Chapter 70

Zhao Yougong smiled, but his actions were infuriating. As soon as Zhao Fugang had thrown the money bag into the clay jar, he bent down to retrieve it.

The beggar man was clearly taken aback, then tried to protect the jar. At this moment, Zhao Fugang frowned and pulled on Zhao Yougong's robe.

"Ling Ge, what are you doing?" Zhao Fugang was clearly angry. The girl was seriously ill, and her family was suffering from famine. How could giving more money be a problem?

Zhao Yougong sneered inwardly. Seriously ill? What kind of illness could cause a slight swelling in the abdomen? He couldn't tell what poison the girl had been given, but he understood her eyes. When Zhao Fugang threw the money bag into the jar, he saw not gratitude or relief, but hatred in the girl's eyes.

Why hate? Only heaven knew!

He understood but couldn't explain it to Zhao Fugang. He turned his face and feigned concern, "Fourth Sister, if you're going to give, don't give it all. What will we spend later?"

"Ling Ge, how can you be like this? We'll go back soon. Aren't you just worried about the money? Little Sister will pay you back later!"

Zhao Fugang was furious. Her brother always made people hate him. Once given, how could you take it back? Didn't he know this?

Zhao Yougong wouldn't listen to Zhao Fugang. He struggled and continued to reach for the money bag. Zhao Yougong was strong, and Zhao Fugang couldn't stop him. She stomped her feet and cursed, "Stinky Ling Ge, dead Ling Ge, why are you so infuriating?"

By now, a crowd had gathered. Most of them looked at Zhao Yougong with disdain. Some even spoke up, "Young Master, from your clothes, you seem to be from a wealthy family. Why are you so stingy?"

Zhao Yougong was annoyed. How could there still be people who didn't recognize him, the young Duke? He turned, glared, and said, "Who are you? Do you want me to throw you into the river?"

"You... you..."

He ignored the man and continued to reach for the money bag. Suddenly, two dirty hands grabbed his wrist, and a miserable cry echoed, "Young Master, this money is the lifeline for my daughter and me. Please, have mercy..."

"Ha, this is my money. Can't I take it back?"

The middle-aged beggar seemed to have given up. With tear-streaked eyes, he protected the broken jar, "Once it's in the jar, it's mine. Young Master, you can't take it away!"

"Fine, if you want it this way, I'll take it by force!" Zhao Yougong was a spoiled young master. When someone didn't give him face, he naturally got angry.

A beggar and a young master in a brocade robe fought over the jar. The beggar, though thin, was strong. His right hand clamped down like a vise. Zhao Yougong's wrist hurt, and he was surprised. This beggar had some skills.

"Ouch, you stinky beggar, let go, my wrist..."

He cried out, broke free, and rolled up his sleeve. His wrist was already purple. Even Zhao Fugang felt sorry for him and blew on it.

The beggar, holding the jar, glared, "Young Master, don't push me. If you do, I'll report you to the magistrate!"

Zhao Yougong almost laughed. He was afraid the beggar would back down, so he pushed Zhao Fugang behind him and sneered, "Scared of you? Go ahead and report me!"

The beggar, feeling cornered, shouted, "I will!"

The crowd sighed. The beggar was new and rash. Reporting to the magistrate in Kaifeng was a bad idea. In the old days, it might have worked, but now, he'd be thrown into jail before he could speak.

At the Kaifeng Prefecture, Xie Wudi was arguing with the other four warriors when he heard someone knocking on the drum. He stood up and shouted, "Prepare, we have a case. Little Brother Ma, go get the clerk!"

Now, everyone in the Kaifeng Prefecture knew to handle small matters with the clerk and delay big ones. Relying on the magistrate was out of the question.

Gongsun Kang rushed to the hall and was stunned. Eight bailiffs stood on both sides, and Ma Rulong and Xie Wudi were on either side. The four people in the middle were particularly noticeable. The young master with bright eyes and a fair face wasn't the Princess Maode? And the person next to the princess was none other than the young Duke, the magistrate of Kaifeng?

Gongsun Kang wanted to greet them, but Zhao Yougong kept winking and secretly pointed to Zhao Fugang.

After a month of cooperation, they had developed a默契 (rapport). Gongsun Kang straightened up and shouted, "Xie Head, clear the hall of all irrelevant people!"

Xie Wudi understood and gestured to Zhao Fugang, "Young Master, please wait outside."

"....Ling Ge, you dare...."

Zhao Fugang was furious, raised her fan to hit Zhao Yougong's head, but he dodged and signaled Xie Wudi and Ma Rulong to drag her out.

The beggar man sensed something was wrong. He tried to back off, but Gongsun Kang didn't give him a chance. He slammed the gavel and shouted, "Who is the plaintiff, and who is the defendant?"

The beggar man didn't speak, but Zhao Yougong raised his hand, "Your Honor, I am the plaintiff. The beggar stole my money bag!"

Nonsense, the beggar man glared, wanting to eat Zhao Yougong. If he had stolen the money bag, why would he turn himself in? No one with a brain would believe this, but to his surprise, Gongsun Kang didn't hesitate and immediately ruled, "You, the beggar, dared to steal money. How despicable! Take him away and give him twenty lashes. Lock him in jail for three months."

"....Your Honor, I protest... I haven't even spoken..."

Gongsun Kang glared and slammed the gavel again, "What are you saying? I've seen that money bag many times. It's not yours. Are you trying to lie?"

"...." The beggar man didn't believe it and tried to speak, but Zhao Yougong had already rolled up his sleeve and hit him with the fan. "Slap!" The beggar man was hit.

"What are you shouting about? Do you know who I am? I am the current magistrate of Kaifeng, the Duke of Yongning. You fool, to dare report me to the Kaifeng Prefecture. You must be blind!"

The beggar man was stunned. He felt like a fool. No wonder the onlookers had all disappeared. They knew who the young master in the brocade robe was, but he didn't. He was completely defeated. The beggar said nothing and obediently followed the bailiffs to be punished.

After the hall cleared, Zhao Fugang rushed in, waving her fan at Zhao Yougong, "Ling Ge, you scoundrel, how dare you let them lock up Little Sister? I'm so angry..."

Zhao Fugang didn't really want to hit him. Hitting Zhao Yougong was like scratching an itch. When she was tired, she walked out in a huff.

"Fourth Sister, where are you going?"

"Where else? To see that girl. You locked up her father. If no one takes care of her, she'll starve to death."

Watching Zhao Fugang's beautiful back, Zhao Yougong sighed. Fourth Sister was angry now, but she would praise him later.

The girl had been taken to the back office. Zhao Fugang had food prepared and sent Xiao San to fetch a doctor. Soon, the doctor arrived with Xiao San.

As soon as the doctor arrived, Zhao Fugang urged him to examine the girl. The doctor frowned after just a glance at her face. He examined her eyelids and fingernails and then sighed, "Princess, this girl is likely poisoned."

"Poisoned? Are you sure?"

"No mistake. Her eyes are black, her lips are blue and dry, and her fingernails are purple. All signs point to poisoning."

"What kind of poison, and why can't she move?"

The doctor didn't rush to answer. He opened the girl's mouth, smelled it, and then shook his head, "Princess, I'm sorry, but this girl is likely under a paralyzing spell. She needs a skilled person to release her. As for her inability to speak, I believe it's due to cassia twig poisoning."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, cassia twig poisoning can cause loss of voice, a hard and swollen abdomen, and a weak body."

Hearing the doctor's words, Zhao Fugang was filled with rage, but this time it wasn't at Zhao Yougong, but at the beggar. Though she lived in the palace, she knew who had done this to the girl.

"Doctor, can cassia twig poisoning be cured?"

"No, if it's a small amount, I might have a way, but from the girl's condition, it's been at least a year. In this state, even a celestial being couldn't help."

The doctor left, and Zhao Fugang sat in the back office, lost in thought. She couldn't understand why someone would do this to a girl, making her beg pitifully. The girl was young, not much older than her, and to suffer such a fate at this age.

Zhao Yougong didn't know how to comfort Zhao Fugang. This kind-hearted girl's heart was beginning to change.

"Ling Ge, why is the world like this?"

Zhao Yougong knew what Zhao Fugang was asking, but he couldn't answer. Even after a thousand years, no one could. Humans are the most complex beings. They can be cruel enough to sell their children or kind enough to become saints.

Was the beggar cruel? Yes, but not the cruelest. At least he didn't cut off the girl's hands and feet.

"Now, you should thank your brother. If I hadn't insisted on taking the money, you would have helped a villain!"

"Still have the nerve to say that? It was just a lucky guess. Wanting Little Sister to thank you is wishful thinking!" Standing up, Zhao Fugang smiled, "Ling Ge, Little Sister has some inconvenience. Can you help take care of that girl?"

"Can I say no?"

Zhao Fugang pouted and shook her head firmly, "If you say no, Little Sister... Little Sister..." After mumbling for a while, Zhao Fugang couldn't think of a threat and just smiled.