Chapter 1168 - 1004: Confrontation
Chapter 1168: Chapter 1004: Confrontation
"If these government officers let me go, I won’t harm her." The man’s expression was somewhat agitated; he was unlucky today, having been cornered by these people.
He glared at the officers with a face full of malice. He actually knew that taking this little girl hostage was useless; these people wouldn’t care about the life and death of a commoner.
But everything has to be tried, doesn’t it? Perhaps it might actually be useful after all?
Meanwhile, Liu Su’er was lamenting in her heart. Initially, she had closed the door, thinking today would pass quietly. But who would’ve thought this person would break into her home and take her hostage?
She wondered who this person was and whether he was the one the officers were searching for. But that wasn’t important now; she only knew this person intended to use her as leverage to escape from this place.
Would the government officers let this person go because of her? That’s impossible; she’s just a commoner. Even if she dies, it would only be considered unfortunate for her.
The government might compensate with some silver, and this matter would ultimately just fade away.
But she still had things left undone. How could she die inexplicably at the hands of the government or this person? She was determined not to accept this fate.
Liu Su’er thought endlessly, but she couldn’t think of any way to escape danger.
When Gu Chengyu arrived at the bustling area with Ming Yan, they only saw some officers with swords surrounded by the courtyard gate of a household. A few fearless locals were peeking at the scene from a few steps away.
"What happened?" Gu Chengyu frowned slightly; the situation didn’t quite resemble the capturing of an assassin.
Since the man and Liu Su’er were blocked by the crowd, Gu Chengyu couldn’t see what was happening inside.
The surrounding officers heard Gu Chengyu’s voice and quickly made way.
"Sir!" Everyone saluted, shouting in unison.
Liu Su’er’s gaze instinctively turned to the young man walking over; he was wearing a moon-white fur-lined cloak, with a white jade crown on his head. His refined and handsome appearance looked even more noble in the elegant attire.
This person seemed to be enveloped by a layer of silver light, standing out clearly in the dim night.
Liu Su’er’s eyes narrowed; this person must be Gu Chengyu!
She had never seen Gu Chengyu before, only had Uncle Qin inquire about his appearance and character.
Gu Chengyu was quite famous in the Capital; even a random local vendor could talk about some of his deeds.
It was said that he was talented and especially strategic. The tea and salt tax reforms two years ago were proposed by him, though tea merchants and farmers had mixed opinions about Gu Chengyu, yet he was quite reputable among the public.
Just before, there was a flood in Jiangnan, and the court dispatched him there for disaster relief. It’s said he managed to control the flood situation before the court had even allocated disaster relief funds. He not only prevented the riot of disaster victims but even reinforced the river embankment.
Though Jiangnan is far from the Capital, many traders travel between the two.
Gu Chengyu’s deeds in Jiangnan had long spread in the Capital.
Liu Su’er, seeing this person’s capability, decided to take the risk to approach him.
Judging by Gu Chengyu’s actions, he is different from those corrupt officials or those indifferent, uninvolved bureaucrats; he truly considers the welfare of the people.
Someone like this, inviting him for assistance, the chances of refusal would be smaller.
"Sir, we don’t know who this person is. Just now, when we were searching, we asked him to provide his household registration and travel permit, but he suddenly ran away. We sensed something was wrong, so we chased after him immediately. Who knew he would end up here and took this girl hostage?"
As Gu Chengyu walked over, he already saw the hostage girl; she should be named Sue.
Earlier when she stopped their carriage, he had seen this girl’s appearance; the suspicion in Gu Chengyu’s heart rose again.
Is this hostage situation a conspiracy or a coincidence?
He stared at the man and the girl but did not speak.
"Who are you?" The man tightened his grip, and Liu Su’er instantly felt her shoulder being grabbed tightly, painful enough to make her frown.
"And who are you, why are you taking this girl hostage?" Gu Chengyu stopped three meters away from the man, looking at the dagger at Liu Su’er’s neck, his eyebrows raised slightly.
The snow-white skin already had a trace of blood, Liu Su’er’s eyebrows tightly knit, and her lips slightly pale, presumably due to pain and inner tension.
Looking at the man’s actions and demeanor, this time it didn’t seem like an act. The man’s skin was dark, dressed in coarse cloth clothes, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing his strong and robust arms.
Judging by appearance and attire, he did not seem like an assassin. Gu Chengyu analyzed in his mind and soon reached a conclusion.
"It doesn’t matter who I am. I want to leave this place, or I’ll kill her."
Seeing Gu Chengyu appear, the man became even more nervous, and the dagger moved closer to Liu Su’er’s neck. Blood trickled down the dagger, dripping onto Liu Su’er’s front collar.
He glanced up and down at Gu Chengyu; despite his youth, the officers had just addressed him as ’sir’, indicating he was an official.
If this person gave the order, the officers would certainly not dare to stop him.
Gu Chengyu pondered for a moment, a significant number of people were gathered around, including those who dared not come out to watch but had opened their doors slightly to peer out.
If he disregarded the girl’s life and captured the man, the entire Capital would tomorrow spread the word that he disregards the life of the people and is a cold-hearted person.
But he certainly couldn’t let the man escape; this person must have committed some serious crime, or else he wouldn’t flee at the sight of the government.
Glancing behind him, he exchanged a look with Ming Yan. Ming Yan immediately understood and slowly retreated backward.
At this moment, a slight dawn appeared in the sky, making the scene clearer to everyone.
The man, noticing the change, became even more urgent—daybreak was approaching!
Liu Su’er stared into Gu Chengyu’s eyes; the youth’s eyes showed no emotion, like a boundless abyss, unfathomable. The eyes brought her only indifference and coldness.
Feeling somewhat panicked, she and Gu Chengyu were strangers, and if he was truly heartless, wouldn’t she die right here?
Thinking of the items under the step, Liu Su’er opened her mouth slightly, looking at Gu Chengyu’s eyes with pleading.
An officer grabbed the sleeve of the person next to him, softly advising, "Zhang Yang, don’t be impulsive, with Mr. Gu here, Miss Liu won’t come to harm."
Zhang Yang tightened his grip on the sword at his side, wondering what Mr. Gu’s silence meant. Was Mr. Gu not intending to care about Miss Liu’s life or death?
Seeing the fear on Liu Su’er’s delicate face, her pale lips tightly pursed together.
It was his first time meeting Miss Liu, but his mind was already stirred, unwilling to see her life end prematurely.
"But..." Zhang Yang just opened his mouth when his companion covered it.
"Then how do I know you’ll release her once you escape?" Gu Chengyu glimpsed Ming Yan who had already climbed onto the rooftop, then gently jumped to stand on the courtyard wall.