Chapter 214: The Interrogation

Chapter 214: Inspection

Upon hearing Bing Qi's words, Wei Li instinctively asked, "Is this related to the County Magistrate?"

Seeing Bing Qi hesitate for a moment, Wei Li quickly waved his hand, "If it's something important, it's fine not to tell me."

Bing Qi furrowed his brows for a long while, speaking haltingly, "Wei Li, we all know your character. The County Magistrate trusts and values you, and I... have never treated you as an outsider. But this matter is of great importance, even the County Magistrate is not fully aware of it. I'm not sure how to put it."

Wei Li, who had been feeling uneasy and filled with indescribable emotions, suddenly felt reassured upon seeing Bing Qi's sincere and cautious explanation.

He gave a faint smile, "I trust you too. I'll get a carriage ready for Tianjin immediately. Take your time to figure out how to explain."

Bing Qi's eyes darted, and he suddenly turned his head away to avoid Wei Li's gaze.

"Shu Geer's identity is special. His sudden appearance must have some underlying reasons. Apart from us, no one else must know he is here."

"I've got it covered," Wei Li replied confidently.

Wei Li turned and went back to his own courtyard, taking out several account books from a locked cabinet. These were the records from another estate, to be submitted every ten days.

In order to handle the account books promptly, Qiu Huanian had entrusted him to collect and organize them before sending them to Tianjin once a month before he left.

Wei Li picked out two pages from the account books, noted them roughly, then tore them out and threw them into the fire to burn.

"Granny Wei, I just checked the accounts submitted by the estate and found something wrong. A few pages from the back of one book were torn out. Someone must be trying to deceive the County Magistrate. I don't know if there are any further tricks, so I need to go to Tianjin to report this immediately."

Hearing Wei Li's words, Granny Wei, lying in the inner room, quickly waved her hand, "Go quickly, go quickly! Don't hold up the County Magistrate's business!"

Both Wei Li and Granny Wei owed their lives to Qiu Huanian, so no one would find it strange that Wei Li was rushing to Tianjin in the rain due to issues with the account books, as Wei Li always prioritized the County Magistrate's orders above all else.

"I've been well for a while now, I just can't do heavy work for now. There's no shortage of food on the estate. But with such heavy rain outside, it will take a day to reach Tianjin. Wei Li, be careful."

"Granny Wei, please don't worry. I'll arrange for a carriage and ask Brother Bing Qi to accompany me."

Hearing Bing Qi's name, Granny Wei no longer worried and showed a kind and gentle smile, "Bing Qi is a good man. Over the years, he has proven to be genuinely sincere. With him around, I am at ease."

Wei Li's face flushed, and he whispered, "Granny Wei, please don't say things like that," before turning and running off.

Using the same reason, he instructed the steward to prepare a carriage. Since it was raining heavily, the excuse to bring the carriage into the courtyard was readily available.

After the unrelated people left, Bing Qi and Wei Li transferred the unconscious man from the bed to the carriage, adding extra blankets and warming pans, and bringing along some emergency medicine.

The scarred stranger was no longer feverish but still unconscious, his face pale, urgently in need of a trustworthy doctor. They had no time to lose, so Bing Qi and Wei Li set off immediately after preparing the carriage.

Before leaving, Bing Qi left a message for Bing Ba, informing him that he was escorting Wei Li to Tianjin to see the County Magistrate. If there was any urgent matter, Bing Ba could go directly to Tianjin to find him.

This message, seemingly ordinary and reasonable, contained a secret code known only to the two brothers. Upon seeing it, Bing Ba would immediately understand that there was an "urgent matter" and head to Tianjin.

The estate where they were located was outside the capital, so they didn't need to pass through city gates. They could travel directly to Tianjin along the main road.

Bing Qi drove the carriage outside, while Wei Li took care of the patient inside, occasionally wiping the cold sweat from the patient's forehead with a hot towel and repositioning the warming pans.

The rain poured down relentlessly outside, heavily pounding on the carriage walls, creating a pitter-patter noise.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage suddenly stopped. Wei Li caught the murmur of voices outside and straightened up.

He called out, "Brother Bing Qi, what's wrong?"

"It looks like there's trouble in the capital. Officials are stopping and searching everyone at the city's exits."

As Bing Qi spoke, the inspecting soldiers approached the carriage.

"At dawn today, remnants of the rebels stirred up trouble in the imperial city, setting the palace on fire. Fortunately, His Majesty was protected by the heavens, and the traitors did not succeed. We are soldiers from the outer capital camp, ordered to guard this road and inspect all suspicious individuals."

Wei Li, hearing that someone dared to set fire to the emperor's residence, felt his heart pounding like a drum. Upon learning that His Majesty was unharmed and the traitors had not succeeded, his heart settled back into place.

However, in a flash of thought, he suddenly realized something: the person sharing the carriage with him was clearly of unusual background and had appeared at this very moment. Could the fire in the imperial city be related to him?

Bing Qi outside the carriage spoke up, "In this heavy rain, you soldiers must be exhausted. We are from Qishu County Princess's household. The person in the carriage is a trusted steward of the princess, urgently on our way to Tianjin to report to her. We were unaware of such a terrifying event occurring in the capital."

Wei Li had already regained his composure. Bing Qi clearly did not want the soldiers to discover the patient in the carriage. Regardless of the patient's true identity, the immediate priority was to navigate through this crisis.

Wei Li proactively lifted the small curtain on the side window of the carriage and took out a token from his pocket, handing it out.

"This is the token of Qishu County Princess. Please take a look, officers."

The token in Wei Li's hand was specifically left by Qiu Huanian, made by the imperial court's internal bureau, with only a few in existence, impossible to counterfeit. The inspecting officer recognized its authenticity and immediately became more respectful upon seeing it.

"Young master, braving the rain to Tianjin must mean you have important matters to report to the princess. We won't hold you up," the officer deliberately avoided eye contact and returned the token to Wei Li.

Wei Li was a young and handsome man, and a member of Qishu County Princess's household. The soldiers dared not offend him excessively, nor could they ask him to step out into the rain for a check. If it had been just Bing Qi, the situation might have been different.

Bing Qi understood the situation and deliberately asked, "Isn't this against protocol? If we delay, the princess will surely reprimand us."

The officer laughed, "It's no trouble. This incident just occurred, and all nine gates of the capital have been closed. No one is allowed to leave the city until the investigation concludes, as per His Majesty's decree. We are stationed here on the main road as a precaution. The real house-to-house search is taking place within the capital."

"Moreover, I have some insight. From how deep your carriage wheels are sinking into the mud, I can tell the carriage is light, with only you and the young master inside. It's impossible for you to be hiding a group of traitors."

Bing Qi asked no more and accepted the officer's kindness, "Then I thank you, sir. Please take this silver for some warm tea."

The officer waved off the silver, "Accepting money would complicate matters. I show you respect out of genuine gratitude towards Qishu County Princess. My hometown village, thanks to the princess's cotton, didn't lose anyone to the cold last winter. If it were someone else, I wouldn't be so lenient."

Bing Qi felt a surge of emotions and took back the pouch of silver, "I will remember this favor. If fate allows us to meet again, I will treat you to a good drink."

The officer smiled, "It will take several hours to reach Tianjin from here. The rain seems endless. You should hurry on your way and not delay."

Bing Qi took the reins, and the sturdy carriage swiftly advanced along the main road through the wind and rain. Without any rest, the journey to Tianjin gradually shortened with the sound of hooves, and the relentless rain began to ease.

Wei Li took out a pancake he had kept close to his body, lifted the carriage curtain, and handed it out, "Brother Bing Qi, this pancake has chestnuts and sesame oil, still warm. You haven't eaten all day, have a bite."

Bing Qi took the pancake and instinctively took a bite. The rich, sweet, and glutinous flavor burst in his mouth, but he couldn't savor it.

Wei Li sat at the carriage entrance with his legs hugged, "Brother Bing Qi, we've deceived the soldiers. According to the plays, isn't this a crime of deceiving the emperor? We're truly in the same boat now. Can you tell me what's really going on?"

Wei Li thought he would be terrified, but after speaking, he felt surprisingly calm.

Compared to the lofty imperial power and the vague "crime of deceiving the emperor," he cherished and cared more about the things around him.

After a moment of silence, Bing Qi spoke hoarsely, "The person in the carriage is Mei Wangshu, my... younger brother."

Wei Li's eyes widened involuntarily. He finally understood why Bing Qi had reacted so strongly.

"The Mei family is a military family, not extremely wealthy but with a heritage spanning generations and a strong family ethos. My mother is a daughter of the Mei family, and Wangshu is the youngest among our cousins."

Bing Qi recounted word by word, "Twenty years ago, during Prince Fen's rebellion, the Mei family was falsely accused and fell into ruin. The main lineage, except for Wangshu, all died in battle at the frontier. Relatives within the five degrees of mourning were either exiled or enslaved in the palace."

"Bing Ba and I were sent to the palace's instrument bureau, and Wangshu also entered the palace but disappeared. We searched for many years without finding him. Until a few years ago, he suddenly appeared and sent us, his useless older brothers, out of the palace."

"I don't know why Wangshu suddenly appeared, nor if the palace fire is related to him. But as long as he is here, and as long as I can do something, I will do everything to protect him."

"Brother Li, I..." Bing Qi suddenly faltered, unsure how to continue.

Wei Li, hearing Bing Qi's background and these secrets for the first time, was deeply shaken, his thoughts in turmoil.

He took a breath and gently held Bing Qi's hand, "Don't feel like you're burdening me. I'm glad to be able to help you."