Chapter 28

Qingyun County.

Located at the foot of Qingyun Mountain, it is a bustling mountain city. Surrounded by numerous mountains, the county is rich in medicinal herbs and furs, which are highly sought after by wealthy families. Every winter and autumn, merchants come to purchase furs and herbs, making Qingyun County famous throughout the Jiangnan region.

The city walls of Qingyun County stand three zhang high, guarded by patrolling soldiers. Outside the city, there is a military camp, the only one within a hundred li of the county, making Qingyun County as solid as a fortress.

On the eighth day of March, just before noon, the city gates were already open. A moat, four zhang wide and over three zhang deep, encircled the city like a jade belt, gleaming in the warm early spring sun.

At the city gate, carriages and horses entered and exited, and merchants and civilians came and went, making the two-zhang-high city gate seem somewhat narrow.

A group of ten patrolling soldiers, with their hands on their sword hilts and dressed in patrol uniforms, stood at the city gate, inspecting the people passing through. Any suspicious behavior would be met with questioning, which was quite strict and led to a large crowd of people at the city gate, causing a commotion.

"Master, Uncle Fu, I have inquired clearly. Last night, ten thousand taels of gold were stolen from the county treasury, causing a great upheaval at the county office. That's why the inspections are stricter than usual," Zhang He bowed and stood in front of Ning Wuque and Uncle Fu.

Ning Wushuang looked around, seeing the tall city walls and couldn't help but smack his lips. Ning Bo Wu, carrying a lacquered red wooden box and holding an iron rod, closely followed behind Ning Wuque. Beside them were five or six scholars carrying book chests, exuding an air of pedantry.

Uncle Fu nodded slightly, looking at the strict patrolling soldiers and stroking his white beard, "No wonder, ten thousand taels of gold is no small amount. If it's lost, the higher-ups will impose severe penalties, and their official hats will be at risk."

"Come here, all of you..." At this moment, a mighty general, hand on his sword hilt, looked at Ning Wuque and his group and shouted sternly.

"Where are you from, and what brings you to Qingyun County?"

Uncle Fu led the group over and bowed, smiling, "General, I am the chief steward of Zhangjia Town, and these are students coming to take the county examination."

As he spoke, Uncle Fu subtly took out a silver ingot and quietly handed it to the general, "Please, General, make things easier for us."

The general, feeling the weight of the silver, his stern face broke into a smile, "So you are from Mr. Zhang's household. Go ahead, if you encounter any suspicious individuals, please report them to the authorities immediately, and there will be a reward."

"Thank you, General..."

Uncle Fu bowed and smiled, giving a signal to the people behind him, and they walked toward the city gate.

"Wait..."

Suddenly, a cold and fierce voice came from the crowd. A scholar wearing a blue headband and a clean blue robe, holding a black feather fan, with two rat-like whiskers and eyes gleaming with deceit, stepped out.

"Isn't that the old dog from Mr. Zhang's household? Bringing a bunch of good-for-nothings again? Truly, you must be hard-pressed to come here and disgrace yourself in Qingyun County."

The scholar's words were sharp and biting, looking at Uncle Fu with a deep-seated hatred, as if they had an irreconcilable enmity.

Ning Wuque frowned, and Zhang He moved to the side, whispering, "Master, that man is Zhao Lian, a counselor at the county office, and the brother of Lady Zhao. Twenty years ago, after Lady Zhao's death, the Zhao family and the Zhang family fell out, and Zhao Lian has been at odds with the Zhang family ever since."

The general, who had taken the silver, seeing his people being stopped, immediately became displeased. Wasn't this a slap in the face? However, he had heard of the feud between the Zhao and Zhang families and, with a stern face, shouted, "Counselor Zhao, the city gate is not under your jurisdiction. Do not bring your personal grudges here."

Zhao Lian laughed coldly, glanced at the general, and then his gaze fell on Ning Wushuang and Ning Bo Wu. His eyes narrowed, and he waved his fan, suddenly shouting, "General Li, the thieves are those two men. Why don't you arrest them quickly?"

Hearing the word "thieves," the city gate patrol soldiers immediately gathered, drawing their swords, the sound of metal clashing, the blades gleaming in the sunlight. Even the general turned his gaze to Ning Bo Wu and Ning Wushuang.

"Thieves?" Ning Wushuang was still taken aback, his voice filled with surprise.

Uncle Fu's eyes flashed with anger, and he glared at Zhao Lian, shouting, "Zhao Lian, don't push your luck. Your position as a counselor was secured by my master. They are from the Zhang family, and I dare anyone to touch them!"

At this moment, Uncle Fu's hair stood on end, like an enraged tiger, his aura so powerful that even the battle-hardened general took a step back, inwardly amazed by the old man's strength.

"Very well, have you all heard? My position is granted by the court, what does it have to do with the Zhang family? Today, the royal family is surnamed Li, not Zhang. Could it be that the Zhang family is plotting a rebellion? This man dares to defy the law, protect criminals, and defy the court's officials! Arrest them all!"

With the accusation of "rebellion," Uncle Fu's face changed. He knew that the county office had long been dissatisfied with the Zhang family and had been looking for an opportunity to eliminate them. After all, no official would want a more powerful figure in their jurisdiction.

However, Zhang Yuantai's reputation for generosity and virtue had earned him considerable respect, which made the county office cautious. But if the charge of "rebellion" was placed on them, even the royal family would not hesitate to seize and destroy the Zhang family. Moreover, Uncle Fu did not know if Zhao Lian's actions were at the behest of someone higher up.

For Uncle Fu, Ning Bo Wu and Ning Wushuang were just Ning Wuque's attendants. If he could save the Zhang family, he would be willing to hand over Ning Wuque, at most sighing a few times.

His face dark, Uncle Fu's eyes flickered, and he glared at Zhao Lian like a hungry tiger. Zhao Lian met his gaze without fear, his eyes cold like a venomous snake, a smile playing on his lips as he gently waved his fan.

"General Li, have you forgotten that the county magistrate assigned me to investigate the gold theft? I have the authority to mobilize the troops. And didn't I see you take something just now? Could it be that General Li is in league with these people?"

The general's face changed repeatedly, inwardly cursing Zhao Lian as a mad dog, biting anyone in sight. But he knew he had to make a decision. If he was accused of "colluding with rebels," even if he had connections, they would not want to be involved.

"Arrest them all!" The general drew his long sword, his aura murderous, transferring his resentment toward Zhao Lian onto Uncle Fu and his group.

Uncle Fu closed his eyes, his hands trembling with veins bulging.

Zhang He's legs trembled, and he looked at Ning Wuque, wondering how a county examination had turned into a military disaster. The scholars who had come with the Zhang family were pale-faced, keeping their distance from Ning Wuque's group, and some even collapsed to the ground.

Ning Wushuang, seeing the fierce patrol soldiers, shouted his innocence, but these soldiers were clearly not ordinary constables, only following orders. They pounced, and just as Ning Wushuang and Ning Bo Wu were about to be arrested, a voice rang out.

"Wait..."

The page flip begins with an ad.

The page flip ends with an ad.