The dusk is deep, the setting sun is blood-red, and the warm orange afterglow gently falls on every inch of the ancient town, outlining a hazy and mysterious silhouette for this town that has gone through the years.
On both sides of the street, low houses are scattered in an orderly manner, and the mottled marks on the walls tell of the passage of time.
Occasionally, a few crows flew across the sky, making a few hoarse calls, which added a bit of desolate atmosphere.
Nangong Yan and Bai Linglong, dressed in ordinary cloth, rode two horses of ordinary color, although in casual clothes, they could not hide their heroic appearance.
They were followed by a few guards who were also dressed simply. At first glance, they looked no different from ordinary travelers.
In the distance, a plain-looking carriage was moving slowly forward. Inside the carriage sat the emperor, the empress dowager, and the empress, who were on a tour incognito. The curtains were half-closed, and when they occasionally swayed, one could vaguely glimpse the corners of the people's clothes inside.
The four babies, under the careful care of their nanny, sat in another seemingly ordinary carriage, looking around this strange town curiously.
Although the group deliberately kept a low profile, they still exuded an extraordinary demeanor.
As soon as we entered the city, a loud noise came from the direction of the market.
Nangong Yan and Bai Linglong looked at each other, then galloped away on their horses in tacit understanding.
When the crowd was pushed aside, I saw a ragged man beating a skinny boy, cursing, "You little bastard, you dare to steal my things?
Look at yourself too, what the hell are you doing, are you tired of living?
Even if I beat you to death today, it won't relieve the hatred in my heart. Let's see if you dare to steal from me again in the future!
You are a bastard without a father or a mother. You are a troublemaker since you came here. Stealing is also your nature! ”
The man cursed and kicked the boy repeatedly. The flesh on his face trembled as he cursed and his eyes were full of ferocity.
The young man rolled over on the ground in agony, holding his arms tightly with both hands, crying, “You hit me, you hit me!
I didn't steal it, my mother left it to me! ”
The man turned a deaf ear to her and became even more ruthless, spitting on the ground and shouting, "Did your mother leave it to you?
What good things can your mother have?
Stop pretending to be pitiful in front of me, and hand over the stolen things quickly, or you will be in trouble!
With your poor appearance, what treasures could you have? It must have been stolen. People like you deserve to be beaten to death! ”
Bai Linglong was extremely anxious when she saw this. She jumped off her horse like a flash of white lightning, rushed over and grabbed the man's wrist, her eyebrows raised, and said in a cold voice: "Why do you do such a cruel thing to a child in broad daylight?"
The man was startled by the sudden obstruction. He looked up and saw a few ordinary-looking but extraordinary people behind Bai Linglong. His arrogance suddenly shrank, but he still said stubbornly: "This little thief stole my things, it is only natural for me to teach him a lesson!
He is just a shameless thief, he should be punished! ”
The people around were in an uproar. A gray-haired woman carrying a vegetable basket shouted at the top of her voice: "What a sin!
I watched this child grow up. He has always been honest and well-behaved. He doesn't look like a thief at all!
I still remember when he was a child, he helped me carry the basket of vegetables. His little hands were so tender and sensible, how could he steal things?
You, a man, are spitting blood and bullying this child who has no father or mother! ”
A middle-aged woman wearing a blue cloth shirt nearby quickly agreed: "That's right, my daughter saw this man and a few other people talking furtively in the town a few days ago."
You must want to blackmail this child!
Those people looked like good people, dressed in rags, with their eyes rolling around, as if they were planning something bad! ”
A young man waved his arms and squeezed to the front in indignation: "We can't just let it go like this, we have to get to the bottom of this, we can't wrongly accuse a good person!
I think this man is just picking trouble on purpose and bullying this weak child. I really wronged him. He must pay the price! ”
An uncle who looked like a peddler also came over and frowned and said, "The other day I saw this man with a few children on the path at the entrance of the village. He was in a hurry. The children looked so scared. Now that I think about it, it must be related to this incident!"
Those children didn't dare to say a word. They lowered their heads, looking so pitiful. They must have been threatened by him! ”
A voice emerged from the crowd: "You really wronged this child, this man must be severely punished, you can't let him go unpunished!"
He must apologize to the child and compensate for the damage, otherwise this matter will not end! ”
Bai Linglong squatted down, her movements as gentle as the spring breeze, and she comforted the boy softly: "Don't be afraid, tell me, what's going on?"
The young man slowly raised his head, his bruised face full of fear and stubbornness, he sobbed and said: "Sister, I really didn't steal it, this is the only thing my mother left me, he insisted that it was his.
When my mother left, she gave me this package, saying that it contained something very important and asked me to keep it well.
I have never stolen other people's things, but he wants to steal mine! ”
Nangong Yan walked forward. Although he was wearing ordinary clothes, he stood straight. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle and swept towards the man. The man consciously avoided his gaze.
Nangong Yan said in a deep voice: "Let's investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this child stole it, we will deal with it according to the rules.
If you slander someone, don't think you can get away with it easily.
You'd better tell the truth, or you will suffer! ”
At this time, an old man stood out from the crowd and said with a firm look: "I know this kid. He has always been honest and decent. He should not steal anything.
This guy just came to town a few days ago, and he was acting sneaky.
I also saw him wandering around in a remote place in this town late at night. I didn't know what he was doing. He looked like a bad guy. ”
When the man heard this, his face turned pale and he tried to escape in the chaos.
The secret guard was quick-witted and quick-handed, and subdued him in an instant like a nimble cheetah.
Nangong Yan thought for a moment, then turned to a secret guard and ordered, "Take him to the government office and tell them the whole story. Ask them to investigate thoroughly."
The secret guard received the order and quickly escorted the man to the government office.
After some time, the secret guard who went to the government office came back and reported: "Sir, when the man was brought to the government office, he was stubborn at first, but later the county magistrate beat him with 20 sticks, and he confessed everything.
He had known for a long time that the young man's family had an ancestral jade pendant, which he heard was quite valuable. He had always wanted to steal it, so he just wanted to snatch it away.
I didn't expect this boy to be so stubborn. He would rather die than be beaten. ”
After hearing this, Bai Linglong said angrily: "For a jade pendant, he would do such a cruel thing to a child. There are so few such evil people in this world!"
Nangong Yan nodded slightly and said to the secret guard: "Now that we have investigated, let the government punish him severely according to the law, and don't let him go lightly."
After the matter was settled, Nangong Yan and his group found an inn in the town to stay.
Just as they were settled, they saw the young man coming to the inn, walking straight to Nangong Yan and Bai Linglong, kneeling down with a plop, kowtowed several times, and said in a crying voice: "Thank you for taking care of me, benefactor. If I hadn't let you, I would have died at the hands of that evil man today."
Bai Linglong quickly helped the boy up and asked gently, "Child, are your parents gone?
No other relatives? ”
The young man's eyes were filled with tears, and he said sadly: "I am the only one left."
Bai Linglong looked at Nangong Yan, their eyes met and their minds were connected.
Bai Linglong turned back and said to the boy, "Are you willing to follow us?
In the future, I will teach you to read and write, and train you to do business, so that you can have the ability to settle down in the future. ”
When the young man heard this, his eyes welled up, and he knelt down once more, kowtowed and said excitedly: "I am willing, thank you for taking me in, master. From now on, my life belongs to you, master!"
Nangong Yan and Bai Linglong looked at the boy and nodded with satisfaction, as if they saw the boy's hopeful look.
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