Thief Emperor

Chapter 22: Shame on the Family
The Gu family has lived in Shidai County, a neighboring county of Qingyang, for generations.

The Gu family was originally just a local powerful family, but in recent decades, several powerful figures have emerged in the family, and the largest of them has become a fifth-rank official in Beijing.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, a third-rank official had the opportunity to become a prime minister, and being able to hold a fifth-rank official position was certainly not an easy thing.

Although there is only one sixth-rank official in the capital among the living people of the Gu family, but with the help of several generations of connections and the promising elders, the ancestor of the fifth-rank official in the capital successfully married a woman from a noble family in Longxi in the capital.

At this point, the Gu family's status became high.

Although others might not recognize this exaltation, at least the Gu family themselves did. For the next two or three generations, they all considered themselves to be the most prestigious family in Shidai and looked down upon others.

Xue Yuner's previous fiancé was the youngest son of the head of the Gu family, named Gu Cheng.

When the leader Li and his men kidnapped the bride that day, the second young master of the Gu family was so scared that he pissed himself and shit himself. Before the yamen runners had time to disperse, the second young master Gu rode away on his horse, leaving the sedan chair behind. He was kidnapped on the mountain by the people of the Cangshan Stronghold.

After the incident, the Gu family pretended to be dead and only sent an uncle of the second young master Gu to Qingyang County to inquire about the situation. There has been no movement since then.

From any perspective, the Gu family's behavior can be described as bad.

Now, Xue Yun'er has returned home. Although the wedding was not held, the marriage certificate and other documents have been signed. After the Gu family heard the news of Xue Yun'er's return, they will definitely send someone to find out about this matter.

Mr. Xue asked Li Yun to stay with his purpose of having Li Yun prove Xue Yun'er's innocence. Regardless of whether this matter could be accomplished or not, he would not allow his daughter's reputation to be damaged.

Village Chief Li thought about it.

Although he did not do this, it was indeed caused by him. As a man, he should stay and put an end to this matter once and for all.

So, after thinking for a while, the village chief Li nodded slowly and said, "Okay, when the Gu family comes, Master Xue will send someone to find me."

Magistrate Xue looked at him and frowned, "Aren't you going to live with me in the county government office?"

Li Yun waved his hands and shook his head, saying, "Master Xue, I was born in Qingyang, but I haven't been back for many years. I happened to be wandering around the city these two days. When the Gu family comes, Master Xue will send someone to call me."

He patted his chest and said, "Li Zhao always keeps his word. I will definitely go when the time comes."

Master Xue looked at him, then nodded and said, "With your skills, there is nothing to worry about. You should take a good look around Qingyang these two days. When the Gu family's affairs are over, I will arrange for you to go to the county government to meet your subordinates."

Li Yun rolled his eyes, and suddenly smiled and asked, "Master Xue, as a captain, how many people do I manage?"

"About twenty."

Magistrate Xue shook his head slightly and said, "Our Qingyang is not a big county..."

Just over twenty...

Village leader Li curled his lips in his heart.

There are still more people than I manage in the mountains!
However, he still had a smile on his face and said with a smile: "Then..."

"Can I bring one or two people from outside to serve as county officials?"

Mr. Xue put his hands behind his back, glanced at him, and lowered his voice: "Don't bring bandits to Qingyang."

Li Dazhaizhu smiled and said, "How could it be?"

"Li has always been full of righteousness since he was young. He never tolerates any injustice in his eyes. The people he makes friends with are all upright and righteous people. How could he know a bandit?"

Master Xue glanced at him with a complicated expression, but he didn't say much. Instead, he walked away: "I have been in Qingyang for a short time..."

Upon hearing this, Chief Li stroked his chin as he looked at County Magistrate Xue's receding figure.

What did the old man mean by his last words?
Just as he was stroking his chin in thought, Xue Yun'er passed by him. Miss Xue glanced at him and lowered her voice: "You came down from the mountains and you don't know anything. Don't be fooled by others..."

After saying that, Miss Xue quickly followed her mother's pace and walked away with her parents.

Village leader Li stood with his hands behind his back and rolled his eyes at Xue Yuner's back.

I don’t understand anything?

I know so much!
………………

In the next two days, the leader Li…oh no, it should be Li Dutou, took a good tour around Qingyang County.

In this era, even the capital city would not be particularly large, not as huge as a city in later generations. Qingyang County, as a county town, was even smaller. In two days, Li Yun almost visited this small county town.

He was a cautious person and marked several convenient escape spots for himself, ready to run away as soon as things went wrong.

Well...it should be said that he ran away with the sword.

At noon that day, Captain Li was sitting down in a roadside restaurant. He had just ordered the food and had not yet waited for it to be served when a young man in a black shirt ran over, bowed his head and clasped his fists, saying, "Captain Li, the county lord wants you to come over."

Li Dutou glanced at the messenger who came to report the news and asked with a smile, "How did you find me?"

The yamen runner was stunned for a moment, then he said, "To the commander, Qingyang County is only this big..." "Easy answer."

Li Yun smiled, stood up and patted his shoulder: "What's your name?"

"My last name is Chen. I'm the eldest in my family. Everyone calls me Chen Da."

"You go ahead."

Li Dutou stretched himself, yawned and said, "I'll be there right away."

"Yes."

Chen Da turned around and ran away, very smartly.

It’s not that Li Yun, the captain, is so powerful, but in today’s Qingyang County, almost everyone knows how powerful Li Yun, the captain, is. No one dares to mess with such a ruthless man who can just throw people out.

After getting up, the village chief Li called the waiter, took out a dozen copper coins from his waist, and spread them on the table: "I have something to do, so I won't eat. Here is the meal money."

The shopkeeper in the distance saw this and hurried over, picked up the money, handed it back to Li Yun, and said with a smile: "Sir, please eat. How dare we take your money? Besides, you haven't eaten yet, so just leave."

Li Yun was a little curious: "In Qingyang, officials don't even pay for meals?"

The shopkeeper had a strange look on his face and didn't dare to say a word.

Li Yun curled his lips, did not take the money, turned around and left.

After walking out of the restaurant, he looked back at the store, spat on the ground, and muttered something under his breath.

"Damn it, I'm a bandit and I have to pay for my meals!"

…………

Qingyang County Yamen.

Gu Zhang, a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar, and his nephew Gu Cheng stood in front of County Magistrate Xue Song. Gu Zhang's face was full of smiles, even a little apologetic, and he bowed.

Gu Cheng stood behind his uncle, looking around from time to time, obviously not taking today's events too seriously.

"Brother Yue Ji, it was Gu who proposed this marriage to you, and it was Gu who arranged everything. Now that things have turned out like this, it is indeed Gu's fault. Gu apologizes to you."

After Gu Zhang bowed, he sighed: "But..."

"The old lady in the family doesn't want to bring shame to the family, and she refused to let your daughter enter the house. Now that things have come to this, I have no choice but to inconvenience Brother Yue Ji."

"My family has also prepared some small gifts to apologize to Brother Yue Ji."

At this point, he turned around to look at his nephew Gu Cheng and said in a low voice: "Why don't you kowtow to your uncle Xue and apologize?"

Gu Cheng responded and was about to kowtow when he was stopped by Master Xue.

"Wait a minute."

Magistrate Xue stood up and looked at Gu Zhang in front of him, the muscles on his face twitching with anger.

"Brother Gu means that you are here today..."

Gu Zhang looked sad and sighed, "I'm here to break off the engagement."

"Brother Yue Ji also knows that the old lady at home..."

"I know."

Master Xue was so angry that his face turned black. He gritted his teeth and said, "I was born in a noble family in Longxi."

He looked up at the uncle and nephew, and after a long time, he let out a sigh of relief.

"You can cancel the engagement, but before you do, there is one thing that our two families must clarify."

He turned his head to look at the follower beside him and shouted, "Where is Captain Li?!"

The attendant was trembling with fear. He first ran outside to take a look, then hurried back to Master Xue and said with his head lowered, "Master, Li...Captain Li has arrived outside the county government office."

"it is good."

Magistrate Xue sat back in the main seat, took a sip of tea, and then spoke slowly.

"immediately…"

"Let him in."

(End of this chapter)