"Zhan Tongsheng, what do you think of this?" The clan elder asked with a distressed expression. Madam Kou had dared to drug someone, but now she had gone mad. The clan elder couldn't do anything to her, yet he feared Zhan Feiyu's pursuit.
Watching Madam Kou being led back to her room by several women, still raving and shouting, Zhan Feiyu had not yet spoken when Yin Wuyan, standing beside her, said coldly, "There is a house at the entrance of Kou Family Village. Lock her in and have someone deliver her meals three times a day."
Was this intending to keep her locked up until death? The clan elder looked up and met Yin Wuyan's cold, deep phoenix eyes, causing him to tremble. Compared to handing Madam Kou over to the authorities, this was the best outcome.
"Alright, it's better to lock her up to prevent her from hurting others." The clan elder nodded, and no one else in the village objected.
Madam Kou had a sharp tongue and was reclusive. She didn't interact much with the village women. Now that she was mad, locking her up was safer. The village children were allowed to roam freely. If the mad Madam Kou were to injure them, it would be too late to regret it.
"Clan Elder, what about the ten mu of land?" A villager couldn't help but ask, his eyes flashing with greed, coveting the remaining ten mu of land.
The clan elder's face darkened. He glanced at the somewhat uneasy Kou Hai and said directly, "Xiao Hai has been adopted. In the future, his son will be adopted to Yuan Xing. As agreed, five mu of land will go to Xiao Hai, and the remaining five mu?"
"Clan Elder Kou," Zhan Feiyu interrupted the clan elder's words, "why not rent out the remaining five mu until Kou Hai gets married? Then, these five mu can be returned to the clan."
Kou Hai was just a young boy. He couldn't farm ten mu of land by himself. More importantly, wealth attracted people. After four or five years when he got married, the rent from these years would be enough for his wedding expenses.
The clan elder knew that Zhan Feiyu said this to look out for Kou Hai, as he had not resorted to Madam Kou's methods to scheme against Zhan Feiyu. He then called over Aunt Hua from next door, "Alright, let's do it this way."
Zhan Feiyu and Yin Wuyan got into the carriage and left Kou Family Village. Madam Kou, who had been locked in the dilapidated house at the village entrance, sat on the ground in a daze. After raving and shouting for half an hour, she was now too tired to do anything but pant.
"Alright, you put the bed here, and the bedding too..." Aunt Wu seemed not to see the disheveled Madam Kou slumped on the ground. She instructed several young men to put down the wooden bed and then directed several women to lay down the quilts.
Two quarters of an hour later, Aunt Wu looked coldly at Madam Kou, who was like a wooden statue, "Niu Dama, you don't need to pretend to be crazy anymore. You'll be here for the rest of your life, but Xiao Hai is kind-hearted, he won't let you starve."
Madam Kou was stunned for a long time. She looked at the dilapidated house that could be lived in with the bed placed inside. She felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Beneath her scattered hair, her eyes were filled with a viciousness that could devour people, "I'm not crazy! You can't lock me up!"
Screaming, Madam Kou suddenly got up from the ground and rushed towards the door.
"Not pretending anymore?" Aunt Wu sneered, but she didn't stop her, "If you go out, you'll end up in prison. That's a Tongsheng, and you think you can scheme against him?"
Her foot, which had stepped out, stopped in mid-air. Madam Kou held the doorframe with one hand and looked at the bright, dazzling sunlight outside. She wanted to run but dared not!
"If it weren't for Yuan Xing's sake, you would have been sent to the authorities. Niu Dama, you'll stay here honestly for the rest of your life." Aunt Wu walked past Madam Kou to the door and slammed it shut from the outside.
In the dim room, Madam Kou's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground. She suddenly regretted scheming against Zhan Feiyu! Kou Yuan Xing, that little beast, was dead. Her suffering over the years had been in vain. She was unwilling!
And that little vixen, Zhan Feiyu! Why didn't she marry Kou Hai? Then she would have been the mother-in-law of a scholar and could have lived a life of wealth and status. Why did they all have to oppose her!
...
After Zhan Feiyu and Yin Wuyan returned to the inn, He Sheng quickly greeted them, "Seventh Master, we've found out. They've kept the horses at Zhao San's residence."
"Hand it over to the Nanxuan Guard. They stole the fine horses, so arrest all those involved," Yin Wuyan said coldly.
Previously, he had secretly written to Prefect Zhang through the Imperial Dragon Guard about the affairs in Huaixian. He expected results in a few days. During this time, he would have the Nanxuan Guard temporarily act as county magistrate until Prefect Zhang sent a new one.
"Will this cause unrest?" Zhan Feiyu asked in a low voice.
The difficulty of the Huaixian affair lay in the fact that everyone in the county yamen, from County Magistrate Zhao to Deputy County Magistrate Wang and Commandant Hou, including the more than twenty constables and over a hundred yamen runners below them, were all involved. Once investigated, the entire Huaixian county yamen would have to be replaced.
Yin Wuyan unceremoniously tossed the mess aside, "Prefect Zhang will handle it."
Zhan Feiyu chuckled ungraciously. "He who holds the position bears the responsibility!"
The Nanxuan Guard was located in the mountains north of the prefectural city. It only took about fifteen minutes to ride to the prefectural city.
Sui Baude was a military general. He had been a fierce general under Prince Yu. His fiery temper was also very much like Prince Yu's. After reading the secret letter delivered by his personal guard, Sui Baude burst into laughter, "I've long disliked that Zhao fellow. Finally, I have a chance."
Commander Tao took the secret letter and his eyes lit up. "My lord, why don't you let your subordinate take men to Huaixian?"
"You little brat, you wish!" Sui Baude glared at Commander Tao and directly got up, took down the great saber on the wall, and roared arrogantly, "I'll go myself!"
Although the guard post trained soldiers daily, it was not a battlefield. After staying for a long time, his bones felt rusty. It was rare to be able to go out, and with a legitimate reason, it was no wonder the vigorous Sui Baude wanted to personally go to Huaixian to arrest people.
A quarter of an hour later, upon hearing that Commander Sui was going to Huaixian with his men, the soldiers in the entire guard post were in an uproar. They all vied to go. In the end, Commander Tao, leading two hundred elite soldiers, seized the opportunity. The group galloped towards Huaixian.
Similarly, at the Nanxuan Prefectural Yamen.
Although Prefect Zhang and Commander Sui did not interfere with each other on weekdays, the guard post suddenly dispatched more than two hundred soldiers, all heading directly to Huaixian. Prefect Zhang rubbed his temples. This was to take down the entire Huaixian County Yamen.
Tongzhi Qian pondered for a moment and reported, "My lord, Huaixian is a malignant tumor that must be removed sooner or later. Now that Commander Sui has taken action, it has resolved a problem for Your Excellency."
The Nanxuan Prefecture governed eight counties. If Prefect Zhang's methods were too strong, it would make the county magistrates of the other counties wary and defensive. However, if his methods were too soft, he would not be able to firmly control the affairs of Nanxuan Prefecture. Commander Sui's actions had indeed helped Prefect Zhang.
Even if others were angered, so what? Not to mention that Commander Sui's official rank was higher than theirs. Setting that aside, which civil official dared to conflict with a military general? Wasn't that asking for a beating?
"Let Investigator Han represent this prefecture to Huaixian to take charge. Tongzhi Qian, send two more people to accompany him. I remember Han Ying is from Huaixian. As for the position of deputy county magistrate, select one from the scholars of Huaixian to temporarily fill it. If there are no suitable candidates, then broaden it to xiucai. Let Investigator Han decide on the rest." Prefect Zhang had already decided to have Investigator Han temporarily act as the county magistrate of Huaixian.
As for the position of county commandant in Huaixian, Prefect Zhang pondered for a long time before making a decision. "Tongzhi Qian, go inform Investigator Han and tell him to set off for Huaixian tomorrow."
"Yes, my lord." Tongzhi Qian was old and only wanted to remain in the position of Tongzhi for a few more years before retiring.
Investigator Han was Prefect Zhang's confidant. He was in his thirties and also held a seventh-rank official position. However, as long as he governed well, the position of county magistrate would be easier to be promoted in the future.
After Tongzhi Qian withdrew, Prefect Zhang quickly wrote a letter. He would have Investigator Han deliver it to Commander Sui in Huaixian when he bid farewell tomorrow.
The entire Huaixian yamen was in collusion. Besides the positions of county magistrate and deputy county magistrate, there was also the position of county commandant, and several constables needed to be recruited. Prefect Zhang handed over these positions to Commander Sui to handle, which was considered returning a favor.
There must be some soldiers under Commander Sui who were getting old or had old injuries that made them unsuitable to remain in the guard post. Compared to returning to farming, it would naturally be more suitable to become a constable in the county yamen.
...
Completely unaware of the impending disaster, Zhao San, after drinking his medicine, touched his throat and looked in the bronze mirror. A large bruise was visible, which made Zhao San angry.
"Didn't that little girl make a fuss?" Zhao San felt a little unhappy. Zhan Feiyu's side was peaceful, which made Zhao San lose interest in the money he was about to get.
After all, he had been beaten into the medical clinic in front of everyone. Although Zhan Feiyu had lost three horses, they were secretly swapped by Constable Cao. If Zhan Feiyu didn't make a fuss, no one outside would know. This was like making a fortune in silence, but he felt unhappy.
The attendant who served him was clever and quickly replied, "I asked Constable Cao at noon. He left with a guard in a carriage early in the morning. The remaining maids, servants, and guards have been in the inn all day and haven't come out. I think they are afraid of offending you, Young Master. They dared to act before because they didn't know your identity. Now that they know, they are afraid and dare not speak out even though they suffered a loss."
Zhao San nodded in agreement. That was true. If they were from a prominent family in the prefectural city, they would have made a scene long ago. This kind of appeasement...
Zhao San's eyes lit up. Could it be that the little girl was from a merchant family? Therefore, although she was wealthy, she dared not confront him. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he was right. Zhao San eagerly said, "You immediately go and call Deputy County Magistrate Wang and Constable Cao over."
"I'll go right away." After the attendant left the room, he hurried to the front county yamen to call for them.
Although Huaixian was a medium-sized county, because the county yamen, from the county magistrate to the yamen runners, were all too greedy, people generally did not come to the county yamen to file complaints unless it was an irreconcilable conflict, for fear of losing money.
Deputy County Magistrate Wang and Constable Cao dismissed the attendant and looked at each other. They both knew that Zhao San was coveting the luggage in that carriage. In fact, they were also tempted.
A moment later, in the flower hall in the back residence of the prefectural yamen, Zhao San, who was pacing back and forth, immediately said as soon as he saw Deputy County Magistrate Wang approaching, "Have you found out the identity of that girl? I suspect she is the daughter of a merchant."
Constable Cao chimed in, "We sent someone to ask the inn staff. Those servants are tight-lipped, and we couldn't find out anything. However, for a young girl to be out and about with servants, she's probably not a daughter of a prominent family."
Constable Cao was a rough man, but he also knew that daughters of noble families never left their homes. Even if they went out, they would wear a veil or a hat, and be attended by a governess and maids.
Such a wealthy girl who showed herself in public was more like someone raised in a merchant family that didn't pay much attention to rules. Moreover, she only brought one maid, and the rest were guards. She was definitely not a daughter of an official family.
Deputy County Magistrate Wang, being a civil official, nodded in agreement at this moment, "That's not bad, but swapping horses is a feint, a secret operation. No one knows about it. Even if they come to the county yamen, there is no evidence. But if we rob their luggage, her guards are all skilled practitioners, and we would need to deploy a lot of people. This matter would become a big deal."
No one would dislike having more money. However, no matter how greedy Deputy County Magistrate Wang and the others were, they dared not openly engage in robbery. Zhao County Magistrate did not need to worry. After receiving the money, he would surely cover up their tracks and clean up the mess. Deputy County Magistrate Wang was worried that if the matter got out of hand and alerted Prefect Zhang, especially since these people came from the prefectural city.
"They will leave Huaixian sooner or later. At that time, send people to guard the official road and force their carriage onto a small path. If they encounter bandits and only lose their luggage, but their lives are saved, perhaps they will even be grateful to heaven for letting them survive." Zhao San said with a smug smile.
They had done this once before, the year before last. However, that was an accountant who came to Huaixian to collect debts. He was disguised, with only a servant and a groom. They pretended quite well, but in the end, they were still robbed clean, and more than two hundred taels of silver were stolen.
While Deputy County Magistrate Wang was still hesitating, a constable walked quickly from the courtyard and said urgently, "Young Master San, Lord Wang, Head Cao, that little girl has returned to the inn and plans to leave Huaixian."
"What?" Zhao San jumped up. He had just been thinking about robbing the luggage in that carriage, but before they could even discuss it, the person was leaving. Zhao San shouted in a hurry, "Constable Cao, what are you still waiting for? Take your men there immediately! Once this opportunity is gone, it won't come again!"
"Young Master San, why don't you take your men to the inn to stop them, and Cao Xiong will take his men to deploy on the official road." Deputy County Magistrate Wang gritted his teeth and decided to take a gamble. Fortune favors the bold! If this operation was successful, plus those three horses, perhaps he could get a thousand taels!
Zhan Feiyu never expected that before she could settle the score with Zhao San and the others, they were already plotting to rob her completely. It was probably because they had been living in peace for so many years that Zhao San and the others had become more and more audacious, daring to commit highway robbery.
"Annuan, it will only take a little over an hour to reach Shangsi County. There's no need to bring so much food." Seeing He Nuan carrying food boxes one by one onto the carriage, Zhan Feiyu touched her nose awkwardly. Her current plumpness was definitely due to eating.
Chongguang quickly chimed in, "Fat girl, if we can't finish it, we'll eat it. Annuan, prepare a bit more. Also, those braised meat buns, when it's evening, roast them on the fire. They'll be perfect with dried meat."
Chongguang secretly glanced at his Seventh Master. In the past, when he went out with Seventh Master, they had to endure harsh conditions, and the biscuits were hard enough to kill someone. But with the fat girl around, it was different. The meals had meat and vegetables, as well as fresh fruits. Chongguang was even jealous of He Sheng for having such a good job.
Just as Zhan Feiyu was about to speak, the back door of the courtyard was suddenly kicked open with a bang. Looking up, she saw Zhao San leading a group of dandies who were swaggering in. The one who kicked the door was his entourage of young masters and their household guards, totaling twenty to thirty people.