Part 1 - The Double / Marriage of the Di Daughter

☆ Chapter 118 Gratitude

Since Feng Yutang took office in Tongxiang, no one dared to mention the three words "Xue County Magistrate" on the street. Not to mention outside, even at home, the three words "Xue County Magistrate" are like a common taboo for everyone. No one has ever dared to mention this name.

Over time, it seems that some people have forgotten what the three words "Xue County Magistrate" mean. It means a ray of hope when there is no way out, it means the only hope when encountering injustice, it means justice, it means conscience.

But no one seemed to have forgotten, like a buried fire of rebellion, waiting for someone to bring a spark one day, and it would burn brightly with just a little bit.

Today, the three words "Xue County Magistrate" sounded quietly all over Tongxiang, spreading like the rough spring wind at night, some people were ready to move, and some were confused.

At night, a light was lit in a room in Qingshi Lane.

The light was dim, and the people in the room, sitting or standing, all looked depressed.

Ye Mingyu sat on a low stool, punched the table, and said angrily: "This is too difficult!"

He, Jiang Li, and his six brothers split into several groups early in the morning and went to find the people of Tongxiang one by one. There are more than 500 households, but only dozens of them were asked from morning to night today. 

In fact, dozens of households are not few, but the only one who is willing to stand up and testify for Xue Huaiyuan is the poor scholar Mo Wenxuan. It was only after Mo Wenxuan's blind mother heard this and severely criticized Mo Wenxuan that Mo Wenxuan stood up with the tragic determination to die together with his mother.

Ye Mingyu didn't know what to say. Blame these people for being ungrateful? Others just want to protect their families. Instead of blaming the people, it's better to scold Feng Yutang for his mean means. But do these people really have no responsibility? If they just resisted a little, maybe Xue County Magistrate would be imprisoned, and it wouldn't be so miserable.

There are always many helpless things in the world.

"It's okay, uncle." Jiang Li smiled, "It's not a complete loss. At least one person is good, isn't it? As long as there is one person today, and one day tomorrow, and so on, after five days, we can have a total of five people. It's not a small number."

A guard muttered: "Five hundred and sixty-eight households, only five people stood up, this is too sad."

Jiang Li was still smiling, but Ye Mingyu felt that his niece seemed a little sad for a moment. It was as if from these people and things in Tongxiang, he had seen the unpredictability of human hearts. Ye Mingyu also became sad, but soon came back to his senses and secretly slapped himself. 

He wanted to comfort Jiang Li, but he was tongue-tied and didn't know how to comfort her. He sighed that if the handsome Duke was here last night, maybe Jiang Li would temporarily forget her troubles when she saw her lover.

But Ji Heng was not here after all.

Ye Mingyu had to clumsily change the subject: "Speaking of which, I felt someone following us several times today. It seemed to be murderous. I was expecting a big fight, but after a while, the feeling disappeared. It's really strange."

"Me too, me too!" The guards in the room echoed in unison: "I had the same feeling today, and I thought I was thinking too much."

"Did we see a ghost? Why do you all have this feeling?"

"I think it was the bandits from Tongxiang. They robbed and extorted us, but when they saw that our brothers were highly skilled in martial arts, they were afraid and retreated."