They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 497 Taking the Case to the Government
Xu Zhichun's move was like pouring water into a hot oil pan, instantly catching everyone off guard!
"."

"This, this, this!"

"What does the Lady of Wuxuan Marquis mean by that?!"

"I think the Marquis of Rong'an must have made a mistake. Otherwise, how could the Lady of Wuxuan Marquis do such a thing? It doesn't make sense."

“I also think that Marquis Rong’an must have made a mistake. Otherwise, why would a daughter refuse to acknowledge her ancestors and instead take her own father to court? There’s no logic to it!”

"Correct!"

"No wonder there was no word about this beforehand."

"What is Rong Anbo trying to gain by doing this? Is he trying to make an enemy of the Marquis of Wuxuan's mansion?"

"Miss Xue was deposed and reduced to a commoner in the palace, and placed under house arrest for life. Marquis Rong'an was also reduced to Earl Rong'an, while the Marquis Wuxuan's mansion is thriving. I heard that the Marquis Wuxuan's wife has an excellent relationship with the Empress, and her sworn sister is also married to Lord Ji. What do you think Earl Rong'an is after?"

"Ah, now that you mention it, there's some truth to it."

"That's exactly what I think!"

"."

Everyone felt as if they had been enlightened and suddenly understood.

Yes, otherwise, the Lady of Wuxuan Marquis has been in the capital for so long, and we hadn't heard of her wanting to recognize her relatives before. Now that the Rong'an Earl's Mansion has suffered a great misfortune and Lord Ji has formed a marriage alliance with the Wuxuan Marquis's Mansion, they suddenly jumped out.

They're still playing the game of acting first and informing later—before they've even officially recognized each other as relatives, they've already spread the word with great conviction, making it known throughout the city.

What are they trying to do? Aren't they just trying to force Lady Wuxuan into a corner?

But don't they realize that this kind of thing can't be forced? Why would someone who isn't your father insist on being your father? Who would willingly do that?
No wonder Lady Wuxuan was so angry that she was willing to take the matter to court.

Marquis Rong'an is really senile. He must have mistaken someone for someone else. No matter how many times Lady Wuxuan explained, he wouldn't listen. And that's how this commotion started.

It's also because the Rong'an Marquis's mansion is declining, so in desperation they've resorted to all sorts of tricks.
In the Rong'an Marquis's residence, the Marquis of Rong'an felt a pain in his chest; he had almost fainted from anger when he received the news.

"That wretched girl, she actually sued me! She actually sued her own father! Doesn't she fear being struck by lightning?!"

"Unfilial daughter! Unfilial daughter!"

Lady Rong'an was also extremely speechless.
What the hell is this?

Even if the Rong'an Marquis's mansion manages to reunite with the person, they will have lost all face.

Aunt Bai and Bai Jinfu were shocked to learn that Xu Zhichun had such a connection with the Rong'an Marquis's family. The mother and daughter hated Xu Zhichun to the extreme, but at the same time, they secretly hoped that she would be recognized and brought back soon.

Once she acknowledges her ancestry, Aunt Bai will become her elder and will force her to bring her son back.

Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to elders and unfilial!
Let's see how her husband can maintain his position in the court.

"Wait till she gets here, and see how I torment her!"

Aunt Bai was fierce and eager to try, she couldn't wait any longer, and countless ways to deal with Xu Zhichun had already flashed through her mind.

Elders have plenty of reasons and methods to bully and mistreat younger generations.

Before this, Xu Zhichun was the Lady of the Marquis, while she was just a merchant's wife, so naturally there was nothing she could do about it. However, once Xu Zhichun became a daughter of the Xue family, things were different. Although Aunt Bai felt that Xu Zhichun's transformation from a peasant girl to the eldest daughter of the Marquis was a great honor and that she had gained a huge advantage, she was also quite unhappy about it.
Surprisingly, they didn't care at all!
They even went so far as to take this to the authorities.

Aunt Bai and her daughter were both completely confused by her.

Aunt Bai couldn't help but run up to Madam Rong'an and say, "Sister, is that Xu Shi really the eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion? Could there be a mistake? I knew it! She doesn't look like the eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion at all!"

Lady Rong'an was truly distressed by this. Hearing these words, she felt extremely annoyed but remained calm and said, "How could you think such a thing?"

Aunt Bai blurted out, "Isn't it obvious? Otherwise, how would she dare to take it to the authorities!"

Lady Rong'an was heartbroken: "."

Even his own sister thinks this way, so you can imagine that everyone in the capital probably thinks the same way! Everyone thinks that the Rong'an Marquis's Mansion has made a mistake and made a huge joke, and who knows how people are mocking and ridiculing them behind their backs.

Lady Rong'an sneered, "I was hoping it was fake! But it's true! How could you joke about something like this? My husband and I aren't that foolish!"

Aunt Bai was confused. "But how could that be? How could that be—"

Would someone really give up being a proper noble lady and instead choose to be a peasant girl?

Lady Rong'an was too lazy to explain to her; it would be too much of a hassle.

"Just wait!"

"."

Before the Rong'an Earl and his wife could come up with a good solution to the matter, officials from the Shuntian Prefecture arrived.

It was Constable Lin who arrived, accompanied by a group of constables. He spoke politely, but his words were enough to infuriate anyone.

"Today, the Prefect is holding a court hearing and is determined to reach a conclusion. I would be grateful if you would accompany me, Lord."

Marquis Rong'an's face turned ashen: "What does Shuntian Prefecture mean by this? I'm not going!"

"Please, Lord, do not make things difficult for me. Marquis Wuxuan and his wife are already waiting at the Shuntian Prefecture government office. As the defendant, you must be present."

The implication is that since the Marquis and his wife went, how could you not go? If you didn't go, wouldn't that be considered guilty? Do you think a mere Earl is more valuable than a Marquis?

Marquis Rong was nearly driven mad with anger. That damned Xu Zhichun!
He gritted his teeth and thought, "I have to go!"
Otherwise, people would think he's scared or guilty.

"Hmph, I was going to give that rebellious daughter some face, but since she doesn't want it, then forget it."

The two sides went to court.

The plaintiff and defendant in this case were not ordinary people in terms of status and position. Therefore, the trial was not held in public, but in the back hall of the Shuntian Prefecture government office.

Everyone takes a seat.

The Shuntian Prefectural Magistrate and his secretary were all present, but the atmosphere was quite harmonious, more like a mediation than a trial.

In fact, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture was already complaining in his heart, thinking to himself, "Why are you Yama Kings fighting and dragging me, a little devil, into this mess?"
What makes him think he's qualified to judge this kind of case?
Xu Zhichun and Liang Minglang appeared calm and confident, while Rong Anbo's face was ashen and his eyes were blazing with anger.

The Prefect of Shuntian coughed: "Lord Marquis, Lady Marquis, Earl, could there be some misunderstanding in the middle? Today is a good day for everyone to clear things up and the matter will be resolved, right? Hehe."

Rong Anbo glared at Xu Zhichun and sneered, "There's no misunderstanding! Xu, I never knew you were such a ruthless and cold-blooded person. I truly misjudged you. Your disappearance as a child was an accident; no one expected it to turn out this way. Yet you harbor such hatred!"