Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 46

The steward cleared his throat and continued with his speculation. “My lord, you may not know this, but ever since Cheng Jieyuan arrived in the prefectural city, she’s done nothing but study. She hasn’t offended anyone. It’s precisely because of her beauty that someone coveted her. And whoever’s behind this… well, they’re no ordinary person. They have enough clout to mobilize the bailiffs.”

Yes, that must be it.

Prefect Liu’s expression darkened. “Outrageous. Have Captain Jiang investigate this discreetly—no alerting the snake before striking. I’d like to see which lustful cur dares stir up such filth in my jurisdiction.”

The truth came out quickly. To everyone’s surprise, it was astonishingly straightforward. The culprit, Adviser Wang, hadn’t even bothered to cover his tracks. He had simply taken a bribe to do someone a favor—nothing more than petty corruption in his eyes.

He’d only intended to use the yamen’s authority to lock someone up and scare her off, drive her out of the city. After all, Qiu Luo was just a penniless scholar from a rural background—hardly someone worth worrying about.

He never expected the bribe would blow up in his face in just one day.

While Wang was tallying records in the storehouse, he was suddenly seized and dragged away by bailiffs.

“Spare me, my lord! Spare me!” Adviser Wang cried as he was thrown to the ground in front of Prefect Liu. The moment he looked up and saw the prefect’s face, he instinctively began to beg for his life.

Prefect Liu’s expression was icy. “Well, Adviser Wang? Care to explain?”

“Explain… what, my lord?” Wang stammered, utterly confused as to what mistake he’d made.

Prefect Liu’s patience snapped. “Use the instruments.”

The two bailiffs who had arrested Cheng Yu had already confessed—Adviser Wang had paid them off to do it. Now that they had him, they could see how tough his mouth really was.

The moment he heard the words “use the instruments,” Wang’s legs gave out, trembling violently. “My lord, I’m innocent! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”

Prefect Liu barked, “Then speak. Why did you bribe bailiffs to arrest Cheng Jieyuan?”

Cheng Jieyuan? Who?

Wang was momentarily blank, but quickly pieced things together—it must have been about Qiu Luo. But she was just a farm girl, wasn’t she? Why would the prefect care so much?

And why was this interrogation so terrifying?

“I… I have a niece’s husband. He gave me a few taels of gold the other day—it was his money that paid the bailiffs…”

Wang had planned to hide the bribe. But then he remembered how delicate Shen Yanding was—there was no way that brat would hold up under torture. Better to confess early and maybe earn some leniency.

As Prefect Liu listened, the pieces began to fall into place. So, it wasn’t lust that drove this—it was money.

“Someone fetch Shen Yanding.”

The bailiffs left and quickly returned.

“Sir,” Captain Jiang reported, “Shen Yanding left the city this morning. He’s already fled.”

“Fled?” Wang’s eyes bulged. “That shameless brat set me up! My lord, I’m innocent—I didn’t know anything!”

Now that he’d had time to think, Wang finally understood: they had arrested the wrong person—not Qiu Luo, but Cheng Yu. And she turned out to be the jieyuan, the top-ranked provincial scholar.

To make matters worse, Shen Yanding had run off without even leaving a warning. Clearly, he’d known about the mistake. That little bastard!

“My lord, I didn’t know it was Cheng Yu they were going to arrest! I didn’t know she was a xiucai, let alone that she took the exams—or became jieyuan! If I had, I wouldn’t have dared, not even with a hundred lives!”

Prefect Liu cast a cold glance at the groveling Wang. “Take him away. Issue a warrant for Shen Yanding. He is to be arrested and brought back immediately.”

With those matters handled, he personally went to the city prison.

It was dark and damp inside. Cries and protests echoed through the cells.

When the cell door opened, the figure seated calmly on a straw mat opened her eyes.

Seeing the official robes, Cheng Yu rose and bowed. “Student Cheng Yu greets the Prefect.”

Her posture was poised, her tone respectful but not servile. If it weren’t for the prison walls, Prefect Liu could have believed he was meeting her at the celebratory Luming Banquet, not in a jail.

He studied her closely. Her appearance was indeed remarkable, and her gaze was clear and intelligent—an unmistakably bright mind.

After a moment, Prefect Liu offered a faint smile. “No need for ceremony. Cheng Jieyuan, you’ve suffered enough. Come with me.”

Cheng Yu nodded and followed without a word. She didn’t ask for explanations, nor did she press for accountability—as if she had only taken a brief stroll and nothing had happened.

Prefect Liu silently added another mark of approval. Calm, composed, and level-headed—an exceptional talent.

Cheng Yu followed quietly. As they emerged from the gloom of the prison into the bright daylight, her eyes blinked rapidly, adjusting to the sun.

Waiting outside were Qiu Luo, Madam Cheng, and Qiu Erlang.

Seeing them, Cheng Yu’s lips curved gently. Her eyes softened.

Qiu Luo stared at her intently. Their gazes met.

Cheng Yu smiled wordlessly and nodded, as if to say, See? I told you I’d be fine.

And indeed, not only had she passed—but she had taken the top spot.

Prefect Liu, hoping to make amends, invited them to stay for lunch and had a carriage arranged to escort them home. He also reminded Cheng Yu to attend the upcoming Luming Banquet.

Cheng Yu agreed with a mild smile, showing no resentment. Prefect Liu was even more satisfied. Thankfully, he’d acted in time—disaster had been narrowly averted.

It was a good thing he’d sent his steward ahead. Had they only discovered during the banquet that their jieyuan was rotting in jail, the entire prefectural office would’ve been a laughingstock.

—

That evening, several galloping horses thundered into the Shen family estate.

Shen’s father had learned that his son had left the exam early. When Shen Yanding didn’t come home, he had feared his son might do something foolish. Now, seeing him return safe, he finally relaxed.

“Yanding, don’t dwell on it. There’s always next year. I believe in you.”

Shen Yanding opened his mouth but said nothing, lowering his head.

His mind was a mess. The moment he’d seen Cheng Yu’s name on the list that morning, he’d known he was finished.

There had been only one thought in his head—get out of the city and rush home to find his grandfather and father.

In his panic, he hadn’t even warned Adviser Wang. He simply fled.

When Shen’s father noticed his silence, he began to sense something was wrong. “Where are the attendants who went with you? Why have only two returned?”

Shen Yanding looked up, eyes instantly red. He dropped to his knees and clutched his father’s leg. “Father, I’ve made a terrible mistake. Please save me.”

Alarmed, Shen’s father quickly pulled him into the study.

After hearing the full story, he sat in silence for a long while, then asked, “Besides you, who else knows?”

“No one. I went alone. Uncle didn’t assign any servants.” Though terrified, Shen Yanding was still able to think. He brightened when he heard his father’s question.

Sure enough, his father said solemnly, “Remember this—you did nothing. You were only fulfilling your beloved wife’s request to visit her uncle and deliver a generous gift on her behalf. That’s all you know. Do not speak of anything else.

And from now on—forget that woman.”

That woman, of course, referred to Cheng Yu—the newly crowned jieyuan of the entire prefecture.

As for whether there had been any ulterior motives in Lu Jiaojiao’s generous gift to her uncle, or whether Adviser Wang had ulterior motives—none of that concerned the Shen family.

Shen Yanding lowered his head and muttered, “Understood.” He knew well enough now—Cheng Yu was completely out of reach.

Bribing officials to frame a jieyuan was a serious crime. If the prefect had any particular favor toward her, the punishment would be even harsher. The Shen family couldn’t afford to be implicated.

Shen’s father sighed. What was done was done. There was no use assigning blame now. The most urgent thing was to cut ties—before things got worse.

Better to mend the fence before the sheep are all lost.

He looked down at his son and said grimly, “Go to Lu Jiaojiao now. Beg her—sincerely. A man must know when to yield. Humbling yourself for the sake of your future is no shame.”

“Yes, Father.” Shen Yanding understood the severity of the situation. Now that they had a strategy, he had to act on it.

As long as Lu Jiaojiao was willing to support his lie and help distance them from Adviser Wang, they could make it through this storm.

—

In the back courtyard, Lu Jiaojiao finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Shen Yanding had returned.

Soon, the man she had worried about night and day entered the room.

“Husband…” Lu Jiaojiao started to speak, but hesitated, retracting her hand. They hadn’t consummated their marriage, and Shen Yanding usually avoided even her touch.

To her surprise, he grasped her hand tightly.

“Jiaojiao, I’ve been a fool. We’re already married, and as your husband, I should take responsibility. From now on, I’ll treat you well. These days… my heart has already begun to turn toward you.”

Lu Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up with joy. “Husband…”