Chapter 71: The Iron Straight Man

"What time is it? Why are you still making trouble?" Ji Lingchuan was stunned the moment he turned around. Looking at the red spot on her shoulder, his mind went blank.

He'an pulled a few arrows off the soldiers' backs and threw them over, injuring several private soldiers hiding in the dark.

Ji Lingchuan couldn't breathe because of the violent beating of his heart. His hands couldn't help but tremble as he held Chu Li. A lot of curse words stuck in his throat, but he couldn't say a word.

This was the first time Chu Li saw Ji Lingchuan looking anxious, and he forced a smile: "Are you scared? Are you afraid that my dad will punish you when he gets back?"

The veins on his forehead bulged, and his face was flushed with anxiety. When they were about to leave the forest, Ji Lingchuan said coldly: "Don't spare any of the bandits in the forest."

Chu Li just felt a little sleepy, but Ji Lingchuan kept shaking her: "Don't sleep, if you fall asleep I won't care about you anymore."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to die. I'm just very tired."

The incident happened suddenly, and everyone returned to Lucheng immediately. The captured private soldiers were handed over to Zhou Dafu, who counted their numbers, names, and hometowns, and finally incorporated them into the conscription camp. The conscription camp was filled with people who had committed crimes, and they could not be exempted from criminal status until they had made enough military achievements.

This time, they lived directly in the county government office, and all the members of the Wu family were arrested, including Wu Quan.

The county magistrate Bao has been arrested, and the men who are going to capture the prefect of Zhenjiang are on the way.

Ruan Qinghuan was just frightened and woke up quickly. When she learned that Chu Li was injured, she was very worried and wanted to take care of her personally, but He An stopped her: "The military doctor has examined her and there is no worry about her life. Old Ji is watching her."

Ruan Qinghuan: “…”

After she woke up, she heard Xia Lian say that Ji Lingchuan went crazy on that day and none of the private soldiers in the woods came out. Ruan Qinghuan's eyes moved slightly. Although this was an accident, it might make him see his inner heart clearly.

When the Wu family got into trouble, County Magistrate Bao, under interrogation by He'an, handed over all the evidence that the Wu family had raised private soldiers over the years.

Mr. Qian came to the county government office holding an account book, knelt down in court, and said with a sad face: "I am guilty, please investigate clearly, Prime Minister."

Jiang Ming took the account from Mr. Qian and presented it to He'an. Just as they had guessed before, the transportation of timber in the past two years was the responsibility of the Qian family.

He'an sighed. Qian Qitai was not a fool, otherwise he would not have resigned and returned home. He originally wanted to remove himself from the disputes in the court, but he did not want to return to Lucheng. He still could not escape the fate of his old age, and his reputation for a lifetime was ruined.

"Mr. Qian has taken the initiative to confess his crimes and has shown self-discipline. I will handle the case impartially."

In the inner courtyard of the county government, there were five boxes of account books of the Wu family. The accountant who was invited to the court spent two days calculating them. Among them, the amounts of rice, refined iron and wood were the largest, which coincided with the large amount of weapons seized from Xifeng Cliff.

Ruan Qinghuan came to the backyard and gently opened Chu Li's door. Ji Lingchuan was still sitting on the chair beside the bed in the same posture as when she came in the morning, staring at Chu Li without blinking.

"The doctor said her injuries are not serious and she should wake up soon."

"It's been three days." Ji Lingchuan's voice was very light. He hardly went out during these three days. His thick stubble showed that he looked a bit old, and his dim eyes were filled with worry.

"The doctor said that the coma was caused by excessive blood loss and that he needs to be well taken care of. I just asked and he will wake up in a day or two at most." Ruan Qinghuan persuaded him. Fortunately, the arrow did not hit any vital parts. It was really God's blessing.

Looking at Chu Li's pale face, Ruan Qinghuan held back tears and handed the porridge to Ji Lingchuan: "Eat a little so that you can have the strength to take care of her. Although this injury is not life-threatening, it will take time for your right arm to recover. During this time, you will have to suffer."

"Thank you."

Ruan Qinghuan did not disturb them. Knowing that Chu Li was no longer in danger, she put her worries aside.

Overnight, Lucheng was turned upside down. The county magistrate and Mr. Qian were sent to prison, and the Wu family collapsed overnight. The people in the city felt like they were dreaming and could not believe it was real.

In order to delay his return to Beijing, He An simply conducted a preliminary review of the case in the Lucheng County Government, collected and classified all the files and evidence, and waited to hand them over to the Ministry of Justice when he returned to Beijing.

Late at night, Chu Li slowly opened her eyes. The candles in the room emitted a dim light. She turned her head and saw Ji Lingchuan with his eyes closed. She thought she was dreaming and laughed at herself.

Why is Ji Lingchuan in her room? Chu Li, Chu Li, you only hurt your shoulder but not your head, and you are still shamelessly thinking about her?

This trip to Lucheng made Chu Li figure out many things, and she also completely understood Ji Lingchuan's intentions. He didn't like her, and she didn't want to force it. It was so tiring.

Her throat felt like it was on fire. She wanted to drink some water, so she stretched out her left hand sideways and reached for the teacup on the low table beside the bed. However, she felt too weak to hold the cup, and when she was about to fall over, the water spilled out.

The noise startled Ji Lingchuan. Seeing Chu Li trying to get up, he picked her up and laid her flat on the bed without saying anything: "You are injured, don't move."

Chu Li was in a trance for a moment. She pinched her face with her left hand and hissed in pain.

He was not an illusion, but the real Ji Lingchuan. He opened his mouth with great effort, and his throat seemed to be filled with gravel: "I want to drink."

Ji Lingchuan quickly turned around and poured a cup of warm tea. He returned with a spoon and fed her small sips of it, saying, "I've been heating water on the small charcoal stove, just in case you wake up thirsty. This warm water will moisten your throat."

When Chu Li was injured, she didn't want to cry, nor did she feel very scared, she just felt quite painful. But now, watching Ji Lingchuan taking good care of her, she felt inexplicably wronged even though she should have been happy.

Once this uncontrollable emotion erupted, it was like a dam bursting, becoming more and more intense, making her nose and eyes sore.

But she was also happy that the big fool Ji Lingchuan was not injured. Fortunately, he was not injured, so everything she did was worth it.

All kinds of emotions came flooding out at once, and Chu Li felt like he was about to split apart, aggrieved, relieved, and even a little... proud...

Tears fell unexpectedly, and Ji Lingchuan, who was always casual, panicked: "Why are you crying? Are you feeling uncomfortable or is your wound hurting?"

"No, you slept for so long, you must be hungry. I asked the kitchen to keep the porridge warm. I'll go get it now."

After he finished speaking, without waiting for Chu Li to reply, he disappeared like a gust of wind.

"Silly" Chu Li pulled his lips and tried to move his body, but the first move was so painful that he had to stay still and stop moving.

Ruan Qinghuan was worried about Chu Li and couldn't sleep, so she made some chicken soup in the kitchen, thinking that she had to let her drink some. After a few days of coma, she had become visibly thinner, so she needed to be nourished.

When Ji Lingchuan came over, he seemed like a different person. The gloom and worry of the past few days were gone, and there was a look of relief in his eyes. When he saw Ruan Qinghuan here, he immediately told her that Chu Li had woken up.

Ruan Qinghuan was very happy to hear this and breathed a sigh of relief.

Perhaps because of his excitement, Ji Lingchuan was a little flustered. He took the largest bowl and filled it with porridge and was about to leave, but Ruan Qinghuan stopped him: "She just woke up and can't eat so much. The chicken soup is ready, let her drink some."

Ruan Qinghuan wanted to go with him, but was stopped by Ji Lingchuan: "Sister-in-law, please come again tomorrow. After eating, let her have a good sleep."

When soldiers in the army are injured, the best way to recover is to rest. Ji Lingchuan wished he could let her sleep for three days and three nights.

Ruan Qinghuan: “…”

When did this iron-clad straight man come to his senses?