A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 1302 - 1300: Shameless

The families saw that the Prefectural Governor had taken charge on their behalf.They received compensation and watched Old Master Tang be stripped of his official position.

The resentment in their hearts gradually dissipated.

After all, the dead cannot be brought back to life.

The common folk do not fight with officials, and in such incidents, it’s rare for those at the bottom to receive such proper reparations.

So, they were all very content, expressing endless gratitude to Xia Tingfeng.

And so, the case of Old Master Tang was concluded just like that.

Since it hadn’t resulted in any deaths or casualties.

Even if it had been handled according to the law, it would have only resulted in a severe beating, demotion, house search, and so on, not even reaching the standard for exile.

Thus, in a certain sense, Xia Jingfeng’s actions could be seen as venting the common people’s anger.

And those harmed could receive some slight compensation.

As for himself, he neither broke the law nor... heh heh!

...

In ancient times, commoners were ranked into four classes: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.

Through these events, Old Master Tang was directly demoted from a government official to the lowest class of a merchant.

Those colleagues who frequently interacted with him instantly avoided him, and even those officials in the Yamen stopped speaking to him.

Let alone those prominent figures he had just managed to cozy up to.

After all, those bigwigs in Jinling City only associated with him out of respect for the Prefectural Governor.

Now, without the Governor’s backing.

As a merchant, how could he have such a face to mingle in that circle?

Not being attacked in secret is already considered lucky for him.

And as for Lady Tang.

Her status in the city’s circle of noblewomen also plummeted.

Previously, with money at home and her husband being an official, she had both face and standing.

Except for having no sons, which made her feel somewhat ashamed, no one dared to show her a bad face otherwise.

Of course, others treated her politely still because of the Prefectural Governor.

At the time, Lady Tang wholeheartedly believed she was the stepmother of the Fourth Young Mistress.

No matter how contemptible that maid was, she wouldn’t dare be unfilial to her.

So she really regarded herself as the Governor’s mother-in-law.

Among the noblewomen, she flaunted herself like a proud peacock.

And now...

The dream was grand, but reality was harsh.

Those illusions she imagined manifested into nothing.

She found herself confronted with one surprise after another.

For instance...

The Prefectural Governor formally conducted matchmaker negotiations and sought to marry that contemptible girl as his legitimate wife.

And that contemptible girl had even incited the Governor to sever ties with the Tang family.

Ha! Flying to the top and immediately cutting ties?

How could she disregard years of upbringing? Did a dog eat her conscience?

Lady Tang grew increasingly infuriated.

Her old companions sitting beside her quickly tried to console her.

"Oh dear, didn’t you long proclaim you only had three daughters? You never acknowledged the Fourth Young Mistress and merely treated her as a servant!"

On the surface, they seemed comforting, but inside they mocked her misfortune.

Humph! Always showing off before us, and now you face the music?

Women aren’t as straightforward as men, who would cut ties directly and ignore others.

Their hearts wind intricately.

No matter how much they despise someone, they often keep it hidden, only scheming in secret, reluctant to fall out openly.

Thus.

After Lady Tang sent out invitations, all her old companions she used to watch operas with, still attended as promised.

A group of women gathered in the floral hall, chatting incessantly.

Although they vaguely sensed a mutual schadenfreude, Lady Tang had no choice but to invite them.

Some things bottled up inside were too suffocating.

"Yes, indeed!" another woman chimed in.

"Didn’t you say, you’d assign her to a servant boy?"

Lady Tang’s face flushed with embarrassment as she mumbled.

"It was just talk, I was angry after all!"

"If her mother had been from a proper family it would be fine, but she came from that kind of place, I... in my heart...!"

Another woman fanned herself lightly, smiling faintly.

"It’s just that kind of place!"

"What are you afraid of? She’s not a monstrous beast ready to devour you!"

"Do you know your biggest mistake?"

She raised her eyebrow slightly, sneering.

"You have no son!"

"After this incident, do you think your husband won’t blame you? If a concubine gets pregnant and bears a son in the future, imagine what your days will be like then!"

Lady Tang’s pupils shrank as she fell back into worry.

"That probably won’t happen, I..."

The group of women, seeing her wavering, surrounded her, chatting incessantly again.

This one suggested: "Capturing the husband’s heart is the key!"

Another advised: "I think you should first solidify your position!"

Another suggested: "A wise man knows when to yield and when to stretch, why not win over the Fourth Young Mistress?"

Leaving Lady Tang exasperated, staring bluntly.

Silently cursing: A bunch of women watching the spectacle without fearing madness.

Ideas they offer are many, but each worse than the last.

Placating that contemptible girl’s daughter, they dare think of such? Hurmph!

...

After sending off the group of women, Lady Tang stared at the empty room, feeling deeply desolate.

"Where are the belongings from this room?"

Her personal maid approached to respond.

"Reporting to Madam, everything has been pawned by the Master!"

Lady Tang closed her eyes in tears.

"What about my dowry? Has that been sold too?"

The maid shook her head: "No! But Master mentioned your dowry has significant use, instructing you not to touch it, and that he should decide its use!"

Lady Tang felt some trepidation, as a foreboding sense arose slowly.

"Significant use? What significant use?"

Seeing that Madam had lost her stance, the maid, feeling reckless, spoke directly.

"Master said the Fourth Young Mistress is about to get married, and you should select fine pieces from your dowry to add to hers!"

Lady Tang exploded immediately.

"Add to her dowry? Has Master gone mad? I still have three daughters!"

The maid added.

"Master said, since the Eldest Young Mistress, Second Young Mistress, and Third Young Mistress cannot get married, it would be better to give it all to the Fourth Young Mistress!"

Thud!

Lady Tang felt a sharp pain in her heart, her plump fists slammed onto the table, eyes filled with rage!

"How outrageous!"

"Giving the dowry not to my daughters, but to a daughter born to a wretch!"

"Has Master lost his mind?"

As the maid was about to speak, sudden footsteps were heard from outside.

Following was an angry, unkind voice.

"I, the Master, am not mad!"

The voice was cold, so cold it felt freezing.

Lady Tang was instantly petrified, unable to react for quite some time.

When she finally came to her senses, Old Master Tang was already standing before her.

Old Master Tang hailed from a merchant family, inherently valuing profit and was the kind to go to any lengths for gain.