Chapter 142 - 123: It’s Him?
As far as Huang Lie knew, this Captain Chen was the former Captain Bai’s personal servant. They had grown up together, trained in martial arts together, and joined the Guard Army together.
He had always been Captain Bai’s personal guard. This time, when Captain Bai was promoted, he had this man take his place as Captain.
Although this was clearly an abuse of power for personal gain, who in Shanyang Prefecture would dare say a word against the might of the Bai Family?
"So, the Eldest Young Master Bai is in Xiahe County as well! In that case, Lord Chen, please feel free to give us any orders. We will do whatever you ask," Huang Lie immediately clasped his fist with a smile.
This was a clear signal of his willingness to serve and await orders.
"Mm, very well. Huang, you’re a local. You should be faster at finding someone than we are."
Captain Chen thought for a moment and didn’t refuse. Although these local magnates weren’t particularly powerful, as the "local snakes," they were certainly faster at finding people.
He then gave Huang Lie and his nephew some information about Bai Xingqiu.
"Once you find him, come to Ping’an Restaurant and inform us."
Captain Chen immediately led his squad of soldiers toward Ping’an Restaurant.
After they were gone, Huang Yuangu quickly asked, "Second Uncle, why didn’t you ask them to stay? If we had treated them to a good meal, wouldn’t that have been a good chance to get closer to them?"
"That’s because you don’t know Lord Chen’s character. He wouldn’t have accepted our invitation. Alright, let’s head back. Did you remember everything Lord Chen just said? The moment we get back, start searching immediately. We must find the man before Captain Chen does."
Huang Lie naturally understood the vast difference between finding the person first and finding them second. In the former case, Captain Chen would owe him a favor. In the latter, he wouldn’t even get a chance to show his face.
"I understand, Second Uncle." Huang Yuangu nodded.
On the way back, they had only taken a few steps when Huang Lie suddenly turned his head and asked.
"Oh, right. That Eldest Young Master Bai that Lord Chen described... do you think we’ve seen him somewhere before? The description feels a bit familiar."
After hearing Captain Chen’s description, Huang Lie felt that he must have seen this Eldest Young Master Bai before.
It seemed to be the person they had a conflict with at the entrance of the Tea Garden the other day. Hmm, he did bear some resemblance to Captain Chen’s description.
"Second Uncle, how is that possible? With the Eldest Young Master Bai’s status, how could he possibly be mixed up with a country bumpkin who just got lucky, like Fang Yue?"
"Perhaps you saw the Eldest Young Master Bai by chance in Shanyang Prefecture sometime, Second Uncle."
Huang Yuangu didn’t have the same feeling, so he figured his uncle must have seen the man before in Shanyang Prefecture.
After all, while Shanyang Prefecture was large, there weren’t many places for Martial Artists to frequent.
It was quite possible that Huang Lie had seen the Eldest Young Master of the Bai Family somewhere.
Besides, if that person really was the Eldest Young Master Bai, how would County Magistrate Liu Zheng dare to arrest him?
So, it must be a misunderstanding.
Hearing this, Huang Lie suppressed the doubt in his heart.
You could never be sure about these things.
***
The next day, Huang Lie naturally went to find Captain Chen again.
The previous day, he had mobilized the Huang Family’s men to search the entire city for the Eldest Young Master Bai. Naturally, he and his nephew couldn’t fall behind; they had to bring Captain Chen along and act as his guide.
It was the perfect opportunity to get closer to him and seek benefits in the future.
They had gotten very little information yesterday—only the Eldest Young Master Bai’s physical description. Today, he could ask for more details.
"My young master said he came to Xiahe County to find a friend. Oh, right, his friend’s surname is Fang. I hear his family owns a Tea Garden."
Yesterday, he had only hastily described Bai Xingqiu’s appearance to the Huang uncle and nephew. Today, he explained what Bai Xingqiu was doing in Xiahe County and what connections he had there.
Huang Lie froze instantly.
After hearing all this, how could he not know? The Eldest Young Master of the Bai Family was really the person he had clashed with that day.
’What a terrible mistake! We’ve been fighting one of our own!’
’This is an absolute catastrophe!’
"Rest assured, Lord Chen. With these clues, we’ll definitely find the Eldest Young Master Bai soon," Huang Yuangu said fawningly when he saw his uncle had gone silent.
’Sucking up to such important people can’t be wrong.’
At that moment, however, Huang Lie swung a vicious slap across Huang Yuangu’s face.
"Idiot! You utter fool! You’re going to get me killed!"
***
「Xiahe County, County Magistrate’s Office.」
Liu Zheng was comfortably boiling water and preparing tea for himself.
The thought that he would soon have several ten thousand taels of silver in his account today, and that even if future years brought less, it wouldn’t be by much, left him feeling quite pleased.
Even the tea seemed to taste better today.
"My Lord, here is the trafficker’s confession. Please look it over."
Just then, a junior official from the Government Office approached Liu Zheng, holding a confession bearing a signature and a Finger Seal.
"Mm~"
Liu Zheng took the document and began to look it over casually. As he read, he commented:
"Did he write this name himself? Is the Finger Seal real?"
The junior official immediately nodded in agreement. Of course, their own people had forged it.
But he couldn’t say that in his report. If he did, wouldn’t it be admitting to a wrongful conviction?
Liu Zheng paid it no mind. He was well aware of the methods these junior officials used. It was the kind of thing you saw but didn’t speak of.
As long as appearances were maintained, what did it matter?
So he continued reading and soon noticed something was wrong.
"Hmm? Bai Xingqiu? A native of Shanyang Prefecture?"
’This name... I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere.’
As Liu Zheng thought about it, his eyes suddenly widened.
’Bai Xingqiu from Shanyang Prefecture, the Martial Scholar who passed the examination in Xiahe County... could it be him?!’
’And... and... and... I’ve thrown him in prison?’
In an instant, cold sweat broke out on Liu Zheng’s forehead.
If it really was him, this would be big trouble.
’No, it can’t be. It can’t be such a coincidence.’
Liu Zheng couldn’t sit still any longer. He shot to his feet. "Where is he being held? Lead the way, quickly."
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and lead the way! This official is going to see him."
***
"Heh heh, you’re a funny one. Don’t you see your own situation? You’re on death row, and you’re still thinking about setting people up with a wife. You’re never getting out of here." At that moment, mocking laughter came from a nearby cell.
"Heh heh, who says this young master can’t get out? Wanna bet I’ll be out of here today?" Chubby retorted loudly, his interest piqued.
"You’re on! If you don’t get out today, then... then you owe me a chicken leg," the other person replied.
"Fine, it’s a bet!" Chubby laughed heartily.
Meanwhile, Fang Yue had arrived at the County Magistrate’s Office. However, he didn’t go to see Liu Zheng first. Instead, he went straight to the prison cells.
Even though Liu Zheng was currently plotting to take his Tea Garden, the Government Office had its own set of rules.
Besides, Fang Hu was now a Captain of the Guard Army. A legitimate Military Officer.
Arranging for Fang Yue to visit a prisoner was the simplest of matters.
"Heh heh, Brother Bai, I haven’t seen you for two days, and you’ve already lost weight."
When he saw Chubby, the guy was tearing into a roasted chicken, eating with great relish. It was obvious that even in prison, you could live well as long as you had money.
He had offended Liu Zheng, not the jailers. Who would turn down silver?
"Heh heh, you bet. I’m only suffering like this because I got dragged into your mess. So, after I get out, you can’t back out of that other matter. My cousin is as beautiful as the moon and flowers, gentle as water..."
Chubby started by playing pitiful for a moment before steering the conversation back to his cousin.
This left Fang Yue speechless. If his cousin was so outstanding, how could it be that no one had arranged a marriage for her?
And why would she end up with someone like him, Fang Yue?
’Chubby is being so pushy... I’m afraid his cousin must be painfully unattractive.’
However, Chubby was indeed an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire this time, and he had been arrested by Fang Hu. Because of this, Fang Yue didn’t refuse him outright.
He could only agree to meet her once. As for whether it would work out or not, that couldn’t be guaranteed. It would be up to fate.
"Good, good, good! When I get back this time, I’ll set it all up. When you deliver the first batch of tea, I’ll arrange for you two to meet," Chubby said, his face breaking into a wide grin.
Seeing this reaction, Fang Yue felt even more certain that his suspicions were correct.