After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 346 Rescuing Cen Mingzhu
Seeing that he was really anxious, Cen Li's expression softened a bit. "There's no use in being anxious. My elder brother has really been killed this time. He could have been promoted to at least the second rank and become a third-rank general. But because of Mingzhu's commotion, the emperor only promoted him to the first rank, and he lost all other rewards."

These aren't the most important things. My older brother originally had half of his real power in the army, but now his situation is a mess, and he has to clean up your messes. He's really something!

Zhu Yixuan was so scolded that she couldn't lift her head, but she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Cen Yingfan still recognized Cen Mingzhu as his daughter, that was enough. Other things could be dealt with later.

To show his sincerity towards Cen Mingzhu, Zhu Yixuan suggested, "Uncle, I have a suggestion for the current situation that will neither offend Marquis Yong'an nor prevent Mingzhu from being protected."

"What?" Cen Li raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a leisurely air.

Zhu Yixuan explained his plan: "Let the magistrate sentence Mingzhu to exile and give her some money in compensation. That should appease public anger. Once Mingzhu goes to the border, with her father-in-law there, she can still live a comfortable life without suffering any hardship. I can also go with her and take good care of her."

Cen Li's eyes lit up, but he still hesitated. "Can you really leave Zhaohua County? Your father has no objections?"

Zhu Yixuan confidently cupped his hands in greeting, "Of course. My father is in charge of the family business. Even if I go to the border, I can still bring back some good goods from Longxia Kingdom, which will only benefit the family business."

"Okay! We'll do it your way!" Cen Li breathed a sigh of relief and finally smiled.

Under his intervention, Cen Mingzhu, who had been imprisoned for half a year, finally saw the light of day again.

With shackles around her neck and hand and foot chains on her body, she was escorted step by step out of Zhaohua County by officials. Along the way, angry people threw stones, rotten eggs and vegetable leaves at her, and some even spat on her.

Cen Mingzhu was so angry that she lost all expression, and in her heart she wanted to skin everyone alive.

The officials only untied Cen Mingzhu after the exile procession left the territory of Zhaohua County. They politely explained to Cen Li, Zhu Yixuan, and others who came to greet them, "We have done our best to protect her, but there are just too many onlookers."

Zhu Yixuan expressed his understanding and gave a generous gift as a token of his gratitude.

After receiving the money, the officials became even more courteous and consciously went to rest. Here, they only needed to follow the Zhu family's carriage, unlike before when they had to walk all the way to the border.

Zhu Yixuan dismissed the officials before turning to Cen Mingzhu.

Cen Mingzhu in front of him was disheveled and reeked of various stench. Her eyes were gloomy and malicious, as if she was looking at everyone with ill intentions. Zhu Yixuan subconsciously frowned.

"Alright, let the maids and servants give Mingzhu a good wash and get her ready. We'll rest for a couple of days before we set off."

When Cen Li spoke, the maids and servants quickly stepped forward to escort Cen Mingzhu into the guest room.

When Cen Mingzhu came out after getting ready, Cen Li saw that his niece had aged considerably and couldn't help but feel sad. "You child! You ignored everything your father told you before you got married! This time you even caused your father to get promoted, and many people in the clan have opinions about you. We'll take you back to the border first. Don't go anywhere for now. For the next few years, try to stay in the house and don't go anywhere until things calm down."

"Uncle! You also think it's my fault?" Cen Mingzhu angrily slammed down her chopsticks. "Those are just lowly people! They were the ones who spoke rudely to me first, so what's wrong with me teaching them a lesson? Why should I go to jail? I am the most noble young lady of the Cen family! My father is a great general who has made great contributions in battle, so why should he, a mere county magistrate, have the right to do this? Why!" Two lines of clear tears slid down Cen Mingzhu's stubborn face, her face full of resentment, unwillingness, and obstinacy.

Cen Li was so angry that his heart ached. "Is that the county magistrate's business? You've offended the Marquis of Yong'an! A marquis officially conferred by the Emperor! A marquis who has made great contributions, even more powerful than your father!"

"I have no idea what this Marquis of Yong'an is!" Cen Mingzhu pouted, still unconvinced.

Cen Li gritted his teeth and simply told the whole story: "Shen Yi of the Shen family is the adopted son of the Marquis of Yong'an. If you offend the Marquis of Yong'an's adopted son, you are offending the Marquis of Yong'an! On one side is the Marquis of Yong'an, and on the other side is a fourth-rank general. Do you think the magistrate will choose? You deserve to be imprisoned!"

"No! Impossible! That Shen Yi is just a peasant! And those lowly people, they are all lowly people! There is absolutely no way they could be related to the Marquis of Yong'an!" Cen Mingzhu refused to believe it no matter what she said.

Cen Lixin closed his eyes, exhausted. "Anyway, I've told you everything. The fact that you're still standing here is thanks to Yixuan and your father's great efforts. Stop fooling around!"

“Mingzhu, your uncle is right. A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan,” Zhu Yixuan added, offering his advice.

This sentence successfully angered Cen Mingzhu.

"How dare you talk to me like that! If it weren't for your lingering feelings for that bitch, why would I have gone to that shabby place to cause trouble for the Shen family! It's all because of you!"

"Yixuan, what's going on?" Cen Li looked at Zhu Yixuan with displeasure.

Zhu Yixuan stood up, bowing to Cen Li with a look of regret, and explained, "Mingzhu is referring to the mistress that I used to keep outside. It's said that a man who isn't a bit frivolous in his youth is wasting his life. Those were all mistakes I made when I was young and ignorant. I've already sent the Ke mother and son away before I married Mingzhu. Now, we don't even know where the Ke mother and son are, but Mingzhu keeps bringing it up. If I had known she would care so much, I wouldn't have kept a mistress in the first place."

Cen Li listened carefully and didn't think there was anything wrong with Zhu Yixuan. After all, it was normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. The Zhu family was rich, so keeping some concubines was nothing. Moreover, the concubine was taken in before marrying Cen Mingzhu, so there was nothing to say about it.

"Mingzhu, stop fooling around!" Cen Li looked at Chen Cen Mingzhu seriously.

Cen Mingzhu became even more furious. "None of you are helping me! If he doesn't have feelings for that mistress, why would he go to the courtyard where she used to live and stay there for most of the day?"

Zhu Yixuan narrowed his eyes dangerously, realizing that Cen Mingzhu was following him, and his expression became much colder. "Although the Ke family lived in that courtyard, it is still the property of my Zhu family. I was just thinking about dealing with some of the family property. How did it become that I spent most of the day in that courtyard?"
In fact, I visited more than just that one villa during that period. Madam was being overly suspicious, so I dealt with all the extra villas. Shouldn't you be more at ease now?

Cen Li nodded in agreement.

Cen Mingzhu was furious and jumped up and down, "Fine! Since you say you don't care about that mistress, why are you so determined to hide her whereabouts from me? You're clearly hiding something!"

Zhu Yixuan laughed angrily, "I've already told you, I sent that mother and son away. They left before I returned home. I don't care, so naturally I won't have anyone keep an eye on their whereabouts. You're asking me, but who am I supposed to ask? My mother's body is barely cold, and I don't have the extra energy to care about those unimportant people. But you insist on making a fuss, so what can I do?"