Le troisième érudit de la dynastie Song

Chapitre 10

Ouyang Han said, "Father, you absolutely must not agree to Shan'er's request!"

Seeing this, Madam Zhao was afraid that Du Peiru would complain to Ouyang Hai, so she hurriedly said, "Master, you've just returned, you should go and rest! Let me handle their matter!"

Ouyang Hai, his face ashen, shouted, "Shut up!"

Madam Zhao dared not utter another word after hearing this.

Chapter Six

"What exactly is going on?" Ouyang Hai asked anxiously.

The only answers he received were Du Peiru's sobs and Ouyang Han's coughs. Ouyang Han coughed as if he were about to suffocate.

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Hai immediately roared, "Hurry up and help the young master to sit down!"

Upon hearing this, the servants immediately began moving chairs and pouring water. After taking a sip of water, Ouyang Han finally calmed down.

Then Ouyang Hai, his face ashen, said to Du Peiru, "Shan'er, what exactly is going on?"

"Master, nothing's wrong! Your daughter-in-law only begs for a letter of divorce!"

"Father, you can't...cough...you can't divorce Shan'er!" Ouyang Han said, coughing between words.

Ouyang Hai looked at Jin'er kneeling beside Du Peiru and asked, "What's your name?"

"This servant's name is Jin'er!"

"Alright! Jin'er, tell me what happened?"

Jin'er glanced at Ouyang Han, then at Du Peiru, then at Ouyang Hai, then at Madam Zhao and the others, before opening her mouth and closing it again.

Seeing this, Ouyang Hai said, "Don't be afraid! Just say it!" Then he glared at the people in the hall with wide eyes.

Upon seeing this, Madam Zhao's face turned even paler. Mother Li and Steward Zhang also trembled. The rest of the people lowered their heads.

"This servant, this servant!" Jin'er stammered, as if she had a thousand words to say.

"Jin'er!" Du Peiru called out.

"Shan'er, don't stop her, let her speak!" Ouyang Hai said.

Abuse(5)

“Miss! Now that things are like this, I have no choice but to speak!” Jin’er said, raising her head to Ouyang Hai. “Master, when my young lady was at home, although she suffered from the temper of the Second Madam and all the young ladies and young masters, she was never bullied by the servants. But after marrying into the Ouyang family, not only can she not eat or sleep well, but she is also ridden on by a group of servants. Master, look at my young lady…” Jin’er pulled up Du Peiru’s blistered hand to show Ouyang Hai.

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Han immediately glared at Li Mama and Steward Zhang, then said, "Continue on, how did they ride roughshod over your master?"

"Master, all people in this world are the same. When they see you have no money and no power, they'll relentlessly squeeze and bully you. My young lady is kind and good-natured. She was often bullied at home, but back then, she had my master to protect her. But since she married into the Ouyang family, her life has become even more difficult. Although her husband wants to protect her, he's frail. The servants think he doesn't have much time left, and since my young lady has no money and no power in this family, and doesn't even have a child, they think she's hopeless. So, no one respects her. Look at my young lady in this Ouyang family, she's not even as good as a servant. Even servants dare to slap her!"

Ouyang Hai was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared at his opponent, demanding, "Who is it? Which audacious lackey has the guts to do this?"

Madam Zhao breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Jin'er hadn't reported her mistreatment of Du Peiru. However, when she suddenly heard Ouyang Hai questioning the servant who had hit her, her heart tightened. So she quickly gave Li Mama a look, signaling her to confess to the crime so that her own crimes wouldn't be exposed as well.

Seeing the signal from Madam Zhao, Li Mama had no choice but to stand up tremblingly, kneel down, and say, "It was...it was this servant who did it!"

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Hai kicked her to the ground and cursed, "Blind, damned servant! How dare you hit your master! No wonder this place is in such a mess; it's all because of you dogs who deceive your superiors and do all sorts of shady things behind the scenes. You bully your master because she's kind. I gave you the authority to manage the villa, not so you could act like a king and throw your weight around! Guards! Drag this insolent servant away and give her fifty lashes, then throw her out!"

Two servants, upon hearing the order, stepped forward, grabbed Li Mama, and began to carry her outside. Li Mama wailed and screamed, "Madam, save me! Madam, save me..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhao, fearing that Li Mama would implicate her, immediately knelt down and said, "Master, Li Mama has served me for so many years; she has worked hard even if she hasn't done anything particularly meritorious. Besides, Li Mama is getting old; fifty strokes of the cane could kill her. It doesn't matter if this wicked servant dies, but I'm afraid it will tarnish your reputation!"

"Enough! Enough! No need for those fifty lashes, just kick her out!" Ouyang Hai waved his hand and said, then turned to Jin'er and said, "Jin'er, continue. Today I will definitely stand up for your master!"

Abuse(6)

Then Jin'er continued, "The servants in the Ouyang household are all outrageous! Seeing that the young master is sickly and the young lady is kind, they've actually started withholding her monthly allowance! The young master said he hasn't received a single penny of monthly allowance in eight years, and my young lady hasn't received a single penny in the two months since she married into the family. Back in the Li family, although my master was stingy, he wouldn't have stopped paying her allowance altogether. How come she can't even get half a penny in the Ouyang household? Moreover, I heard from the other maids that the maids and servants in this villa only receive half the allowance of the other courtyards. Doesn't that clearly show that the villa is inferior to the other courtyards? Also, when my young lady was at her maiden home, although the second madam was very harsh on her, she wouldn't have been forced to cook for herself. Does the cooks hired by the Ouyang family only serve servants and lowly people? Master, look, the blisters on my young lady's hands are from cooking!"

“You’re talking nonsense! You say the young master hasn’t received his monthly allowance for eight years, so why didn’t he tell the master? Why did you have to tell him today? Besides, you’re the young mistress’s personal maid. Even if the cook doesn’t cook, you should cook! Why should the young mistress cook?” Steward Zhang said boldly.

“Master, you saw it yourself! Steward Zhang, he rushed to answer even before you asked him a question. He clearly has no respect for his master. If he's like this openly, who knows what kind of schemes he's plotting against you behind the scenes. Besides, the young master isn't a greedy person! He wouldn't even bother to look at the monthly allowance he's received over the years! Moreover, his filial piety is beyond measure; why would he trouble you for such a trivial matter? As for my young lady cooking, it's because she's considerate of her servants and couldn't bear to see me, a servant, constantly busy. It's my good fortune to serve such a good master!”

After hearing what Jin'er said, Steward Zhang turned pale and couldn't say a word.

"Jin'er, don't worry! I will definitely give your young lady and you justice!" Ouyang Hai said.

"Master, even if you give my young lady justice, she has no power in the Ouyang family. Although the servants below may show some respect to her on the surface, who knows what tricks they will use to harm her in secret!"

"Don't worry! Jin'er, I won't let your young lady suffer any injustice! Shan'er is lucky to have a maid like you who protects her mistress," Ouyang Hai said.

Du Peiru remained kneeling on the ground, sobbing softly. Ouyang Han coughed intermittently.

Ouyang Hai helped Du Peiru up and said, "Shan'er, if you have any grievances in the future, just tell your father. Don't say silly things like this time, asking your father to divorce you for Han'er's sake! Alright! Help Han'er back to rest first. Your father will give you an explanation!"

So, Du Peiru and Jin'er helped Ouyang Han back to the villa.

As soon as she entered the room, Du Peiru jumped up happily and said, "Wow! Jin'er, you're so amazing! You actually fooled Dad! I admire you so much!"

"Miss, please don't say that! You've thought of everything so carefully; I'm just repeating what you said in my head!"

Abuse(7)

"Jin'er, don't be modest! You weren't afraid at all when you went on stage, and you performed very well, especially the part where you scolded Steward Zhang. It was absolutely brilliant. Not only were your answers appropriate, but your insults were also wonderful. Anyway, Steward Zhang is doomed! Haha!" Du Peiru praised Jin'er enthusiastically.

“Miss, you have no idea how nervous I was. My palms were sweating. If you hadn’t been next to me, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to continue. But gradually I got used to it. And the young master also deserves a lot of credit! If he hadn’t taken down those guards, we wouldn’t have been able to put on this show! And the young master’s kung fu is so amazing and impressive!” Jin’er looked at Ouyang Han with admiration.

“Jin’er, don’t praise him! Just mentioning him makes me angry. If I were to reveal the crimes of that old witch, Second Aunt, she would be doomed! If I can’t deal with that old witch, I’ll have nowhere to vent my anger,” Du Peiru said indignantly.

“Even if you tell her, Father won’t do anything to her! At most, he’ll say a few words to her! In the end, we won’t be able to touch either Mother Li or Steward Zhang. Wouldn’t that be losing both our wife and our army? Moreover, if we alert the culprit, it will be difficult for us to investigate who harmed me later! As things are now, people will only say that Jin’er is eager to protect her master and that we are cowards, so the murderer won’t be wary of us!” Ouyang Han analyzed.

"Hey! What are you guys discussing? I want to join too!" Han Yufeng shouted as he pushed the door open and came in.

Upon seeing him, Du Peiru immediately thought of Ouyang Han's description of Han Yufeng, and seeing that he was also carrying a medicine box, she was certain it was him. So she said, "You dog of a servant! Don't you know you have to knock before entering someone else's room? Do you believe I'll kick you out?" Du Peiru scolded, hands on her hips.

"A lackey? Do I look like a lackey? How could a handsome, dashing, and refined man like me be a lackey? Are you blind?"

"Ah! So you're a gigolo! My apologies! My apologies! But did you come to the wrong place? We don't need pretty boys like you here! If you're looking for someone to keep you, then please turn left, turn right, and then turn left again. There's an old witch in that courtyard who might need you! Please go ahead! We won't see you out!" Du Peiru gestured with her hands to see the guest out.

"You...you..." Han Yufeng had never been so internally hurt by anyone, especially a woman.

"What do you mean, 'I'? I know I'm incredibly beautiful, with a face that could shame the moon and make flowers blush, but you don't need to act like a fool and drool over me! Let me tell you, I have a husband, so don't get any improper thoughts about me, or you'll die a horrible death!"

Han Yufeng was furious with Du Peiru, but he was speechless. So he could only say, "Hmph! A good man doesn't argue with a woman!"

"That's just an excuse for men to be unable to beat women!" Du Peiru sneered.

Han Yufeng gritted his teeth and said, "What a sharp tongue you have! Rumor has it that Miss Li is very gentle, but to me you're a tigress!"

"Yes? But even a tigress like me has Ouyang Han to take me, but you, this pretty boy who's all show and no substance, would be thrown into the trash heap and nobody would even pick you up!"

Volume 7

Abuse(8)

"Who said no one picks them up! The girls at Yihong Courtyard are waiting for me to come every day!" Han Yufeng said smugly.

"Sigh!" Du Peiru sighed and continued, "Only those promiscuous women would want you!"

"What did you say?" Han Yufeng's face turned ashen with anger.

"I know the truth is hurtful, but I'm only telling you the truth because you're Ahan's brother!" Du Peiru said with a pitying tone, clutching her chest.

"I'm not that rotten egg's brother!" Han Yufeng roared. Suddenly, he noticed Du Peiru's sly grin and Ouyang Han's indifferent, amusement, and realized what was going on. His eyes darted around, and he said in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Little Shanshan!"

Du Peiru rubbed her arms and asked, "What are you doing?" and gave Han Yufeng a disapproving look.

"Oh my! Why are you flirting with me? Are you interested in me? It's okay! As long as you throw away the rotten egg, we can elope!" Han Yufeng glanced sideways at Ouyang Han, whose face had turned pale. So Han Yufeng pressed on and flirted with Du Peiru several more times.

At this moment, Du Peiru also noticed Ouyang Han's expression. She wanted to tease him, so she said, "Okay! Actually, I've admired you for a long time. You don't know how much I admire you, like a surging river, never-ending..." Du Peiru wanted to say more, but her lips were already sealed by Ouyang Han's lips.

After a long while, Ouyang Han finally released Du Peiru and said, "No! You can only have me in your heart!"

Du Peiru nestled shyly in Ouyang Han's arms, not daring to look up.

Jin'er, having already tacitly agreed, left the room. Han Yufeng, however, stared wide-eyed at the astonishing couple.

"You can leave now!" Ouyang Han said to Han Yufeng expressionlessly.

"But your father asked me to treat your illness!" Han Yufeng wasn't about to miss the chance to watch a good show! It would be even better if he could break up the couple while he was at it.

"You want to stay?" Ouyang Han narrowed his eyes, a bloodthirsty glint in them.

"No! No! No! How could this be! You guys continue! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Han Yufeng finished speaking and turned to run away for his life! Alas! There was nothing he could do; he was simply outmatched in skill! Han Yufeng decided that from now on he would practice martial arts diligently to avoid being threatened by others all the time.

"Your admiration for him is like a never-ending, surging river?" Ouyang Han asked, squinting his eyes.

"No! Absolutely not! How could I admire him? You must have misheard!" Du Peiru refused to admit it, thinking to herself: How could that Han guy be so useless? He ran away after being threatened by Ouyang Han, and now she's all alone here, isolated and helpless!

"You want to elope with him?" Ouyang Han approached Du Peiru step by step, while Du Peiru retreated step by step.

"No! Absolutely not! I swear to God!" God, you won't blame me, will you? Nothing I said is true, please don't believe it. I was forced into it. Du Peiru prayed silently for God's forgiveness, forgiving her for the oath she was forced to make by evil people.

Abuse(9)

Du Peiru had retreated to the edge of the bed, with nowhere left to go. Ouyang Han revealed a wicked smile and said, "I'll make sure you can't get out of bed, then we'll see how you elope with someone!"

Upon hearing this, Du Peiru immediately tried to escape from the side, but Ouyang Han caught her and brought her back.

Ouyang Han lowered his head and kissed Du Peiru. Du Peiru quickly cried out, "No! The door isn't closed yet!" Upon hearing this, Ouyang Han used a palm strike to slam the door shut.

The next day, Du Peiru looked at the account books and silver on the table and asked, "Deputy Steward Ma, what is this...?"

"Oh! Young Madam, this is what Master sent me to deliver!"

Du Peiru was about to ask why, but was interrupted by Ouyang Han's cough.