The Double-Chapter 318 - 119 Father

The remaining few hundred households seem to require no further inquiries.

The sudden outpouring of villagers was already sufficient to serve as witnesses for Xue Huaiyuan. Upon hearing Jiang Li’s intention to enter Yanjing City to overturn Xue Huaiyuan’s case, they all expressed willingness to accompany her. This resolved the earlier concern of having an insufficient number of people.

Ye Mingyu felt greatly satisfied, patting his chest to guarantee that all expenses for the journey to the capital, including transport, food, and lodging, would be covered by him. Tonger and Bai Xue were also extremely pleased. Ye Mingyu found a moment to speak to Jiang Li, "Arlie, have we completed our task ahead of schedule? What can we do now?"

"With so many people, and Feng Yutang’s forces greatly diminished, the unarmed villagers have long harbored deep resentments against Feng Yutang. It’s time for them to vent their frustrations. The order to punish Xiangyang will come sooner or later. Since Feng Yutang likes to lord over Tongxiang, this time, let him taste what it’s like to be dominated by others. Uncle, lead these villagers to the county government office, we’re going to put on a play called ’Binding the Official to the Throne’."

"I’ve heard of ’Binding the Son to the Throne,’ but never ’Binding the Official to the Throne’." Ye Mingyu laughed.

"I’ve never seen it either, so I want to witness it for myself. There’s no time to lose. I believe that Feng Yutang, having received this news, is plotting to slip away. We can’t let him escape; we need to arrest him. Once we wait for Tong Zhiyang’s dispatch order to arrive, we can release County Magistrate Xue from prison and escort the official to the capital."

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingyu cried out in approval. His favorite thing was to act swiftly and decisively. He had been feeling suffocated these days, and now he could finally breathe easy and arrest Feng Yutang, whom he had long found intolerable—a truly wonderful turn of events!

"Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!" Ye Mingyu urged impatiently.

...

Today, the county government office is eerily quiet. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Feng Yutang sits inside, waiting for his belongings to be brought to him.

He cannot leave from his mansion, as he knows the escape route is fraught with danger. That’s why he didn’t even bring his favored concubine, only the gold and silver treasures he hoarded while acting as the parental official of Tongxiang. If he let the servants and concubines in his mansion discover his plans to flee, there would certainly be an uproar, which could alert Jiang Li and her party, and he wouldn’t be able to leave.

Feng Yutang had realized Jiang Li’s intent when he learned that she was going house-to-house, asking the villagers of Tongxiang if they would testify for Xue Huaiyuan. No wonder, no wonder Jiang Li’s forces could easily deal with Princess Yongning’s assassins, yet refused to lay a finger on her. Looking back, since Jiang Li wasn’t afraid of Princess Yongning, why would she be afraid of a minor character like him? Keeping him alive without killing him was meant to save Xue Huaiyuan!

Only if he was alive could he help clear Xue Huaiyuan of the injustice when the case was reopened—by using his own crimes.

When Feng Yutang understood this, he was both anxious and resentful. He had been deeply scorned when Xue Huaiyuan had chased him out of the county government office years ago. Later, fortunes had shifted, and when Xue Huaiyuan offended Princess Yongning and was imprisoned, Feng Yutang had more than once instructed the jailer to ’take good care’ of Xue Huaiyuan. Now, as he was enjoying his prime, a Chief Minister’s Daughter appeared out of nowhere, seeking justice for Xue Huaiyuan, and was on the cusp of success.

Xue Huaiyuan truly was his born nemesis!

Jiang Li was playing this game, but Feng Yutang was unwilling to comply. Now, Xue Huaiyuan was an invalid, driven mad, and he was supposed to make a great sacrifice for such a waste. Moreover, if Xue Huaiyuan’s case was to be overturned, the one to replace him would be himself. Although Princess Yongning was his master, she certainly wouldn’t start a war over a small fry like him.

Jiang Li was right about one thing: when immortals fight, the common folk suffer. He knew his place—he was not an immortal, but rather a minor spirit in imminent danger, and so he had to find his own way out. He was now unable to stop Jiang Li’s effort to exonerate Xue Huaiyuan. Having bungled the task, Princess Yongning could snuff out his life at any moment. Moreover, having offended the daughter of Jiang Yuanbai, when should he flee if not now? Thus, early this morning, Feng Yutang went to the county government office. The crates had been moved there, he and a few of his confidants were simply waiting for the arrival of the carriage, so they could hastily set out on the road.

By the time Jiang Li finds witnesses willing to testify, in seven days he would have already fled far away. As for how Jiang Li and Princess Yongning will contend, let them be. He will have already made his escape, and everything will no longer concern him!