RWNEFE -Chapter 174 All Three of My Concubines Are Beautiful as Flowers!

Now, several counties were jointly governed, with Liang Kuan, Chang Daoyan, and Wang Songbai each responsible for different matters.

The three had been called over while sitting together in council. On the way, they learned from the palace guards the reason for the summons and also knew Shen Lanxi’s temperament. Upon arrival, after a brief greeting, they immediately began the trial.

The three had already agreed on the way over that Liang Kuan would preside, with the other two acting as assistant judges.

“Madam Lin, I ask you—do you know the person beside you?” Liang Kuan pointed to Shen Conglian.

Madam Lin was the servant sold to work for the Shen family, and also the wife of the accuser.

“Yes, Master, I know him. This is Second Master Shen Conglian.”

If Shen Conglian hadn’t restrained his anger for fear of his niece, he would have rushed forward to strike her upon seeing Madam Lin.

At this moment, his face was dark, and he glared at Madam Lin with a murderous look.

Liang Kuan: “Shen Conglian, do you know this woman beside you?”

Shen Conglian snorted coldly: “Shameless wretch! Even if she turned to ashes, I’d recognize her!”

Liang Kuan then pointed to the accuser, asking if they recognized him.

“Do you know him?”

Madam Lin: “He is my husband.”

Shen Conglian continued to snort coldly: “They’re a nest of snakes and rats!”

Liang Kuan quickly glanced at Shen Lanxi and slammed his hand on the table.

“Answer properly!”

Shen Conglian shivered and reluctantly said: “Yes, they are husband and wife.”

Liang Kuan: “They accuse you of forcibly taking a commoner’s wife. Do you have any objection?”

Before Shen Conglian could respond, Madam Liu interrupted: “When we bought her, it was registered with the authorities!”

Liang Kuan: “Irrelevant parties may not speak out of turn. Anyone who does will receive a slap or cane punishment!”

Madam Liu quickly ducked behind her daughter in fear.

The accuser shouted loudly: “Master! You can’t just seize or beat people because my wife was sold to work for their family. She was only sold to work, not her life!”

The county office brought forward the signed papers—Madam Lin had indeed signed a death-contract servant agreement, meaning the household could legally sell or transfer her.

However, according to Da Zhou law, even a servant under a death contract cannot be casually beaten or killed. If someone dies, the household would still face prosecution.

Liang Kuan examined the papers and set them aside.

“Madam Lin, describe in detail what happened that day.”

Madam Lin looked distressed: “Master, in public, I am too ashamed to speak…”

Wang Songbai glanced up; dusk was approaching. Their Master hated hesitation and fuss.

“If you don’t wish to speak, fine. We’ll hear Shen Conglian first. Speak incorrectly, and even a single interruption—one strike with the cane!”

Madam Lin hesitated, then quickly began: “Master, that day I was cleaning in Second Master’s room. He came in reeking of alcohol, first lying down for a while, then dragged me onto the bed…”

The rest went unsaid; Madam Lin buried her face and wept bitterly.

Wang Songbai: “There, that’s clear. Next time, speak freely—don’t hesitate and waste everyone’s time!”

Liang Kuan tugged at the corner of his mouth, cautiously glanced at Shen Lanxi, and seeing no displeasure, continued: “Shen Conglian, is what Madam Lin said true?”

Shen Conglian, finally given a chance to speak, immediately refuted: “No! I didn’t! Look at her—I could never fancy her! All three of my concubines are beautiful as flowers!”

Madam Liu scowled and nudged the three concubines forward. Unexpectedly, these servants had missed serving her son, but instead benefited her husband.

Remembering this, her chest felt as if a huge stone were pressing on it—blocked and aching!

“Master, everyone here, look. These are the three concubines of my room. Any one of them is far superior!”

Madam Lin, looking aggrieved, said: “Before, Madam saw me as pitiful and from the same hometown, so she assigned me to your household, hoping Master would accept me.”

Seeing Madam Lin say this, the Shen matriarch’s vision darkened, blood surged, and she nearly spat out blood.

What sin had she committed? She only pitied this girl—and it ended up harming her own son!

“Mother, quickly sit down!” The Shen family, seeing the matriarch on the verge of fainting, panicked—scrambling for chairs and hot tea.

Shen Conglian was anxious too, but he could not intervene before the facts were clarified.

“Master, my mother was also deceived. This woman is skilled at feigning pity and used my mother’s hometown identity. That’s why my mother cared for her slightly. As for her saying my mother told me to accept her—that is completely false!”

Madam Lin kept wiping her tears: “Master, I have been nurtured for months—I surely won’t be worse in appearance than those concubines. Please, don’t despise me.”

Shen Conglian was about to shout in anger but was restrained by Chang Daoyan.

“Shen Conglian, that day you returned home drunk—did this happen?”

Madam Lin nodded: “It did happen.”

Chang Daoyan asked the accuser: “Are you certain?”

The accuser: “Yes. Madam Lin said Second Master reeked of alcohol that day.”

Chang Daoyan looked at Shen Conglian: “Did you drink that day?”

Shen Conglian firmly denied: “Impossible! I am in charge of recruiting soldiers—how could I drink? Alcohol is forbidden in the army!”

Madam Lin’s eyes flickered: “I asked the Shen family. Second Master has always liked drinking. Whenever idle, he would take a couple of drinks.”

Shen Conglian stomped furiously: “Even if I wanted to drink, how could I get any?”

Madam Lin was stunned.

Chang Daoyan smiled mysteriously. Liang Kuan and Wang Songbai couldn’t understand—he was the only one among them consistently handling recruitment.

“Madam Lin, the garrison forbids alcohol. As Shen Conglian said, even if he wanted to drink, he couldn’t get any.”

Madam Lin’s eyes darted nervously: “Master, even if unavailable in the garrison, could one not get alcohol in city taverns? Once addicted, a person will seek alcohol whenever free. One day without it, the craving will act up.”

This was something her scholar father had told her personally.

Shen Conglian could no longer contain himself—he kicked Madam Lin to the ground.

“Nonsense! When I return from the garrison, I’m always accompanied. They can all testify for me. As for the ‘alcohol,’ it must have been medicinal wine for sprains during training!”

And most importantly: “All the strong alcohol in the city has been purchased by the medical office to make medicinal wine. Where the hell would I drink? Me, reeking of alcohol? I swear, it’s a lie!” Over the past months at the garrison, besides reciting military law daily, Shen Conglian had learned the soldiers’ cursing—previously crude, now remarkably satisfying.

Madam Lin was dumbfounded—how could it be? That day, he clearly reeked of alcohol.

Shen Conglian saw a turning point—finally, a huge weight lifted from his chest, leaving only anger.

“Master, that day, several soldiers and I were resting at Hongliu Village. We walked from the garrison to Hongliu Village, parted ways there, and then I returned home. When we separated, villagers saw us—they can testify for me.”

Shen Conglian spoke more fluently as he continued with a smile: “On the road from the garrison, there were also passersby. And in the city taverns, anyone can be asked whether I drank!”