun. As long as he asks, the officials of the Censorate will definitely not dare to accept the Xue family’s petition.”

Mei Hanlin: “The Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Censorate is Jia Jing from Ningguo Mansion.”

Mrs. Mei and Mr. Mei stood there in a daze.

Mei Hanlin took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, and then said: “Change my clothes, I want to come and apologize in person”

(End of this chapter)