The matter was urgent, and the very next day Yang Chuxia had Ms. Wang come over to watch the two children while she went to the brokerâs.
She asked Broker Liu to help search for Ms. Hongâs trafficking records. According to Ms. Hong, after she left the Fancy Red Pavilion, she went to serve a petty officialâs household, which was not in Quanya County. However, the most recent transactions had all taken place within Quanya County.
After leaving the brokerâs, she sent a letter to Muâs Clinic, asking them to look into news of the Fancy Red Pavilion and the petty officialâs household where Ms. Hong later resided.
News from Muâs Clinic came swiftly.
It was generally consistent with the information from Li Shan, but there was additional newsâthat Ms. Hong had indeed fallen into the hands of a petty official, and after Ms. Hong, that official had taken another girl from the Fancy Red Pavilion. Last year, this official became the Prefect, but within less than a month of taking office, he was discovered to have been involved in corruption and bribery. He was not only dismissed but also exiled.
On the way to exile, the girl from the Fancy Red Pavilion disappeared without a trace.
As for why Muâs Clinic was so familiar with this petty officialâs household, it was because it was the Mu Family who had recommended him for the position of Prefect.
This petty official was a man of average character but was quite capable in his duties.
Laying out the information discovered by Li Shan and Muâs Clinic, Yang Chuxia highlighted the key messages.
At present, it seemed everything Ms. Hong had said was true!
The contracts of servitude were also real!
This meant that the household in the county town and the one in the prefecture, just like Ms. Hongâs situation, were all unwilling to cooperate with the Fancy Red Pavilion, which is why the Pavilion had come knocking with the contracts of servitude. However, the two households handled the situation differently, leading to different outcomes.
Yang Chuxia took out Li Shanâs letter again for a closer look and realized she had overlooked a piece of information: the concubine from the household in the county town had run away before all the masters had died.
This indicated that even though the Fancy Red Pavilion tore up the contract of servitude in front of the county town household, they had later indeed sought them out in private. It was unknown how the Pavilion had threatened them and what means they had used.
In this way, even if they helped Ms. Hong this time, the Fancy Red Pavilion would still come knocking in the future. And at the moment, the Pavilion had set their sights on the Yang Family.
"Madam, someone from the old house has come to call for you," someone said.
Hearing this, Yang Chuxia put away all the correspondence she had obtained and left the study.
"Was there any mention of the matter?"
"They said those people have come again."
It seemed the Fancy Red Pavilionâs people had returned.
Upon hearing this, Yang Chuxia put on a garment and, after checking on her two sons, proceeded to the old house.
Upon arriving at the old house, she indeed found the same two women accompanied by a group of thugs.
"Why have you come again? Didnât you say youâd go to the authorities? Our family is still waiting for the Fancy Red Pavilion to approach the authorities. Why havenât you?"
The person Ms. Hong had referred to as Procuress Bai just laughed and said, "Madam Ye! This is a matter of the Yang Family, isnât it inappropriate for an already married daughter to meddle in her natal familyâs affairs?"
Yang Chuxia raised an eyebrow. In just a few daysâ time, they had already found out her identity, tsk tsk!
Procuress Bai knew how to stir trouble but sadly chose the wrong time and place.
Yang Xiaochuan spoke directly, "Iâm happy to leave the matter to my married niece to manage. Is it any of your concern?"
Procuress Bai was taken aback by Yang Xiaochuanâs retort and then she stared intently at Ms. Hong, who, unwilling to meet her gaze, lowered her head.
"Heh, Procuress Bai! A pimp like you should not dictate who can or cannot manage our familyâs affairs."