Chapter 1517: The Cell
Chapter 1517: Chapter 1517: The Cell
Doctor Dai was startled, realizing that the Yang Family was indeed disguised as Rong people.
He knew the matter was of great importance and quickly put the letter away.
Niu Dabao, worried that Clan Chief Wan might not help, pleaded with him: "Elder Wan, you have no idea how much we’ve suffered. Travelling through the snow during the New Year, and to make matters worse, we were ambushed by bandits, resulting in many casualties. We finally reached Beicang Prefecture hoping to buy some ironware, medicine, and livestock, but no one wants to sell to us."
Clan Chief Wan said, "Company Commander Niu, rest assured. My eldest will do his best to help. But you’ve arrived late, and indeed it’s difficult to buy anything in the city now. I estimate that what my eldest can get you in terms of medicine and livestock won’t be much, I hope you and Company Commander Qin don’t hold it against us."
Hearing this, the smile that had just formed on Niu Dabao’s face immediately froze.
However, Niu Dabao was thick-skinned and continued to lament to Clan Chief Wan.
But before he could say much, they arrived at the government office.
The Yang Family theft case was already concluded, but the crowd reluctant to leave, lingered at the government gate, discussing: "Who would have thought that thief was actually a citizen of good register, whose father had once worked for the Lei Family’s Trading Team. The two brothers came to Beicang Prefecture to make a living because their parents died, and the younger one was ill, squandering away all the silver coins left by the family. That’s why the elder one turned to theft."
"No wonder the elder one is so skilled, he learned from his father since he was little."
"Earlier, Housekeeper Yang didn’t believe it, saying the brothers, though they spoke the Northwest dialect, had a Southern accent and couldn’t be from Daliang Prefecture, suspecting their household registration was fake. But their father was indeed from the south and followed the Lei Family’s Trading Team to Daliang Prefecture when they were transporting goods south. Although they settled in Daliang Prefecture, what’s wrong with their father teaching his sons to speak their hometown language?"
"Exactly, that Housekeeper Yang too, just a servant yet acting like a master in court, not even kneeling, flaunting about like a Scholar, pretending to be a fox just because he’s wearing a mouse’s skin, humph!"
The onlookers were cursing Housekeeper Yang.
Qin San Lang learned from their conversation what had happened in court, realizing that the investigation into Er Ping and the others’ identities had been cleared without any issues.
However, the Witch Army of the Rong people is known to be ruthless, and Er Ping and the others still faced threats to their lives.
"Old Master, why have you come? Here to see Uncle Wan?" Constable Feng from Squad Leader Wan’s team spotted Clan Chief Wan and hurried out from the government office to greet him.
Clan Chief Wan nodded, "Yes, a benefactor has come to our home seeking help. I brought along a doctor to check the peace pulse for the eldest."
Constable Feng laughed, "Another peace pulse check, Old Master, you’re so particular, you insist on checking Squad Leader every month."
The Wan Family had many deceased descendants, and Clan Chief Wan, fearing that Squad Leader Wan, his most promising son, might die young, insisted on hiring a doctor every month to check his pulse.
This month they could save some money by using the benefactor’s doctor.
"Squad Leader escorted the prisoner to the cell, I’ll take you in to find him." Constable Feng led Clan Chief Wan and the others into the government office, as it was not their first time doing this.
Clan Chief Wan said to Qin San Lang, "Company Commander Qin, I must trouble you to follow us to the cell. Though it’s a bit damp, there’s a separate room where you can sit and talk with the eldest."
These words were exactly what Qin San Lang wanted to hear, and he agreed, saying, "Alright, I’ll follow your words, Old Master."
"Old Master, follow me." Constable Feng led the way ahead.
Along the way, they encountered many Government Officials and clerks, who greeted Clan Chief Wan, asking, "Elder Wan, why are you here? Oh, bringing so many people, something urgent to discuss with Squad Leader Wan?"
In fact, Clan Chief Wan only brought in Qin San Lang, Niu Dabao, a few Company Commanders, along with Doctor Dai and Village Chief Wan, leaving the rest waiting outside the government office.
Clan Chief Wan did not hide the truth and told the Government Officials frankly, "A benefactor who saved Liu Bao from our village has come. They are soldiers from the south who want to purchase some medicine and livestock, but being unfamiliar with the place couldn’t manage it, so I brought them to seek help from the eldest, while also bringing a doctor to check the peace pulse for the eldest."
Hearing this, those in the government office asked no more questions, thinking silently to themselves: The city is almost emptied of goods; even Squad Leader Wan might find it hard to procure anything.
Bang bang bang!
"You brat, still pretending with us, you really think you’re from Daliang Prefecture? Entering our Yang Family just for money?" The Protector of the Yang Family hadn’t even entered the cell yet but was already kicking Er Ping, causing him to vomit blood.
Then grabbing the nearby Xiao Erliu, slapped him several times, knocking the cloth gag from his mouth flying and even knocking out two of his teeth.
"Wuwuwu!" Xiao Erliu cried pitifully, calling out, "Father, Mother..."
A thin, small child crying for his parents was pitiful to anyone who saw it.
Er Ping’s eyes were wide with fury, uttering muffled cries, yet Housekeeper Yang stomped on his stomach, causing another mouthful of blood to spurt, staining the cloth gag red.
"Brat, you think we’re powerless if you don’t go to Yang Family? If you want to live, confess honestly. Who is your master? What were you trying to do at Yang Family? If you don’t speak, humph!" Housekeeper Yang sneered coldly, his eyes showing a snake-like chill, suddenly pulling out a dagger, stabbing it into Xiao Erliu beside him, twisting it around.
"Ah—!" Xiao Erliu almost fainted from the pain, crying out in agony.
"Wuwuwu!" Er Ping’s eyes were bloodshot with anger as he roared at the Government Officials, but they paid him no mind.
Squad Leader Wan glanced in this direction and said to Squad Leader Chen, "Those sentenced to be targets in the Northwest, that side needs people, you better be careful, don’t kill these two targets."
The South prefers sentencing convicts to work in the mines, while the Northwest prefers using them as targets on the battlefield, shielding soldiers from arrows.
Squad Leader Chen reassured, "Don’t worry, Brother Wan, Housekeeper Yang knows his limits. Even if they die, the Yang Family will provide the government with another servant with a death contract, so we won’t lack targets."
This Squad Leader Chen was a confidant of the Deputy Magistrate, and though Squad Leader Wan didn’t like him, he wouldn’t confront him. Seeing Clan Chief Wan’s arrival, he hurried over to greet him: "Father, you’re here."
Clan Chief Wan nodded, glancing towards Er Ping. These two children must be the thieves who stole from the Yang Family? The Yang’s actions were too harsh, beating them even before entering the prison, not sparing even a seven-year-old child.
But with deaths occurring every day in Beicang Prefecture, Clan Chief Wan didn’t want to meddle, pointing to the prison gate: "The benefactor who saved Liu Bao has something to seek your help with, let’s talk in your night-duty room."
"Alright." Squad Leader Wan wasn’t close to Wan Liubao, only seeing him a few times a year. He could have dismissed seeing Liubao’s savior, but since his father personally brought them, he had to receive them: "Gentlemen, please follow me. It’s quite smelly in here; sorry for the inconvenience."
Niu Dabao said, "What inconvenience? We’ve been traveling to the Northwest, sleeping in the wild, and this prison is much better than the wilderness."
Squad Leader Wan laughed, finding this brother amusing for praising the prison.
Housekeeper Yang looked at them, frowning... so these are the Southern military camping in Xiao Bei Village?