Chapter 8- The County Magistrate’s Wife – Transcendental Translations

Get updated every time a new chapter is released and Get the Passwords to Password Protected Content at our Discord Server -> Click Here to Join now (Protected Content will be available within few days of release)

Chapter 8

Tian Tian let out a long sigh. “You must make sure that couple is well taken care of, and ensure they don’t have any more suicidal thoughts. I’ll think of another way.”

Xianglan hesitated. “Madam, Master is definitely not going to be convinced. What are you planning to do?” Today, Master had flown into a towering rage, and with his personality, once a decision is made, there’s no room for change.

Tian Tian knew this, but if she didn’t keep trying, what else could she do? She couldn’t just stand by and watch the couple’s daughter be wrongfully executed and then see the couple take their own lives in despair.

She couldn’t do that.

For several days, Tian Tian repeatedly asked to see Xu Mu, but he continued to avoid her. One day, she even went to the county office to find him, but he refused to let her in, making it clear she should give up hope.

Xu Mu hadn’t taken any action against the couple. Perhaps it was due to Tian Tian’s influence, or maybe he simply felt that the couple posed no real threat and didn’t bother to deal with them.

The couple stayed in the Rose Courtyard for a few days, but as their daughter’s corpse continued to decay, they couldn’t remain any longer. They took their daughter’s body and returned to the village. Tian Tian personally escorted them and told them to wait for news, temporarily calming their emotions.

For days, Tian Tian had tried every method, but she still couldn’t see Xu Mu, and her spirits were low. Xianglan noticed her distress and softly suggested, “Madam, I see you seem troubled. How about we go to the marketplace for a stroll and relax a bit? Maybe once you’re in a better mood, you’ll come up with a solution.”

Hearing the suggestion of going to the marketplace, Tian Tian’s eyes lit up. But when she thought of all the servants that would follow, along with the fact that the market would be cleared out for them, her excitement quickly diminished, and she lost interest. “Forget it, I don’t like having a crowd of people following me around. It’s uncomfortable.”

Xianglan smiled. “Then we don’t have to let them follow. We can sneak out through the back door, and no one will know.”

Tian Tian immediately became interested. “Are you sure that will work?”

Xianglan chuckled. “It should work. I have a good relationship with the old woman guarding the back gate. If you wear something plain, I’ll just say you’re a new maid. Her eyesight isn’t great, so she won’t notice.”

“Alright, let’s do that. Xianglan, go fetch one of your outfits for me to change into.” Tian Tian wasted no time, feeling eager to go out.

“Yes, Madam, I’ll get it right away.” Xianglan quickly went to her room and brought back a new pink dress.

Tian Tian changed into it swiftly, and the two slipped out through the back gate.

The old gatekeeper was nearly fifty years old. She had damaged her eyesight from years of embroidery and didn’t notice Tian Tian, allowing her to leave without issue.

Finally breathing fresh air, Tian Tian’s smile grew wide. It was exhausting having to maintain the proper decorum of a magistrate’s wife all the time.

However, her joy didn’t last long. As soon as the two entered the marketplace, they were met with a heartbreaking sight—beggars and refugees lined the streets, begging for food.

Among them were elderly people over fifty and children no older than ten. They were dressed in tattered clothes, faces yellow with hunger, holding broken bowls as they pleaded along the street. It was a miserable scene.

The last time Tian Tian had been out, she was with Xu Mu, and since the streets had been cleared for them, she hadn’t seen anything like this.

From the memories of the original Tian Tian, she recalled that this year was a disaster year. Most of the crops had failed, and after paying their taxes, many commoners had barely anything to eat. That’s why there were so many beggars and refugees on the streets.

“Xianglan, how much silver did we bring with us today?” Tian Tian asked.

Xianglan answered honestly, “Madam, we brought 200 taels of silver today.” She had wanted to ensure Madam had a good time, so she brought plenty of money.

Tian Tian nodded. “Good. Take 100 taels and exchange it for food, rice, and grains. Use the remaining 100 taels to buy some warm clothes and give them to the elderly and children.”

Xianglan frowned. “Madam, if you spend all the silver… what about shopping later?”

“That doesn’t matter. Just do as I say.” Seeing so many beggars and refugees, Tian Tian lost all desire to shop.

“Yes.” Xianglan had no choice but to follow Tian Tian’s orders.

They quickly hired a few strong laborers and bought carts full of steamed buns and winter clothing, distributing them one by one.

The beggars and refugees were overjoyed, thinking it was a miracle. They quickly thanked Tian Tian profusely.

Tian Tian and Xianglan were busy the entire morning and finally handed out the last steamed bun.

Both of them collapsed to the ground, exhausted, panting heavily, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from their faces.

At that moment, a rumbling noise sounded—it was Tian Tian’s stomach. She smiled bitterly as she rubbed her belly. Just a little longer, she thought. Once they got home, there would be food.

Xianglan suggested, “Madam, why don’t we go to a nearby restaurant to eat?”

Tian Tian was puzzled. “Didn’t you spend all the money on food and clothes? What are we going to pay with?”

Xianglan sheepishly replied, “I kept back 10 taels for emergencies.”

Tian Tian laughed. “Good, very good.” She had to admit, Xianglan was a thoughtful girl. She did things carefully and considered everything, or else they really would have gone hungry today.

“Let’s go, we’ll head there right away.” Tian Tian quickly got up from the ground, dusted off her clothes, and she and Xianglan made their way to the nearest restaurant.

They chose Jinxiang Restaurant, a well-known place in the county where all the prominent people liked to host banquets and dine.

The restaurant had two floors— the first floor was the main dining hall, and the second was for private rooms. The interior had a traditional, elegant feel, with poetic paintings adorning the walls, giving it a refined atmosphere.

Even though Tian Tian was dressed in a simple pink cotton dress, her beauty was still striking and graceful. As soon as she and Xianglan entered the restaurant, they drew countless admiring gazes.

Tian Tian was unfazed by such attention. In her original life, she had always been a standout, and she was used to this kind of reaction. Even in the modern world, she had been a beautiful woman and was never short of admirers.

“Waiter, we need a private room for my Madam,” Xianglan said.

“Of course, miss. Right this way,” the waiter replied enthusiastically, leading the two upstairs.

Just as they reached the staircase, the sound of footsteps came from above, and a group of people began descending from the second floor.

The waiter said, “Please wait a moment until the guests from upstairs have come down.” His intention was considerate—since a group of men was coming down and Tian Tian and Xianglan were women, it was better to avoid any potential inconvenience.

“Alright,” Tian Tian responded, taking two steps back and standing aside to give space to the group coming down.

The waiter greeted them eagerly, “Young Master Zhou, did you enjoy your meal?”

Hearing the name “Young Master Zhou,” Tian Tian couldn’t help but recall the rape case involving someone by that name. She wondered if this was the same person, and she looked up to see for herself.

She saw a man around 24 or 25 years old, about seven feet tall, with an average appearance and a somewhat bloated, ruddy face. He was wearing a blue silk robe and was surrounded by a group of blue-clad servants as he descended the stairs.

His gaze happened to fall on Tian Tian. Seeing her graceful and ethereal beauty, enhanced by the pink dress that made her seem like a lotus flower in bloom, his eyes lit up with a vulgar gleam. His pace quickened as he eagerly approached her.

Tian Tian was thoroughly disgusted and quickly said to Xianglan, “Let’s go. We’re not eating here anymore.”

Sensing the danger as well, Xianglan nodded and hurriedly followed Tian Tian.

“Don’t leave, beautiful!” Young Master Zhou shouted as he rushed over, blocking Tian Tian’s way. His group of servants quickly surrounded the two women, sealing off the area by the stairs.

As he got closer, a strong stench of alcohol hit Tian Tian’s nose, causing her to frown in disgust. She glared at him coldly. “What do you want?”

“Why are you leaving as soon as you see me? What’s that about?” Zhou asked, smiling lecherously. He had already been captivated by her from a distance on the stairs, but now, seeing her up close, she seemed even more divine, like a fairy descending to the mortal world. Though she was dressed in simple attire, her aura of grace and elegance made it impossible to look away.

Zhou immediately felt the urge to take her home and keep her for himself.

“Whose daughter are you? I’ve never seen such a face around here,” he asked. He prided himself on knowing every beautiful woman in the county, but he had never encountered someone like her.

“What does that have to do with you? Step aside and let us go, or you’ll regret it!” Xianglan angrily interjected, her face flushed with fury. She chose not to reveal Tian Tian’s identity, aware that the restaurant was crowded, and her master had many enemies. If they attracted attention, the two of them, being just two women, might not be able to escape.

A few days ago, while gathering information on their master’s movements, Xianglan had overheard Zhou Nan say that the magistrate always traveled with a large entourage, not just for show but primarily to prevent assassination attempts. The magistrate’s reputation as a corrupt official was well-known, and many people wanted to see him fall.

“You’re just a lowly servant girl, and you dare talk to me like that? Do you want to die?” Young Master Zhou snapped coldly.

Though Xianglan had spoken fiercely, she was still a young girl at heart. Hearing Zhou’s harsh words, her face instantly turned pale with fear.

Tian Tian quickly shielded Xianglan behind her and faced Zhou, her voice cold. “Let us go, and I’ll forget this ever happened.” At this moment, she could only hope to de-escalate the situation.

“What if I don’t want to let you go?” Zhou smirked lecherously, his gaze scanning Tian Tian’s body, his eyes so heated it was as if she wasn’t wearing any clothes.

“I am not someone you can afford to offend,” Tian Tian said in a low voice. “I am the magistrate’s wife.”

She hoped that revealing her identity would make him back off, but she was wrong. Instead of letting her go, Zhou burst into laughter and suddenly scooped her up into his arms.

Tian Tian was shocked and struggled desperately in his grip. “How dare you, Zhou! Let me go! I’m the magistrate’s wife!” At this point, she no longer cared about potential enemies; all she wanted was to escape.

Zhou, however, found her words hilarious. “Beauty, do you think mentioning the magistrate is going to scare me? Let me tell you, I’m only afraid of the magistrate himself, not some woman pretending to be his wife. You? The magistrate’s wife? Please. You don’t even come close.”

Zhou looked her up and down, satisfied with what he saw. “I’ve heard the magistrate just got married recently, and it’s well-known how much he dotes on his wife. If you were really her, you wouldn’t be dressed like this, and you’d have dozens of people following you. Your status would be far higher than mine.”

He even took the opportunity to caress her face, savoring the sensation. “Beauty, next time you try to scare someone, think it through first.”