Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 192 Facing It Calmly
An incestuous relationship between an uncle and his sister-in-law?

A huge uproar instantly erupted in the courtyard.

Such private matters within the household, if allowed to circulate privately, would damage the reputation of the woman even without concrete evidence, causing chaos and unrest. If an informant were to file a complaint with the authorities, concrete evidence would be required. If it were proven that the two had indeed committed adultery, the woman who violated the "Admonitions for Women" would, at best, have her reputation ruined, and at worst, be divorced by her husband's family and punished.

But in this situation, it's neither a lawsuit against the government nor a private rumor, yet it's suddenly been brought before the King of Qin. Such a grand gesture has left people somewhat at a loss.

Tan Huaike wanted to create a huge scene without actually harming himself.

Prefect Chi coughed and said awkwardly to the King of Qin, "Well... Your Highness, Boss Bi must have been drunk and talking nonsense. Such fabricated scandalous stories are really not fit for polite society. I will have someone help Boss Bi to rest..."

Qin Chao waved his hand and said, "It seems like a trivial and vulgar affair, but Boss Bi dared to expose it so clearly in public and even use it to ridicule the Grand Master of Ceremonies. It's better to clarify things here. Otherwise, the gentlemen present might only hear the beginning and not know the truth, and who knows what kind of rumors might spread later."

“Yes, Your Highness is right,” Prefect Chi quickly agreed.

"This matter involves the Shentu clan and court officials. If it is true, it should be reported to the higher authorities and resolved according to the law. If it is just baseless slander and false accusations, even if it was just drunken banter and doesn't warrant a court case, they should still apologize in public and clear their names. I'm getting tired of listening to the music. Since all the people involved are here, why don't I, the king, make a judgment on the spot?"

"With Your Highness upholding justice, that's naturally the best outcome." Having caused such a commotion at a perfectly good banquet, Prefect Chi wiped his sweat and could only offer forced compliments.

"Shen Tu Zhuo, Madam Shen Tu, Boss Bi says you two are having an affair. Do you have any rebuttal?" Zhou Wenzong handed the initiative to them at the opportune moment.

Tan Huaike stepped forward, curtsied respectfully to Zhou Wenzong, and said calmly, "Your Highness is too kind. As the saying goes, 'A widow's door is always full of gossip.' Since I married into the Shentu family, the wedding was quite high-profile, and the rumors around me have never stopped. I've gotten used to it. But I don't know why Boss Bi would suddenly cause trouble and provoke my uncle at the banquet..."

Shen Tu Zhuo recounted angrily: "Just now I was eating and drinking when Magistrate Chen and two other bosses came to ask me about the changes to the trade route and where the post station would be set up. Boss Bi, drunk, interrupted midway and, before he could say anything serious, started slandering my sister-in-law. Who knows what he was up to!"

"Hehe, a clear conscience fears no accusation... You two, uncle and sister-in-law, hiccup, if there really was nothing between you, how could such rumors spread? They all say... they all say..." Boss Bi seemed very drunk, his words were incoherent, and as he spoke, his eyelids drooped, as if he was about to fall asleep.

"Who are they? What did they say?" Tan Huaike asked calmly.

"It's said that you two... were having an affair..."

"What exactly does this 'secret affair' mean? Mr. Bi, could you explain it more clearly?" Tan Huaike questioned in public. "I became a widow shortly after my marriage. My brother-in-law took pity on me, his widowed sister-in-law, and helped me start my business during my most difficult time. Is this considered a secret affair?"

“I used to be a playboy. After my brother died in battle, I thought about taking on the burden of the family. It was my sister-in-law who encouraged me and made me determined to complete the map of the Qianjin Canal,” Shen Tu Zhuo said. “In order to repay the capital I lent her to open Yanzhisi, she spent all her family’s wealth in Andu and helped me make a living in the capital by selling sesame cakes. Is this considered a secret affair?”

Zhou Wenzong nodded: "Yes, I heard about this when I was in Andu. People say that Madam Shentu, the widowed sister-in-law, worked hard to support her brother-in-law's career."

Many people present were moved by this and praised Madam Shentu for her kindness and righteousness.

Since it concerned the family's reputation, Old Madam Shentu, who had originally been just an observer, couldn't help but nod upon hearing this: "Our Shentu family has experienced many ups and downs. The fact that the daughter-in-law and Zhuo'er can watch over and help each other should be a beautiful story. Alas, I don't know why it has been spread so badly."

A merchant from the Guangli Chamber of Commerce, unable to stand by any longer, stood up to defend Tan Huai Ke: "We finally see what's going on. Madam Shen Tu, as the head of our Chamber of Commerce in Hexi, had a business dispute with the Bi Family Merchants over the supply of jewelry from the Western Regions. Is Boss Bi jumping out now to seek personal revenge?" These words steered the exposure of the "incestuous relationship between uncle and sister-in-law" in a completely different direction.

The King of Qin chimed in, "Oh? Is that so? It's a good thing that various businesses are actively participating in the opening of new trade routes, but we mustn't let it turn into malicious competition."

Another round of discussion ensued, with everyone seemingly glossing over the petty romance in just a few words. Tan Anfu hurriedly looked at Boss Bi, only to see that he had become a coward at this crucial moment. Amidst the continuous questioning from others, he had simply rolled his eyes and fallen into a deep sleep. His wife, too, hesitated several times before finally choosing not to be the first to speak.

What a coward! Tan Anfu cursed inwardly. Now she had no choice but to go herself.
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Seeing that everyone had turned to discuss the new business route, Tan Anfu suddenly knelt down in the courtyard, wiping away her tears, and said, "It's my fault, it's all my fault. I said the wrong thing in my haste, which caused the Bi family's wife to misunderstand and lead to this whole mess."

Madam Shentu rubbed her forehead, feeling that this Fu Niangzi was truly stupid and annoying. She had been blind to have arranged the marriage between her and Heng'er.

When she finally stood up for him, Tan Huaike almost couldn't suppress his smile.

The King of Qin noticed Tan Huai Ke's expression and raised an eyebrow. This eagerness suggested there was more to come, so he asked, "And who is this young lady...?"

Tan Huaike answered for her: "This is my elder sister, now the eldest daughter-in-law of the Bao family."

Tan Anfu: "..." Why bring up the Bao family now! Are you trying to embarrass her?!
"Oh, Madam Bao, why don't you tell us what happened?" Zhou Wenzong asked kindly.

“I…I found Lord Shentu’s jade pendant in the garden, which he had accidentally dropped, and gave it to Old Madam Shentu. Later, during a casual conversation, we mentioned that the beads on the pendant’s tassel were the same as those on my sister’s bracelet…I’m afraid that’s what caused the misunderstanding with Madam Bi. In addition, Boss Bi and my sister had some business disagreements, which led to this situation…”

"Serse beads?" some merchants murmured. "Right now, the old and new trade routes haven't completely switched over, and the supply of jewelry has been cut off. High-quality sere beads are extremely rare."

"That's right. I've heard that in the Western Regions, Sesser Pearls are often used as witnesses to the pleasures of lovers, right?"

"It seems to be Mo He's statement. I remember when His Highness the King of Qin married Princess Mo He, the princess wore many lustrous and translucent beads."

"One made a jade pendant necklace, and the other made a bracelet for her wrist. Could it be that Madam Shentu and Lord Shentu really..."

Tan Anfu successfully drew everyone's attention back to the uncle and sister-in-law.

However, the two people involved showed no signs of panic.

Shen Tu Zhuo thought to himself: No wonder she never returned the jade pendant to me; it turns out she was setting a trap for Tan Anfu.

Tan Huaike approached Madam Shentu and said, "Aunt, my uncle's jade pendant should be with you. May I borrow it for His Highness the Prince and everyone present to see?"

Madam Shentu handed her the jade pendant: "Take it."
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Next chapter: Since my sister has a clear conscience, why bother to hide it?