CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: A STARK CONTRAST SEPARATED BY A WALL

This tone is not small.

The leaders among them spoke bitterly, "This snow has been falling for several days, and the relief grain was cut off last week! Why haven’t they distributed it to us by now?"

"Exactly, we just want the lord to give us an explanation, are we wrong?! Now the natural disaster is approaching, and even with money, it’s almost impossible to buy grain, so why hasn’t the relief grain that the court should have provided been distributed earlier?"

But before they could finish speaking, the guards unhesitatingly pushed them aside.

Only now did Ruan Mian understand; it turns out that before the real disaster even hits, Ding Cheng was already acting inhumanly.

In the original book, he embezzled so much relief grain, even the emergency disaster funds and food he swallowed all by himself.

Seeing more and more suffering people gathering, more guards were dispatched.

And once Ruan Mian stepped across the threshold of the mansion, she saw the interior filled with the booming of drums, grand and luxurious scenes.

At this moment, it formed a stark contrast to what was outside, just a wall apart.

Outside knelt the petitioners who couldn’t even afford a meal.

While inside the mansion such a lavish party was taking place, with music and dance, plenty of food... Surely Monk Pu Hui had seen this scene as well.

Upon the arrival of these women, the dignitaries inside became even more lively, some even couldn’t help but reach out and hold the ladies’ hands.

Though they were frightened, the women dared not resist.

The madam’s face was smiling, like a brothel madam, dividing the girls one by one.

She kept introducing them, saying this girl could sing and that one could play the pipa.

Until the others were gradually taken away, a veiled woman holding a pipa gracefully made her way forward to Ding Cheng.

Her skin was fair, her eyes enchanting, and as she removed the veil, a petite and pretty face appeared.

This sight shocked Ruan Mian immensely.

It was her former sister-in-law, Qi Lin, who was pretending to be mentally ill.

She had managed to sneak in?

Ruan Mian narrowed her eyes slightly, showing an intrigued look on her unadorned face.

Ruan Mian was taken by an oily, fat-eared old man, and seeing her delicate face, he was absolutely delighted.

Peeling seeds for her, pouring wine, serving meat; he was very attentive indeed.

And on the stage, the women showcased their skills, while at the dining table, everyone flattered Ding Cheng.

Ding Cheng, who held a high position and was about as corpulent as the oily man beside him, had a more sharp-faced visage, with a conniving look devoid of any compassion.

He reveled in having beauties around, others flattering him, and the pleasant music, entirely lacking in empathy as a Magistrate should have.

Not long after, Qi Lin volunteered, taking the stage to play a piece on her pipa.

She was far more open than the other women, her eyes shifted as if to captivate the soul.

No trace of her former sickly self remained.

This laziest of people, for her selfish desires, didn’t even recognize the original owner as a person.

Pretending to be sick for years, needing her care, and now witnessing her basking in the spotlight, it seemed she was as her brother thought, desperate to escape exile, willing to degrade herself just to do such a thing.

A true reflection of her brother indeed.

But her well-laid plans, how could Ruan Mian let them succeed?

Yet she hadn’t expected that before she could act, Qi Lin had already maliciously targeted her.

After her performance, she was showered with praise, and Ding Cheng regarded her as a peerless treasure, reaching out to embrace her.

In conversation, Qi Lin pointed towards Ruan Mian.

In a pinched voice, she softly said, "Lord, I see this lady smiling so brightly; her skills must surpass mine. Why not let her display her talents for everyone?"

Beneath her words was an arrow-like cold gaze.

She knew that Ruan Mian was just a fool!

Born to a merchant family, she was unskilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, entirely lacking in talent.

When she married into the Qi Mansion, her brother refused to consummate the marriage because he despised her illiteracy, let alone the basic skills.

Moreover, being dull and uninteresting, she had been "widowed" for three years!

Now by pointing her out, Qi Lin assumed Ruan Mian sought the Prefect’s favor just like her, intending for her to make a fool of herself!!

But she didn’t know Ruan Mian’s purpose there.

Ruan Mian had her sights set on Ding Cheng’s lowly life, and the massive wealth behind him!

Nonetheless, since Qi Lin had initiated it, Ruan Mian took the opportunity gracefully.

She calmly stood up, having deliberately stayed hidden amongst the crowd, she went unnoticed by some.

Now under the watchful eyes of everyone, she resembled an elegant magnolia, poised and calm as she had the servants bring a zither.

She wasn’t in a hurry, sitting down gracefully, her slender hands rested upon it, and music began to flow, instantly captivating everyone with her grand and magnificent tunes.

This was the muscle memory from the original owner, Ruan Mian didn’t even need to think much, her hands seemed to play on their own.

The music scores she had seen in her mind flipped rapidly through pages.

The melody wasn’t like a typical tinkling tune played by women but was urgent and heart-wrenching.

Thus, many were emotionally carried away by the music, and seeing her stealing the limelight, Qi Lin finally realized, she was no illiterate fool! Clearly, she had been concealing her skills before.

This revelation made Qi Lin clench her teeth in frustration.

After the performance ended, a round of applause erupted, and Ding Cheng, forgetting Qi Lin in his arms, pushed her aside and approached Ruan Mian.

He asked with a smiling face, "Miss, this piece is so unique! Is there a touching story behind it?"

Seeing his lecherous eyes darting about, Ruan Mian gave a slight smile and turned to the people below the stage.

"Indeed, there is a story behind this piece."

"In a certain year, disaster struck from the heavens, snow flying, countless people freezing and starving, the city’s resources exhausted, yet the people’s local official, indulged in revelry, embezzled grain, seized wealth, paving their own path with flesh and blood!"

"This piece speaks of the inhumanity of heaven..."

"Enough!! Guards!"

Before she could finish, Ding Cheng’s face was already livid, realizing she was clearly insinuating him.

Furious, he interrupted her and ordered the officers, "Take this vile woman away and have her beaten to death!!"

However, at this moment, Monk Pu Hui within the crowd suddenly stepped forward, looking mournful at the omens.

"This omen should not be ignored, it signifies a great disaster is imminent, a matter of destiny."

"Lord Magistrate, right now, outside, the numbers of those in need are growing. On your birthday today, why not distribute the necessary relief grain to them, allowing..."

"You rogue monk! Despite my kindness to you, you side with this vile woman to slander and spread rumors about me? Guards! Seize them all, and give them a heavy beating..." Before his order could be issued, the people Ruan Mian had bribed had already run to the mansion’s gates, opening them wide!

They shouted to the crowd gathered outside.

"Ding Cheng has embezzled relief grain, abducted women, committed countless sins!! With the snow disaster upon us, if you don’t wish to freeze to death, you can go to his eastern warehouse and take all the relief grain for yourselves!"