Chapter 782: Championing Justice

In the days leading up to the preparation of the Weaving Workshop, Tong Huaqiong was so busy her feet hardly touched the ground.

"Aunt Tong, Miss Taohua."

That day, the mother and daughter were inspecting the cabinets at Jufu Supermarket when they encountered a familiar person.

Looking closely, it turned out to be Lu Yiner, who was already married to Gao Ming.

Since leaving the Su Mansion last time, Tong Huaqiong was encountering Lu Yiner in person for the first time.

Tong Huaqiong looked her up and down; she appeared to have undergone a dramatic transformation, with the previously feigned weakness of a small household replaced by a gentle and serene demeanor.

Her attire, though not luxurious, looked quite fitting.

Behind her followed a maid, carrying two packages.

Judging from appearances, Lu Yiner seemed to be living well in the Gao Family.

"I’ve come to Jufu to browse and pick a few bolts of cloth, and to deliver a cape to Miss Taohua."

Lu Yiner took the neatly folded cape from her maid and handed it to Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua accepted it.

Lu Yiner took the opportunity to express her gratitude.

"Aunt Tong, everyone says the cotton fabric from Jufu is comfortable. My parents are coming from the countryside in these days, and I plan to get some cotton fabric to make them clothes." Lu Yiner said casually.

Tong Huaqiong nodded and said, "Take your time choosing. Once you’ve decided, I’ll have the store give you a discount."

Lu Yiner replied, "Thank you, but business is business, and I don’t need special treatment, Aunt Tong."

Her words were quite appropriate.

They weren’t very familiar to begin with.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t really want to deal with Lu Yiner, so she smiled and walked away.

She thought that would be the end of her interactions with Lu Yiner.

But they met again.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua were tallying accounts in the shop until dusk. When they passed by a certain alley on their way home by carriage, they found Lu Yiner being harassed by a ruffian.

"Cousin, why are you pretending to be virtuous? Everyone in Man Shengjing knows about your reputation before marriage."

"Tsk tsk tsk, I thought you’d married a great man, but it turns out he’s just a mere soldier in the Imperial Guard. Looking at your attire, even my family’s chief maid wouldn’t want it. Cousin, do you regret not becoming my concubine and now living in such poverty?"

"But if you regret it now, it’s not too late. Leave your adulterous husband and become my mistress. I’ll set up a large house for you outside with some servants to serve you, ensuring you live in luxury."

The ruffian was Su Chengmin’s half-brother, Su Chengji.

Su Chengji not only spewed dirty words but also laid hands on Lu Yiner.

Lu Yiner’s face turned pale from Su Chengji’s verbal assault. She shook off Su Chengji’s hand and angrily shouted, "Get lost."

She was living well in the Gao Family.

Her mother-in-law didn’t cause trouble, Gao Ming treated her well, and the Gao Family respected her opinions in all matters.

Though the daily life was not as wealthy as in the Su Mansion, she lacked nothing.

Knowing she was concerned about her parents and siblings at home, Gao Ming had sent someone to bring her family to the capital.

Gao Ming and she discussed that since her brother was good at studying, they would rely on Su Chengmin to find a private school in Shengjing, allowing her brother to study peacefully and aim for a good career.

If her parents wanted to return to the countryside, they could. If not, they could set up a store in Shengjing. Her father was skilled in hunting and handling livestock, so they could open a meat shop.

So, her whole family could be together in Shengjing.

Lu Yiner felt very touched by Gao Ming’s actions.

Her aunt had been in Shengjing for over ten years but had never allowed any Lu Family members, except herself, to come to Shengjing, nor did she allow them to step into the Su Mansion.

It had been years since Lu Yiner had seen her parents and siblings.

She usually didn’t leave the Gao Family much, but was excited about her parents and siblings arriving soon. She had been busy buying gifts for them these days.

Today, she stayed out late and got blocked by Su Chengji.

She wouldn’t allow her good life to be ruined by the Su Family.

Lu Yiner was furious enough to want to devour Su Chengji.

Su Chengji, seeing Lu Yiner giving him the cold shoulder, became irritated and lewdly said, "How dare you refuse me? With your rotten reputation, everyone would just say you seduced me."

Lu Yiner trembled with rage.

Her maid, equally angry, stood in front of Lu Yiner and scolded Su Chengji, "Young master, stop speaking nonsense. Judging by your attire, you are from a wealthy family, yet you dare to harass a virtuous woman in broad daylight. Aren’t you afraid we might report you?"

Su Chengji sneered, least afraid of being reported.

"You little wench look good too. Why don’t you and your young mistress yield to me together?"

Su Chengji rubbed his fingers together, intending to touch the maid’s face.

"Ouch, who dares to move against me?"

Su Chengji’s hand was grabbed by someone.

The grip was so strong he couldn’t shake it off.

"Help..."

He was mouthing off viciously one moment, begging for mercy the next.

With a crack, Gu Taohua broke Su Chengji’s wrist.

Su Chengji howled like a slaughtered pig.

Once he saw who was in front of him, he cursed inwardly at how strong this woman could be.

"Damn woman..." Su Chengji, overtaken by pain, still cursed.

Gu Taohua lifted her foot and kicked him.

This person needed a lesson.

Su Chengji was kicked nearly to the sky, curled up like a shrimp, begging, "Sister-in-law, I won’t dare anymore."

Calling her sister-in-law, attempting to get on her good side.

"Who is your sister-in-law?" Gu Taohua kicked his face twice more.

Su Chengji’s face was kicked into a swollen mess.

Sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty—all sensations rushed from his nose into his mouth, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at Gu Taohua.

"What are you looking at? I say, aren’t you ashamed, being the son of a court official, to get aroused in public? Can’t you wait to get home, you public pig?" Tong Huaqiong scolded, pointing at Su Chengji’s swollen face.

Su Chengji felt like all the bones in his body were about to break.

"Since you know I’m the son of a court official, you ought to know my father won’t spare you once he finds out," Su Chengji gritted his teeth and ordered his followers to attack Gu Taohua and Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong sneered, "We’ve dared to provoke Princess Ming Yue, let alone you, a good-for-nothing. Speak again, and I’ll beat you to death."

Su Chengji was enraged, shouting, "Kill them for me."

It wasn’t like he wouldn’t have his father to cover for him once he killed someone.

It didn’t matter even if the person was his future sister-in-law. As long as his father was there, his brother wouldn’t kill him.

Gu Taohua and Tong Huaqiong grabbed iron rods from the carriage.

Tong Huaqiong even handed Lu Yiner and the maid one each.

As for why there were iron rods in the carriage, it was because Tong Huaqiong didn’t trust the law enforcement of this era.

Especially considering her identity as a wealthy merchant, she feared robbers might target her, so she had Su Chengmin forge many iron rods at the blacksmith’s, keeping a few in each carriage.

Faced with robbers, she wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Unexpectedly, the iron rods’ first use was to act righteously against injustice.

The followers with Su Chengji were intimidated by Gu Taohua and Tong Huaqiong’s imposing manner, hesitantly stepping forward.

"Mom, capture the leader first. You grab Su Chengji, and I’ll handle them."

Tong Huaqiong swiftly struck one of Su Chengji’s legs with a rod.

Su Chengji howled and knelt from the blow, as Tong Huaqiong seized him.