Ning Yao didn't care about Jiang Shilin's ability to admit his mistakes and correct them; what she cared about was what those people had said earlier.
One hour ago.
Ning Yao and her group encountered Lin Lixuan and his group. Ning Yao and Hua Yan did not conceal their appearances and were teased by Lin Lixuan, who made vulgar remarks.
After Shen Ci'an dealt with them, one of the servants, realizing he couldn't afford to offend them, whispered something in Lin Lixuan's ear.
"The maid from the capital that Master had arrested a few days ago, I think she's quite pretty, much better than those ordinary beauties in Nanjiang City. Master, would you like to go back and have some fun with her?"
Lin Lixuan didn't react for a moment, and asked, "Which one? How come I don't know?"
The servant continued, this time in an even softer voice: "It's the thing the master asked us to do, wasn't it? The master took it on, didn't he? The main family in the capital sent a letter asking us to find someone!"
Only then did Lin Lixuan realize, "Oh! So that's what it is! I'd completely forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it. I've been gone for several days, I need to hurry back and check on things, otherwise my brother might kill me, and I'll be at a loss!"
Knowing that he couldn't afford to offend these people for the time being, Lin Lixuan decided to leave with his men.
Little did they know that their entire conversation had been overheard by Ning Yao. Just as they were about to leave, Ning Yao lashed out with her whip, knocking Lin Lixuan to the ground.
"Who did the Lin family in the capital order you to arrest?" Ning Yao's voice was as cold as ice.
She didn't know how many people from the capital had passed through Nanjiang City in this direction, but based on her estimation of the time, Ning Wenyi and his group must have arrived in Nanjiang City a few days ago.
Why would the patriarch of a large clan specifically arrest a maid from the capital?
This made Ning Yao think of the Zhang family, since they had been pursuing the Lin family from the beginning, and the Lin family was probably no better off than the Zhang family.
If there were any grudges, and the Zhang family plotted to usurp the throne, then Shen Wei was their mortal enemy.
The Prince Duan's Mansion had no grudges against the Lin family, and Shen Wei did not bring any servants with him when he left the capital.
The maid who was captured was most likely one of Zhilan, Zhimei, or Dongyue.
Of the three, Zhilan is the most beautiful, and given his past grievances with Consort Lin, it's highly likely that these people are targeting Zhilan because of him.
From the conversation between the master and servant, it can be inferred that Zhilan may have met with misfortune.
Lin Lixuan was taken aback. How did this woman overhear his conversation with the servant?
Could it be a ghost?
The man, who had committed numerous evils, felt a chill run down his spine.
"What capital city? What Lin family? I don't understand what you're talking about!"
What a joke! Ghosts may be scary, but what's scarier than a ghost is your own older brother.
Ning Yao didn't waste words with him; if he didn't talk, she would beat him until he did.
Who knew this person was so stubborn, Ning Yao couldn't utter a single useful word.
Then came Jiang Shilin's words, and the information Hua Yan later gathered.
"Hua Yan tied him up and gagged him. As for the answer, he's not the only one who knows." Ning Yao turned her gaze to the servant beside her.
He was the one who just said those things, so it seems he knows quite a lot.
Hua Yan acted quickly, tying Lin Lixuan up like a dead pig.
Ning Yao dismounted and approached the servant step by step.
"What is your relationship with the Lin family in the capital? If you tell me, I'll spare your life and go back to inform them. If you don't, I'll take your master's corpse and go to Nanjiang City to ask him myself! Then you won't even have a choice."
Ning Yao toyed with the whip in her hand: "Or perhaps you'd like to experience how those three female corpses died?"
The servant shuddered; he knew all too well how those three had died.
He glanced at Lin Lixuan with a troubled expression, but his mouth was gagged, so he could only make muffled sounds.
"I'm so sorry, sir, I didn't mean for this to happen!"
“I said, our Lin family of Nanjiang City is a branch of the Lin family of the capital. My master and his brother serve as the city lord and governor of Nanjiang City respectively. My master is the governor.”
"The day before yesterday, the master ordered someone to be arrested. When he heard that it was a woman from the capital, my master volunteered to take on the task. He tricked the girl out by claiming that her young mistress was injured, then drugged her and took her back to the city lord's mansion."
"Later, the master took us out of the city, and we don't know what happened to that girl now."
Ning Yao's eyes darkened. Just as she had guessed, they had captured Zhi Lan, and they had used such a clumsy method.
Ning Yao didn't know whether to laugh or cry for a moment. That silly girl, Zhilan.
"Aren't the city lord and governor of Nanjiang City supposed to be local officials? Why are they acting so viciously?" Jiang Shilin frowned, looking completely incredulous.
From the moment Hua Yan first met them, she didn't find them very pleasing to the eye.
"Where did you come from, this naive young nobleman? The local officials are like the emperors of this city, their word is law. Is it any wonder that they are so vicious and domineering towards men and women?"
"I find you very strange. You're too naive, aren't you? First, Miss Ning and I were harassed, and you told us to be forgiving. Later, we learned that they had abused and murdered women and children. The facts are right in front of us. Why don't you believe that their local officials are also as venomous as scorpions?"
"Are all the officials in Lingyue City incorruptible and upright? Are there no wrongful convictions or miscarriages of justice in Lingyun City?"
Ever since Ning Yao learned Hua Yan's true identity, he has become increasingly inconsiderate of others and has become more and more unrestrained in his behavior.
He resolved many of the problems that arose along the way.
Jiang Shilin looked very unwell, perhaps because of what Hua Yan had said.
However, the people in the carriage behind him couldn't sit still when they saw Jiang Shilin being bullied.
"Young master, Brother Lin is simple-minded and kind-hearted, and has no bad intentions. You don't need to be so aggressive, do you?"
The speaker was Jiang Shilin's fiancée, Chen Xuanrong, who was also from Lingyue.
Chen Xuanrong had the appearance of a demure young lady, adorned with pearls and jade, her face made up, and her innocent doe eyes staring at people as if they were facing a heinous criminal.
Hua Yan turned her head to look in the direction of the carriage, her phoenix eyes sharply fixed on her, and she said nothing kind: "I advise you, young lady, not to meddle in other people's business. This is not a time for sightseeing; every step you take could be fatal. We are not as compassionate and kind as your brother Lin, but in these chaotic times, his compassion and kindness will only send you to your death!"
"I know you are pampered young ladies and gentlemen, but don't forget that this is not Lingyue City, nor is it your Jiang Mansion. We are in the middle of nowhere, facing corrupt officials who can torture and kill those who are powerless at any time!"
"If you hadn't had someone to protect you, could you have made it all the way to Nanjiang City? Keeping your mouth shut is the biggest help you can give your brother Lin!"
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