boyutpedia Chapter 28 Cong Shuang is forcibly taken
Chapter 28 Cong Shuang is forcibly taken
Before them lay a spacious two-courtyard house, brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and fiery red wedding curtains fluttering gently in the breeze.
However, the courtyard was deserted and silent.
Xiao Hengzhi stood frozen at the door, his breath catching in his throat, as if he had returned to that heartbreaking night in his past life—he was wearing a wedding robe, kneeling under the pair of large red "double happiness" characters, and had not slept all night.
Later, the neighbors all talked about seeing Jiang Mian get into a nobleman's sedan chair. He chased after her and saw Ning Zhi's attendant standing beside the chair. At that moment, his heart sank into boundless darkness, from which he could never rise again.
Seeing this familiar scene again, he couldn't help but catch his breath.
……
After searching for a while, Jiang Mian found the alley empty. She turned back and saw that the gate was open, but only Xiao Hengzhi was standing at the door.
"Why did the door suddenly open?"
Xiao Hengzhi snapped out of his daze and casually replied, "The bolt is rotten; it will break if you push it a few times."
Jiang Mian didn't speak; she was also speechless with astonishment at the sight before her.
However, what she was thinking was: "Cong Shuang... could it be that Cong Shuang is going to marry into this family..."
Xiao Hengzhi said calmly, "Second Miss, don't worry, we haven't performed the ceremony yet."
"How do you know?"
Xiao Hengzhi turned to look at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
But these emotions were suppressed in an instant, replaced by a relieved smile, and he said, "Look, the red candle in this lamp is still new."
Jiang Mian glanced at it and, sure enough, the red wax hadn't been burned yet.
So she called out twice more, "Is anyone there?"
The courtyard was empty.
It seems everyone has gone out. The town is not like the capital; there are not many maids and servants. If they go out, the house will be empty.
As she was thinking, she soon heard a commotion outside the door.
Turning around, I saw a middle-aged man helping a drunken old man into the house, followed by a middle-aged woman.
The three men, adorned with gold and silver, appeared quite wealthy. The old man being supported by the middle-aged man must be Master Liu.
Seeing the gate wide open and the two men standing in the yard, the middle-aged man shouted, "Who are you? How dare you trespass on my property?!"
Suppressing her anger, Jiang Wan asked, "Did you kidnap a girl the other day? Where is she?"
"What girl? I've never seen her before, don't make false accusations."
"A beggar on the street saw it with his own eyes: that girl was riding in your family's sedan chair!"
The middle-aged man replied dismissively, "Tch, you can believe a beggar's words?"
"you!"
Judging from their attitude, it was even more certain that Cong Shuang had been kidnapped by them.
Seeing Jiang Mian clenching her fists in anger, Xiao Hengzhi stepped forward and said, "Since you say you've never seen it, could you please open all the doors and let us see, so we can prove our innocence?"
After Xiao Hengzhi finished speaking, he casually pointed to a few rooms behind him.
The man's expression changed slightly, and his eyes involuntarily glanced towards the innermost room.
Jiang Mian caught this subtle movement instantly. She rushed towards the door and shouted, "Cong Shuang! Are you in there?"
Seeing this, the middle-aged man quickly ran over and pulled her away, roaring, "What are you doing?! This is my home! How dare you act so presumptuously!"
Jiang Wan staggered back two steps.
This middle-aged man was tall and strong, and should be a local bully. If a conflict really broke out, she would definitely suffer a loss. But if she didn't fight back, she wouldn't even know if Cong Shuang was alive or dead!
She glanced at Xiao Hengzhi, wanting to call him over for help, but seeing his current pathetic state, she knew he wouldn't be of any use.
Jiang Mian thought to herself: When he should be powerful, he's the most cowardly!
Just as she was about to confront the man, Xiao Hengzhi suddenly came over and pulled her aside, whispering, "Second Miss, please don't be violent."
Then he stepped forward, grabbed the man's shoulder, and said gently with a faint smile, "If you are innocent, what's wrong with taking a look? Why did you treat my young lady so roughly?"
Although his words were gentle, the force in his hands suddenly increased.
The man groaned, a look of pain on his face, and involuntarily took a few steps back.
Taking advantage of his retreat, Jiang Mian seized the opportunity and suddenly kicked open the door.
Cong Shuang was indeed inside!
She was tightly bound with thick hemp rope, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, her mouth stuffed with a rag, her hair disheveled, and her face covered in tear stains.
"Cong Shuang!"
Jiang Man rushed over, removed the gag from her mouth, and quickly untied the ropes binding her hands and feet.
"Miss..." Cong Shuang had barely opened her mouth when tears streamed down her face as she hugged Jiang Mian and sobbed uncontrollably.
The middle-aged man struggled and roared, "This is my daughter-in-law who married into the Liu family! What do you want to do?"
Master Liu sobered up a bit and said, "You two are from out of town, aren't you? Xiao Feng is my Liu family's daughter-in-law, you can't take her away."
After saying that, he gave the woman behind him a wink, and the woman quickly walked out.
Jiang Mian stood up angrily and said, "Xiao Feng? Her name is Cong Shuang! You have forcibly taken a respectable woman; I will punish you to the death!"
The middle-aged man sneered, "Such arrogance! I'd think you were some kind of official!"
As the man spoke, he tried to grab Cong Shuang, but Xiao Hengzhi held him tightly.
"Let me go!"
The man shouted at Xiao Hengzhi, but he secretly increased the force of his grip.
"Dad! Please think of something!" the man shouted anxiously.
Master Liu pointed at Cong Shuang and shouted, "Xiao Feng, this is your husband! Why aren't you helping him and instead siding with outsiders!"
Cong Shuang nestled in Jiang Mian's arms, her face streaked with tears, shaking her head repeatedly: "Miss, he's not my husband. He tied me up, and when I refused, he..."
Jiang Wan's heart skipped a beat; she knew what had happened.
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about it anymore." He hugged her and comforted her. "It's not your fault."
Then, taking Cong Shuang's hand, he started to walk outside, but the middle-aged man shouted, "Dad! Stop her!"
Master Liu tried to step forward to stop him, but was tripped and fell to the ground by Xiao Hengzhi.
"Father!" the man shouted, gesturing wildly at Xiao Hengzhi, "Do you know that my father is the magistrate's uncle! How dare you act so arrogantly? You will be severely punished!"
Jiang Mian retorted without backing down: "It seems your family has always committed evil deeds, relying on the county magistrate as your backer. I will not tolerate this!"
Master Liu got up, panting heavily, and pointed at Jiang Mian angrily, saying, "You little woman, you have quite the nerve! Let me tell you, even if the Marquis of Pingnan came, he would have to give face to the Liu family!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan tilted her head and asked, "I didn't expect the county magistrate to have connections with the Marquis of Pingnan's residence. In that case, he must also know about General Jiang, right?"
The middle-aged man boasted shamelessly, "Of course! My family and Commander Jiang have been friends for many years! If you continue to cause trouble, he will send you to the border!"
Seeing the two men's unreasonable and domineering faces, Jiang Mian didn't want to argue anymore. She turned her head and shouted, "Xiao Hengzhi, let's go!"