ouldn't bear it. She pinched her own plump arms and legs, feeling incredibly depressed.Although she was only two years and five months old by birth, she was already four years old according to her Chi...After Mr. Wen finished his court duties, he dealt with some errands and was very busy.

At noon, I went out to eat and saw Li Lao Si waiting outside the government office. He was also surprised when he heard that there was something going on at the academy, so he quickly followed me over.

Li Laotai wasn't polite to him either. She sat down and told him everything, the cause and effect of the situation, as well as her guess.

Mr. Wen also frowned and shook his head, "My friend, when it comes to scholarship, he's second to none. But he is too engrossed in poetry and books, not caring much about the back garden. Now, I'm afraid he has been blinded by his concubine and caused such a disgraceful affair."

Having said that, he got up and said, "Auntie, please wait a moment. I'll go take a look. It's best to bring Jiahuan back. This involves Miss Peng's reputation, so we must not make a fuss."

"Mr. Wen, please rest assured, this matter is only known to our family. But as for the Peng family, we don't know how many people were involved around that concubine. "

The old woman also got up to see him off, and instructed, “Also, today’s incident boils down to Jiahuan being unruly. When Jiahuan returns, we will ask for clarification and he will be held responsible for his actions. Our Li family will not shirk our responsibility.”

Mr. Wen understood, and hurried to the front of the academy gate, reported his name, and was soon allowed in.

Mr. Peng had just finished lunch and was taking a nap when he asked the book boy for his usual iced tea. The book boy replied that none had been sent from the back garden, which puzzled Mr. Peng.

After all, every day the concubine would personally cook and put it in a well to chill. She waited for him to wake up from his afternoon nap and drink a cup to refresh himself before reading.

He was just about to order the page boy to inquire when Mr. Wen arrived.

"Shao Yuan, how come you have time to visit today Is there nothing going on at the office"

Mr. Wen waved his hand, motioning him to sit down, and said bluntly, "Qizheng, dismiss everyone, I have something to tell you."

Mr. Peng was surprised, but he still ordered the servant boy to guard at the door.

Mr. Wen then explained the situation, sighing at the end and saying: “It’s not that I’m favoring them. You know I met the Li family during a time of trouble. From the grandmother to the three-year-old child, everyone in their family is kind and upright. It’s impossible for them to lie without reason or wrongly accuse someone. After all, the Li family still has two children studying at the academy.”

“Therefore, you need to investigate this thoroughly. See if your legitimate daughter has been wronged and if your concubine is two-faced, doing things behind your back. Otherwise, she will become more and more reckless, causing further trouble that will damage your reputation and make it impossible for you to stand in the academy.”

Mr. Peng remained silent for a long time, clearly shaken by this news.

After all, the concubine usually took good care of her legitimate daughter and was also kind to him, even giving birth to a son for him. How could she possibly act so treacherously behind his back

But it’s not like their friends and the Li family would join forces to lie just to slander a concubine of their Peng family!

He took a deep breath and called for the pageboy to summon the steward, who had been unwell.

The steward is only in his forties, having served Mr. Peng since childhood. However, in recent years, he has frequently fallen ill, and all major and minor household matters have been handed over to the second madam of the back courtyard.

Hearing that the old master wanted him to investigate something, the steward immediately perked up and left at once.

Soon, the woman from Li's shop was brought back to the academy, gagged and bundled in a sack. The young lady and housemaid from Peng's family cellar were also delivered to the study...

Zhao Yuru and Li Laosan were busy preparing the ingredients for dinner, but their eyes kept fixed on the courtyard gate, wishing they could become autumn wind, drilling in to take a peek.

Mrs. Li led her granddaughter to buy some sticky rice cakes at the end of the street. Seeing their appearance, she instructed: "Don't worry too much, just be careful not to cut your hands."

Jia Yin also took a glutinous rice cake, and held it to San Bo and San Bo's mother's mouths, "San Bo, eat, San Bo's mother, eat, this is Jia Xi Gege's favorite glutinous rice cake!"

Li Laosan and Zhao Yuru couldn't bear to disappoint their niece, so they each ate a piece.

Old Li was out in the backyard chopping up a big pile of firewood. He wiped the sweat from his brow and came forward, teasingly, “Didn’t Funiu forget her father”

Jia Yin quickly ran over and found the biggest piece in the box to feed to her father.

"Daddy is a strongman, so he should eat big sticky rice cakes!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and just then, the gate of the academy finally opened.

Mr. Wen walked ahead, with the listless and drooping Jia Huan trailing behind him.

Zhao Yuru could no longer bear it. She rushed up, pulled Jiahuan away, and returned to the backyard of the shop.

Everyone followed Mr. Wen inside. Zhao Yuru's slaps rained down on her son like hailstones, "I'll beat you to death, you useless thing! You're trying to drive me crazy! You always ran to the academy, and I thought you were diligent. So you were running after other girls!

“You said you did all sorts of bad things, one more and I'll break your legs!”

Zhao Yuru was truly angry, as the saying goes, "Love is deep, criticism is severe."

Back then, she and Wu Cuifua entered the Li family one after another. Since Wu Cuifua became pregnant first, she began to act superior and lazy, shirking her duties.

Although her mother-in-law was fair and reasonable, she still took on a lot of housework.

Thankfully, after just a few months, she became pregnant. That's when she finally felt like she had a place in her husband's family.

It can be said that her family is her support and confidence.

For so many years, Jia Huan although not as intelligent as Jia Ren or as naturally strong as Jia Yi, has always been honest, hardworking, and well-liked by the family. She is happy with this.

To her disbelief, the honest son she had always trusted was secretly involved with another girl!

Today's incident was caused by the greed of Peng family's concubine, who tried to extort the Li family. Mr. Wen also helped wholeheartedly, otherwise, I don't know how it would have ended!

Jiahuan knelt on the ground, enduring his mother's beatings and scolding without a word.

Jia Yin looked at the bluestone in front of her brother, which had been wetted by tears. She quickly stepped forward and hugged her brother's head, begging for him, "Aunt San, please don't hit me, let my brother speak, he definitely didn't mean it!"

A beating upon the child's body brings pain to a mother's heart. Zhao Yuru couldn't truly bear it, and stopped her hand, sitting aside wiping away tears.

Elder Li walked forward and helped her grandson to his feet, seating him on a small stool. She asked, "Huan'er, Grandma believes you're not a bad child. Tell Grandma, what happened between you and Miss Peng Did you do anything wrong"

Jia Huan raised his head, eyes red and brimming with tears. “Grandma, I didn’t, I didn’t have an affair with Miss Peng! I just…I just pitied her. She was mistreated by the concubines, barely having enough to eat each day. I helped her buy thread, she secretly wove it at night, and I sold it to buy food for her.”

"I've never gotten close to her, not even holding hands! She's a good girl, intelligent and well-mannered, while I can only cook. I'm not worthy of her!"

The old woman listened carefully and finally felt relieved.

Firstly, Sunzi felt sympathy for Miss Peng and did his best to help her. After frequent interactions, he developed feelings but also a sense of inferiority, leading him to seek more contact.

Finally, the jealous concubine discovered this and saw an opportunity to blackmail the Li family.

Zhao Yuru also understood, raising her hand to slap her son twice, then told the price the concubine of the Peng family had offered, scolding: "You heartless thing, you thought you were being discreet, but in fact, people discovered it long ago!"

Jia Huan's face was flushed red with shame and anger.

I am ashamed of my carelessness, which has led to my family being threatened. I am furious that the concubine mistreats my beloved girl and now schemes against her like this!

Grandmother Li ignored her grandson's stubbornness and turned to Mr. Wen, "Mr. Wen, what did the Peng family say How should we handle this concubine"

Three more chapters are offered. ~~~he took out two bananas and beckoned the mischievous children to share them.But how can three children divide two bananas equallySo, the three naughty children sat in a circle, drooling and eagerly wa...