A Cutie Spoiled by Her Seven Uncles-Chapter 616: You imagine her as my father’s concubine
Chapter 616: Chapter 616: You imagine her as my father’s concubine
The Emperor was lost for words. Xiaosuisui blinked and said, "You’re thinking to yourself, ’She’s definitely not my real mother, but my father’s concubine, right?’ Aren’t you?"
Xie Pan’Er glared resentfully at the stall owner.
"How can you make such wild guesses?"
The Emperor, however, laughed. "Your guess is pretty much spot on. She is the woman I am about to take as my new wife!"
The stall owner was stunned for a good while, blinking.
What was I thinking, and how does this little girl know?
"Oh!" the stall owner uttered dumbfoundedly.
Seizing the opportunity, the Emperor asked, "So, which way to the Yunhang Coast?"
Xiaosuisui also chimed in from behind, "That’s right! Which way is it to the Yunhang Coast?"
The stall owner hurriedly pointed towards the west city gate. "Exit through the west city gate, keep heading west, and you’ll reach it in about thirty li."
After saying this, the stall owner quickly clapped a hand over his mouth, his head spinning.
Why did it feel for a moment like I was being controlled by someone?
He clearly hadn’t wanted to say it, but the instant the little girl spoke, he couldn’t control his own mouth.
"Heavens, this is bad! This is going to cause trouble!"
After muttering this, the stall owner quickly packed up his stall and headed towards the County Yamen.
"Sir! Sir! This is bad! People have come! Strangers have arrived in the city!" The stall owner ran all the way to the entrance of the Government Office, shouting loudly. The guards at the gate saw him and, rather than stopping him, let him straight in.
Inside the Government Office, a portly middle-aged man in green official robes was cradling a dancing girl, a cup of fine wine in hand, enjoying life.
Hearing the commotion outside, he couldn’t help but roar in anger, "What’s all this racket? What’s all this racket? How many heads do you have to spare if you disturb this Magistrate’s lunch?"
"My lord! Oh, dear heavens, my lord! How can you still be enjoying lunch? Something terrible has happened! Strangers have come to the city!"
Upon hearing this, the Yunhang County Magistrate abruptly pushed the dancing girl from his lap, and his wine cup fell to the ground.
"What did you say? Who? Could it be Minister Lu, the Imperial Envoy sent by His Majesty?"
"N-no... it’s not, my lord. It’s... it’s a young man around twenty-five or twenty-six. And a young girl about fifteen or sixteen, plus a baby with a scar on its face."
The moment the stall owner finished speaking, the Yunhang County Magistrate heaved a huge sigh of relief. "As long as it’s not the Imperial Envoy, we’re fine."
"My lord, how do you know these three aren’t the Imperial Envoy?"
"You blockhead!" the Yunhang County Magistrate snapped, slapping the stall owner on the head.
"Have you ever seen an Imperial Envoy accompanied by a child and a woman? Besides, according to the information I’ve received, Minister Lu himself is leading the disaster relief efforts this time. Minister Lu, who is he? He’s a veteran statesman who has served two emperors, probably a little old man with a full head of white hair by now. Could he possibly be a young fellow in his mid-twenties?"
After the Yunhang County Magistrate said this, the stall owner finally heaved another huge sigh of relief.
Seeing him sigh with relief, the Yunhang County Magistrate grew puzzled. "Although our Yunhang County isn’t a particularly large or wealthy county, it’s not that bad, is it? So what if a few strangers arrive? Look at you, flustered like this!"
The stall owner quickly explained, "My County Lord! Strangers arriving is, of course, a common occurrence and normally not worth worrying about. But these people headed straight for the Yunhang Coast as soon as they arrived. Isn’t that a bit suspicious?"
"What did you say? Where did they go?" The County Magistrate could no longer sit still. He shot up from his chair and demanded sharply.
"To the Yunhang Coast!"
"When did they go? Quick... quickly, call Head Constable Zhou! Take some men and bring those people back to me! During the Imperial Envoy’s disaster relief period, absolutely do not let any mishaps occur on my watch!"
"Yes! Right away! I’ll go at once!"
"Wait. After you’ve spoken with Head Constable Zhou, hurry and inform those villagers—the ones who were supposed to be disaster victims—to dress up in rags. Also, notify all the major grain shops to close and raise their prices. Have people set up congee sheds to distribute congee for ’disaster relief’!"
"Ah! We’re... we’re starting the ’performance’ already? Didn’t they say the Imperial Envoy wouldn’t arrive for another two or three days? If they have to dress up this early, the villagers will surely complain!"
"What do you know? If we don’t hurry up and put on this act now, make a show of it, what happens if someone sees through the facade later? The Imperial Envoy coming this time is Minister Lu, an old fox. If he sees through our deception, do you still want the silver allocated for resettling disaster victims?"
Hearing this, the stall owner’s eyes lit up. He quickly said, "I’ll go at once! My lord, you truly think of everything. Such foresight!"
The stall owner first found Head Constable Zhou to relay the County Magistrate’s instructions, then went to gather the villagers.
Head Constable Zhou led his men out of the west city gate. Chasing westward, they quickly caught up with Xiaosuisui and her party.
Seeing the several yamen bailiffs completely surrounding their party of three, the Emperor immediately adopted a defensive stance.
Xiaosuisui, perched on the Emperor’s shoulder, asked, "Daddy! Are they going to fight?"
The Emperor remained outwardly calm. He gently patted her little head and said, "Don’t be afraid, my girl. Daddy will handle this."
Xie Pan’Er was so frightened she stood rooted to the spot, not daring to speak.
"You are bailiffs from the Yunhang County Yamen?" the Emperor asked, fixing his gaze on the leading Head Constable Zhou.
Head Constable Zhou sneered. "Isn’t it obvious? My apologies, the three of you, but today you’ll have to be our ’guests’ in the Yunhang County Yamen’s jail!"
Hearing Head Constable Zhou’s words, the Emperor’s already grim face darkened further, becoming utterly forbidding.
"Why are you arresting us? What law have we broken?"
"I don’t know what law you’ve broken. But here in Yunhang County, the law is worthless! Everything is decided by our Lord County Magistrate. If you cooperate and come with me quietly now, you’ll suffer less pain!"
"What do you mean? Are you saying that if I refuse to go with you today, you dare to use force against me?" The Emperor stared coldly at Head Constable Zhou, his words emerging deliberately, one by one.
"And what if I do? Look at these brothers of mine. If I wasn’t under orders to bring you back, why would I have brought so many of them out?"
"Hmph! What sort of guilty secret is your Lord County Magistrate hiding that he doesn’t dare let us go to the Yunhang Coast?"
Xie Pan’Er stood rooted to the spot, calmly thinking things over and over.
Why were we arrested by bailiffs the moment we arrived in Yunhang County?
she wondered. After much thought, she concluded,
There can only be one explanation: that stall owner is involved.
"Well, now! This young lady is quite sharp, figuring out that my purpose in arresting you is to stop you from going to the Yunhang Coast. Since that’s the case, be sensible and come with me quietly. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what? You wouldn’t dare kill us, would you?"
...
Chapter 616: You imagine her as my father’s concubine
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