Chapter 78078 Qingtang is imprisoned

On the New Year's Eve of the sixteenth year of the Qingyuan era, Du Qingtang and the other two stayed up all night to celebrate the New Year.

After the new year, it is the first day of the first lunar month.

At the turn of dawn and dusk, the three of them went back to their rooms to rest.

I slept until the afternoon and skipped breakfast and lunch.

After dinner, Du Qingzhu and Du Qingju continued to catch up on their sleep.

In order to arrive at Runing Mansion on New Year's Eve and spend the New Year's Eve with the youngest brother, they traveled day and night and spent the night in the carriage. The road was bumpy and they had not been able to get a good night's sleep for several days.

Du Qingtang went to the front yard to check the New Year gifts sent by his colleagues.

There are ginseng, tea, porcelain, calligraphy and painting and so on.

If you ask Du Qingtang which one he likes the most, it must be Feng Shu's New Year gift - a box of books.

Du Qingtang tapped the wooden box with his fingers and gave an ambiguous smile.

She picked up a book at random, sat under the lamp and read it, and did not fall asleep until midnight.

The next day, Du Qingtang got up for morning exercises as usual.

After doing a set of boxing exercises and running ten laps around the yard, he returned to the house with wet hair to wash up, and then went to the dining room to eat.

As soon as I put down my chopsticks, Zhu and Ju also stood up.

He was no longer tired and listless as in the previous two days, but looked radiant and energetic.

Du Qingzhu smiled and waved, like a lucky cat: "Good morning, Tang Ge'er."

"Has Tang'er done his morning exercise?" Du Qingju asked when she noticed that the ends of Du Qingtang's hair were wet.

The maid brought their breakfast to the table. Du Qingtang thought for a moment and sat back down. "Well, I worked up a sweat, so I took a shower."

"Next time, dry your hair before going out. It's still cold in the first month of the year." Du Qingju reminded him, and then added, "I plan to go to Jishitang this morning."

Du Qingju was very talented in studying medicine. In just a few years, he successfully completed his studies and became a doctor at Huimin Medical Clinic.

Although she is not as well-known as Doctor Qu, most patients subconsciously ignore Du Qingju because she is a woman and young, and go to older doctors for treatment. However, as the saying goes, there is gain in loss.

Because of Du Qingju's gender, many women with unspeakable problems took the initiative to seek medical treatment from her.

After a while, Du Qingju became famous among women.

Everyone in Qingyuan County knows that there is a young but skilled female doctor in Huimin Medical Clinic. No matter whether it is gynecological diseases or preserving the fetus, it is definitely a good idea to find her.

But both Doctor Qu and Du Qingtang knew that Du Qingju's medical skills were not limited to gynecology.

She should have received more praise, but because she was a woman, she was restricted in every way.

Last October, the Du family girl received a letter from the youngest son.

Du Qingju was worried about Du Qingtang, tossing and turning all night, and made a decision the next morning -

She is going to Runing Prefecture.

Even though Runing Mansion was fraught with crises and the journey was long, she did not want to leave her youngest child alone to spend New Year's Eve.

When Du Qingzhu learned of Du Qingju's decision, she expressed her agreement with both hands and feet, and also expressed her desire to go.

So, the two sisters hired a group of bodyguards at a high price and set off on a journey to Runing Prefecture on a certain day.

Before leaving, Du Qingzhu handed over Du's Snacks to his fifth and sixth sisters, and Du Qingju also asked for leave from his master, Doctor Qu.

Doctor Qu knew that the daring Du Qingtang of the Du family had passed the imperial examination and was now serving as an official in Runing Prefecture. He readily approved Du Qingju's request for leave and said -

"It's a coincidence, I have a fellow apprentice who runs a clinic in Runing Prefecture. I'll write him a letter explaining the situation. When you give him this letter, you can stay in his clinic and practice medicine."

Du Qingju was somewhat tempted, but still had concerns: "Will Master Uncle agree?"

Although Du Qingju had been influenced by Du Qingtang and Du Qingzhu for many years, she did not feel that she was inferior to those male doctors.

But the world is like this, which is destined to make people look down on and be prejudiced against women.

The reason why she worked at Huimin Medical Clinic was because of Dr. Qu's insistence on reason.

Doctor Qu rolled his eyes and said, "No one would refuse a benefit that comes to their door."

He is greedy for money, and his junior fellow apprentice is even worse than him.

Du Qingju was so happy that she could sit in the hall for free without spending a penny that she couldn't bear to refuse.

Du Qingju: “…”

Jishidiang is the clinic of Doctor Yang, the junior brother of Doctor Qu.

Du Qingju is a person who can't sit still. After a whole day of rest on New Year's Day, it's time for her to return to work.

Du Qingtang had no objection. A girl should have her own career. "Let Du Jiu and Du Shi take you there."

Du Qingju did not refuse.

There are many people in Runing Mansion who are eyeing their youngest child covetously. As an elder sister, she should not cause trouble for the youngest child.

Du Qingtang ate another bun, tore off the wrapper and put it in his mouth, then turned to look at Du Qingzhu: "What about you? What are your plans?"

Du Qingzhu said without hesitation: "Of course, it's to open a snack shop."

Du Qingtang decisively rejected her plan: "Unless something unexpected happens, I won't stay in Runing Mansion for too long."

Du Qingzhu understood her implication and regretfully gave up the plan: "Okay, forget it then."

"Actually, I originally planned to open a restaurant in the county town. I even had a signature dish in mind, but plans can't keep up with changes..."

Du Qingzhu blinked, and deliberately pinched her throat, speaking in a coquettish voice: "But the restaurant is not as important as Tang Ge'er. Tang Ge'er will always be the first in my heart."

Du Qingtang listened to her sweet voice: "......"

"Ha—cough cough cough!"

Du Qingju was amused by Du Qingzhu. She was drinking porridge at that time and choked accidentally, causing her to cough. Her dark brown pupils were wet and stained with moisture.

Du Qingzhu was startled and quickly tried to calm her down.

After Du Qingju recovered, Du Qingzhu announced loudly: "I've decided. From today on, I will take over the kitchen of the Tongpan Mansion and try to fatten up Tang Ge'er!"

When they met again after several months, Du Qingzhu was surprised to find that Du Qingtang had lost a lot of weight.

The night before yesterday, I stayed up all night to celebrate the New Year, and it felt uncomfortable even when I leaned on her shoulder.

Du Qingtang bent his fingers and loosely circled his wrist, leaving some space.

I have been busy with official duties recently and sometimes I don’t have time to eat, so I naturally lose some weight.

Du Qingtang did not refuse Du Qingzhu's kindness, but she could not stay in the kitchen all day. After pondering for a moment, she said, "There is also a Qiong Ying Society in Runing Prefecture. It seems that there are hundreds of members. Seventh Sister, you can go and take a look."

Reciting poems or composing couplets, or teaching people to read and write, it all goes well.

Zhu and Ju were overjoyed.

"There's actually a Qiong English Society in Runing Prefecture?"

"It's like watching your own child grow up little by little and become more and more successful."

"Pfft—what kind of metaphor is that?"

Du Qingju couldn't help laughing, and Du Qingzhu snorted twice: "We can barely be considered veterans of the Qiongying English Society. Is there anything wrong with describing us like that?"

Du Qingju couldn't refute it.

In the past few years, the Qiong English Society has grown step by step from its controversial beginnings to now having two to three hundred members, some of whom have been hired as female teachers to teach rich young ladies how to read and write.

No one can deny that many women's lives have been changed as a result.

And in places they couldn't see, Qiong Ying Society blossomed everywhere, accepting more and more women and becoming a household name to a certain extent.

Du Qingju said with emotion: "It is not easy for Qiongwen English Publishing House to reach its current scale, but it is worth it."

Du Qingzhu remained silent, devouring half of the bun in one gulp, and replied to Du Qingtang's previous suggestion: "I'll go when I have time."

Du Qingtang lowered his eyes. There was a drop of water on the table. He ran his index finger over it, and it felt icy cold. "What's the situation with Fifth Sister and Guo Qian now?"

There is a custom in Qingyuan County that on New Year’s Eve and the first day of the first lunar month, one should not say unlucky words or mention unlucky things, as it is considered unlucky.

So Du Qingtang had been holding back since New Year's Eve before asking until now.

Zhu and Ju's smiles faded, and Du Qingzhu said unhappily, "I didn't expect we were wrong. This Guo guy is nothing at all."

"That day, Ah Wen, my seventh brother-in-law, and the man surnamed Guo returned from Northern Zhili. My fifth and sixth sisters spent the entire afternoon preparing a huge table of dishes, but as soon as he walked in, he gave my fifth sister the cold shoulder, saying we hadn't even passed the imperial examination, so there was nothing to celebrate."

"Fifth sister was so angry that she stayed at home for a few days. Guo Qian saw that Fifth sister was determined, so he came to her house to apologize, saying that he was in a bad mood because he failed the exam, and asked Fifth sister to be magnanimous and not to hold it against him."

"Just as the couple reconciled, news came that you, Tang'er, had been exiled, and Guo's family became interested again..."

Du Qingtang asked, "Are you arguing again?"

"No, it's just that he's not as affectionate to Fifth Sister and us as before."

Du Qingju's voice was soft, but her words were full of sarcasm: "Our fifth brother-in-law is very arrogant."

Du Qingtang asked again: "Where is the fifth sister? What is her attitude?"

Du Qingzhu said, "She had a quarrel with the man surnamed Guo and came back to live for a few days. In the end, it was Mrs. Guo who came to intercede for her and she finally moved back."

"It's my fault. I was wrong at the time and failed to see through Guo Qian's disguise, so Fifth Sister married the wrong person." Du Qingtang's eyes were calm. "After I finish dealing with the matters in Runing Mansion, I will contact Guo Qian and let Fifth Sister divorce and return home."

"Divorce? Will Guo Qian agree?"

"What if Fifth Sister doesn't want to divorce?"

Du Qingtang rubbed his brows and said, "I will ask Fifth Sister for her opinion first."

As for Guo Qian, his opinion is not important.

Du Qingzhu and Du Qingju looked at each other and both stood on Du Qingtang's side.

"A peaceful divorce is a good idea. Guo isn't a good match. He only bullies my fifth sister and makes her unhappy."

"Anyway, our family is not short of money. My fifth sister earns two taels of silver a month as a mistress. Isn't she living a better life than anyone else?"

After breakfast, Du Qingtang went to the study to practice calligraphy, Du Qingzhu went to the kitchen to research new dishes, and Du Qingju went to Jishengtang accompanied by Du Jiu and Du Shi.

That afternoon, Du Qingju officially became the resident doctor at Jishengtang.

The people who came to see a doctor found that there was a female doctor in Jishengtang and called it ridiculous.

"What kind of illness can a little girl get treated for? Please don't let my illness get worse."

"Stop messing around, little girl. Instead of wasting time here, you should go home and serve your man and children."

"Men and women shouldn't touch each other, so her husband doesn't mind her treating us?"

Derogatory or contemptuous words came from all directions, but Du Qingju acted as if she didn't hear them. A faint smile hung on her beautiful face, and she calmly accepted the people's doubts and scrutiny.

Doctor Yang looked at the young girl who was not easily affected by fame or criticism, twirled his beard and raised his eyebrows.

This little disciple of senior brother is not simple.

-

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the annual holiday ends.

Du Qingtang returned to the government office and continued to sit on the bench. Every day, she took two clerks to go out early and come back late to deal with some trivial matters.

On the 16th day of the first lunar month, news reached Runing Prefecture that several officials in Daming Prefecture, Northern Zhili, neglected their duties, allowed a locust plague to wreak havoc and harm the people, and that the imperial envoy, holding the imperial sword, had executed them immediately.

The people applauded.

"Your Excellency, the Imperial Envoy is wise! This kind of scoundrel deserves to have his head chopped off!"

"Fortunately, all the officials in Runing Prefecture are good."

"We are truly blessed to have the prefect."

The rumbling of the carriage slowly passed through the streets.

Du Qingtang listened to the people cursing the officials of Daming Prefecture and praising Feng Shu, and pulled his lip with an ambiguous tone.

It would take at least half a month for the news to reach Runing Prefecture from Daming Prefecture.

At this rate, Yan Tiande will be able to reach Runing Prefecture in a month at most.

Du Qingtang took a sip of tea as the carriage passed through the downtown area and headed towards the Tongpan Mansion.

......

Two weeks later, news came in one after another.

A certain official was convicted and imprisoned, and a certain official was beheaded by the imperial envoy with the imperial sword.

The reputation of Imperial Commissioner Yan Tiande spread far and wide, and the two deputy governors and one deputy judge had naturally heard of it.

It was a good time for the three of them to go to Cuihonglou for entertainment.

Wang Tongzhi dismissed the girls from Cuihonglou, his face filled with sorrow: "Yan is a mad dog, biting everyone he catches. If he finds out... the three of us will definitely be dead!"

Hu Tongzhi, who was originally hugging the beauty happily, immediately drooped his lips when he heard this and cast a disapproving look at him: "The prefect will definitely save us."

Judge Xie recalled the harsh words Feng Shu had said to him last December. His roly-poly body trembled, and he spoke in a lingering voice, "What if he can't save himself?"

Hu Tongzhi rolled his eyes and said, "The prefect's father-in-law is a second-rank official in the imperial court, not to mention the Prime Minister above him."

"Only one-tenth or two-tenths of the silver we have obtained in the past few years has fallen into our hands, and the other sixty-sevenths have been sent to Xiajing. As long as that person still wants the money bag of Runing Mansion, he will definitely protect us."

The speech was well-reasoned and the hearts of Wang Tongzhi and Xie Tongpan, which had been in their throats, gradually calmed down.

"That's good, that's good."

"I'm not old enough to know my destiny yet, and I don't want to die."

The three of them looked at each other, called the girls in, and continued to eat and drink happily.

As he had to go on duty the next day, Xie Tongpan did not spend the night in Cuihonglou. It was already late at night when he returned to Tongpan Mansion.

Judge Xie walked into the room reeking of alcohol. The room was pitch black, and one couldn't see one's hand in front of one's face.

The servant went to fetch water, and Judge Xie went to light a candle in the dark.

The candles lit up, dispelling the darkness in the room.

Judge Xie put down the lighter, smacked his lips, and because he had drunk too much, he felt a little heartburn. He staggered over to get some water.

Before he turned around completely, he caught a glimpse of a dark shadow looming in the inner room.

Panist Xie was startled and sobered up from the alcohol.

He swallowed, his eyes rolled, and he tiptoed back silently.

"If I were you, I would just stand there quietly instead of trying to escape and get help."

The clear voice penetrated the darkness and reached the ears of Pandit Xie.

Xie Tongpan's fat body trembled.

It was not because of what the man in the inner room said, but because of the cold object pressing against the carotid artery.

The candlelight flickered, and light poured into the inner room from the outer room, allowing Xie Tongpan to see the appearance of the person who came.

He was wearing a round-necked green robe, his raven-colored hair meticulously tied up with a headband. His deep facial features were immersed in the shadows, and the alternation of light and dark revealed an indescribable sense of oppression.

Judge Xie opened his eyes wide in astonishment: "Du, Du, Du... Brother Chen!"

"Chen Ge'er?" Du Qingtang's voice rose at the end, and she looked down at the boy sleeping peacefully in her arms, "So that's his name."

The tone was as calm as water, but when condensed into one sentence, it felt like a sharp knife piercing my heart.

At this moment, Panist Xie had no time to care about why Du Qingtang appeared in his bedroom, why he seemed like a different person, emitting a dangerous aura from the inside out.

He only knew that his legitimate son was in Du Qingtang's hands.

"Chen'er is a good boy. When Du brought him here from his room, he thought it was Mr. Xie and hugged Du's neck and called him daddy."

Xie Tongpan: “…”

Speaking of his father, he thought of last year when Du Qingtang was drunk and asked with a sob if he could call him father.

Fortunately, he sympathized with Du Qingtang at that time and gave her the job of Yufu River, for which he was beaten by Feng Shu.

Now it seems that Du Qingtang's grievances and pity were all pretended!

If she was really as harmless as she appeared, she wouldn't have come uninvited late at night, and she wouldn't have taken his only son hostage!

Thinking that everyone in the government office had been deceived by Du Qingtang, Xie Tongpan was so angry that he wanted to bite her to death.

Pan Xie was filled with mixed feelings of shock and anger, but he could only stand there with his neck stiff, not daring to move, for fear that Du Qingtang would suddenly go crazy and do harm to Chen Ge'er.

"Let's talk it over! Let's talk it over!"

"As long as you release Chen Ge'er, I will agree to any conditions you ask!"

Xie Kang was not a good person to begin with. He would even abandon his conscience for fame and fortune.

Loyal?

Go through fire and water?

That was all under the premise that everything was peaceful and he had not been coerced.

Feng Shu was just a ladder for him to climb up.

In the darkness, Du Qingtang smiled and said in a steady voice, "I came to visit you late at night because I wanted to make a deal with you, Lord Xie, because you have always taken good care of me."

Xie Tongpan looked at Chen Ge'er sleeping soundly in Du Qingtang's arms and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Can I refuse?"

Du Qingtang: "No."

Xie Tongpan: “…”

-

On the eighth day of February, Imperial Commissioner Yan Tiande arrived in Henan Province.

On February 12, Yan Tiande investigated and punished three officials of Guide Prefecture and sentenced them to immediate execution.

On February 13, Yan Tiande arrived in Runing Prefecture.

The prefect Feng Shu and all the officials of the government office went out of the city to welcome them.

"Your humble servant respectfully welcomes the Imperial Envoy."

Yan Tiande was just like he had been all those years ago, his face solemn and cold as snow. "My Lords, there's no need to be so polite. I'm doing this by order of the Emperor. If I offend you in the next few days, I hope you'll forgive me."

A group of officials said they dared not.

Feng Shu said gently, "I have already arranged accommodation for you, sir. Please follow me and I will welcome you."

Yan Tiande had a blank expression on his face: "There's no need for a welcoming ceremony. Official business is urgent. I have to go to Nanyang Prefecture in a few days."

Feng Shu remained calm and responded respectfully.

Yan Tiande and his party went to the mansion arranged for them by Feng Shu, while the officials except Feng Shu returned to the government office to continue handling official business.

The next day, Yan Tiande led dozens of officials and clerks to the government office and conducted a thorough investigation into tax collection, judicial trials and other aspects.

Officials seemed to be concentrating on their own work, but in fact, people in the government office were in a state of unrest.

Their hearts all flew to the hall, to Yan Tiande and others.

That morning, Du Qingtang did not go out to handle the lawsuit.

Seeing her bent over her desk, processing official documents, oblivious to what was happening outside, the clerk couldn't help but ask, "Sir, aren't you afraid that the Imperial Envoy will find out something?"

Du Qingtang opened the document and said calmly, "The Imperial Envoy is honest and fair. As long as you behave uprightly, what is there to fear?"

The clerk choked up, looked at the clerk next to him, moved his lips, but said nothing in the end.

About half an hour later, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door.

"Bang--"

The door of the duty room was violently thrown open, and the imperial guard in black armor walked in, speaking in a booming voice: "Who is Du Qingtang?"

Du Qingtang put down his brush, stood up and bowed: "I am Du Qingtang."

"Someone has reported you for embezzling taxes, and the Imperial Envoy has ordered us to arrest you." The guard waved his hand, "Take him away!"

Du Qingtang was horrified. "Embezzling taxes? I've been in Runing Prefecture for several months and have never taken a single needle or thread from the people or the government. Not even a single copper coin!"

"I want to see the Imperial Envoy. I've been wrongly accused!"

The guard ignored her excuses and simply followed her orders. "The six clerks who collected taxes with you have all confessed their guilt. They personally admitted to seeing you tamper with the tax records and embezzle some of the tax money."

The guards clamped Du Qingtang's arm and took her to prison for interrogation.

"Du was wrongly accused!"

"Your Excellency, the Imperial Envoy, please understand that Du has been wrongly accused!"

Du Qingtang's voice faded away, and the government office was in an uproar.

"Is she trying to kill herself? How dare she embezzle tax money!"

"Lord Du has a kind and honest character, not like that kind of person. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding?"

"Yes, Lady Du has been crying out for justice. I don't think her expression seems fake."

"Throughout history, all corrupt officials have claimed they were wrongly accused when they were arrested. But what has been the result?"

"At the moment, these are just the one-sided statements of those petty officials. We shouldn't jump to conclusions. Let's wait until the Imperial Envoy investigates the matter."

"I hope Lord Du is truly being wronged."

......

Yan Tiande ordered his men to put Du Qingtang in prison and sent people to the Tongpan Mansion to search.

In addition to maids and servants, there are also Du Qingtang's two sisters in the Tongpan Mansion.

The guard explained his purpose. After hearing it, Du Qingzhu and Du Qingju's faces lost all color, their slender bodies shook, and they seemed to be about to faint.

"That's impossible! My brother is an honest official. She would never embezzle tax silver!"

"There must be some misunderstanding!"

The guards turned a deaf ear to it. The imperial envoy would investigate whether it was a misunderstanding or not. They were only responsible for the search.

After rummaging through the boxes and cabinets, two guards came out carrying a wooden box half a person's height.

"The tax money has been converted into silver notes and hidden in the interlayer. It is estimated that there are at least tens of thousands of taels."

Du Qingzhu and Du Qingju were struck by lightning.

"That's impossible!"

"I remember now. This wooden box was sent by the prefect. He must have put the banknotes in it to frame my brother!"

There were many people watching outside the Tongpan Mansion.

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience was in an uproar.

"The prefect is an honest official, it's absolutely impossible!"

"But Lord Du is also a good official."

"The prefect has been in Runing Prefecture for eight years. How long has Lord Du been here?"

"You can only judge a person by their appearance. I thought she was a good person, but she turned out to be a corrupt official."

The guard carried the wooden box away, followed by the maid's exclamation.

"Seventh Miss!"

"Seventh Sister!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Du Qingzhu lying on the ground, unconscious.

"It's really pitiful. I was so scared that I fainted."

"What's there to be pitiful about? The sisters of corrupt officials are not good people either!"

“That’s right!”

-

With both witnesses and evidence in hand, Yan Tiande later went to the government prison to interrogate the guilty officer Du Qingtang.

However, during the interrogation, no matter how Yan Tiande pressed the issue, Du Qingtang refused to plead guilty.

In other words, she insisted that she was wronged.

"This is a premeditated frame-up!"

"I ask the Imperial Envoy to conduct a thorough investigation and clear Mr. Du's name!"

Yan Tiande naturally didn't believe it, but seeing that Du Qingtang would rather die than surrender and was unwilling to confess and sign, he had to give up temporarily.

The guards sent Du Qingtang back to the cell from the interrogation room.

Before leaving, one of them spoke, his voice neither loud nor soft, but everyone could hear it.

"I advise you to be sensible and confess your guilt and sign the name as soon as possible. When the imperial envoy's patience runs out, he will no longer care about your status and will torture you severely."

"If you confess now, you can suffer less punishment."

After the guards left, Du Qingtang sat cross-legged in the cell, calmly accepting the scrutiny from all directions.

"So you are a corrupt official."

"I hate corrupt officials the most in my life. Go to hell!"

"He looks like a decent person, but his heart, liver and lungs are all black. Tsk tsk, he is really a piece of shit."

"Quiet! Shut up!"

The jailer came over with a wooden stick, knocked on the cell door, and warned in a rough voice.

The prisoners fell silent and looked at Du Qingtang with contempt.

After an unknown amount of time, the jailer came to deliver food.

The prisoners picked up their bowls and devoured them. When it was Du Qingtang's turn, the jailer put the bowl and chopsticks into the cell: "Master Du, your dinner."

Du Qingtang sighed: "Don't call me Lord Du anymore, I'm just a prisoner now."

The jailer said, "Master Du, I believe you."

Du Qingtang was stunned.

The jailer whispered, "You may not remember, but last November, you helped my parents find their lost old ox."

"I believe you are not a corrupt person. Lord Du, you must hold on and wait for the Imperial Envoy to clear your name."

Du Qingtang smiled back, the ice and snow in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows melting away: "Thank you, I will."

The jailer went to the next cell to deliver food.

......

After dinner, Du Qingtang leaned against the wall and closed his eyes to rest.

Snoring began to rise all around, and there was a faint rustling sound in the cell.

It's the noise made by rats and cockroaches.

Du Qingtang remained calm and took it indifferently.

She had even lived in cow sheds and sheep pens, so a cell infested with cockroaches and rats was nothing to her.

It was late at night, but Du Qingtang had no desire to sleep.

She is waiting for someone.

This wait lasted until the second half of the night.

"It's only a cup of tea. Come out when the time is up."

"Got it, just stay away."

"I know, I know."

Du Qingtang opened his eyes and saw a black cloak parked outside the cell.

The person took off his hood, revealing a pretty face.

"Ms. Tan?"

"It's me, Master Du."

Du Qingtang immediately got up and walked to the prison door: "Miss Tan, why are you here?"

Tan Bitong heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Du Qingtang only looked a little pale but was not injured. "I was worried about you, so I came here to check on you."

Du Qingtang's face was filled with emotion. "I've been imprisoned, and Miss Tan is the only one who has come to visit me. It's really... By the way, Miss Tan, I wonder how my sister is doing now?"

Tan Bitong stroked her hair, suppressing her dissatisfaction with Du Qingtang's questioning of the others. "The Imperial Envoy's guards seized stolen silver from the Tongpan Mansion, causing my sister to faint. I don't know how she is doing now."

She recalled the rumors and after a pause, she asked, "Mr. Du, did you really embezzle money?"

Du Qingtang shook his head without hesitation: "Du has never embezzled tax silver. If I say even a word of falsehood, I will be struck by lightning and die miserably!"

In ancient times, oaths were extremely important.

Upon hearing this, Tan Bitong's originally wavering heart completely leaned towards Du Qingtang.

My cousin has always been ruthless and good at eliminating dissidents. Mr. Du is incorruptible and obviously not the same kind of person as my cousin.

"To be honest, Master Du, your sister once said in front of the people in the city that it was Bitong's cousin who framed Master Du for being imprisoned." Tan Bitong added in a low voice, "Your sister said that the wooden box containing the stolen silver was a gift from Bitong's cousin."

Du Qingtang's breathing stagnated as he murmured, "So that's it! So that's it!"

She suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Tan Bitong's wrist: "Miss Tan, please help me!"

After months of looking at each other, this was the first time that Tan Bitong and Du Qingtang were so close.

Looking at the handsome young man so close, Tan Bitong's heart was pounding: "What can I do?"

Du Qingtang spoke very quickly, "Years ago, I received a letter that mentioned that the prefect had embezzled tax silver. At that time, I didn't believe it and even reported it to the prefect."

"Now that I think about it, that incident was probably true, otherwise the prefect wouldn't have framed Du."

"That letter said that the prefect's evidence of his crimes was hidden in a secret compartment in his study," Du Qingtang pleaded. "Miss Tan, could you retrieve that evidence and hand it over to the imperial envoy?"

Tan Bitong hesitated.

Although Feng Shu was cruel and ruthless, he was a fourth-rank prefect and could protect her from harassment from the Zhang family.

But she couldn't bear to leave Du Qingtang.

If Du Qingtang really died, she was afraid that she would never meet another man who made her heart so moved.

Just as I was hesitating, a touch of warmth covered the back of my hand.

Tan Bitong was startled and looked down. It turned out that it was Du Qingtang holding her hand.

"ah!"

Tan Bitong cried out softly, her face flushing.

"To be honest, Miss Tan, I have been attracted to Miss Tan for a long time. I originally planned to ask someone to propose marriage to her when I was still young, but who would have thought..."

At this moment, Tan Bitong almost forgot to breathe, and her heart was about to jump out of her throat.

She pleases me.

She wants to propose to me.

"I promise you!"

Although Feng Shu was her cousin, there was still a gap between them, not to mention the tyrannical and jealous Wu, who was on guard against her like a thief every day, fearing that she would seduce Feng Shu.

But my husband is different.

Du Qingtang is the top scorer among the six imperial examinations. If he is successful in reporting Feng Shu, he will definitely be promoted.

By then, she would be an official's wife, and the Zhang family would not dare to get involved with her anymore.

"Master Du, just wait. I will definitely rescue you!"

Tan Bitong put on her hood again and hurried out of the government prison.

Du Qingtang sat back down with a cold expression.

In the previous life, the imperial guards found several books in Feng Shu's study, which recorded in detail every penny of tax, disaster relief, and other silver that had been embezzled over the past eight years.

As for Tan Bitong, she poisoned her husband and his parents, and seized the Zhang family's wealth. After the incident was exposed, she used the name of Feng Shu's cousin to bribe officials to escape punishment.

At that time, Du Qingtang served as the magistrate of Yanqing Prefecture and participated in the trial of the entire case.

This person has done many evil things, and she has no guilt in taking advantage of him.

-

"Bang!"

Feng Shu dropped his teacup to the ground, furious: "Bitch, how dare you damage my reputation!"

When Du Qingtang died, he would send them to reunite with Du Qingtang.

The close friend said, "Please calm down, my lord. Fortunately, the people are still on your side. They are cursing Du Qingtang and throwing stones and rotten vegetable leaves at the gate of the Tongpan Mansion."

Feng Shu's expression relaxed slightly, and just as he was about to let him leave, another confidant quickly walked in.

"Sir, please have your subordinates keep an eye on the Du family. Just now, the Du family's guards brought some books to the Imperial Envoy's residence."

Feng Shu frowned: "What book?"

The confidant hesitated for a moment and said, "From a distance, it looks like an account book, with some burnt marks on it."

An account book with charred marks?

Feng Shu suddenly thought of something and his pupils shrank suddenly.

Liu!

It must be Liu!

Feng Shu's eyes were bloodshot and he wished he could eat Liu alive.

When did Liu secretly collude with Du Qingtang and give the account book to Du Qingtang?

His people didn't even notice!

Feng Shu's brain was working rapidly. Suddenly, he clapped his hands and sneered: "I, Feng Shu, have been hunting geese all day, and now a goose has pecked my eyes!"

He sent people to monitor Du Qingtang, and sent his confidants to kill Liu's ancestors and grandchildren, thinking that this would eliminate the trouble forever.

Little did he know that the moment Liu came into contact with Du Qingtang, the evidence of his crime had already fallen into Du Qingtang's hands.

Months of surveillance and vigilance seemed like a joke!

"My Lord, what should we do now?"

Yan Tiande is a mad dog raised by Emperor Qingyuan. The fact that he got the account book means that Emperor Qingyuan will soon receive evidence of Feng Shu's guilt.

Even though Cao Yuan had great power in the court, he could not stop the emperor from getting angry and causing millions of deaths.

At that time, only death awaits Feng Shu.

Feng Shu naturally didn't want to end up like this.

He forced himself to calm down and paced back and forth.

After a while, Feng Shu ordered his confidant: "Go to Black Dragon Village and find the leader Long, and ask him to help me kill someone."

So what if he’s an imperial envoy?

If you know something you shouldn’t know, you will lose your life in Runing Prefecture!

"yes!"

The confidant knew that Feng Shu had a way to break the impasse, so he suppressed his excitement and took the order and left.

Feng Shu instructed another confidant, "Go to my private residence in the south of the city and transport the tax silver out of the city overnight and hide it at the Fang family in Dabie Village."

The most dangerous place is the safest place. Who would have thought that he hid the tax silver in Dabie Village?

The court could not convict him because it could not find evidence.

Feng Shu's heart was beating fast. The tension of facing life and death and the excitement of fighting a desperate battle were rushing through his veins, and his face and neck were flushed.

He must survive!

As long as you can survive, there will be no shortage of opportunities to turn the tide.

Feng Shu pondered for a moment and then said, "Call Chen Tao along, and remember! Don't alarm anyone!"

Zhang Jun and Chen Tao have been monitoring the Liu family in Dabie Village for many years and are familiar with the environment of Dabie Village. Feng Shu felt relieved when he asked them to do this.

"yes!"

Zhang Jun took the order and left.

Feng Shu thought of the book hidden in the secret compartment of the study and immediately went back home.

Yan Tiande must be killed, the tax money must be hidden, and all the books must be destroyed.

By then, even if we search the Runing Prefecture thoroughly, we will not be able to find any evidence of his guilt!

After returning home, he went straight to the study, closed the door and opened the secret compartment, only to find -

The secret compartment was empty, and the books were gone!

Where are the books?

Where is the book that records every stolen money over the past eight years?

Feng Shu stared intently, an unbelievable guess coming to his mind.

In a fit of rage, Feng Shu spat out a mouthful of blood and fell straight back.