Chapter 40

Chen Gongzi intends to propose to the Shangguan family.

However, it seems that the relationship between Chen Gongzi and the Shangguan family is far from good, even somewhat confrontational.

Qin Xianyu, upon seeing this scene, understood it clearly.

Precisely because he had a marriage contract with Shangguan Miss, he became a pawn.

The Shangguan family intended to use him as an excuse to reject Chen Gongzi's proposal.

Chen Gongzi spent a hundred taels of silver to make him lose face at the birthday celebration, even to the point of breaking off the engagement on the spot.

Qin Xianyu was slightly enlightened.

The others, being well-informed, could also guess a few things.

"Seeing the deep hostility Chen Gongzi has towards the young Taoist, and now that Shangguan Old Master is looking at this young Taoist, it seems this young Taoist is the key."

"Not just that. If it were an ordinary person, no matter how much they disliked him, they would not be so impolite at a birthday celebration. Chen Gongzi's treatment of this young Taoist, if thought about deeply, shows a lack of respect for the Shangguan family as well."

"It seems this birthday celebration will not be peaceful."

The scene remained silent, but it did not stop many from pondering and guessing.

Qin Xianyu picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of vegetables.

Shangguan Old Master was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Yuan'er already has a marriage contract, so this matter..."

He paused, remaining silent for a long time.

Qin Xianyu sighed inwardly, "Indeed, they are pushing the matter onto me."

Chen Gongzi looked at him deeply and said softly, "A piece of paper is not necessarily hard to dissolve."

A piece of paper?

Everyone exchanged glances, all feeling alarmed.

Marriage contract?

This young Taoist has a marriage contract with the Shangguan Miss who gained fortune in the capital?

Shangguan Old Master was silent for a moment.

Chen Gongzi gave Qin Xianyu a meaningful look, thinking to himself, "Why hasn't this young Taoist spoken according to the words on the paper? Does he want to take my hundred taels of silver for nothing? Is he not afraid I'll send someone to kill him?"

This Chen Gongzi came from a wealthy background, and everyone he encountered was humble and eager to please. Therefore, in his mind, people of low status were all despicable, weak, and greedy.

Qin Xianyu, having received over a hundred taels of silver, should be overjoyed and fear this person who could easily take out a hundred taels of silver. Thus, he would certainly follow his orders and be at his beck and call.

Qin Xianyu could guess this person's thoughts and sneered inwardly, "This person has been pampered since childhood, surrounded by humble and fawning people. He probably thinks poor people are all despicable. But does he know that the poor can also have pride?"

If it were before, Qin Xianyu would have forgotten about this matter, let alone now that he had gained a special opportunity and had true qi in his body. No matter what tricks the other party had, he was no longer afraid.

Shangguan Old Master slowly said, "The Qin family and the Shangguan family have always been good friends. Moreover, my life was saved by Qin Mingjin, so my eldest son betrothed Yuan'er to Qin Mingjin. If we were to dissolve the marriage contract without reason, wouldn't the Shangguan family be seen as untrustworthy?"

Chen Gongzi sneered, "In the past, the Shangguan family was just a wealthy family, but now they can be compared to a noble clan. How can he match Shangguan Miss? The Qin family now is just a lone wandering doctor with a Taoist identity. How can he be compared to the past?"

Many people nodded inwardly.

Qin Xianyu took a deep breath, feeling somewhat displeased.

Shangguan Old Master said, "Because the Shangguan family is different now, we cannot dissolve the marriage contract on our own. Otherwise, it would be seen as bullying the weak and abandoning righteousness."

Many people were satisfied with this, and even Grand Scholar Su nodded.

"Originally, Shangguan Old Master was concerned about this," Chen Gongzi said with a faint smile. "If so, let this young Taoist from the Qin family dissolve the marriage contract himself. Wouldn't this problem be solved easily?"

After saying this, he turned to Qin Xianyu and said meaningfully, "Little Taoist Qin, you are now quite wealthy. You don't need to climb to a higher branch or rely on the Shangguan family for a carefree life. Why not dissolve the marriage contract? This way, everyone would be happy."

Qin Xianyu naturally understood the deeper meaning.

Mentioning climbing to a higher branch, wanting to rely on the Shangguan family's current status and wealth for a carefree life, was clearly said for everyone to hear. Saying he was now quite wealthy was a reminder of the hundred taels of silver.

Qin Xianyu was silent for a long time, then suddenly looked up, his face full of doubt, and asked, "What does this have to do with you?"

Chen Gongzi's face stiffened.

Everyone was stunned, then a few people laughed quietly, and one person laughed openly.

Fourth Master Qian laughed heartily, but his laughter was like a needle, making Chen Gongzi's face burn.

Chen Gongzi thought he had everything figured out, but he never expected that a lowly, powerless person would dare to defy his wishes. He gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Shangguan Old Master also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the matter could be temporarily put aside. As long as someone from the capital came, they could overpower the Chen family without worrying about their centuries of accumulated influence.

"Are you really going to marry Shangguan Miss to such a charlatan, a thief?"

Chen Gongzi said coldly, "Even if your Shangguan family is willing, the noble person in the capital who took Shangguan Miss as a disciple would not agree, right?"

Shangguan Old Master was taken aback.

The scene also fell silent.

Qin Xianyu gently put down his chopsticks, stood up, and said calmly, "Is the charlatan and thief that Chen Gongzi is talking about me?"

Chen Gongzi said coldly, "Without any supernatural abilities, you dare to call yourself a Taoist. What else could you be but a charlatan? As for the thief..."

He paused, then suddenly grabbed a wine cup on the table and threw it to the ground, shouting, "Magistrate Yuan!"

A man in his fifties, thin and small, with a mustache and a cunning look, stood up from the table.

Qin Xianyu recognized this person, the magistrate of Feng County.

This person, after receiving a bribe of a dozen taels of silver, had taken the Qin family's pharmacy from Qin Xianyu and given it to his cousins. However, the higher authorities had overturned the decision, so the pharmacy was still in Qin Xianyu's name.

But this Magistrate Yuan did not care and forcibly sent people to seize the pharmacy.

Qin Xianyu thought, "It's this guy. What a narrow escape."

"Good day, everyone."

Magistrate Yuan, being just a county magistrate, was of low status among the guests, so he was very humble, without his usual arrogance. After bowing, he pointed at Qin Xianyu and shouted, "Qin Xianyu, you stole the Black Tiger Iron Token from Mr. Lu and also stole over a hundred taels of silver. I have already sent people to gather evidence. You must confess quickly!"

Such accusations, even though Qin Xianyu was prepared, still made him stunned.

Chen Gongzi had sent him a hundred taels of silver and an iron token, which were used to frame him.

"Old Master."

The steward reported, "There is a group of bailiffs from Feng County outside, saying they are here on orders."

Without waiting for Shangguan Old Master to respond, Chen Gongzi waved his hand and said, "Bring them in."

This action was already a reversal of roles, overshadowing the host.

Seeing the steward follow the order without consulting the master, Shangguan Old Master's heart sank.

Soon, a bailiff with a sword walked in and bowed.

Chen Gongzi put his fan on the table and said, "What did you find in this young Taoist's temple? You can speak freely! Everyone here is a prominent figure in the Great Virtue Dynasty, and they will act according to the law. Even if this young Taoist has a powerful backer, he cannot escape."

The backer, of course, referred to the Shangguan family.

The bailiff glanced at Shangguan Old Master, took a deep breath, and said, "I was ordered to search and found a large amount of silver, over two hundred taels."

Chen Gongzi asked, "What about the Black Tiger Iron Token?"

The bailiff gritted his teeth and said, "Nothing found."

Chen Gongzi was stunned, his face turning pale.

Qin Xianyu had already guessed that the iron token had some background, so he kept it on him. They searched the temple and found nothing. Qin Xianyu smiled inwardly, his face calm, and said softly, "What iron token? I don't know it, and I've never met Mr. Lu. You are falsely accusing me. Now that you can't find the Black Tiger Iron Token, you've taken my silver and disrupted my temple. What should be done about that?"

Chen Gongzi was speechless.

But Magistrate Yuan, who was used to framing people, did not need to think much and said, "You, a young Taoist, struggle to make ends meet by collecting herbs. Where did you get over two hundred taels of silver? In my opinion, you must have exchanged the Black Tiger Iron Token for silver, plus the original hundred taels, which makes up the two hundred taels."

"Magistrate Yuan is right," Chen Gongzi said happily, shouting, "You, young Taoist, are too ignorant. The Black Tiger Iron Token is worth only a hundred taels of silver, which is a great deal."

Magistrate Yuan shouted, "Seize him, put him in shackles, and take him away."

In just a few words, the crime was determined, leaving no room for others to react.

When Magistrate Yuan spoke, Chen Gongzi looked at Grand Scholar Su.

Qin Xianyu, a small figure, would not have anyone to stand up for him. Even the Shangguan family, after the hint about the young Taoist's backer, had reservations. The only variable was this grand scholar.

Grand Scholar Su came from the capital and held a high position, so he would not care about a century-old noble family.

If he thought the matter was unfair and wanted to intervene, it would be a problem.

But this grand scholar seemed interested in watching and had no intention of intervening.

Chen Gongzi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "This has disrupted the banquet and almost nullified the marriage contract. The next step in the forced marriage, I have other plans."

"Seize him quickly."

Magistrate Yuan shouted, "Don't disturb the guests' enjoyment, take him away quickly!"

The bailiff received the order and approached with his sword.

Bang!

Qin Xianyu gathered his true qi, stepped hard, and shattered the wooden chair behind him. Then he picked up a wooden stick, held it in his hand, and swung it out.

It was like swinging a sword, natural and effortless.

Crack! The bailiff, unable to react, had his shoulder collapse.

The banquet was in chaos.

Two guards by Chen Gongzi's side immediately stood up and rushed towards Qin Xianyu.

"Stop!"

A fierce shout came from outside the hall.

Whoosh! A sound broke the air.

A long sword flew in from the door, stabbed into the ground, and was embedded in the brick, half a foot deep.

Qin Xianyu was overjoyed.

It was Lu Qing's sword.

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