Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 19 Qiu Shenji's Second Wave of Lackeys
"Wow! So intricately linked!"

Liu Jianjun exclaimed in admiration, "If you want to search the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, you can't just do it by ordinary means, so you have to kill Ming Chongyan."

"But as the crown prince, you obviously couldn't really kill Ming Chongyan, so you arranged a frame-up."

"But framing you too obviously won't work, so let's take another roundabout approach and give you a pretext of homosexuality. Under the guise of investigating a case of indecency, we'll just happen to discover that you killed Ming Chongyan. It's all connected! All connected!"

Li Xian pursed his lips; he had actually thought of these things long ago.

He just didn't understand who wanted to frame him.
Liu Jianjun had obviously thought of this as well, and asked, "Have you figured out who framed you?"

Li Xian shook his head and said with a wry smile, "How would I know?"

"Then think about it, if you, the crown prince, were to fall from grace, who would benefit the most?"

Li Xian hesitated for a moment and said, "If we're talking about the beneficiary... naturally it would be Li Xian, who replaced me as the crown prince... but it could never be him! I've said before that Li Xian and I have had an excellent relationship since childhood, and even... in any case, it can't be him!"

Liu Jianjun clicked his tongue twice and sighed, "A leaf before the eyes!"

"Alright, since we can't think of anything from the perspective of profit, let's try to approach it from other angles. The whole thing started with the indecent assault case, so let's talk about the indecent assault case."

"You said the cases concerning moral depravity were handled by two prime ministers and the censor-in-chief. Is it possible that the three of them framed you?"

Li Xian shook his head again: "It should be impossible. Both prime ministers were promoted by the Empress Dowager. They have no reason to frame me."

Liu Jianjun seemed to want to say something more, but after glancing at Li Xian, he only sighed and said in that old-fashioned tone, "Never mind, you'll understand later!"

Li Xian was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, but Liu Jianjun suddenly stood up and said, "It seems that helping you return to Chang'an is really a tough job, but don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

As Liu Jianjun spoke, he wore that confident smile again, and Li Xian felt grateful once more. But then Liu Jianjun waved his hand and said, "Alright, go back now!"

"Go back?" Li Xian was taken aback.

"The sun is almost setting! Our remote village is nothing like Chang'an. At night, there are not only jackals and wolves, but also poisonous insects. Walking on mountain paths in the dark is a dangerous job!"

Li Xian then realized what was happening, patted the fine sand off his bottom, stood up, and caught up with Liu Jianjun in a few quick steps.

……

The journey back was smooth, and Li Xian soon arrived at flat ground. He did not encounter the jackals and poisonous insects that Liu Jianjun had mentioned, but the gradually darkening sky was like a gaping maw that would devour everything, making him feel uneasy for no reason.

Fortunately, Liu Jianjun was ahead.

"We'll be passing by your house soon, you can go straight back, I can go back by myself," Liu Jianjun said without turning his head.

Li Xian hummed in agreement. Liu Jianjun had lived in Liujiazhuang for sixteen years and knew everything about Liujiazhuang better than he did. There was no need for any formalities or to see him off again.

But after walking for a short while, Liu Jianjun suddenly bent over like a wary leopard and grabbed Li Xian.

Just as Li Xiangang was about to ask something, his gaze followed Liu Jianjun's direction and he saw a group of people.

That group of people were definitely not from Niujiazhuang. There were about twenty or thirty of them in total. They all looked fierce, and most of them were carrying weapons, such as short knives or daggers. Only a few were carrying short sticks. They walked in front, making a lot of noise.

Judging from the direction they're heading... it's their own home!
Li Xian realized who these people were almost immediately.

Qiu Shenji's second wave of lackeys!

The four thugs from last time died, and Qiu Shenji clearly didn't intend to let it go so easily, so he sent a new group of people.

Moreover, unlike the four unarmed thugs last time, this time the people who came all had weapons. Whether these weapons were for defense against the villagers of Liujiazhuang or for their own use, it meant that this time the thugs would be more difficult to deal with!

"Embroiderer!" Li Xian cried out anxiously, about to rush out. Only his wives, concubines, and children remained in his courtyard. If these people couldn't find him, what might they do to them?
"Don't worry!"

Liu Jianjun grabbed Li Xian, saying, "You won't get away with this alone!"

"I know! But I can't just watch my wife and children be humiliated by them!" Li Xian stared at Liu Jianjun with utmost seriousness.

"Alright, don't be so pessimistic. Follow them quietly, but don't get caught. I'll be right back!" Liu Jianjun instructed, then crouched down and ran forward.

The gang of thugs was walking on the main road. Li Xian was worried that Liu Jianjun would be discovered by them, but he saw Liu Jianjun dart into the ditch next to him. Then, like a slippery eel, he rushed in front of the group. It was dusk, and no one noticed him.

Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief, but then his heart jumped again.

It was obvious that Liu Jianjun had gone to Liujiazhuang to seek help.

But this time the bullies were different from the last time; they brought weapons. If the villagers of Liujiazhuang were injured or killed because of him, he would live with guilt for the rest of his life.

Watching the group of thugs gradually disappear into the distance, Li Xian gritted his teeth and quietly followed them.

No matter what, if a fight really breaks out later, I must do my part!

The group of thugs quickly arrived in front of Li Xian's yard. Li Xian began to feel nervous again. Liu Jianjun had not returned yet. If these thugs were to do something to his wife and children, he would be powerless to stop them.

Li Xian soon saw the group of thugs standing in front of his courtyard. Some of them lit torches, while others clashed their short knives together, producing a piercing metallic clang.

At this moment, Li Xian desperately hoped that these bullies would only make some noise outside the door to disturb people's rest, just like the previous bullies, or even if they splashed some excrement, it wouldn't matter.

In this way, the wives and children can at least hold out until Liu Jianjun arrives.

But Li Xian soon realized that his wish was too extravagant.

Qiu Shenji is clearly serious this time.

The group of thugs were shouting around the courtyard. Li Xian was a little far away and couldn't hear what they were saying, but their tone was definitely not kind.

Li Xian didn't know how Xiu Niang and the others were doing. The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and there wasn't a ray of light inside.

But he knew that his wife and children must be extremely anxious at that moment.

"Hold on! Hold on!" Li Xian murmured, hoping his wife and children could hear his heartfelt words.

But at this moment, the group of bullies became increasingly arrogant. They placed torches on the courtyard gate, and soon new flames rose up, which were the Spring Festival couplets that Li Xiangan had just put up.

But the bullies' evil deeds didn't stop there. It seemed that there was still no reaction in the yard, and the bullies couldn't stand it anymore.

Li Xian saw a figure in the flickering firelight, holding a torch and shouting loudly. There were thugs nearby who tried to stop him, but they failed. After shouting for a while, the thug holding the torch suddenly threw the torch into the yard.

The torch flew to the roof like a spinning firebird, and the thatched roof burst into flames almost instantly!

Li Xian could no longer hold back and suddenly rushed out.

But at that moment, Li Xian heard a cacophony of shouts and cries of battle.

The villagers from Liujiazhuang have arrived.

……

(End of this chapter)