Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 40

Magistrate Lu raised an eyebrow. What a hot potato. Had it been before, he might have hesitated to get involved—but now that he was already on the boat, there was no getting off.

“Who dares incite a public disturbance? Cease your noise and leave at once, or don’t blame this official for having you seized!” His voice rang out, the last sentence clearly directed at Qiu Erlang, who had just flipped the table.

Qiu Erlang flinched slightly. This was the county magistrate, after all—offending him could very well ruin everything.

He hesitated, but stood his ground.

Seeing his lack of response, Magistrate Lu snorted coldly. “Stubborn fool. Guards—!”

“Madam has returned! Madam has returned!”

Just then, a gatekeeper burst into the hall, flustered and breathless, with a throng of people behind him.

Everyone turned to look.

When Father Cheng saw who was leading them, his expression shifted. That woman actually dared show her face at her former husband’s home after being dismissed?

“Liu-shi, what are you doing here?” he demanded, taking a few steps forward and glaring warningly at his ex-wife. She had better know her place.

Madam Cheng spared him a glance, her tone calm.

“Forgive the intrusion, Master Cheng. Greetings, Magistrate. I’m here to take my children home. If I delay any longer, I fear they’ll be swallowed whole by these wolves in fine clothing, not even bones left behind.”

The words were biting. Murmurs rippled through the crowd—this was turning into quite the spectacle.

Father Cheng’s face darkened. “Liu-shi, that’s enough out of you.”

She ignored him and turned to Qiu Luo and Cheng Yu, waving them over.

“Come here, my children. Come to your mother.”

She had brought the entire household staff with her. The commotion had drawn even more attention from the streets—by now, the gates of the Cheng residence were surrounded by onlookers, not just dignitaries, but curious commoners.

Father Cheng instinctively glanced at Magistrate Lu. But Lu’s face had gone cold, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. This woman wasn’t simple—she’d deliberately drawn in the public eye. That meant he, as the local authority, would have to weigh his every move.

Father Cheng understood. Magistrate Lu wasn’t going to intervene. He’d left this mess for him to deal with.

“Liu-shi, Cheng Yu is my daughter as well. You can’t make marriage decisions for her alone.”

Madam Cheng responded coolly, “So now you remember she’s your daughter? Where were you during the New Year, when you threw the two of us out to please that lowly concubine of yours? I thought we’d made things clear during the divorce. Your Cheng family has all the wealth in the county—I didn’t ask for a single coin. I only took my daughter and my dowry. Have you forgotten that, Master Cheng?”

The onlookers gasped.

The Chengs were the richest family in the county, and yet Madam Cheng had taken nothing? Was she mad?

Several married women thought bitterly, If it was me, I’d claw something out of that heartless man even if it killed me.

Father Cheng flushed with anger.

“I’m still alive. The Cheng family fortune is not for others to covet!”

Madam Cheng smiled. Strike where it hurts the most. She knew exactly what this man valued.

“Since you want to reclaim your daughter, then let’s settle things properly. The magistrate and all these good people can bear witness. Cheng Yu is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Chengs. She’s faithfully managed your business for years.

If you wish to involve yourself in her marriage, then by rights, she should also inherit a share of your estate. Otherwise—let’s sever ties once and for all. From now on, we won’t take a single copper from the Cheng family. But if you insist…”

“…then Cheng Yu is entitled to fair compensation,” Qiu Luo cut in, now standing at Madam Cheng’s side. So, this was why her mother-in-law had asked Erlang to come. No wonder that brat flipped the table.

Indeed, severing ties was best.

Some things were better said by her than by Cheng Yu.

Father Cheng’s face turned crimson. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Yes, Cheng Yu was capable—but a daughter with her own ideas, a daughter who dared challenge his authority, was dangerous. Better not to have her at all.

And yet, if they cut ties now, he’d lose the benefits promised by the Shen family.

Shen Yanding had agreed to marry Cheng Yu only if Magistrate Lu supported Father Cheng’s business efforts. It was a golden opportunity—support from the government and marriage into the Shen family’s network.

Just then, Concubine Tang entered the hall with the baby in her arms. She stepped beside Father Cheng and said gently,

“Master, if Yu’er no longer acknowledges you as her father, why force the matter? Let her go. You still have me and our daughter.”

Stupid woman, Madam Tang sneered inwardly. If they insist on severing ties, so much the better. Let them go. The Cheng family will belong to me and my child alone.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Father Cheng finally made his decision.

Yes, he still had a child. If ties weren’t cut now, his little girl might not be able to compete with Cheng Yu in the future.

Even if he had a son later, how could a toddler stand against her?

His mind made up, he barked,

“So be it! You chose this yourselves—don’t blame me for being heartless.”

Those words sealed it.

Madam Cheng no longer looked at him.

“Yu’er, let’s go home.”

From now on, that man had no right to meddle in her daughter’s life.

Her daughter had a bright future and couldn’t afford to be dragged down by a pair of scheming lovers.

Madam Cheng had full faith in Cheng Yu. If she chose the imperial exam route, she would pass, would earn official rank, and would bring honor to their family.

Madam Cheng led her group away—what should’ve been a festive full-month celebration had turned into a chaotic farce.

The sharpest among the guests carried on as if nothing had happened, raising their cups in toast.

But inwardly, they shook their heads. Father Cheng must be blind. To give up a brilliant legitimate daughter in favor of a baby born to a concubine—who knew what she’d become?

Senile fool.

Everyone wore their best masks, but the atmosphere at the main table was very different.

The Shen family didn’t particularly care whether Cheng Yu married in or not—it had always been Shen Yanding’s obsession. Whether the plan succeeded or failed, it was no loss to them.

Shen Yanding, meanwhile, sat alone, drinking gloomily. The smile had vanished from his face.

Across from him, Magistrate Lu stood up and took his leave, shaking his head at his daughter, whose gaze was still locked on Shen Yanding.

Perhaps it was time to take a concubine and try for another child. This daughter… she was a lost cause.

Though, his wife’s family was powerful—not easy to manipulate like Madam Cheng. That would be tricky.

Lu Jiaojiao sat quietly, holding her wine cup. Her heart was both relieved and aching. Relieved that Cheng Yu would not marry Shen Yanding—she would be his only wife.

But it hurt—because the man she loved clearly hadn’t let Cheng Yu go. He hadn’t even looked at her.

For just a moment, Lu Jiaojiao felt lost. Was this marriage she’d fought so hard for truly what she wanted?

—

Meanwhile, Madam Cheng had just stepped into her carriage when someone blocked the road.

It was a woman from the Cheng household—once Cheng Yu’s nursemaid.

“Come aboard,” Madam Cheng said.

As soon as the nursemaid climbed in, her eyes reddened.

“Madam… please don’t abandon Master Cheng. That Concubine Tang—she…”

Madam Cheng closed her eyes.

“Call me Liu-shi. I am no longer his wife.”

The nursemaid stiffened. The words she’d wanted to say swirled in her mouth—but finally came out.

She had served the Chengs since childhood, sold into the family as a bondservant. She had always respected Madam Cheng, who had been fair and dignified.

She’d watched Cheng Yu grow up and naturally sided with Madam Cheng and her daughter.

But legally, Father Cheng was still her master…

This time, she’d come to share something important: a suspicion that Concubine Tang’s child might not be Father Cheng’s.

At first, she hadn’t thought much of it. But now that the baby’s features had grown more distinct, she couldn’t shake her doubts.

Father Cheng had thick brows and full lips, as did Concubine Tang.

But the baby had fine brows and thin lips—resembling neither parent.

Instead, the child looked more like someone else—Concubine Tang’s cousin, who had visited the manor a few times. The nursemaid remembered his face clearly.

But she dared not speak to Father Cheng directly. All she could do was warn Madam Cheng—to prevent the Cheng family’s legacy from falling into the hands of an outsider.

Madam Cheng listened quietly, then sighed.

“Whether the child is of Cheng blood or not is no longer our concern. Go home. And don’t mention any of this to Yu’er.”