Chapter 19

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Second update, one more to go, continue to seek votes and support!

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He Yuanwai's bed was a large lacquered and carved nanmu bed, also known as a thousand-work bed. The entire bed was like a room, which was why Hu Butou ordered it to be dismantled!

"Wait!" He Yuanwai shouted, stretching out his hand to stop them. "This bed has been passed down from my ancestors; it's worth at least ten thousand gold pieces. Can you afford to compensate if it's damaged?"

"Just dismantle it!" Lin Qing'er, dressed in men's clothing, said crisply. "I have an even better one at home!"

"Who are you?" He Yuanwai was taken aback.

"My brother is called Lin Rongxing!" Lin Qing'er glared at him, each word filled with hatred.

"Ah..." He Yuanwai finally understood. It turned out that all their schemes were because they knew Zhao Meiniang was here! He immediately felt weak in the limbs...

"Demolish!" Hu Buliu ordered, and several constables rushed forward, lifting off the bedding and then prying at the bed panels. The bed, made of nanmu, was extremely sturdy. Several burly men used all their strength to pry and pull, and with a loud bang, they finally managed to pry off the entire bed panel. When the dust settled, everyone looked closely and saw no hidden mechanisms or secret passages, much to their disappointment.

Just as they were at a loss, Wang Xian, who had been carried in on a door panel by Shuai Hui and Tian Qi, suddenly said softly, "Strange..."

"What?" Following his gaze, they saw a small Buddhist niche embedded in the wall in one corner of the bedroom.

The custom of Buddhism was prevalent in Jiangnan, and such niches were quite common. Many believers placed Buddha statues in their bedrooms and knelt to worship morning and night, so everyone thought it was not strange but rather that he was making a fuss over nothing.

"Others can worship, but He Yuanwai, who deceives people and commits adultery, dares to worship in his bedroom?" Wang Xian said softly. "And where is the prayer mat?"

Hearing this, Hu Buliu also found it suspicious and went over to try to move the Buddha statue, but it was as if it was rooted to the ground, not moving an inch. He then reached over the statue and felt around inside, sweating profusely but finding nothing. Just as he was about to give up, his hand accidentally touched a brick on the ceiling that seemed different from the others.

He pressed it hard, and with a series of creaking sounds, the niche flipped open like a door, revealing a hole large enough for a person to enter.

Everyone rushed to look and saw that inside was a wall made of glutinous rice mortar, with a light at the end.

Perhaps hearing the noise, a timid female voice came from inside: "Sir, is that you?"

"It's me." Zhang Mazi laughed and went down for a moment, then brought up a slender, pale, and beautiful woman.

"Sister-in-law!" "Zhao Meiniang!" Seeing the beautiful woman, Lin Qing'er and Tian Qi both widened their eyes and exclaimed, "You're really still alive!"

"Ha ha, indeed, He Yuanwai has hidden you in a golden house..." Hu Buliu smiled and glanced at He Chang, only to find that he had slipped away to the door while no one was paying attention.

His laughter abruptly stopped, and Hu Butou shouted, "Don't let him escape!"

Realizing he had been spotted, He Chang ran, but unfortunately, Wang Xian was still lying at the door. Everyone had been watching the commotion, and only he couldn't move, so he could only be anxious at the door.

Now he had become a stumbling block for He Yuanwai...

"Boy, go to hell!" He Chang, who had long hated Wang Xian, pulled out a short knife and lunged at him, determined to kill the boy who had caused him so much trouble and then escape.

"Stop!" The constables rushed forward, but it was too late.

"Die!" He Yuanwai bent over and stabbed at Wang Xian's chest.

"No!" Lin Qing'er screamed, her legs giving way, and she fell to the ground.

Shuai Hui had already closed his eyes in fear, but Liu Erhei opened his mouth wide and stared, witnessing a scene he would never forget!

Wang Xian lay on the ground, hands protecting his chest, legs curled up, and then suddenly kicked out!

The kick was so swift that it produced a whistling sound! He Yuanwai, caught off guard, was hit in the abdomen, and the knife flew out of his hand, grazing Wang Xian's cheek and cutting a few strands of hair...

He Chang staggered back a few steps and fell to the ground. Just as he was about to get up, several steel knives were pressed to his neck, and he was captured by the constables!

"Good move, kicking the eagle!" Hu Butou, regaining his composure, gave Wang Xian a thumbs up. "You're even more ruthless than your father!"

"You brat, you're already better!" Shuai Hui and Liu Erhei, their spirits somewhat calmed, ran over and started to roughhouse Wang Xian. "You really put on a good act, making us worry for nothing!"

"It was all planned in advance," Wang Xian said with a bitter smile while fending them off. "Besides, I'm not fully recovered yet. That move just now left my legs numb..."

"Nonsense, if you weren't fully recovered, could you have knocked down He?"

"He thought I was paralyzed and didn't expect it. When he bent over, his stance was unstable, leaving an opening," Wang Xian smiled. "It was like kicking a sack of rice..."

"By the way, that move you just used, called 'kicking the eagle,' why haven't we seen you use it before?"

"That's called not showing your true self until the right moment..."

"Really shameless!" The two men scolded and walked away without another word.

"Don't go..." Wang Xian called out helplessly. He was actually not fully recovered. The desperate move he had made in the face of death had left him with a painful and numb sensation from his waist to his legs, and he couldn't stand up.

"Brat," Tian Qi walked over, his face stern. "When we went to Shaoxing, you deliberately let me carry you, didn't you?"

"Absolutely not," Wang Xian denied, "I really couldn't walk then." In fact, he was retaliating for the time Tian Qi had thrown him on the boat.

"Hmph, you have to interpret your words in reverse..." Tian Qi laughed. "Whether it's true or not, I'll carry you back!" He picked him up and put him on his back, his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you..."

The tough man's tears flowed freely. Tian Qi didn't care; he just wanted to indulge himself once, to cry freely and celebrate the end of a long nightmare.

Lin Qing'er followed beside him, already a sobbing mess. She had to cover her mouth to keep from crying out...

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When the captives were being escorted out of He's residence, another problem arose. The neighboring farmers, hearing that the grain commissioner had been arrested, all rushed over, blocking their path.

But Hu Butou was adept at handling such situations. He roared, "He Shouye, Li Quezi, get over here right now!"

These two were the chief and deputy village heads of Sanshan Town. They had been hiding far away, but Hu Butou's sharp eyes had already spotted them. They had no choice but to push through the crowd and come to Hu Butou.

Hu Butou, riding a large blue mule, said with a stern face, "Are you planning a rebellion?"

"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare..." He Shouye quickly explained, "It's just that He Gong has always been well-respected by the people. When they heard he was arrested, they got a bit excited."

"Excited my ass!" Hu Butou spat, pulling out a warrant from his sleeve. "This is the warrant signed by the county magistrate. I'm here to arrest him, and anyone who resists will be treated as a rebel! Make them all go away, or you two will be dead!"

When he scolded, he only targeted the two village heads, but when he intimidated, he did it indiscriminately. His skills in dealing with the common people were already highly advanced.

"We need to give the people an explanation," He Shouye said softly. "What crime did He Gong commit?"

"Murder, abduction, incitement, false accusation, and attempted murder..." Hu Butou listed them off, smirking. "Is that enough?"

"Enough, enough..." The two village heads were terrified. If the situation got out of hand and the criminal escaped, they would be the ones to lose their heads. They quickly used a mix of persuasion and threats to disperse the crowd, allowing the constables to escort He Yuanwai back to the city.

On the way, the constables showered Hu Butou with flattery, praising his wisdom and bravery, his calmness in the face of danger, his capture of the criminal, and his intimidation of the unruly crowd... They flattered him so much that he was dazed, as if he had drunk half a bottle of old wine.

But behind the cart, Shuai Hui was frowning. "The plan was mine, the tunnel was found by me, and He was captured by me. Now it's all his credit."

Wang Xian, lying comfortably on the cart with his arms behind his head, gazed at the autumn sky. The sky was high and clear, and geese were flying south. He felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation and openness. Hearing Shuai Hui's words, he shook his head and smiled. "Isn't it supposed to be like this?"

People fear greed. Since the goal has been achieved, why seek more?

"Is it supposed to be like this?" Shuai Hui looked at Erhei. "I don't think so."

"Because you're an idiot." Erhei grinned.

"I'm smarter than you!" Shuai Hui said angrily.

"Even an idiot thinks so." Erhei laughed.

The two of them laughed and playfully fought, running away from the cart.

Wang Xian watched their figures with a smile, suddenly catching a whiff of a fragrant scent. Without turning around, he knew it was Lin Qing'er, the girl as delicate and strong as a gardenia flower.

"Um..." Lin Qing'er's eyes and face were red, her voice barely audible. "Are you thirsty?"

"Do you have water?" Wang Xian looked at her and smiled.

"No, but I have this." She held out a golden orange, skillfully peeled it, and carefully removed the white pith, then offered the golden orange flesh to him.

Wang Xian thought she would feed him, but remembering that he had already kicked the eagle, he no longer had a reason to be taken care of, feeling a bit regretful. He split the orange in half and gave half back to Lin Qing'er. Lin Qing'er, embarrassed to eat something he had touched, shook her head to refuse.

Wang Xian ignored her, put a piece in his mouth, and winced. "It's so sour..."

"Ah." Lin Qing'er quickly took it, tasted a piece, and found it sweet as honey, not a bit sour. She pouted, "You're lying!"

Wang Xian shrugged and leisurely ate the sweet orange.

Lin Qing'er lowered her head, her face red, and delicately savored the sweet orange, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart...

The cart creaked along the country road. Wang Xian, seeing the happy girl beside him, couldn't help but smile. Especially when he thought of his mother waiting for him with a pot of chicken soup, his smile became even brighter.

Returning, the sunset was at its most beautiful.

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