Just then, a girl of about thirteen or fourteen years old ran over from the opposite direction. Upon seeing Lu Fengjun, she hugged him tightly and wouldn't let go: "Husband, please save me! I am truly a daughter from a good family. You are handsome and I am beautiful. In two more years, I can marry you."
"Crack!" Lu Fengjun pulled out a whip from somewhere and lashed her to the ground. She started rolling on the ground, yelling how pitiful she was, how she would be obedient if given food, and how she would bring good fortune to her husband!
These people all use the same excuse; they really know what adults find sympathetic and what's key to their feigned pitifulness.
The people behind her were also carrying large nets, and the people next to Lu Fengjun were also using nets. She actually jumped up and struggled, and she was able to hit several guards with knives.
"So barbaric?" I was astonished. Xie Yuancheng leaned close to my ear and said, "Let's go." I watched as she was taken away before I went back with Xie Yuancheng. This farce in Linyang was truly both laughable and pathetic.
Once inside the Marquis's mansion, I pestered Xie Yuancheng for answers and wouldn't let him leave.
Xie Yuancheng led me into the house before saying, "Ying'er, they came more than three months ago. At that time, everyone in the city was helping them. Later, they killed some people, and everyone started to suspect them."
If you hadn't run away then, they wouldn't have been so smug for so long. They started gathering evidence two weeks ago, so now the Great Zhao treats even the young beggars like rats in the street; anyone can arrest them.
"Is it that serious? Is there enough evidence?"
"That's enough. We didn't encounter the Crown Prince and the Second Prince on the way because they were both involved. I guess the child is currently in solitary confinement."
After this round of arrests in Linyang, two-thirds of the Empress's relatives will disappear. When we returned, I thought it was unlikely; it was truly rare. Only after seeing it with my own eyes did I believe it.
I stomped my foot: "Hmph! My jerky, eaten by that scoundrel!"
"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng held my hands: "She is also one of them, but she is indeed the daughter of an official, born to a maid."
Some of them were illegitimate or concubine's daughters from the imperial court or wealthy families. Their families didn't want them, so they were thrown out and systematically raised by the Empress.
Lingwu investigated; she was sent to the village two years ago and ate meals at various homes. Later, an official took her to eat at the post station a few times, and she started to become dissatisfied.
"So that's how it is. Anyway, it's none of our business anymore. We're not a 'pure lotus' family, so we don't have to sympathize with all the pitiful and hateful people."
"You're right to think that way. I was really worried that if you brought her home to raise, she would end up like her older sister."
I hate these kinds of kids the most. How could I possibly raise them? They're pitiful, but do you think it's easy for adults? "No, hearing Hongyu talk about it today has really broadened my horizons."
“They have harmed most of the truly poor people. We’ll talk about the future later. Lu Fengjun will be in Linyang for three days, and you are not allowed to see him.”
I quickly played the innocent card: "No, no, leave these tricky things to you men."
"I don't need to deal with it, I can just help secretly. You found the hiding place of those girls by chance today, so the scourge of Linyang has been almost eliminated."
I was relieved. I'll comfort my sister later. No wonder she was so calm when I told her about it; she'd been tricked before.
That night, Xie Yuancheng and Meng Anshi went out, and I secretly slipped into Li Ruowei's room to sleep. Seeing those hateful faces today, I forgot everything else when I saw Yan'er.
"Sister, you'd better not be so kind in the future."
“You’re no different.” Li Ruowei smiled as she touched Yan’er’s face. “With me as a cautionary tale, Yuan Cheng at least didn’t let you make a foolish mistake.”
"Let's not talk about them anymore, it's such a downer. Tell me about Yan'er from birth until now."
"Okay." Li Ruowei couldn't stop smiling when she talked about Yan'er. She'd been talking about her since she was born, and I actually fell asleep while listening to her.
When I woke up, I saw Xie Yuancheng's round, fake peach blossom eyes. I continued to close my eyes and pretend to be asleep.
"Ying'er! You actually went to sleep with your sister! Don't you know you're both married and have your own men?"
Why was he being so fierce? It would be perfectly normal for me to go and sleep with Li Ruowei. When Xie Yuancheng saw that I didn't answer, he started pulling at my clothes, and that's when I got up.
"Okay, okay, I was thinking of you when I was with my sister. But you never come. I even fell asleep listening to her talk about Yan'er."
"You have the nerve to say that? I didn't see you when I came back. I thought you had gone off to fool around somewhere."
I quickly smiled at Xie Yuancheng and snuggled into his arms: "He only wants you, why would he go off and fool around? By the way, have you taken care of those girls?"
"Anshi and I were doing other things, how would we know?" Xie Yuancheng started to yawn, then pulled me into his arms to sleep.
That bastard, he's the envy of every woman! How did he get so good-looking? That sweet fragrance is back. I haven't smelled it in ages, so I snuggled close to his chest and inhaled deeply.
"Ying'er~ Why are you so adoring me? I'm so shy~" Xie Yuancheng had been sick and his mind was sometimes unclear, so I didn't bother arguing with the little man.
"Shut up and go to sleep~" I was already indulging in the familiar fragrance, but Xie Yuancheng was still talking too much.
"Ying'er~ I can't sleep, you have to compensate me for the loss~" He started again, and I held him tightly in my arms, barely able to smell his fragrance.
Xie Yuancheng must have been exhausted, which is why he fell asleep so quickly. If it weren't for the immense pressure he's been under lately, I would have thought the person in my arms was the arrogant and domineering Xie Yuancheng.
Just as dawn broke, Xie Yuancheng said he would take me to experience the beautiful hot spring he had made. I followed him there; it was a little behind the main building, and indeed, it was surrounded by mist, with a fragrance wafting from above.
I wanted to soak in the hot spring as soon as I saw it, and Xie Yuancheng got down just as I was leaning against it. "Your little brain is so quick. Luckily, I have a good eye for people."
Xie Yuancheng started to get arrogant again, and I praised him for the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn before he finally quieted down.
This place has medicine and natural spices, so whether you soak your face in it at night or in the morning, it will quickly make your face rosy.
“Ying’er, there are still some unruly girls hiding in the city. We’ll wait until Lu Fengjun arrests them all before I take you to see the person Consort Ji asked you to deliver the message to.”
I was also very curious about him, so I agreed. I was already fed up with those people I saw on the street yesterday; they really should be arrested and given a good talking-to.
"Will they be sent to the capital?" I couldn't help but ask.
Xie Yuancheng shook his head: "I don't know either. This is something Lu Fengjun needs to consider. I have a lot of things to do."
"Are you going to do something with the teacher and Lingwu today?" If he goes out, I can play with my sister's Yan'er.
Whenever I see Yan'er, I think of Yu'er, that little rascal. I wonder how he is now, and whether he has recognized Xizhi as his younger brother.
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