Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

Being a matchmaker depends on observing people's expressions and having a clever tongue. Hearing that Chen Shao was asking about Madam Luo, Mrs. Pan pretended to wipe away her tears and immediately changed the subject to talk about Madam Luo: "Your Excellency doesn't know that Abbot Luo is the most greedy and lustful. Madam Luo married him because of her beauty. Now she is old and ugly. In order to avoid being divorced, she can only keep looking for young and beautiful concubines for Abbot Luo to consolidate her position. Miss Luo was the lifeline she found when Abbot Luo was planning to divorce her and marry the daughter of Mr. Huang."

Very good, he is a smart man. Chen Shao skipped the stage of asking questions and asked directly: "What did Mrs. Luo say to Miss Luo alone to make Miss Luo willingly marry Dean Luo?"

Mrs. Pan hurriedly pretended to be compassionate: "Mrs. Luo told Miss Luo that if she didn't marry Abbot Luo, not only would the eldest son Luo be expelled from the academy, but the second son Luo would also die, and even the entire Luo family would cease to exist. Miss Luo was willing to marry Abbot Luo in order to protect the second son Luo."

Looking at the two old ladies who came with the yamen runners, Chen Shao deliberately slowed down his speech, "What evidence do you have for what you said?"

"Of course there are." Mrs. Pan didn't know that she had also invited Mrs. Luo and Mrs. Gao, and said with some disdain, "It's the least profitable to be a matchmaker for the teachers in the academy. Sometimes, they just give me two paintings and calligraphy to get rid of me after a marriage is arranged. Supervisor Luo is not short of money, but Mrs. Luo is the most stingy. Every time she helps her arrange a marriage, she only gives me a calligraphy or a painting, saying that I can use it to decorate my appearance and improve my status. Bah."

"You despicable villain! I treat you well all the time, yet you say such things about me behind my back!" Mrs. Luo walked into the hall and her face flushed with shame and anger when she heard her words.

When Mrs. Pan heard her voice, she turned around subconsciously. When she saw her, she instinctively shrank her neck and smiled apologetically, "Why is Madam here? Oh, if Madam has anything to say, just send someone to tell me. Why did you come in person?"

Mrs. Luo said coldly: "If I hadn't come, how could I have heard these nonsense of yours!"

Mrs. Pan smiled again, "I didn't explain myself clearly, so you misunderstood. I don't think the paintings and calligraphy you appreciated are worthless. It's just that I don't have the eyes to appreciate these elegant things. But don't worry, even though I can't appreciate them, I still treasure them. I hope that our ancestors will open their eyes and let our children and grandchildren go to the academy to learn a few words, so that they can appreciate the preciousness of those paintings and calligraphy."

Mrs. Luo said in a displeased manner: "You are at least somewhat sensible!"

"She is such a vulgar and lowly person, there is no need to bother with her." Mrs. Gao, whose hair was already gray, said. Mrs. Luo responded with a "yes" and then greeted Chen Shao together with her.

As they greeted her, Mrs. Pan realized belatedly that this was not a school and she didn't need to be servile to them. She pouted in annoyance before kneeling properly.

Mrs. Luo was so angry that her face turned red again. Chen Shao knocked the gavel to stop her from scolding him, but Mrs. Luo was still unwilling to give in and said, "I beg you to drag this despicable and shameless person out and beat him to death!"

"A vile and shameless person?" Looking at her and Madam Gao's straight backs, Chen Shao asked lazily, "Are you saying that the things she accused you of were all nonsense?"

Madam Luo said in a hateful voice, "Of course it's nonsense! It's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. As the principal wife, it's also normal for her to have many concubines for her husband. How can it be said that she is trying to please him?"

Chen Shao questioned: "Does taking concubines for a husband also include forcibly destroying other people's marriages? Forcibly seizing other people's wives?"

Mrs. Luo felt a chill in her heart. She quickly glanced at Mrs. Pan and immediately denied it: "My Lord, I have never forced anyone to marry, nor have I ever taken anyone's wife by force!"

"Really?" Chen Shao signaled Chan Yi to invite the Luo and Wang families out.

After Zhang Boshan and Luo Zhengxin were arrested, Madam Gao and Madam Luo were also placed under the supervision of the yamen runners. They knew almost nothing about what had happened in the county city in recent days. When Madam Gao saw the Luo and Wang families coming out of the side hall, her expression changed slightly, but Madam Luo said in panic, "They committed suicide on their own, it's none of my business!"

When the Luo and Wang families heard her words, they were immediately ignited with anger. After Chan Yi's comfort, they barely calmed down and begged Chen Shao to make the decision for them.

"Look at your useless appearance, what's there to be nervous about?" Madam Gao looked at Madam Luo who was kneeling on the ground with dissatisfaction, and said arrogantly, "It is a blessing for Miss Luo to marry Dean Luo as a concubine. She is stupid and can't think straight, what does it have to do with you?"

Luo Shurong glared and said, "You also have children. This blessing is for you. Do you want it?"

Madam Gao looked at Chen Shao obscurely and said meaningfully, "If they really have such a blessing, I would be willing to be their slave!"

Chan Yi sneered: "How dare a lowly person like you dream of attaching yourself to a noble man?"

A hint of anger flashed across Mrs. Gao's face, but she didn't show it.

Chen Shao glanced at her, then looked at Madam Luo, "They committed suicide on their own. Do you mean that you admit that it was you who broke up their marriage, and that you used some trickery to force Miss Luo to marry Supervisor Luo as a concubine?"

"It's been so many years since the incident happened, and you're just now complaining to the authorities. You just want to get a few more silver coins," Madam Gao rushed over to Madam Luo and said to the Luo and Wang families, "You guys decide on an amount. As long as it's not excessive, we'll give it to you. But this is the only case, there won't be a next time!"

"One hundred thousand." Chen Shao also rushed to speak before the Luo and Wang families could speak, "As long as Madam Gao is willing to take out one hundred thousand taels of silver to compensate them, I will not pursue this case any further."

Madam Gao couldn't help but raise her voice, "One hundred thousand taels of silver, just for their two worthless lives?"

"Their lives are worthless, so let's talk about your life." Chen Shao said slowly, "As the wife of the headmaster of the Imperial College, you should cultivate your moral character and set an example. But you indulged others in doing evil and disregarded their lives. You even ignored the law, disrespected me, and spoke wildly in court. All these sins combined are enough to be executed according to the law. Tell me, how much silver are you willing to pay for your life?"

Madam Gao's face changed again and again, and she faced her cold gaze and said with all her might, "I still have some friendship with Master Zhang."

Chen Shao's eyes were filled with coldness, but his tone was quite nonchalant: "Madam, is the Mr. Zhang you are referring to Zhang Boshan?"

Mrs. Gao put on airs again: "That's right."

Chen Shao said calmly: "Tell me, what is your relationship with him?"

Madam Gao said, "Two months ago, I had discussed with Madam Zhang about marrying our children to each other."

"In other words," Chen Shao asked calmly, "Mrs. Luo forced Miss Luo to marry Mr. Wang Er and marry him as a concubine. Lord Zhang also knew about this?"

Madam Gao looked at the Luo and Wang families with disdain, and said arrogantly, "Yes. If you don't believe it, you can ask Master Zhang in person."