Chapter 48 Hemp Paper
The car curtains were already drawn, isolating the small car from the outside world, which gave Feng Caixing a sense of security.
"Aheng," she called out, subconsciously touching the sleeve where the hemp paper was hidden, "Do you think what that person said... is true?"
"I don't know," was the only answer Qiu Heng could give.
"I think so. Who would risk their life just to deceive others?" Feng Caixing sniffled, feeling like crying.
She might have been frightened, or more than just frightened.
"Aheng, will the government intervene?"
"The government has taken charge."
Feng Caixing's expression changed drastically as she recalled the phrase on the paper: "Officials protect each other, forcing me to this point."
Qiu Heng tugged at her hand: "Cai Xing, don't think too much."
"But—" Feng Caixing opened her mouth, wanting to say that she should do something, but in the end she didn't say it.
Even if she wanted to do something, she couldn't involve Ah Heng in it.
Feng Caixing lifted the carriage curtain again and looked outside.
The man's body had already been dragged away, but the pool of blood on the ground remained untouched, a truly horrifying sight.
The onlookers were dispersed, but then gathered again in the distance, with patrol teams coming and going, their expressions solemn.
Feng Caixing suddenly felt nauseous and quickly lowered the car curtains.
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd discussing what had just happened, Tao Da and his two companions quietly retreated and returned to their hiding place.
"What are you spacing out for?" Tao Da patted Chen San on the shoulder.
Chen San's face was pale and his eyes were red: "Brother Que is right. Reporting to the authorities is useless. Relying on others will only lead to death!"
They didn't recognize that person, that Wang Ping. But their target was the traitor Yuan, who was one of their own.
Wang Ping did what they had planned to do when they were desperate: he went to the authorities and used evidence to expose Yuan's evil deeds. In the end, he still had to rely on his own life to get people's attention.
Is the attention of ordinary people useful?
Chen San took out the hemp paper he had hidden and stared at the writing on it. He was illiterate, but he already knew what was written on it from the discussions of the people around him.
Compared to Chen San's emotional fluctuations, Tao Da seemed very calm: "Therefore, we must cooperate better with Brother Que and not act impulsively."
"Yes." Chen San nodded emphatically.
Feng Caixing delivered Qiu Heng to the Yongqing Earl's residence and then went straight home.
She thought that after taking a bath and changing clothes, she would wash away the sweat and dirt she had brought from outside, as well as the terrible scene she had witnessed.
But it didn't happen.
That light piece of hemp paper weighed on my heart like a stone.
She has to do something.
"Achan, tell your brother to inquire about Yuan Chenghai outside," Feng Caixing instructed her personal maid.
Yuan Chenghai was first assassinated on the street, and then someone stopped him from committing suicide in the street, which undoubtedly became the topic of conversation in teahouses and taverns.
"Miss, everyone outside says that Yuan Chenghai has committed many evil deeds in the southeast, causing many families to be ruined and people to die..." The maid reported the news that her brother had inquired about to Feng Caixing.
While speaking with Marquis Changchun, Feng Caixing casually brought up what she had encountered on the street: "That man was in such a pitiful state. Father, didn't the authorities question that Lord Yuan?"
Why are you asking about this?
Feng Caixing's face turned pale: "My daughter has nightmares as soon as she closes her eyes. I'm so scared."
Marquis Changchun had no doubts.
The little girl would indeed be frightened if she saw that scene.
"An imperial censor impeached him, but that person is already dead. Everything must be based on evidence. His Majesty has sent someone to Fengzhou..." Marquis Changchun casually said a few words to comfort his daughter, finding it amusing in his heart.
Does this silly girl think Yuan Chenghai will be punished for this?
Yuan Chenghai enjoys the emperor's deep trust and has been operating in the southeast for many years, wielding considerable power. The so-called investigation is merely a formality, and the outcome is self-evident.
"This matter will fade in a few days, so don't keep thinking about it. If you're really scared, have your mother take you to a temple to burn incense."
"My daughter knows."
Feng Caixing returned to her room, took out the hemp paper, examined it again and again, and made a decision: "Achan, I remember your handwriting is rather strong. Make ten copies of this using the same hemp paper, and have your brother secretly post them in several conspicuous places on the street..."
She herself might be recognized if she wrote it, but even her parents wouldn't know how well her maidservants wrote, so she was even less afraid of outsiders.
That night, many walls along the street were covered with hemp paper detailing Wang Ping's tragic fate. The next day, crowds gathered in front of the walls, pointing and whispering, and the matter, which had somewhat cooled down, was once again hotly discussed.
The inspectors were busy tearing off the hemp paper, while the Yuan family guards wandered around, trying to find the person who pasted the hemp paper on.
In the following days, hemp paper kept appearing everywhere and was destroyed incessantly.
Upon hearing this, Feng Caixing felt much lighter.
The later hemp paper wasn't pasted up by her orders, meaning that many others did the same thing as her.
My father said that this matter would fade away in a few days, so surely it wouldn't be forgotten so quickly?
Yuan Chenghai was furious because of the endless supply of hemp paper on the street. He first went to the patrol inspector's office and then went to see Xue Han.
"Lord Xue, this matter is clearly someone deliberately trying to disrupt the stability of the capital and sow discord. I hope your department will pay close attention and root out the villains who are taking advantage of the situation."
Compared to the incompetent officials of the Patrol and Inspection Division, Yuan Chenghai felt that the Imperial City Division was more reliable.
He was also much more polite to Xue Han, the imperial envoy.
Of course, this was just Yuan Chenghai's perception of politeness; as soon as he left, Hu Si spat out a curse.
"Where did this round-faced guy come from, acting like he's in charge of the Imperial City Guard?"
Xue Han glanced at his subordinate with disdain: "Why didn't you spit in his face just now?"
Hu Si was taken aback: "Can I spit?"
"Why not? If you spit, I'll just make you apologize," Xue Han said lazily.
Hu Si clapped his hands: "Sir, you should have said so sooner!"
Yuan Chenghai's evil deeds are currently being hotly debated, and as a member of the Imperial City Guard, I know that the reality is only more brutal.
"You should patrol more tonight."
"Sir, are you really going to interfere?"
Xue Han smiled: "Since they've already come to us, we should at least give them some face. Here, put these up when the time comes, but don't choose a place that's too conspicuous."
Hu Si took it and stared wide-eyed.
A stack of hemp paper, all written about Wang Ping.
"Sir, did you write all of this?"
Xue Han glanced at him helplessly: "Make the best use of what you've confiscated."
Hu Si laughed: "That's right, making the most of everything."
That evening, Qiu Heng went to meet Tao Da and the other two according to the agreed-upon mark, and saw Hu Si acting suspiciously as she turned a corner.
Why are the Imperial City Guards patrolling so furtively at night?
Qiu Heng's curiosity was piqued, so she silently followed. She saw Hu Si stop in front of a wall, look around, quickly paste a piece of paper on it, and then walk forward as if nothing had happened.
Could it be—Qiu Heng had a guess in her heart. She walked closer and sure enough, it was a piece of hemp paper with Wang Ping's wrongful death written on it.
This was completely unexpected by Qiu Heng.
On her way to the agreed meeting place, Qiu Heng was still thinking about what she had accidentally stumbled upon.
Hu Si's actions must have been at Xue Han's behest.
Who exactly is Xue Han, the Imperial Envoy?
(End of this chapter)
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