History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 132 The Hu Family Leaves the City
"Waaah—Father, I know I was wrong. I'm scared. I'm scared now. Father, I'm your only child. Can you bear to see me get my revenge? I really don't know who those people are. I only heard that there are people with the surname Yi, people with the surname Lu, and also, the daughter of Magistrate Xu was beaten."

The Yi family is the imperial family's surname! The Lu and Wei families are the surnames of meritorious officials! And then there's the Xu family, the magistrate of Pingcheng... Hu Guozhen felt a wave of dizziness.

"You wretched child, you've offended all the powerful and influential people in Pingcheng!"

Hu Wuwu cried so hard he could barely breathe: "I will never dare to do it again, but the trouble has already been caused. Father, even if you don't pity me, please have pity on Mother. Mother is weak and can't bear to see me being tortured by those people."

"You're thinking about your mother now?"

"There's no time left!!" Hu Wuwu screamed in despair, "If Father continues to scold me, I'd rather kill myself in front of you than let those spoiled brats tear me apart!"

The maidservant helped Huangfu Jing hurry over, and Huangfu Jing only heard a few words at the door.

Hu Wu knelt and crawled to his mother's knees, pleading in a hoarse voice, "Mother, save me."

“My lord, have the servants prepare the carriage. If you are reluctant to leave Pingcheng, I will take Wuwu with me.”

"You're so muddle-headed! We can come and go as we please, how can we just leave like that? What about what about the Cui Academy Master and the Pingcheng Magistrate?"

This was the first time Huangfu Jing had lost her temper since falling ill: "What are you going to tell me? Is protecting our daughter more important, or are those empty formalities more important?"

Hu Guozhen: "A mere formality? Do you really think that once you go to Luoyang, you can ignore the debts owed in Pingcheng? It's very likely that before we even arrive, the reputation of Wuwu will be ruined in Luoyang!"

Hu Wuwu had already thought of this. Seeing his mother begin to hesitate, he immediately came up with a solution: "I can change my name! Auntie can definitely do it. Besides, when I get to Luoyang, I will study Buddhist scriptures instead of poetry. In a year or two, who will remember Hu Wuwu who caused trouble in Pingcheng?"

Hu Guozhen looked up and sighed, but had to admit, "That is indeed a good idea."

The Hu family's carriages, retainers, and servants, numbering over two hundred, made a grand procession out of the city. It was impossible to conceal their whereabouts. Fortunately, powerful and influential people frequently came and went at the city gates, so the Hu family's large entourage was not conspicuous.

After successfully exiting the city gate, Hu Wuwu in the oxcart felt completely relieved. She watched the city gate recede into the distance through the crack in the window, and all her unhappiness turned into a pitiful little Hu Wuwu. However, this little Hu Wuwu was trapped on the city wall and could only worry helplessly, which made Hu Wuwu very happy.

"I'm off now, hee hee."

At this time, Wei Yao was sent home by Wei Mao's servants Yan San and Yan Qi. Wei Yao first told her father and mother the prescription from the clinic, the method of decocting the medicine, and the doctor's instructions in a few words, and then explained the reason for her injury.

"The fight started in a confused way. Father, Mother, I was in a lot of pain, but during the fight, my fellow disciples protected me, and they were in pain too."

Wei Yin and his wife exchanged a glance. Wei Yin gently comforted their daughter, "Don't worry, just focus on recovering. We're a reasonable family, and we won't hold a grudge against your fellow disciples. Your mother and I won't stop you from playing with your friends because of this."

"Hmm." Wei Yao continued, sharing her speculations about the Hu family: "The Hu family dared to do this, dared to tease so many powerful and wealthy young men, I think there's only one reason: the Hu family is leaving Pingcheng, and they might leave today. The students from the Book of Poetry Academy and the students from the Xunyi Academy have agreed to go together to confront the Hu family. Father, Mother, I also want to know if they can stop the Hu family?"

Zhao Zhi had been suppressing her anger. She gently wiped the medicine that had been smeared on her daughter's face back and said, "I'll go and find out about the Hu family's affairs. Yao'er, if your face or body hurts anywhere, don't bear it. Tell your mother."

"I'm much better, it doesn't hurt much anymore, I'm just sleepy. Father, you go to school tomorrow..."

Wei Yin: "Father will ask for leave tomorrow, and you will ask for leave too, so you won't be going to school."

"Alright, Father, if you go to the academy the day after tomorrow, please ask my fellow students if their injuries are serious. Mother, I'm so sleepy." Wei Yin had some medical knowledge. Seeing that his daughter had fallen asleep while talking, he quickly checked her pulse, breathed a sigh of relief, and gestured for his wife to go to the courtyard to talk with him.

As soon as the couple came out of the house, one of them lost all his composure and his anger was evident on his face!

One of them gritted his teeth, seething with rage! "Surname Hu? After causing trouble, they think they can escape to Luoyang? What a pipe dream! If we can't find this family in Pingcheng, I'll intercept them on the road. If I miss them on the way, I'll wait for them in Luoyang!"

Wei Yin: "No, I can't stand being treated like this for long. Azhi, go to the governor's mansion now. You've helped Yuan Zhi a lot several times; he should repay you!"

"Yes. Only the government can find out which city gate the Hu family left from in the shortest amount of time."

"Not only that, the Hu family is a powerful clan. If Yuanzhi doesn't stop you, it means we have lives on our hands. Also, since the Hu family went to Luoyang, it proves they have a foothold there, but our Yao'er will also be going there in the future..."

Zhao Zhi's expression grew even colder! "Rest assured, my husband, I've killed newborns and centenarians alike! I've never shown any mercy!"

Today, Pingcheng is no longer a place of undercurrents. The rich and powerful are spreading the word, and those who are on good terms with Wei Mao, Yuan Jingrong, Xi Jiao and Yuan Zizhi, or who owe Lu Jiayi and Lu Fashan favors are all rushing to the north of the city.

Chief Erzhu arranged for one hundred Qihu warriors to be married to his only son, Erzhu Rong, and they assembled and headed north of the city.

Yuan Yu found out about the guesthouse where the Hu family was staying. The Hu family had run away, but they left in a hurry, leaving behind many items that hunting dogs could smell.

Most of these hunting dogs belonged to Erzhu Rong, and a small number belonged to Xi Jiao.

At noon, at the governor's mansion.

A minor official presented the statements of the two groups involved in the brawl to the registrar. Registrar Gou initially thought it was just another ordinary fight, but upon looking at the list of participants, he noticed several Han Chinese students. And there was another…

"Wei Yao?"

Cui Shang, Zheng Zun, and Wei Yao are all honest kids, not the type to cause trouble. How did they end up in a group fight?
The registrar, Gou, took this record to the governor.

It's common for the playboys of Pingcheng to get into brawls; they could fight two hundred times a year, leaving some crippled or even disabled. But Wei Yao wasn't one of those playboys, and General Zhao Zhi doted on his daughter. The three female officials who had offended Wei Yao last time were all beaten to death in the old palace. Chief Clerk Gou couldn't imagine how furious General Zhao would be this time.

That's a god of death!

Yuan Zhi took the transcript, his brows furrowed, and listened to the registrar's analysis: "There were two people who started the trouble this time. One was a member of the Yi family named Yi Xie, and the other was a member of the Wei family named Wei Mao, who was the boy who was kidnapped by the cattle bandits last time. But the reason they started fighting was because they were provoked by a girl named Hu Wuwu."

"Hu? The Hu family of Anding?"

"Yes, I just had someone check back and found out that the Hu family came from Chang'an and moved to Luoyang. Pingcheng is just a temporary stop. The governor should make a decision as soon as possible. I estimate that General Zhao will come to the government office soon to inquire about the Hu family."

"Huh?" Yuan Zhi exclaimed anxiously, "Then hurry up and clean it up! There's so much loose soil in the yard. Get someone to water it, quick!"

(End of this chapter)