Chapter 328 - 328: Make her a Concubine
At dinner that evening, Xie Yunjin talked to Lu Jiao about the matter. “I went to the Lu family earlier and helped the Dean find who it was that Du Lanzhu’s cousin-in-law bribed. The Lu family can explain to the Du family now that this matter has nothing to do with them. It’s something that the Du family brought upon themselves and has nothing to do with the Lu family.”
Xie Yunjin added, “I also told the Dean that you won’t be attending any banquets that the Dean’s wife hosts in the future. We are just a rural family and don’t understand etiquette, which might negatively affect the Dean’s wife’s banquets.”
After Xie Yunjin finished speaking, the Dean’s expression changed several times. He finally sighed and said that he would remind his wife.
In the main hall, Lu Jiao nodded after she listened to Xie Yunjin. “I understand.
She never liked attending these banquets, but she had gone to help Xie Yunjin because of her status as his wife.
Since Xie Yunjin and the Dean had made an agreement, she didn’t have to go anymore.
Xie Yunjin added, “If you don’t want to attend those banquets in the future, then don’t go. If you want to attend those that interest you, go ahead.”
Qinghe District was a county town, and many families would hold banquets to maintain their social connections. Lu Jiao didn’t have to attend if she didn’t want to.
The four children were listening to their parents’ conversation, feeling that something was off. The First Born, “Daddy, did someone bully mommy? Who was it?”
The other three immediately perked up their ears to listen. Lu Jiao quickly glanced at Xie Yunjin and used gestures to indicate that he should be careful not to say anything in front of the children.
Xie Yunjin nodded quietly and turned to the four children. “Someone did give your mother a hard time, but I taught that person a lesson, so it won’t happen again.
The four children nodded heavily and indicated that their father had done the right thing.
Lu Jiao was afraid that the children would dwell on the matter, so she quickly changed the subject and asked, “Did you guys apologize to Han Dongsheng?”
The four children nodded quickly, and Lu Jiao said, “In the future, we can’t bully him. Han Dongsheng doesn’t have a mother anymore, and he’s already very pitiful. Although he speaks rudely and even insulted me, we still need to help him become a good child. That way, he won’t say bad things about me in the future.”
The Second Born was a little unhappy and pouted, “I don’t want to help him. Bad guys need to be beaten until they change.”
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao exchanged glances and both had black lines on their faces. They both scolded, “Second Born!”
The Second Born immediately sat up straight and said, “Daddy, mommy, I understand. I’ll help Han Dongsheng become a good person.”
He then asked, “But if he doesn’t change, can I beat him then?”
Xie Yunjin was about to speak when Lu Gui walked in from outside.
Lu Gui no longer eats with Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao in the back courtyard. He eats with the servants in the front courtyard now. He feels more comfortable that way. When he eats with his brother-in-law and sister, he feels uncomfortable and can’t understand what they’re saying. Especially when his brother-in-law gives him a certain look, he doesn’t understand what he means. It was better for him to eat in the front yard, so he decided to eat there from now on, and Lu Jiao lets him.
“Brother-in-law, grand commander Xu brought a group of people and they’re here. They seem angry.”
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao knew right away that he was here regarding Xu Qingyin.
Regarding today’s incident, Xu Qingyin must have concluded that Xie Yunjin instructed Tian Jinan to do what he did. So grand commander Xu came over to find a resolution.
Lu Jiao looked at Xie Yunjin from the side. Xie Yunjin stood up to meet the grand commander. He wasn’t afraid of him because the Tian family couldn’t say that he instructed Tian Jinan to do this. Everything was said by Xu Qingyin. Words needed evidence. He didn’t believe in baseless accusations.
Lu Jiao also stood up and followed Xie Yunjin out. The four little ones behind wanted to follow, but Lu Jiao immediately stopped them and asked Lu Gui to take care of them, feed them, wash them, and put them to bed.
The four little ones had no choice but to eat with their uncle.
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao walked to the front yard together, and on the way, Lu
Jiao spoke, “Don’t get into a conflict with the grand commander. This person is not a big villain. You are now the counselor of magistrate Hu and therefore you cannot win over the grand commander. But at least, don’t provoke him. If you have to coax him, then do it.”
Xie Yunjin agreed with Lu Jiao’s words and nodded, “I know.”
The two walked together to the front yard, and Lin Dong and Feng Zhi immediately greeted them.
“Master, Lady, we have brought the grand commander into the main hall.”
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao nodded and proceeded to the main hall in the front courtyard.
Grand commander Xu sat in the main hall with a big, gloomy face. Three or four burly men stood by his side and looked like troublemakers.
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao acted as if they didn’t see them and greeted grand commander Xu, “What a rare guest! Grand commander, what brings you to our
Xie family?”
Grand commander Xu stood up unceremoniously and glared at Xie Yunjin.
He shouted in a low voice, “Xie Yunjin, did you ruin my daughter’s reputation? My daughter is my only treasure. How dare you plot against her? This matter won’t just end like this.”
Xie Yunjin asked grand commander Xu, “Who said I plotted against her? Do you have any witnesses?
The grand commander hesitated for a moment and said, “My daughter said that she was with you, but you disappeared. Then that fool from the Tian family came out and hugged her, shouting that she was his wife. Who else could have planned this if not you?”
Xie Yunjin calmly said, “Just because I went to the Tian family, you assume I plotted against her? If you believe that this is my fault, please provide evidence. You cannot accuse me without proof.”
The grand commander was taken aback by Xie Yunjin’s words. He didn’t expect Xie Yunjin to be so strong-willed that he couldn’t react for a moment.
But soon, he spoke again, “No, this matter is clearly your design. You must give my daughter an explanation. My daughter will never marry a fool.”
The grand commander narrowed his eyes and stared at Xie Yunjin, “Why don’t you marry her?”
Xie Yunjin was a promising scholar and it wouldn’t be bad if his daughter could marry him.
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao were stunned. Xie Yunjin looked at the grand commander as if he was a moron.
“Don’t you know that I am already married? I have four sons. How can I marry Lady Xu? Will I make her a concubine?” Xie Yunjin sneered.
Before Lu Jiao could speak, a cold voice came from outside, “I want to see who dares to make my Jiao Jiao a concubine or a secondary wife..”