The Ruthless Female Forensic Doctor's Husband-Destroying Story

Chapter 9

Erbao was merely acting on past experience, and now, realizing his flattery had backfired and he was being scolded for no reason, he secretly glanced at the young master's face and stammered, "Young master... if you're not going to that place to play, perhaps you're going to take the horse for a ride? Once it gets dark here, the streets are pitch black, and we won't be able to see the young lady..."

Yang Huan was furious and raised his foot to kick him, but he held back and turned back to the inner courtyard without saying a word, leaving Er Bao stunned and confused for a long time.

Yang Huan returned to his room and sighed deeply under the bright moon for half the night before finally falling asleep on his couch. When he woke up the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. He hurriedly went to the front office and found that all the officials and soldiers had arrived, waiting for him, the chief official. The entrance was bustling with activity, like a crowd rushing to a grand opera. It turned out that the county residents had all heard the news and rushed over, all expressing their delight and continuously beating the drum and appealing for justice.

Poor Xu Dahu, after spending a suffocating night in the stinking prison, the heat and the swarms of mosquitoes and flies made it impossible for him to eat the stale rice and water served in a cat's bowl. He was in pain and starving, and now, dragged out for questioning, he was left with only the strength to lie there. Though he was nearly dead, he used his remaining strength to grit his teeth and desperately hope that Madam Lu would quickly send reinforcements. Once he was out, he hoped that those who had come to complain and kick him would all get a taste of his own medicine. By the third day, the number of people coming to complain had gradually decreased. The county magistrate and the clerk together compiled a massive, impressive dossier, sealed it with sealing wax, and ordered it to be delivered by fast horse to the prefectural government office.

Chapter 18

The case file was sent out, and the Xu Dahu case was considered to be largely settled. The matter at the Qingmen County government office was also closed, awaiting only official documents from above. However, Yang Huan was far from idle. The new magistrate's reputation for fearlessly eliminating evil for the people had already spread like wildfire throughout Qingmen County. In just a few days, the rumors of the Spider Tower's flirtation with the two beauties had quickly faded, and even when mentioned, they were simply tales of Magistrate Yang's youthful charm. Previously, the people avoided the county government office like the plague, but now, people flocked to the courtroom to file lawsuits and seek justice.

Yang Huan was initially quite enthusiastic, but the people who came to complain were either accusing someone of cutting down a clump of bamboo from another's house, or stealing a laying hen from yet another's house, or arguing about being shortchanged at the market and demanding justice from the magistrate. Just as he was getting annoyed, the jailer rushed over and whispered in his ear, "Sir, I just heard from the guard that Xu Dahu is dying..."

It turned out that a few days ago, during his court appearance, Xu Dahu was dragged in and out, accused of one heinous crime and given five strokes of the cane on his back, and for another, ten strokes on his buttocks. After enduring this for several days, even someone made of iron would not be able to withstand it. He was left in that stinking cell with no one to care for him. When Xu's wife came to visit him in prison, the new magistrate had given a stern warning that no one was allowed to approach, so even though he had money to pave the way, the jailers dared not let him in.

Xu Dahu was consumed by rage and anger, his wounds festering. He endured the pain for several days, breathing more gasping for air than gasping for breath, until now even his groans had ceased. The jailer, seeing the dire situation, though sensing the magistrate's intention to take drastic measures, remained uncertain despite not saying so openly. Fearing the consequences if he died inside, he hurriedly went to the courtroom to report.

Hearing that Xu Dahu was near death, Yang Huan abandoned the arguing plaintiffs in the courtroom and stood up to see what was going on. He went in and out of the prison cell, then headed to the back office to find Xu Shirong. He had barely spoken a word when the gatekeeper came to report that a guest had arrived.

"Go away, I won't see you!"

Yang Huan was interrupted as soon as he started to speak, and he became somewhat displeased.

The gatekeeper glanced at his face and said cautiously, "Sir, the guest claims to be the steward sent by the third master of the Xu family. He says he has come to pay a special visit to you."

Yang Huan thought for a moment before he understood what "Third Master Xu" meant. He remembered that County Magistrate Mu had mentioned that Xu Jinrong was the third son, so outsiders called him "Third Master Xu." Although he now held an official title, the title was still inherited. He tilted his head impatiently and said, "I said I wouldn't see him, and that's final! I've been sitting in my office all day; who has the patience to see this steward?"

The gatekeeper was about to retreat obsequiously when Xu Shirong stopped him, saying, "Take him to the back hall and tell him that Lord Yang will be here soon."

"The person is about to die, what's the point of seeing the Xu family? I have the least patience to deal with these old foxes."

After the gatekeeper left, Yang Huan looked at Xu Shirong with some dissatisfaction.

"Since he says he's paying a visit, what harm is there in meeting him? Listen to what he has to say; why risk making an enemy and ruining things for yourself?"

Hearing her say that, Yang Huan muttered something under his breath and finally headed towards the back room.

"Although Lord Yang is young, his reputation is widespread. My master has heard of him even in Tongzhou Prefecture. When he learned that you had come to serve as an official in this county, he originally intended to come and pay you a visit in person, but he was tied up with worldly affairs, so he sent me instead. I hope you will not take offense."

As soon as Yang Huan entered the back room, he saw a slightly overweight middle-aged man stand up, bow to him, and say something. Then, the man waved his hand dismissively, sat down in a chair, and crossed his legs.

The steward, also surnamed Xu, was a distant relative of Xu Jinrong. Because of his shrewdness and competence, he had been promoted to steward and had always served Xu Jinrong. A few days ago, his cousin's wife, Madam Lu, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, suddenly arrived in Tongzhou Prefecture with lavish gifts, crying and pleading for help. After understanding the situation, Xu Jinrong remained silent. He was not yet forty, yet he had already achieved such a position; everyone in Huaiyang and other regions gave him face. This was certainly due to his own abilities, but he had also done his share of ruthless things in the past, and in recent years he had gradually begun to curry favor with officials. However, his relatives remaining in Qingmen County were not very cooperative, especially his distant cousin, Xu Dahu. He had heard rumors about him before, and although he disliked it, he rarely went to Qingmen County these days, so he let it be.

Lady Lu knelt on the ground, weeping, "I pleaded with the magistrate, begging him to at least go easy on me for my uncle's sake. But instead of helping, mentioning your name only made that corrupt official spew even more vile insults, saying his father was the Grand Commandant in the capital, and that even ten of my uncles couldn't compare to him. That's the mildest thing he said; his nephew's wife didn't dare repeat what he said, for fear of angering my uncle..."

Xu Jinrong snorted coldly and said, "If you don't dare to learn it, then don't mention it."

Seeing the cold glint in his eyes sweep over her, Madam Lu trembled. She hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe away the tears she had squeezed out, and kowtowed, saying, "Uncle, since you don't want to hear this, I won't mention it again. I only beg you, Uncle, to save my husband's life this time, no matter what. If it's delayed by even one more day, I'm afraid his life will be lost at the hands of that corrupt official. It would be peaceful if my husband died, but the Xu family would probably be looked down upon in Qingmen County from then on..."

Xu Jinrong disliked Xu Dahu and didn't really want to get involved. However, he was somewhat displeased that the newly appointed magistrate of Qingmen County had shown no regard for his reputation, and that his first act as a new official had targeted him. He wanted to embarrass Xu Dahu, but then remembered Xu Dahu's powerful backing in the capital; being too forceful wouldn't be appropriate. After dismissing Madam Lu, he thought for a moment and then instructed his steward, Xu, to prepare gifts. He planned to go to Qingmen County under his own name, ostensibly to pay a visit, but actually to ascertain the situation. Although his rank of Flying Cavalry Captain was a sixth-grade official, half a rank higher than the Qingmen County magistrate, it was merely a military post, not a substantive one. Therefore, they were considered equals, and such a visit wouldn't be beneath him.

When Steward Xu saw Yang Huan emerge, he showered him with compliments, but secretly he was observing Yang's expression. He had initially assumed that since Magistrate Yang was so ruthless, he must be someone of importance. Seeing how young Yang was, he was initially surprised, but then he noticed Yang's nonchalant demeanor and lack of proper posture, which further astonished him, though he didn't show it on his face.

Seeing that he was just laughing and didn't get to the point for a while, Yang Huan became a little impatient.

Steward Xu was a quick-witted man, and he naturally noticed Magistrate Yang's impatient expression. So he smiled and said, "Magistrate Yang has achieved success at a young age, and it is truly a blessing for our county to have you appointed as the magistrate of Qingmen County. My master instructed me to present a small gift as a congratulatory gift for your arrival. I hope you will not find it offensive." As he spoke, he coughed, and a servant standing outside heard him and brought in a heavy box, which he placed on the table and opened.

Yang Huan glanced at it and saw that the box was filled with gleaming gold coins. He grabbed a handful, and the coins were inscribed with the four characters "Zhenghe Tongbao". At this time, gold and silver were not circulating currencies, and the number of gold and silver coins minted by the government was limited. Even the former Grand Commandant's mansion would have had difficulty producing such a box of gold coins.

Seeing Yang Huan fiddling with the gold coins, Steward Xu felt somewhat relieved and said with a smile, "My master has heard that one of his nephews, Xu Dahu, is often criticized and is now embroiled in a lawsuit. A country has its laws, and a family has its rules; what should be done is naturally according to the law. However, until the final official document is issued, we hope that you, sir..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yang Huan slapped his forehead and exclaimed in surprise, "That Xu Dahu is actually your master's nephew? How can such a big man stutter when he speaks? A few days ago, during the court hearing, he only mentioned his own uncle's prowess, without mentioning your master's name at all. I'm new here, how would I know he's your master? I just couldn't stand it, so I taught him a few lessons."

Steward Xu knew he was talking nonsense, but seeing his attitude change so drastically, he was a little unsure of his thoughts and cautiously asked, "Then what does Your Excellency mean?"

Yang Huan chuckled, pinching a handful of gold coins. "It'll be some time before the official document from the prefecture is issued. My county office is poor and doesn't have a proper jail cell for Xu Dahu. Your father is renowned in the area, and since he's sent you here to speak, I'm not ungrateful. I'll have his family carry him back by nightfall. Once the prefecture issues its judgment, we'll deal with whatever comes of it."

Butler Xu never expected Yang Huan to act this way. Even with his extensive experience, he was momentarily stunned and couldn't quite process it: "This..."

Yang Huan slammed his hand on the table and said, "I'll make the decision. I have to give your father face. Who else can tell me what to do!"

Steward Xu wiped his brow and hurriedly nodded in agreement. Yang Huan then smiled and picked up his teacup, indicating that it was time to see the guest out. Seeing that his purpose had been achieved, Steward Xu also rose to take his leave.

Yang Huan picked up the box and went into Xu Shirong's room. With a clatter, he poured the box full of gold coins onto her dressing table and proudly recounted what had just happened.

As Xu Shirong listened, his brows furrowed more and more. When he finished speaking, he said coldly, "Lord Yang is indeed shrewd. He's only been a county magistrate for a couple of days and he already knows how to amass wealth."

Yang Huan twisted his neck and said, "I said I wouldn't see you earlier, but you told me to go see you. You even said it wasn't good to make enemies. Now that I've gone to see you, you're criticizing me!"

"I only told you to meet the person, when did I tell you to accept money?" Xu Shirong said angrily. "And you even had someone carry him home, what exactly are you planning?"

Yang Huan wasn't annoyed by the scolding. He casually picked up a gold coin that had fallen to the ground, flicked it with his thumb, and the coin spun around on the table. "I have plenty of ideas," he said, "let me tell you a few." He leaned close to her ear and whispered something. As he spoke, he seemed to smell a faint fragrance, which aroused his lust. After he finished speaking, he couldn't resist touching her face.

After hearing his words, Xu Shirong forgot her anger at being teased and just looked at him, feeling somewhat amused and exasperated.

Seeing that his sneak attack had succeeded and that she was speechless with anger, Yang Huan felt smug and said with a grin, "Why not accept the money his family sent? It won't hurt you if you leave it, and it might come in handy later." As he spoke, he picked up the gold coin from earlier and tossed it in his hand as he walked away.

Xu Shirong knew that he was always somewhat unreliable. Although this arrangement was absurd, it was still better than Xu Dahu dying in the county jail, and it wouldn't offend Xu Jinrong on the surface. But when she turned around and saw the pile of gold coins, she sighed helplessly.

As darkness fell, the anxious Madam Lu arrived with her servants. They quietly carried her husband out of the county jail in a reclining chair. A bailiff led them through a small alley behind the county government office, saying that the officials had ordered that no one should see them.

Seeing her husband transformed after only a few days, Lu Shi was bruised and battered. Supporting Xu Dahu on the recliner, she wiped away tears while silently cursing Magistrate Yang's ancestors. Xu Dahu, nearly dead, seemed to regain his strength at the prospect of being saved; his breathing returned, and he even groaned. But as they reached the middle of the alley, the servant carrying the recliner suddenly cried out and fell face-first into the mud. Xu Dahu tumbled off the recliner and crashed to the ground, his seven orifices, which had just returned, instantly dislodging him. Even his groans ceased. Lu Shi cursed loudly.

Hearing the commotion, the constable in front turned around and feigned surprise, saying, "Who is so shameless as to pile up bamboo poles on the alleyway? In the dark, aren't they afraid people will trip and fall? If Lord Yang finds out, they'll be in big trouble!"

Madam Lu cursed the Yang family's ancestors in her heart again, but dared not say much on the surface. She vented her anger on the fallen servant, giving him a good scolding before hurriedly carrying Xu Dahu back to the recliner. After finally managing to get home discreetly, they called a doctor to apply medicine to his wounds. Just as he was starting to feel better, he suddenly developed severe diarrhea in the middle of the night. Poor Xu Dahu, already barely clinging to life, couldn't withstand such severe diarrhea. By dawn, before he could even swallow the medicine, his eyes rolled back, and he lay motionless.

Chapter Nineteen

Xu Dahu was beyond saving and passed away. Madam Lu, along with her concubines, wept bitterly, and the Xu household was shrouded in mourning. Although the Xu steward knew Yang Huan must have interfered, causing Xu Dahu to succumb to diarrhea and die within a night of being brought home, he managed to deliver a satisfactory explanation and maintain a respectable facade. The Xu family, though wronged, had no one to turn to for help. Seeing that he was of no use to them, he had no choice but to rush back to Tongzhou Prefecture to report to Master Xu.

In the Qingmen County government office, the remains of the crippled man were taken away by his family for burial. Wang, having committed adultery while married, was sentenced to two years of penal servitude according to the law. However, because she was pregnant and her husband was willing to pay to redeem her sentence, she was instead ordered to give birth at home and then receive twenty strokes of the cane as a warning to others. The magistrate in the prefectural government office had already received instructions to bring the criminal to the prefectural government office for trial, but before the official document could be issued, he received an urgent document from Qingmen County stating that due to the hot weather, the criminal had died of dysentery, leaving him with no choice but to hastily close the case. A group of yamen runners and constables, from the head constable to the jailer, all received rewards from the county magistrate and were all smiles.

After this battle, the people of Qingmen County spoke highly of Magistrate Yang. The local gentry and wealthy families with daughters of marriageable age inquired everywhere about his private life. Upon learning that he had married the daughter of a Hanlin scholar from the capital, they were all filled with regret. Yet, he still became the ideal husband for the young women of Qingmen County. From time to time, several young women in love would gather in front of the yamen hall, refusing to leave no matter how much the gatekeeper tried to drive them away. It turned out that they came specifically to admire Magistrate Yang's demeanor.

Yang Huan, having gained considerable fame, began to complain about the dilapidated state of the yamen and wanted to renovate and expand it. Xu Shirong had just stopped him, and he then complained that the yamen was understaffed and looked shabby. This time, however, he kept it a secret from her and ordered Magistrate Mu to recruit more people. Hearing that the county yamen needed manpower, a large number of people flocked to the office. Within a few days, the number of people receiving salaries in the county yamen increased dramatically. Besides the three shifts of yamen runners, the existing gatekeepers, guards, and those in the criminal investigation department, additional guards, storehouse servants, grain carriers, sedan chair bearers, and even the umbrella and fan carriers, gong players, and musicians needed for outings were all present.

Yang Huan was showing off his power, but Xu Shirong didn't have much time to pay attention. A few days ago, she heard him mention that the county jail was full of prisoners, and remembering the former magistrate's bad reputation, she feared there must be many wrongful convictions among them. Although she wasn't a saint, now that she had this opportunity, correcting even one case was better than none. Therefore, she had been reviewing the case files from the past two years kept in the criminal investigation department. Although the head of the department felt there were some irregularities, everyone in the yamen vaguely knew that the magistrate seemed to be afraid of his wife, so naturally, no one dared to say anything.

After observing the situation for several days, Xu Shirong indeed discovered that many of the people imprisoned were imprisoned because they couldn't pay their taxes due to the previous year's poor harvest. He tossed the case file in front of Yang Huan, and naturally, all those people were released. Within days, the magistrate's reputation for being kind and benevolent spread once again.

The case file contained nothing particularly noteworthy, except for one case that caught her attention. The statement said that earlier this year, an elderly woman named Li in the county had hanged herself. Her nephew, Yan Kai, sued Li's widowed daughter-in-law, Qin, accusing her of abusing his aunt and driving her to suicide. Several neighbors also testified to this. Because the emperor of this dynasty highly valued filial piety, such an evil deed was intolerable, and Qin was sentenced to death. The execution order had been issued, and the execution date was set for the autumn; there weren't many days left.

Xu Shirong took out the file, read it twice, and then pulled out the autopsy report from the interrogation room. He looked at it carefully several times, his brows furrowing slightly. He noticed the coroner's signature on the autopsy report and then called Shi An to the interrogation room.

Shi An had held Xu Shirong in high esteem ever since she reconstructed the deceased's identity from a skeleton. He longed to learn more from her, but dared not approach her due to their different social statuses. Now, hearing the magistrate's wife call him, though he didn't know why, he felt a surge of excitement and hurried to the interrogation room. Upon entering, he saw her sitting behind a desk, wearing a magnolia-blue double-embroidered satin robe, her black hair styled in a low bun adorned with a hairpin with intertwined branches. Her complexion was radiant, and he was momentarily stunned. Suddenly, he saw her look up from the file in front of her at him, her expression solemn. Shi An felt a chill run down his spine and dared not look any longer. He quickly walked over and stood with his hands at his sides.

When Xu Shirong saw Shi An approaching, he nodded slightly and pointed to the case file of the Qin family in front of him, asking, "I see that this corpse record was filled out by you. I would like to know some details of that day. Could you tell me a thing or two?"

Shi An glanced at it, his expression changed slightly, and he lowered his head and said, "I did fill out the autopsy form for this case. I was also the one who performed the autopsy at the time."

Xu Shirong hummed in agreement and pointed to the body sample form, saying, "You only hastily filled in a few words on it that he was definitely hanged, without any description of his appearance. This is not a proper report. What exactly happened at the time?"

Shi An hesitated for a moment before saying with a hint of shame, "Madam, please understand. This report is not my true wish. It was only because the county magistrate wouldn't listen to me and told me to fill it out as he instructed that I had no choice but to submit this report."

Xu Shirong nodded and said calmly, "You had no choice but to follow orders from your superior, which I understand. But do you still remember the autopsy?"

Shi An wiped the sweat from his brow, thought carefully for a moment, and then slowly said, "When I went to examine her, I saw that Li was hanging from the rafters of the north wall of her inner room. The noose around her neck was a single-stranded cross-shaped rope made of hemp rope about the thickness of a thumb, tied at the back of her neck. Her head was about two feet off the roof, and her feet were two inches off the ground. There was an overturned stool on the ground. At first glance, it looked like she had hanged herself. Based on my previous experience, the rope marks on the neck of someone who has hanged themselves should be a dark red color, crossing behind the ears." Although there were also rope marks on Li's neck, they were bluish-white. Another point is that people who hang themselves usually have their limbs hanging straight down, but that day, when I first saw Li's feet, they were hooked up. Although I was suspicious at the time, I mentioned it to the county magistrate, but he didn't take it seriously and ordered it to be ruled a suicide. The last time we found the skeleton of the lame man outside the city, I heard the lady mention that if rigor mortis forms after death, the posture is difficult to change before it dissipates. Comparing these two cases, I think I understand a little better…”

"What do you understand?"

Xu Shirong had been listening attentively to Shi An's words, and at this moment she asked a question.

"Then Li must have died and become stiff first, and then been hung from the roof beam in the manner of suicide. This would explain the rope marks on her neck and the strange appearance of her hands and feet."

Shi An hesitated for a moment, then finally met Xu Shirong's gaze and said in a low voice.

Xu Shirong hummed in agreement and continued to ask, "Since you were suspicious at the time, did you check her body for any signs of injury from external objects?"

Shi An blushed slightly, avoiding Xu Shirong's gaze, and said in a low voice, "I did check her mouth, nose, head, ears, and the outside of her body at the time, and there were no signs of external injury or bleeding. Because that Li was an old woman, to avoid suspicion, I only looked at her appearance and did not ask the midwife to examine her body in detail..."

After listening to Shi An's explanation, Xu Shirong stared at the file in front of her for a moment. Shi An didn't dare to disturb her, so he stood aside quietly and watched as she put away the file and walked out.

This day happened to be the sixtieth birthday of the patriarch of the Hu family, another prominent family in the county. The Hu family's land was located downstream from Xu Dahu's land. Several years ago, during a drought, the Xu family seized the waterway, preventing the flow of water and thus creating a long-standing feud. Now, seeing the Xu family being suppressed and even Xu Dahu himself dying, the Hu family was overjoyed and held the newly arrived magistrate in high esteem, inviting him to take the seat of honor today.

Seeing everyone's high regard for him, Yang Huan was overjoyed. At the banquet, everyone took turns toasting him, showering him with flattery, which he accepted without question. He drank until past noon before being drunkenly put into a sedan chair and sent back to the county government office. Sitting in the sedan chair, a wave of alcohol washed over him, and he felt stuffy. He pulled back the curtain to let in some fresh air, when suddenly he saw a woman walking along the roadside ahead, accompanied by a maid. Seeing her slender figure from behind, and recognizing her upon closer inspection, he realized it was his beloved wife. Overjoyed, he quickly called the sedan chair bearers closer, calling out her name.

Xu Shirong had visited the women's prison and listened to the confession of the convict Qin Shi. She had gone to her former residence to inquire with the neighbors and verify the story. On her way back, she saw her pet bird, Xiao Que, clamoring to buy some trinkets, so she slowly walked back to the yamen. Lost in thought about what had just happened, she suddenly heard a noise behind her. Turning around, she saw Yang Huan, his face flushed, and even from a few steps, she could smell a strong odor of alcohol. She was about to say something to him, but then she saw the joy on his face, and he was grinning at her. For some reason, her heart softened, and she refrained from speaking, though her brows furrowed.

Yang Huan, however, was used to her unfriendly attitude towards him, so he didn't care. He just smiled and said, "Why are you walking by yourself, my lady? Don't you feel your legs getting sore? Come on up and sit in my sedan chair. It's very spacious. I'm feeling stuffy by myself."

Xu Shirong glanced at him and said indifferently, "You can sit by yourself. I don't like riding in a sedan chair; it's too bumpy."

When Yang Huan saw that he had been refused and that the sedan chair bearers had strange expressions, he took it as mockery. Feeling that he had lost face, he became unhappy. He glared at them and, fueled by alcohol, said in a gruff voice, "You woman are such a hypocrite. If I tell you to sit, you should sit. Why are you talking so much?" As he spoke, he grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.

Seeing that he was so shameless, acting crazy in the street while drunk, Xu Shirong was both amused and annoyed. The sedan bearers were fine with it, but the street was bustling, and passersby kept turning to look at them, some even whispering amongst themselves, their faces showing surprise. Fearing that if he continued to pester her, the next day the county would be filled with the joke of the magistrate harassing a woman in the street while drunk, Xu Shirong was caught off guard and pulled into the sedan chair.

Chapter Twenty

The sedan bearers had never seen such a scene before, and they were all dumbfounded. Xiao Que, on the other hand, was used to it. In the past, the lady would chase after the young master and make a fuss, while the young master would run ahead. Now, it was just that the roles had been reversed. Seeing the sedan bearers in a daze, she scolded them, and the sedan bearers were then as if they had woken up from a dream. They hurriedly got up and rushed forward.

Xu Shirong was pulled into the sedan chair by Yang Huanqiang and sat down. The interior was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate three people. Seeing that Xu Shirong was drooling and trying to lean closer, Yang Huanqiang kicked him hard in the shin without thinking and said in a low voice, "If you move any closer, the sedan chair will tip over. You don't mind looking bad, but I think it's embarrassing."

Caught off guard, Yang Huan was kicked in the shinbone and cried out in pain. He reached up to rub it and grimaced, saying, "Fine, I won't move! I've never seen a fiercer woman than you!" With that, he stubbornly moved back.

Xu Shirong ignored it, feeling that the sedan chair was a closed space filled with the smell of alcohol, so she simply lifted the curtain beside her and turned her head to take a breath of the outside air.

The men carrying the sedan chair outside initially noticed it tilting to one side and began exchanging knowing glances. Soon after, they heard the county magistrate inside exclaim "Ouch!" followed by the voices of two people, one speaking in a low voice and the other mumbled, sounding like they were arguing. Confused, they exchanged bewildered glances. Little Sparrow, however, remained unfazed, clearly used to it all.

The county government office was reached quickly. Once the sedan chair stopped, Xu Shirong alighted first, followed by Yang Huan, whose face was grim. Erbao rushed over to help him, but Xu Shirong pushed him away, swaying forward unsteadily, though not quite falling. After entering the backyard, Xu Shirong headed towards his room, intending to discuss Qin Shi's matter tomorrow after he sobered up. He hadn't taken more than a few steps when he heard a thud behind him. Turning around, he saw Yang Huan had tripped over the raised threshold and fallen into the room, sprawling on the floor.

Xu Shirong stood there, waiting for him to get up on his own. After watching for a while, he still hadn't moved. He wondered if Yang Huan had really knocked himself unconscious. Yang Huan was already a bit dim-witted; if he had hit his head, he might have become an idiot. Xu Shirong hurriedly went over to check on him and found that Yang Huan was both amused and annoyed. He was lying face down on the ground, fast asleep.

Xu Shirong slapped his face a few times, but there was no reaction. Seeing that he was only a few steps away from the bed in his room, she was too lazy to call someone to help. She lifted him up herself and, after some effort, got him onto the bed. She then went to open the window to let in some fresh air. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly noticed something peeking out from under his pillow. It looked like a book. She went over and pulled it out. It was indeed a book with the words "Secret Manual Illustrated Collection" on the cover.

Xu Shirong didn't react for a moment. Seeing the beautiful paper of the book, she casually flipped it open and was immediately stunned. It turned out to be an erotic picture book.

Unlike the black and white prints commonly seen today, this album was printed using the red, blue, and black color printing technique used by the government for anti-counterfeiting purposes. The entire album was printed in color ink, and the skin tones, clothing, accessories, curtains, and objects of the figures were vivid and bright. The expressions on the faces of the men and women were lifelike, and even the hair on their bodies was depicted in great detail. Some of the poses and scenes were so daring that she could never have imagined them before.

Since she switched to studying forensic medicine, male and female bodies were nothing more than physiological structures in her eyes. Over the years, she had examined and even dissected countless human bodies, so she was already used to it. However, the cold, smelly limbs were completely different from the vivid and sensual pictures of lovers in the picture book in front of her. Even with her extensive knowledge, after flipping through a few pages, she couldn't help but blush and feel hot. She snapped the picture book shut and was about to put it back when she suddenly heard a low laugh. Her hand trembled, and the picture book fell to the ground with a thud. Looking up, she saw that Yang Huan had opened his eyes at some point and was lying on the bed, grinning at her.

Xu Shirong's face flushed red. She didn't care how he woke up again. She turned to leave, but he reached out and grabbed her. She was forcibly dragged onto the bed, and Yang Huan pressed down on her. The picture book was in his hand, and he casually tossed it on the pillow.

Xu Shirong was terrified. She struggled a few times, but her hands and feet were firmly pinned down. Not only could she not move, but she also felt his body rapidly changing. At this moment, she was only dressed in thin clothes, so she dared not move anymore. She just looked at the pair of dark eyes pressing down in front of her, which no longer showed any signs of drunkenness. She sneered and said, "Yang Huan, is this all you've got? Even in broad daylight, your mind is full of crooked thoughts? If you used this energy on the right path, you wouldn't be so disliked!"

Yang Huan, unfazed by the mockery, stared at her flushed cheeks and chuckled, "I vaguely remember falling down and falling asleep. You tugged at me and woke me up. How is that heretical? Since ancient times, the goddess Su Nu has taught the Yellow Emperor the arts of the bedroom. Matters between men and women are natural and proper. Who says they must be done in the dark? They're more fun in broad daylight!"