Chapter 336: Unfilial son

Shuntian Prefecture.

Embroidered Uniform Guard Yamen, North Commandery office.

Two Embroidered Uniform Guards on duty in the courtyard were standing under the eaves, smiling and talking in low voices.

Suddenly, one of them moved his ears, the smile on his face vanished, his left hand raised to point at the roof, his right hand gripped the saber hilt and slowly drew it, walking toward the other side along the eaves quietly.

The other one also understood, didn't stop talking, continued the topic in the original tone, and also raised his hand to pull out his saber, but stood still, his eyes fixed on the roof.

When the moving Embroidered Uniform Guard stopped and gave a wink, the two began to count silently at the same time.

"Three."

"Two."

"One!"

*Clang! *—

The long sabers were drawn, and the two jumped up at the same time, raising their hands to grab the eaves and flip onto the roof.

But they heard a "whoosh," a black shadow flashed, and both felt a hand press on their shoulders, pressing them back to their original places. Their long sabers were also pulled out and pressed back into their scabbards by someone.

"Not bad, not bad."

A young, oily voice sounded behind them.

"Ear skills are not bad, reaction is not bad, but the brain is a bit poor. How can you jump up directly when you meet a thief? If they knew you were coming up, a single saber strike to the head, and you wouldn't be able to dodge."

"Still need to practice!"

Both hands patted them enthusiastically on their shoulders.

The two recognized the voice, but their reaction was strange—the hostility on their faces vanished, but their vigilance rose again, and while bowing to the person, they distanced themselves from him without a trace.

"Battalion Commander You, you are back."

"Battalion Commander You."

You Zi'ang smiled enthusiastically.

"Yeah, I'm back. How is home lately?"

One of them smiled bitterly.

"Sigh, don't mention it."

"Ever since the Commander held the Moon-Gazing Banquet, this roof at home has been boiling; every three days or two, some big thief or demon sneaks in, saying they want to find the divine Wu Gong the Commander practices."

"Battalion Commander Wang and Battalion Commander Li are both out on official business, and Battalion Commander An has been leaving early and returning late these days. It's just that Battalion Commander Mei is guarding at home, otherwise... sigh."

The other one also had a bitter face.

"Not just this, for the past half year, the Commander has been clashing with that bunch of civil officials; ever since after the New Year, our Imperial Prison hasn't been empty."

"The last one hasn't been interrogated yet, and the next one is sent in. Tiger benches, nail chairs, finger presses, thumb presses, they can't even be lined up. If you want to interrogate a prisoner, you have to go and carve the torture tools yourself; as long as you turn your head, the torture tools are snatched away by colleagues—where is the reason for this?"

"I'm not bragging to you, with our skills now, if you want to interrogate a prisoner, we can build a set of eighteen torture tools in an afternoon."

Speaking of this, he lowered his voice.

"If you need it, tell us. An old set is fifteen taels of silver, a new set is twenty taels, and it will be delivered to the torture room the next day."

You Zi'ang smiled and said.

"So expensive?"

That Embroidered Uniform Guard grinned.

"Where is it expensive? It's been this price for months, we two are very difficult. You don't know, we—"

Halfway through, the other one kicked him and laughed dryly.

"Battalion Commander You, just joking, just joking, we don't have this ability, very poor, very poor."

You Zi'ang didn't get angry, chatted with the two for a few sentences, and turned to leave.

When his figure disappeared, the two Embroidered Uniform Guards reached for their waist bags at the same time, confirmed they were still there, and let out a long sigh of relief.

You Zi'ang, who had walked far away, tossed two ingots of silver lightly, humming a song while walking into the North Commandery office.

Just as he walked in, a cold female voice stopped his movements.

"Give it back."

You Zi'ang paused in place, turning his head stiffly.

Mei Qinghe was leaning against the corner of the wall with her sword in her arms, looking at him coldly.

"Uh, Mei, Battalion Commander Mei... I thought you were in your own office..."

You Zi'ang laughed dryly.

Mei Qinghe shook her head and said coldly.

"There are thieves flipping through the Commander's things, I am waiting here to kill."

"What is your business?"

You Zi'ang laughed dryly.

"Official business, official business."

He reached into his bosom and took out a letter, moved his feet, but didn't take a step, just used a hidden weapon technique from far away to throw the envelope to Mei Qinghe.

Mei Qinghe reached out and took it, her face solemn.

"News from the Commander?"

You Zi'ang nodded.

"Yes."

"For whom?"

"The Commandery Commander."

"What matter?"

You Zi'ang spread his hands.

"The Commander instructed that only Battalion Commanders Wang, Li, and An can open it. But if they are not there, you should give it to the Commandery Commander."

"As for the content inside, aside from you four, only the Commandery Commander can see it."

Mei Qinghe nodded, walked out of the office without stopping, and when passing by You Zi'ang, said coldly again, "Give it back," and seeing You Zi'ang nodding dryly, she turned and walked toward Zhu Zai's office.

*Deng, deng deng. *

Mei Qinghe knocked on the door with her fingers.

"Come in."

Zhu Zai's somewhat irritable voice came from inside.

Mei Qinghe pushed the door and walked in, seeing the floor full of waste paper, several rolls of bright yellow fabric piled in the corner, on which the words "By the order of the Emperor" could be vaguely seen.

Zhu Zai was sitting behind the desk, looking at a blank imperial decree on the table with a tired face, frowning and thinking, holding a paper full of names in one hand and a pen in the other, not writing for a long time.

Mei Qinghe stood aside and waited.

After waiting for half an hour, Zhu Zai sighed, picked up his pen and wrote a few names on the imperial decree, rolled it up and put it aside, then rubbed his eyebrows and looked at Mei Qinghe.

"What is it?"

"News from the Commander, Battalion Commander You brought it back personally, to be given directly to you."

Mei Qinghe stepped forward and placed the letter on the table.

"Tsk!"

Zhu Zai looked disgusted.

"Dead thing, what kind of mess did he throw to this old man again!"

But his hands were busy opening the letter and unfolding it to look carefully.

At this look, the old man's brows furrowed.

After looking for two more glances, his face turned red.

After reading it, Zhu Zai's chest was already heaving, his beard was blowing, and his teeth were grinding.

"Bastard! He even dares to sell the Ming Sect's things!"

"Bastard who eats inside and out!!!"

"Family misfortune! Family misfortune!!!"

*Whoosh! *—

Mei Qinghe dodged the stationery flying out of the door with ease, blocked the table flying over with her sword, placed it on the ground, and finally flew up to take down the teacup and teapot in the air, placing them on the table as they were.

"Hoo—hoo—"

Zhu Zai was so angry that his face was flushed, and he said through gritted teeth.

"Go, go and capture that beast for me!"

Mei Qinghe's face remained unchanged.

"Who are you talking about?"

Zhu Zai roared.

"Who else could it be!?"

"My unfilial son! Zhu Yijing, Battalion Commander Zhu, Officer Zhu! Tie him up and bring him to this old man!"

Mei Qinghe nodded and turned to leave.

Leaving only Zhu Zai sitting slowly on the chair, panting heavily.

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"Battalion Commander Zhu, we are here."