Volume 1: Swan Goose Chapter 184: A Lonely Soul in a Dark Country (2)
When Ma Huilan heard this, she knelt on the ground with a plop, tears falling down her cheeks.
"Indeed, her son made rude remarks to civilian women a few days ago. As an elder, I just gave him a few words, but it is impossible for me to kill someone just because of a few words about a child! Besides, this is not his first time.
Confront me once!"
Sister-in-law Niu also quickly cried and said: "Sir, Ma Huilan has always disliked the three of us and always found faults to scold us! She must have done it, she wanted to get rid of us!"
Ma Huilan turned her head, glared at Sister-in-law Niu, and said angrily: "Sister-in-law Niu, what you said is not entirely true. I do have many conflicts with you, and that's why you provoke me first every time. I, the wife of the caravan manager,
If I don’t like you, I can just drive you out, so why kill you?”
The two women were quarreling with each other, and the caravan brothers who were watching around them also began to talk in low voices.
With a "pop" sound, the gavel was struck, and everything in the courtroom was silent.
Xia Yunqing had a gloomy face and said coldly: "How is it appropriate to make such a noise in the court?"
Immediately, he looked at Ma Huilan, who had a sad expression: "Ma, let me ask you, where were you when Niu Xiaoyi died, and who can prove it for you?"
Ma Huilan bit her lip, took out her handkerchief, and kept wiping her tears. She looked pitiful and heart-wrenching.
Ye Guming knelt down with his hands on his knees and said with cupped hands: "Master Mingjian! My wife has always stayed at home and rarely went out. Especially after my leg was injured, she took care of me day and night, so she didn't have the time or opportunity to kill anyone."
Elder Yun also came over, cupped his hands and said, "Sir, our manager is right. All of us can prove to Mrs. Ye that she has never stepped out of the house!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone stood up and loudly said: "We can all testify for Mrs. Ye!"
Sister-in-law Niu looked at the group of people with tearful eyes and shouted angrily: "You, you bullies! My son died in your caravan, you are responsible!"
"Are we bullying people?" Elder Yun suddenly turned his head, glared at her, and said coldly: "Sister-in-law Niu, if our manager and his wife hadn't rescued you and found you a job, the three of you would be here now.
He has starved to death a long time ago. Is this how you treat your benefactor?"
When Mrs. Niu heard this, she bit her lower lip, her eyes were filled with tears, her eyes were a little evasive, but she did not dare to refute a word.
"Also." Elder Yun continued: "In my opinion, Mrs. Ye just hates you. If she hates you, the three of you hate her even more!"
Xia Yunqing frowned and asked, "Why did you say that?"
"Your Majesty, please take this as a warning!" Elder Yun bowed his hands to him and said firmly: "Just a few days ago, our horse gang started a fire and burned down two houses. Our young gang leader and Manager Ye almost died in the fire at that time.
.And the initiator of this fire is Mrs. Niu’s son Niu Xiaoyi!”
Hearing this, Mrs. Niu suddenly had stars flying in her eyes. She did not expect that Elder Yun would reveal this matter.
In panic, she quickly knelt down and cried: "Master Mingjian, they lied! They... they wronged people!"
Xia Yunqing's face was as dark as water and he asked: "You said Niu Xiaoyi set the fire, do you have any evidence?"
"Sir!" Elder Yun said proudly: "Everyone here can prove that Mrs. Niu personally admitted this in front of everyone, and we all heard it! It was obviously his son who set the fire and knew that people were killed, so
He escaped and was killed by someone unknown, so he will be blamed on our caravan! Please be careful, sir!"
At this moment, Mrs. Niu looked around blankly and saw that no one was around to help. The compassion on everyone's face was no longer at all, and had been replaced by deep contempt and disgust.
In an instant, she lost all her energy and just knelt motionless, her face ashen and her mind went blank.
Ye Guming pondered for a while, then stepped forward and said righteously: "Sir, our caravan are all good people and will not do such illegal things as women. Besides, we have known each other for many years with the Niu family.
, no one will harm them. In this matter, someone must have killed Niu Xiaoyi, I think
Putting the blame on the caravan, I hope you will find out!"
Xia Yunqing stroked his beard, thought for a long time, and then said: "I will investigate this matter carefully, but in the meantime, Hu Qi and Mrs. Ye are still suspects. They are not allowed to leave without authorization until the case is investigated. Ye Guming,
Do you dare to vouch for these two?"
Ye Guming cupped his hands and said loudly: "I dare you to guarantee for these two!"
Not long after, the yamen servant took Ye Guming to sign a bond, and then everyone was allowed to leave the yamen.
The autumn rain has stopped, light clouds are floating, and a colorful rainbow hangs on the sky. After the rain, the scenery in Lingzhou City takes on a new look.
The group of people left the Lingzhou government office and headed straight back to the semicolon. Lu Ning and Hu Qi walked slowly side by side, keeping a long distance from the others.
Hu Qi stared deeply at Lu Ning's profile and said hesitantly: "Miss Lu, do you believe I didn't kill someone?"
Lu Ning smiled lightly and said: "Hu Qi, although I don't know about the dispute with Madam Ye. However, you just protected Madam Ye's face in front of Mr. Xia. How could a kind person like you kill someone?"
"
These words made Hu Qi feel so sad that he couldn't help but sigh: "But I can't figure out who I have offended and why someone wants to frame me?"
Lu Ning frowned slightly and said in a low voice: "Yeah, I can't figure this out either. At first, I thought it was an insider who did it, but if you think about it carefully, if you really discovered something, why would he frame you?
Wouldn't it be easier to get rid of you directly? Maybe... this time is just a warning. Hu Qi, have you offended someone?"
Hu Qi thought for a while and suddenly realized: "If I insist on offending, then only Mrs. Ye..."
"Mrs. Ye?" Lu Ning raised her eyebrows and sighed: "It seems that this Mrs. Ye is indeed suspicious. However, she never interferes in the caravan's affairs, so I really can't find anything out."
She turned to look at Hu Qi and warned softly: "However, Hu Qi, in case they jump over the wall in a hurry, you still have to be more careful. When dealing with Mrs. Ye, no matter what she says, you must not offend her again.
"
Hu Qi frowned. Although she was reluctant, seeing how much Lu Ning cared about her, she reluctantly nodded: "Don't worry, I'll try to avoid her, but if I can't, I'll act by ear!"
"
The two of them talked and laughed all the way back to the caravan. In the courtyard, everyone was doing their job, and no one paid attention to what happened in the lobby just now.
Lu Ning looked at everyone thoughtfully and lowered his voice: "No matter how many things that mole does, if he wants me to leave, I won't leave! I want to see who the mastermind behind this is.
?」
Suddenly a clear and shy voice sounded in my ears: "Young Gang Leader, Mr. Hu, are you back?"
The two of them looked around and saw a young man from Qing Dynasty standing in the yard. He was carrying a sword on his back, his upper body was bare and he was wearing embroidery, and he was greeting them with a red face.
Lu Ning asked with a smile: "Qingfeng, are you still practicing swordsmanship?"
Under the reflection of the warm sun, Lu Ning's figure is graceful, free and elegant, and her black and white eyes are as smart as stars.
There were two blushes on Ye Qingfeng's face. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile, "Well, my father told me to practice more if I have nothing to do."
Toto, who was bare-chested and holding a knife, followed him and said with concern: "Xiaolu, are you okay? I just wanted to go with you, but Uncle Ye didn't let me follow, so I can only practice swordsmanship with Qingfeng here.
.Why did you come back? I am so anxious!"
Lu Ning smiled and said comfortingly: "Why are you so anxious? Look at me, am I not standing here with my beard and tail intact?"
Toto, on the other hand, put his arm around his waist and snorted dissatisfied: "You went to the mountain to find Hu Qi, why didn't you ask me to go with you? Do you think I am not good at martial arts and can't protect you?"
Ye Qingfeng also echoed: "Yes, young gang leader, although Fengming Mountain is beautiful, there are wild animals on the mountain from time to time. If you are not familiar with the people there, it is better to go less often. Why don't you ask us to go together?"
Lu Ning's heart warmed, and he walked over and patted Ye Qingfeng's shoulder, smiling and saying: "Sorry, something happened suddenly yesterday. I heard that Hu Qi hadn't returned all night, and I was too anxious, so I left alone. I'll leave next time.
I’ll definitely call you next time.”
Ye Qingfeng looked at Lu Ning Qing Cong
He patted his shoulder with a jade-like hand, his face suddenly turned red, and his lips couldn't help but raise slightly.
But now Lu Ning can't trust her brothers in Lingzhou Branch. She has been observing Ye Qingfeng's every word and deed, and now she doesn't even dare to trust this seemingly innocent young man.
Looking at the way Ye Qingfeng looked at Lu Ning, Hu Qi knew what he was thinking and couldn't help but feel jealous. But when she heard what Lu Ning said just now, she couldn't help but feel a little proud.
He walked up to Ye Qingfeng, raised his hands and saluted: "You must be Uncle Ye's son, Ye Qingfeng, I'm Hu Qi! Nice to meet you, nice to meet you."
Ye Qingfeng quickly returned the gift and said politely: "Nice to meet you."
Hu Qi looked him up and down and guessed: "Qingfeng, you look younger than me, right? I'm twenty this year, how old are you?"
Ye Qingfeng said shyly: "I just turned sixteen last month!"
Hu Qi looked at Ye Qingfeng's strong tendons and the beautiful embroidery on his back, and praised: "I didn't expect that brother Qingfeng looks thin but is actually strong! The embroidery on this body is also very beautiful! Hu Mou doesn't understand
Wu Yi, but he admires people with strong martial arts skills. If Brother Qingfeng doesn't dislike it, how about you and I treating each other as brothers in the future?"
Ye Qingfeng looked down and remembered that he was topless at this time.
His face turned red, and he quickly picked up the green shirt on the side and put it on quickly. He chuckled and said, "Brother Hu, you are so flattering. My father asked someone to embroider this for me. It is the same as the embroidery on his body."
After putting on his clothes, he looked at Hu Qi, cupped his hands and said, "Qingfeng has always respected scholars the most. Judging from Brother Hu's appearance, he must have read a lot of poetry and books! In the future, Qingfeng hopes that his brother can teach him more!"
"Easy to say, easy to say!" Hu Qi also imitated Lu Ning and patted Ye Qingfeng on the shoulder. The two looked at each other and smiled.