Chapter 18, Making a Move (3 updates)

Li Hengyi was silent.

But he gave a slight nod, "Speak."

"Your Highness, in Liu Hai's family, there were five brothers, and he was the third. When he was still alive, his mother was in charge of the household. Every item he sent back from the Frontier Pass was handed to his mother, even if the letter specifically stated it was for me, it was still withheld by his mother. Three years ago, Liu Hai died in battle. The consolation Silver sent by the Imperial Court did not reach my hands at all. Now my son is of age to begin his education, but my mother-in-law refuses to spend the money to send him to private school for tutoring, saying what's the use of reading for a child without a father? Our house is not Mount Jin or Silver Mountain; we can't afford his education..."

Madam Liu said, already sobbing uncontrollably, "I'm not greedy, nor do I wish for him to be extremely learned; I only hope he can recognize words and understand letters. But the Liu Family bullies us, a widow and an orphan, because my family has no one to support us, and they even continually pressure me to remarry and want to sell my daughter!"

The weeping complaints of Madam Liu.

Li Hengyi's face darkened.

Xie Qian pursed his lips, clenched his fists tightly, his face filled with rage.

It is known that the Imperial Court did not only give consolation Silver but also a shop and a residence.

"Do you know what else the Imperial Court granted besides the consolation Silver?" Xie Qian asked.

"?" Madam Liu was utterly baffled, "Is there anything else?"

Originally, the consolation Silver amounted to five hundred taels, but still, not a wen had reached her hands.

If it weren't for her genuine affection for Liu Hai, she truly didn't know how she would have survived.

"Magistrate Liu!" Li Hengyi called out sternly.

Magistrate Liu hurriedly responded, "Your subordinate is here!"

"Do you know what to do?"

Magistrate Liu thought for a moment before saying, "Why not let them divide the family assets? The belongings of the year should be given to whom they are due; some can be left for Liu Hai's parents, after all, they raised him!"

Li Hengyi nodded.

But he added at the end, "I remember that in addition to the consolation Silver, there was also a set of residence and a shop. All these should go to Liu Hai's son!"

Then he looked toward Yuanbao, "Yuanbao, follow them for a visit!"

"Yes!"

Madam Liu expressed her deepest gratitude.

With a residence and a shop now theirs, raising her two children would not be so difficult.

In this world, women were not treated too harshly, and besides, she could sell home-made food on the street; all in all, she could provide for her children.

Yuanbao led the group to the Liu Family. Initially, the daughters-in-law of the Liu Family cried and made a commotion. Yuanbao, annoyed to his limit, kicked one of them over and drew his long sword to press against her throat, frightening her enough to wet her trousers.

The parents of Liu Hai were even more terrified, their faces paling, trembling as they divided the assets. The residence and shop were awarded to the wife of Liu Hai, and a small portion of the original belongings, which were mentioned in Liu Hai's letters to be given to his wife, though many had been given to the other daughters-in-law by Liu Hai's mother, amounted to a hundred taels of Silver.

Madam Liu, the third wife, lived in the most desolate small courtyard, and the belongings given to her were pitifully few. Yuanbao and his group moved them out, not without sighs of regret.

The residence was actually occupied by the maternal relatives of Liu Hai's mother. Yuanbao, without a word, drove them all out, threw away all the belongings in the house, and let Madam Liu and her two children move in.

In front of the onlookers, he lectured Magistrate Liu, "His Highness said, if Magistrate Liu doesn't even have the ability to distinguish right from wrong, then it would be best to give up the position of magistrate sooner rather than later!"

Magistrate Liu, terrified, fell to his knees.

He was utterly panicked.

"Hmph!" Yuanbao snorted coldly, presenting a letter to Madam Liu, "This is His Highness's gesture of goodwill. I hope Madam Liu will raise your two children well in the future!"

"I will remember this!"

Yuanbao nodded and, before leaving, threatened Liu Hai's uncle, warning him that if he dared to cause trouble, he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

The neighbors, seeing Madam Liu with her two children, knew she had powerful backers and should not be trifled with or bullied.