Shortly after daybreak on this day, residents of Tanyang who had got up at an early hour first saw Zhang Chong, the Commander of Prefecture Guards, hastily enter the city, followed by four deputy commanders, galloping straight towards the residence of Ling family. Almost at the same time, Lord Tao, head of the Prefecture Yamen, was also seen hurrying towards …
C119 – A Beauty in the Candlelight
Tanyang was also very quiet on this night. Since a burglar intruded into the Prefecture Yamen and even threatened Lord Tao a few days before, all residents in Tanyang were left afraid to go outdoors at night. All doors and windows were tightly closed, and those of Ling family were no exception. Only few rooms had oil lamps still ablaze. …
C118 – So That Man Is Ling Zhang?
The capital city. “Mr. Gu! I finally finished the assignment you gave me. Look! What do you think?” Tao Yi excitedly ran out of his room, holding a pile of test paper about half a palm in thickness in his hands, so slovenly that he looked like a primitive man who had been living in some cave for years. “Mr. …
C117 – Brushing Past Each Other
Meanwhile, on the main road leading to Jiangzhou. “We should arrive in Jiangzhou before noon,” said Wang Xingfeng. After hearing this, Ling Xingzhong looked at the guard named Xie Shi, who had been assigned to protect them by Yuwen Tong. In an undertone, Xie Shi informed Ling Xingzhong, “There is a branch not far away ahead. We may take it …
C116 – Zhang Chong’s Suspicions
“It was a couple of men having kung fu skills that got arrested. It is rumored that they are under the suspicion of the murder of Lord Lu. They were apprehended last night and are now in custody in the Prefecture Encampment, but the problem is that the burglar has shown himself again, which means that those people were wronged. …
C115 – The Burglar in Prefecture Yamen
If nobody intervened, those people might not survive after being taken into the Prefecture Encampment. “We can’t stand by and let this happen,” said Ling Zhang after a few moments’ silence. He had had no original intention of getting any innocent people involved, but he needed to figure out a way to stop Zhang Chong. “Those people have already been …
C114 – A Hunt at Night
Ling Zhang carried Ling Maomao to his uncle’s place, where Fu Caiwei was racing against time packing up. Maidservants and wet nurses were bustling all around. All servants had no idea what their master’s plan was. They only knew that the master suddenly decided to go on a journey to Jiangzhou, that they were departing early the next morning and …
C113 – Elder Brother, You Are Not Coming with Us?
“Now?” The servant was briefly stunned. ‘It’s already afternoon,” he thought. “Yes. You heard me. Hurry,” said Ling Zhang. Afraid to ask any further questions, the servant immediately turned around and left. The two traveling merchants from Jiangzhou were somewhat surprised as they were told that someone from Ling family had come to the inn to meet them. “Someone from …
C112 – Concerns
The whole crowd of residents stayed outside the law court for a very long time, looking on. After all, this time, all members of Jia family had been put in jail and were definitely finished. From this day on, there wouldn’t be an inch of land for anybody of Jia family to stand on in Tanyang. Since the verdict had …
C111 – The Conviction of Jia Family and the Betrayal of Servants
Those corpses of miners brought back by Tao Feng were concrete evidence. This time, words failed all people of Jia family, as if their necks were being squeezed. After a few moments’ silence, they dissolved into tears. “I wonder if they still have anything else to say,” said Wang Dashan. ‘Just now all these people indulged in sophistry acting like …