Border Soldiers: My granaries are full of grain and meat, and I guard this region.

Hearing Zhong Shao's words, the four commanders felt somewhat uneasy.

They were certainly aware that Ma Shuo had dispatched troops to massacre the Ye family village, and many of the men sent out were even under their command.

Now that Ma Shuo has been captured, these people are naturally very worried that Zhong Shao will hold them accountable.

However, some people immediately chose to abandon Ma Shuo and kneel down in front of Zhong Shao.

"Military Advisor Zhong, I truly knew nothing about this! Ma Shuo deserved his fate; even being beheaded a hundred times wouldn't be enough to atone for it! But I am innocent!"

Once the first one was there, the second one followed, and soon the other three also knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

Seeing this, Zhong Shao gently waved his hand.

"Alright, if the investigation is completed and you are found to be innocent, your innocence will be cleared. But the fact that you are willing to cooperate with me in taking away your military power is already a great achievement. Now, you four will pass down the order that the garrison soldiers must not leave Duma Village without authorization. You four will come with me into the city to cooperate with the investigation."

The four commanders exchanged glances and then bowed to Zhong Shao in unison.

"yes!"

By the time Zhong Shao and Qi Feng finished dealing with the matter at Duma Village and returned to Fuxing County, it was already evening.

After anxiously awaiting news in Fuxing County, Zhao Tongchuan felt a huge weight lifted from his heart when he saw Zhong Shao and Qi Feng return safely.

"Military Advisor Zhong, Brother Qi, you're finally back!"

Zhong Shao smiled slightly, "Brother Qi Feng deserves much credit for my successful seizure of military power in Duma Village!"

After listening to Zhong Shao briefly recount the events, Zhao Tongchuan couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for the two of them.

The biggest variable here is that Ma Su actually summoned everyone in advance to discuss countermeasures. If Qi Feng hadn't drawn his sword and killed Ma Su in the end, the outcome of the matter would have been very different.

"Come, let's have a welcome feast for Military Advisor Zhong and Brother Qi! This matter is already a great achievement!"

However, Qi Feng simply bowed slightly to Zhao Tongchuan.

"Magistrate Zhao, Qi Feng is merely a commoner with important matters at home, so he will not be attending this banquet."

For Qi Feng, banquets and the like were of no concern.

Not to mention that he did all this to protect himself, and he didn't want to stand out in the officialdom of Fuxing County.

The tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind. How could someone as commoner as him bring down Ma Shuo, the leader of Duma Village? What would others think of that?

Although Zhong Shao had told him in advance that he would provide him with a way to enter officialdom, he himself was only an eighth-rank military officer, and whether he could succeed depended on his father.

In short, Qi Feng did not want to be too prominent right now, lest he attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

"How can this be allowed! With Ma Shuo captured, the truth about his massacre of Ye Family Village will be thoroughly investigated, and you'll be the one to do the credit!"

Zhong Shao pulled Qi Feng along, inviting him inside with a smile.

But Qi Feng still waved his hand.

"Young Master Zhong, I appreciate your kindness, but since I arrived in the county town, my poor wife is still waiting for news from me. If I don't return soon, I'm afraid she will worry."

"Young Master Zhong, Magistrate Zhao, I will personally visit you another day to apologize! I will certainly bring you some wild game then!"

"Farewell, farewell!"

After saying that, Qi Feng didn't hesitate any longer, and despite Zhong Shao and Zhao Tongchuan's repeated persuasion, he immediately withdrew.

Only after leaving the county government office did Qi Feng feel a huge weight lifted from his heart.

"Phew! It's good that I left early. I'm just a commoner, and I can't afford to accept the support of the two most powerful people in Fuxing County."

Inside the county government office, seeing Qi Feng leave, Zhong Shao and Zhao Tongchuan exchanged a glance, both revealing a hint of helplessness in their eyes.

"Young Master Zhong, Qi Feng is both brave and resourceful. The Sui Dynasty and the Rong Dynasty have been at war for half a year, unable to advance or retreat. If this young man could be put to use by the Zhong family, he would surely help the Zhong family achieve a breakthrough in the officialdom!"

Zhao Tongchuan stroked his goatee and smiled at Zhong Shao.

Zhong Shao smiled slightly and shook his head.

"I fear this man's ambitions lie elsewhere. If Qi Feng were truly a greedy person, why would he have left today?"

"I was really startled in the camp at the time. If Qi Feng hadn't acted immediately, I probably would have been captured. This man is just as you said, brave and resourceful, and knows when to advance and retreat. He probably has great ambitions!"

Zhao Tongchuan laughed heartily, "If that's really the case, then Young Master Zhong only needs to give Qi Feng a little help, and there's no need to worry about him being ungrateful."

"Young Master Zhong, the banquet is now ready. Please step forward! Once the matter with Ma Shuo is resolved, you will surely be able to advance your career based on this achievement! I, Zhao, offer my congratulations in advance!"

Zhong Shao smiled faintly and bowed slightly to Zhao Tongchuan.

"Brother Zhao deserves half the credit for this. If we are fortunate enough to meet again in the imperial court someday!"

......

Before leaving, Qi Feng inquired about the Ye sisters, only to hear that Ye Ling Shuang's old injuries suddenly flared up after she vented her anger on Ma Shuo that afternoon, causing her to faint on the spot. She was taken to a clinic, and fortunately, the doctor managed to save her life, though she still needs to rest.

The Ye sisters temporarily stayed at the Ye Family Restaurant.

Ye Zhiwan, who was taking care of Ye Ling Shuang, immediately became alert upon hearing the knocking on the door.

But then a familiar voice came through.

"I am Qi Feng!"

Upon hearing Qi Feng's voice, Ye Zhiwan hurriedly went to open the door. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Qi Feng had returned unharmed.

"Brother Qi! How's it going at Duma Village?"

Qi Feng nodded slightly to Ye Zhiwan, "Young Master Zhong and I have settled things in Duma Village. Where is your sister? I heard that her old injury flared up again this afternoon?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhiwan's eyes reddened.

"It's all because of Ma Shuo! After being caught, he just went all out and kept talking about Ye Family Village in front of my sister. My sister got so angry that she had a heart attack, which caused her old injury to flare up..."

"Take me to see this quickly."

Following Ye Zhiwan to a room on the second floor, Qi Feng was able to see Ye Ling Shuang lying on the bed by candlelight.

At this moment, Ye Ling Shuang's face was deathly pale, and she lay motionless on the bed, extremely weak.

But when she saw Qi Feng come in, Ye Ling Shuang still struggled to get up, but Qi Feng stepped forward and pressed her down.

"Miss Ye, please take good care of yourself."

"Brother Qi... There are over a hundred people in Ye Family Village... Thank you, Brother Qi... But I, Ye Ling Shuang, am afraid... cough cough..."

Ye Ling Shuang wanted to continue speaking, but then she coughed violently, and a mouthful of blood spurted from her mouth.

Even before Ye Ling Shuang finished speaking, Qi Feng knew what she wanted to say: that she could never repay him in this lifetime.

When Ye Zhiwan saw Ye Ling Shuang vomit blood, she rushed forward, her eyes bloodshot, completely disoriented.

"Sister...don't worry about taking your medicine...the doctor said you need to rest, and you'll be fine as long as you take your medicine..."

Qi Feng frowned as he heard Ye Zhiwan's words.

Given Ye Ling Shuang's current condition, if she continues to stay in bed and rest, she will inevitably develop bedsores or hypostatic pneumonia, and eventually she will die from exhaustion.