I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 187 The crime of fornication

Kneeling on the ground, Huang Li watched Zhang Zhifu weep miserably.

It is inconvenient for Zhang Zhifu to defend himself when it comes to matters involving men and women, and Zhang's mansion is not far from the government office, but it is not close. Even if Kong received the news, it would take two quarters of an hour to arrive.

Fortunately, Qian Tongzhi stepped forward, "Mr. Huang, there is no basis for what you say. Your Excellency has always kept himself clean. You said that you are your new concubine. Who is the matchmaker? Is there a concubine document? Do your parents and elders know?" ?”

Qian Tongzhi asked three times in a row, coupled with Zhang Zhifu's calm attitude, the people onlookers all looked at Huang Li with disdain.

This shameless woman must have had an unsatisfactory life with Li Hou, so she relied on Zhang Zhifu, who made Zhang Zhifu the highest official position in the entire Nanxuan Mansion.

"My lord, my mother is related to the Huang family. She just sent zongzi to the Huang family a few days ago. I haven't heard the Huang family talk about it." A middle-aged man said loudly. As the prefect's concubine, it is impossible for the Huang family to remain silent.

"Yes, there is an alley between my house and Huang's house, and none of us neighbors have seen a matchmaker come to our door, nor have we seen the Huang's family prepare a dowry." The woman in short gown also echoed loudly.

Zhang Zhifu is a good official, and the common people all know that they will never let Huang Li, a woman, harm Zhang Zhifu.

If it is a good concubine, although she cannot wear a red wedding dress, she can still get married in a sedan chair. There are dowry mothers and maids, and they can also bring dowry. There is no difference between the maids who signed the contract of prostitution.

Listening to the discussions around him, Chen Xuezheng frowned slightly. It is not a good thing for the Chen family that Zhifu Zhang is loved by the people.

Taking a disgusted look at Huang Li, who can only cry, Chen Xuezheng said in a deep voice, "What Qian Tongzhi said is true, Mrs. Huang, if you cry again, you don't need Zhang Zhifu to speak up. I will use the excuse of framing the court to order the official." Take you down!"

Frightened by Chen Xuezheng's official authority, Huang Li screamed, "I have evidence, Mrs. Zhang was the one who took care of me on behalf of the magistrate Zhang! There are three unfilial acts, and the greatest thing is to have no descendants. That old woman of the Kong family can't give Zhang The family has been passed down from generation to generation, and the old lady's kind heart did not let Zhang Zhifu divorce his wife, but just accepted me in."

Parents can indeed decide to marry a wife and take concubines for their sons. Of course, the premise of all this is to comply with the "Daqing Law". Zhang Zhifu is over forty years old and has no children. To a certain extent, it is reasonable for Mrs. Zhang to give Zhang Zhifu a concubine .

"It's as if you can give birth to a son." In the crowd, some woman with a broken mouth interrupted, causing a burst of laughter.

"Mr. Huang has been married to Young Master Ming for many years, but she hasn't even given birth to a child."

Huang Li blushed angrily, glared at the laughing crowd and yelled, "Shut up, you untouchables! If you talk nonsense again, I'll tear your mouths apart!"

"Mr. Chen, please ask Mrs. Chen to be the master of the women..." Huang Li knelt on the ground again and cried, "The women did not frame Mrs. Zhang, it is really Mrs. Zhang who is the master of the women. My lord can let the old man People come over, and the women are willing to confront the old lady in court."

Chen Xuezheng looked at Zhang Zhifu with a smile on his face, "Master Zhang, since it is a matter of your back house and it involves the old lady, why don't you take Mrs. Huang back to the mansion to deal with it, and I will not interfere."

Huang Li's eyes instantly burst into ecstasy. As long as she entered the gate of Zhang Mansion, she would be the concubine of Zhang Mansion. In the future, when she gave birth to a son, and then killed the old woman of the Kong family, she would be a veritable wife of the prefect!
"No, Xiaguan promised Master Taishan back then that even if he had no children, he would not take concubines. It is a matter of Xiaguan's reputation. It is better to find out." Zhang Zhifu coldly rejected Chen Xuezheng's "good intentions".

In the government office, after the news of Huang Li's crying and fuss spread, many people were watching outside the government office, waiting for Mrs. Zhang's arrival.

"Doctor Huang is here." Someone in the crowd shouted.

The onlookers looked back and immediately gave way, and it was the three members of the Huang family who came in a hurry.

In addition to Huang Li's parents, Elder Huang also came over. It is no ordinary marriage issue involving Prefect Zhang, and the whole Huang family might be implicated. Fortunately, Elder Huang knows the character of Prefect Zhang, Otherwise, he really wanted to beat the noisy Huang Li to death.

"Crassman Huang Wenyuan pays respects to your lord..." Elder Huang suppressed his emotions and knelt down to salute.

Huang's father and the second wife also knelt down. One of the couple was concentrating on dispensing medicines and the other was soft-tempered. Who would have thought that they would give birth to such a domineering and selfish daughter as Huang Li.

"Master Huang get up and answer." Prefect Zhang has a gentle attitude. The Huang family has been serving the world for many years and has a very good reputation in Nanxuan Mansion. Prefect Zhang will definitely give this face.

But Huang's father didn't get up, didn't even look at the crying Huang Li, and said with a sullen face: "Master, this rebellious girl knocked out the guard's mother-in-law and escaped from the house. It’s nothing but nonsense, and the grassroots have no way to teach their daughters, so I ask your lord to punish them!”

As soon as Huang's father kowtowed, the second wife also kowtowed. Although she was reluctant to part with Huang Li as a daughter, the second wife could tell right from wrong.

"It's really slandering Zhang Zhifu." The people outside the government office looked at Huang Li with contempt, and they knew that this would be the result. Bad things would come out of good things, and the century-old reputation of the Huang family was almost ruined by Huang Li.

"Yes, if this is a naughty rascal, see if she will rely on her." The jeering sound was everywhere, and the people around looked down on Huang Li even more. Women are so shameless to cling to men!
"Are you still my real father? I married the prefect Zhang, and you are the prefect's father-in-law!" Huang Li roared angrily, glaring at Huang's father and the second wife viciously.

Perhaps knowing that her parents would not help her and would only hold her back, Huang Li hurriedly said: "As the so-called first marriage is from relatives, and remarriage is from one's own body, you want to lock me up at home, you are in vain as parents!"

"You rebellious girl!" Huang's father's complexion was extremely ugly, but Huang Li still held his head high, looking arrogant like I was right.

"Your Excellency." Huang's father spoke again, the anger in his eyes had faded, and he said in a cold voice: "The family is unfortunate, and this rebellious girl came out! Today the grassroots drove Huang Li out of the house, and since then, Huang Li has no longer It's the daughter of the Huang family! Please, my lords, be your witnesses."

The second wife opened her mouth, and looked at Huang Li, who did not admit her mistake, with tears in her eyes. After all, she did not speak. She could not harm all the women in the Huang family for the daughter of Huang Li. Li'er only thought about herself, but never thought about Huang Li after today. The family girl's reputation has been ruined, how should she get married in the future?
When Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Kong came over, the three members of the Huang family had already stepped aside, waiting to return to the Huang family to open the ancestral hall after the matter was over and to cross Huang Li's name off the genealogy.

In view of Mrs. Zhang's identity and age, the yamen servant moved a chair over, and Mrs. Zhang sat down and answered.

"Mother, when did I take the concubine? Why didn't I know?" Zhang Zhifu's flat voice was full of indifference.

Zhang Zhifu had sympathized with Huang's father for giving birth to an unfilial daughter before, but now that the feng shui has changed, Huang's father can still sever the father-daughter relationship with Huang Li and drive her out of the house.

But when filial piety is suppressed, Zhang Zhifu can't sever ties with his mother, so he doesn't have to be a prefect.

Mrs. Zhang's eyeballs were flickering, and her wrinkled old face had a guilty and uneasy expression.

Ever since Mrs. Zhang’s conspiracy against Kong was exposed at the Peach Blossom Festival, Mrs. Zhang was imprisoned in the Zhang Mansion under semi-household, with no worries about food and clothing, but a group of women, maids, and servants followed her when she went out. Big, but these people are here to monitor her.

The most embarrassing thing is that in the past Mrs. Zhang could go out with Kong to socialize. Today, the youngest daughter of the Zhang family is engaged. Mrs. Zhang, however, was also flattering and flattering. The parents chatted with her shortly, trying to make fun of Mrs. Zhang.

But since Mrs. Kong showed her attitude calmly, even if Mrs. Zhang went out, those noble ladies had a perfunctory attitude. After greeting her, no one would pay attention to her, let alone flatter her, and they would not even talk to Mrs. Zhang. One more thing to say.

Madam Zhang was so angry, but she couldn't help it, she couldn't force others to talk to herself.

After this incident, Mrs. Zhang finally understood that her mother-in-law had no power at all. Coupled with the wind blowing in her ears, Mrs. Zhang wanted to hold Huang Li to suppress Kong.

"Old lady." Huang Li wiped her tears, pleadingly and helplessly looked at Mrs. Zhang who was sitting on the chair, and shook her open right hand calmly.

5000 taels of silver!Mrs. Zhang could see the greedy look on her face, but she couldn't see Huang Li's disheveled appearance, thinking she was ashamed.

"Okay, what are you crying about, Li'er, mother is getting old, and I don't know when she will go to see your father as soon as she kicks her legs, but mother is suffering, how can I explain to your father when I arrive in the underworld, Zhang's family You can't hold the incense in your mother's hands." Mrs. Zhang even wiped her eyes when she said that she was emotional.

Chen Xuezheng raised his voice slightly, "So Huang is really the old lady's concubine for Master Zhang?"

Mrs. Zhang was a little apprehensive at first, but thinking that Huang Li would give her 5000 taels of silver after entering the door, and then thinking of how Kong's daughter-in-law treated her like this, Mrs. Zhang straightened her back and ignored Zhang Zhifu's cold face , "That's right, I want to hold a grandson soon."

Mrs. Kong has long been used to Mrs. Zhang's selfish behavior. In order to maintain Zhang Zhifu's reputation, she immediately said: "Mother, why didn't you tell me when you took a concubine for the master? But mother has already done it, and my daughter-in-law Let's take Mrs. Huang back to the mansion, how can we waste the time of Master and other adults because of our family affairs."

Compared to Huang Li, who was kneeling on the ground with disheveled hair, Kong, who had a good face and dignified manner, was obviously more suitable for Zhang Zhifu, and at this time he even took the matter on himself with a smile on his face.

Facing Kong's peaceful gaze, Huang Li screamed, "I won't go back with you! Who knows if you will harm me!"

"Then you don't want to enter my Zhang's house?" Kong asked with a smile, it's just a concubine's room, so what if it's a good concubine?
After entering the gate of Zhang's house, life and death are in Kong's hands. She never used the back house method before, but because it was unnecessary, but now there are more Mrs. Zhang and Huang Li, and Kong doesn't mind letting them eat. suffer.

"I..." Huang Li, who was in a dilemma, suddenly got stuck, and looked at Mrs. Zhang for help.

Mrs. Kong has already agreed to allow people to enter the house, so Mrs. Zhang can only pretend not to see Huang Li's pleading. Besides, she is a woman who has been treated lightly by Deng Tuzi before, so she should be thankful for being able to enter Zhang's house.

Mrs. Zhang doesn't like the Kong family anymore, but in terms of status, Huang Li is like mud on the ground. If she didn't have money and dowry, Mrs. Zhang would despise her.

"My lord, Mrs. Huang acted recklessly and delayed my lord's schedule. This is because the housekeeper is not strict. The woman apologized to my lord on behalf of Mrs. Huang. Please forgive me." Mrs. Kong bowed to Chen Xuezheng, and by the way The responsibility was pushed to Huang Li.

Of course, this was indeed caused by Huang Li, but Chen Xuezheng couldn't hold on to a concubine who couldn't get on the stage.

Chen Xuezheng's half-closed eyes sparkled, if this matter was reduced to a small one, it would be nothing more than a romantic affair to Zhang Zhangli.

Moreover, anyone with eyes could tell that this concubine's room was decided by Mrs. Zhang without authorization, neither Zhang Zhangli nor Kong knew about it in advance.

Chen Xuezheng glanced at Huang Li suggestively, and signaled her to take out the concubine paperwork.

But at this moment, Huang Li looked at Zhang Zhifu aggrievedly, wanting him to decide for herself, but she didn't notice Chen Xuezheng's eyes at all, and almost vomited blood in Chen Xuezheng's anger. Compared with Kong's smooth wrist, Huang Li is a pig brain!
There was a smile on Chen Xuezheng's thin face, and he said teasingly: "Master Zhang is a fourth-rank magistrate, even if he is a concubine, he still needs to go through the required paperwork, so as to save trouble in the future."

"I have a concubine document, which has already been filed at the Yamen." Huang Li, who got up from the ground, answered, and belatedly took out the concubine document from her arms, and gave Kong a provocative look.

After she came in and won over the master and gave birth to her son, she wanted to see how arrogant this old woman was!

"So there is already a concubine document. Why didn't Mr. Zhang mention it just now?" Chen Xuezheng took two steps forward, took the concubine document from Huang Li's hand, glanced at it quickly, and then was surprised, "This date Isn't that right? Master Zhang, if I remember correctly, when you took Huang Li as your concubine, she hadn't divorced yet!"

Chen Xuezheng's complexion suddenly sank, and he showed the majesty of Shangfeng, "Master Zhang, as a court official, having an affair with a married woman is a serious crime!"

Taking a concubine by an official is nothing more than a romantic affair, but if Huang Li didn't reconcile at the time, it would be a crime of adultery.

The laws of the Daqing Dynasty were strict, especially for officials, so as to restrain officials from knowing the law and breaking the law.

"Come here, take down the charter ceremony immediately!" Chen Xuezheng suddenly made an attack, not to mention the officials in the court, even the people watching outside the government office were dumbfounded, how could he change from taking concubines to adultery.

If it is an adulterous affair between ordinary people and a married woman, after the adultery is caught, it is usually fifty rods and a fine of silver. However, adultery by court officials is a serious crime, and heavy codes have always been used.

(End of this chapter)