Upon Zheng Hong's command, Liu Qi turned pale with fright.
"Sir, what have I done wrong that you want to arrest me?"
Zheng Hong was very busy and didn't have time to explain to Liu Qi.
He looked to his left and right, where two officers, one in each hand, had grabbed Liu Qi's arms behind his back.
“I’m Qiu Dafu’s man, you can’t arrest me.”
"Brother Qiu's men?" Zheng Hong asked, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind.
Qiu Yan shook her head and added, "Your Excellency, do not listen to this man's nonsense."
If Liu Qi really has a problem, wouldn't that implicate her second uncle?
Qiu Yan absolutely cannot let this happen.
Frustrated, Liu Qi looked at Qiu Yan, seeking her help.
"Miss Qiu, I'll tell you everything, please save me."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Qiu Yan smiled slightly as she looked at Zheng Hong. "County Commandant, please go ahead with your work. Leave this beggar to me. Don't worry, I won't let him escape."
Zheng Hong sensed that Qiu Yan and Liu Qi had something to say to each other, and because Qiu Yan had helped him on several occasions, he trusted her and nodded.
"Alright, Miss Qiu, be careful."
After saying that, he led his subordinates away from Qiu Yan and continued searching for those people of unknown origin.
After Zheng Hong had gone far away, Qiu Yan asked Liu Qi again, "Speak, there's no one else here."
"I'm a deserter," Liu Qi muttered under his breath, then noticed Qiu Yan's eyes turn hostile and quickly took a step back.
"Are you trying to fool me again? If you don't tell the truth, I'll go and question my second uncle myself. Then I'll definitely hand you over to the county magistrate."
Liu Qi's eyes hardened, and he had no choice but to admit:
"I am... a soldier of the Northern Qi army, but now I am a citizen of Dongjin. Please don't hand me over to the officials."
"It really is true." Qiu Yan's eyes sharpened as she recalled the two toads she encountered during the Huaiyuan turmoil. "The Northern Qi army insulted women, they are utterly depraved, they deserve to die!"
"I didn't, I didn't do any of those things." Liu Qi was already drenched in cold sweat.
"Because of your second uncle, I am now a rebel. If I am captured and taken back, I will die a horrible death."
"Because of my second uncle?" Qiu Yan had never heard her second uncle mention this matter.
"Isn't it because of him? That night, it was my turn to be on duty in the prison. Your second uncle impersonated Chu Tian's men and sent the other prison guards away. As soon as he entered the prison, before I could react, he directly swung his sword, cleaved open the prison door, and rescued the prefect of Huaiyuan and a group of officials from the Jiang family..."
With a bitter face, Liu Qi told Qiu Yan in detail about Qiu Dafu's prison break.
These days, no matter how much he pestered him, Qiu Dafu just wouldn't accept him.
This troubled Liu Qi greatly. He didn't want to be a beggar, but he had no money. What else could he do besides be a beggar?
Qiu Yan had already heard these words from Jiang Liu once.
What Liu Qi said was accurate.
Now, she only feels that her second uncle is kind-hearted.
If it were anyone else, Liu Qi would probably have been killed long ago.
“Miss Qiu, you’ve never served in the army, so you can’t understand how we soldiers feel. During holidays, when we miss home, we always sit together and cry our hearts out.”
If only there were no war.
"You have families, but the lives of the people of Huaiyuan are worthless in your eyes." Qiu Yan's words were cold, but she felt heartbroken for the people of Huaiyuan who had died.
“No.” Liu Qi shook his head. “The Fourth Prince lacks prestige and is not favored in Northern Qi. He has no military power. Most of the Northern Qi troops in Huaiyuan are rural bandits and local tyrants.”
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