Chapter Twenty-Five: Interrogation

  Liu Qingqing dried her hair by the lake, changed into clean clothes, and slowly returned to Yangsheng Hall with Yingying. As soon as she entered the hall, she was startled, what a majestic atmosphere! Only saw the maidservants kneeling on the ground, none of them dared to make a sound, what happened? She didn't think she had done anything wrong, completely unaware that all these people were because she had eaten something.

  Liu Qingqing saw that everyone was kneeling with their heads bowed and didn't say a word, so she hastily asked: "What's going on with you all? You don't have to be so polite just because I'm here?"

  An old woman said: "Ninth Mistress, save us! Hu Shao is furious with us for not serving the Ninth Mistress well and has ordered us to kneel here."

  "No, you've all been serving me well, I'm very satisfied." Liu Qingqing found it strange. Her requirements for life were so low that she didn't feel like she was being treated poorly at all.

  "The nine ladies went out, and we didn't attend to them properly. The ninth lady drowned in the lake, and we didn't rescue her in time. It's our fault, and we deserve punishment. However, it's not right for the lady to suffer."

  Just then, Hu Zhong walked out of the study with a stern expression and said loudly, "Hu Shao is waiting in the study, please enter, Ninth Lady." The two maidservants followed Liu Qingqing into the study and saw Hu Zhong sitting on a chair with a cold face. Four people stood behind him, each holding a family law book. It seemed that they were indeed waiting for them.

  The two maidservants were frightened by Hu Zhong's iron-like expression and quickly knelt down to apologize. Today's trouble was not small, and the young lady was still ill, but they had taken her to the lake for a swim. They didn't say much, but they got scolded. They had been staying in the Hu family for some time and knew that Hu Zhong's expression meant he was really angry. His face turned pale with rage.

  Everyone in the village gave Hu Zhongren the nickname "Cold Face Langjun". His temperament was cunning and changeable, his facial expression was often gentle and elegant, it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry, no one could grasp his pulse. Liu Qingqing also saw Hu Zhongren's icy pale face, thinking again about the large group of followers kneeling outside, it was really enough for her to drink a pot of wine by herself, she didn't mind suffering herself, but shouldn't let others suffer with her.

  Look at the four great guardians of the house, Hu's east, south, west, and north, namely Hu Dong, Hu Xi, Hu Nan, and Hu Bei, with a stern expression. Today's matter seems to be irreconcilable. She is the one who knows the policy best, called "leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist". Usually, she would try to get a lenient treatment. In this situation, she should surrender. Moreover, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. If she humbles herself and bows down slightly, everyone's days will be better. She is truly like Guanyin Bodhisattva.

  So, she takes a step forward, and with a thud, she kneels down. A man has gold under his knees, but she is a woman, what is there to fear? Everyone says that she is the legitimate wife, and if she humbles herself like this, her husband can't do anything else. You want me to show you my respect, I'll lie on the ground and not get up, let you kick me.

  With both hands gently holding onto Hu Zhongren's robe, "Dear husband, it's all my fault, I made you worry. Next time, I promise, no matter where I go, I will definitely ask for your permission first, I will definitely listen to your instructions. You say east, I absolutely won't go west. You say beat the dog, I definitely won't feed the chicken. For you, I am willing to be obedient."

  "Why are you swimming naked in our lake?" The people of Hu Zhong snorted through their noses.

  "I have clothes to wear, and what I'm wearing is a swimsuit." This was true. At that time, Liu Qingqing still knew she had crossed over from being stung by a bee into the lake. Not only did she make her own underwear, but also made silk swimsuits for herself and Xiaolian.

  "Well, that's also considered clothes." Hu Zhongren recalled one evening when Xiaolian wore special clothes (modern bras and panties), he was greatly tempted, and Xiaolian had indeed told him that she learned to make them with Madame Ji.

  "Of course, it's okay, going into the water, wearing a lot is very uncomfortable, not wearing any is also not safe, have to guard against perverts." Liu Qingqing said with a multitude of reasons.

  "Do you still remember safety? Who else's wife do you see exposing themselves like this?" Hu Zhongren thought for a moment, recalling the news he had just heard, and couldn't help but mutter a few words. He knew that if he didn't leave now, he would get into trouble.

  "I understand, I'll definitely change and promise not to play with water again or make the same mistake. Don't be angry! Also, spare the maid outside, you know, where can I go? They wouldn't dare stop me, right?" As she spoke, she leaned in closer, her hands wrapped around Hu Zhongren's waist, her face full of pleading expression, and even if he had a fiery temper like Fire Mountain, it would slowly be extinguished by her entreaties, just like the gentle spring rain.

  Several attendants were originally stern and majestic, but now they are shocked by the humble and kneeling appearance of the Ninth Lady. You know, the reputation of the Liu family is also mighty, but how can the young lady of the Liu family be so weak? However, only in this way can Hu Shao be subdued. Look, Hu Zhongren was still furious just now, but now he has calmed down. Heroes are hard to pass through the beauty barrier, Hu Shao, you'd better put away your various family laws.

  Here is the translation:

  As expected, Hu Zhongren coughed and waved his hand to dismiss them, saying, "Tell everyone to disperse!" Facing such a seemingly unreasonable young wife, Hu Zhongren also felt helpless. The four big men left the study room in an orderly manner, leaving only Hu Zhongren and Liu Qingqing inside. Seeing Liu Qingqing still kneeling on the ground with a pitiful expression, Hu Zhongren couldn't help but feel even more sympathetic. He quickly walked over to her, helped her up, and closed the door behind them. Looking at Liu Qingqing's delicate appearance, he unconsciously hugged her from behind: "What do you want me to do? You're such a troublemaker! Can't you just let my heart be at peace for once?" His caring words were evident. Liu Qingqing was actually enjoying this situation, although she didn't feel like she knew this man who claimed to be her husband. However, the feeling of being cared for was wonderful, and she could also take advantage of the opportunity to "eat" some tofu from this handsome man.

  "Tell me, why did you get wet?" Hu Zhongren pulled Liu Qingqing's hand and sat her down beside him.

  "It's just a cramp from the cold water." Liu Qingqing said nonchalantly. Anyway, in modern times, she often got into trouble too, so her mom and grandma were already used to it.

  "Your swimming skills aren't that good, are they?" He was standing outside the Youxuan Residence with Xiaolian at the time and saw her struggling in the water from a distance, wondering how she had fallen into the water all of a sudden.

  Liu Qingqin pouted her mouth and didn't speak. Silence is golden.

  Look at Liu Qingqing's expression, it's impossible to ask anything. Hu Zhongren shouted loudly towards the outside: "Go and invite Biao Shaoxia, tell him to come here."

  A loud voice outside replied: "No need to invite, Liu Qing is coming to apologize." As he spoke, he walked in with big strides, and it was none other than Yang Liuqing.

  Entering the study, Yang Liuqing knelt down on both knees and performed a grand ceremony. "Younger brother accepts punishment. I didn't take good care of my younger sister-in-law." Someone had already flown to report to Yang Liuqing that Ninth Madame was being punished, asking him to hurry over to protect her.

  "Let him go, tell me what happened. Why did she drown? What exactly happened underwater?" Hu Zhongren said sternly.

  "It was probably the cold water that caused leg cramps, and when I went down, Little Sister-in-law was already sinking. Unexpectedly, Yang Liuqing and Liu Qingqing's words were surprisingly consistent."

  "Really?" Hu Zhongren stared at Yang Liuqing's face, wanting to see through his thoughts and weaknesses.

  "It's true. The matter is too big, I don't dare to lie." Yang Liuqing lied without batting an eye. Liu Qing couldn't help but smile with her eyes narrowed, she was the king of lying, and this one was the heavenly lord of lying. Hehe!

  "You should know that the ninth lady encountered a tripwire outside the mountain gate, someone did it on purpose. I'm worried this time is also like that, didn't you really see anything? If you're as concerned about your younger sister-in-law's safety as I am, tell me the truth!" Hu Zhongren tried to move Yang Liuqing with emotions and reason.

  "My words are true, if there's any falsehood, I'll be struck by five thunders." Yang Liuqing made a solemn oath, Hu Zhongren cast his eyes on Liu Qingqing, who immediately raised her right hand, "I am too, if I lie, I will surely suffer heavenly thunderbolts!" However, he and Yang Liuqing were the same, not believing in these empty oaths at all.

  As soon as the two voices fell, a loud thunder suddenly sounded outside. The clear sky that had just been sunny and cloudless was instantly covered with dark clouds, and the cold wind whizzed by with the movement of the clouds. Liu Qingqing and Yang Liuying looked at each other, silently crying out in their hearts, "God, you're not really going to strike me dead, are you?"

  Hu Zhongren looked at the two of them and thought to himself, "Heavens, you're really something. What are you going to say this time?"

  "I really didn't lie." The two of them spoke in unison, and after finishing, they looked at each other in shock. I'm impressed, their iron mouths and steel teeth are so well-trained, it's truly amazing how tacitly they understand each other. These two comrades would be wasted if they weren't part of the underground party.

  Hu Zhongren sighed helplessly, looking at Yang Liuqing, "Go down now, you should rest too. You saved your younger sister-in-law's life, I'm very grateful to you. The other day, didn't you always like my sorrel horse? This time, some merchants brought over a few horses from the north, take a look and pick one that you like."

  "Thank you, Brother Biao." Yang Liuqing left with a happy and excited expression. These were all foreign horses, capable of traveling 1,000 li by day and 800 li by night. After Yang Liuqing walked out of the study, Hu Zhongren also stepped out of the room door, "You've had a fright and caught a chill, I'll get Xiaolian to personally make you some ginger soup, remember to drink some later."

  Liu Qingqing cleverly replied: "Thank you, Brother Qinglang, you are the most handsome." This mouth of hers was as sweet as if it had been smeared with honey.

  Hu Zhongren was at a loss for words, unable to hear Liu Qingqing's very ladylike and normal sentence, but he seemed to like her tone anyway, damn it.

  Hu Zhongren walked out of the study and saw Yan Yan and Yang Liuqing still waiting in the main hall. He said, "I'm tired today, you two can go back and rest too. I have some lotus root paste at my place, Yan Yan, go to Feng Qiu Lou and ask Hu Zhong for some, take it to give to your brother." Yan Yan responded with a sound and left with Yang Liuqing. Seeing Yingying still standing there, he waved his hand and said, "You can go too. Today's matter can't be blamed entirely on you two, but in the future, remember to report Jiufu's movements to me at any time, don't let her do whatever she wants."