NOVGO.NET Chapter 1539: Mockery
Chapter 1539: Mockery
Editor: Henyee Translations
The Deputy Prefect’s wife sneered once more. “Lord Shao, your silver tongue leaves me speechless. I can only feel sorry for Madam Shao. Missing and forgotten, it wouldn’t be surprising if she ‘passed away’ one day. Heh!”
“Shut up!” Shao Yunduan’s anger flared, glaring at her. “Rest assured, my wife will live a long life!”
Frustrated by Madam Qin’s remarks, Shao Yunduan resisted the urge to retaliate physically against her rudeness.
“Lord Qin,” he continued, addressing the Deputy Prefect with disdain, “you’re truly fortunate to have wed such a well-mannered, eloquent lady! With such a remarkable wife, Lord Qin, your future must be promising!”
The Deputy Prefect’s face reddened instantly, overcome with embarrassment. It felt as if he had been slapped, mocked for choosing a spouse lacking in manners, and cursed for his future.
...However, his wife had provoked the scolding, leaving him little choice. He gripped her arm to prevent further outbursts and shot her a warning glare. Maintaining a forced smile, he pretended to be oblivious to Shao Yunduan’s sarcasm.
As long as he feigned ignorance, the embarrassment wasn’t truly his…
Nevertheless, he couldn’t linger any longer, even though indignation bubbled within him as much as his wife. Shao Yunduan, with his thick skin, had pushed them to this point, yet he persistently attempted to mask the situation with sophistry.
“Lord Shao, my wife must have been frightened by tonight’s fire and chaos. She didn’t mean anything else. Please, don’t argue with a woman. It’s late; we should take our leave. We won’t disturb your rest.”
“Lord Shao, focus on taking care of Madam Shao for a swift recovery. My wife and Madam Shao instantly hit it off. She genuinely cares for Madam Shao!”
Shao Yunduan sneered, retorting, “Your wife’s concern is not something anyone can appreciate!”
“You may leave.” Shao Yunduan gestured towards the two maids who had been vocal about witnessing Qiao Xuan being taken away. “However, they must stay! Lord Qin, do you find fault with my decision to pursue this matter?”
The hearts of the Deputy Prefect and his wife skipped a beat. Shao Yunduan’s assertiveness left little room for refusal, even if his request seemed reasonable.
Yet, surrendering these individuals to him was out of the question. Once they were handed over, who knew what kind of punishment Shao Yunduan might mete out? What if the interrogation unearthed some compromising information? While they could feign ignorance, it remained an inappropriate risk.
“These two have overstepped their bounds. It’s understandable that Lord Shao is angered. Men, take them away and administer 30 strokes each! Lord Shao, how does that sound?”
Shao Yunduan sneered, opting to remain silent.
His silence, however, carried implicit agreement. At the Deputy Prefect’s command, bailiffs swiftly descended upon the two maidservants, dragging them down as they cried and pleaded for mercy.
Unexpectedly, Shao Yunduan interjected, “Do it here.”
His subordinates complied, subjecting the two maids to a merciless beating. Their screams echoed, initially accompanied by pleas for mercy, but eventually tapering off as their heads drooped, succumbing to unconsciousness.
The onlookers shuddered, their hearts pounding.
Shao Yunduan cast a cold gaze across the crowd and declared, “Continue spreading baseless rumors, and next time, the tally will be 60 or 90!”