The family was obedient; after accepting Wanwan's money, they each carried wooden sticks and brooms to the housekeeper's door the next day to block him.
The mistress had gray hair, a face full of wrinkles, and a slightly hunched back, but she was quite adept at threatening people. Holding a rolling pin, she stood at the butler's door and said, "You're still not planning to come out today, are you? Anyway, if you don't give us the money, we won't let this go!"
The butler inside peered through the crack in the door. The cat-and-mouse game that had been going on for days had exhausted his patience and energy, and now the sight of this family made him feel suffocated.
He didn't have that much silver, and even if he did, he wasn't willing to give it away so easily, so he had no choice but to fight a protracted war with this group day after day.
The mistress narrowed her long, narrow eyes and caught a glimpse of a dark figure swaying back and forth through the crack in the door. Without a word, she strode forward and kicked the door.
The door, already crooked, couldn't withstand the sudden attack and was kicked open, creating an even larger crack. The butler behind the door also cried out and fell to the ground.
Seeing that her guess was correct, the mistress became smug. She weighed the rolling pin in her hand a few times and yelled at her two burly sons behind her, "Go! What are you just looking at me for!"
The two burly men were both broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, wearing only long gowns with their chests and bellies exposed. Their belly fat swayed as they walked, like two buckets of uncongealed lard. After a few steps, they would sweat, washing away the grime that had accumulated over the years, leaving black streaks on their abdomens.
"Break down his door! We must make his son give us an explanation today!" The mistress stood with her hands on her hips, looking like a shrew.
The two burly sons rushed forward and kicked the door hard.
The gate shattered into pieces, splintering wood that swirled and rose in the bright sunlight. The butler lay on the ground, clutching his stomach and groaning, while the three men stood before him like vengeful ghosts.
A burly man grabbed the butler by the collar and lifted him up like a dead dog. The panic of his feet leaving the ground overwhelmed the butler, and he kicked his legs wildly in a panic.
At this moment, his wife and daughter-in-law also rushed out with kitchen knives. The two women were also big and strong. When they rushed over, their eyes were bloodshot, and their fierce appearance was no less than that of a female demon.
“Mother, he has helpers,” a burly man said, approaching the mistress.
The mistress scoffed, "So what! Arrest them too!"
After saying that, she grabbed a rolling pin and rushed forward.
Suddenly, the small courtyard erupted in howling and wailing. The women's kitchen knives and rolling pins flew out of their hands as they tore clothes, pulled hair, and began punching and kicking each other. The housekeeper's family was thrown into chaos, and even the vicious dogs at the door started barking wildly.
Just as the butler's family was at a disadvantage, two figures suddenly burst in.
"Stop!" A clear and loud voice shouted, and before anyone could react, the family that had started the trouble at the butler's door was quickly brought under control.
The white figure darted through the crowd with lightning speed, and before the two burly men and the mistress could even see the two figures clearly, they fell to the ground, clutching their lower abdomens and groaning softly.
The butler, still trembling with lingering fear, sat on the ground and it took him a long time to look up and see who had saved him.
In the courtyard stood a tall, slender young man in white robes, with a handsome face, exquisite features, and an extraordinary air about him. Beside him was a lively and beautiful girl of about fifteen or sixteen.
The two were Xiao Qi and Wanwan.
"Just now, my sister and I heard crying coming from the courtyard. In accordance with the rules of the martial arts world, we should help those in need. So I had no choice but to rush in to save them."
Xiao Qi answered modestly, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.
The butler was stunned for a moment before scrambling to his feet, bowing repeatedly. "Thank you both for your help. Judging from your appearance, you don't seem to be locals, do you?"
Wanwan, quick to speak, answered before Xiao Qi could: "My brother and I came from the capital. The capital is not peaceful now, so we thought of returning to our hometown to avoid it."
“I see…” A shadow of confusion fell over the steward’s cloudy eyes. He immediately thought of the Marquis of Xining who had rejected him time and time again. “The capital has always been prosperous and bustling. How could it suddenly be so unsettled?”
These words were exactly what the two wanted to hear. Xiao Qi patiently said, "Recently, the Emperor seems to want to thoroughly investigate the case of Prince Sui'an from back then. I heard that there are rewards for those who provide clues, and even those who were involved in the case back then can get rewards if they cooperate. As a result, many people are crowding into the capital."
The butler lowered his brow, a fleeting hint of panic flashing in his eyes.
It really is Prince Sui'an!
After the initial panic subsided, he became suspicious again. The timing of the two people's appearance was far too opportune. They seemed suspicious no matter how you looked at them, and why would they intentionally or unintentionally reveal information about the case?
Seeing the butler's strange expression, Xiao Qi's face gradually darkened, and he asked meaningfully, "Well? Do you have any clues, old man?"
"No, no." The butler was startled and quickly saw the guests out. "If you two want to avoid this place, you should hurry on your way while it's still early. I have nothing to repay you with, but there will be other opportunities in the future!"
The steward panicked, becoming increasingly certain that the two men were important officials investigating Prince Sui'an, and he raised his hand to shoo them outside.
Xiao Qi instinctively reached out to protect Wanwan as they walked out of the courtyard.
The butler quickly closed the door, which had been kicked and was now askew, and grabbed a few more wooden sticks to prop it up. He didn't even have time to wipe the sweat from his forehead before he rushed into his room.
Having served Marquis Xining for many years, he had developed the ability to judge people. He knew that the two men who had come to his rescue today were most likely government officials handling the case, and that the trouble they had caused was probably their doing. It seemed that they had already suspected him.
We can't stay here any longer; we must leave under the cover of night!
Hmph, that guy even lied to me about being rewarded for cooperating. What a fool!
Isn't cooperating the same as turning yourself in?
Once you fall into their trap, you won't be able to escape!
The steward was restless, instructing his wife, daughter-in-law, and son to pack their things while glancing outside every now and then to see if any officials were coming.
Night fell in the blink of an eye, and the entire village was shrouded in a black dome. The steward packed up his valuables and, with his family in tow, prepared to flee.
But as soon as they reached the back door, they encountered an assassin dressed in black.
He first heard a few soft rustling sounds of clothes behind him, then felt a flash of light on his back. A sense of foreboding surged through him, and before he could turn around, he was slashed in the back.
Fortunately, he was wearing thick clothes and carrying a bundle, so the knife only damaged his bundle.
The gold and silver in the bag immediately tumbled out, gleaming dazzlingly in the moonlight.
"My jewels!" The butler, risking his life, rushed to retrieve his coins.
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