After handing the letter to Cui Zhong, Hong Xiaoduo came to the prison cart and said, "Don't worry, since I promised you, I will never go back on my word. Don't overthink it, just wait for my news."
Nie Qingjin's condition has improved a lot. Someone is willing to help him check on his mother and younger sister, which is like giving him hope and light. As for the matter of being wronged, he is not as upset as he was at the beginning.
"Young lady, I don't know your name yet, do you?" Nie Qing knew it was inappropriate to ask someone's name, but since the other person was willing to help him, she was practically his benefactor, and it wouldn't do to not even know the benefactor's surname.
“Hong Xiaoduo, Hong as in wild goose, Xiao as in small size, and Duo as in flower.” Without much thought, Hong Xiaoduo immediately told him her name.
She just felt that this would at least put his mind at ease a little!
After saying that she wished them a safe journey, Hong Xiaoduo returned to the carriage, which had already been turned around, and got ready to board and set off.
Watching the two carriages turn around and leave, Nie Qing and the four officers had extremely complicated feelings.
Nie Qing was thinking that the other party was a complete stranger to her, yet she believed her words and agreed to help her with such a favor.
What Cui Zhong and the other three thought was that if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed that such a thing existed in the world, that such a person would believe and agree to help without asking for anything in return.
The five men, including Nie Qing, had a feeling that the world wasn't as bad as they had previously thought. Something seemed to be breaking through the long-dormant depths of their hearts.
"Hey, you surnamed Nie, eat more." Old Man Sang called out to the people in the prison cart and handed them two pieces of roasted dry food.
Unlike his usual half-dead state, Nie Qing immediately reached out and took it, saying, "Thank you, sir." He then began to eat heartily.
He wasn't afraid of death, but his biggest worry was his mother and younger sister. Now that someone was willing to help him find out, if his mother and sister were still safe and sound, he would perform well in the army and wait for the opportunity to clear his name.
However, if his mother and younger sister have already met with misfortune, then once he recovers and is healthy, he can escape from the military camp and seek revenge on the person who framed him. Killing one would be enough, and killing two would be a bonus.
Nie Qing has only two plans now, one good and one bad!
On the carriage heading back, Hong Xiaoduo explained the destination to Tian Shu again before quickly lying down to catch up on sleep.
Now things are different. She won't sleep in anymore; she wants to get to Nie Qing's house as soon as possible to make sure his mother and sister are alright.
Now that I've already promised, I have something on my mind.
She didn't think she agreed on a whim. Nor did she see herself as a naive, saintly figure, or a busybody; it was just a coincidence.
At this point, she wasn't thinking about helping Nie Qing clear his name or overturn the case; she just wanted to do what she could.
For the sake of her mother and younger sister, she had no choice but to confess. If she didn't lend a hand to such a person, Hong Xiaoduo felt she couldn't get over it in her heart.
The thought of that dignified seven-foot-tall man kneeling before me makes my heart ache.
The map shows that to reach Nie Qing's home in Tongling City, one has to pass through three towns, but the number of villages and the distance are not specified in the map.
Tian Shu, who was driving the carriage, was a little hesitant. Hong Xiaoduo suggested going a little faster, but he knew she was catching up on sleep, and if the carriage moved faster, it would inevitably be more bumpy.
But then, thinking about the purpose of this trip, Tian Shu finally made up his mind and made the horse run a little faster.
In the main hall of a large mansion in the western part of Tongling City, several elderly people sat at the head of the table, coldly looking at the mother and daughter kneeling before them.
“Shen, I have already told you everything I need to say. Qing’er did such a thing, which not only implicated the younger generation of the clan, but the eldest branch of the family also sold their shops and fertile land to save him. Even though he was not saved, you can’t let the eldest branch of the family suffer losses, can you?”
I'll make the decision today: you shall return this house to the eldest son's family.
Xue'er is of marriageable age. The Liu family is well-off, and out of respect for me, they are willing to take Xue'er as their second wife. The auspicious day is the ninth day of next month, and they will come to carry her away.
"Qing'er and her brother lost their father at a young age, and now Qing'er has been exiled to the army for murder. Xue'er has married into a good family, and you will have someone to rely on in your old age. The clan is thinking of you and your daughter, so why are you crying and sobbing?" The leading old man stroked his gray beard and said with great displeasure.
Kneeling, Shen's tears streamed down her face, her eyes red with anger. The girl beside her was also pale and trembling.
"Clan leader, you know Qing'er's character well. He doesn't drink alcohol and would never go to brothels to seek pleasure. How could he possibly kill someone by accident while fighting over Hua Jie?"
He's innocent! Besides, Xue'er is only fourteen, still a child. How could she possibly become the second wife of a nearly sixty-year-old man like Master Liu?
"My elder brother sold his shops and fertile fields to save Qing'er. We, the second branch of the family, can compensate him with our shops and fertile fields. If we give him this house, where will Xue'er and I live? Where will Qing'er live when she comes back?" Madam Shen bit her lip to calm herself down.
"Second sister-in-law, you're being heartless. How can your shop and land compare to our eldest son's? I told you then that we shouldn't rush to help save Qing'er, and look what happened, no good deed goes unpunished," a woman standing to the side sneered.
The old man sitting at the head of the table was very displeased. He slammed his hand on the table and scolded, "I am the head of the Nie family. I always act impartially. It's settled then. You have three days to vacate the courtyard yourself."
As for whether Xue'er marries or not, don't say I forced you. Give me your answer in three days." After saying this, the old man stood up with great dignity and left with his clansmen.
Soon, only the mother and daughter remained kneeling in the hall.
"Mother, what should we do?" Xue'er asked, crying.
Shen bit her lip until it bled: "Your father died early, and your brother got into an accident. They're clearly taking advantage of the fact that we have no one to rely on."
"Mother, we only have three days. Can we think of a way?" Xue'er asked helplessly.
Yes, there are only three days, but what can a woman like her come up with to deal with it?
Even if there's no way to save my son from being wrongly exiled to the army, how can I possibly protect this house, land, and shop?
"I'm afraid I can't think of a solution. If I had that ability, I would have rescued your brother long ago. Xue'er, I'm useless. I can't protect you. I still have some silver. Take it after dark and have Uncle Fu take you out the back door to avoid trouble. No matter what, I will never let you marry that old man Liu as his second wife." Madam Shen wiped away her tears with her sleeve, having made up her mind.
"Mother, what about you?" Xue'er asked worriedly...
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