Seeing that Madam Su had no intention of letting him off, Wang Zan could only crumple the marriage contract into a ball and stuff it haphazardly into his mouth.
After a difficult chew, Wang Zan's eyes bulged as he forcibly swallowed the marriage contract.
"I'm too lazy to hit you, so slap yourself!"
Madam Su clearly had it in for Wang Zan and wasn't going to let him go.
Wang Zan's heart trembled, and he quickly begged for mercy, "Madam, this humble one..."
"Don't force me to make a move!"
Madam Su was impatient, "I'm just afraid of dirtying my own hands!"
Wang Zan's face alternated between green and white, and after a moment of hesitation, he buried his head deeply.
"Slap!"
Wang Zan slapped himself across the face.
"Keep going! Don't stop until I tell you to!"
Madam Su spoke again, but she was too lazy to even glance at Wang Zan.
Wang Zan was both angry and scared, but he didn't dare to resist, so he could only slap himself repeatedly.
Looking at Wang Zan's appearance, Wu Xiong couldn't help but feel a secret shiver, and he quickly cast a pleading look at Shen Jing.
Du Yidao, on the other hand, very straightforwardly took out his marriage contract and respectfully handed it to Madam Su.
Seeing this, Wu Xiong also quickly took out his marriage contract and respectfully offered it.
Before Madam Su could speak, Shen Jing directly took both their marriage contracts. "Regardless, I still have to thank you two for today's matter! I'll visit you later to express my gratitude and offer compensation!"
"Young Master Shen, you're too kind!"
Du Yidao and Wu Xiong spoke simultaneously.
The large stone in Wu Xiong's heart finally dropped completely.
Since Shen Jing said so, it meant he would help him exorcise the evil spirit from his body.
Moreover, Shen Jing had now climbed a truly big tree!
Building a good relationship with Shen Jing would also benefit the Wu Family!
Presumably, the Huang Family and Yu Family must be regretting it bitterly now, right?
Thinking of this, Wu Xiong laughed heartily in his heart again.
Madam Su smiled at Shen Jing, silently praising him in her heart.
This boy was quite shrewd; he still knew how to win people over at a time like this.
Just then, a crowd of Huaizhou officials, who had learned of the arrival of the First Rank Imperial Madam, came running.
Zhao Jianzhi, Zhao Ying's father, was among them.
"This humble official, Feng Min, Prefect of Huaizhou, greets Madam!"
"This humble official, Guo Songqing, Huaizhou Prefect..."
"This humble official, Zhao Jianzhi, Huaizhou Prefect..."
A group of officials stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
"Student Yang Mian, greets Teacher's Wife!"
Just then, a voice of surprise suddenly rang out.
Under everyone's gaze, Yang Mian, the Huaizhou Education Commissioner, trotted forward, lifted his official robe, and knelt in a highly respectful kowtow to Madam Su.
Feng Min looked at Yang Mian in astonishment, and his heart suddenly gave another jolt.
Teacher's Wife?
As far as he knew, Yang Mian's esteemed teacher was the former Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall, Su Zai.
The Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall, though a position of honor, did not hold much real power.
But that wasn't important!
What was important was that Su Zai had once been the Emperor's esteemed teacher!
After Su Zai's death, the Emperor posthumously conferred upon him the title of Grand Tutor!
In other words, if it weren't for the fact that the Emperor was the Emperor, even she would have to call this person "Teacher's Wife" upon seeing her?
Feng Min swallowed with difficulty, and cautiously asked, "Is Madam the wife of Grand Tutor Su?"
Madam Su nodded slightly, and sighed, "It's rare that anyone still remembers that old dead man. I thought everyone had forgotten him!"
It really was Su Zai's wife!
Everyone was shocked and even more respectful.
This was the widow of the Emperor's esteemed teacher!
As long as she didn't rebel or participate in court factionalism, not many people in the capital would dare to touch her!
Damn it!
When did this ancestor arrive in Luochuan Prefecture?
Why hadn't they received any news at all?
Madam Su ignored their shock and turned to look at Yang Mian with confusion, "Yang Mian? Why don't I remember you?"
Yang Mian respectfully replied, "This student visited esteemed teacher's residence in Dezhao's fifth year. Teacher's Wife, have you forgotten? You even kicked this student then..."
Madam Su lowered her brows in thought.
"Oh, I remember now!"
Madam Su smiled, "At that time, you didn't know that old dead man was ill, and you sent a jar of good wine that stirred up the alcohol craving in his belly, so I kicked you because of that jar of wine..."
"Yes, yes!"
Yang Mian nodded repeatedly, and then respectfully apologized, "This student did not know of Teacher's Wife's esteemed arrival and failed to greet you from afar. Please forgive this student!"
"All right, all right, get up!"
Madam Su got up and helped Yang Mian to his feet. "Don't keep calling me Teacher's Wife, you're making me sound old! Just call me Madam Su from now on!"
"Yes."
Yang Mian was exceptionally respectful and slowly retreated to the side.
At this moment, Madam Su looked at Zhao Jianzhi again, "You're the father of that scoundrel Zhao Ying?"
Zhao Jianzhi's face twitched violently, and he forced a smile, apologizing, "My son is young and ignorant, and has offended Madam. Please be more tolerant..."
"No need to be tolerant, I've already beaten him!"
Madam Su snorted lightly, "I heard your brother-in-law is some Minister of Rites. You can also find him to avenge your son! I'll be waiting!"
"This humble official wouldn't dare!"
Zhao Jianzhi smiled awkwardly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Did she really think that just because she was the widow of Grand Tutor Su, she could do whatever she wanted?
"My son-in-law, let's go!"
Madam Su was too lazy to say more, and then she squinted at Zhao Ying, who was still burying his head deeply. "You can't even continue the 'ode to the goddess of the luo river' that my son-in-law wrote extemporaneously, and you still have the nerve to call yourself the top scholar of Huaizhou? If I were you, I'd find a crooked tree and hang myself!"
Killing with words!
Zhao Ying felt utterly humiliated, but he didn't dare to say more, only burying his head deeply to conceal his anger.
"Madam Su, please wait!"
Feng Min called out to Madam Su, "This humble official would like to host a banquet at the prefecture..."
"No need, no need!"
Madam Su waved her hand, "I appreciate the gesture, but we have something to attend to when we return home! I will host a separate banquet for everyone another day!"
After a few brief pleasantries, everyone saw Madam Su and Shen Jing out.
Song Lianxin was afraid of being targeted, so she quickly hid behind the crowd.
But even so, Madam Su still saw her.
"Don't worry, I won't hit you, I still have to thank you!"
Madam Su smiled at Song Lianxin, "If it weren't for your ingratitude and lack of foresight, such a good son-in-law wouldn't have come to my Su Family!"
Song Lianxin forced a smile, but in her heart, she was gritting her teeth in hatred.
If Madam Su's words got out, her reputation would likely be ruined.
By then, who knew how many people in Luochuan Prefecture would be waiting to see her become a laughingstock.
Madam Su was too lazy to bother with Song Lianxin anymore, and she left the government office with Shen Jing and Chi Chi.
Outside, a carriage was parked.
Seeing them come out, Su Yourong in the carriage quickly lifted the curtain and stepped down.
Shen Jing winked at Su Yourong with a mischievous smile.
This beautiful girl really did fall to him.
"You're just showing off!"
Su Yourong glared at Shen Jing in exasperation, then stepped forward to help Madam Su into the carriage.
Upon seeing Su Yourong, Zhao Ying's pupils in the crowd suddenly constricted.
The Su Family!
Su Yourong!
So, Madam Su's daughter was Su Yourong!
Shen Jing became Su Yourong's husband?
Zhao Ying completely broke down!
He felt a ball of fire burning in his chest.
That was endless jealousy!
Shen Jing's inexplicable rise to power by attaching himself to the Su Family had already made him extremely unbalanced.
Now, even Su Yourong, whom he had coveted for so long, was to become Shen Jing's woman!
How could this not make him break down?
To hell with it!
Shen Jing was a good-for-nothing, what right did he have?
Why did all the good things fall to Shen Jing, that good-for-nothing?
In terms of family background, in terms of talent, in what way was he not completely superior to Shen Jing?
Why couldn't such good fortune fall upon him?
Zhao Ying was consumed by jealousy, his molars almost ground to dust, and his eyes visibly turned red.
He wished he could curse the heavens, asking why they favored Shen Jing, that good-for-nothing, so much.
Watching Zhao Ying's maddened jealousy, Song Lianxin couldn't help but grind her teeth, yet she was also incredibly worried.
Shen Jing harbored deep hatred for her and Zhao Ying!
Now that Shen Jing had found a powerful backer, he would surely retaliate against them fiercely!
Now... what should they do!