Chapter 150

Xu Mo and his siblings were supposed to be enemies with He Chengzhang, and their relationship was almost irreconcilable.

Yet when the children received Madam's lingerie, they still delivered it over immediately despite the risks of misunderstanding and not being able to return.

In both emotion and reason, He Chengzhang should have felt gratefulness in his heart.

But thinking back to the agreement when leaving Fengjing, he could only struggle to say, "You've helped this official this time, and I will show my thanks... but our positions cannot change."

This was his intention to still deal with the siblings.

Xu Mo was not surprised at all, cupping his hands in courtesy and saying loudly, "I'm simply delivering the lingerie, not expecting favors in return. Since the magistrate has received it, I'll take my leave."

He bid farewell with neither humble nor arrogant etiquette.

Back in the carriage, Zheng Ruqian couldn't help but grumble, "I knew it was a wasted trip. The magistrate doesn't care at all, insisting on dealing with us - we might as well have thrown the lingerie out. Let whatever happen happen."

He felt it wasn't worth it for the siblings.

Jiang Sheng stuck her head out and said crisply, "But second brother, what we were afraid of initially was the magistrate making trouble for us!"

Zheng Ruqian's voice abruptly stopped.

Humans were always greedy creatures, clearly worried about the siblings entering the tiger's den at first, but after safely getting out they blamed the magistrate for not showing gratitude and reciprocity.

Actually, avoiding the frame up and preserving a woman's reputation while leaving the magistrate manor safe and sound already counted as stroke after stroke of good fortune.

Zheng Ruqian imagined himself brazenly grabbing two sets of lingerie in front of everyone, and even if unintended, Prefect He definitely wouldn't let him off.

If he was also forced to get married it would be terrible.

Being married to Hao Xiangxiang would be even more terrible. Zheng Ruqian shuddered, suddenly very satisfied. "It's pretty good now."

"Yes, pretty good," Jiang Sheng heartily agreed. "We can eat a few more pork ribs tonight to reward ourselves."

Xu Mo smiled helplessly, stroking her little lamb horn braids. He Chengzhang's methods were as swift and fierce as lightning. After obtaining Madam's two sets of lingerie, he had no more restraints, moving ruthlessly.

Since the people behind the scenes wanted him to deal with the Hairpin Courtyard siblings, he would reveal his plans against Xu Mo and the others, wavering between choices and pretending to be undecided.

At this time, some people became anxious.

A servant of the magistrate manor suggested, "Sir, who knows if those workshops in the Hairpin Courtyard are clean or proper? Why not send people to inspect, in case any ill intentions could be found?"

Finding the magistrate's wife's lingerie at the same time would make things even more interesting.

He Chengzhang nodded coldly, his gaze falling on the servant as he snapped, "Seize him and interrogate properly!"

The interrogation would reveal who had bought him off to stir up trouble here.

As the magistrate of a prefecture, he had a full manor and countless torture devices.

Although Dayu Dynasty laws stated local officials could not apply torture without reason, if he did it anyway, no one could stop him.

Thus it wasn't long before the servant confessed.

"It was the Sun family."

When dogs were desperate they still tried to jump over walls. The Sun family could produce a magistrate, proving their powerful background. After being targeted by He Chengzhang several times, they long held grievances against him.

Their actions this time were meant to teach He Chengzhang a lesson as well as take the chance to strike out against Hairpin Courtyard, killing two birds with one stone.

But they didn't expect the Xu Mo siblings to directly deliver the lingerie to the magistrate manor.

They especially didn't foresee the magistrate using this chance to dig out the mastermind instead of rashly resenting the siblings.

The Sun family.

Upon learning his planted informant in the magistrate manor had lost contact, Sun Ning of the Sun family was incredibly nervous, urgently summoning several top aides to discuss this crisis.

"Family Head, you've blundered," one white-bearded elder reproached bitterly. "Magistrate He should have been on our side, yet you targeted him. Now earning his resentment, the losses outweigh the gains!"

Sun Ning's face darkened sullenly. "It was He Chengzhang who didn't play by the rules. I merely sent him two beautiful concubines, yet he wanted to disrupt my family's peace. What did I do wrong?"

Furthermore, the Sun family wasn't some no-name nobody. Why should they always suffer being pushed around?

If today's plan had succeeded, they could have reaped the rewards after He Chengzhang dealt with those brats.

"But now it has already failed," the Sun family member shook his head. "We've completely offended the magistrate."

Someone meant to assist them had become an enemy.

The Sun family was in trouble, big trouble! Sun Ning was still stubbornly making excuses. "He's just a magistrate of Anshui, what's there to fear? Our Sun family has been a prominent household for decades. As long as Yuyao marries into the Fang family, He Chengzhang doesn't matter."

In the end, the He surname was just a dog sent by the Fang family.

Only this dog wasn't obedient enough, also having fits of madness.

The next day, the Sun family's businesses suffered another round of fierce retaliation, leaving wreckage wherever they passed.

If He Chengzhang had shown some mercy previously, now he was squeezing them to death without regard, broadcasting his apathy as every move was ruthless and heartless.

The Sun family really couldn't withstand it anymore and sent a message to the magistrate manor.

The content of the letter was simple, just one sentence: Has Sir forgotten your promise to the Fang family?

He Chengzhang gave a cold laugh, took it to tear to shreds. "Tell the Sun family I promised Fang to make Fang Heng disappear, not to ensure the Sun family's glory and wealth."

The saying went local officials were better than imperial ones. Although the Sun family sent an appeal for help to the Fang family, the month-long communication delays still allowed He Chengzhang to retaliate until the Sun family was in shambles.

A once brilliant and powerful household faded away just like that.

During this time, Hairpin Courtyard enjoyed a rare period of tranquility as the siblings quietly went about their business.

With the rural exams only three to four months away, despite already placing first in two exams, Xu Mo was still nervous.

The qualifying exams were different from the previous two tests, growing harder at each level while examinees also became older, some even taking part dozens of times to gain ample experience.

Comparatively, Xu Mo was at a disadvantage with his youthful inexperience.

But since he promised the former magistrate, Xu Mo would certainly work hard studying in hopes of passing the qualifying exam.

He wanted to become a successful candidate, to protect his younger siblings, and head towards an even more brilliant future.

Yet how could this be easy?

Lately Xu Mo had been reading extensively without comprehension, feeling vexed in his heart. He simply put down his books and paced to the entrance of Hairpin Courtyard.

Lowering the door bar and pulling open the wooden door, he saw the eight-chi tall magistrate outside, plus over a dozen government runners.

It seemed somewhat aggressive yet also oddly awkward.

Xu Mo was puzzled.

He Chengzhang coughed and rumbled deeply, "I've come following orders from above to inspect the cleanliness of your workshops. If they fail to meet standards, they'll need to be closed for rectification."

But what magistrate in the world came in person to check sanitation?