CHAPTER 40: 40: REGRETTING PAST DECISIONS (PART 1)_1

Yesterday, Liang Yuening, armed with an axe, stormed into the Zhu family home at night. Zhu Xingfang simply couldn’t swallow this humiliation, so she rushed to town overnight.

The young master of the Zhu family also came along, mainly to take care of Zhu Xingfang who was injured.

As dawn broke, the young master bought two meat buns. Zhu Xingfang snatched both buns and bit into one fiercely, then gnashed her teeth and sneered, "Hmph, the Liang family? They really think they can bully me."

After wolfing down the buns, Zhu Xingfang had the young master help her to the Department of Surveillance.

The young master’s eyes flickered with insolence, and his disdain for Zhu Xingfang deepened even further.

Outside the Department of Surveillance.

Zhu Xingfang stuffed a string of copper coins into the hands of a government official, then wailed and claimed she was wronged, dumping buckets of filth upon the Liang family’s name with convincing fervor.

"How could there be such a household in this world? I’ve really seen it all today. Big Sister, don’t worry, I’ll speak to Officer Han right now," said the female yamen officer, efficient in her work after receiving a bribe from Zhu Xingfang.

Zhu Xingfang felt extremely pleased with herself, thinking that this time she would make the Liang family regret their actions.

...

Yixuan had come to town before, mainly because he had previously choked Dong Huiying in a moment of delirium. Fearing that Dong Huiying might take out her anger on his other brothers, he especially came to town to apologize to her.

But unexpectedly, Dong Huiying did not reprimand him.

Third Brother Shujun’s rented house in town was too small to house many people, so thereafter Yixuan returned to the village with Fifth Brother Yue Ning.

However, as soon as they returned to the village and before they even had a chance to catch their breath, a group of government officials charged into their home.

"Where is Liang Yixuan?"

The leader was named Liu Xiu. She had previously accepted bribes from Zhu Xingfang and was now carrying a pair of iron shackles.

These female yamen officers belonged to the Department of Surveillance, which was in charge of overseeing the virtuous and chaste behavior of all men in the realm.

Yue Ning was a bit muddled. He wasn’t as bright as his other brothers, but he could tell that Liu Xiu had ill intentions.

"What brings the officer here?" Yue Ning nervously wondered if this had anything to do with his breaking into the Zhu residence with an axe the night before. Even if these officials were here to arrest someone, it should be him. Why would they be after Yixuan?

Yixuan knew that if it wasn’t good fortune, it could only be calamity that couldn’t be avoided, so he stepped forward from behind Fifth Brother, "Commoner Liang Yixuan, at your service."

Liu Xiu sized up Liang Yixuan, then with an air of marvel said, "Not bad-looking, but his head is a bit too tall, and he’s got a limp?"

With a wave of her hand, Liu Xiu ordered Yixuan to be bound.

Yixuan was stunned for a moment, and Yue Ning was also shocked, "What are you doing, Officer?"

Liu Xiu couldn’t be bothered with Liang Yuening. In the Dayuan Dynasty, men were supposed to be delicate, but Yue Ning was robust with a height of over 1.8 meters and had a rugged handsomeness with a tan complexion. His appearance, too masculine and not delicate enough, went against conventional standards of beauty.

In the eyes of society, someone with Yue Ning’s looks was undesirable, ugly, and scorned.

"Get out of the way!" Liu Xiu aimed a kick, but Yue Ning, accustomed to hunting wild beasts on the mountain, had good reflexes. Liu Xiu missed and became irritated, feeling humiliated. As Yue Ning once again attempted to interfere with the arrest, Liu Xiu gestured and her henchmen immediately drew their swords, surrounding Yue Ning.

"Wait," a female voice suddenly called out.