Having transmigrated into a book, who would still want to be a secondary wife?

"Xiang Hongbo, the prefect of Yangzhou, is Sun Dashan's brother-in-law."

When Xiang Hongbo first started his official career, he was an honest and upright man, and the people of Yangzhou loved him dearly. However, after becoming the prefect, his true nature was gradually revealed.

His wife had given birth to three daughters, but was rejected because she could not produce a son.

Sun Dashan was able to act with such tyranny in Yangzhou because his sister, Sun Miao'er, was Xiang Hongbo's ninth concubine, and she had given birth to a son for him.

"From then on, Sun Miao'er became Xiang Hongbo's most favored concubine, even surpassing his principal wife in popularity."

The only boy was especially pampered by Xiang Hongbo, and Sun Dashan now had a powerful backer.

"Nine concubines?"

When Gu Huan'er heard this, her expression turned strange. Although taking concubines was common, taking nine concubines in order to have a son was quite something.

"Apart from Sun Miao'er, none of the other eight concubines have given birth to sons?" Song Ruozhen asked.

"None of the other eight concubines conceived, let alone gave birth to boys."

It is said that Xiang Hongbo had previously believed that he would never have a son in his life. Later, when Sun Miao'er became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, he was so happy that he held a three-day banquet.

Throughout Yangzhou, everyone knew how much Xiang Hongbo doted on Sun Miao'er and his son.

As Yunyang recounted the news he had gathered, he realized that something seemed amiss when he first heard it, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

"This guy is really going all out to have a son. I think this kind of despicable and shameless person should never have children!"

Chu Yungui looked disgusted. Just because Sun Miao'er gave birth to a son, he allowed Sun Dashan to run rampant and forcibly abduct women.

Chu Junting's eyes darkened. "Were his concubines brought back willingly, or were they forcibly taken from him?"

Upon hearing this, the group exchanged glances, their expressions becoming increasingly strange.

"Is Sun Dashan not only abducting women for himself, but also helping the prefect abduct them?"

Chu Yungui was stunned. If that were true, then the prefect would indeed not care. Sun Dashan was practically doing his bidding!

"Why is there another person here? Does he also want to be locked up in a cell?"

Sun Dashan was lying on the ground, in so much pain that he couldn't stand up and had to be carried over.

He was puzzled when he saw that Yun Yang had suddenly joined the group. Were these guys really not afraid at all?

I don't know which merchant family raised these kids, they're completely brainless. But since they're tired of living and come here to die, let's make sure none of them leave alive!

Soon, Xiang Hongbo, dressed in official robes, walked over.

"Brother-in-law."

When Sun Dashan saw Xiang Hongbo, he quickly called out to him. He had really suffered a great loss today. His lower body was in so much pain. What if he couldn't use it in the future?

"Be mindful of your words in court."

Xiang Hongbo glanced at Sun Dashan with displeasure, but was taken aback when he discovered that Sun Dashan was lying on the ground.

"What's going on here?"

"Sir, those men beat people up in the street, injuring me and my brothers. Please, sir, do us justice!"

The remaining thugs all knelt down, shouting, "Please, Your Excellency, do us justice!"

Xiang Hongbo frowned when he saw the injuries on Sun Dashan and the others. They really had the guts to do that! Someone actually dared to beat his people in Yangzhou City!

However, when his gaze turned to Chu Junting and the others, he felt something was amiss.

Because these people were dressed and had an extraordinary air about them, especially the man at the front, whose noble and dignified demeanor made him clearly no ordinary person.

"Who are you people?" Xiang Hongbo asked.

Chu Junting looked coldly at Xiang Hongbo. Just from his attitude when he arrived, it was easy to see how Xiang Hongbo usually protected Sun Dashan.

Sun Dashan and his men acted as if they were at home, even though they were in court. The thugs behind them also seemed completely unfazed.

"We came to Yangzhou for sightseeing and happened to pass by here. We saw Sun Dashan forcibly abducting a woman, so we decided to help him out of injustice."

Chu Junting remained calm, his imposing aura somewhat subdued, as if he were merely a wealthy young master.

Seeing his elder brother's expression, Chu Yungui chimed in, "Yangzhou is such a large city, yet such a tyrant has abducted a woman. Shouldn't Your Excellency punish him severely?"

Xiang Hongbo assumed that the other party was just an ordinary person since they did not identify themselves.

The slight worry in my heart vanished instantly, and I regained my usual composure and calmness.

"Forcibly abducting women? Is that really true?"

Xiang Hongbo looked arrogantly at Sun Dashan, who quickly said, "Sir, I'm innocent!"

"Today I saw this girl selling herself to bury her father, and I thought she was a pitiful person, without father or mother, and she would not be able to survive in Yangzhou City in the future."

"I asked my brothers to help with her father's burial so I could take her back to work as a maid. Unexpectedly, these men suddenly rushed out and beat us up without any explanation, even trying to make me unable to be a man!"

Sun Dashan looked extremely aggrieved. "Please, Your Honor, do me justice! These tyrants must be severely punished!"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Hongbo's face immediately darkened.

"Snapped!"

The gavel banged.

"How dare you! You actually come to my Yangzhou city to injure people! Guards! Give them thirty strokes of the cane and lock them in the jail!"

The constables standing nearby quickly stepped forward, ready to take action immediately.

Seeing this scene, Song Ruozhen couldn't help but sigh. Although she guessed that the prefect was definitely protecting Sun Dashan, the process of trying the case was just too casual.

"They didn't even need a trial; they just convicted us outright?"

Chu Yungui shook his head even more, "He didn't even ask the people around who witnessed the whole thing, not even Chunhua!"

Song Jingshen's eyes were filled with complex emotions. He had been doing business away from home for many years and had seen such things before, but this prefect of Yangzhou was really going too far.

Today... I'm facing certain death!

"Still not kneeling down!"

When Xiang Hongbo saw that none of Chu Junting and the others were kneeling, they were standing there upright even though they were about to be beaten.

This is clearly a provocation!

Yun Yang waved his hand, and the guards outside rushed in. Although they were dressed in civilian clothes, their imposing manner was much stronger than that of the yamen runners.

The constables couldn't get even a fraction of a step closer!

"How dare you! You actually defy the imperial court!"

Xiang Hongbo never expected these people to be so audacious as to dare to lay a hand on someone in court! This is outrageous!

"Arrest them all and throw them in jail! These traitors deserve to die!"

"A mere prefect dares to attempt to execute me? He certainly has some nerve!"

Chu Junting scoffed lightly, his gaze fixed on Xiang Hongbo with a hint of mockery and amusement.

There was a moment of silence after he said that.

Everyone was momentarily bewildered.