WBSGVS Chapter 61 V1

In the capital, no one had ever seen Chen Wen’s teacher.

It was said that after meeting with the emperor, she took the imperial decree and left the capital, returning to Huaiyang City.

No one saw their conversation, but after that day, movable type printing was officially promoted across the country.

Of course, just the day before the promotion, the former governor, Wang Yongming, was removed from office and imprisoned for investigation.

This sudden move caught everyone off guard.

Even in prison, Wang Yongming couldn’t understand what he had done to provoke such a huge backlash from the emperor.

It wasn’t until the Dali Temple conducted an interrogation that his soon-to-be son-in-law’s family was brought in, and the Dali Temple’s minister pointed out his various crimes. It was then that Wang Yongming finally realized, “What is the relationship between Chen Wen’s teacher and the Cheng family?”

The Dali Temple minister, who wasn’t even supposed to be handling the case, was forced to intervene because of the high-ranking officials involved. Upon hearing the question, he sympathetically looked at Wang Yongming and said, “The teacher of the top scholar is a woman. She was previously married to Cheng Zhaohua’s older brother, but after an investigation by the county magistrate, this marriage was annulled.”

Wang Yongming could never have imagined this answer. Shocked, he turned to look at the family, and an overwhelming wave of regret filled his heart.

He had spoiled his daughter to the point of being uncontrollable, and now it had dragged down their family because of such a trivial affair.

He snapped, “You dare deceive a woman like that?”

“Master, what are you saying?” Cheng Zhaoyang was stunned, unwilling to believe it. He had been minding his own business at home, when suddenly he was dragged to prison without a word of explanation, only to find out that the teacher of the top scholar was someone with such a powerful background that even the emperor personally intervened, causing the Wang family to be implicated?

He mumbled, almost disbelieving: “How is this possible? She only taught one top scholar, how could that be more powerful than the capital’s officials?”

Mrs. Xiong was even more unwilling to believe it, shouting, “This is a lie! Luo Qingli is just an ordinary woman, how could she be this capable? It’s a scam!”

Cheng Zhaohua was dumbfounded. He never imagined that the powerful people behind him would fall because of Luo Qingli.

“Master, could there have been a misunderstanding?” Cheng Zhaohua asked in disbelief. “She’s just an ordinary woman. Even if she has some abilities and taught a top scholar, how could the emperor look at her so differently?”

The Dali Temple minister couldn’t be bothered with their objections. He turned to Mrs. Xiong’s shouts and snapped, “Gag her mouth!”

At once, the guards moved quickly.

Mrs. Xiong’s mouth was filled with something, and she could no longer speak clearly. She struggled, but the guards pressed her to the cold marble floor, a chill running through her.

The Dali Temple minister began to announce the verdict: “Since you all have confessed, I will now pass judgment. His Majesty is eager for a conclusion.”

Wang Yongming, his face pale, was speechless.

Although he still had doubts, even if Chen Wen’s teacher was truly brilliant, introducing such a great invention as movable type printing, couldn’t justify the emperor’s extreme response. Why had he not been given a chance to defend himself, directly losing his position and seeing his daughter and others imprisoned?

It was clear that the person had provided the emperor with something even more valuable!

Wang Yongming regretted deeply. At this point, it was too late to fight back, and with the emperor’s indulgence, he had no power to resist.

The Dali Temple minister personally wrote down the case. Along with exposing the criminals, threatening the county magistrate, and uncovering earlier corruption and bribery, the charges weren’t heavy, but with so many offenses combined, the punishment was still severe.

The Wang family lost their property, and many of their officials were demoted. Wang Yongming received thirty lashes before being sent off to hard labor, while his daughter since she hadn’t directly broken the law but was an accomplice, received twenty lashes before being sent to marry Cheng Zhaohua.

As for Cheng Zhaoyang and Mrs. Xiong, they were imprisoned again. Cheng Zhaohua was stripped of his title and could never sit for the imperial exams again.

Cheng Yue’er, as an accomplice for failing to report the crime, was punished less severely—ten lashes and a few days in jail.

Upon hearing the judgment, Mrs. Xiong could no longer hold on. Her eyes bulged, and she fainted, only to be dragged away to the criminal detention center. This time, it was no ordinary prison; it was a brutal one where food, drink, and waste all occurred in the same small room shared with others. Those with weaker constitutions wouldn’t survive.

Everything was quickly settled.

When it was time for Wang Huixin to marry Cheng Zhaohua, she was still dazed. The Cheng family had been devastated by the events, and only Cheng Zhaohua remained unscathed. Cheng Yue’er was still bedridden, and his new wife had been beaten and couldn’t get up.

None of the Wang family came to the wedding. They hated Wang Huixin for bringing their family down.

The two people, almost abandoned by the world, were forced to marry under the emperor’s decree, with the eunuchs keeping them in check, leaving no room for resistance. The bride, unable to rise due to the lashes, was carried, while the groom, unwilling to bow, was forced down.

The ceremony was carried out in front of Luo Qingli’s eyes, but there were no guests.

The eunuch shouted, “The ceremony is complete! Take them to the bridal chamber!”

The two of them watched as the eunuchs left the Cheng family’s modest home. Looking at each other, Wang Huixin cried out, “Why did you offend such powerful people?!”

Cheng Zhaohua, now dazed, shook his head, muttering, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Wang Huixin glared at him in despair. “You don’t know how much trouble you’ve caused my family? My father is so old, yet he has to work in labor!”

Her mother hated her, and her brothers despised her. When she was sent off, they didn’t shed a tear, only full of hatred.

She thought the people they offended were just some poor scholars in a remote area. But now, after everything fell apart, she realized that the people Cheng Zhaohua had angered were truly formidable.

The emperor even spared her face!

Cheng Zhaohua’s face twitched, and he thought back to his ambitions before the exams. He remembered the resentment he had towards the Luo family when he left Huaiyang City. Now, looking at the scene, he let out a bitter laugh, “I’ve ruined you.”

All the hatred Wang Huixin had was extinguished with those five words.

She collapsed onto the bed, full of regret and confusion. It was his fault, but so what? What could she do now?

Her father had warned her so many times, but she didn’t listen, insisted on marrying him, insisted on saving him. In truth, it was all her fault.

Now that man must hate her for helping Cheng Zhaoyang and Mrs. Xiong, and that’s why they ended up marrying. She would make the best of it, at least not living as that man wished.

Wang Huixin sniffled and smiled, “It’s okay. We’ll try our best. We can make a good life. My mother and brothers won’t abandon me.”

Cheng Zhaohua’s eyes sparkled, and he nodded, “Okay.”

But things didn’t go as Wang Huixin expected. The twenty lashes didn’t kill her. After two months of recovery after marriage, she was completely healed.

Cheng Zhaohua found a job as an accountant, and Wang Huixin’s dowry helped support them. Cheng Yue’er, after this lesson, became completely obedient at home, like an invisible person, afraid to be remembered. Her second brother thought she was a burden and married her off casually.

Her mother was already gone, and she had no support.

Six months later, Wang Huixin, unable to bear her husband’s refusal to consummate the marriage, finally took matters into her own hands—drugging him and forcing him to drink.

Under the influence of alcohol, the two of them became confused and lost in passion. Wang Huixin closed her eyes, waiting. But after a long time, she waited in vain, only to see her husband lying on the bed, staring blankly at her, his life devoid of any joy.

Wang Huixin: “???”

She could hardly believe it, but still, she managed to suppress her embarrassment and made a move.

But she realized that he remained indifferent.

Wang Huixin’s vision darkened. Even though she had suddenly gone from living a life of luxury to being a commoner, she had managed to push through. The path she chose, the marriage the Emperor arranged for her—she could make it work!

She couldn’t let those who wanted to see her humiliation succeed.

But at this moment, she couldn’t take it anymore. “Ah!!” she screamed, using both her hands and feet to shove him off the bed.

Cheng Zhaohua fell hard to the ground, waking with a jolt. He felt cold all over and immediately sat up, his head still dizzy, and scolded, “What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” Wang Huixin mimicked his words. After a few breaths, she suddenly jumped up, grabbed a soft pillow, and started beating him with it while cursing, “What should I ask you? Why haven’t we consummated the marriage? So, is it that you can’t even do it? Then what were you using before when you said you slept with me?”

“Cheng Zhaohua, you’ve ruined me!!” Wang Huixin screamed as she struck him across the face with the pillow.

Cheng Zhaohua broke out in a cold sweat from the shock. Fortunately, it was only a soft pillow. After the pain subsided, he realized what had happened and awkwardly, with a hint of pleading, said, “You know?”

Wang Huixin sneered and shouted, “Yes, you’re impotent! Impotent! Impotent!!”

Cheng Zhaohua felt an overwhelming sense of shame, wanting to cover her mouth. “Shut up! Lower your voice!”

“You still dare to marry me, even though you’re impotent? Cheng Zhaohua, I thought you had no shame, but now you want me to be quiet?” Wang Huixin cursed.

But even as she cursed fiercely, her tears flowed uncontrollably because of the deep sense of injustice she felt.

She had never met Luo Qingli, but had only heard of her from Cheng Zhaohua. Back in Huaiyang City, she had looked down on her and never imagined that one day, she would be living this pitiful, miserable life because of her.

No wonder she insisted on making me marry him.

It turns out she already knew Cheng Zhaohua was impotent and deliberately brought us together.

The Emperor arranged the marriage, and there could be no divorce. I have to live with this impotent man for the rest of my life!

“Woo…” Wang Huixin covered her face, now truly regretting it from the depths of her heart.

Cheng Zhaohua didn’t dare make a sound, fearing she might kill him in a fit of rage. He grabbed his clothes and, taking advantage of her tears, quickly ran out.

He had known all along he was impotent. He realized it when he was with Ban Chun, and the more time passed, the shorter his time with her became. Eventually, he realized something was wrong, but one day, no matter what he did, he couldn’t perform. That’s when he knew.

He had initially planned to secretly seek treatment, but when trouble struck at home, he decided to trap Wang Huixin by getting her drunk, using some props, and deceiving her into believing everything was fine.