Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 290 Finding Qi Renli

"Who are those people and what are they doing outside?" Bafang pressed.

"They..." The words were in his mouth, but he didn't dare to say them out loud.

Meng Changqing guessed that those people who went out must be related to Qi Renli, but this housekeeper was obviously loyal to the Hong family, and it was not easy to force the answer from him.

She raised her voice and said to the group of people standing below: "Your master of the Hong family has been detained by the prefect. If any of you are guilty, don't think you can escape. It's only a matter of time before you are found out."

As soon as these words were spoken, the people below were indeed in a panic.

Meng Changqing continued: "Now, there is an opportunity for you to redeem yourself from your crimes, it depends on whether you want this opportunity or not.

Does anyone know what the other servants are doing? Where are they now? Tell me now and I will spare your punishment."

As she spoke, she stared at the expressions of these people. Sure enough, there were people in the crowd with hesitant eyes, secretly looking at others.

"You!" Meng Changqing pointed at the man, "What do you know? Tell me now, or you'll be in jail with your master!"

The person who was called out immediately knelt down and waved his hands, saying, "It's none of my business. It was the master who asked the housekeeper to send someone to kill the official in Beishan County. It has nothing to do with me."

Meng Changqing took a deep breath and thought to herself, "When did the killer leave the Hong family? Tell me the truth, and this matter has nothing to do with you."

The kneeling man thought and replied, "It should be yesterday at noon. The housekeeper personally ordered them to kill the county magistrate surnamed Qi. At that time, I happened to be delivering food to the housekeeper and happened to hear it by the door."

As the man spoke, the butler kept trying to stop him from continuing, and in his excitement, he even ignored the knife on his neck.

Bafang almost cut the man's neck.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" The butler yelled at the man, "How dare you throw dirty water on the master and me!"

Meng Changqing held the butler down and asked Bafang to bring a rope to tie him up and stuff his mouth. "I don't have time to talk to you."

Then ask the person who just spoke, "Tell me in detail what you heard at that time?"

"I heard the housekeeper instruct them to search along the official road. The leader has a southern accent, and the people around him are dressed like yamen runners. They are very conspicuous and can be recognized at a glance..."

After listening to the man's words patiently, Meng Changqing immediately asked Chu Mufeng to send someone out to look for him.

The Imperial Guards searched outside for a while and came back saying that they found traces of suspected fighting in one place, but did not find Qi Renli, Yang Zheng and the others.

Bafang comforted Meng Changqing, "It's a good thing that we didn't find anyone. Maybe Captain Yang took the others into hiding."

"What Brother Bafang said makes sense." Zhou Qiwen continued, "When we came back, we went to Hongfu Village for a while, and the people that the Hong family wanted to deal with were also missing. It is very likely that Brother Yang took people to hide."

At this time, the sound of galloping horses was heard in the distance. Zhou Qiwen said, "It should be the brothers who stayed in Dazhou Prefecture."

It turned out to be the imperial guards who stayed in Dazhou Prefecture.

There were not only royal guards on the horse, but also another person, who was Qi Xiang who was following Qi Renli.

Meng Changqing saw who was coming and hurried forward to help him off his horse. "Why did you go to Dazhou Prefecture? Where are your young master and Captain Yang?"

Qi Xiang's lips were chapped and his face was covered in dust, and he looked extremely haggard.

"I followed the young master's order to go back to Beishan County to get help. I didn't know you were coming until I arrived at Yangmen County." Qi Xiang swallowed hard. Bafang quickly took off the water bag from his waist and handed it to him. "Take a breath first." Qi Xiang swallowed hard. "Before I left, I agreed on a secret code with Captain Yang. We should be able to find them by following the code."

"Okay." Meng Changqing handed over his water bag as well. "Where did you separate? What was the secret code?"

With the news brought by Qi Xiang, we have finally found the right way.

The group followed the secret signal and climbed up the mountain. After walking for a while, someone suddenly jumped down from a tree. It was Yang Zheng, who had been in charge of vigilance.

"Sir!" Yang Zheng was very excited when he saw these people. He turned around and shouted, "Sir Qi, Sir Meng is here with Sir Bai and the others! Come out!"

"Is anyone among you injured?" Meng Changqing asked.

"No." Yang Zheng said, "It's just a mob, not enough to hurt us."

At this time, Qi Renli and others climbed out from the col.

"Lord Meng." Qi Renli ran towards Meng Changqing with his hands stretched out, and pushed away Yang Zheng who was standing in the middle. "You're here at last!" He grabbed... Bafang's hand.

Bafang understood Meng Changqing's character and knew that she didn't like others touching her since she was a child. Now that Lord Qi was about to come over and shake his young master's hand, he had to block it for his young master.

"Brother Bafang." Qi Renli was also very easy to talk to, and he took the opportunity to hug Bafang tightly, "You are finally here!" When he said this, tears came out, "I thought we would never meet again.

This Dazhou is really dark and gloomy!"

"Master Meng." Qi Renli let go of Bafang and wiped away his tears. "But what about the news Qi Xiang reported back? Do you understand the whole story?"

"I'm not very clear about what happened here." Meng Changqing looked at the elderly people behind Yang Zheng, "I guess these are the victims, right?"

"Yes, they are willing to sue the Hong family, but I didn't expect..."

Meng Changqing interrupted, "Let's go down the mountain first, and we'll talk while we walk."

While going down the mountain, Qi Renli told Meng Changqing in detail what had happened in the past two days, including the humiliation suffered by the victims.

"All the officials in Dazhou are accomplices!" Qi Renli said excitedly, "They don't care about the people under their rule at all. If there was an official who was willing to stand up for the people, the Hong family would not dare to be so rampant.

How dare they send murderers in broad daylight."

Meng Changqing said, "Master Qi, I understand your anger. Have you written another copy of the petition?"

"I've written it." Qi Renli immediately took out the petition.

While he was hiding in the mountains waiting for reinforcements, he wrote several petitions and asked the victims to put their fingerprints on them, for fear that the situation in Dazhou Prefecture would happen again.

Meng Changqing unfolded the paper and read it carefully. The complaint stated that the Hong family abused their power to bully others, robbed people of their money, and caused casualties. The complaint was well-founded.

Meng Changqing was also amazed after reading it. The term "rich but unkind" was perfectly expressed by Hong Deyu.

"Sir, what should we do now?" Qi Renli asked Meng Changqing. At this time, they had already entered Hongfu Village.

Meng Changqing put away the complaint and said, "Let the victims go back to their homes."

When the victims heard this, they immediately felt that this newly arrived adult was unreliable, and they all turned to Qi Renli for help, "We will definitely be retaliated by the Hong family when we go back."