The next day, at dawn.
Su Xiuer returned to Shen Ji Cloth Shop after buying breakfast. The moment she stepped through the door, she heard the sound of gongs and drums from the end of the street.
She looked up and saw Wei Mingze, dressed in a bright red brocade robe, riding a horse. Behind him followed over twenty house servants carrying betrothal gifts, with gold, silver, and jewels dazzling the eyes.
Madam Zhao and Wei Tian followed beside him, happily scattering copper coins to everyone they saw, making a bigger spectacle than when Wei Mingze became the top scholar.
The people on the street all gathered around, chattering praises: "The top scholar marrying the minister's daughter, they are truly a match made in heaven."
"Look at these betrothal gifts, the top scholar has a grand gesture. It seems he truly values Miss Duan."
No one mentioned that Wei Mingze was a son-in-law living with the wife's family, nor that he had abandoned his wife and child, nor that he had colluded with Duan Zhenzhu to commit arson and harm his wife.
The few voices that occasionally emerged were drowned out by the envious cheers.
In just one day, it was as if all the filth had vanished, leaving only the glorious spectacle of the top scholar marrying the minister's daughter.
Su Xiuer couldn't help but clench her fists.
Shen Hui appeared beside her at some point, gazing at the long procession of betrothal gifts.
"The better the family's circumstances and the higher their social class, the more importance they place on marriage proposals and betrothal gifts. Wei Mingze just became the top scholar, and he has the means to make a grand display with betrothal gifts to the Duan family. This is the Duan family's method. They use a high-profile display to suppress public opinion, and then spend money to twist and control it."
Shen Hui raised his eyes, pointing out to Su Xiuer many "plants" arranged by the Minister's Estate, hidden among the onlookers.
He continued, "With the Duan family's power and influence, they can block the yamen's doors from above and suppress street gossip from below. Think carefully, do you still want to seek justice?"
Su Xiuer's eyes darkened, staring intently at the receding backs of Wei Mingze and his entourage.
Madam Zhao's hands ached from scattering money, and her smile had stiffened.
She had lived a life of poverty and hardship, and now she could finally hold her head high. This was all thanks to her eldest son.
Madam Zhao turned her head to look at her younger son, "Tian'er, where do you think that village woman Su Xiuer is now?"
Wei Tian held his head high, as if afraid others wouldn't see, and perfunctorily replied, "She should be on the donkey cart back to Taolin Village. Why are you suddenly mentioning her?"
"It's nothing, I just want her to see our glory today. When your eldest brother married her, I couldn't even lift my head in the village. It's much better to marry Miss Duan."
Upon hearing this, Wei Tian quickly nodded, "Mother, you are right. From now on, our days will be prosperous and noble. Let's not mention those unbearable past events."
Wei Mingze, riding his horse, overheard Madam Zhao and Wei Tian's conversation. Fearing others might hear, he whispered, "Mother, don't mention her on such a happy day. You probably won't see her for several years anyway."
Although it only takes about half a month to travel from Taolin Village to the Capital City, travel is inconvenient and the expenses are high. For a village woman like Su Xiuer, wanting to come to the Capital City again would likely mean she couldn't bear the cost.
His mother would enjoy her life in the Capital City and would certainly not return to that poor, remote place. It would take several years before he could establish himself and bring Su Xiuer to the Capital.
Women need to be coaxed.
Forget it.
After he marries Duan Zhenzhu and everything is settled, he will send Su Xiuer a few more letters to coax her properly.
Wei Mingze thought this, and a smile appeared on his face.
With a "crack," the eggs Su Xiuer had bought were crushed in her hand.
She finally withdrew her gaze, turned around, and completely entered the cloth shop.
Su Xiuer placed the breakfast she had bought on the table and took out the marriage-in-law document she had been carrying close to her body.
The document had been wrapped in oil paper and remained undamaged even after falling into the water.
She looked at Shen Hui, who had followed her in, her gaze hardening: "Since the official path cannot be taken, and no one dares to speak of it in the streets, then I will go to the highest authority to seek redress."
"If there's no evidence of arson, then I will accuse Wei Mingze of abandoning his wife to marry another, and Duan Zhenzhu of using her family's power to bully me and force me into a concubine! They may not face the death penalty, but they will be stripped bare."
Shen Hui's deep eyes narrowed, and he stared at Su Xiuer for a long time, his voice clear and cold, "Have you thought it through?"
Su Xiuer nodded, her fists clenched and lightly hitting the table.
"I have. If it were yesterday, I wouldn't be sure I could win the case. But today is different. Wei Mingze made a high-profile proposal, parading through the streets with betrothal gifts. Even if he wanted to deny it, so many people saw it. As long as the betrothal gifts entered the Duan Mansion, Duan Zhenzhu won't escape either."
Ye Jiu, listening from the side, couldn't help but excitedly rub his hands together, "Brilliant! The means the Duan family used to quell rumors has now become a weapon in Miss Su's hands, aimed at the Duan family and Wei Mingze."
"Marrying against the law and forcing a wife into concubinage are both serious crimes. As long as it is brought before the Emperor, to give an explanation to the people of the world, the Emperor will surely not let the Duan family and Wei Mingze off lightly."
Ye Jiu hadn't had high hopes for Su Xiuer initially, but now his impression of her had finally improved.
Compared to Ye Jiu's excitement, Shen Hui's expression remained indifferent.
He leaned against the counter, quietly staring at Su Xiuer, "Do you know what one must go through to beat the Dengwen Drum and sue the Emperor?"
Su Xiuer looked up stubbornly and said, "I know. Mine is considered an improper appeal. Beating the Dengwen Drum requires thirty board beatings, and entering the preliminary review and meeting the Emperor requires another thirty board beatings. It's very difficult for anyone to endure sixty board beatings. But I am strong, I have worked hard all my life, and I have a tough life. I believe I can endure it."
Shen Hui's thin lips pressed together, "What if you can't endure it, what if the Duan family obstructs you?"
Su Xiuer said, "If I can't endure it, then it's fate. I heard that since the current Emperor ascended the throne, no one has ever beaten the Dengwen Drum. If I beat it, it will be the first time. Perhaps the Emperor will find it interesting and pay attention. No matter how great the Duan family's power, it cannot be greater than the Emperor's."
As Su Xiuer spoke, she even let out a self-mocking laugh.
Sixty board beatings – this was a gamble with her life.
It was precisely because it required risking one's life that no one had beaten the Dengwen Drum since the current Emperor ascended the throne.
In the past, beating the Dengwen Drum required passing three stages: first, the preliminary review at the Dengwen Drum Academy, then filtering by Dali Temple, and finally, a personal hearing before the Emperor.
It was time-consuming and labor-intensive.
It was said that after the current Emperor ascended the throne, the Eldest Princess, in order to reduce wrongful convictions and also to protect the victims who dared to beat the Dengwen Drum from persecution, changed the rule. Now, as long as one passes the preliminary review after beating the Dengwen Drum and receives sixty board beatings, they can immediately meet the Emperor.
Shen Hui did not expect that Su Xiuer, a peasant woman, would understand the Great Sheng Law so well and know so much about the Dengwen Drum.
Shen Hui couldn't help but feel suspicious and asked, "Why are you so familiar with the Dengwen Drum?"
Su Xiuer waved her hand, not very willing to mention it.
"This is thanks to my mother. She loves to read miscellaneous books. She mistakenly bought a copy of the Great Sheng Law and used it to prop up a table leg. Later, Wei Mingze saw it and needed it for the Imperial Examination, so he studied it daily. I overheard some of it!"
Su Tianjiao, the Widow Su, Shen Hui had a strong impression of her. She was a very unique and unfathomable person.
However, if she could give birth to a daughter like Su Xiuer, then her mother naturally wouldn't be ordinary.
Shen Hui dismissed his doubts and returned to the main topic, "Have you truly thought it through?"
"I have," Su Xiuer nodded.
She wouldn't fight for steamed buns, but for her dignity. Why should she be trampled underfoot?
Commoners deserved to be bullied and to feel wronged.
Su Xiuer stood up and solemnly bowed to Shen Hui.
"To prevent the Duan family from threatening Xiao Bao again, I ask Young Master Shen to please look after Xiao Bao for me after I go to beat the Dengwen Drum."
"If I die, please trouble you to send Xiao Bao back to my mother in Taolin Village. I saved you, and you saved me, so we should be even. This time, consider me shamelessly owing you a favor. If there is an afterlife, I will surely repay it."
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