Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 68 Sincerity
The room was quiet.

Lu Qubing frowned and said nothing.

"Who else knows about this?"

"No one knows yet. Kou Liu just came back to report."

"How could it be them? How could they have any connection with these people?"

"They don't look like they are trying to hide. Maybe they will jump out on their own without us having to think too much."

Lu Qubing didn't dare to delay any longer, he stood up quickly and said, "Go find the county lieutenant and ask him to stop everything and stop investigating. I'm going to find the county magistrate now!"

Liu Taozi nodded.

Lu Qubing left in a hurry.

Kou Liu waited until he left before he spoke: "These bastards are not good people. But the Murong family often helps the people in the city. When there was a locust plague, Murong Zeng personally distributed porridge in the west city. I have also eaten millet from his family."

He looked at Liu Taozi and said, "I think the Murong family is probably getting rid of harm to the people. It's not worth it for us to investigate further."

Liu Taozi narrowed her eyes and said quietly, "Small beasts eat people, and big beasts also eat people."

"It's just that their method of cannibalism is different."

Kou Liu was confused and didn't quite understand.

"I have to go to the county lieutenant."

"As for you, go and inform the brothers at each city gate first. If anyone takes the Murong family out, send someone to inform us in time."

"Once you have given your instructions, go to their house and investigate."

"only."

Kou Liu turned and left. Liu Taozi walked to the door, called Tian Zili, and ordered him, "You stay in the mansion. If anyone comes to report to the authorities, welcome them to the courtyard. Don't let these dirty things affect the affairs of the Youjiao Mansion."

"only."

When Liu Taozi came to Changsun Gong, Lu Zhanshan was hanging on the beam. Changsun Gong was waving the whip in his hand, making a series of sounds of breaking through the air.

Liu Taozi's sudden arrival did ruin the other party's mood.

Lu Zhanshan looked extremely frightened, but even so, he still closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, showing no intention of giving in.

"What are you doing here? I didn't ask you to investigate."

"Come and report."

"So fast??"

Changsun put away the whip, Taozi walked forward and told Changsun the contents of the investigation.

"Murong??"

Chang Sun was shocked, his face quickly turned ugly again, and he looked up at Lu Zhanshan.

"I see."

"Is it that the county magistrate wants to push for something big to force him out? But aren't they afraid of being killed in return?"

Lu Qubing jogged all the way and finally arrived at Gao Changgong's residence. Just as he was about to go in, he was stopped by two soldiers.

"I have something important to report!!"

"Let him in."

Gao Changgong's voice was heard from inside, and the soldiers made way.

Lu Qubing walked in hurriedly, "Sir, I..."

Gao Changgong sat in the upper seat with a smile and interrupted him, "Rong Zu, don't be anxious, meet the guests first."

Lu Qubing was stunned, then looked away.

There were two people sitting on Gao Changgong's left.

One of them was young and tall, but his skin was as white as snow. He looked a little sick. At this moment, he was sitting obediently aside with his head down.

The other man was older, dark and short, with a goatee and a kind smile on his face.

The two men, one tall and one short, one white and one black, just sat there.

Seeing Lu Qubing coming in, the short man stood up first, smiled and bowed to greet him, "Murong Zeng greets Lord Lu!"

The tall man also nodded and saluted towards Lu Qubing, "Greetings, Lord Lu."

The short man was very enthusiastic. "The court wanted to promote talented people to govern Cheng'an. My young master was a Huangmen in the court, so he recommended you to the noble. I didn't expect that you would really become the county magistrate. It's really a cause for celebration!"

Lu Qubing didn't move at this moment, his mind was extremely confused.

The Murong family is here?
What? Who recommended me?
"Please sit down."

Gao Changgong spoke, and Lu Qubing sat on his right side in a daze, not yet able to react.

Murong Zeng looked at Gao Changgong and said with a smile: "That's what happened."

"If you are willing, we can bring the person in and you can ask him in person." Gao Changgong nodded, "Okay."

A man was pushed in by several soldiers and knelt in front of Gao Changgong.

"I, Lu Daguo, come to see the county lord."

His voice was shaking.

Gao Changgong looked at him solemnly, "Tell me, what's going on?"

"Mr. Gao, I was originally a tenant of Lu Zhanshan's family. My son was studious and entered the county school. Lu Zhanshan often helped take care of him, so he became close to him."

"Just two days ago, Lu Zhanshan suddenly found me."

"He said there was a cruel official in the county named Liu Taozi, who was deeply favored by the county magistrate and could not be harmed, so he asked me for help."

"He said that he wanted to host a banquet for Lord Murong, get him drunk, and then frame him for murder. He asked me to come to the county government office to report Lord Murong to Liu Taozi, so as to force Liu Taozi to take action against Lord Murong."

"I was in the mansion that day and saw them get Lord Murong drunk and ask the servant to commit suicide. The servant refused, so Lu Zhanshan wanted to do it himself. As a result, the servant became violent and fought with the people in the mansion. In order to protect the drunk Lord Murong, the guards fought with them all the way and subdued them all before running out of the mansion."

As the man spoke, he began to cry.

"Please spare my life, sir! I am telling the truth!!"

Gao Changgong pursed his lips and looked at Murong Zeng who was smiling at the side.

"What this person said does seem to be true." Murong Zeng immediately said seriously, "Of course it is true. If the county magistrate does not believe it, my servants can testify."

"Murong Guang is the adopted son of my master. He lost his father when he was young and was raised by my master, who treats him like his own son."

"After such a serious incident, he became worried and sick, and lost his appetite. He has been under the care of a doctor for several days."

Murong Guang sat there sickly, and didn't respond to anything Murong Zeng said, which seemed to confirm his words.

Gao Changgong still kept smiling as he looked at the sickly young man.

"I sent people to check, and found that everyone was naked, and the women were raped. I wonder if it was because the servants were so vicious."

"Disperse."

Gao Changgong had just said half of his words when Murong Zeng took out a small package and gestured to Gao Changgong.

"My gentleman has always been hospitable. When he learned that his friend was hosting a banquet, he brought some to spread over."

Murong Zeng looked at him with a smile, "Mr. Gao, you can call Lu Zhanshan and others to ask them about their situation to see if they want to use Mr. Murong to frame your cruel officials. You will know the answer with just one question."

The smile on Gao Changgong's face gradually disappeared.

"So that's it."

"My Lord, my gentleman has suffered a fright, and the doctor cannot guarantee that he will recover. If anything happens to him, I cannot bear the responsibility."

Murong Zeng looked at Murong Guang with concern, "So I informed the Patriarch and Young Patriarch of what happened here."

"The head of the family is busy and has not replied yet. But the young head of the family is a little confused. He doesn't quite believe these things. When the court sent you here, it was because they thought you were steady and reliable, and could bring peace to Cheng'an."

"He doesn't believe you will appoint cruel officials to make the people of Cheng'an panic, and he doesn't hesitate to frame you to resist."

"Here is his letter to you."

He took out the letter from his arms, walked respectfully to Gao Changgong, handed it to him, and returned to his seat.

"If the county lord has no other instructions, I will take the gentleman in my family and leave?"

"it is good."

Gao Changgong held the letter in his hand and replied.

Murong Zeng supported Murong Guang and walked out of here carefully. The two walked all the way to the gate of the county government office. Murong Guang was staggering and looked very weak.

The two of them walked out of the county government office. Someone was already waiting for him. Murong Zeng helped the gentleman get into the carriage, and the carriage drove towards his own mansion.

Murong Guang glanced at him secretly and said, "Zeng Bo, I went a little too far."

"No problem, the gentleman took the powder at that time and was unconscious, but there is nothing serious."

Murong Guang added: "I'm afraid my brother will blame me."

"Don't worry, sir. The young master is very satisfied with you. You can leave the rest to me. Just have fun. You can have fun however you want. Don't worry about the rest."

There was an inexplicable light flashing in Murong Guang's eyes, his face turned red, and his expression was excited.

"Then I'll trouble you. Please bring a few more village women over here."

"If you want a beauty, there are all kinds of beauties in the mansion. Why bother to capture them?"

"This taste is different, so let's just forget it?"

Looking at the timid Murong Guang, Murong Zeng smiled bitterly and shook his head, his eyes full of affection, "Okay, I'll arrange it."

"Thank you Zeng Bo!"

(End of this chapter)