Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 165 Two Beauties Meet
When Lin Daiyu arrived in front of the yamen in a sedan chair, she saw that an imperial decree was being read out inside, and the situation was not what the maid had just described.

"...Yue Ling, you will patrol the country on behalf of the emperor, inspect the administration of officials, and act as you see fit. Wherever you go, it will be as if I am personally present. I order you to do so!"

"Long live my emperor."

In the hall, even though Park Zheng received the imperial edict, he did not dare to stand up.

His body trembled as he kowtowed to Yue Ling again, "Your humble servant greets Marquis An Jing."

Yue Ling was not polite at all. "Today, I came to the government office to seek an explanation. Last night, when I first arrived in Cangzhou City, I was intercepted and killed by patrolling soldiers. Why?"

Yue Ling's voice reached outside the hall, and the people watching became more and more shocked.

"To murder the imperial envoy is a grave crime punishable by execution of the entire clan!"

The cold sweat on Pu Zheng's forehead fell onto the stone slab. His lips trembled as he said, "I really didn't know about this. Don't worry, sir. I will investigate thoroughly and will never tolerate any evildoer!"

Yue Ling smiled and called out, "Liu Xianglian, come forward."

Pu Zheng looked up, his face filled with surprise again.

"Don't say you don't know this man, Prefect."

Pu Zheng hurriedly said, "I know him, he is the most famous thief in the city recently."

Yue Ling said angrily, "How dare you deceive me and confuse me? Did he steal from your family's treasury? Did he cut off your government's financial resources?"

Pu Zheng looked as pale as earth, unable to speak, but his body was shaking and he kept bowing his head.

Yue Ling ordered: "Liu Xianglian, tell all the elders and villagers in Cangzhou City exactly what happened in the city recently."

Liu Xianglian bowed his hands, looked outside the hall, and said loudly: "For several months, children and girls have often disappeared in Cangzhou for no reason. I heard it and was suspicious, so I went to investigate. Every night, there are always strange noises in the dark alleys. I took the risk to investigate and saw that the soldiers in the city were indeed trading with a group of thieves. Those children were like livestock, fed with juice from the trough and kept in iron cages."

"As for the girls, those with better looks were sent to the homes of the rich to be their concubines, while those with less beauty were sold to brothels and taverns."

"It was because I found evidence against them that the government issued an arrest warrant to arrest me and bring charges against me."

"May I ask, Lord Park, is the third room from the end of this dead end alley, the place where you two are colluding? Is the restaurant in Shili Lane backed by you, the prefect?"

"Besides, has the Yunxing Escort Agency become a scapegoat for you and the mastermind behind this?"

Pu Zheng struggled and said to Yue Ling, "Sir, this is just empty talk. He is slandering me. Without any evidence, I can only be convicted of negligence. How can I be convicted of collusion with that thief?"

Yue Ling smiled and said, "Master Park, you are so close to me, do you think I can't smell the alcohol on you?"

"The lining under your official robe is wrinkled, and there is a little rouge on it. Do you think I am blind?"

Yue Ling pulled Pu Zheng up from the ground and said, "You don't mean to say that you are born frugal and simple, and you don't want to change your clothes after drinking and feasting, right?"

"Were you happy last night when you went to the restaurant to drink and have fun? Did you think that everything would be fine after you explained the matter to the magistrate?"

"Evidence, right? I have more to show you. Don't worry."

Yue Ling waved his hand again, and a young lady came up to the hall. She bowed to Yue Ling first, took a deep breath, and said, "I am from the Xue family in Jinling. Not long ago, my brother was drinking in the city, and was mistakenly arrested by the soldiers. If you want to bail me out, you need at least 300 dan of grain. If you want grain but not silver, I don't know what use I will have except to deal with the upcoming imperial envoy."

"The tarpaulins in the city's porridge stalls are torn, and the chopping boards are covered with dust. The prefect doesn't seem like the kind of person who would rob the rich to give to the poor."

Xue Baochai threw a token from her sleeve and said, "Everything my daughter said is true. We also have the token given by the government as a token of trust, which can verify the authenticity."

After Xue Baochai finished speaking, Yue Ling nodded to her as a gesture of encouragement.

Xue Baochai was greatly encouraged. She had never spoken in front of so many people before, and it seemed as if she had been looking forward to this opportunity.

At this moment, something seemed to be touched in her mind.

After bowing, Xue Baochai stepped aside.

Yue Ling turned around and faced the people of Cangzhou City. His tone was much softer. "You may have been confused by what I heard. I don't know how the three are related. Today, I, Yue Ling, am on tour on behalf of the emperor. My goal is to ensure that you can have enough food and clothing, live and work in peace and contentment. I will certainly not fool you."

"To put it simply, the prefect, Mr. Park, had no grain in the treasury and had to deal with the imperial envoy's inspection, so he had evil thoughts and made money by endorsing the thieves, and then bought grain at a high price to fill the granary."

"I'm afraid he has done this before and tasted some sweetness and filled his pockets. As a result, because of the existence of Young Master Liu, he went too far this time and didn't get any money in exchange, and the person got away. Later, there was the matter of the Xue family. Let the Xue family transport some grain to the warehouse first, so that they can open a porridge stall, which is enough to get the job done."

"Normally, their plan can indeed deceive people. Before I take up my post, someone in the palace should read the imperial edict and announce the news of my coming to take up my post."

"What a pity! They missed the mark by one step. They didn't expect that I was carrying the imperial edict with me and came to announce it in person. That's why they didn't pay attention to the beginning and the end, and revealed their flaws."

The people in the city understood what was said. Even those who didn't understand knew that this was the great Lord they had been waiting for. The people knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, "Greetings, Marquis An Jing!"

"An Jing Hou is wise!"

Yue Ling waved his hand and said, "Dear fellow villagers, please go home today. I promise that the porridge stalls in the city will reopen soon. I hope you can spread the word and let the people in the city know."

There was another round of thunderous praise. Yue Ling turned around and looked at Pu Zheng, who now looked embarrassed and as if he had lost his parents.

"Do you have any last words?"

Pu Zheng choked up and said, "My lord, the idea was all from Ji Tongpan, and I had no choice but to do it."

Yue Ling chuckled and ordered the soldiers from the Beijing camp to step forward and arrest him.

"As for shirking responsibility, there is no need to talk about it. This Marquis can already decide whether you live or die. Come on, go and rob his house first!"

Soldiers from the left and right camps stepped out, half-knelt on the ground, and said, "As you command!"

Every soldier had an extremely excited look on their face, as if they also had a part in today's drama, and they were the ones who stole the limelight along with Yue Ling.

Outside the hall in the distance, Lin Daiyu, who had already stepped out of the sedan chair, finished watching this extraordinary show in the hall, and her worried heart gradually calmed down.

Looking at Yue Ling's figure, the outline seemed to be shining. He was exactly the hero in her mind who punished evil and promoted good.

Zijuan held Lin Daiyu's arm and comforted her, "Miss, I told you that the master would be fine. After all, the master is an imperial envoy. How dare a prefect make things difficult for him?"

Lin Daiyu shook her head and sighed, "That's not the truth. I didn't know that something dangerous happened to Brother Yue last night. The government soldiers in the city actually swung their swords at Brother Yue. If it weren't for Brother Yue's extraordinary alertness, how could the others have resisted?"

At this moment, Lin Daiyu felt that it was even more rare to see Brother Yue sleeping peacefully beside her.

"You know, it's not easy for Brother Yue, so I can reward him by letting him sleep next to me for one night."

As she was mumbling in her mind, Lin Daiyu turned her head and saw a girl who was as beautiful as her. She was puzzled again, "Who is this? Why haven't I heard Brother Yue mention it? Jinling Xue family, could it be that Brother Yue has a history with Jinling Xue family? This girl can come out in public to testify for Brother Yue, so I'm afraid they must be related to each other."

A pair of frowning eyebrows naturally wrinkled up.

In the hall, Yue Ling continued to deal with the chaos.

He first called the people from the Yunxing Escort Agency to take the unconscious Zhao Hao away for treatment.

He also asked Liu Xianglian to go to the prison to "rescue" Xue Pan.

After instructing some people to check the accounts in the granary, Yue Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Isolate Park Jung and Ji Qing and leave them alone for a day. I will try them another day."

"Yes."

Seeing that Yue Ling had almost finished his work, Xue Baochai wanted to step forward to thank him, but before she could say anything, she saw Yue Ling running out of the hall as if he had discovered some treasure.

As it passed by her, a gust of wind blew.

Yue Ling came outside the hall, stood in front of the three little girls, and asked in surprise: "Why are you here?"

Xueyan said, "It was that damn maid who said something happened to you, General Yue! We were worried so we came to see you. When we get back, we will tear the maid's mouth to pieces and teach her a lesson!"

Yue Ling frowned and thought for a moment, then apologized, "Sister Lin, I'm sorry to have worried you. Today we won't stay at the inn anymore, let's move into the government office. From now on, I'll also be working in the government office, so it will be more convenient."

Lin Daiyu nodded gently and said, "It doesn't matter. I'll follow Brother Yue's arrangements."

Xue Baochai looked at the scene of family reunion in the distance and felt a little complicated.

The maidservant beside her, Ying'er, muttered, "So that's why. No wonder the Marquis was not at all shaken by the young lady's appearance. The women around him are all of this appearance. Even with a veil covering her face, it's hard to hide her temperament. She must be the daughter of some wealthy family."

Xue Baochai frowned, "You are the only one who can gossip. What does it have to do with you what kind of person the Marquis brings with him?"

Ying'er stuck out her tongue and said no more.

Xue Baochai hesitated for a long time, but still felt that it would be impolite to leave directly, so she followed him out of the hall and stood a few steps behind Yue Ling, "My Lord, this time it is all thanks to you. The Xue family will remember this kindness and will certainly help you in Cangzhou City."

Seeing the girl looking over, Xue Baochai smiled and responded, "I'm sorry I came at an untimely time. I'd like to thank the Marquis and not bother you any further."

　Three chapters
　　
　
(End of this chapter)