Dream of the Red Chamber: Rising from Refugees to Sweep Across the Land

Chapter 96 Liu Feng: Try to fight me? You're still too green.

"I heard that Prison Chief Liu has arrived, and just then, one of our shop assistants brought over a few pheasants."

Xue Baochai walked in from the back room, holding a handkerchief. Seeing that the atmosphere was not quite right and that Lin Daiyu's face still had a blush, she was slightly taken aback. Then she smiled and said, "I've come at an inopportune time."

Liu Feng rolled his eyes and subconsciously looked her up and down.

She wore only a plain silver hairpin in her hair, with no other ornaments, which instead accentuated her face, making it appear like a silver basin and her eyes, like water-almonds, exuding a dignified yet simple composure. She wore a honey-colored cotton-padded jacket, tailored to fit perfectly, neither too loose nor too tight, highlighting her full upper body and steady waist. Below, she wore a pale yellow silk skirt, its hem slightly draped, completing her dignified and elegant appearance.

Seeing Liu Feng staring at Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu felt inexplicably uncomfortable and coughed lightly. When Liu Feng turned to look at her, she rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Liu Feng looked completely bewildered. What happened?

Xue Baochai saw this and became even more certain that the relationship between the two was extraordinary!

No one responded, but she wasn't annoyed. She walked forward with a smile and said, "If you have something to do, I'll come back later."

Liu Feng chuckled. The girl was already inside, and she was still saying things like that. Her mental fortitude was extraordinary!

"Sister Bao is here, please have a seat." Lin Daiyu stood up and greeted her with a smile.

Xue Baochai gave Liu Feng a slight curtsy, then took Lin Daiyu's hand and said with a smile, "Besides the game, you also brought frozen persimmons, frozen pears, frozen crabapples, and dried fruit and pastries. I just passed by your courtyard and put them all in your house."

.

;

"Thank you, sister."

Lin Daiyu pulled her to sit down, and after exchanging a few jokes, she asked, "Sister, is there something you need?"

Xue Baochai glanced at Liu Feng, who was drinking tea with his head down.

Just now, a letter arrived from the Wang family saying that the aggrieved party had gone to the capital to appeal to the emperor. Upon hearing this, Mother Xue was so anxious and distressed that she fainted on the spot and only recovered after a long time.

The mother and daughter were on their way to Lady Wang's place when Lin Daiyu sent someone to deliver plum blossoms. Hearing that Liu Feng had arrived, they decided to split up. Aunt Xue went to Lady Wang's, while Xue Baochai came with gifts.

Xue Baochai understood that doing so was both presumptuous and impolite, but for her brother and for the Xue family, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and go through with it.

Liu Feng knew exactly what Xue Baochai was thinking. But he didn't want to get involved at all, so he pretended not to see the beautiful woman's glance and lowered his head to continue drinking his tea.

According to the Great Qian Law, if someone instigates a servant to kill another person, the principal offender shall be sentenced to beheading with reprieve, while the accomplice shall be sentenced to strangulation with reprieve.

Since her brother's life was at stake, Xue Baochai disregarded her pride and briefly recounted the events in front of Granny Wang, Xiangling, Xueyan, and others.

Lin Daiyu knew Xue Baochai too well. She was strong-willed and always maintained a dignified and proper demeanor. For her to be so reckless, it was clear that she had no other choice but to go to such lengths.

After speaking, Xue Baochai's gaze fell on Liu Feng, her eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of pleading.

Liu Feng remained calm and indifferent, as if he hadn't heard anything.

Xue Baochai bit her lower lip, stood up, and walked to Liu Feng: "As long as Prisoner Liu is willing to help mediate, no matter what the final outcome is, our Xue family will remember your kindness for a lifetime." As she spoke, she took out a bank draft from her sleeve and gently placed it on the tea table between Liu Feng and Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu glanced at it and saw that it cost three thousand taels of silver. She was really generous.

Liu Feng remained silent, not even glancing at the draft.

Xue Baochai became anxious and looked at Lin Daiyu with pleading eyes, her face full of "Good sister, please help me."

Lin Daiyu couldn't pretend she hadn't seen it, and she didn't know how to speak, so she simply covered her mouth with her handkerchief and coughed softly twice.

Sure enough, Liu Feng immediately turned to look at her.

Lin Daiyu knew she shouldn't be smiling at this moment, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly, her smile revealing a hint of smugness, as if silently declaring her status.

Liu Feng glared at Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu, not to be outdone, rolled her eyes back.

Xue Baochai's chest tightened, and she took a deep breath to compose herself: "I know that Liu Siyu is an imperial envoy and needs to avoid suspicion... You could give us some advice or a solution. Whether it works or not, the Xue family will offer a generous reward."

Liu Feng blinked, but ultimately remained silent.

Xue Baochai's handkerchief was almost wrung out, and her snow-white hands were even more pale. She looked at Lin Daiyu, who originally didn't want to get involved in this matter, but seeing Xue Baochai's state, she couldn't bear it and turned to look at Liu Feng.

Liu Feng was silent for a moment, then said, "This case is far more complicated than you imagine; it involves power struggles within the imperial court."

"Court infighting?" Xue Baochai's heart tightened.

Liu Feng nodded. He had just realized something: the emperor wouldn't let Lin Ruhai resign and retire; he could only use this opportunity to make him leave Jiangnan.

"Someone wants to use your brother's case to bring down her father." Liu Feng first pointed at Xue Baochai, then at Lin Daiyu.

Xue Baochai was stunned for a moment. Was it the Xue family that implicated the Lin family, or the Lin family that implicated the Xue family?

Liu Feng leaned back in his chair and turned to look at Xue Baochai: "I have a suggestion for you. Get the Wang family to put in some effort and transfer this case to the Shuntian Prefecture for trial."

"Shuntian Prefecture?" Xue Baochai frowned slightly.

"That's right. The position of Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture is currently vacant, and it's being filled by the Acting Prefectural Assistant. This Acting Prefectural Assistant is none other than Jia Yucun, the Second Master's newly recognized nephew. He is highly regarded by Prince Bei Jing, and the Emperor is currently trying to win over Prince Bei Jing..."

'

A glimmer of light flashed in Xue Baochai's eyes, but her brows furrowed again: "But those gentry from Jiangnan who want to take this opportunity to bring down Lord Lin, can they..."

'

"Wouldn't it be better to try the murder case and the negligence case separately?" Liu Feng tapped on the bank draft.

"Separate trials?" Xue Baochai murmured, her gaze falling on the bank draft, instantly understanding. Civil officials are the most greedy; as long as the money is sufficient, they will dare to outwardly comply with but inwardly defy the orders of the gentry of Jiangnan.

Liu Feng picked up his teacup: "Hurry up and go, the complaint has probably already been sent to the cabinet by now."

Xue Baochai's expression changed, she hurriedly curtsied to Liu Feng, and turned to leave.

Liu Feng called out to her retreating figure, "Give me the list later."

"Hmm." Xue Baochai didn't even turn her head.

Liu Feng's eyes darted down to her waist, tsk, that big butt.

Xue Baochai, caught in the middle of the situation, couldn't see through it, but Lin Daiyu, an outsider, had a clearer perspective. She pouted and muttered under her breath, "They're up to no good."

Liu Feng turned his head: "What did you say?"

Lin Daiyu wrinkled her nose: "You did this on purpose, you're scheming against me."

Liu Feng smiled. It had been a while since he'd raided any homes, and he was short on cash. The emperor was also short of money; let's all get rich together.

While I'm at it, I'll strike the civil officials again to avenge today's grudge and solidify my title as the "Nemesis of Civil Officials"!

"Have you gone to your uncle's place yet?" Lin Daiyu suddenly asked.

"What's wrong?" Liu Feng asked, looking at her.

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "I don't provide you with meals here."

Liu Feng was stunned. So ruthless!

Seeing his expression, Lin Daiyu was very pleased. She stood up and beckoned to Xiangling, Qingwen, and Xueyan, "Come on, let's go eat!"

After saying that, he led the girls to the back hall like a victorious general.

"Wait a minute." Liu Feng stood up.

Lin Daiyu turned around, her face asking, "What do you want?"

"Please consider what I just mentioned..."

Lin Daiyu was taken aback at first, then remembered his frivolous words. She felt both ashamed and angry, glared at the shameless man, and stormed off.

Liu Feng smiled smugly. "Little brat, you think you can mess with me? You're still too green."

Where should we eat? Jia She? Liu Feng shook his head; that old drunkard could drink too much, he couldn't handle it. How about we go to Jia Lian's place?