As soon as Manager Zhang returned home, he heard someone knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" he shouted from outside the house.
"It's me, manager!"
A male voice came from outside, a deep voice that Manager Zhang knew all too well.
Upon learning that it was one of their own, Manager Zhang went to open the door.
After the others came in, Manager Zhang looked around the door to make sure no one was following him before closing the door and bolting it.
He had barely turned around when he launched into a tirade, “Didn’t I tell you not to come looking for me normally?”
You're still wearing your duty uniform today; are you trying to let everyone know we're connected?!
The person who came to see Manager Zhang was Zhang Xiaoshun, a jailer on duty at the prison.
Zhang Xiaoshun was barely twenty years old, and whatever was on his mind was written all over his face. With a pained expression, he said anxiously, "Cousin, the person you asked me to imprison has disappeared!"
"What did you say!" Manager Zhang exclaimed, stepping forward and grabbing Zhang Xiaoshun's collar with both hands. "What do you mean he's missing!"
How could someone who was perfectly fine in prison simply disappear?
If you don't explain yourself clearly, we'll both be dead!
Zhang Xiaoshun's Adam's apple was being choked, and he grabbed Manager Zhang's large hands, trying to pry them open, but the difference in strength was too great, and he couldn't get Manager Zhang to loosen his grip at all.
"Cousin...I can't breathe."
Zhang Xiaoshun mustered his last breath and managed to say the words.
Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshun's words, Manager Zhang quickly reacted and released Zhang Xiaoshun, whose heels were off the ground.
He slowly released Zhang Xiaoshun's collar, sat heavily on the stool, and said with a dark expression, "Tell me what exactly happened!"
Zhang Xiaoshun suddenly breathed in the fresh air and began to cough violently.
It took me a while to recover from coughing.
Having learned from his previous experience, he dared not get too close to Steward Zhang again, for fear of being choked again.
He took a step back and said, "The old man who delivers food today discovered that he's missing. I don't know where he went either. This prison is heavily guarded; I just can't figure out how he escaped!"
Manager Zhang glared angrily at Zhang Xiaoshun, "How did he escape? Did he dig a tunnel to get away?"
Zhang Xiaoshun knew that he had done a poor job, so he didn't dare to say anything. He could only lower his head like an ostrich and not dare to utter a word.
Manager Zhang was so angry his throat was practically on fire. He glanced at Zhang Xiaoshun standing in the corner and knew that even if he beat him to death now, he wouldn't be able to bring the person back.
So he said, "Pretend this never happened, and you should go back now."
Running out while on duty? Do you want to die?!
I will not visit you again, and you are not allowed to come to my door again!
"Yes, yes," Zhang Xiaoshun nodded quickly in response, and then ran off.
After Zhang Xiaoshun ran away, Steward Zhang poured himself a cup of tea, drank it all in one gulp, and then remembered that Zhang Jie'er had told him to release Miao Dajiang. Why hadn't he listened to her back then?
Now that Miao Dajiang has met him, it will definitely be a troublesome matter if Miao Dajiang's master finds out.
No, we have to go to Zhang Jie'er about this and ask her to come up with a solution. We can't let him bear the consequences alone!
Thinking of this, he couldn't sit still any longer. He immediately got up and asked someone to go to the county magistrate's office to invite Zhang Jie'er to the inn to discuss the matter.
...
The main gate of the government office was tightly closed.
Wu stood in front of the Dengwen Drum with her son in her hand, Lu Qiqi stood behind them, and Li Changlong went to tie up the carriage.
The sight of two women and a child standing in front of the petition drum was already quite eye-catching.
Moreover, the woman and child with their hair tied up and dressed in hemp clothing, looking like they were in mourning, made it hard for them to go unnoticed.
Gradually, a number of people gathered in front of the government office, pointing and whispering about the three men with curiosity.
"Could these three be suffering a great injustice?"
"Who would come to the county government office without a grievance? Do you think it's so easy to get in?"
"What can these two women and a child possibly accomplish? They'll probably not only fail to clear their name, but also lose half their lives!"
"Oh dear, what a tragedy. This mother and son are dressed in mourning clothes; they must have just lost their husbands. If something happens to them, won't this family be left without an heir?"
As he spoke, an old man raised his voice and said, "Young lady, this petition drum is not something an ordinary person can ring!"
Even a man would likely lose half his life in this, young lady, you should think of the child and return quickly!
"That's right! That's right!"
Others below echoed this sentiment, trying to persuade the three to go back.
Wu let go of her son's hand, her gaze firm as she walked toward the Dengwen Drum. She then stood in front of the drum, raising her hands as if to grab the drumsticks.
At this moment, Lu Qiqi suddenly said, "Sister-in-law, let me do it."
Madam Wu turned around and looked at Lu Qiqi. "My husband is dead. What kind of logic is it to ask the village chief to beat the grievance drum for me?"
Lu Qiqi said righteously, "It was my suggestion that you suffer on my fiefdom and work on the hillside."
Both morally and logically, I should bear a responsibility; it's my duty to beat this drum!
She was a village head personally appointed by the emperor, and even without power or position, she had an extra layer of status compared to Wu, an ordinary commoner.
Besides, Tongzi was a villager from her fiefdom who was brutally murdered on her land, and she wanted to personally seek justice for Tongzi!
Let the world know that these five villages were the territory personally bestowed upon her by the emperor as the Princess of Kangle Township.
This is not a place for anyone to trample on or manipulate!
Wu was stunned, staring at Lu Qiqi's imposing aura that stood two meters tall.
When she was pulled back to her senses, the drums had already started beating.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The drumsticks struck the red drum, each sound resounding and deafening!
Wu felt her heartbeat, like the red drum, start beating again, vibrant and powerful, under Lu Qiqi's beating!
People passing by heard the drumbeats and came over to watch.
Seeing the three thin and weak people, they couldn't move their feet and wanted to see what had happened.
This forced two women to come and beat the drum to appeal for justice.
Zhu Datou was resting in the backyard with Aunt Lu when he heard the servant report. He quickly had someone change his clothes and headed to the front hall of the yamen.
Finally, the gates of the county government office opened.
The county government gate had been in disrepair for many years, and the sound of it opening was unusually loud.
Upon hearing the jarring sound of the door opening, Lu Qiqi stopped drumming and put down the drumsticks.
When she turned around, Li Changlong and Wu were standing behind her.
After exchanging a glance with Li Changlong, Lu Qiqi nodded and entered the government office with Madam Wu.
The child was with Li Changlong, standing outside the county government gate.
Lu Qiqi, holding Wu's hand, walked into the county government office with her head held high and chest out.
Upon reaching the courtyard, Madam Wu saw two rows of yamen runners standing on either side. Feeling nervous, she unconsciously flinched.
Lu Qiqi noticed her reaction and quickly held her hand tightly to comfort her.
Then, he turned to her and whispered, "I'll take care of everything, sister-in-law. I won't let anything happen to you."
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