The Wife of a Loyal Servant - Chapter 18

After that day, Ling Yu made several trips back and forth to the county town, spending a considerable amount of money. However, she couldn’t see Cheng Shaotang. Even the guards at the prison gates would chase her away on sight, and they wouldn’t accept the silver she secretly tried to slip them.

“Young lady, just give up on that idea! I might be lenient with others, but since it involves people from the escort agency… don’t make things difficult for me.” That day, she brought the food Madam Wang had prepared for Cheng Shaotang and once again went to the county prison, pleading with the officials to be lenient and at least let her see him. Unsurprisingly, she was refused again.

Ling Yu was both angry and resentful, but she couldn’t think of any way to help. She tried everything she could think of—force, weakness—but these people were unmoved by either.

“Sister-in-law, what can we do? If we can’t see Brother soon, I’m afraid we won’t be able to hide it from Mother.” Cheng Shaoan said anxiously, his face pale.

To keep Madam Wang from worrying even more, the brother and sister-in-law tacitly kept the officials’ refusal a secret from her. But every time they returned from the county town, Madam Wang would question them anxiously about Cheng Shaotang. The two racked their brains to coax her, but guilt ate at them, and they feared they couldn’t hide it for long.

Ling Yu casually grabbed a white steamed bun from her basket and stuffed it into her mouth, biting down hard as if venting her frustration. Seeing this, Cheng Shaoan followed her example and stuffed one into his own mouth. The two finished the basket of food right there in front of the county jail.

“We really have nowhere left to turn. If only we knew a few officials,” Cheng Shaoan sighed. After a moment, inspiration struck him. “Sister-in-law, your father taught so many students. He must know some wealthy families. Could we ask him for help?”

“Even the county magistrate is useless now. What good are the wealthy families my father knows?” Ling Yu said irritably.

Hadn’t she thought of that already? But her father was just a poor scholar, and among his former students, the most accomplished was her brother-in-law Liang Huaisheng—and even he was only a scholar.

Besides, the wealthiest person her father had ever known was merely a local tycoon. As for powerful and influential families, how could ordinary commoners like them possibly come into contact with such people?

Thinking of this, she sighed.

Why did it feel like she was doing even worse in this life than in her previous one? In her past life, she had at least met the future emperor and empress and had even visited the prince’s residences. Unlike this life… wait a minute—perhaps there was someone who could help her!

A sudden spark flashed through her mind. She clapped her hands sharply, startling Cheng Shaoan, who had been drooping listlessly.

“Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”

“Shaoan, go back. I’m going to find someone to save your brother!” Ling Yu had no time to explain. She shoved the basket into his hands, tossed out those words, and hurried away.

“Sister-in-law, wait—” Cheng Shaoan instinctively hugged the basket of empty dishes and ran after her, but after a short distance, her figure had already vanished.

“Where… where did she go?” he muttered, staring blankly at the stream of passersby.

Ling Yu steeled her resolve and went to South Street to rent a carriage, instructing the driver to take her to the neighboring county.

With the rhythmic clatter of hoofbeats ringing out, she sat inside, unconsciously twisting her sleeve.

Right now, there was only one person who had even the slightest connection with the various government offices—Wu Liren, the former chief escort who, in her past life, had introduced Cheng Shaotang and the others to become guards in Prince Qi’s residence.

Although she didn’t want Cheng Shaotang to be entangled with Prince Qi’s residence, at this point, she could only hope to borrow the prince’s influence to at least get him out of prison.

She didn’t know whether Prince Qi had already gone to his fief or was still in the capital. She could only hope he was already there—and that his fief was the same as in her previous life.

Following her memory, she found Chief Escort Wu’s house, only to be told that he had accompanied his wife back to her family home two months ago and had yet to return.

Was she destined to become a widow of the Cheng family again? Ling Yu inwardly groaned as a flood of despair crashed over her. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed weakly onto the ground.

She thought of many things: the life she’d lived after Cheng Shaotang’s death in her previous life, the small ways he had treated her in this one, her grand plans to earn money, and even the idea of giving Xiao Shitou a little brother.

But every fantasy froze on that urn of ashes from her past life.

In the end, she could no longer hold back her tears.

There were elders and children at home, a younger brother-in-law who wasn’t much help, and she, a lone woman, had been running around while enduring the village’s gossip. Though she didn’t show it outwardly, she was exhausted inside.

“Who are you? Why are you sitting at my doorstep?” A deep, resonant male voice suddenly sounded beside her.

She looked up blankly. The harsh sunlight hit her face, and she instinctively narrowed her eyes, trying to see clearly the tall figure in front of her.

“You’re Chief Escort Wu?!” Finally recognizing the man before her, she bounced up from the ground in surprise.

Wu Liren was startled because she knew him. He looked her up and down but had no impression of her at all. “Who are you?” he asked in confusion.

“This humble woman is Madam Ling from Cheng’s…” Ling Yu smoothed her hair, thought for a moment, then added, “My husband’s surname is Cheng, and his given name is Shaotang.”

Wu Liren suddenly understood. “Ah, so you’re Cheng’s sister-in-law! What are you doing here? Where’s Shaotang?”

“Husband, why don’t we go inside to talk? Look at this young lady, she’s drenched in sweat. She should rest a bit,” Mrs. Wu, who had been quietly watching from the side, said with a smile.

“Yes, yes, yes, my wife is right. Let’s talk inside.”

After Ling Yu anxiously explained the entire situation, Wu Liren’s expression shifted sharply. He remained speechless for a long time.

“I came only because I am truly desperate. My husband often mentioned you at home, praising your loyalty and righteousness, how you stand by your brothers,” Ling Yu said carefully, watching his reaction.

Wu Liren’s brows furrowed tightly. After a long silence, he spoke in a deep voice. “I’ll go investigate first and find out what happened. Sister-in-law, go home and wait for news. Don’t worry—I will do everything in my power to rescue all our brothers!”

These were brothers he had personally trained. If he hadn’t known, that would be one thing, but now that he did, how could he stand by and do nothing?

Overjoyed, Ling Yu dropped to her knees with a thump. “Thank you, Chief Escort! Thank you so much!”

Though she couldn’t be sure what the outcome would be, after all her days of running around, finally, someone was willing to lend a hand. For that kindness alone, Ling Yu felt she ought to set up a longevity tablet for him.

After all, help in a crisis is always more moving than icing on the cake.

The Wu couple kept Ling Yu for dinner and even hoped she would stay the night, but she was worried about her family and politely declined. Wu Liren then told a servant to drive her back to Chengjia Village.

Once Ling Yu left, he immediately began making inquiries. Escorts traveled far and wide and dealt with both the underworld and respectable circles, and as a former chief escort, he was even better at building relationships. Over time, his network had naturally grown broad.

So in just a few days, he really managed to uncover the truth.

“It’s no wonder your brothers met such calamity! It’s the devils fighting while the underlings suffer. The cargo Lord Ren Zhong entrusted to you supposedly contained something detrimental to the Crown Prince. Tell me—how could Prince Lu not try every means to seize it?

“To be honest, your brothers can still hold on to their lives in prison. As long as Prince Lu hasn’t gotten the item, he won’t kill them. But if they fall into the Crown Prince’s hands, I’m afraid…”

“In my opinion, you’d better not get involved in this matter. Even if you do, saving them will be difficult. But since you say you share deep ties with those brothers… I’ll point you to a path.”

“You can go to Prince Qi’s residence in Changluo City and seek Mr. Yan Li, his advisor. If he can persuade the prince to step forward, your brothers’ lives can be spared.”

Wu Liren hesitated. Would Prince Qi truly risk offending both the Crown Prince and Prince Lu for their sake?

He wanted to ask further, but the other man had already said all he intended to say and refused to elaborate.

***

After returning from the Wu residence, Ling Yu waited patiently, suppressing her mounting anxiety.

She wasn’t sure Chief Escort Wu truly had the ability to rescue them, even though Magistrate Guo Qi had been powerless.

“Mother!” Lost in thought, she suddenly heard Xiao Shitou calling. Looking up, she saw her son’s aggrieved little face.

“Sister-in-law, Xiao Shitou’s called you several times, but you didn’t answer,” Cheng Shaoan softly reminded her.

Ling Yu instantly felt guilty. She gathered her tearful son into her arms, kissed his little face, and apologized, “It’s Mother’s fault.”

Ever since that fright, Xiao Shitou had become even clingier. If he couldn’t see her, he’d burst into loud sobs, impossible for anyone else to soothe—he had to see Ling Yu herself.

For the first few days, Ling Yu couldn’t get anything done. The little fellow clung to her clothes at all times, refusing to let go, as if the moment he released her, his mother would disappear again.

She coaxed him for a bit and finally managed to cheer him up.

When Madam Zhou arrived, she found her daughter and grandson smiling brightly, and she finally let out a breath of relief. She’d already heard her son-in-law had run into trouble; now she figured it probably wasn’t anything serious.

Ling Yu certainly wouldn’t tell her the truth, so as not to add to her worry, and she brushed it off vaguely.

“Your father was very worried when he first heard about your son-in-law, and then…” Madam Zhou sighed.

“What happened then?” Ling Yu asked curiously.

“I mentioned it before—he intended to adopt your third grandfather’s grandson. Both families had already agreed and were just waiting for a good day to finalize it. But then they somehow heard your husband was in jail, and, afraid of getting implicated, they backed out.”

“Your father was furious about it, saying there was no need to associate with them anymore.”

“I thought it was something major! This is fine. I never agreed to him adopting their child anyway. Now it’s perfect—saves the trouble!” Ling Yu sneered.