Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 79 Ximen the Great? Who does he think he is?

"Young Master, Wu Da has been arrested by the authorities!"

Su Fang hurriedly dismounted, and the first thing he said was like a bolt from the blue.

"What did you say?"

Before Zhu Biao could reply, Wu Song got angry and instinctively reached out to grab Su Fang's clothes, but Su Fang dodged him like a fish swimming away.

"Second brother, don't panic! Let me find out what's going on."

Zhu Biao jumped off the oxcart, grabbed his arm, and said in a deep voice.

"Su Fang, what exactly happened?"

"Young master, this whole thing was instigated by that old hag at the teahouse."

Su Fang spoke clearly and explained the whole story in just a few words.

That old woman, Wang Po, was not a magnanimous person. She had been beaten up by Zhu Biao for no reason before, and she didn't dare to utter a sound.

However, when Zhu Biao hurriedly left Yanggu City in search of Wu Song, the woman suddenly had a change of heart.

I don't know what connections she used.

At midday, several constables arrested Wu Da, who sold pancakes, on the street, on the grounds that he was colluding with bandits and robbing his neighbors.

"Young master, before I came, Uncle Tang had already inquired at the yamen and even spent money. Wu Da was only imprisoned and was not beaten."

Uncle Tang, also known as Instructor Zhang, along with Lin Chong and Madam Lin, will all be using false identities from now on.

"Phew~"

Upon hearing this, Wu Song breathed a sigh of relief, but when he turned around, he saw Zhu Biao with a furrowed brow and a gloomy face.

"Sanlang, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just accidentally bumped my hand, and it hurt a little."

Zhu Biao spoke calmly, but his heart was in turmoil.

Last night, when they beat up Wang Po, he was carrying the signboard of the Imperial City Guard.

Even if this matter reaches the government, the officials in charge will likely turn a blind eye and never investigate the truth of the matter.

This suddenly appeared Imperial City Guard Supervisor.

If the identity is fake, it's nothing more than hitting an old woman who runs a tea shop; it's a trivial matter.

But if his identity is true, then he is a wicked ghost that everyone wants to avoid, and these county officials certainly don't want to provoke him.

but.

Now Wu Da has been arrested and taken to the government office, and Instructor Zhang has bribed him again.

Despite his maturity, experience, and the help of Ruyi to advise him, he still couldn't get Wu Da out of trouble, which means someone was secretly sabotaging him.

Perhaps this person is trying to extort a large sum of money, or more seriously, someone might be questioning his identity.

They wanted to force him to show himself and face the officials directly.

His Imperial City Guard badge could fool peddlers and gate guards, but it couldn't fool legitimate officials of the imperial court.

Even the seventh-rank county magistrates were mostly graduates of the imperial examination system, having worked in various government offices in the capital.

He didn't even know which way the Imperial City Gate faced, and his lie was exposed after just a few questions.

The reason he was able to keep it a secret from Prefect Cui of Cizhou was because he had Liang Siqi, the real Liang Shicheng, as his guarantor.

Seeing everyone staring at him expectantly, Zhu Biao sighed inwardly, suppressed his chaotic thoughts, and greeted them.

"It's no big deal. Come back to the city with me."

Immediately, he abandoned the oxcart and nimbly mounted his horse.

An hour later, in Zishi Street, Yanggu County.

Looking at Wang Po's teahouse with its doors closed and boards hanging up, Zhu Biao turned his head and ordered, "Take down the door for me!"

"Here you go!"

Zhu San, Zhu Wu, and Su Fang responded simultaneously, but before they could make a move, Wu Song rushed forward in one stride.

boom!

With a single kick, he broke several door panels and charged inside like a tiger.

Zhu Biao hurriedly shouted.

"Everyone go and keep an eye on things, make sure no one gets killed!"

"Young master, there's no one in the police station."

Su Fang was agile and quick, and soon he turned around and got out.

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and then instructed, "Go and inquire around the area to find out where that fat woman went."

Then he turned to Wu Song, whose eyes were red and who was panting heavily.

"Second brother, don't worry."

"Come with me, let's go ask your sister-in-law if she knows the inside story, or if she knows where this old woman is."

Wu Song knocked on the door several times, and was about to break it down when a frightened female voice finally rang out from inside.

"Who, who?"

"It's me, Wu Er! Sister-in-law, open the door quickly."

The next moment, the door was suddenly pushed open, revealing Pan Jinlian's pretty face, which was filled with panic. Her eyes were filled with joy, and her voice was full of surprise.

"Second Uncle, you're finally here!"

Upon seeing Zhu Biao beside Wu Song, her voice abruptly stopped, she subconsciously took a half-step back, and even shivered.

Zhu Biao stared at her coldly.

"Wu Panshi, do you know where that old woman Wang has gone?"

Pan Jinlian felt as if she were being stared at by a venomous snake. Her body trembled, she abruptly looked away, took a half step back, and shook her head, replying, "No, I don't know."

"Do you know who captured your husband, Wu Da?"

"Zhou, the constable of the county government."

Zhu Biao pressed further, "Do you know who authorized this?"

Pan Jinlian suddenly looked up and gasped in surprise.

"Huh? No way~"

Zhu Biao suddenly stepped forward and snapped, "Wu Panshi, think it over before you speak!"

"I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. If I find out that you knew about it but didn't tell anyone, I will send you to the brothel to sell your body as a prostitute."

Upon hearing this, Pan Jinlian's face turned deathly pale, and she couldn't help but tremble all over.

"I...I really don't know. I just...this morning, I saw a high-ranking official take Wang Qianniang away."

Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow.

"A high-ranking official? What kind of high-ranking official? Do you know him?"

Pan Jinlian took another step back, bumping into the table in the main room.

"Yes, he is a young official, dressed in rich clothes. I... I don't know him."

"Young Master, have you asked the question?"

Su Fang's voice came from outside. Zhu Biao gave Pan Jinlian a deep look, then turned to Pang Qiutang and said, "Watch her pack her belongings and valuables, then take her to her lodgings as soon as possible."

"it is good."

Pang Qiutang responded, took a few steps forward, grabbed Pan Jinlian's arm, and pulled her upstairs.

"What are you doing? Second Uncle, save me!"

Pan Jinlian was stunned. She was dragged a few steps before she came to her senses, broke free of his arms, and cried for help to Wu Song.

"Sister-in-law, don't be afraid. She's a concubine, just disguised as a man. Just listen to her instructions. I'll go rescue my elder brother."

Just now, when Zhu Biao pressed him for answers, Wu Song didn't say a word. Only now did he give a perfunctory reply, and after saying that, he hurriedly turned around and chased after Zhu Biao.

He only cared about Wu Da, with whom he had relied on each other for more than 20 years, and felt nothing for this sister-in-law who suddenly appeared.

He even had a vague feeling that she wasn't a good match and hoped that she could separate from his brother.

Outside the Wu family gate, Su Fang lowered his voice and said, "Young Master, this morning, Granny Wang was brought back to the manor by the owner of Ximen Sheng's Pharmacy. I've also inquired about the owner; his name is Ximen Qing."

.

hiss~

Zhu Biao felt a sudden ache in his teeth and a sense of absurdity. He hadn't expected that after going around in circles, he still couldn't get around this Mr. Ximen.

"Su Fang, have you found out anything else?"

Su Fang scratched his ear, a look of annoyance on his face.

"We only know that Ximen Qing's uncle is an official in Dongping Prefecture, but we don't know what kind of official he is. Young master, should I go and find out more?"

Zhu Biao held his shoulder with relief and gently squeezed it.

"Su Fang, you've done enough. Let's go back to our lodgings and meet up with Uncle Tang before we discuss this further."

Instructor Zhang is a mature and prudent man. Last night, Zhu Biao left the city overnight, and this morning he led everyone to change their accommodations.

Located in the west of the city, the mansion directly booked the largest courtyard, with three wings on the east, west, and north sides, and a total of seven rooms.

In the main hall of the north room, all of Zhu Biao's men sat in a circle. Instructor Zhang cleared his throat and said, "Young master, the information I obtained from the government office is exactly the same as yours."

"The person backing Wang Po is none other than Ximen Qing. His uncle is the judge of Dongping Prefecture. This fellow relies on his uncle's power and does whatever he wants."

"Tsk, the judge of Dongping Prefecture."

Zhu Biao couldn't help but click his tongue. Damn it, was he incompatible with Dongping Prefecture?

Dong Ping was the military commander of Dongping Prefecture who came to take up his post, but he was tricked by me in the mountains and his fate is unknown. His appointment documents are still in my hands.

Now, he's at odds with the nephew of the judge of Dongping Prefecture.

The title of "Judge" might not sound like a high-ranking official, but in reality, it was the fourth-highest position in a prefecture or state, equivalent to the chief judge of the central court, the director of the audit bureau, and the secretary-general of the municipal party committee in later times.

They wielded immense power.

Come to think of it, if he didn't have a powerful backer, how could Ximen Qing have built such a large business and dared to poison his own brother, the head constable?

"Uncle Tang, do you know why Ximen Qing is supporting Wang Po?"

Instructor Zhang shook his head: "I haven't found out about that."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao frowned slightly.

Of course he wasn't afraid of Ximen Qing; who was he? He didn't even give a damn about his uncle, Zhu Biao, who was a judge.

He even dared to kill Dong Ping, the military commander, the commander of the Imperial City Guard, and even Gao's son.

How could I possibly care about a judge? At best, he's just a seventh or eighth-rank official.

But he didn't want to make enemies over a mere old woman like Wang Po. No matter how licentious Ximen Qing was, as long as he hadn't cuckolded Wu Da's cuckold.

What's it to him?

]>