"There's no need for formalities."
The current Wu Jiong was clearly different from the previous Wu Jiong. She didn't purposely put on a stern face. Just her calm tone and expression carried a deterrent force.
Shen Yi couldn't help but nod inwardly.
As expected, she could see through people's hearts.
If she still used that gentle attitude, coupled with her young and immature appearance, people would subconsciously look down on her. That way, they might not be able to get any information out of her.
At the very least, they wouldn't be able to get any information that wasn't easy to answer.
In order to become a member of the association, one's temperament couldn't be summed up with a simple brush or two.
One couldn't be too cold and emotionless, showing no empathy for the life and death of others, nor could one be too benevolent, treating everyone as an equal. Take this moment for example. In front of an ordinary old farmer, whether it was being gentle and humble or being arrogant and rude, Shen Yi would score low. Only by grasping the balance would one be able to score high.
Wu Jiong clearly did well.
At this moment, she didn't wait for the old farmer to say anything.
Instead, she continued, "I'm sure you already know that we're students of the Immortal Bestow Academy. We're here to investigate the reason for the frequent appearance of malicious ghosts. Secondly, it's the academy's test for us. Thus, we attach great importance to it."
She emphasized the word 'great'.
Her straightforward words made the old farmer's heart skip a beat.
He nodded repeatedly, even somewhat fearfully.
"Yes, Young Miss, please ask. I'll definitely tell you everything."
This fear made Wu Jiong raise her eyebrows slightly. Although her tone was calm, she didn't make any threats. The Great Tang still took care of the elderly to a certain extent. Unless they were slaves, there was no need for them to be so fearful.
However, Wu Jiong keenly noticed.
There was a scar on the right side of the old farmer's face. It seemed like he had been scalded.
No, the color wasn't right.
It was a tattoo used to hide.
This person had been subjected to the 'Ink Punishment'.
"How's the relationship between the people in your Lu Village? Are there any disputes?" Wu Jiong asked the first question.
"Young Miss." This person carefully replied. "Disputes … naturally there are, but they're mostly small matters."
"For example?" Wu Jiong asked again.
The old farmer thought for a while and chose to talk about something that happened recently. "Two days ago, Lu Ergou's family got into a fight with their neighbor, Lu Mazi's family. Lu Ergou broke his arm because Lu Mazi stole the vegetable leaves from his backyard."
"His arm was broken just because he took some vegetable leaves?" Li Tai couldn't help but interject. He seemed to find it unbelievable.
"This … I guess he's angry because of the fight." The old farmer smiled sheepishly.
However, Wu Jiong could still see some disapproval in his eyes.
He was afraid that this was a common occurrence.
"If you quarrel frequently, have you ever caused any deaths?" Wu Jiong continued to ask.
The old farmer's expression changed at once.
He seemed to be a little indignant. Then, he nodded repeatedly and said:
"Not only did people die, but there were also malicious ghosts. They were beaten to death by that Dog Egg Lu's family. The officials also came, but they didn't catch that Dog Egg."
"How could this be?" Li Chengqian frowned. "If an evil ghost appears, the Ghost Driving Department will definitely find the source. If it's man-made, they won't let it go easily."
"Young Master, there's something you don't know." The old farmer seemed to see that Li Chengqian didn't seem to understand. He gathered his courage and continued, "That Dog Egg Lu's family is not to be trifled with. Four years ago, who knows what kind of luck he had, he ran into the city and made a fortune. I heard that he even has connections with the high-ranking officials in the city. He's extremely arrogant. Us lowly peasants can only blame ourselves for being beaten to death. How could we do anything to him?"
"There's actually such a thing." Li Chengqian's frown deepened.
"Hmph, it must be the officials protecting each other, taking bribes and bending the law." Li Tai's beady eyes seemed to be excited. He looked at the mud on the old farmer with some disdain. However, he still leaned forward and said righteously, "Don't worry, no one has been able to do anything to them before. However, I'll definitely get rid of such evil tyrants for you."
"Thank you, Young Master. Thank you, Young Master." The old farmer's face was filled with joy. He thanked him profusely and then continued, "Young Master, there's something you don't know. Our village is angry at that Dog Egg, but we don't dare to say anything. Who doesn't spit on the ground when they mention him? Also, that Dog Egg even forcefully took the prettiest girl in our village and even broke the girl's brother's leg …"
In the old farmer's mouth, that Dog Egg was simply an unpardonably evil village tyrant.
Li Tai was in his youth. How could he have heard such words?
He was immediately filled with righteous indignation.
He wanted nothing more than to charge into that Dog Egg's house with his guards and take him down. Then, he would receive the gratitude of the villagers and the adoration of his classmates. He even glanced cautiously at Wu Jiong. He was actually rather pleased with himself.
"I said just now that evil ghosts are everywhere, they're definitely up to no good. Isn't it just as I said now?"
After saying this, he glared at Li Chengqian. It was he who stood out to refute him just now.
Li Chengqian's brows were tightly furrowed.
Could it really be like this?
But if someone was really up to no good, even to the point of harming lives and causing evil ghosts to appear, how could the government not do anything? Could it really be because that evil person had a backer?
Li Tai saw that Li Chengqian was silent and thought that he was speechless. He became even more pleased with himself, and even somewhat impatient.
"What are you waiting for? I'll tell the teacher directly and have the guards capture that person. Humph, as for the official behind that person, no matter who it is, even if it's an official or a prime minister, I'll definitely capture him if I report this to Imperial Father!"
After saying this, Li Tai himself felt that he was filled with lofty sentiments. He was simply like those great officials in stage plays who spoke up for the people.
He dared to touch an official that even the Ghost Rider Department didn't dare to touch!
As for the old farmer, his face was filled with shock.
What did he just hear?
Imperial Father?
This little fatty, no, this young master actually said the words' Imperial Father '?
It couldn't be wrong. No one in the world would dare to casually say those two words.
The person in front of him was actually a prince!
Wasn't that a prince?
The old farmer's entire body trembled and he almost fainted. A prince had actually appeared in front of him.
But he quickly reacted and hurriedly knelt down.
"This commoner didn't know that a prince was here. Please forgive my rudeness, Your Highness."
"There's no need for that." Li Tai was even more pleased with himself, but he still tried his best to put on an indifferent expression. "This prince originally didn't want to reveal my identity, but I didn't expect that such an evil and corrupt official would appear here. Old man, don't worry. This prince will definitely take care of this matter."
"Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness." The old farmer repeatedly kowtowed, extremely moved.
That bastard also had a day like this.
Humph, so what if you're rich? Today, a prince is here. Let's see if you can still be arrogant.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
