Ye Guming had such a good reputation, but when Xia Yunqing accused him like this, he immediately lost his temper.
"Back to the lord, there are some names here, and the grassroots people do have some impressions. Now that I think about it carefully, they never committed crimes as women in the caravan. So, why they were imprisoned... the grassroots people really don't know!"
Xia Yunqing saw that his face was turning red and white, and his words were quite sincere, and he immediately made a prediction in his heart: Ye Guming must not have lied, he has been kept in the dark, and Elder Yun must know the cause and effect of the matter!
There was no expression on his face, and he just said calmly: "In this case, I can only investigate this matter in depth! I hope Manager Ye can lead the caravan to cooperate!"
Ye Guming's face looked a little ugly, and he hurriedly raised his hands and asked: "Master Xia, Ye has a merciless request."
Xia Yunqing raised her eyebrows and looked at him: "Mr. Ye, please speak."
Ye Guming thought for a moment and then said in a humble voice: "Master Xia, since these people are related to the caravan, Ye must be responsible. If you tell me about this matter today, I must also feel that there is injustice! I wonder if you can do it first?
Let them go and reunite them with their families."
Xia Yunqing pondered for a while and asked: "At present, I have indeed found no evidence of their crime. However, to release them, a guarantor needs to sign a guarantee..."
"Ye is willing to guarantee them!" Ye Guming cupped his hands and bowed deeply.
"That's alright." Xia Yunqing's face softened slightly: "Then I'll ask Manager Ye to sign the bond, and then go to the prison with me to pick up the person!"
When Elder Yun, who was hiding outside the window, heard the noise, his heart suddenly boiled: Oh no! If those people are released, the matter will be exposed! They have been planning for so long, and they are afraid that all their efforts will be wasted!
Just when he was in a dilemma, he saw a graceful figure of a woman approaching in the hazy moonlight.
When the woman saw Xia Yunqing and Ye Guming walking out of the study one after another, she immediately walked forward and said, "Master, my wife asked you to go home quickly!"
Xia Yunqing squinted her eyes and saw clearly that the person who came was the maid given to Madam by the Ma Gang. Her name was Xiaochan. She was nineteen years old. She was shrewd, capable and intelligent, and was quite popular with Madam Xia.
Xia Yunqing softened his attitude and said softly: "I still have some things to deal with. Is there anything urgent, madam?"
Xiaochan raised her head and glanced at Ye Guming, hesitating slightly: "Young master is not feeling well, madam, I hope you can go back soon!"
"I understand. I'll go back when I'm done." Xia Yunqing nodded knowingly and left with Ye Guming.
Xiaochan sighed and turned around to leave.
But I heard a sad voice coming from behind the tree: "With a new master, have you forgotten the old master?"
When Xiaochan heard this voice, her whole body trembled, her hairs stood up, and her scalp became numb. She turned around suddenly and saw a rickety figure slowly walking out from behind the tree.
As he got closer and closer, the moonlight reflected his face clearly, and Xiao Chan seemed to have seen a ghost. She backed away repeatedly and whispered in horror: "Yun...Elder Yun?"
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Xia Yunqing and Ye Guming walked into the prison one after another. Xia Yunqing kept observing Ye Guming's every move along the way, trying to see whether this man was really stupid or fake.
The two walked through each cell in turn, and the cell leader called the prisoner out of the cell. Xia Yunqing announced in front of the public: This person will be released without charge!
The moment every prisoner heard that he had been released, he looked in disbelief.
It wasn't until Ye Guming took out some silver from his arms as a gift that they woke up from a dream.
After regaining their freedom and having money, everyone completely forgot about the injustice they had suffered for so many days. They immediately cried with joy and quickly knelt down and kowtowed in thanks.
After the two of them visited twenty cells and sent away dozens of innocent prisoners, Xia Yunqing personally sent Ye Guming out of the government office.
After observing along the way, Xia Yunqing discovered that the prisoners in the prison did not show fear or surprise when they saw Ye Guming, and Ye Guming always looked normal when he saw these people.
to
Therefore, Xia Yunqing temporarily excluded Ye Guming from the list of suspects.
He returned to the study and tidied up briefly, then went out and found Xiao Chan still standing outside the door, with a solemn expression and a confused expression, as if she was waiting for him.
Xia Yunqing walked over: "Xiaochan, why don't you go home?"
Xiaochan seemed to be startled, and her whole body trembled. She turned her head and saw that the person coming was Xia Yunqing, and then she breathed a sigh of relief.
She was graceful and blessed: "Xiaochan didn't do what Madam told me well, so she didn't dare to go back!"
Xia Yunqing pondered for a moment, then asked: "When Ye Guming was here just now, I saw you looked strange, and you were about to speak but stopped talking. Tell me, what happened to Dongyang?"
Xiaochan sighed slightly and said helplessly: "Master, I just saw someone outside, so I lied. I hope you will forgive me. In fact, in the evening, Master Dongyang has been losing his temper. Madam really can't persuade her.
, I was so angry that my chest hurt, so I asked me to come and ask the master to go back...!"
Hearing this, Xia Yunqing's face darkened.
He rushed home with Xiaochan, but he was not in a hurry to see his son. Instead, Xiaochan walked to his own field.
Xia Yunqing stood beside the field with his hands folded, looking at the uneven rice fields with a gloomy look on his face.
The autumn wind blows by, and the fields are clear and clear. The water in the pond is deep and clear, insects chirp in the grass, and fireflies with cold light fly low on the sloping path.
Xiaochan stood behind him, looking at the same scenery, but with a different mood.
After all, she was just a young girl. Seeing such a pleasant scenery, she thought to herself: How wonderful it would be if she was with the person she loves at this moment!
Suddenly, Xia Yunqing's rare soft voice came to my ears: "Go and bring him here, I'll wait for him here."
Xiaochan came back to her senses, immediately filled her body with happiness, and left gracefully.
Within a moment, Xiaochan came over with a man in his twenties, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, a broad face and thick lips. It was Xia Dongyang, Xia Yunqing's son.
Strictly speaking, he is not Xia Yunqing's eldest son, but he is Xia Yunqing's only surviving son. He was Mrs. Xia's child when she was nearly forty years old.
Xia Dongyang walked to his father's side, bowed his hands and said, "Father, do you have anything to teach your child here?" Although his tone was respectful, there was a trace of sullenness and dissatisfaction.
Xia Yunqing turned around and glanced at his son: "I heard that you were unhappy today and made your mother sick?"
Xia Dongyang knew how strict his father was. At this moment, he was frightened and frightened. He quickly lowered his head and did not dare to answer.
Xia Yunqing knew that he was very strict in his daily life, which made his son respect and fear him. Naturally, he did not dare to express his dissatisfaction. Although he could guess what his son was thinking without even asking.
Xia Yunqing let out a long sigh and said eloquently: "My father was once an important minister in the court, and he was already a fourth-rank official when he gave birth to you. You have become accustomed to having good clothes and good food since you were a child, and you think life should be like this!"
But now that my father has been demoted, you and your mother followed me from Shengjing to here.
Although Lingzhou is also a good place with outstanding people, my father has become a seventh-grade official, and his life is not as good as before. You have never lived such a life, and some complaints are inevitable.
If you don’t tell me, my father will understand in his heart, and I won’t blame you!”
His father's heartfelt words made Xia Dongyang's nose sore and he almost shed tears.
He had countless grievances in his heart at the moment, and he was afraid that if he opened his mouth, he would not be able to help but complain.
Xia Yunqing raised his head and looked into the distance, and said quietly: "Do you still remember the story of the young bird and the owl in "Zhuangzi" that your father told you when you were young? Many ministers in this dynasty hold power and wealth.
The owl that refuses to let go.
But they don’t know that the thing they regard as a treasure is actually just a rotten mouse. As for my father, he just wants to be a young bird who can’t live in a parasol tree, can’t eat unless he’s practicing rice, and can’t drink from a sweet spring!”
Xia Dongyang snorted softly when he heard this. He felt that his father was a little arrogant, so he said disdainfully: "Has father forgotten the place where the dead fish is? We are in such an embarrassing life now.
Live, just like the carp trapped in the rut.
In fact, as long as you move your fingers and look for the previous relationship, we will have that liter of water that is enough to save lives! But you insist on being arrogant and always think about digging canals and diverting river water to save us. At that time, we were afraid
He has already died of hunger and thirst!"
After saying this, Xia Dongyang felt sour in his heart, and he knelt down and cried.
Xia Yunqing did not scold him.
He cannot ask a child who grew up in the love of his parents to understand the meaning of forbearance. Nor can he ask a person with a privileged life to learn to endure hardship immediately.
What Xia Dongyang needs more at this moment is hope and courage. When Xia Yunqing can no longer protect him, he still has the ability to survive!
After thinking about this, Xia Yunqing sighed and sat down next to Xia Dongyang's robe.
Looking up at the sky, I saw only a few twinkling stars on the black velvet sky.
In the cold night of late autumn, everything was silent, and all you could hear was the soft sound of fallen leaves blowing in the cold wind.
Xia Yunqing suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the field in front of him: "Dongyang, look at the field in front of us, it is the wealth and hope left to you by my father!"
Xia Dongyang wiped the tears on his face, looked at the field, and said softly: "Isn't it just a rice field? It's just that when spring comes, wheat will grow. The father wants his son to face the loess in the future.
A peasant with his back turned!"
Xia Yunqing's eyes were bright, and he whispered mysteriously: "This is a big secret of being a father! It's a secret that even your mother doesn't know. I originally wanted to tell you before I die, but I feel that now
It's time to tell you!"
Hearing this, Xia Dongyang suddenly became interested, just as everyone is curious about secrets.
"Is there any treasure under this rice field?" He immediately asked.
Xia Yunqing laughed: "It's my son, he's really smart! To tell you the truth, what's buried in the ground is all the savings from being a father and an official for many years, and it's enough for you to use in your lifetime!"
Xia Dongyang looked at his father suspiciously and asked, "Are you serious? We have only been here a few months. When did you hide in?"
Xia Yunqing didn't say anything, just stood up, walked to the field and dug with his bare hands for a while. When his son was not prepared, he took out a piece of silver from his arms and put it in his hand, and walked back to his son proudly.