After Xu Di imprisoned the people, he began to slowly investigate the case concerning the Zhou family's encroachment on land, abduction of women, and even murder.

The Zhou family wielded considerable influence in the area. It was said that the county magistrate had arrested the three Zhou family members, along with their two chief stewards, and imprisoned them. People initially didn't believe it, but even those who did thought that Xu Di couldn't do anything to the Zhou family and would eventually send them back safely. Everyone had witnessed the Zhou family's power.

Many people in the county felt that Xu Di was a good official who cared about the people and couldn't bear to see him suffer any harm because of the Zhou family. Some people came to advise Xu Di to leave himself some options in his actions, so as not to be retaliated against by the Zhou family in the future.

The Zhou family members were in jail. At first, they were shouting that they would teach Xu Di a lesson, but after being locked up for several days, no news from the outside could get in. Zhou Renyi couldn't take it anymore and started shouting and cursing. The old master of the Zhou family, on the other hand, sat calmly on the straw every day, eating and drinking whatever the jailers brought him. His calm appearance made the jailers guarding the cell feel uneasy.

Xu Di was prepared to withstand the pressure, the first wave of which came from the prefect of Dengzhou.

Dengzhou Prefecture is not far from Penglai. A messenger from Dengzhou Prefecture asked Xu Di to go to the prefectural government office.

Wen Jinghuai, the prefect of Dengzhou, was born in the same year as Xu Rao. After serving as an official outside the capital, he returned to the capital and has been working there ever since. This time, he got the position of prefect of Dengzhou through someone's connections.

Wen Jinghuai was a man in his forties, tall and thin, with a mustache. When he saw Xu Di from afar, he smiled and said, "Lord Xu, you became famous at a young age. You are truly a role model for us."

Xu Di smiled and said, "You flatter me, sir. I was just lucky."

Wen Jinghuai invited Xu Di to sit down and said, "Lord Xu, let me be frank with you. I received a letter from someone saying that you sent someone to steal someone out in the middle of the night. The person couldn't be found the next day and reported it to the police. The Qingzhou government searched for two days but couldn't find him. They even sent me the documents for assistance in the investigation. Who knew he was in your prison?"

Xu Di smiled and said, "Sir, my prison is full of criminals. Since they are imprisoned there, it is naturally because they have committed crimes. I have followed the normal procedures."

Wen Jinghuai was displeased to see that Xu Di was unyielding, but he hesitated to speak harshly because of Xu Di's background. He patiently tried to persuade him for a long time, but when Xu Di still wouldn't budge, he had no choice but to let him leave.

Xu Di emerged from the government office, turned to look at the imposing gates, and couldn't help but sneer. This Wen Jinghuai clearly didn't understand why he'd been appointed prefect of Dengzhou. These were special times; the investigation of the former officials of Dengzhou and its four subordinate counties was personally arranged and supervised by Emperor Liang Cheng. The purpose? To quell the pirates and Japanese pirates of Bohai, to deter the restless Goguryeo, and ultimately, to deliver a heavy blow to the Japanese pirates, ensuring those cunning and treacherous individuals dared not venture into the territory of Daliang.

Of course, the most important thing was the news from the Jurchens. The Jurchens and the Japanese pirates, two parties that had nothing to do with each other, were actually preparing to cooperate. If they could cooperate successfully, it would be a devastating blow to the Great Liang. Therefore, the appointments of Wen Jinghuai, Xu Di, and the other three county magistrates were all handled by Emperor Cheng of Liang. If these five people could understand Emperor Cheng's intentions and do their jobs well and conscientiously, even if they couldn't achieve anything immediately, they would still leave a mark on Emperor Cheng in the future. Why would they have to worry about not being given important positions?

It's just unclear whose man Wen Jinghuai is. Was he assigned a different task by his master, or is he simply too dull to grasp the meaning behind it all?

Xu Di wouldn't concern himself with such trivial matters. He submitted another memorial to the court, detailing the evil deeds of the Zhou family and requesting the Ministry of Justice to issue a decree sentencing all members of the Zhou family to immediate execution.

Two days after Xu Di's memorial was submitted, Li Yuexi took action.

Xu Di was sound asleep in the middle of the night when he was awakened by a painful groan beside him. Chen Zhaoci had already told Xu Di that Li Yuexi's belly had sunk quite a bit, and it was estimated that it would only take a day or two. He told Xu Di to be more alert at night. Upon hearing the groan, Xu Di was jolted awake. He sat up and saw Li Yuexi lying on her side, curled up, covered in sweat.

Xu Di quickly got up, calling out to everyone while saying to Li Yuexi, "You know, why didn't you wake me up when it started hurting? It must have been hurting for quite a while now, right?"

Taking advantage of a brief respite between contractions, Li Yuexi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I heard my mother say that at the beginning, the pain comes in waves, and the intervals between the pains are long. Only when the intervals between the pains become shorter can you prepare to give birth."

Xu Di sighed and said, "But you're carrying twins. Everyone's body is different. Just because others say this doesn't mean you are."

Looking at the time, it was not yet four in the morning. Someone had already opened the door. Chen Zhaoci put on his outer robe as he came into the room and asked, "How is it now?"

Before Xu Di could speak, another wave of overwhelming pain struck, and Li Yuexi's face contorted in agony, looking somewhat ferocious.

Just to be on the safe side, Chen Zhaoci invited Madam Tong's mother from her family two days ago, so that she could handle any emergencies. Chen Zhaoci felt that he was not a professional obstetrician. Although he knew how to deliver babies, he could not compare with a professional who had been delivering babies for many years in terms of experience.

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