Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 471 Remedy
Liu Erlang knew about the conflict between Xia Ziqiao and Xie Da Niangzi's fleet, and of course he knew even more that Xia Mengxian was formerly the Minister of Justice. However, he was too flustered just now, and he had too many things on his mind. He wanted to save his mother and sister, and he also wanted to expose the case. So he overlooked a fatal point.

Without carefully considering who was behind Xie's downfall, they realized that no one was truly plotting against her.

Thus, one wrong move led to total defeat.

Liu Erlang tried to get up and run outside again, but heard the door behind him close. Without thinking, he shouted, "Treason! Xia Mengxian has committed treason!"

He couldn't call for help.

The words "help" are too easily overlooked.

He couldn't cry out for justice, as that would be too common in the government office. So all he could do was call out someone's name, and the words "treason" were the most likely to attract attention.

Liu Erlang knew that his time was running out and that he might die soon. This was his only chance to fight for his mother and sister.

Just as Liu Erlang had expected, as soon as he shouted, two men pounced on him and pinned him to the ground. Immediately afterward, his mouth and nose were tightly covered, and the person behind him knelt on his back, making it impossible for him to breathe.

Liu Erlang opened his eyes wide, veins bulging on his forehead, clenched his fists, and twisted his body, struggling with all his might.

Just one step away.

He was not reconciled.

When he was being suppressed by Master Liang, he wavered for a moment, but eventually he understood. He could not back down, he could not wrong anyone, and he was willing to take all the blame upon himself.

At the same time, he remembered what Madam Xie had asked his sister to bring back.

Since he's taking on the role of editor of the Bianjing tabloid, he'll have to bear the consequences, no matter what they may be.

After much deliberation, he realized that Madam Xie was not merely advising him, but rather revealing a message.

Madam Xie knew all along that something bad was going to happen.

If that's the case, she must have made some preparations. So if he manages to send out the message, he can not only help but also save himself and his classmates.

As Liu Erlang gradually lost his strength and his consciousness began to fade, a knock came at the door.

"Sir, is everything alright here? I saw someone break in just now. That person came to the government office to file a complaint, but somehow ended up in the second hall. The officials there ordered me to bring him over immediately."

The two constables holding Liu Erlang back were at a loss for what to do, so they hurriedly went to check on Zheng Chengyao, the Ministry of Justice official, who was inside the room.

Zheng Chengyao frowned, then ordered, "This man has offended me. Imprison him first, and then interrogate him carefully."

Xia Ziqiao was clearly dissatisfied with the result and immediately tried to persuade him.

Zheng Chengyao waved his hand and lowered his voice: "Don't let him say anything out of line."

Upon hearing this, the constables understood and immediately shut Liu Erlang up.

Liu Erlang was already limp and could only let others do as they pleased.

Xia Ziqiao wished he could immediately step forward and take Liu Erlang's life, but unfortunately Zheng Chengyao was in charge here, and he couldn't do anything about it, so he retreated back to the inner room for the time being.

The door opens.

Outside stood a clerk with an anxious expression.

Seeing Liu Erlang being dragged away by two constables, the clerk asked in surprise, "What happened?" The constable replied, "This man entered the room and, without saying a word, tried to harm Zheng Langzhong. Fortunately, we apprehended him in time. Now we are taking him to prison to await trial."

Upon hearing this, the clerk took a few steps forward, reached out and checked Liu Erlang's nose. Finding that he was still breathing, his expression improved.

This action displeased the two constables, and the clerk quickly apologized with a smile, saying, "I am on duty today, and if anything happens, I will definitely be punished. Please forgive me."

After saying that, he sighed again: "The people who came with him have already said that this person is a scholar who has passed the Ministry of Rites' list of successful candidates. His father is also a junior official in the Secretariat. Those people in the Secretariat... are not easy to talk to. I don't know if he was drunk or not, but he actually barged into the Second Hall and injured an official from the Ministry of Justice."

The clerk's words reminded the two constables, who looked at each other and changed from dragging Liu Erlang to lifting him up and walking forward.

The clerk followed the two constables to the prison. The second hall quieted down again, and Xia Ziqiao then came out from the back hall.

“Uncle Zheng,” Xia Ziqiao hurriedly said, “that Liu Erlang knows too much. We can’t let him live. We should have done so just now…”

Zheng Chengyao frowned and looked at Xia Ziqiao, his eyes showing some dissatisfaction: "Do you expect me to kill him in front of everyone?"

"Everyone in Kaifeng Prefecture saw him run into the second hall. If he dies like this, how am I supposed to explain it to the court? He has a title, and his father is an official of the Great Liang Dynasty. If things really escalate, how will we deal with it?"

Xia Ziqiao was speechless. If her father were still serving in the Ministry of Justice, Zheng Chengyao would definitely risk doing things for the Xia family. Now, although they would help, the premise was that they had to protect themselves first.

“All I can do now is throw him in jail,” Zheng Chengyao said. “As for whether he dies in jail or confesses, that’s up to you.”

Xia Ziqiao naturally dared not show any dissatisfaction, and said in a low voice, "Thank you for your help, Uncle."

“There are many things that are difficult for me to do in this position,” Zheng Chengyao said. “If I fall, it will be even more troublesome for us to do things in the future.”

Xia Ziqiao smiled apologetically: "It's all thanks to Uncle Shi's presence in Kaifeng Prefecture. If it were anyone else, something really bad would have happened."

Zheng Chengyao knew this was just polite talk and wouldn't be pleased. He simply waved his hand and said, "Go and ask your father what to do next. This kind of thing needs to be decided quickly."

Xia Ziqiao bowed and responded.

Zheng Chengyao stopped talking, got up and walked out. He came to Kaifeng Prefecture today to wait for Liu Erlang to file a complaint against the Xie family, so that he could legally take the person to the Ministry of Justice. He didn't expect this to happen.

Things have changed, and he can no longer stay here, otherwise he might get implicated.

If the Ministry of Justice wants to take on this case again, the Xia family has to get everything sorted out; otherwise, he won't step in again.

Xia Ziqiao watched Zheng Chengyao's retreating figure, his knuckles cracking from clenching his fists. Zheng Chengyao was someone his father had personally promoted, and the Xia family had spent a considerable amount of money on him. Now that his father had just retired, this man had already changed his tune.

When his father is reinstated, he will make Zheng Chengyao and his ilk kneel at his father's feet like dogs.

As Xia Ziqiao was thinking, the legal officer from Kaifeng Prefecture strode over. These were Xia family members who had been placed in Kaifeng Prefecture.

Xia Ziqiao knew what he wanted to ask and instructed, "First, calm down those scholars. If any of them can stand up for Liu Er and accuse Xie, give them a statement first."

“I will go back and ask my father for a solution, or take them to the Ministry of Justice for trial.”

The legal officer responded, "We need to act quickly. There are many people and eyes in Kaifeng Prefecture. I'm afraid quite a few people will hear the commotion. If it gets to the prefect's ears, it will be troublesome."

Xia Ziqiao stared at the legal officer: "Do you have any way to get that Liu Erlang to die in prison?"

The legal officer was shocked; things were escalating rapidly, and now they were actually going to kill someone in prison…

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