Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 45

“Wait,” Qiu Luo’s tone turned cool as she stood her ground. “If you’re taking me, at the very least, give a proper reason. Otherwise, people might think government officers can just arrest citizens at will.”

The bailiffs exchanged glances, faces darkening. “No need for explanations—save it for the yamen.”

Their charge was fabricated, and giving a reason would only invite demands for evidence. The more questions asked, the more trouble they’d have. Their only task was to take her away—quickly and quietly.

“Hold on.”

“Shut up.”

One of the bailiffs snapped, assuming the voice had come from Qiu Luo. When he turned and saw it hadn’t, he frowned. “Official business. Step aside if you’re uninvolved.”

At the entrance of the shop, Cheng Yu stepped forward calmly, her expression stern. “I am a xiucai of this dynasty, and also the legal proprietor of the Qiu family’s juice shop—Cheng Yu.”

The bailiffs looked her up and down warily. “You’re the owner? Then who is she?”

A xiucai? That was no small matter. Though this was the provincial capital, where scholars were common, a xiucai was still a degree-holder and entitled to certain privileges—including not needing to kneel before a magistrate. These bailiffs couldn’t afford to take the wrong person.

Qiu Luo was about to speak, but Cheng Yu subtly shook her head and answered for her: “She’s the manager I hired. I have the deed here—you’re welcome to examine it.”

The contract was something Qiu Luo had given her just a few days ago.

Originally, Madam Cheng had transferred all the family businesses into Qiu Luo’s name. But after discussing it with Cheng Yu, they split everything evenly: the juice shops went under Cheng Yu’s name, and the fast food stalls under Qiu Luo’s.

The bailiffs looked at the deed—sure enough, Cheng Yu was listed as the owner. They hesitated. Wang the Legal Advisor had instructed them to arrest the juice shop’s owner. Surely he knew who that was?

Still, a xiucai wasn’t such a big deal in a bustling provincial capital. There were plenty of scholars—some even juren.

“If you’re the owner, then you come with us.”

But just as the words left the bailiff’s mouth, another voice called out from the crowd: “Hold on!”

A young man stepped forward, looking clearly annoyed. What now?

“And who are you?”

“I am also a xiucai of this dynasty,” the man said, clasping his hands in greeting. “Surname Shen, given name Yanding. May I ask what crime Miss Cheng has committed?”

Shen Yanding was thoroughly frustrated. When the bailiffs had gone to arrest Qiu Luo, he had nearly applauded. But in the blink of an eye, they had switched targets and taken Cheng Yu instead?

What was Wang playing at?

“Stand back!” the bailiffs snapped, drawing their blades. “Obstructing an arrest is a punishable offense.”

It felt like they’d walked into a nest of scholars. For five taels of silver, this was proving to be more trouble than it was worth.

Seeing the bailiffs unmoved, Shen Yanding quickly turned to Cheng Yu. “Miss Cheng, don’t worry. I will ensure your release!”

He planned to rush to Wang and demand they set her free. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go—this was a mistake!

But Cheng Yu’s gaze was cold. “I am not related to you, Master Shen, nor am I indebted to you. Please don’t meddle in my affairs.”

She cut ties cleanly, her meaning clear: stay out of it.

She didn’t want Shen Yanding intervening on her behalf, much less owing him any favors.

Then, she turned to Qiu Luo and smiled gently. “Don’t worry. Just wait for me at home.”

With that, she followed the bailiffs without hesitation.

“I’ll wait for you,” Qiu Luo replied calmly, returning her smile.

The contrast in treatment was obvious. Shen Yanding nearly choked in frustration. Fine—let her suffer in jail! He remembered all too well the despair of shouting to heaven and earth from inside a cell, only to receive silence.

Back then, at least Lu Jiaojiao had saved him. But Cheng Yu, unfamiliar with the provincial capital, had no one to turn to.

He clenched his fists and changed his mind. He wouldn’t go to Wang now. Let her sit and suffer a while—then he’d rescue her. That would be more satisfying.

Once Cheng Yu was taken away, the onlookers gradually dispersed.

“Sis, what do we do? How do we save her?” Qiu Erlang’s voice trembled with panic. Things had escalated too quickly. The teenage boy was so overwhelmed with worry he was nearly in tears.

Qiu Luo clutched her sleeve tightly, forcing herself to remain calm. “The shop stays open. We go home.”

Cheng Yu had told her to wait—which meant not to act hastily.

Wait… wait…

Suddenly, Qiu Luo’s eyes lit up. Tomorrow was the day the exam results would be posted. If Cheng Yu’s name appeared—especially among the top ranks—then as long as the arrest hadn’t been ordered by the prefect himself, everything would resolve itself.

A xiucai couldn’t be tortured, nor forced to kneel.

But a juren? A high-ranking one was almost guaranteed a place in the capital’s next round of exams. Some might even pass as top scorers and become imperial scholars—favorites of the emperor.

That would certainly make the prefect think twice.

And besides, Cheng Yu had committed no crime.

The rest of the day passed agonizingly slowly. Qiu Luo and Madam Cheng barely slept, rising at dawn to await the public results.

—

At the prefectural office, Prefect Liu handed the red scroll to a bailiff. “Post it. And start preparing the banquet for the new scholars. This year’s cohort is quite impressive.”

The top paper was particularly brilliant—well-argued, substantial, and elegantly written. The handwriting alone showed promise of greatness.

A young woman had written it.

According to her background, she’d already ranked first among xiucai—a double winner, now the jieyuan (top provincial scholar). Intriguing. Prefect Liu wondered whether she might one day stand on the golden imperial dais.

He appreciated talent.

“Prepare a fine set of writing tools and deliver it to our jieyuan,” he told his steward.

The title of jieyuan carried prestige. Winners often became strong contenders for zhuangyuan (national top scorer) in the capital’s imperial exam.

—

As the red list went up, Qiu Luo finally exhaled in relief. Madam Cheng, eyes brimming with tears, nearly cried on the spot.

But it didn’t end there. Upon returning home, they were greeted by an official messenger bearing the prefect’s gift—a complete set of writing tools.

“The prefect handpicked these for our Cheng jieyuan,” the steward said cheerfully. “Please accept them.”

No one moved.

The steward frowned slightly. Most juren would be thrilled to be recognized by the prefect—why this silence?

Then came a chilling statement.

“To tell you the truth,” Qiu Luo said gravely, “Cheng Yu is currently being held in the city jail. I’m afraid the prefect’s kindness may be in vain.”

The steward froze. “What did you say? Miss Cheng is… in jail?”

Had he misheard?

Tears welled up again in Madam Cheng’s eyes, and Qiu Luo let out a heavy sigh before explaining, “Cheng Yu is both intelligent and virtuous. Though from a merchant family, she aspires to serve the nation. All of this is our fault—mine and Aunt’s.

We wanted her to focus on studying, so we handled the household and opened a small shop for extra income. But we used her name on the registration… and somehow offended someone powerful when we arrived in the city…”

Her voice trailed off, perfectly timed with a couple of choked sobs.

The message was clear: they were law-abiding citizens. Cheng Yu had been dedicated to her studies, not meddling in worldly matters—yet she was unjustly jailed.

The steward glanced between the tearful Madam Cheng and the weeping Qiu Luo, eyebrows twitching. Three women, managing this much? Impressive. Who could possibly have targeted them?

Then a thought struck him.

“You said Miss Cheng is talented and beautiful. Would you say she’s… exceptionally attractive?”

Qiu Luo blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. She nodded uncertainly. “Yes… but what does that—?”

The steward slapped his thigh and turned to leave, a realization dawning on him.

Back at the prefect’s office, he sighed and set the writing tools down. “Sir, I’m afraid Miss Cheng may not be able to receive your gift.”

Prefect Liu immediately sensed something was off. “Explain. Clearly.”

The steward leaned in and whispered, “Sir, Cheng jieyuan lives with only her mother and a fiancée—another female xiucai. They’re quite pitiful, really… and Miss Cheng is remarkably beautiful…”

Prefect Liu’s eye twitched. “Get to the point.”

His steward was reliable in everything—except for his tendency to ramble.