Chapter 126: Lord Huang's Crimes Exposed; The Zhu Ge Family Faces Calamity

While Huang Huang Chaoran and Jiang Jiang Mingyu were locked in a sharp, tit-for-tat confrontation in the main hall, a spirited horse galloped into the prefectural city, covered in sweat, clearly indicating the rider's haste.

At the same time, Tang Cheng sat alone in his room, hands tightly clenched, brows deeply furrowed, eyes clouded with confusion, his entire demeanor gloomy and dejected.

He repeatedly asked himself in his heart: "This is too strange; so many days have passed, yet the person Huang Huang Chaoran sent out still hasn't shown any trace. Could something have gone wrong?" Thinking this, his hands involuntarily clenched even tighter, and his gaze grew more bewildered.

"This Huang Huang Chaoran is far too rash; he couldn't even capture a single frail woman, he is utterly incompetent. It seems I cannot rely on him at all; I can only wait for new orders from His Highness the Prince of Qi." Thinking this, his brows furrowed even deeper.

"That Little Six is also gone for several days now, without sending back even a single word of news." Thinking this, his eyes became even more dim and despondent.

Just as he was lost in his own confusion, the guard outside entered and reported respectfully: "Reporting to my lord, Little Six has returned." Upon hearing this, Tang Cheng's eyes lit up; he seemed reborn and immediately said, "He arrives at just the right time; quickly invite him in to see me."

Little Six soon entered, covered in dust; Tang Cheng looked him up and down carefully before lowering his voice to ask cautiously, "During this outing, did anyone discover your tracks? You didn't expose any clues, did you?" As he spoke, his tone revealed tension and anxiety.

Little Six brushed the dust from his clothes and replied in a low voice, "My lord, please rest assured; I was extremely careful and cautious during this mission and absolutely did not expose any flaws."

Only then did Tang Cheng breathe a sigh of relief, turning to ask in a low voice, "Then, how did His Highness the Prince of Qi, whom you visited on this trip, respond to my request? What countermeasures does he propose for the current situation?" As he spoke, a glow of expectation flickered in his eyes.

Little Six took a letter from his bosom and presented it respectfully with both hands: "This is a letter personally written by His Highness the Prince of Qi in reply to my lord."

Tang Cheng's hand trembled slightly as he carefully broke the wax seal and unfolded the high-quality letter paper.

His eyes quickly scanned the lines of text; his brows involuntarily knitted tightly together, and his entire face grew increasingly gloomy and solemn.

He let out a soft sigh, folded the letter neatly with a complex expression, and placed it back on the table.

"My lord, what exactly does the letter say? Why do you look so troubled?" Little Six asked anxiously, gazing at Tang Cheng with worry.

Tang Cheng pondered for a moment, then raised his head to look at Little Six, a trace of obscure light flashing in his eyes: "The plot to disrupt the City Defense Camp has been exposed, it has been exposed... Wang Zhe has already sent people to strictly monitor my every move; I cannot even step out of my own door now!" His tone implicitly revealed anxiety and urgency.

He paced back and forth in the room with hurried steps, wringing his knuckles anxiously with both hands, his face full of sorrow.

Seeing this, Little Six quickly stepped forward to soothe him gently: "My lord, calm your anger and do not rush. The Inspector asked you to admit your mistakes; didn't he say you should go find him once you've thought it through? You can first adopt a posture of bowing your head and admitting fault to placate him and lower his guard. Once the matter is accomplished, when His Highness the Prince of Qi ascends the throne, you will be a meritorious prime minister; at that time, you can seek revenge whenever you wish!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Cheng's expression finally softened slightly; he nodded gently and said, "Indeed, I can go to the Inspector's residence first to test his thoughts and attitude. If he relaxes his restrictions on me, I can seize the opportunity to act, further advance the important plan, and complete the great task His Highness the Prince of Qi entrusted to me!"

Little Six smiled flatteringly: "My lord is brilliant and martial! First, bow your head to placate the Inspector and lower his guard. When the time comes, you will be able to come and go freely, and completing the task entrusted by His Highness will be just around the corner!"

Tang Cheng smiled with satisfaction and said, "Good! Quickly fetch my formal official robes for me; I will set out immediately to visit the Inspector and see how he intends to deal with me!"

Little Six immediately bowed with utmost respect and hurried off to fetch Tang Cheng's official robes.

Tang Cheng stood before the mirror, carefully arranging his appearance and attire, a humble and polite smile on his face as he prepared to visit the Inspector's residence. Yet in his heart, he was calculating: would the Inspector truly relax his restrictions and surveillance on him, and could he provide an opportunity to exploit?

If that were truly the case, he would definitely seize the opportunity to further advance the important plan and complete the secret mission entrusted by the Prince of Qi...

At this moment, the main hall of the Zhu Ge family was silent as a crow; Zhu Ge Yu and his son Zhu Ge Gang knelt on the ground, daring not to move a muscle, watching the scene inside the room with sweat pouring down their foreheads.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu leaned lazily against the armchair, one hand resting lightly on the armrest, lifting his eyes lazily to look at Huang Huang Chaoran, who was sweating profusely and trembling with fear.

A playful smile lingered on the corner of his mouth, seemingly extremely satisfied with Huang Huang Chaoran's timidity and terror.

"Master Huang, how about it, can you walk on your own now?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked with a smile, the mockery in his tone quite obvious.

Ever since reading Che Ting's confession, Huang Huang Chaoran had been trembling uncontrollably, his back soaked with cold sweat.

He nodded frantically, stuttering unable to speak, like a pitiful mouse caught by a cat, ready to curl into a ball at any moment.

Seeing this timid and frightened appearance, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt secretly delighted in his heart.

He continued slowly, "The Inspector is still waiting for you in his residence; go explain to him how you plotted to harm me, kidnapped Liu Liu Yifei, and swapped the identity of that condemned prisoner."

Having said this, he cast a sideways glance with his snake-like eyes and ordered Tu Tu Kesiluo beside him, "Take him away!"

Just as Huang Huang Chaoran's hands were being tied behind his back, about to be bound tightly, Zhu Ge Yu, who was kneeling on the ground, hurriedly shouted loudly, "Lord Jiang, please show mercy!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu glared at him most unpleasantly and sneered, "Head of the Zhu Ge clan, do you have anything else to say? Could it be that you also want to go with Huang Huang Chaoran to the Inspector's residence to confess your crimes?"

He still remembered how Zhu Ge Yu and his son had treated Zhu Ge Yu just now, so he no longer had any good expression for this old fox.

The heart that Zhu Ge Yu had just lowered was lifted up again; he slowly raised his gray-haired head, dense cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, and said, "My lord, you jest. Master Huang was caught in my home; the Huang family will surely think our Zhu Ge family framed him. If, in their raging anger, they swallow our family, what shall we do?" In his haste, he had already calculated all possible severe consequences.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but sneer and said disdainfully, "Head of the Zhu Ge clan, you are meddling too much. I am here to arrest someone on the Inspector's orders; what does it have to do with you? Even if your Zhu Ge family is truly annihilated, it has nothing to do with me!"

He continued to mock, "Huang Huang Chaoran must be taken away today; this is the Inspector's order. If you are unconvinced, feel free to go to the Inspector's residence to file a complaint; anyway, the Inspector is in a rage, and seeing you will surely make him even happier!"

After hearing this, Zhu Ge Yu's face twitched several times, yet he did not dare to let out a single fart.

Seeing him putting on an act, Jiang Jiang Mingyu snorted coldly and said, "I must take the person away today; why are you spouting more nonsense?" Having said this, he ordered his subordinates to bind Huang Huang Chaoran.

Zhu Ge Yu became anxious, stepping forward to block Tu Tu Kesiluo, his tone pleading: "Lord Jiang, you are making my Zhu Ge family lose face! I beg you, could you temporarily leave Master Huang here in my home?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained unmoved: "Do you still not understand? Arresting Huang Huang Chaoran is the Inspector's order and has nothing to do with me. Even if you kneel and beg me, there is no way!"

Zhu Ge Yu had to change his approach to plead: "Lord Jiang, I am willing to redeem Master Huang with half of my family assets; what do you think of that?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered: "Head of the Zhu Ge clan, do you think you can bribe me with money? I came here on orders; I absolutely cannot disobey Lord Inspector, nor can I deviate from justice. Wealth is useless to me; you might as well save your strength!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned his head and said to Zhu Ge Yu, "Now that matters here are settled, you will come with me back to Shangmu as well."

Zhu Ge Yu nodded silently and followed Jiang Jiang Mingyu out the door.

Seeing his son about to leave, Zhu Ge Yu anxiously shouted, "Yu'er, persuade Lord Jiang! He is your master and listens to your words. Just say a word and ask him to leave Master Huang behind, otherwise our entire Zhu Ge family will be finished!"

Zhu Ge Yu, however, acted as if he hadn't heard, walking forward without turning his head.

Seeing his younger brother ignore his own father, Zhu Ge Gang became so anxious he jumped up and down, cursing, "Zhu Ge Yu, you unfilial son! The Zhu Ge family is in such crisis, yet you pay no attention; do you still count as a member of the Zhu Ge family? Our Zhu Ge family has been wise for generations; how did we give birth to such a useless thing as you? Stop right there!"

Only then did Zhu Ge Yu turn around coldly and say, "Zhu Ge Gang, show some respect. I have no relation to the Zhu Ge family anymore; whether you live or die has absolutely nothing to do with me. You decide your own fate; it has nothing to do with me!"

Having said this, he waved his wide sleeve and was about to leave. Zhu Ge Yu was still cursing there: "Zhu Ge Yu, you caused this disaster; if you just leave like this, what kind of man are you?" Without turning his head, Zhu Ge Yu replied, "You are right; just now you already handed me over to Huang Huang Chaoran to deal with. That he didn't kill me is his problem; henceforth, however the Huang family retaliates against you, it has absolutely nothing to do with me!"

Zhu Ge Yu was furious and stood up to continue cursing, but suddenly saw Tu Tu Kesiluo, who was escorting Huang Huang Chaoran, slash back with his knife; the blade flashed, and the tip stopped only three feet from Zhu Ge Yu's chest, scaring him out of his wits.

Tu Tu Kesiluo said coldly, "This is a warning; speak recklessly again, and the next strike will show no mercy." Having said this, he turned and left, following in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's footsteps.

Zhu Ge Yu was thoroughly terrified, kneeling on the ground daring not to move. The figures of Jiang Jiang Mingyu and the others had long since disappeared into the wind and snow.

Zhu Ge Gang, covered in sweat, collapsed on the ground: "It's over; we cannot count on Zhu Ge Yu anymore. Father, what shall we do if people from the Huang and Zhu families come to hold us accountable?"

At this very moment, preserving their own lives was difficult, let alone protecting their family business.

With the power of the Huang and Zhu families, destroying them would be as easy as turning over a hand.

Zhu Ge Yu's face was also full of bitterness; his mouth moved for a long time, yet not a single word could burst out.

Whether life or death, they could only leave it to heaven's mandate!

He deeply regretted being so heartless to Zhu Ge Yu just now; otherwise, with Yu'er's character, how could he stand by and watch the Zhu Ge family be annihilated?

Now even Jiang Jiang Mingyu has become their enemy; thinking of this, Master Zhuge Yi nearly wanted to smash his head against the wall.

At this moment, the people brought by Huang Huang Chaoran came to their senses. "Not good, Brother Huang has been captured! The situation is grave!"

"We must hurry back and notify the Huang and Zhu families!"

"Go to hell! Reporting this now is making an enemy of the Inspector; do you not want to live?" After speaking, the crowd was so terrified their souls scattered, and they soon vanished without a trace.

Seeing that everyone who could prove their innocence had fled, Master Zhuge Yi sat heavily on the ground, his face the color of dead ash.

Once this news spreads, when the Huang and Zhu families come to demand justice, they will be finished; there will be no way to explain it away.

After a long sigh, an eerie silence, like death itself, filled the vast hall.

Seeing the old master's look of despair, Master Zhuge Gang hurriedly advised, "Father, since matters have come to this, we can only grit our teeth and go to the Huang and Zhu families to explain clearly, beg for their mercy, and give our Master Zhuge family a chance to reform."

Master Zhuge Yi sighed, "Going will be in vain; they will only become more angry and ashamed. We truly cannot escape death!"

Master Zhuge Gang pressed on, "Father, are you really willing to let the Master Zhuge family perish like this? We have managed the family estate for generations; can we really let it be destroyed in our hands like this?"

Master Zhuge Yi pondered for a moment and said, "So be it. My old bones have lived long enough. It is just that your younger generation's fate is uncertain, and I truly feel guilty about it."

Master Zhuge Gang quickly said, "Father, do not speak so. I will certainly protect you and the Master Zhuge family members. Even if the road ahead is difficult, I will find a way to preserve the foundation of the Master Zhuge family!"

The two fell into deep thought; the future of the Master Zhuge family was full of uncertainty.

On the road where Jiang Jiang Mingyu and others escorted Huang Huang Chaoran to the Inspector's Yamen, although Huang Huang Chaoran's face was full of bitterness, he did not dare to resist even a fraction.

He understood that even if the Huang and Zhu families held great power, they were currently not enough to openly defy the government.

The common people on both sides of the street saw Huang Huang Chaoran tied up with five flowers and eight knots, and they all began to murmur: "Is this not the former Chief Clerk, Lord Huang? Why is he tied up? What is going on?"

"Do you not understand yet? He must have been full of evil deeds, and finally Heaven could not bear to watch anymore!"

"Exactly, exactly. Just look at his nephew, that bastard Zhu Zhu Tianxiang, and you will know what kind of scum the Huang and Zhu families are. Heaven finally opened its eyes!"

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered, "Huang Huang Chaoran, your reputation and that of your nephew are not good at all; no wonder Heaven wants to deal with you!"

Huang Huang Chaoran cursed hatefully, "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, do not get too cocky; perhaps one day your end will be ten thousand eighty thousand times worse than mine!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu curled his lips and sneered coldly, "You will not see my end; do you still have time to talk nonsense? Hold it in; it is not too late to wail when you see the Inspector."

With that, he suddenly whipped down; Huang Huang Chaoran was tied to the horse's tail and fell heavily to the ground like a dog eating dirt, rolling several times.

Huang Huang Chaoran wailed as he was dragged far across the snow, not forgetting to curse, "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, you beast! I curse you to be born as a dog in your next life, to be kicked back and forth by people every day; may your whole family die a bad death!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was truly enraged this time; he suddenly yanked the reins, and Huang Huang Chaoran crashed into the horse's legs.

This made the horse furious; its hind legs kicked wildly, and Huang Huang Chaoran's last front tooth was kicked out, with fresh blood mixing with broken teeth spraying from his mouth.

Huang Huang Chaoran could only make gurgling sounds from the pain, unable to spit out a single word.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered, "Does it hurt? This is just the beginning; when you see the Inspector, you will know what true pain is!" Huang Huang Chaoran finally fell silent, knowing he could not finish with Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and could only mutter curses along the way to vent his resentment.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stopped paying him any attention and headed straight for the Inspector's Yamen.

The people on the road made a scene to watch the spectacle, mocking Huang Huang Chaoran with words from you and me, driving him completely to the lowest point of his life.

After torturing him for half a day, Huang Huang Chaoran was finally dragged by Tu Tu Kesiluo to the Inspector's Yamen.

At this time, Huang Huang Chaoran's face was a patchwork of blue and purple, like a painted face on a theater stage.

His cotton robe was worn through, and the exposed flesh was covered in bloodstains and abrasions.

More deadly was that a large hole had somehow worn through the back of his trousers, revealing the white, fat buttocks beneath.

The Yamen Runners inside the Inspector's Yamen were all secretly laughing: "Look quickly, is this not Lord Huang? Look at his buttocks; they are as tender as a young girl's, and so white. Truly from a wealthy family; well-maintained indeed!"

The torture suffered along the way, combined with the remarks of these people, made Huang Huang Chaoran spit out a mouthful of old blood; he hoarsely cursed, "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, even if I die, I will haunt you! I will not let you go even as a ghost!"

Inspector Wang Zhe saw Huang Huang Chaoran's miserable state and his face turned green: "Lord Jiang, what is going on? Did you beat him like this?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and said, "Lord Wang, do not be nervous; this Huang Huang Chaoran was not very honest. I merely taught him a small lesson, which can be considered collecting some interest on previous grievances."

Huang Huang Chaoran quickly seized the opportunity to complain: "Inspector, Jiang Jiang Mingyu openly abused punishments on the street; you cannot let him go!"

How could Huang Huang Chaoran know that the Inspector and Jiang Jiang Mingyu were already of one mind?

Moreover, the two had already partnered in business; the Inspector was too lazy to bother with such a small matter.

Wang Zhe put on a look of stern righteousness and waved his hand toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "Lord Jiang, I understand your difficulties, but officials of the court cannot use punishments arbitrarily; you must also consider the national laws and discipline. Let this matter be dropped this time; I believe Huang Huang Chaoran has been beaten into submission by you."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Inspector, for your clear insight; this official was indeed a bit excessive. I guarantee that next time I will definitely abide by the laws and discipline and will not act impulsively again."

Huang Huang Chaoran was so angry he rolled his eyes; these two cronies were putting on a double act right in front of him!

"Jiang Jiang Mingyu, you dog official!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu kicked him heavily again, knocking Huang Huang Chaoran over onto the ground.

He roared, "You still dare to address this official by name? It seems you truly have not learned your lesson! For this alone, not giving you fifty blows of the bamboo board is already showing mercy!"

Seeing that Jiang Jiang Mingyu had vented enough, Wang Zhe finally spoke: "Huang Huang Chaoran, is there anything else to say? Shall I call that dying Che Ting to confront you in court?"

Huang Huang Chaoran, his face covered in blood, barely managed to force a ugly smile and sneered, "Inspector, stop pretending. Any clear-eyed person can see that you have already colluded with Jiang Jiang Mingyu. I, Huang Huang Chaoran, have fallen into your hands; there is only one path to death."

"Actually, from the moment I saved Che Ting and swapped the corpse, I vaguely knew that this day would eventually come; I just did not expect it to arrive so quickly."

Speaking of this, his face suddenly became grotesque; he gritted his teeth and said, "It is all because you, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, kept fanning the flames that I have fallen to this state! Even after I die and become a vengeful ghost, I will definitely haunt you without letting go! Our grudge is absolutely not over!"

Huang Huang Chaoran, with a face full of fresh blood, indeed looked a bit like a vengeful ghost at this moment.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu helplessly shook his head and said, "Here comes the 'vengeful ghost will not let go' routine again; can you have some fresh lines? It is so weird; I really do not know what books you have been reading these years. Never mind, I am too lazy to argue with a dead person. Inspector, please pronounce the sentence early."

Wang Zhe nodded calmly: "Huang Huang Chaoran, your crimes are truly unforgivable. I will sentence you to death in court today, to be executed immediately three days later!"

"Bring him, drag him down!" Just as the Yamen Runners stepped forward, a man outside suddenly shouted loudly: "Stop!"

【Author's Note】: Dear readers and bosses, I have been muted, but I will return every vote that the various authors leave for me one by one, but I cannot leave comments to support temporarily; sorry.