Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Although Li Gu was present, the evidence was ultimately insufficient.

Prefect Wang was unable to convict Lu Junyi immediately.

He then declared that as long as Lu Junyi could lure Zhao Yuan and the others into the ambush at the government office and then use the competition to exhaust their strength, he would be able to prove his innocence!

Now, Lu Junyi has done everything he said he would do.

This Prefect Wang wasn't utterly shameless, so naturally he wouldn't go back on his word.

"But what can we do now? So many of our constables have been killed or wounded, yet the bandits still escaped. How can I explain this to Liang Zhongshu...?"

Judge Wang paced anxiously in circles, while Li Gu had also calmed down a bit.

He covered his eyes, his face full of hatred, and said...

"My lord, isn't there still the Imperial Guard in Daming Prefecture? Those three thieves must be heading towards the city gate. Quickly, have the Imperial Guard intercept them!"

"That's right! How could I have forgotten about the Imperial Guards!"

Judge Wang slapped his forehead, just about to send someone to notify the Imperial Guards.

Just then, some government officials rushed in in a panic.

"Your Excellency, the Cuiyun Tower is on fire! Madam Cai is still trapped inside. It's in complete chaos. The Grand Secretary has ordered you to quickly lead men to put out the fire!"

"What? Madam Cai!"

Judge Wang's eyes widened instantly.

Lady Cai is the wife of Liang Zhongshu and the biological daughter of Cai Jing, the current prime minister!

She's currently trapped inside the burning Cuiyun Tower. If something happens to Madam Cai...

Upon realizing this, Prefect Wang shuddered and dared not think any further.

He hurriedly summoned the numerous yamen runners.

"What are you all standing there for? Quickly follow me to Cuiyun Tower to put out the fire!"

Upon hearing that there was no need to pursue the three murderers, the constables immediately responded loudly and hurriedly ran towards Cuiyun Tower!

Li Gu, having lost an eye to Qiong Ying, already harbored extreme hatred for Zhao Yuan and the other two.

Seeing that Magistrate Wang was ignoring the bandits and instead going to put out the fire,

Li Gu hurriedly stepped in front of Wang Tongpan and tried to persuade him.

"My lord, hurry and find the Imperial Guards to hunt down those bandits! If we delay any longer, they'll leave the city!"

"The Imperial Guards? That's it!"

Judge Wang stamped his foot, quickly pulled over a bailiff beside him, and shouted loudly.

"Go and inform the Imperial Guards immediately!"

Li Gu, standing to the side, said with delight,

"Yes, quickly have the Imperial Guards seal the city gates, make sure those bandits don't get through..."

Before he could finish speaking, Magistrate Wang kicked him hard to the ground.

"Damn it! Who has time to bother with those bandits right now!"

Wang Tongpan roared, "Are a few petty thieves more important than Madam Cai? Quickly inform the Imperial Guards to come to Cuiyun Tower to put out the fire! If anything happens to Madam Cai, we're all doomed!"

After saying this, Magistrate Wang led a large number of yamen runners and hurriedly ran out of the Lu family residence.

Even Suo Chao, disregarding his feigned serious injury, hurriedly followed him out.

In the courtyard, only Lu Junyi and others, along with the corpses of more than a dozen government officials, remained.

"Master, what do we do now?" Yan Qing asked.

"Have someone collect the bodies of these constables and hand them over to the authorities."

As Lu Junyi finished speaking, he gave Li Gu a cold look.

"Also, kick this traitor out. From now on, he is no longer the Lu family's steward!"

........

Outside Cuiyun Tower,

When Magistrate Wang arrived in a panic with a large number of yamen runners, he saw Liang Zhongshu standing there in a state of shock.

"Your Excellency, this humble official..."

Just as Wang Tongpan was about to explain what he had gone to do, Liang Zhongshu angrily kicked him.

"What's the point of saying all this at a time like this? Hurry up and save the lady!"

"Yes, yes! I'll send someone right away!"

Judge Wang hurriedly directed his many constables to split into two teams: one to extinguish the fire, and the other to don wet quilts and rush into the fire to rescue people.

At this moment, in Cuiyun Tower,

Shi Qian, his face covered with a wet cloth, was also preparing to leave.

Suddenly, they heard a woman's shouts.

Shi Qian followed the sound and searched for it.

Then they discovered that the petite maidservant whom Zhao Yuan had glanced at several times yesterday was struggling to help Madam Cai escape.

Actually, although the fire at Cuiyun Tower looked large, it didn't burn many people.

Zhao Yuan had already warned Shi Qian yesterday to be careful not to set fires and to avoid injuring anyone.

Furthermore, their purpose in setting the fire was merely to attract the attention of the Daming Prefecture.

Therefore, when setting fires, Shi Qian first targeted unoccupied warehouses.

After the fire starts over there,

Most of the guests in Cuiyun Tower had already noticed the commotion and ran out.

And this Mrs. Cai was truly unlucky.

Today, just like yesterday, she was supposed to be hosting a banquet for the wives and daughters of officials from Daming Prefecture at this Cuiyun Tower.

Upon seeing the fire, the noblewomen panicked and fled, including Madam Cai.

Because the fire was so terrifying, the women disregarded their usual social hierarchy.

They jostled and pushed their way out. Madam Cai, accustomed to a life of luxury, had never witnessed such a scene before.

In the chaos, I was pushed to the ground and twisted my ankle.

When she struggled to get up,

There was no sign of anyone else in the room!

Madam Cai struggled to escape.

However, they did not know that when escaping a fire, they should cover their mouth and nose, and lower their body to avoid inhaling smoke.

She hadn't gone far when she fainted from the smoke and heat!

Chapter 128 A Good Brother Who Thinks of His Brother

At this moment, the maids who had escaped the fire finally noticed that Madam Cai was still inside Cuiyun Tower and had not come out.

Because Madam Cai was extremely jealous and vicious, any maid or concubine in her household who had any ambiguous relationship with Liang Zhongshu would be beaten to death and buried in the back garden.

The many maids were naturally unwilling to risk their lives to save her, but they were also worried about being held accountable by Liang Zhongshu.

They took advantage of the chaos at Cuiyun Tower to flee in all directions.

Li Ping'er was no exception.

But she was unlucky; she hadn't even run a few steps when...

She was dragged back by Madam Cai's wet nurse and then ordered to go into Cuiyun Tower to rescue people!

If we can't save her, then let Li Ping'er be buried with Madam Cai!

Helpless, Li Ping'er could only turn around and return to Cuiyun Tower.

Braving the raging fire, they finally found Madam Cai, only to discover that she was already unconscious.

Li Ping'er could only help her up and try to drag her outside.

But she was petite to begin with, and she was in a fire.

After walking only a few steps with Madam Cai's help, she followed suit.

He collapsed to the ground and passed out.

All of this was observed by Shi Qian, who was standing to the side.

He recalled the way Zhao Yuan had stared at Li Ping'er yesterday, and chuckled.

"Brother, I'll take the beauty back for you right away!"

Shi Qian stepped forward and helped Li Ping'er up.

Then they heard footsteps coming from downstairs.

It was one of the constables under Magistrate Wang who came in looking for someone!

Shi Qian dared not delay and hurriedly followed the escape route he had prepared beforehand.

They helped Li Ping'er out.

Once outside, taking advantage of the chaos around them,

He stole a horse, saddled Li Ping'er across it, and then hurriedly headed towards the north gate of Daming Prefecture!

......

At this time, the north gate of Daming Prefecture.

Deng Fei, Tang Long, and Meng Kang, along with the henchmen who had entered the city earlier, had already scattered the gate guards and were waiting to pick up the others.

Not long after,

Zhao Yuan, Xu Ning, Qiong Ying, and Bian Xiang then led their henchmen to attack.

With both sides combined, only Shi Qian had not yet returned.

"Brother, Brother Shi Qian's martial arts are not good. He hasn't come for so long. Could something have happened to him?" Bian Xiang asked worriedly.

"Brother..."

Although Qiongying usually liked to bicker with Shiqian, she also looked worried at this moment.

"Alright, you should leave the city now, meet up with Pei Xuan, and then head south immediately!"

Zhao Yuan instructed, "I'll go find Brother Shi Qian right now!"

"My brother's appearance has already been discovered by the city's officials; how can we go there again!"

Bian Xiang volunteered, "I'll do it myself..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qiongying looked at the street in the distance and laughed, "No need, Shi Qian is already here!"

Everyone looked up and saw Shi Qian riding a horse galloping towards them.

When he arrived, Zhao Yuan gestured for everyone to leave.

"Alright, Brother Shi Qian has arrived. Let's leave Daming immediately..."

He had only spoken halfway when Zhao Yuan suddenly froze.

Because he noticed that the woman lying across Shi Qian's horse was none other than the petite and exquisite Li Ping'er from yesterday!

"Brother Shi Qian, what's going on?"

"Hey, when did you start being a womanizer?"

As a woman, Qiong Ying naturally couldn't stand such things and immediately flew into a rage.

"Young lady, please don't misunderstand!"

Shi Qian hurriedly dismounted and explained, "I set fire to Cuiyun Tower just now, but I accidentally trapped Liang Zhongshu's wife inside. This woman entered Cuiyun Tower for some reason, trying to save Madam Cai, but they both fainted on the ground. I couldn't bear to see this, so when I left Cuiyun Tower, I rescued her as well!"

"Saving him is one thing, but why bring him on horseback?"