The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

Pei Yanxu interrogated Cen Erlang overnight. After Cen Erlang went crazy for a while, he stopped talking and neither admitted that he had done it nor that he had not done it.

Pei Yanxu stayed with him until the next day, when he confessed to Manxiu. Manxiu trembled and stumbled as he told him everything he knew, and there was irrefutable evidence against Cen Erlang.

After Pei Yanxu finished the trial, he sent Cen Erlang to prison. Master Cen came to the yamen holding the red book and iron certificate.

"Sir Pei, I have something to say." Master Cen said with a sad face.

Pei Yanxu said: "Go ahead."

Master Cen said, "Our ancestors saw our Cen family's loyalty and righteousness, and granted us the Cen family's red seal and iron certificate. I hope Master Pei will take a closer look."

Pei Yanxu sneered, "How else do you think we can investigate? Now the evidence is solid, you have confessed everything you should, and the bodies have been found. Master Cen's ancestors gave you the Red Book and Iron Certificate out of gratitude, and Cen Erlang's current behavior is worse than that of an animal. Do you want to use this Red Book and Iron Certificate for a beast like Cen Erlang?"

Master Cen did not hesitate. No matter how cruel Cen Erlang was, he was still his son, and he could not just watch him being killed.

"Please have mercy, sir." Master Cen said firmly.

Pei Yanxu was in a state of uncertainty and did not express his opinion. He asked someone to politely invite Master Cen back. On Pei Yanxu's side, Master Cen did not get a positive answer, so Madam Cen went to find Xia Mianwan.

"Mrs. Pei, please, give my Erlang a chance." Mrs. Cen knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Xia Mianwan desperately. Xia Mianwan looked at Mrs. Cen in embarrassment, "Mrs. Cen, you know, this is a public matter. I can't help with public affairs, and my husband won't listen to me."

Madam Cen wiped her tears and said, "Madam Pei, the news that Lord Pei loves you has spread from the capital to Xiyang. Madam Pei, please help our Erlang speak up."

Xia Mianwan stood up and helped Mrs. Cen up and said in a half-truthful tone, "That's all nonsense from others. My husband is...ah."

Madam Cen felt that Xia Mianwan's attitude was subtle and asked hurriedly, "Madam Pei, please go ahead."

"Cen Erlang has committed a heinous crime, killing so many people, and you helped cover it up. Originally, Lord Cen was also involved in this matter, but I thought that you have the red book and the face of your ancestors, so I planned to let Lord Cen go. But now you come to beg me, I really don't know what to do."

Xia Mianwan sighed helplessly and continued, "Madam Cen, in front of everyone, this matter has become so serious, how can my husband openly show favoritism?"

Mrs. Cen was stunned for a while. How could this involve Da Lang? Now, Mrs. Cen became even more nervous and her tears flowed even more fiercely. "Please, please! As long as you can save my two sons, I will pay any price!"

Xia Mianwan was almost done, and asked with some embarrassment: "Mrs. Cen, is it okay to pay any price?"

Mrs. Cen nodded desperately, her eyes full of pleading.

Xia Mianwan sighed and said, "Madam Cen, to be honest, the situation in Tongyu Pass is grim now. If... the Cen family can help with supplies, plus the red book and iron certificate, I think your whole family can be saved. To be honest, Madam Cen, my husband received a report before, saying that your Cen family is collaborating with the enemy and selling out the country. My husband naturally didn't believe it, but they said it in a very convincing way, and it's the same this time... You asked why my husband suddenly went to the Cen family, and someone reported it. With such conclusive evidence, if my husband directly acts in favor of his own interests, I'm afraid he won't be able to explain it. So, if you donate supplies to show your loyalty after a clear road, plus the face of our ancestors, I think... you can still save Cen Erlang and Lord Cen."

When Mrs. Cen heard that someone was harming the Cen family, she was so shocked that she cursed out loud: "Who is it? Who is secretly harming us?"

Xia Mianwan shook her head and said, "Mrs. Cen, I really can't say it. I've already told you what I shouldn't say. Go back and discuss it with Mr. Cen."

Madam Cen also felt that she needed to discuss this with Master Cen, but she suddenly pulled Xia Mianwan aside and said, "Madam Pei, just tell me how much it will cost."

Xia Mianwan's face turned cold now. "Madam Cen, I only spoke to you because I felt sorry for your family. Now you ask me to tell you the number, do you think this money will go into my pocket? If you say that, I dare not reply."

Madam Cen hurriedly apologized, "I was wrong, Madam Pei, please don't argue with me. I really have no idea what to do, so I came to you for advice."

Seeing Mrs. Cen's sincerity, Xia Mianwan sighed again, "It's not easy for you to have such a thing happen at home, so I won't bother with you. As for the number, I really don't know, but the Cen family must come up with a sincere number, otherwise my husband can't help turn things around."

Mrs. Cen nodded when she heard this and returned to the Cen family with a heavy heart.

After the Cen family discussed it, Madam Cen went to the Pei residence for the second time. After seeing Xia Mianwan, Madam Cen asked cautiously, "Madam Pei, after discussing it with my master, I plan to donate 50,000 taels of silver to purchase military supplies."

Xia Mianwan sneered in her heart, but smiled on her face and said, "Madam Cen, this number is not a small sum, but I have to remind you that the person who reported the Cen family is really eyeing us covetously. If this number doesn't shut him up, the fifty thousand taels of silver you spent will be wasted."

The Cen family didn't expect that 50,000 taels of silver could solve the problem, so Mrs. Cen went back without saying anything. When they came to Pei's house again, the Cen family offered a figure of 100,000 taels.

Xia Mianwan was happy and was bargaining, "Mrs. Cen, I'm afraid this amount is not enough."

After seeing Mrs. Cen off, Xia Mianwan gave instructions to the doorman, and when Mrs. Cen came again, she disappeared.

Mrs. Cen went back to the Cen family and discussed with her master. Finally, she decided to give a sum of 135,000 taels of silver. But when she went to the door again, Xia Mianwan refused to see her. Mrs. Cen was very anxious, but no matter how much money she stuffed into the doorman, he refused to give in. Mrs. Cen had no choice but to go back.

After discussing with Master Cen, Madam Cen felt that the money was not enough, so she gritted her teeth and increased the money to 180,000 taels. Xia Mianwan still refused to see Madam Cen, so Master Cen had to go to ask for an audience with Pei Yanxu. Pei Yanxu had been waiting for Master Cen for a long time, and he had been waiting for them to take the bait.

When Mr. Cen saw Pei Yanxu, he didn't say anything else. He just said that he heard that the war was tense and he wanted to make some contribution and fulfill his responsibility.