Chapter 346 Back in Jail Again
At this moment, even if Yao Qingling stood in front of Sheng Dahe, facing that enraged beast, he would still regard Yao Qingling as an enemy.
It was Yao Qingling who advised him to be patient.
If he had left earlier and returned to his mountain, he wouldn't have faced the situation of "closing the door to beat the dog".
Yao Qingling opened her lips, but no sound came out.
Did she ruin Sheng Dahe?
"Miss, let's go into hiding right now!" Lou Yue said anxiously. "If Sheng Dahe and the others are caught, they will implicate us as accomplices!"
As she spoke, she hurriedly started to pack her luggage, then stopped abruptly. "Where's Xia Chan? Xia Chan has been keeping an eye on Sheng Dahe these past few days. Could he have—"
Lou Yue's eyes were brimming with tears; she couldn't bear to imagine what would happen next.
Sheng Dahe has a violent temper and will draw his knife at the drop of a hat. The scab on Yao Qingling's forehead hasn't even fallen off yet.
If Xia Chan gets in his way, or if Sheng Dahe reports back to Miss and kills Xia Chan?
Thinking of this, Lou Yue burst into tears.
Xiao Pingfeng also felt the situation was serious, and he said, "I'll go to the dock again to take a look."
Yao Qingling stopped him: "You can't go, he's lost his mind!"
Xia Chan is her person, so even if someone needs to be found, it should be her who goes.
Xiao Pingfeng said, "After all, I followed him, and my relationship with him is deeper than yours." He nodded vigorously and walked away without looking back.
Qingling bit her lip and turned to Imperial Censor Cao: "Madam Cao and I went through the Yongning Temple ordeal together and even opened a shop together. If Sheng Dahe is arrested, both Madam Cao and I will be held accountable. Your Excellency, we are going to implicate you this time."
When the Lady explained the details of Sheng Dahe to him, Imperial Censor Cao realized why Prince Xin had said those words to him in court.
It seems that Prince Xin has already learned quite a bit about Yao Qingling and the others.
Yao Qingling murmured, "I was careful enough, but still... still one step behind?"
All she wanted was for everyone to survive and live a good life. Was that so difficult?
She didn't even know what the problem was.
She always thought she was careful enough, always felt she had taken the lead, but in the end, she was just a failed player.
“Your Excellency, if it comes to that, I will say that you were completely unaware of the situation and that I deceived your wife. I only did this to win you over by getting her to partner with me in business. However, even if you are spared serious responsibility, you will probably be demoted or dismissed.”
If Prince Xin relentlessly pursues the matter, the entire Cao family will be punished.
Imperial Censor Cao sneered, "Madam Yao, what do you take me for? Since I dare to speak frankly in court, I am not afraid of any punishment."
“If you, a woman, have the courage to take responsibility, how can I, a man, lose to you? Besides, I will protect my wife. Back then, she worked hard selling tofu to support my studies and exams. Over the years, she has taken good care of me. Now it is my turn to repay her. How can I shirk my responsibility and let the two of you women bear everything?”
He added, "Over the years, I have offended countless people in court by offering my advice. Even if I escape this time, I will be punished for other things in the future. I might as well accept my fate early. What's the big deal?"
“Madam Yao, what’s wrong with you leading Sheng Dahe onto the right path and doing business with him?”
The people of Shengdahe were originally ordinary citizens who worked hard to earn a little money, living a simple life from sunrise to sunset. However, natural disasters and man-made calamities forced them to become bandits.
Yao Qingling transformed them from bandits into normal people, but now, it is those powerful and wealthy individuals who, for their own selfish interests, have forced them to become bandits again.
How can the world not be in chaos?
Imperial Censor Cao looked up at the sky with a sorrowful expression.
...
Chaos erupted in the capital again, with bandits running rampant and every household locking themselves in their homes. Government troops bravely pursued the bandits, resulting in fierce battles between the two sides. Finally, five days later, the bandits were surrounded at the dock, and their leader, Sheng Dahe, was captured and imprisoned in the Dali Temple jail.
Yao Qingling was not surprised at all when she received the news.
She waited in the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence for their next move.
As long as she remains in the Marquis's residence, Zhao'er, Lady You, and the others can be safely transferred.
When Bu Fang kicked open the gate of the Marquis's mansion, Prince Xin swaggered up to her, fanning himself with a folding fan.
Yao Qingling was sprinkling water with a watering can at that moment.
He Yin planted a patch of plantain in the yard. This thing is a weed, but if you take good care of it, it will grow lush and green.
Even if it doesn't rain or water it afterwards, it can still live well.
"Madam Yao has such a good attitude; she even has the leisure to tend to flowers and plants." Prince Xin plopped down on a stone chair, smiling casually.
Qingling put down the kettle, turned to look at him, and said with a faint smile, "Your Highness likes to make money and has not been involved in politics for many years, but now you have become a minister in charge of handling cases."
Prince Xin raised an eyebrow, feigning regret: "There's nothing I can do, I was forced into it. Who told them to steal my Golden Hall? It's only right that I volunteer to the Emperor to handle the case."
Qingling twitched her lips: "Your Highness has a brilliant plan."
“Yao Qingling, your composure suggests you anticipated my arrival… This proves those people were right; you are their accomplice?” Prince Xin feigned composure, slowly turning his jade thumb ring as he spoke.
Qing Ling smiled faintly and remained silent.
"Take good care of Lady Yao, lock her in the jail, and don't let anyone hurt her." After saying this, Prince Xin got up, waved his fan, and left.
Yao Qingling was imprisoned once again.
This time, no one acted with her, and there were no prior arrangements. She was locked in a filthy cell, and her meals were all spoiled.
Rats and insects roam the ground, far more than in winter. Often, just as you close your eyes to take a nap, an insect will crawl into your neck or gnaw at your ankle, scaring you into screaming.
Lou Yue said tearfully, "This is even worse than winter."
At least in winter it's just cold, there are rats but no bugs.
The air in winter isn't like it is now, filled with a fermented, foul smell.
Qingling rubbed her head: "This is jail time, there's no other choice."
Tao Ye sat quietly next to Qing Ling and murmured, "Xia Chan is still missing. I wonder how she is doing."
Lou Yue said, "Even if Xia Chan is still alright, she can't show her face now, otherwise she'll be locked up with us."
"I do hope she can find the young master and raise him properly..." Her voice was trembling with sobs; she felt she was going to die this time.
Tao Ye pursed her lips and sighed.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor, accompanied by the metallic sound of chains dragging on the floor.
A disheveled man was roughly grabbed by two jailers, one on each side, as they opened the door to the next cell and shoved him inside.
The man lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud. The fall looked painful.
Qingling could barely make out the person's figure: "Xiao Pingfeng, is that you?"
The figure on the ground stirred, barely opening his eyes. He lay on his side, his voice weak: "Miss..."
Qingling gripped the rough guardrail: "Xiao Pingfeng, how are you?"
The man forced a smile: "Don't worry, miss, I have nine lives, I won't die."
"Xiao Pingfeng, have you found Xia Chan?" Lou Yue asked.
The man shook his head.
He rushed to the dock to look for her. The brothers who stayed behind there said that Sheng Dahe had tied Xia Chan up to keep her out of the way. But no one knew who had rescued Xia Chan; things had already descended into chaos, and no one cared about her whereabouts.
Then, the officers and soldiers rushed into the dock, and Xiao Pingfeng was caught before he could escape.
"Xia Chan escaped, she didn't come looking for us..." For some reason, Lou Yue both hoped that Xia Chan was alright, and also felt that she might have abandoned them in order to survive.
They stayed by Yao Qingling's side hoping to live a better life with her.
Now that hope is gone, Xia Chan continues to search for other hopes, and no one can blame her for that.
Tao Ye glanced at Lou Yue and said, "Xia Chan won't abandon us. She's just being cautious and won't take any risks at this crucial moment."
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