Red Mansion Jia Enhou

When Zhen Shiyin was found, he had already fallen into poverty.

In a fire, Zhen Shiyin lost all his life savings, except for his fertile farmland and shops.

Zhen Shiyin sold all of them in order to find the lost Yinglian.

Now he took his remaining money and went to Daruzhou to seek refuge with his father-in-law Feng Su.

Feng Su was a man who despised the poor and loved the rich. The reason he married his daughter to Zhen Shiyin was because he was attracted by Zhen Shiyin's wealthy family property.

Now Zhen Shiyin has fallen on hard times and seeks refuge with him.

Although he did not express his disgust, he had been complaining about it in private and was trying to find a way to get the little money left from Zhen Shiyin.

"Is this Master Zhen's house?"

The house that Zhen Shiyin bought in Daruzhou was a small courtyard with two entrances. Now that he was down and out, he had dismissed all his servants and only had two maids left.

One is called Xiutao and the other is called Jiaoxing.

Jiao Xing was about seventeen or eighteen years old. She was beautiful and graceful. She was the personal maid of Mrs. Zhen Shiyin.

The remaining one, Xiutao, was a little girl of about eleven or twelve years old, who used to follow Yinglian.

Zhen Shiyin left it here on purpose because he was afraid that there would be no one to take care of his daughter when she was found.

Now two maids are sweeping the courtyard.

Hearing the knock on the door, Jiao Xing motioned to Xiu Tao to open it.

Xiu Tao obediently put down the broom in her hand.

"Here is, who are you?"

"What do you want to see my master?"

Xiu Tao put down the broom, ran to the gate of the yard and opened it a little.

Through this small gap, Xiu Tao saw the slightly rough face of the secret guard.

"I am from the government office, and I am here to ask your master about your young lady's disappearance."

The secret guard took out the identity token he usually used when traveling.

The words "Inspection Order" were written on the token.

Xiu Tao didn't understand, but she knew that those who could get such a token were all big shots.

"Please wait a moment, my master is not at home, I will go find my wife."

"Trouble!"

The secret guard bowed shyly to the little girl.

Xiu Tao waved her hands and shook her head quickly.

"It's all my job, you're too polite, sir."

Xiu Tao closed the door and ran back to the yard excitedly.

"It's someone from the government office, Sister Jiao Xing!"

"Our young lady may have some news, go and ask the lady!"

Jiao Xing ran from the front yard to the inner yard without saying a word.

Until he saw Feng, Feng's eyes were full of sadness as she held the things used by Zhen Yinglian in a daze.

"Madam, someone has come from the government office. The young lady may have been found."

Feng stood up.

"Yinglian has been found?"

Feng looked at Jiao Xing in shock, and Jiao Xing shook her head uncertainly.

"He's someone from the government. I think he might have found it, otherwise he wouldn't have come to my house in person."

Feng trotted out, and Xiu Tao had already let the secret guard in.

Feng ran over and took a look at the clothes of the so-called person from the yamen.

Why wasn't he wearing his official uniform when he came to the government office? Feng subconsciously thought something was wrong.

"who are you?"

Feng became alert.

The secret guard took the token and revealed his identity to Feng.

"Inspector's order!"

Feng, who was literate, looked at it carefully, and after confirming that it was authentic, her mouth opened slightly.

"grown ups!"

With Jiao Xing's support, Feng quickly saluted the secret guard.

"I wonder if my lord has found my little girl?"

Feng asked anxiously.

The secret guard shook his head regretfully towards Feng.

"Madam, I was sent here because I heard about your family's affairs. I want to ask you about the monk and the Taoist priest."

Hatred flashed in Feng's eyes.

“They were the ones who burned down my house!”

"Please help me find my little girl. My master and I are willing to give everything we have to repay you!"

Feng knelt down towards the secret guard.

When the secret guard came, he already knew what happened to Feng's family, and he felt very sad for it.

However, what can be confirmed at present is that the monk and the Taoist priest are related to the kidnapper.

It is very likely that the cooperation was not achieved, and the kidnapper became angry and abducted Yinglian as a revenge.

"Madam Zhen, please get up. I am just following orders."

"I wonder if Madam could call back the master of Ling Mansion?"

"I have many questions to ask Master Zhen."

"Go!"

Feng patted Xiu Tao excitedly, and Xiu Tao understood what she meant and left.

The court's investigation of a monk and a Taoist priest meant that her young lady would soon be back.

The master and his wife had said more than once that the human trafficker must have some connection with a monk and a Taoist priest.

However, the prefect of Jinling did not dare to investigate further, forcing her master and his mistress to fall to this state.

The place where Zhen Shiyin taught was not far from the current Zhen family. The little girl quickly arrived at the private school where Zhen Shiyin taught with her nimble feet and pushed open the door of the classroom.

Zhen Shiyin, who was disturbed, frowned and looked towards the door.

It was the shy little girl.

"Master, please go home quickly. Someone from the county government is here to ask about our family affairs."

After searching for more than two years and almost giving up, Zhen Shiyin stood up excitedly.

The dissatisfaction in his heart just now was swept away, and now he was only left with excitement and resentment in his heart. Tears flowed from Zhen Shiyin's eyes.

After all, he is a Jinshi.

After all these years, there is still no one to turn to.

Zhen Shiyin glanced at the students in the room.

"Master, go quickly!"

The students who knew about Zhen Shiyin's family situation asked Zhen Shiyin to go back.

Zhen Shiyin was moved and bowed to the students.

"Master, please come back soon. Junior Sister is very important!"

Zhen Shiyin nodded heavily.

"While I am away, each of you shall write an eight-part essay on the topic of collusion!"

Zhen Shiyin left with Xiu Tao.

The secret guard saw Zhen Shiyin and told him his identity.

Zhen Shiyin told everything he knew and narrated everything that happened to him.

The secret guard wrote down all of this.

Including the hallucinations and afterimages that Zhen Shiyin mentioned, this should be caused by some kind of hallucinogenic drug.

This case is not simple, it should be the work of some underworld gang, the secret guard sighed in his heart.

"Master Zhen, do you have anything else to say?"

The secret guard looked at Zhen Shiyin and spoke.

The more you know, the easier it is to investigate the case.

Zhen Shiyin shook his head at the secret guard.

"That's all I know. Your Excellency can send someone to me."

"That monk and the Taoist priest regard my Yinglian so highly, if they fail to get her, they will definitely come again."

"Then your Excellency can arrest them and interrogate them."

The secret guard nodded to Zhen Shiyin.

Someone will definitely make arrangements, but I don’t know whether the monk and the Taoist are there now.

When the secret guards came out of Zhen Shiyin's house, Zhen Shiyin's wife Feng's eyes were full of excitement.

"Master, our Yinglian is finally saved."

Zhen Shiyin nodded excitedly.

"Master, nothing should happen to our Yinglian, right?"

Feng asked Zhen Shiyin.

Zhen Shiyin remained silent in response to Feng's question.

How can anything good happen if the child falls into the hands of human traffickers?
He hoped that Yinglian could live. As long as she didn't die, he would be content.

At the same time, in Jinling, in a remote small courtyard.

The kidnapper is here in Jinling with his men.

By now, the news about Hulu Temple had spread throughout Jinling City through the speeches of Jia Lian and Jia Zhen.

Jinling, who is only seven or eight years old this year, was taken care of by the kidnapper and treated as his own daughter.

The kidnapper no longer dares to let Xiangling go out.

The beauty mole on Xiangling's forehead was too eye-catching, so he was now preparing to find an opportunity to run away with his people.

Little did he know that the neighbors had been paying attention to him.

As soon as the beggar went out to inquire about things, the neighbors started knocking on the door.

Xiangling heard the knock on the door but didn't dare to open it.

Kidnappers used to scare her, but now there are many kidnappers.

Although the kidnapper wasn't very nice to her, she didn't want to be taken around anymore.

Xiangling hid herself in the quilt.

Until a familiar voice sounded at the door.

"Xiangling, I'm your Aunt Zhou. Please open the door."

The person knocking on the door was not someone else but the kind-hearted lady next door.

She had long suspected that Guaizi and Xiangling were not father and daughter. A dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix gives birth to a phoenix, so how could they not be similar at all if they were biological children?

There are other things that are more critical.

One evening she sat in the yard to get some fresh air.

There was actually a sound of Xiangling threatening with a knife in the yard. Could this be a normal thing happening between a father and daughter?
Xiangling came out from under the quilt and peeked out through the crack in the door.

It was indeed Aunt Zhou. Not only her, but also people from other families in the alley were standing behind her.

"Xiangling, open the door!"

Xiangling was a little scared.

"You are not your father's child, are you?"

When Xiangling heard what Aunt Zhou said, shock flashed in her eyes.

"How do you know, ma'am?"

"Your parents are from the area near Gusu Hulu Temple. Your name is Zhen Yinglian."

"Your father's name is Zhen Shiyin, he was a Jinshi. When you were five years old, you went out on the street and were abducted by a kidnapper."

"Now your adopted father is that kidnapper."

The familiar name came to her mind, and tears instantly welled up in Xiangling's eyes.

"Auntie Zhou, how did you know?"

"Silly child, the news has spread everywhere. It's a good thing I've seen you. If I hadn't seen you, who knows what would have happened to you."

"Follow me quickly!"

Aunt Zhou reached out and pulled Xiangling.

Xiangling stood still.

"You silly boy, why don't you go with me?"

Xiangling looked at Aunt Zhou with tears in her eyes.

Xiangling is sensible now. If she is abducted and then found, I am afraid that her parents will spread rumors about her having an affair.

"I won't leave, Auntie. Please tell my biological parents that I'm dead. I don't have the face to go back to see them, and I don't want them to be spit on because of me."

Xiangling is so sensible that it’s scary.

Aunt Zhou's face was full of anxiety.

"What nonsense are you talking about, kid? You are the only child of your parents. If you don't go back, what will your parents do?"

"Be obedient and follow me."

Xiangling's eyes were full of shock.

"I am the only one of my parents?"

Aunt Zhou nodded.

"How come you don't remember anything about your home?"

"I have lost all my memories before the age of five."

Xiangling answered truthfully, and Aunt Zhou's eyes lit up.

“This is right.”

"The young lady from the Zhen family was only five years old when she went out to watch the lanterns and lost her life."

"Go away girl!"

Aunt Zhou pulled Xiangling, and this time Xiangling did not struggle anymore. She obediently followed Aunt Zhou to the county government office.

The county magistrate in the county government is in cahoots with the prefect of Jinling, and the prefect of Jinling dares not interfere in the matter.

How dare they manage?

Fortunately, Aunt Zhou was afraid, so she went with a group of people.

This is the power of the masses. Those in the county government have been searching for it for almost three years but still can’t find it.

The incident was reported by enthusiastic citizens just one day after it began to ferment.

The magistrate of Liuhe County, which was under the jurisdiction of Jinling, was in bad luck. He hid in the county government office in a hurry and dared not see anyone.

"How is it? Has the news reached the prefect of Jinling?"

"These unruly people actually dared to break into the gate of the county government. Every one of them must be locked up."

The eyes of the Liuhe County Magistrate were full of hatred towards the people outside.

"Master, run. Those people outside may be difficult to deal with. If we don't run now, it will be even more difficult for us when they break in."

The Liuhe County Magistrate glanced outside.

The officials were anxiously giving their opinions.

If the Liuhe County Magistrate doesn't run away, then his subordinates can't run away either.

Otherwise, the monk can run away but the temple cannot.

When I come back, I will lose this iron rice bowl, how will I make a living?

A group of suppressed clerks looked at the Liuhe County Magistrate anxiously, "Run, run!"

If we run late, everyone will suffer.

"Can't run!"

If you don't run, you can still live, but if you run, you will die.

"Whoever dares to run, I will break his legs."

A few people who were thinking of backing out immediately stopped themselves.

The Liuhe County Magistrate's tone was threatening, and the minor officials looked at him in disbelief. They felt that he did not take their lives seriously.

"All of you, get out of here. If any unruly person is let in, you will be punished."

"grown ups!"

When the Liuhe County Magistrate heard their unwilling voices, a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.

"You don't want to?"

The petty clerk and the constable didn't dare to say anything and could only accept his fate and leave.

At the same time, at the Jinling Prefecture.

The prefect of Jinling received the report from the servant, but he had no information.

It was as if he was deaf to the Liuhe County Magistrate's call for help.

But how was Zhen Shiyin’s daughter found?

The prefect of Jinling was curious about this, and while admiring the flowers in the back garden, he couldn't help but pinch off a flower.

"Go back and find your county magistrate first. The people from Jinling Prefecture will be here soon. Ask him to delay."

"grown ups!"

The servant looked at the Jinling prefect in disbelief. This matter could not be delayed.

Because the county magistrate was hiding, the people outside Liuhe County had already begun to show signs of rioting. If the situation was delayed any further, people would die.

What the Jinling prefect wants to see is someone die.

Once the Liuhe County Magistrate died, he could put the blame on him, or directly send a memorial to the emperor to tell him that there was a rebellion in Nanjing, and then send people to suppress the bandits.

Whichever it is, it's a good thing he got away with dereliction of duty all these years.

"grown ups!"

Naturally, the servant sent by his master would not leave unless he got any reinforcements.

The prefect of Jinling looked at the servant in front of him with a flash of surprise in his eyes.

"Didn't I ask you to go back and tell your master to find a way to delay the situation? Why don't you leave?"

"Are you taking my words lightly?"

The Jinling prefect raised his eyes slightly, revealing the aura of a superior who was intimidating without even getting angry.

The servant looked at the prefect of Jinling in embarrassment.

"My lord, I can't leave!"

"My master is still waiting for me to ask you for help!"

The servant was not someone who could be easily fooled, and the Jinling prefect put on a smile on his face.

"So you want to rely on me?"

"I dare not, sir!"

The thing the servant could not admit the most was that he was the servant of the Liuhe County Magistrate. If he failed to do the Liuhe County Magistrate's order, he was afraid that all his family members would be buried with him.

"Please send someone to rescue my master as soon as possible."

The servant knelt down desperately.

The prefect of Jinling took a look and a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes.

"Didn't I tell you to go back and report to your master first? I will send someone soon!"

"The situation at Liuhe Yamen can't be delayed any longer, sir!"

The servant opened his eyes wide and looked at the prefect of Jinling.

The Jinling prefect glanced at the servant and answered.

"I know, you go back first."

"When Yingtian Prefecture sends people, there is a procedure. It's useless for you to stay here. Why don't you go back and find your county magistrate first!"

The servant looked at the prefect of Jinling doubtfully.

The prefect of Jinling simply ordered the servant to be driven out, and the servant had no choice but to go back.

"Sir, do we still need to send this man?"

The prefect of Jinling smiled at the clerk who asked the question.

"What do you say?"

"The people's riots are not the responsibility of Yingtian Prefecture."

Although this is not under the jurisdiction of Yingtian Prefecture, it still has to bear a lot of responsibility. The prefect of Jinling has already figured out how to get away with it.

It means putting the hat on the head of the Liuhe County Magistrate, and then everyone will report him, and it will become true even if it is not true.

If you want to blame someone, blame his bad luck.

"Go home!"

"I have never been to Yingtian Prefecture today!"

The Jinling prefect gave his orders, changed into casual clothes and left.

The threatened clerk felt cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. Looking in the direction of the Jinling prefect, fear was in his eyes.

Why is this prefect like this?

When the people below rioted, he did not think about how to solve the problem. Instead, the first thing he did was to shirk responsibility and was ready to throw the blame for dereliction of duty onto the Liuhe County Magistrate.

This is really too much.

The prefect of Jinling returned to his home and stayed there happily.

Little did he know that Shi Nai had already obtained evidence of his dereliction of duty and corruption and was preparing to arrest him.

"Inspector's order!"

Within an hour, Shi Nai and his men appeared in front of the gate of Yingtian Prefecture.

(End of this chapter)