After helping Ning Yin drive the two away with her words, Judge Chen quickly switched to a fawning smile.
He handed the food box to Ning Yin with both hands. "Are you hungry, Ning Yuanshi? Eat first. When those people come back, I'll have them grind the medicine. You just need to direct them."
Ning Yin took the food box and gave her a suspicious look; she was indeed being overly enthusiastic.
This made her even more curious about whether Lord Li was actually a relative of Li Xuan.
Thinking it over, the two went inside and heard shouts and curses coming from the backyard.
"Well, I'll go take a look. You eat first."
Judge Chen lifted his robes and quickly stepped into the backyard, with Ning Yin following closely behind.
The sound was coming from my own courtyard. Could it be that something happened to Suxin?
The two arrived at the backyard one after the other, only to find that Xiao Yuanshi was tied up under the old camphor tree.
Su Xin held a feather duster in her hand, while Granny Zhang searched him and found several gold ingots.
"Speak! Why did you steal my young lady's gold? Speak now!"
Su Xin put her hands on her hips and smacked the man's leg with a feather duster.
The man grimaced in pain, but refused to speak.
"Bai Meng, you stole Ning Yuanshi's gold!"
When Judge Chen learned the reason, his expression changed, and he hurriedly stepped forward and slapped him in return.
The academician named Bai Meng had his mouth bleeding from the beating, but he just chuckled and pressed his tongue against his cheek, still looking like he would rather die than submit.
"You're still laughing? How come the Imperial Hospital's salary isn't enough for you? Besides, you have food and lodging in the palace. Why would you do such a despicable thing? I used to think highly of you. Since you've really become a thief, I will not tolerate it. I will send you to the Dali Temple right now!"
Judge Chen flicked his sleeves and turned to call for help.
To his surprise, Ning Yin stopped him, saying, "Wait, since this person stole my things, let me question him privately before we deal with him."
"Well... alright then, Ning Yuanshi will handle the case first. Call me if anything happens."
Judge Chen spoke with utmost respect, then turned and left.
Now only Ning Yin and a few others are left. Bai Meng didn't expect that Ning Yin would actually help him.
But he quickly put on an indifferent act.
He stole the gold because his elderly father was heavily in debt from gambling, and now his only sister was about to be sold into the Lanquyuan brothel.
If he couldn't raise a hundred taels of gold, he couldn't even imagine how long his sister could survive in that kind of place.
He happened to be at the door when Ning Yin received the award yesterday, and when Su Xin opened it, the golden light also caught his eye.
He wasn't the kind of person who would steal or do petty theft, but now, for his sister's sake, he had no choice but to take the risk.
The thought of being tied up and possibly being sent to the Dali Temple was terrifying.
Bai Meng felt that instead of doing that, it would be better to ask Ning Yin for help; perhaps there was still hope.
At worst, he would work like a slave to repay Ning Yin's kindness.
Thinking it over, Bai Meng suddenly spoke up: "Inspector Ning, I stole the money to save my sister. If I didn't have this money, she would have been sold into Lanquyuan. You know, that kind of place is ruthless and cruel. I really have no other choice now."
"Please, consider this money a loan from you. I will repay it double in the future. I am willing to serve you for the rest of my life. I only ask that you help me this once. I know you are a benefactor. Today, that Lord Li was clearly a man of great stature and dignified appearance. His status must be very high. Otherwise, a snobbish judge like Chen would not have changed his mind so quickly."
At this point, both Ning Yin and Su Xin were taken aback.
"Could you describe what that person looks like and how tall he is?"
Ning Yin became increasingly suspicious that this Lord Li must be a relative of Li Xuan.
However, why is he unwilling to show his face?
She was able to enter the palace so smoothly thanks to him, and she wanted to thank him in person.
Bai Meng frowned and began to describe Li Chengyan's appearance in detail.
"Tall and slender, with deep-set double eyelids, beautiful eyes, a high nose, and lips..."
Listening to Bai Meng's description, Ning Yin thought for a long time and realized that it looked just like Li Xuan.
But Li Xuan was clearly just a wealthy merchant, so how could he have entered the palace?
They must be Li Xuan's relatives.
After a moment of contemplation, Ningyin gave Suxin a wink.
"Untie his ropes."
Su Xin bit her upper lip, looking unwilling.
"Miss, he's a thief! What if he steals again next time..."
Ningyin wasn't a saint, but money wasn't the most important thing in the palace. The most important thing was that she needed a few loyal people she could command.
Although Su Xin and Granny Zhang were loyal, they were still women after all.
Some things are better left to men to handle.
Do you know kung fu?
Ning Yin asked another question, and Bai Meng nodded, "I know a little bit, so I can basically handle some petty thieves."
After saying that, he lowered his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.
I did indeed act like a petty thief today.
But he really wanted to save his sister; if the gambling den owner didn't see the money tomorrow, his sister would be in big trouble.
"Alright, from now on you'll obey my orders. I can lend you this money and also absolve you of the crime of theft. But if I find out you've told even the slightest lie, I can still have Judge Chen send you to the Dali Temple. Do you understand?"
Ning Yin's voice was cold, and Bai Meng nodded vigorously.
"Don't worry, I will be loyal. I only want to save my sister, I'm not really greedy. I hope you can forgive me."
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