With only half a life left, Li Mingcheng finally endured forty strokes of the cane and was dragged into prison, his buttocks covered in blood.
Because of his previous act of feigning madness, Xiao Yuanhang was rewarded with an extra twenty lashes as a bonus. When he saw Li Mingcheng being dragged away, he felt that he had never been so envious, not even when he knew that Li Mingcheng was the county magistrate's brother-in-law!
His lips were bitten until they were bloody and burning. From crying out in pain at the beginning to now barely breathing, Xiao Yuanhang finally endured the sixty strokes of the cane, rolled his eyes, and completely fainted.
Although the man had fainted, the case was not yet closed. Han Zhongyu waved his hand and ordered Xiao Yuanhang to be dragged into the jail and detained for trial. Fearing that the man might die, he also ordered the prison doctor to apply medicine to the two men. Then he ordered the arrest of Magistrate Liu and Cao Chengan.
After Cao Chengan and Xiao Yuanhang sneaked back from Badaoling, he hid at home for several days. After about ten days passed and no one came looking for him, he sent someone out to inquire. They found out that Xiao Yuanhang and Li Mingcheng had taken people to Tai'an Prefecture!
If he wasn't specifically called, then he probably wouldn't have much to do!
Thinking that since he hadn't even passed the imperial examination by cheating, and the murder was none of his business, and that maybe the two of them had already settled things in Tai'an Prefecture, he could just treat them to a drink and say a few nice words and that would be the end of it, he went back to the county school to loaf around without any worries!
He was always restless. Although he and Xiao Yan were newlyweds, he had more than one wife. Not to mention the several concubines at home, he also kept Ying'er, who had just been redeemed from a brothel. She was good at singing and dancing, and had a sweet tongue. She was much more likable than Xiao Yan.
After taking a few days off and spending a few more days at the county school, Cao Cheng'an was on leave again. He rushed to his residence to spend some time alone with Ying'er.
As mentioned earlier, he, Xiao Yuanhang, and Li Mingcheng rented a place together, and each of them kept a mistress in the courtyard.
A while ago, he married Xiao Yan. Xiao Yuanhang and Li Mingcheng went to the wedding banquet together. Then Sun Chongren's incident happened. The three of them have been busy until now, and only he has returned. The other two have not yet returned!
The three girls waited anxiously, but only he returned. Qiu Hong, who was with Xiao Yuanhang, was already showing signs of pregnancy and wanted to ask him for some new clothes! But they hadn't even seen him. They couldn't help but ask Cao Cheng'an...
"Brother Cao, why hasn't Yuanhang returned?"
"Yes! And my brother Mingcheng, tell me, where did you take them!"
You've come back to be with your little wife, but poor us sisters, left alone in our empty rooms~
Li Mingcheng's chaperone, Cui'er, also asked jokingly.
Cao Cheng'an felt a little guilty thinking about how he had turned back halfway through, but he still shamelessly said...
"Brother Li and Brother Xiao have gone to Tai'an Prefecture to take care of some business. They should be back in a few days!"
That said, Qiu Hong has chosen the right person to follow; Brother Xiao is destined for great things!
Upon hearing this, Qiu Hong's face lit up with joy, and she pressed for more information.
"What do you mean by that! Brother Cao, you must explain yourself clearly! If it's really as you say, I'll definitely treat you to a drink!"
Cao Cheng'an didn't hide it; after all, he was now considered the son-in-law of the Xiao family, and he smugly said with a sense of pride.
"Oh dear! This is fate! My second brother-in-law, Xiao Yuanhang's second brother, has become a general!"
He was also engaged to a princess in the capital. A few days ago, the princess even sent a cartload of things to his home!
They gave me a hundred taels of silver!
This is just for casual visits. If we really become in-laws in the future, won't we be incredibly wealthy?
If you were carrying a son, the Xiao family would have to take you into their family. At that time, your brother would be a general, your sister-in-law would be a princess, and my brother-in-law from the distant voyage would surely become an official.
Wouldn't your value skyrocket and you become an official's concubine?
Are you happy to hear this news? Is it enough for you to buy me a drink?
"Congratulations, Sister Qiuhong! You're going to live a life of luxury now. Remember us sisters when you're done!"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Hong was so happy that her mouth stretched all the way to her ears, and she laughed repeatedly.
"Oh, in that case, I'll treat you to this meal. How about we all come to my place for dinner tonight!"
The three sisters and Cao Chengan were excitedly trying to get into the house when they heard a commotion outside. Then the door was kicked open!
It wasn't a secret among the students that Cao Cheng'an and his two friends had rented a courtyard here; Liu Nan and Liu Bei found out about it easily after asking around at the county school.
Upon seeing that it was an official who had entered, Cao Cheng'an's heart skipped a beat, knowing that something was wrong, but he still asked fearfully.
"G-brothers, is there something you need?"
Liu Nan had a serious face
"A student from the county school, Cao Cheng'an?"
"Yes, Brother Cha, if it involves murder or anything like that, I'm not involved!"
With that kind of mental fortitude, he's pretty much done for!
But this wasn't a courtroom, and Liu Nan didn't waste any words with him. He simply said that he needed his cooperation in the investigation of the imperial examination cheating case and the case of Sun's father's fall and injury. He was then taken away.
Without saying a word, the yamen runners who followed put the person in custody.
The other three women were stunned, and Ying'er even asked directly...
"Brother Cha, what's wrong with him? Why did he suddenly come to arrest people!"
He's just a student, and by the way, he's the son-in-law of the Xiao family! You know the Xiao family, right? They just produced a general. Please, for all sake, let's talk this out, okay?"
Liu Nan sneered upon hearing this.
"The Xiao family? The Xiao family that Xiao Yuanhang is from?"
Then don't get your hopes up!
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