Chapter 126 Arrest
Xu Rong instructed the guards to relay messages; she would say a sentence, and the guards would relay it.
"What you want most is probably food, right?"
“This is just an ordinary house, as you can see from its size. Even if there is food, it wouldn’t be enough for so many of you. But I know where there is plenty.”
"Stop fighting first, and then I'll tell you."
At this moment, nothing could resonate more deeply than the word "food." The commotion outside the door hesitated, continued sporadically for a while, and finally stopped.
A gruff voice roared, "Speak up if you have something to say, but you'd better tell the truth. Don't try to fool me!"
“Prefect Zheng, I know where Prefect Zheng is.”
The outside was quiet for a moment, then suddenly erupted in a roar.
"real?!"
"Speak quickly!"
"How did you know? It can't be a lie, can it? Are you trying to lure us away?"
"Don't worry about how I know. Everyone has their own way of knowing. Don't you all know that Prefect Zheng isn't in the government office anymore?"
"I am the owner of this place. Please step aside. I will open the door now and lead you there. What is false cannot be made true, and what is true cannot be made false." Xu Rong said this herself, raising her voice, without having the guards speak for her. "Can you rest assured now?"
"..."
Under Xu Rong's gesture, Princess Shu'an, who had been protected by the nanny and retreated back to the main hall, had a complicated look in her eyes. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she couldn't.
Chaos erupted outside, clearly surprised by the suggestion. Finally, the gruff voice spoke up: "Are you really the master? Don't let a maid impersonate you! You rich people have so many connections. Open the door, and I'll only agree if I'm sure you're right."
At Xu Rong's signal, the guard shouted, "Okay, but you don't trust me, and I don't trust you. What if you take the opportunity to rush in and wreak havoc on the house? You should step back! Step back a little further away."
After arguing for a while, the two sides finally reached a reluctant consensus. The disaster victims stepped back to a distance of one shot, and the two paulownia wood doors slowly opened.
Xu Rong stood at the door.
The disaster victims couldn't actually tell her apart from Princess Shu'an. They only saw that her clothes were neat and exquisite, and her demeanor was calm and composed, showing no signs of humility or naivety. They glanced at her haphazardly and believed her to be 80% true.
Xu Rong stepped out the door, followed closely by Xiang Shibaifu, who looked much more nervous than her. As a result, the disaster victims believed the remaining 20%, which, in their eyes, was the kind of grandeur that only gentlemen and ladies could possess.
"You're coming with me too." Xu Rong pointed to the guard who had delivered the message earlier. He had heard the Chang family's address and knew where they were from their expression. He then instructed the remaining guards, "You stay here and guard the house. It's chaotic outside, so don't open the door to just anyone. When the government officials arrive, explain my whereabouts to them clearly. Don't make a fuss."
The guards glanced in the direction of the main hall and nodded, "Yes."
His rough voice could carry him over the crowd, and his mind was quick. He continued, "Young Madam, you don't need to beat around the bush. We're not bandits or mountain robbers. We have families to support. We wouldn't have done this unless we were desperate. As long as you find us food, I guarantee you'll return safely."
Xu Rong smiled and corrected, "It's Prefect Zheng. I guarantee that I found Prefect Zheng for you. Whether you can get the grain from him depends on your abilities. I'm just a weak woman and I can't do anything about it."
The man with the rough voice didn't notice any difference and readily nodded, saying, "Okay, that's enough."
The two sides reached an agreement. The disaster victims were eager to get started, and Xu Rong did not delay. He was pushed to the front by the disaster victims and set off immediately.
Bai Fu wanted to ask the driver to drive, but Xu Rong stopped her and gave her a wink: "We don't need to rush now, we should go slower to give Lin Xin time to react."
As for being tired, well, I guess I'll just have to accept it.
Fortunately, it was almost dusk, and the scorching sun was hanging low on the horizon, so it wasn't as unbearably hot as before.
Chang Rongshi's residence faces the setting sun. As a military officer, he is required to spend most of his time in the garrison, so a house in the city is not necessary. However, given his background, he does not need to compromise himself. Even though he only has two or three days off a month, he still has a proper residence, which is about the same size as Princess Shu'an's private residence.
On this particular day, Chang Rong was in the military camp, and only an old steward was in charge of the household.
The person in charge didn't have much power to make, and he was even more terrified by the huge crowd of disaster victims. He couldn't even send someone to inform Chang Rongshi—the disaster victims believed that this family was harboring Prefect Zheng, so why would they let anyone out? They might even lose the grain they had already received.
There were also some servants in the house, and a shouting match broke out between those inside and outside the gate.
"Hand over the man surnamed Zheng!"
"What Zheng or not—my master's surname is Chang!"
"Dog officer, get out!"
"Are you trying to rebel by surrounding the residences of high-ranking officials of the imperial court?!"
"Quickly, order the granaries to be opened and the grain distributed!"
"If you don't disperse, I'll call the authorities!"
Both sides were talking over each other, arguing noisily. Xu Rong, being in the middle of it all, felt safe. She found a corner to hide in, listening with great interest while gazing into the distance. At the right moment, she interjected, "No need to report it, the officials are here."
The horses' hooves kicked up dust as a dozen or so riders galloped from the intersection. Xu Rongcheng recognized them all—they were the retainers who had accompanied Lin Xin on his previous trip, with Lin Xin himself naturally leading the way.
She waved: "I'm here."
Actually, Lin Xin had already dismounted and rushed over without her even having to call him.
“I’m fine,” Xu Rong said in a low voice first. “Did you lead the team alone? Prefect Zheng is inside, so the information should be correct. Before Chang Rongshi returns, hurry in and arrest him.”
"Zhou Qianxian is behind us. He was afraid of missing the opportunity, so he urged me to come over alone first." Lin Xin knew what was important. Without saying anything else, he quickly shook her hand to make sure she was not injured, and then led his family guards to the Chang family's gate.
Surprisingly, some of the disaster victims recognized him: "He's the young imperial envoy."
Compared to Zhou Qianxian, Lin Xin was naturally much younger.
Lin Xin bowed and said, "I have come here on the orders of Vice Commissioner Zhou to handle this matter. Please make way for me."
"Is the imperial envoy here to arrest the corrupt official and behead him?!"
"Tell that corrupt official to spit out the grain he embezzled! Spit it out!"
"We need food! We need food!"
With the life-saving food they had imagined just one step away, the disaster victims couldn't help but start clamoring.
Lin Xin knew perfectly well whether there was still grain in the granary. He was silent for a moment, then said, "This official and Vice Minister Zhou have come here on the Emperor's orders to provide disaster relief. Once things have settled down here, we will give you all an explanation."
Many people had witnessed the hardships the imperial envoys had endured in Pingliang. Despite their hesitation, the continuous porridge stalls outside the city allowed them to retain their last shred of trust in the government. Finally, just as they had done in front of the prefectural government, they made way for Lin Xin.
"Are you an imperial envoy here to provide disaster relief?" The old steward of the house, as if grasping at a straw, hurriedly shouted, "Don't listen to these rioters' nonsense, quickly chase them away. When my master returns, he will definitely come to thank us."
Lin Xin said, "Open the door first."
The old steward dared not, replying, "Your Excellency, it is fine to let you in, but I cannot bear the responsibility if all these rioters rush in at once."
Upon hearing this, the disaster victims began to clamor again: "There's a ghost! There must be a ghost!"
Lin Xin hesitated for a moment, then looked at Xu Rong—he trusted her to have a solution, but was worried about her safety. Xu Rong smiled; this feeling of teaming up to fight monsters was quite nice. She walked towards the burly man with the rough voice and advised, "You should go first, lest the authorities arrest you."
Before a rough-voiced voice could object with glares, she lowered her voice and said, "I keep my word. That little imperial envoy is my husband. I'll accompany you to exit this intersection, watch him arrest Prefect Zheng and bring him to justice, and then I'll go back to the prefectural office with him, how about that?"
The man with the rough voice still widened his eyes – what the heck? Wasn't she supposed to be the Princess Consort of the Prince of Qing's Mansion? How did she become the wife of an imperial envoy?
But he had clearly seen Lin Xin holding Xu Rong's hand just now, and he realized that he had been tricked. It was too late to go back and arrest Princess Shu'an now, so he could only go along with Xu Rong's plan.
He chuckled dryly, "Madam, you have quite the courage and skill. Very well, I'll trust you one more time."
The disaster victims were originally a mob, but after he took the lead in organizing and rallying them, he actually managed to persuade them to slowly withdraw their siege of the Chang residence with Xu Rong.
Lin Xin calmed himself down and ordered the steward to open the door again.
The old steward, having only managed to scare away the disaster victims thanks to him, dared not refuse him entry, but was also unwilling to welcome him in. He only opened the door a crack, speaking cautiously: "My master is not home, and it is inconvenient for this old servant to entertain guests. Please, sir, return home first—"
Bang!
Lin Xin's retainers, who had come with Lin Ding from the battlefield, paid no heed to his rambling. At a glance from their young master, they immediately kicked the door open, and the group of men barged in.
The old steward was dumbfounded, not expecting these government employees to be even more ruthless than bandits, showing absolutely no mercy: "What are you doing? Get out, get out now!"
He then asked Lin Xin for help, and Lin Xin said, "Don't worry, they know what they're doing and won't damage anything in the manor. After you've checked, leave immediately."
The old steward, however, preferred that the house be damaged. His voice trembled with anxiety: "What do you want to see? Even though you are an imperial envoy, there is no reason to search an official residence without an imperial edict!"
Lin Xin didn't speak; he no longer needed to. A retainer grinned and carried out a middle-aged man in a dark brown robe like a chick. The man was covered in sweat and had a somewhat refined appearance, but his expression of terror and despair ruined that, making him look distorted and ugly.
"You can't take him away!" The old steward instinctively chased after them.
"Then I'll take you back with me."
A dignified voice rang out at the door; the imperial envoy on this inspection tour, Zhou Qianxian, had finally arrived.
With Zhou Qianxian in charge, not only the old steward but also the other servants in the Chang residence were arrested on charges of "harboring criminals." Furthermore, someone was sent to the garrison to summon Chang Rongshi for questioning.
The main culprit, Prefect Zheng, was taken back to the prefectural office for interrogation on the spot. The disaster victims followed him all the way, spitting and cursing him incessantly. Unfortunately, rotten eggs and vegetable leaves had become rare items at this time, so the disaster victims could only throw small stones at him to vent their anger.
Zhou Qianxian intentionally did not stop him, so when they returned to the prefectural government office, Prefect Zheng's head was almost swollen from being hit. Fortunately, the anger of the disaster victims had been released, and with the persuasion of the various officials of the prefectural government office, they finally dispersed for the time being.
Zhou Qianxian seized the time to begin interrogating the person. Lin Xin received a lot of praise and a break for a meal because he handled the matter well. However, he had no appetite and frowned, pausing his chopsticks in a daze.
Xu Rong waved his hand in front of him: "Are you thinking about the grain? Prefect Zheng's news leaked out a bit too early, which is a bit troublesome, but don't worry too much. It's just a matter of time, there will be a solution."
Lin Xin nodded, then shook his head: "Not only that, I think the Chang family steward's reaction was problematic."
When Prefect Zheng was arrested, Xu Rong led his men at a distance, unaware of the details, and asked curiously, "What's the problem?"
Lin Xin told her the old steward's last words, and Xu Rong immediately realized: "Yes, he shouldn't have had such audacity."
If the fact that he harbored a serious criminal like Prefect Zheng were exposed, even if Chang Rongshi himself were present, he would most likely be paralyzed with fear. How could he dare to speak out against it?
Or, to put it another way, this is a question she should have considered before: Why would Chang Rongshi harbor Prefect Zheng?
Both questions were answered shortly afterward.
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