It was barely dawn when the officials who had escorted Song Chongjin back took their leave.
Wang Yongzhu, aware of the gravity of the situation, did not detain them any longer. Song Chongjin, who hadn’t closed his eyes in days, was finally able to sleep in peace and was still deep in slumber.
Wang Yongzhu expressed his apologies on behalf of him, and the officials took no offense, even comforting her, "We all appreciate the hard work Young Master Song has put in these past days. If it weren’t for Young Master Song risking his life to save ours, my master’s fate would have been uncertain. Please tell Young Master Song to rest well. Once our superior has settled matters, we will naturally invite Young Master Song and Madam to celebrate with a drink!"
After saying this, they took their leave.
As she watched them disappear around the corner, perhaps due to knowing that Zhu Haoran would make his move today, Wang Yongzhu felt that the atmosphere in Yongcheng this morning was particularly oppressive.
After securing the gates of the residence, Wang Yongzhu once again instructed the Wang Family not to leave the house even if the sky fell, and not to allow anyone in.
From daybreak, when the early market would usually begin, farmers from the outskirts would bring their harvest into the county town to sell—a major source of income for them.
The women of each household, or those in charge of purchasing, would also head to the marketplace to buy the day’s necessities, such as vegetables, rice, and flour.
This was the start of a city’s daily life and the start of many households’ day.
Although access through the county town’s main gates had recently become stricter than before, it was at most a minor inconvenience for the farmers who entered the town nearly every day to sell their vegetables.
So in recent days, everyone tacitly arrived at the gates before dawn, waiting for the gates to open so they could enter the town.
But today, even after it was fully daylight, the gates remained firmly closed.
Faintly, cries and screams could be heard coming from inside the city walls.
Farmers, merchants, and others waiting outside were unnerved by these sounds and their expressions changed noticeably.
The more audacious ones approached the gate to peek inside, but the tightly shut doors revealed nothing.
Even those panicked sounds seemed less distinct because of the barrier presented by the gates.
After a while, those sounds seemed to vanish altogether, leaving an eerie silence.
Those outside the city exchanged uneasy glances, speculating more and more about what could have happened inside.
Soon enough, it seemed like someone was speaking from inside the gates, followed by the ordered sound of footsteps.
Everyone grew tense and took several steps back, eyes fixed on the gates.
Without the gates opening, an armed soldier clad in armor appeared above them. He looked down at the people gathered at the city entrance, leaned out, and shouted, "The gates will not open today! Everyone, disperse! Come back after three days! Leave quickly, and anyone still lingering near the gate will be executed without hesitation!"
Hearing this, the farmers and merchants lost all desire to stay. They ran as if their lives depended on it, each one wishing they had been born with an extra pair of legs. The more timid left their goods behind, as their lives were more valuable!
The crowd scattered like birds and beasts, and soon there was not a soul to be seen near the gates.
The streets, usually bustling with activity, were now dead silent.
Soldiers in armor patrolled everywhere. Residents who unknowingly opened their doors to do business, or who attempted to leave their homes, were neither naive nor in need of scolding. They quickly retreated inside their homes, closed their doors, and their heartbeats quickened with fear.
Children who clamored to go outside were coaxed and threatened by adults and kept indoors. Ignorant ones who continued to cry and howl were firmly silenced with a beating and buried themselves quiet at home.
Aside from soldiers hurriedly marching, not a soul dared to walk the streets.
Every street corner was guarded, the closer to the County Yamen, the more soldiers there were.
The County Yamen was tightly encircled inside and out, not even a fly could escape.
Since early morning, no one inside the County Yamen was allowed to leave. There were a few arrogant servants who were accustomed to throwing their weight around, yelling about their master being the County Magistrate and boasting that in Qi City, their master was the most powerful. They warned that if anyone delayed their master’s important affairs, they wouldn’t let them off easily.
No sooner had these words been spoken, than the soldiers swarmed them, beat them half to death, and dragged them away like dead dogs.
The rest, who dared not utter another word, were so frightened that some of them wet their pants on the spot.
The more astute quickly ran inside to report the situation.
Gao Jin had spent the previous night in Lady Xia’s room, and had recently shown considerable favor to Wang Jinchai, taking pleasure in how he had helped the tender young girl bloom with charm.
However, in the past few days, he had felt an unsettling premonition, especially since the hitmen he dispatched one after another returned empty-handed, or not at all.
So, these past few days he really didn’t feel like sleeping with any woman, and had simply run off to Lady Xia’s place.
As for his legitimate wife, Lady Xia, Gao Jin felt he still respected her, not only because they were husband and wife by the exchange of hairpins, but more so because she was the niece of the Minister of Personnel and a woman from a distinguished family.
Marrying him was considered marrying beneath her.
Lady Xia’s parents had died early, leaving her to be raised by her uncle and aunt, no different from their own children. Immersed in the social exchanges among the ladies of the Capital and even occasionally grasping the political situation, she was unlike any ordinary woman.
Gao Jin was very clear in his mind that he was in the same boat as Lady Xia, and for any serious matters, she was the only one he could consult with.
As for those other women, they were nothing more than playthings.
Of course, he couldn’t openly admit his collusion with the local snake king behind the illegal mines, deceiving the Imperial Court. He only mentioned that he might have been framed, and that according to a message from above, they would be investigated. If found negligent, his entire family could hardly escape a death sentence.
Although Lady Xia had been exposed to some analysis of the situation and had heard occasional comments from the Minister of Rites, she was not confined to the back house.
That was the source of her confidence, for Gao Jin couldn’t do without her.
Having heard what Gao Jin said, Lady Xia, although unclear about the exact nature of his dealings, knew his activities substantial enough to alarm the Imperial Court were no small matter.
Upon questioning Gao Jin, he fiercely refused to spill.
Left with no choice, Lady Xia threatened, "My Lord, if you don’t tell me the truth, I cannot help you. And if that delays your important affairs, don’t blame me!"
With no other option, Gao Jin relented and reluctantly shared bits and pieces of the situation.
Upon hearing this, Lady Xia felt a wave of darkness before her eyes and fainted.
In the room, only Gao Jin and Lady Xia were present. When Lady Xia suddenly fainted, it scared Gao Jin out of his wits.
He anxiously called for help, had Lady Xia lifted onto the bed, pinched her philtrum, fetched smelling salts, and after much effort, she finally woke up.
That’s when the doormen came stumbling in to report, "My Lord—There’s trouble! A great many officials and soldiers have surrounded the County Yamen tightly—"
Gao Jin’s face turned paper-white in an instant, and his hands began to tremble involuntarily.