The officer subconsciously grasped the hilt of his knife and asked in surprise, "What's going on?"
"Who's crying?"
"You two keep an eye on the backyard, we'll go take a look!" The two officers did not dare to neglect their duties and hurriedly investigated.
There were no outsiders in the post station, and the woman calling for help was probably her own family.
Guo Honglei immediately put down the wooden barrel, followed the crying sound, and followed the official to a dilapidated room in the back corridor.
The three men saw the door was half open and heard a woman crying.
"Who?" The officer pushed the door open with the handle of his sword and looked in confusion.
Xiao Tao's clothes were torn, her cheeks were red and swollen, and the corners of her mouth were broken and bleeding. She fell to the ground, her hands folded over her chest, covering her upper body. Looking up, she saw Guo Honglei and immediately knelt on her knees, crying out in grievance, "Second Master... please help me!"
Guo Honglei looked around with a gloomy face and asked bluntly, "Who did this?"
The officers searched with knives but found nothing; the man had already escaped.
"Tell me quickly! Who did it?" Guo Honglei quickly examined the doors and windows.
Xiao Tao was filled with shame and indignation, crying out loud and gasping for breath. She trembled and replied, "I didn't see his face, I only saw that he was wearing a military uniform."
Military uniform?
The three men looked at each other.
The officer cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, military uniform? Did you see it clearly? Don't talk nonsense."
Guo Honglei urged: "Tell me more about it!"
Xiao Tao's face flushed with anxiety, and she angrily declared, "Master, I saw it clearly. That despicable and vulgar scoundrel was wearing military uniform. He's nothing but a beast!"
The post station was not big and was quiet, and Xiao Tao's sharp voice could be heard everywhere.
Hearing the words "military uniform, beast," Pan Kui couldn't ignore them. He led several of his men and strode over. With a sullen face, he asked, "Hey, did you really see clearly? The only people in uniform in this post station are either me or my men. If you can't point out Lecher, you're framing me!"
"I, I didn't make a false accusation." Xiao Tao was disheveled and was stared at by several men. She felt more and more embarrassed, huddled into a ball, and burst into tears.
At this time, Jiang Yushu and others also arrived.
She was awakened from her sleep. Without even having time to comb her hair, she just tied up her dress and ran out of the gate anxiously.
"Xiao Tao?" Jiang Yushu quickly approached, squatted down and asked, "What's wrong with you? Who bullied you?"
"Young Madam, please help me!" Xiao Tao was in tears and looked extremely embarrassed.
The incident happened suddenly. Jiang Yushu hugged the person, confused, and comforted him: "Don't cry first, tell me, what happened?"
Pan Kui, a man of impatience, raised his thick eyebrows and asked loudly, "What's the point of just crying? Since you mentioned 'military uniform', why not point out the person? I want to see whether it's you who is making a false accusation, or whether it's one of your men who made the mistake."
Jiang Yushu was startled by the loud and rough voice. She quickly turned around and suggested, "Everyone, can you at least let her wash her face first? How can she answer questions like this?"
Pan Kui was stunned, nodded, and said seriously: "Okay, tell her to put on her clothes quickly! We have been ordered to hunt down fugitives and are rushing back to report. We will set off after breakfast. We don't have time to listen to women crying, but we can listen to 'Who is the Lecher?'" After speaking, he turned around and left with his men.
A quarter of an hour later
In the courtyard, with the well as the dividing line, the border troops occupied the east side, the Guo family was on the west side, and the officials and the postmaster were in the middle watching.
The soldiers lined up in a row.
"Everyone, stand still!" Pan Kui, whip in hand, paced slowly, examining each of his men one by one. He said coldly, "The state has its laws, the army has its regulations. Drinking, whoring, and gambling are strictly prohibited while on duty. But today, someone knowingly violated the law and bullied a female prisoner."
Tian Bo was worried, with cold sweat on his back, and pretended to be puzzled.
Pan Kui snapped his whip and roared, "Who? Who did it? If you're a man, admit it! Hurry up and stand up right now!"
"You little bitch, why are you pretending to be chaste? You've caused me so much trouble..." Tian Bo complained bitterly, secretly anxious.
Meanwhile, a corner of the cell
"Stupid!" Wang shook her head and scolded softly, "It's not worth it to damage the relationship with the border troops for a maid! Besides, Xiao Tao hasn't been defiled, so why bother with such a big fight?"
Jiang Yushu frowned as she listened, feeling a headache and a chill for the servants. She gathered herself, thought for a moment, and then softly advised, "Madam, ever since the Guo family incident, we haven't given our servants any monthly wages or rewards. Yet, all along the way, they've treated us respectfully and courteously, not asking for money, but out of loyalty. This is truly remarkable. Today, our maid was bullied. If we turn a blind eye, wouldn't that damage our own prestige and chill people's hearts?"
"Hmph, when the Jingyang Marquis's Mansion was prosperous, how generous were the monthly stipends? The Guo family has never owed their servants anything!" Wang said unhappily, "Now that you've suffered misfortune, any servant with a conscience wouldn't be ungrateful. You should continue to serve!"
Jiang Yushu felt powerless. After a moment's thought, she said sternly, "Actually, it was Lord Pan who proposed a face-to-face confrontation. He's waiting. It would be inappropriate for us not to go. You don't need to worry about angering the border troops."
"What are you questioning? How can you hold the border troops accountable for a maid?" Wang disagreed and ordered, "Less trouble is worse than more. Go, call Xiao Tao over, and I'll personally persuade her."
Jiang Yushu's eyes darkened after trying to persuade her to no avail. She suddenly wanted to take Xiao Tao to the backyard! But just as she opened her mouth, Guo Honglei came over and said loudly, "Why don't you go out? Everyone in the yard is waiting. If you're tired, rest a little longer."
"How can I rest if something happens?" Wang's face turned long.
Wang Qiaozhen yawned. The maidservant who was helping her wash and comb her hair said impatiently, "Mother is right. You should listen to her. It's a rare opportunity to rest. Why are you making such a mess so early in the morning?"
You enjoy being served by servants all day long, but you have such a face? Jiang Yushu gritted her teeth, forced herself to calm down, and emphasized again: "Madam, Lord Pan is waiting outside."
"Tell Xiaotao to kowtow and apologize," Wang instructed. "Just say she was blinded and mistaken. Dengtuzi wasn't wearing military uniform."
"You——" Jiang Yushu was dumbfounded.
Guo Honglei frowned and said calmly, "Mother, take a rest. I'm going to get busy." After that, he took his wife and left.
"Stop! You unfilial son, you unfilial son, stop!" Wang was furious, but once again she was unable to do anything to her second son.
Haha, well done! Jiang Yushu almost gave her husband a thumbs up.
A moment later
The couple walked side by side. Xiaotao couldn't stop sobbing and was surrounded by her companions in the backyard.
Jiang Yushu had just stood still, lost in thought, when she suddenly heard Pan Kui say loudly:
"Listen up: I won't protect my men. If I find out, I'll punish them! At worst, I'll let that lecher marry that girl."
What did you say? Jiang Yushu was shocked and furious——
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