PFC Chapter 674: Once you send someone away, they won’t come back (28)
Chapter 674: Once you send someone away, they won’t come back (28)
The Liang family's decline is already evident.
Madam Liang’s “fall” seemed to have accelerated this process.
Mrs. Liang completely took over the Liang family's financial management from her mother-in-law. When the money came into her hands, she seemed to have complete freedom.
For a moment, she seemed to be back in Anyang City, when her power had not yet been taken back by her mother-in-law.
But this is the best way now. When I was in Anyang City before, my mother-in-law would "come out" and give orders, but now she doesn't do that anymore, and she won't do that again.
So there is a benefit to this person getting old - it makes room for a daughter-in-law like her.
However, this pride only lasted for three days before it was shattered by an unexpected change.
That morning, a hurried knock on the door broke the peace.
When the housekeeper reported that someone from the government office was coming, Mrs. Liang's heart tightened and an ominous premonition came to her mind.
The leading yamen runner said expressionlessly, "Madam Liang, the Meng family has sued your son. Please ask him to come with us!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Liang was struck by lightning. She widened her eyes and shouted in disbelief, "The Meng family is suing us? Impossible! My son has always been law-abiding. How could he break the law?"
The bailiff still had a stern face and answered in a businesslike manner: "According to the Meng family, they abducted decent girls or forced them to sleep with them. Whether your son has one or both of them, it depends on how you explain it in court later."
After saying this, he revealed a meaningful smile.
Mrs. Liang was so angry that she was shaking all over. She retorted in a trembling voice: "You must have made a mistake! My son would never do such a thing!" But the more she spoke, the less confident she became. After all, Meng A Luo was still in the yard of her son Liang Huaixin.
Perhaps he saw the other party's guilty conscience, so the yamen runner took the purse filled with money from the butler, weighed it a few times, and felt that the amount was okay, so he gave some hints: "This matter could have been settled privately.
But since it has already come to court, it will not end well. Not only will it damage the reputation of the Liang Mansion, but also..."
Having said that, he deliberately paused and looked at the furnishings in the Liang family's hall again, as if evaluating whether the Liang family was worth his help.
After a while, the chief yamen runner slowly said, "Doesn't your son plan to take the imperial examination and become an official in the future? If these charges are proven, I'm afraid his future will be over."
Mrs. Liang certainly understood the deeper meaning of the other party's words.
She knew very well that if she was charged with such a crime, she would not be able to take the imperial examination, and she would probably end up in jail!
Once the crime of trafficking in innocent women is proven, the punishment is 100 strokes of the cane and exile 3,000 miles away. If the victim is a wife or concubine, the lightest sentence is three years in prison.
Thinking of this, Mrs. Liang felt a darkness before her eyes, her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
At this moment, she finally started to feel scared. She shouldn't have been so soft-hearted and let Meng A Luo into the house. She shouldn't have taken such risks by living in the yard outside.
Madam Liang held on tightly and said to the yamen runner, "Sir, there must be a misunderstanding. Please wait for a moment. I will let my son out right away."
The bailiff nodded slightly.
Mrs. Liang and her people hurried to Liang Huaixin's yard and saw Meng A Luo watering the flowers in the yard, while her son Liang Huaixin was still painting. It was clear that the couple was in love and affection.
Seeing this scene, Mrs. Liang became angry. She was dealing with the government officials at the front, but these two people acted as if nothing had happened.
"You guys are so happy!" Mrs. Liang said coldly, "Huai Xin, why are you painting in the yard in broad daylight instead of studying?"
"Mom, I've been reading for an hour, I'm going to relax for a while!" Liang Huaixin didn't care about his mother's cold face at all, "A Luo is already in our house anyway, so whether I can go to Yuening Academy is not that important."
After hearing this, Meng A Luo did not stop his hand movements, but his eyes flashed, but he did not say anything!
"Dream on!" Mrs. Liang thought her son was really stupid. "They have already sued you, and the government has sent people here."
Then the housekeeper behind Mrs. Liang told Liang Huaixin everything that had just happened.
Liang Huaixin was shocked and said palely: "A Luo and I are in love, how could it be illegal! Mother, you must believe me, I..."
"Huai Xin! I believe you have something to offer!" Mrs. Liang was helpless. "You have to convince the county magistrate and get your future father-in-law to withdraw the lawsuit, otherwise your life will be over!"
When she said this, Madam Liang looked at Meng A Luo again, and then said, "You have already followed my son, so you have to come forward to persuade your father."
"Madam, my father is very stubborn!" Meng A Luo said with a miserable look, "If my husband doesn't have the admission qualification to Yuening Academy, he will really keep complaining to the authorities. For now, we should ask Master Xiao for help. He has a way to get a place for him!"