Chapter 220: First Volume, Chapter 220: Which Qin Young Master?

First Volume, Chapter 220: Which Qin Young Master?

Beixi County Magistrate Chen Li, wearing his official robes crookedly, charged out the door with a dozen bumbling, ragtag yamen soldiers.

Just as he was about to ask what was going on, he saw the hundred armored guards standing before him, fierce and terrifying, and his legs went weak—he collapsed onto the ground.

Chen Li, barely over forty, had never seen such a scene; his face turned as white as paper, and he stammered: "Y-you… who are you? How dare you storm BeixiCounty!"

Seeing Chen Li's pitiful state, Ning Hu burst with rage, yanked his reins, rode straight up to Chen Li, and pointed his whip at him, bellowing: "You're dressed like a beggar, slow to react—our troops stormed the yamen gate, and only now do the alarm bells ring?"

"No wonder the Di raiding cavalry penetrated forty Li deep and struck straight for the heart… you corrupt dog! If Lady Qin suffers even a hair's breadth of harm, I'll cut your head off!"

Chen Li was too terrified to speak.

But the County Assistant Magistrate, a man in his thirties with a goatee, gathered his courage and said: "M-my lord, though he is a Nine Rank County Magistrate, he still holds an official post—how dare you threaten to kill him?"

No sooner had he spoken than Ning Hu cracked his whip across the assistant's head, sending him reeling, howling like a dying pig.

Ning Hu's face darkened; he gritted his teeth and roared: "Enough of your nonsense! Where are the Di raiding cavalry? Where is Lady Qin?!"

Qin Feng did not stop Ning Hu's recklessness.

From the moment he entered the city, Qin Feng noticed the sparse population, scattered merchants, and the overall decay.

The county yamen before him was in utter ruin—even the plaque above the gate was caked in dust.

Yet the County Magistrate and Assistant Magistrate were dressed in fine silks, bloated with fat—clearly they cared only for amassing wealth and ignored the people's livelihood.

If this were a scholar-official who passed the imperial exams, Qin Feng would have treated him with proper courtesy.

But the assistant's demeanor revealed everything—this worthless magistrate was almost certainly bought his post.

The corruption of buying official posts has existed since ancient times.

A corrupt official who only knows how to plunder cannot possibly resist the secret infiltration of Di raiding cavalry.

Facing Ning Hu's violent fury and the surrounding guards glaring with murderous intent, Chen Li knew clearly: with his insignificant rank, even if he were killed, no one would care.

After all, once he was dead, the truth of his bought office would surface—and these men would be hailed as heroes serving the state.

Chen Li dared not hesitate a moment; he trembled as he answered:

"G-generals, the Di raiding cavalry never entered the county city—how would I know where they went? As for Lady Qin—is she the wife of Minister of War Qin Tianhu? I've visited Qingshizicun many times, urging her to move into the county city, but Lady Qin is stubborn—she insists on staying in the village to observe filial mourning. I had no power to force her."

Hearing this, Ning Hu flew into a rage, shoved his whip into his belt, drew his saber from the saddle, and roared: "As County Magistrate, you didn't even know the Di raiding cavalry had invaded our Shedynasty territory? You wretched dog—do you deserve the robe you wear?!"

As Ning Hu raised his blade, Chen Li screamed like a slaughtered pig.

At the last moment, Qin Feng waved his hand, signaling Ning Hu to calm down.

Under Chen Li's trembling gaze, Qin Feng dismounted, stretched his aching, nearly broken body, and rubbed his sore, saddle-chafed buttocks, then calmly surveyed the ruined yamen: "What is your name?"

Chen Li dared not delay a second: "Your servant's surname is Chen, single character Li."

Qin Feng nodded, then asked casually: "The Di raiding cavalry's invasion of Beixi County has already spread like wildfire among the folk—do you truly know nothing? Or are you hiding it out of fear of blame? Tell me everything you know, and I guarantee I will absolve you of responsibility."

At these words, Chen Li's expression grew complex; he hesitated, then cautiously asked: "May I ask, Young Master, what is your lineage?"

Before Qin Feng could answer, Ning Hu roared: "Blind dog! This is the son of the Minister of War, the man personally granted the golden sash by the Emperor—Qin Feng!"

Upon hearing "Qin Feng," Chen Li nearly collapsed.

Qin Feng's name was known not only throughout Jingdu, but also in every household of Beixi County.

After all…

Beixi County was the Qin Family Ancestral Land—everyone took pride in the Qin family.

Now that Lady Qin was in peril, the legendary Qin Young Master had come in person—Chen Li's scalp had already gone numb with shock.

Moreover, Jingdu was thousands of Li from Beixi County; only four days had passed since the incident, yet Qin Feng had crossed half the kingdom with his guards—no one knew how many horses had died along the way, proving how vital this matter was to him.

If they truly pursued this, whether he kept his hat—or even his head—was uncertain.

Chen Li dared not hesitate further; he fell to his knees, weeping as he pleaded: "Your Excellency's arrival, Your Servant failed to greet you—deserving of death! As for the Di raiding cavalry, I truly know no details—I only heard that border garrisons sent word to seal off several exit routes, ordering me to hold BeixiCounty against the Di raiding cavalry's rampage. As for Lady Qin's whereabouts, I—"

Before Chen Li could finish, Qin Feng waved his hand impatiently to cut him off.

"Bring me the map."

He dropped those words and stepped into the yamen.

Ning Hu ordered the guards to wait outside, dismounted, kicked the collapsed assistant magistrate aside, and snarled: "Get lost!"

The common people hiding nearby stared at each other in silence.

Even the boldest dared only whisper.

"That assistant magistrate got kicked aside—and didn't even dare to whimper? Who the hell is this military master?"

"Wait—did you hear that? The soldier said the white-clothed young man who entered the yamen… was… the Qin Young Master?"

"Qin Young Master? Which Qin Young Master?"

Amid the confusion, an old man in the crowd turned bright red with excitement: "Which Qin Young Master? Of course—the Minister of War's son!"

At these words, the crowd erupted.

The gathered common people stared in shock—and more than shock, in excitement.

"What?! The Minister of War's son? We haven't had a figure this great in Beixi County in generations—and now we're seeing him alive?!"

"What nonsense! The Qin family is the pride of Beixi County!"

"Minister Qin holds the highest rank; Lady Qin returned home to observe filial mourning, yet lives humbly in the village—never flaunting her status."

"And as for the Qin Young Master—he's long been beloved by Beijing civilians, known for his humility. But how come he suddenly returned from Jingdu?"

At this, the same experienced old man's eyes dimmed: "Likely… connected to the massacre at Qingshizicun."

The common people were stunned again, their expressions shifting.

"What?! Qingshizicun was massacred? What happened?!"

The old man's face grew grave, sorrowful: "My nephew-in-law works at the yamen—he told me last night: the Di raiding cavalry breached the rear area and headed straight for Qingshizicun. Over sixty souls in the village—massacred. Lady Qin… is likely dead."