Chapter 357 Retribution
Zhou Yunqi didn’t know if it was his illusion, but he always felt that Ji Sheng on the horse glanced at Zhou Jianying behind him.
"Today is the day for the house search. You lead the team to the Huang family."
Zhou Yunqi looked at Ji Sheng sitting on the tall horse and clenched his fists, "As you command!"
He thought he knew why.
The Huang family was originally considered a vassal of the Zhou family. However, when Zhou Cungao led his troops deep in the battlefield, Huang Xing'an, the head of the Huang family who was supposed to rescue him, turned around and defected to Cai Chuan, causing Zhou Cungao to be isolated and helpless, and eventually died in battle.
It can be said that Zhou Cungao and the Zhou family army at that time were forced to fight to the death, which was inseparable from the Huang family.
This time, Ji Sheng did Zhou Yunqi a huge favor, asking him to take revenge personally.
Zhou Yunqi led his men away, and the other generals also received orders to act separately.
In the end, only Ji Sheng and a group of people were left standing there.
He looked at the direction Zhou Yunqi left and said to the people around him, "Follow him closely. Once you find him, take him to the Black Prison."
A man wearing inconspicuous soldier armor beside Ji Sheng's horse nodded and accepted the order, then led the two of them in the direction Zhou Yunqi had just left.
Ji Sheng also had his own things to do. Youzhou did not need a second master besides him, so the former Youzhou governor Cai Chuan naturally became his victim.
Ji Sheng deliberately chose to raid homes and behead people in broad daylight in order to let the people of Youzhou City see who is the master of the northern border now and what will be the fate of those who oppose him.
The North has experienced so much in recent years.
The people of Youzhou City were not afraid when the Cai family was raided. Instead, they felt a sense of relief that retribution had finally come.
When Ji Sheng rode his horse and led his men to the Cai family, many people took rotten vegetable leaves and even stones and threw them at the Cai family members who were pinned to the ground by the officers and soldiers and could not move. Some people were even hit on the head and bleeding.
It was not until Ji Sheng brought his army over that the people gradually stopped.
Ji Sheng looked at the Cai family members at the door of the Cai family and said to Jiang Jian beside him: "Tomorrow at noon, let all the people in the city watch the execution."
After Ji Sheng finished speaking, one of the Cai family members who was still kneeling on the ground raised his head and shouted, "The imperial court will not execute women and children. King Wei, aren't you afraid of retribution for doing this?"
Even when Zhou Cungao was falsely accused of treason and collaborating with the enemy, the only punishment was to execute all male members of the clan who were over ten years old.
They merely embezzled grain and falsified accounts, seized people's land and forced innocent people into slavery. Why should they be convicted and their entire families be executed? This is unfair!
"Cai Chuan colluded with foreign enemies, causing great suffering to the people on the border and displacing the civilians. This was personally admitted by the generals under Tiele, and Cai Chuan also admitted it."
Of course, this was just an excuse he told to the people around him. The real reason was that Ji Sheng disliked them and wanted to kill them.
The man's heart skipped a beat and he said, "But women and children..."
"As you said before, this is your retribution. Allowing your family to be reunited in the underworld is a favor I bestow upon you."
Ji Sheng looked down at the man and said, "You can thank me now."
"King Wei, you are cruel and inhumane, aren't you afraid..."
"Cut off his tongue." Jiang Jian said with a frown.
After receiving the order, the officers and soldiers nearby inserted a knife into his mouth, pulling it out and causing blood to flow. He screamed and cried continuously.
"Escort them to the prison." After Jiang Jian finished speaking, the officers and soldiers escorted the Cai family away.
After the Cai family's gate returned to peace, a captain came to Ji Sheng's horse with a list and handed it to him.
When Ji Sheng took the roster and opened it, the captain said, "The Cai family has a total of thirty-nine members. Thirty-seven of those listed have been taken away. The remaining two children have yet to be found."
"Has your loyal servant checked?" Jiang Jian asked the captain.
"They've all been detained. The Cai Mansion has been under constant surveillance. Youzhou City has been closed since last night and the gates haven't been opened yet. There's no way to escape from Youzhou City."
"Search the house."
At Ji Sheng's command, the government troops behind him, led by Jiang Jian and the captain, rushed towards Cai's house.
He looked at the roster in his hand. The two children who were missing were eight years old and a baby.
And the eight-year-old one already knows things.
Ji Sheng led people to search the house and find people, while Zhou Yunshu was walking in the back garden of Prince Wei's mansion with her child in her arms.
Nanny Jiang followed Zhou Yunshu, Chunque and Qiulu followed behind them, laughing and saying something from time to time.
It is said that Chunque and Qiulu had a good relationship when they were in the palace. Although one was a dowry maid and the other was a maid arranged by the palace for Zhou Yunshu, the two of them were of similar age and had the most interactions in the past.
"I feel like you've changed a lot, just like..." Qiu Lu watched Chun Que racking her brains for adjectives, "just like a domestic goose suddenly turning into an eagle in the sky."
Chunque laughed and said, "Hahaha, I like both geese and eagles, but I like eagles more."
As she spoke, she put her arm around Qiu Lu and said, "Sister Qiu Lu, let me tell you, it's so great to follow the master out of the palace."
Qiu Lu asked doubtfully, "Isn't it bitter?"
They were exiled to escape famine, and in the smoke-filled and miasmic places in the south, one could lose their lives if they were not careful. How could they feel happy in such a hardship?
"It's not hard. There are no rules or constraints. You can do whatever you want. It's a life of freedom."
Chunque's eyes sparkled when she said this. No one would doubt the truthfulness of her words. She really felt that the days away from the capital were very enjoyable.
"We traveled the mountains and rivers, punished evildoers, rode horses, took boat rides, met different people, and ate delicious food from different places."
She put her arm around Qiu Lu and said excitedly, "The lychees that Master used to eat in the capital, we can now pick from the trees ourselves. They're so fresh, we can eat as much as we want. There are also many fruits and vegetables that have never been seen in the capital."
"If only you had come with us back then, you would have become a capable assistant to the master, instead of being trapped in a courtyard like you are now, doing the same chores every day, and then finding a servant to marry off when you are old enough."
Qiu Lu thought about her age and her parents' plans for her and sighed, "I'm not the master's maidservant. I don't have the right to choose."
Not to mention, their family are all slaves in the palace, and their honor and disgrace are tied to King Wei, so she can't leave.
Seeing Qiu Lu was moved, Chun Que deliberately pulled her arm and slowed down her pace. "If you want to leave with us, the master will speak for you."
Qiu Lu blinked.
"You were the master's maid before, much better than me. As long as the master wants you, the prince will definitely let you go."
Qiu Lu hesitated and said, "Spring Bird, tell me the truth."
Chunque nodded.
"Do you think our princess and our prince can still live together?"
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