Sigh...I wonder how helpless Imperial Censor Wang must have felt back then?
Yes, host, you are incredibly clever! But Madam Wang's fate was far more tragic than you imagined!
When Lady Wang's parents heard that Imperial Censor Wang had passed the imperial examination with flying colors, they were initially quite happy. However, many carriages came to their village, Peach Blossom Village, one after another. In the end, Lady Wang's parents accepted 100 taels of silver from an official and went to the Wang family in person to cancel the marriage proposal between Imperial Censor Wang and Lady Wang.
Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Lady Wang had tried to resist, but it was all in vain. All she got in return was more severe beatings and being locked up without food or water!
Knowing their son's feelings, the parents of Imperial Censor Wang initially disagreed with breaking off the engagement. However, Lady Wang's parents were determined to cancel the engagement and eventually went to Imperial Censor Wang's house every day to hurl insults. Having no other choice, and since Imperial Censor Wang was a scholar, his parents eventually broke off the engagement after being insulted for a week.
Thus, the engagement between Imperial Censor Wang and Lady Wang was called off!
Shen Mingzhu nodded after hearing this.
[Guagua, how did they meet again?]
Alas... this ill-fated couple met again in the slave market!
That's hard to judge!
"Guagua, if I remember correctly, servants can't be the principal wives of officials, right?"
Yes, host!
Everyone stared at Imperial Censor Wang in disbelief!
Imperial Censor Wang looked at the crowd, his eyes bloodshot, and said in a low voice,
"What are you looking at! My lady was freed from slavery long ago, and she was maliciously sold into slavery! She was innocent!"
"Yes, yes, yes, we know, Lord Wang!"
They wouldn't dare mess with Imperial Censor Wang right now!
This Imperial Censor Wang will deal with them!
Speaking of which, Madam Wang had a terrible time! Instigated by those people, she was sold into a brothel, and was beaten half to death for refusing to serve customers! The madam knew about her relationship with Imperial Censor Wang, but didn't kill her! In the end, seeing that she was really tough, she made her do some work in the brothel, like serving tea and water.
However, Lady Wang ate and drank better than Wang Kai in the brothel. After recovering from her injuries, she gradually became beautiful again. To avoid arousing the madam's malice, she could only paint her face a waxy yellow every day, hoping that Imperial Censor Wang would return from the capital quickly to rescue her!
What about Imperial Censor Wang?
[Host, you can only be granted an official position after passing the imperial examination! Wang Yushi is just a poor scholar; where would he get the money to bribe officials? He can only wait!]
[Guagua, I've noticed a contradiction in your statements! Didn't you say that Imperial Censor Wang and my father were classmates? My father is the legitimate son of the Marquis of Changping, how could he be classmates with Imperial Censor Wang, who comes from a humble background?]
[Prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain! How could you have such thoughts, host! Your father is a nobleman, while Imperial Censor Wang comes from a humble background; does that mean they can't be classmates?]
Shen Mingzhu was furious.
[Guagua, what nonsense are you spouting! I'm just pointing out the unreasonable parts! My father was always in the capital, while the Imperial Censor Wang's family was in Qingzhou. When they were studying, one of them must have been in an academy in the capital, and the other in an academy in Qingzhou, thousands of miles apart. How could they have been classmates?!]
The entire court of civil and military officials began to ponder this.
Could it be that Marquis Changping once studied in Qingzhou?
Which great Confucian scholar once visited Qingzhou?
Everyone stared at the two of them.
But the two of them had no intention of explaining to them.
[Host, strictly speaking, your father is actually Imperial Censor Wang's senior fellow apprentice. Surprised? When asked before, they said they were classmates! They did indeed travel and study together for a while, and spent a considerable amount of time learning together.]
Okay, I understand!
I see!
"Alright, I'll continue with Madam Wang. She was hiding everywhere, but she was still harassed by a drunkard in a brothel. He dragged her into a room, and she was terrified. In her panic, she grabbed a wine pot from the table and smashed it over the man's head, knocking him unconscious! Madam Wang was so frightened that she ran away..."
Think about it, how is a girl who has no household registration, no travel permit, and not even money, supposed to live?
Go out and look at the beggars in the capital now; they all have their own territories!
[Guagua, what about Madam Wang? She'll probably have to become a beggar, right? No one will dare hire her for work! The main problem is, she can't go home!]
Sigh...that's why they say when bad luck strikes, even drinking cold water can cause problems!
[Guagua, what happened to Madam Wang this time?]
Someone kindly gave her a steamed bun, and she was immediately drugged and knocked unconscious!
Well...
There's no such thing as a free lunch!
What happened next?
Later, Lady Wang was sold into the household of a perverted official as a maid! In reality, she was merely a plaything for his amusement, only entering the mansion under the guise of a maid!
Upon hearing this, many ministers recalled the case of a missing girl more than ten years ago, where it was said that the remains of many girls were found at the bottom of the lake and well in that official's residence.
Could it be that family's residence?
OMG!
Lady Wang is so pitiful!
Now everyone looks at Imperial Censor Wang with even more sympathy!
What a great man!
Shen Xiuzuan was absolutely right!
[Guagua, Madam Wang won't be...]
Imperial Censor Wang stared back with bloodshot eyes.
Unfortunately, Shen Mingzhu couldn't see it at all. She was currently enjoying the gossip in the gossip system and had no time to observe the situation in the main hall.
So much so that Shen's father kept trying to give Shen Mingzhu a meaningful look, but unfortunately, his daughter completely ignored him.
In that one brief eye contact, his daughter even gave him a silly grin.
He was so anxious!
On such an afternoon, all the officials and civil servants had taken off their coats! Damn! They were sweating!
[Host, what are you thinking! Madam Wang is still a virgin!]
[Ah! What has Imperial Censor Wang been doing for over ten years since his marriage? He doesn't even have a concubine or maidservant. How can he be so patient? Is he some kind of Ninja Turtle?]
[Host, please don't do this!]
Nearby, a minister who had been severely impeached by Imperial Censor Wang laughed and joked.
"Imperial Censor Wang, are you a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? Are you impotent? I'll give you a tiger penis for medication after court today!"
Imperial Censor Wang didn't hesitate to pay him any attention.
If he provoke him again, I'll retaliate against him next time!
Snort!