Chapter 233 - 166: Selection
Another day passed. It was the third day since they had arrived in the Prefecture City.
Early that morning, in the rear courtyard of the tea house.
Fang Yue’s family was bustling about, loading all sorts of food and supplies into a horse-drawn carriage.
They had to leave today. Any further delay would cause problems.
If they missed their window, there was no telling what other troubles might arise.
"Good heavens, that scared me to death! I was just at the street corner and saw some officials arresting someone. They said a Military Officer had deserted his post, failed to register at the Government Office, and was planning to flee again. Someone reported him."
"That Military Officer resisted arrest violently, so the officials broke his arms and legs and dragged him away like a dead dog."
Fang Cheng, who had just returned, didn’t even have time for a sip of water before he hurriedly recounted what he had seen.
The moment his words fell, Ms. Chen reacted. She looked worriedly at Fang Yue and said, "Zhi’Er, you don’t think those officials will come knocking on our door, do you?"
In truth, if one were to be technical about it, hadn’t her Zhi’Er also deserted his post?
"Zhi’Er, are we really just going to leave like this? Will it be okay? Why don’t you just go on ahead? Don’t worry about us,"
Father Fang asked, unable to hide his concern.
He also knew that Fang Yue was doing this for their sake. Why else would he have run from Wenxi County to Xiahe County?
And then, from Xiahe County, he had brought them here, fleeing to the Prefecture City.
Wasn’t this exactly what desertion looked like? Now he was about to take them away again—wasn’t that defying the summons and continuing to flee?
If the officials in the Prefecture City found out, what would happen to his Zhi’Er?
"Yes, yes! Zhi’Er, you should go quickly! Go now, while they still don’t know. Don’t worry about us,"
Ms. Chen urged him hastily.
"Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I’ll be fine," Fang Yue quickly explained.
He had already accepted the position of Inspector for the Observatory. His current mission was to deliver a letter to Yujing City.
He was no longer under the jurisdiction of the local Government Office, so their summons held no power over him now.
"Really?" Ms. Chen was skeptical.
But just then, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door.
A tea house clerk was about to open it, but at that moment, the main gate was smashed open, and a squad of government constables charged in.
"Who is the fugitive Fang Yue?"
A burly man in cyan armor scanned the courtyard, his eyes locking onto Fang Yue as he barked the question.
"Who are you people? Why are you breaking into our tea house? Do you have any idea whose property this is?" A younger clerk ran forward to block their path, speaking angrily.
This was a clerk from the Bai Family. As a servant of a Noble Family, he naturally looked down on ordinary government constables from the Government Office.
"Hmph, who do you think you are? Get out of my way!"
The leading official waved his hand, and a surge of force sent the clerk flying to the ground.
In the past, he would have shown some courtesy to a servant of the Bai Family.
But the head of the Bai Family had already left Shanyang Prefecture City yesterday. Now, only a few of their servants remained in the Prefecture City.
’Under these circumstances, so what if I offend the Bai Family!’
"By order, we are arresting Fang Yue, the Garrison Training Instructor from Wenxi County. Anyone who obstructs us will be charged with the same crime," Lin Dong snorted, his tone a grim threat.
In reality, quite a few Military Officers like Fang Yue had fled to the Prefecture City.
Although some of them were indeed deserters, the Prefecture City authorities had no way to screen them all at the moment. As long as they registered in the Prefecture City and joined the Prefecture City Guard Army,
their past actions would not be investigated.
Lin Dong was acting on his superior’s orders to make an example of a few "cases" to warn the others.
Ordinarily, Fang Yue wouldn’t have been chosen, but someone in the Government Office had given the order. This fellow named Fang Yue could only blame his own bad luck.
"Oh? I am Fang Yue. I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding. Perhaps we could speak privately?"
Fang Yue smiled faintly, completely calm and showing no fear of them.
"Misunderstanding? Do you take us for fools? Desertion in the face of the enemy is punishable by death. Have you registered at the Government Office?
"And now you’re packing your bags, preparing to flee again? To still dare to make excuses at a time like this only adds to your crime! Men, seize him! If he resists, kill him on the spot!"
Lin Dong snorted, his voice filled with self-righteousness, and ordered the government constables behind him to surround Fang Yue.
"Ay, Sir Officer, there must be a misunderstanding! My Zhi’Er would never desert his post! He was returning home to visit family at the time, and he even fought against the Rebel Army in Xiahe County!"
Ms. Chen quickly stepped in front of Fang Yue, wiping her tears as she spoke.
’Just a moment ago Zhi’Er said everything was fine, and now the officials are at our door! What are we going to do!’
Fang Yue quickly pulled Ms. Chen back and comforted her, "Mom, it’s alright. I’ll go explain things to them."
He then walked up to Lin Dong. "Sir Officer, let’s speak privately. It would be in your best interest to do so. Otherwise, things might get complicated."
Fang Yue’s tone was calm, his expression serene, without a trace of fear.
Lin Dong raised an eyebrow. He couldn’t quite figure it out—was this man simply confident, or did he have powerful backing?
’What if he has an ace up his sleeve? If I’m too rough, I might end up offending someone powerful for no reason.’
Thinking this, he nodded and followed Fang Yue to a corner of the courtyard.
With their backs to the others, Fang Yue immediately took out his token as an Inspector of the Observatory.
"Ah, this is... an Inspec—" The moment Lin Dong saw the token, he was about to cry out in alarm.
But he immediately caught himself. ’Since Fang Yue wanted to speak in private, he obviously doesn’t want others to know his identity.’