Chapter 1511: Search
Chapter 1511: Chapter 1511: Search
Strangely, though Mrs. Ji was timid, she kept provoking Sister-in-law Qin and saying annoying things, always getting scolded or frightened by her, yet she never tired of doing it.
Sometimes, Mrs. Han suspected that Mrs. Ji did it on purpose, to attract Sister-in-law Qin’s attention.
Ji Zhenniang, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, despised poverty and loved wealth, would automatically become humble before the powerful, so she showed great respect to Mrs. Han. Upon hearing Mrs. Han’s words, she finally believed she wasn’t poisoned.
Gu Jinli walked over, picked up the poison sachet from the ground, and warned, "This time, it’s just a scare. If you dare to say something annoying again, I’ll really poison you."
Ji Zhenniang felt extremely aggrieved and risked her life to respond, "I’m doing it for your good... Ah, I was wrong, don’t sprinkle poison!"
Gu Jinli glared at Ji Zhenniang, snorted, and re-tied the half-opened sachet string. After seeing Daqing enter the courtyard, she quickly said, "Daqing, come inside."
Ji Zhenniang was afraid of Daqing; the sight of Daqing reminded her of his murderous appearance the night of the bandit attack, making her retreat quickly into the house in fear.
Daqing ignored Ji Zhenniang, crossed the courtyard, went into Gu Jinli’s room, closed the door, and reported, "The Master has brought Hong Dao, Bu Fang, and others, also Teacher Gu and the disciple to check the livestock, Brother Ye and them to buy medicinal materials, Feng Jin and others to purchase other supplies. These people are out in the open. Secretly, two groups led by You An and You Xi have been deployed, and I’ve been left behind to protect you."
Gu Jinli felt reassured after hearing this.
Meanwhile, Qin San Lang and his group were already grandeurously approaching the city gate.
Qin San Lang guessed correctly; the Rong people indeed stationed themselves at the city gate, recording entries of Kangrong’s Company Commanders, Chief Commanders, and even Section Leaders into the city.
Moreover, after they entered the city, a few people disguised as beggars and hooligans followed them for a long time until they saw them enter the iron shop to inquire about ironware, then half of them left.
Half stayed behind, continuing to follow, showing their lack of trust.
"You want to buy ironware? There’s none left, not even a fire poker; you guys should check elsewhere." The iron shopkeeper lifted his eyelids, looked at Niu Dabao and the others disdainfully, and directly shooed them away, muttering under his breath, "Those poor soldiers from the South, do they know the price of ironware here? Yet they dare to enter an iron shop, ha~"
These words were spoken softly, but Niu Dabao and the others heard them.
Niu Dabao furiously said, "What nonsense are you spouting, Shopkeeper? We’re soldiers, but we have Silver to buy ironware; we weren’t planning on getting it for free."
Saying this, he took out the household registration, the He’an Prefecture garrison badge, the Luan’an County Military Office badge, laying them before the shopkeeper.
Niu Dabao: "Look, we have everything. After buying the ironware, we’ll report it at the Prefecture Government Office. Hurry up and don’t skimp; bring out all the ironware you’re hiding in your shop."
He added, "Not even a fire poker? Who are you trying to fool? I can hear the sound of forging!"
The shopkeeper didn’t argue any further, only said, "The ironware is ordered by someone else. It’s made for others. You all need to leave; no ironware is for sale to you."
Upon hearing this, Niu Dabao turned green with anger and continued to argue with the iron shopkeeper.
Qin San Lang then gave three short arrows to You Erxi, disguised as a servant, telling him to deliver them to Er Ping first.
Since the Rong people outside wouldn’t leave, he couldn’t afford to waste time with them and had to quickly get the short arrows to Er Ping.
At the same time, Feng Jin also led a group of servants out, heading to various shops in the city to purchase various supplies, providing cover for You Erxi.
Three Rong people immediately followed them, but after seeing You Erxi and the group enter the cloth shop, grain store, and general store, they observed for a moment, and once they were convinced that the purchasing was genuine, they finally left.
Only when he confirmed the Rong people had truly gone did You Erxi leave the general store with other customers and head to the inn where You Er Ping and Xiao Erliu were staying, finding You Er Ping in room Yellow four.
Er Ping was shocked to see You Erxi: "Why did you come here? Leave quickly. If those people come to search and see you, your cover will be blown."
He was impersonating Brother Ping, and yesterday Brother Ping only brought Xiao Erliu; an additional person appearing could cause a mismatch with yesterday’s numbers.
"There’s a discrepancy in your injury. Quickly take off your clothes; I’ll reattach the short arrows." Wasting no words, You Erxi quickly explained his purpose.
Upon hearing this, Er Ping shivered, immediately undressed, saying, "I kept feeling something was off, turns out it’s because the short arrows aren’t on me. Hurry, stab them in hard."
You Erxi steadied his breath, aimed at the wounds on Er Ping’s body, and pierced three short arrows into him.
You Erxi instructed, "I’m leaving now. The Master said if they try to capture you, create a scene and cause trouble at the government office. The Master has a way to get you out, but under no circumstances should you be captured by them, or your lives won’t be spared."
Causing trouble at the government office would be akin to a thief surrendering; it’s not a major crime, but entering the Rong people’s lair would be a certain death.
"Alright, understood. It’s not the first time we’ve done this, we get it. You hurry and leave." Er Ping, enduring intense pain, urged Erxi.
You Erxi nodded and immediately left.
Just as he exited the inn, he saw several Government Officials entering, armed.
The shopkeeper, seeing the Government Officials, quickly went up to them, greeting with a forced smile, "Elder Chen, what brings you here, planning to dine? Our inn just got some new..."
Elder Chen scolded, "Dine? Nonsense. Last night, Elder Yang’s family in East City reported a burglary, and Lord Deputy Magistrate wants us to search all inns and carriage inns in the city for hiding people. Close all your doors; we need to search the inn!"
He added, "Lord Deputy Magistrate is taking this case seriously; it’d be wise not to obstruct, otherwise, we might lock you, Huang Shopkeeper, up together."
"Catching a few thieves, why shut the doors?" A guest drinking in the hall was displeased upon hearing this, feeling that the Government Officials were making a fuss to extract money.
With a bang, Elder Chen slammed his waist knife on the table, pointing at the questioning guest, scolding, "Where are you from? What are you doing in Beicang Prefecture? Did you visit Wenchang Street last night? Did you steal the property of Elder Yang’s family? Show your household registration, I need to check it!"
The guest dared not defy the Government Officials, quickly apologized, presented his household registration for Elder Chen to inspect, and slipped him two taels of Silver to settle the matter.
Besides this inn, another inn on this street was also being searched by Government Officials.
You Erxi overheard someone saying, "What exactly did Elder Yang’s family lose? The entire government office personnel have been dispatched; inns, and carriage inns in West City have also been searched, and even a few beggar dens have seen Government Officials looking for people."
"What? Even beggar dens were searched?"
"Not just beggar dens; Government Officials also knocked on doors and searched houses in West City alleys, causing quite a commotion, like they were searching for spies."
Search for spies!
You Erxi was startled by these words, feeling something was off... What power does Elder Yang on Wenchang Street in East City have to make the government office search for a few thieves as if looking for spies?
And that Elder Yang was still a Rong person in disguise, who could actually command the government office!