Xu Jing was stunned, her face suddenly darkened.
What kind of engagement did Peng Shi arrange? She remembered clearly that the original owner never agreed to marry him!
He intends to forcibly marry her!
Xu Jing quickly stepped out, only to see a plump woman dressed festively and adorned with pearl hairpins and jade, waving a handkerchief as she walked into the living room, followed by several men carrying various large red boxes.
As Xu Jing appeared, Matchmaker Fan immediately approached with a beaming smile, her mouth overflowing with celebratory, oily words, "Miss Xu, congratulations and best wishes! Peng Shilang has set the date for your marriage for the eighteenth of this month, which is a great day…"
"Who said I'm going to marry Peng Shi?"
Xu Jing coldly interrupted Matchmaker Fan.
Matchmaker Fan's eyes fleetingly showed a trace of disdain, yet she maintained her smile, "Ah, Miss Xu, you shouldn't say that. Do you know who Peng Shilang is? Many girls in the village wish to marry him but can't!
It's Miss Xu's great fortune that Peng Shilang has taken a liking to you!
Alright, everyone, put down the betrothal gifts and let Miss Xu count them carefully…"
"I said," Xu Jing, with a cold face, enunciated each word, "I never said I would marry Peng Shi. Take these betrothal gifts away!"
"Miss!"
At that moment, a woman's voice called from outside, and a woman in a lake-blue dress hurriedly rushed in, exclaiming, "What on earth is going on here?"
Xu Jing immediately recognized her as Chunyang, another close maid of the original owner.
She glanced at Chunyang, then withdrew her gaze and continued coldly, "If you don't take them away, I will have someone throw this trash out."
Matchmaker Fan's expression remained unchanged, but the mockery in her eyes became more apparent, and she no longer concealed the sharpness and bitterness in her voice, "I'm telling you, Miss Xu, having such fortune fall into your lap, you should just gratefully accept it.
You're an outsider with an unclear background, who's been staying in our Hutou Village for more than three months. From what I've heard, Shen said you owe her several months of rent money.
Rather than being forced into a terrible place, isn't it better to marry into the Peng Family and enjoy prosperity and wealth, don't you think?
I, Fan Niang, have been a matchmaker for decades, and I'm sincerely speaking from the heart. If you know what's good for you, cooperate with me and accept the betrothal gifts. Even if you're unwilling, on the eighteenth, you'll still end up in the bridal sedan! Don't end up with nothing!"
"You!"
Chunyang trembled with anger; what kind of thugs and hooligans are these!
After Matchmaker Fan finished speaking, she let out a snort, giving Xu Jing and Chunyang no chance to speak, waved her handkerchief, turned, and said, "Alright, put everything down, let Miss Xu count slowly, we're leaving!"
The men responded, put down the goods, and followed Matchmaker Fan away.
Throughout the process, their expressions remained unchanged, as if they were accustomed to such matters.
Chunyang bit her lip hard, her mind a mess, when suddenly she heard the woman beside her say calmly, "Chunyang, throw all these things out for me."
Chunyang was stunned, looking at her mistress in disbelief.
When she returned earlier, she had encountered Chunxiang, who mentioned that the mistress had changed, but even witnessing it herself was still hard to believe.
Xu Jing glanced at her and said, "Still not moving?"
"Yes, Miss!" Chunyang seemed to snap back to her senses, and without thinking much more, began throwing these inauspicious items outside one by one.
Xu Jing walked into the yard and noticed that a considerable number of people surrounded their fence; there were neighbors, passersby, and even villagers who came specifically to watch.
Xu Jing saw that most people were looking at her with comprehension and sympathy, but no one said anything, and she understood a bit.
After everything was thrown out, Chunyang followed Xu Jing back inside the house, muttering angrily while walking, "That Peng Shi is blatantly seizing a girl! How outrageous! Is there no law anymore?"
The fellow had always been arrogant and tyrannical in this village, with money and power, and many people bullied by him dared not speak up either.
But their mistress was not someone he could covet! He even wanted the mistress to be his twentieth concubine; it was simply… simply too much!
After Chunyang helped Xu Jing sit down, she gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "Miss, if it really doesn't work, let… let this servant marry in your place!"
Xu Jing couldn't help but glance at her, amused, "You're a good girl, why belittle yourself like that? That beast isn't worthy.
Besides, it's me that Peng Shi is after. This matter isn't something that can be resolved by you marrying in.
But, having just arrived and being so powerless, how could she confront a wealthy and influential village tyrant?
After she finished speaking, she remained silent for a while, and then decisively said, "The only way now is to leave here. I've already instructed Chunxiang to pawn Mom's gold bracelet, and once we get the silver, we can plan properly."
This matter was mentioned by Chunxiang to Chunyang too.
She didn't expect the mistress would be willing to pawn the lady's bracelet.
She looked at the mistress, feeling a bit heartbroken. The mistress had become stronger and more composed; she was happy, but could things have turned out differently if the mistress had changed sooner?
She sighed softly, her face still worried, "Leaving now is indeed the best solution, but… where should we go?"
The three of them are alone, wherever they go, they'd be prey for wolves!
Xu Jing couldn't help but fall into contemplation.
She was unfamiliar with the Great Chu Dynasty; the original owner, although a local woman, hadn't been anywhere except the Western Capital and the previous manor.
Moreover, leaving is easy, but how to survive thereafter is the most difficult issue.
She hadn't yet figured out how to make a living in the future. In her previous world, she was a forensic doctor, but in ancient times, the role was amongst the lowest occupations, and even men rarely wanted to do it, let alone women.
However, since her grandfather was a renowned traditional Chinese medicine doctor, she had followed him around to see patients since young and became his last disciple. Her grandfather always hoped she'd inherit his craft, but she unexpectedly chose to major in forensic medicine in university, which upset her grandfather for quite some time.
Now, her medical skills could be put to use. Although doctors weren't held in high regard in ancient times, it was more acceptable than being a forensic doctor and more suitable for making a living…
Chunyang, seeing her mistress remain silent and worried, glanced at her apprehensively, then suddenly, seemingly having thought of something, cautiously said, "Miss, there's something I'm not sure if I should say or not."
Xu Jing glanced at her, languidly saying, "If unsure whether to say something or not, don't."
Chunyang: "…"
Seeing Chunyang's bewildered expression, Xu Jing smiled slightly, "Just joking, go ahead, at this point, what can't be said?"
Chunyang quickly cleared her throat and said, "Today, when I went to sell embroidery, I heard… the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice is in Anping County investigating a case."
Inwardly, she couldn't help but think the mistress even joked now; if she wasn't sure this person was indeed their mistress, she would've thought their mistress was impersonated!
Xu Jing was taken aback, then understood Chunyang's hesitance.
She remembered that when the original owner was sent away, Xiao Yi had just been appointed as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice she spoke of now was clearly her ex-husband—Xiao Yi!
"Oh," Xu Jing nodded calmly, asking, "What case is it?"
Chunyang's eyes widened, surprised that her mistress's attention wasn't on her former husband but on the case.
She hesitated to tell her mistress because she feared she'd recklessly rush to the county government!
Xu Jing could tell what the girl was thinking just by looking at her expression, and she couldn't help but smile silently.
To her, the case was indeed more intriguing than that man.
In her memories, Xiao Yi was a genius, exceptionally talented, praised by everyone, effortlessly excelling in any position, seeming as if there was nothing he couldn't do.
Since becoming the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, he'd solved several major cases consecutively and was repeatedly commended by the Holy Emperor.
She was genuinely interested in a case even someone like him couldn't solve.
Seeing her mistress slightly raise her eyebrows at her, apparently waiting for an answer, Chunyang, though struggling to read her mistress's current thoughts, still spoke, "Coincidentally, while selling embroidery, the aunt selling vegetables nearby explained the case to me in detail."