The Wife of a Loyal Servant - Chapter 17

“An order from above?” Ling Yu froze.

What could Cheng Shaotang, an ordinary escort, possibly have done for ‘those above’ to specially order him arrested and thrown into jail? Besides, ‘stealing while on duty,’ taking valuable items from a client? She didn’t know about the others, but with Cheng Shaotang’s upright nature, he could never do such a thing.

“There must be some misunderstanding. My husband is as upright as they come—he would never do something like this…”

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding is for the official to decide, not for a little woman like you to say. Alright, alright, I’ve told you what I can. Off you go now!”

“This big brother… Could you please show some kindness and let me go in to see him?” Ling Yu asked, still refusing to give up.

“Why are you so bothersome, woman? Someone personally ordered him to be arrested by those above. How could just anyone be allowed to see him?!” The yamen runner glared at her.

Ling Yu still thick-skinnedly begged a few more times, but he waved her away impatiently like he was shooing a fly, snarling, “If you don’t leave, I’ll drag you in too!”

Ling Yu cursed silently and was about to plead again when a ceremonial shout sounded behind her—

“The magistrate has returned!”

“Still not leaving?! The magistrate’s back—block the gate, and I really will haul you in!” The runner barked, shoving her aside.

Ling Yu staggered back several steps before finally steadying herself. A blue cloth sedan chair stopped before the county office, and from it stepped a man in plain clothing, about thirty-something.

“Your Honor! Your Honor! We’re wronged—completely wronged!” An idea flashed through her mind, and she shouted while rushing straight toward the man.

She was only a breath away from reaching the county magistrate when the quick-reacting yamen runner blocked her. “Impudent! Do not disturb the lord!”

“Your Honor, we’re wronged—please hear me!” Ling Yu cried again, her voice shrill with urgency. The magistrate had halted, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

“You insolent woman!” The runner barked, grabbing her as if to drag her away.

“Let her come.” Her arms were wrenched behind her, pain shooting up her shoulders, but the moment the grip loosened, she bolted forward.

“My lord, my husband has been falsely accused!”

“Your husband is…? And what grievance is he suffering?” the magistrate asked, stroking his short beard with curiosity.

“My husband’s surname is Cheng; his name is Shaotang. He was arrested and thrown into jail today for no reason. Your Honor, my husband has always been upright and kind. He would never do such a thing…”

“Your Honor, her husband is one of the escort guards caught today,” the yamen runner she had questioned earlier couldn’t help interrupting.

The magistrate’s expression darkened as soon as he heard this, a hint of resignation showing. “People from that escort agency? I can’t call the shots on that!”

Then, as if reminded of something, he even let out a curse. Damn it all, I’ve never ruled on such a baffling case!

Ling Yu was stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief. After a moment, she asked the constable blankly, “He’s really your lord? Lord Guo Qi, the people’s benevolent official?”

The runner pursed his lips and cleared his throat. “Indeed it’s him, without a doubt!”

Before he had even finished speaking, he saw the young woman rush into the yamen like a gust of wind, chasing after the county magistrate—

“Your Honor, please wait, this humble woman still has something to say…”

“What’s wrong with you, young woman? I’ve already told you a few times—I can’t handle your husband’s case! A single rank above can already crush someone, and those many ranks above can flatten a person into paper! How could I possibly let you speak!” Guo Qi rubbed at his aching temples.

He had never encountered such a troublesome yet shrewd woman. He had meant to put on the authority of an official and have her thrown out immediately, but the moment he hinted at it, the woman burst into pitiful tears, saying things like, “Everyone says Lord Guo is an upright, honest official who speaks for the people. Under Your Honor’s rule there have never been wrongful cases. This humble woman believes you will surely clear the name of the wronged…” and so on, until his handsome face flushed red.

After a while, he came to his senses, thinking inwardly, That was close; I nearly fell for that cunning woman’s scheme.

He cleared his throat, finally putting on a stern face, and barked, “Enough. Not another word! If you don’t leave, I’ll have you thrown out!”

Ling Yu, watching his expression, knew he truly meant it this time. Not daring to tug the tiger’s whiskers, she put on a look of hopeless despair and let out a few pretend sobs.

Guo Qi felt guilty. The woman’s husband was, after all, one of his own people. Knowing he was wronged yet being able only to stand by and watch, he felt ashamed of himself as ‘the local magistrate.’

“Very well. Go home, tend to your in-laws, and raise your child. Here are fifty taels—take them and live as best you can. As for your husband’s case, I can only do what lies within my power and leave the rest to fate.”

Ling Yu was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at the fifty taels of silver he had shoved into her hand. Even after she walked out of the county office, she was still feeling a bit light-headed.

So she’d spent one tael of silver today, only to turn around and earn fifty for nothing?

Th-this was just too delightful!

But her smile hadn’t even fully formed before it fell again. Earning fifty taels for free was certainly something to be happy about, but if it came at the cost of Cheng Shaotang’s life, then it truly wasn’t worth it.

After a long while, she slowly turned around, gazing at the tightly shut gates of the county office. Her delicate brows furrowed without her realizing it.

He was ranked far above the county magistrate—so just what level of high official was he? And why target this group of escorts?

Although she hadn’t been able to see Cheng Shaotang at the yamen, she did learn one thing—Cheng Shaotang and those escorts were indeed innocent. They had simply offended someone of status for reasons unknown, leading to their current imprisonment.

She also learned that the current county magistrate seemed to feel some sympathy for these escorts. Whether he would step in to help or not, at the very least he shouldn’t be someone who kicks them while they’re down.

“Sister-in-law, you’re really here? Did you see my brother? What happened? How did he end up in jail?” Cheng Shaoan rushed over from nowhere and fired off questions the moment he saw her.

“I didn’t see him. Let’s talk when we get back,” Ling Yu whispered.

When they returned to the village, villagers, familiar or not, saw them from a distance and came up to greet them, probing for news about Cheng Shaotang.

Ling Yu fielded them all with vague, evasive answers.

“Could it be that you were so focused on making money those days that you didn’t even realize you’d accidentally offended someone important?” Madam Zhang, the cousins’ sister-in-law, said with a sharp, mocking tone.

On any other day, Ling Yu would have snapped back, but now, weighed down with worry for Cheng Shaotang, she simply ignored her and walked past without so much as a glance.

She understood well the truth that the taller the tree, the more wind it attracts. Their family business had been thriving recently, and although many villagers had followed suit, none had earned as much as they had.

She’d heard no shortage of snide, jealous remarks these past few months, but she had never bothered responding.

Now that Cheng Shaotang had run into trouble, of course there were people eager to gloat; she wasn’t the least bit surprised.

Cheng Shaoan, however, glared fiercely at Madam Zhang. “With a mouth as rotten as yours, you’ll offend people even if you never earn a single coin!”

Enraged, Madam Zhang spat in their direction. “You’ve only made a few lousy coins, and you’re already this arrogant—serves you right to end up in jail!”

“They say ugly people are always stirring up trouble—and it’s true! Some folks aren’t just ugly; their hearts are pitch-black! Do they think that just because others can’t make money, the money will grow wings and fly into their pockets?” A teasing laugh rang out beside her. She turned and found herself staring at Xiao Xingping’s mocking face.

“Pah! What nonsense are you spouting, you slut?! I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

Xiao Xingping let out another coquettish laugh, rolled her eyes, and sashayed away, leaving Madam Zhang so furious her nose nearly twisted out of shape.

When Madam Wang learned that her daughter-in-law still hadn’t been able to see her eldest son in prison, her heart tightened with worry, and tears streamed once more. Ling Yu and Cheng Shaoan comforted her gently, assuring her they would find a way. They would definitely bring him home.

After a long while of comforting, Madam Wang’s sobs finally eased.

***

During the third round of punishment, Cheng Shaotang finally couldn’t hold on and fainted, and the jailers brought him back to his cell.

When he came to, still groggy, pain surged through his entire body. Someone was tending to his wounds.

“Brother Cheng, how are you feeling?” He turned his head despite the pain and saw Tang Jinyuan’s face, bloodstained but full of concern.

“You… how are you here?” Since entering, he hadn’t seen the brothers from the escort bureau at all. He’d assumed they were being separated for questioning, picked off one by one. Tang Jinyuan appearing here meant their interrogators hadn’t gotten what they wanted.

“How am I here? Those sons of bitches dragged me in, of course. This medicine is theirs too—probably afraid we’ll die from our injuries before they’re done with us!” Tang Jinyuan spat bitterly.

“Where are Brother Song and the others?” Cheng Shaotang forced himself upright and asked.

“We’re here!” came Song Chao’s voice from the cell on the left.

“This is damn ridiculous! I don’t even know which deity we offended to bring this disaster down on us! The box? If I ever find out who swapped it that day, I’ll wring his neck!” Song Chao, heavily injured, cursed nonstop.

The other bodyguards in the same cell couldn’t help but curse as well.

These were the bodyguards responsible for escorting the goods that day.

“What are we going to do now? Are we really going to lose our lives here for that mysterious box?“ Someone finally asked in fear.

Everyone fell silent.