Chapter 485 - 486: Pardon the Intrusion
Chapter 485: Chapter 486: Pardon the Intrusion
Exasperated, Xu Mutou dragged several people out of the crowd. "We’re the ones who lost the most! This whole trip has been one hardship after another, and now we’re looking at our last chance. Are you all really going to let it slip away? What if we find our things?"
His words actually persuaded a few of them, and slowly, one person, then another, stepped forward.
"Lord," one of them said, "we’ll just take a look. We promise not to disturb the Madam."
Lichun snorted. "You people are certainly bold. You think you can just come to the Madam’s residence and turn the place upside down?
"Even if you wanted to search, you have no right. Our Madam is a gentlewoman from an official family. Even if we were willing to cooperate, the decision would have to come from the local government.
"I wonder, Lord County Magistrate, what is your official procedure for this? Can these men before you be considered to be falsely accusing an official family?"
The merchants’ faces fell. They only wanted to get their goods back, not bring trouble upon themselves.
Another few men immediately backed away, leaving only Xu Mutou and one other middle-aged merchant standing at the front.
County Magistrate Wu felt his scalp prickle with dread. This matter had truly put him between a rock and a hard place; no matter how he handled it, the outcome would be unfavorable for him.
In front of so many townspeople, he had to act impartially, yet the Madam was not someone he could afford to offend.
"Well..." County Magistrate Wu wished he could have the troublemaking merchants flogged on the spot. It was their fault he was in this predicament.
"This standoff won’t solve anything," the leader of the escort said, stepping forward. "Why don’t we search the other parts of the village again, more carefully this time? Or perhaps the merchants could double-check their own belongings. Maybe something was just misplaced?"
The villagers had had enough. This whole mess had already wasted half their day. "You’ve already turned our village upside down searching! The Lord Magistrate just led Brother Chai and the others through every corner. Isn’t this over yet?"
"And why can’t this place be searched? I’ve heard some of these great families have... peculiar tastes. Who’s to say?" a mocking voice piped up from the crowd again. The speaker was completely hidden by the people in front, so Lin Dapeng couldn’t see who was stirring up trouble.
Just as he was about to push through the crowd to find out, Xu Mutou stepped in front of him. "I’ll stake my life on it. If we don’t find the goods, you can beat me or kill me as you see fit."
Lin Dapeng scoffed. "Heh, you sound pretty sure of yourself. What is it? Did you see someone transport the goods here?"
"I have no desire to speak with you. You’re just a dog on a leash for your master. Why is the person who actually calls the shots hiding inside?"
With a sharp rasp, Lin Dapeng drew his saber. "You’re asking to die."
"See? He’s lashing out from shame! Look at your attitudes. It just makes everyone think you have something to hide."
County Magistrate Wu said, "Perhaps I could trouble this young man to go inside and inform her? Maybe Mrs. Gu would be willing to oblige."
Only then did Lichun step forward to face the crowd. "Our Madam has said it is not impossible for you to enter. However, our household is not one to be trifled with. Afterwards, who will take responsibility for the crime of this offense?"
...
"And what if you do find something?" the sneaky voice from the crowd piped up again.
"Heh, I wonder who’s in such a rush to declare us guilty," Lichun retorted. "If you have the courage, step out into the open. I would at least respect you for being a man.
"Skulking in the shadows with no backbone... are you hoping to profit from the chaos you create from behind the scenes?
"You’re making quite a fuss, yet there’s no anxiety in your voice. Could this be a case of a thief crying ’stop thief’ from among your own ranks?"
This time, Lin Dapeng didn’t need to push into the crowd to find the culprit. The way everyone’s gaze simultaneously fell on one person said everything.
Under the stare of so many people, Cao Lei’s short frame could no longer remain hidden. He just stood there, his face stiff.
County Magistrate Wu pointed directly at him. "You. Come here."
Cao Lei licked his lips and walked up to County Magistrate Wu.
Lichun sized him up. "So shifty-eyed. If you have something to say, say it out in the open instead of muttering and whining from the back."
Cao Lei said nothing.
County Magistrate Wu said, "Speak. I heard you had plenty to say just a moment ago."
"Your Lordship," Cao Lei said, "I was merely anxious on everyone’s behalf. Life is hard for us traveling merchants. Ruining a man’s livelihood is as unforgivable as murdering his parents. I implore you, Your Lordship, to grant us justice."
When the report reached Jin Qianqian, she almost laughed out of sheer anger. ’These people are quite the schemers,’ she thought. ’It seems they don’t just want to ruin my reputation; they’re trying to pin a crime on me as well.’
She gave a few quiet instructions to Li Qiu, who was standing beside her. Li Qiu immediately acknowledged the order and pulled open the courtyard gate.
"Let it be known," Li Qiu announced, "my Madam is aware of the situation and understands why you are all here.
"Our Madam is compassionate. She cannot bear to see so many merchants on the verge of destitution over their lost goods.
"Therefore, she agrees to let you enter and inspect the premises. However, our Madam does have two conditions. If you can agree to them, we servants will offer our full cooperation."
County Magistrate Wu bowed. "I am ashamed to have disturbed the Madam. What are her requests? I will agree to them on behalf of these men."
...
Li Qiu curtsied to County Magistrate Wu. "This servant, Li Qiu, greets the Lord County Magistrate.
"My Madam has stated her first condition. We are traveling with many personal and intricate belongings, and as this is a household of women, she requests that only respectable and careful women enter to conduct the search.
"Her second condition is that if the goods are not found, she expects Your Lordship to charge these men with the crime of falsely accusing an official family."
After she finished, Li Qiu looked directly at Xu Mutou and Cao Lei. Everyone knew exactly who she meant.
County Magistrate Wu immediately replied courteously, "These are reasonable requests. The Madam is most magnanimous. I agree to these terms."
Most of the people present had no objections, especially the local villagers. They glared at the merchants who had instigated the disturbance, their eyes filled with malice.
’Those are the ones,’ they thought. ’We’d better keep a close eye on them. Hopefully, when the magistrate passes judgment, we can lend a hand and make sure they don’t get away.’
However, someone was faster than them. The moment County Magistrate Wu finished speaking, Lin Dapeng had already positioned several of his guards to stand next to the accusers.
Jin Qianqian and her two children stood in the courtyard, surrounded by their maids and encircled by female guards, watching as County Magistrate Wu entered with several village women.
County Magistrate Wu merely glanced in her direction before standing respectfully in the courtyard. He offered a bow and said, "Pardon the intrusion," before allowing the selected village women to proceed inside to conduct the search.
The village women had never witnessed such a grand display. They stole a glance toward Jin Qianqian, then quickly clutched their chests and bowed their heads in apprehension.
Only after hearing the Lord County Magistrate’s command did they finally enter the rooms.
Two of the matrons from Jin Qianqian’s retinue immediately followed them inside.
They were all too familiar with this type of house. It was clearly the same kind of mud-brick home they lived in, yet this one filled them with a paralyzing fear.
They were terrified they might accidentally touch something they shouldn’t and offend the noble lady.