"Report."
The carriage stopped two streets away from the Suzhou government. The Tiger Guards cautiously watched the movements around them. An Overwatch Council secret agent wearing commoner clothing leaned over and examined the token. He moved closer to the carriage window and spoke in a quiet voice.
In the carriage, Fan Xian was holding something and reading it closely. He nodded and said, "Speak."
"Ming Garden has not resisted. The people of the Fourth Bureau have already gone in and are currently searching. For now, there are no results."
Fan Xian thought for a moment and then said, "Pay attention to propriety. Tell Zi Yue not to be too arrogant."
The secret agent made a sound of acknowledgment and turned to leave the carriage, disappearing into the morning crowd in Suzhou.
The carriage slowly began to move again. It had traveled half a street in the direction of the Suzhou government. Another Overwatch Council secret agent flashed out from the corner of the street and came to the side of the carriage. Lowering his voice, he reported, "There are no unusual movements at the docks."
Fan Xian was silent and waved his hand to let the person go.
From Hua Garden to the Suzhou government, they had to pass through half of Suzhou. Along the way, the carriage moved silently and did not attract much attention. Most of the people of Suzhou did not know that this morning, the Overwatch Council officials had already charged into Ming Garden like wolves and tigers.
During this distance, the crows that the Overwatch Council had temporarily mobilized began to report news from all sides. All of the information related to the Ming family's response was gathered into this moving carriage.
For example, the situation in Ming Garden, the situation of the Ming merchant house opening as usual, and the response of the governor's yamen. All of it was sent as quickly as possible into the carriage and handed over to Fan Xian for him to consider.
In other words, this carriage was the central tent of the Overwatch Council's operation.
Fan Xian also felt a glimmer of strangeness. Even if the Ming family was showing weakness, they could not be bullied to the point where they had not made any moves to retaliate. On the contrary, it was the governor's yamen that was beginning to grow nervous. There were already rumors of troops being mobilized.
In today's plan, seeing the Ming family's response was one thing. Capturing that housekeeper Zhou was the most important. During these few days, Ming Garden had been under the Overwatch Council's close surveillance. Housekeeper Zhou should not have had any chance to escape.
Most importantly, the Ming family still did not know that the news of housekeeper Zhou hiding in Ming Garden had already been grasped by the Overwatch Council.
Thinking of this, a self-mocking smile rose involuntarily to the corners of Fan Xian's lips. In this world of large families, if they fought their way in from the outside, they would always be like a centipede with a hundred legs. They would not die immediately, but if they fought from within, then they would face true difficulties. This was something Cao Xueqin had said in "Dream of the Red Chamber". The reason he had such a sigh now was because the place housekeeper Zhou was hiding was a member of the Ming family. A very powerful person within the Ming family had told Fan Xian through some channel.
Otherwise, given the tight defenses of Ming Garden and the fact that the Overwatch Council had not successfully placed a spy from the upper echelons in a dozen years, how could they have calculated that housekeeper Zhou was in Ming Garden?
As long as Steward Zhou was in Ming Garden, today's matter could be considered a success.
…
…
The carriage gradually approached the Suzhou government. Another secret agent from the Overwatch Council came to report some news. There was nothing else strange. The carriage entered an unremarkable little alley and leaned against a thick wall, stopping there. No one knew what it was doing.
About 100 feet to the side of the Suzhou yamen was the prison that held the prisoners. The prison killed people in the autumn and raised them in the spring. Right now, it was a time of "prosperity." There were 40 to 50 people locked up in one prison.
Going in through the iron gate of the prison, all the way to the end of the straight path, there was a place where sunlight shone down from above, slightly warming the place and dispersing some of the dampness. Compared to the other dark and sunless prison cells, this place was much more comfortable.
This prison cell was padded with hay. Under the hay, one could faintly see forbidden blankets and the like. A middle-aged man was drinking alone with a deathly pale face, enjoying a treatment that normal prisoners could not enjoy.
This was the Fourth master of the Ming family. Because the Overwatch Council wanted to defeat the Ming family, he had become the first person to be used as a sacrifice. He had been forcefully locked up in the Suzhou government. It had already been a dozen days, and there was still no news of him being let out. However, the Ming family was, after all, a large and powerful family. It was as if the Suzhou government was being raised by them. Living in the prison, there were people taking care of everything from top to bottom. His days were considered comfortable. In the prison cell next to him were a number of great bandits. They all looked at him with envious gazes.
The Fourth master of the Ming Dynasty was too lazy to pay attention to those bandits. He only narrowed his eyes and looked at the three bailiffs outside the prison door. A mocking smile appeared at the corner of his lips and he said, "What is it today?"
The prison door was opened with a clang by the bailiffs. One of the bailiffs bowed and smiled charmingly. "Fourth master, it's been hard on you these days. However, the Overwatch Council is keeping a close eye, so it's not easy for us to arrange a single room for you."
The Fourth master of the Ming Dynasty shook his head and sighed. "Being able to get out earlier is the proper thing. Did the family say anything?"
At this moment, two other bailiffs had already brought in good food and good wine. They laid it out in front of him, and the fragrance assailed his nostrils.
The Fourth master of the Ming Dynasty was slightly surprised. It was not even lunchtime yet, so why had they come so early to deliver food? Suddenly, he thought of something. His expression couldn't help changing dramatically. In a raspy voice, he said, "What do you mean?"
"After eating this meal, you should be on your way." The bailiffs sighed.
The Fourth master of the Ming Dynasty's face was deathly pale. He didn't quite believe his ears. He thought to himself that at most, he was a tyrant and did not deserve the death penalty. Furthermore, he was a member of the Ming family. How could the government dare to casually kill him? He unconsciously retreated and looked hatefully at the bailiffs. Viciously, he said, "What do you mean? I don't understand."
The bailiffs lowered his head slightly and said, "It is the Overwatch Council's meaning. Fourth master, please don't blame me."
The Fourth master of the Ming Dynasty was not a foolish person. After thinking for a moment, he understood the whole story. After a moment of silence, he smiled wretchedly and said, "What Overwatch Council? I'm afraid the family wants to kill me. "
The bailiffs straightened his body and lowered his voice. "Since you understand, then don't mind it too much. It's not for the good of the family … the Overwatch Council is pressuring the family tightly. I heard they already entered the garden this morning. If we don't do something and make a ruckus, how could the Overwatch Council be willing to stop? You are the Fourth master. Using your life to temporarily ensure the safety of the family for half a year is worth it. "
The Fourth master cursed angrily, "You bastards! If you want to die, why don't you let the old matriarch die? I'll f * ck her ancestors! "
He had already reached a moment of life and death. Of course, he knew why the Ming family would send people to kill him. This was certainly not to silence him. He had no idea about the core business of the family. This was just a stroke of ink, a stroke of ink smeared on the face of the Overwatch Council. From the end of last year, the Ming family had planned to show weakness and sorrowful battle. They needed to use the death of the Fourth master of the Ming family as the opportunity to explode.
Thinking of this, his heart was filled with despair, dissatisfaction, and anger.
The expression of the bailiffs changed and he said, "The old matriarch is the protector of the Ming family. Fourth master, please be more respectful with your words."
The Fourth master smiled wretchedly and retreated to the corner of the wall. Cursing and swearing in his mouth, he said, "I am also a master of the Ming family. Why must I die? Just because I am not her biological son? "
Two bailiffs had already walked to the side of the Fourth master. Completely ignoring his cursing and resistance, they took out a ball of dirty rag and stuffed it into his mouth, blocking his filthy words. At the same time, they tied his hands behind his back.
The ruckus in the inner room had startled the entire prison. Many prisoners looked over with curiosity and fear.
The leading bailiffs furrowed his brows and shouted, "The Overwatch Council is doing business. Everyone, be quiet!"
Even though they were locked up in prison, these prisoners knew that the Overwatch Council was currently suppressing the Ming family. No one had thought that the Overwatch Council would go deep into the prison to assassinate the Fourth master. They couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts and gradually felt injustice for the Ming family. However, no one dared to glance in that direction for fear of bringing trouble upon themselves.
…
…
The bailiffs looked at the plate of food in front of him and shook his head. Regretfully, he said, "You can't even eat your last meal well. It has been hard on you."
After saying this, he waved his hand. The two bailiffs holding the Fourth master took out ropes and wrapped them around the Fourth master's neck.
The Fourth master's neck was tied, and his face was red from the suffocation. His feet stomped endlessly on the ground, sending the hay flying everywhere and dirtying the quilt below.
The ropes became tighter and tighter. The Fourth master's eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets. His nostrils flared wide. He looked strangely terrifying. The strength of his feet stomping also became weaker and weaker. He was like a dying frog, bouncing weakly.
One could imagine the hopelessness in the heart of the dying Fourth master. One could imagine the hatred he felt toward the old woman of the Ming family and Ming Qingda. However, he was already going to die. What could he do?
The bailiffs looking coldly at the dying Fourth master suddenly felt strange. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the cell nearby. The prisoner was looking at him.
The prisoner was looking at him coldly. It did not seem like he was cold-blooded watching the spectacle. There was also not a glimmer of fear.
He turned around in astonishment and saw the prisoner take out something from the pile of hay and aim it at him.
A crossbow!
…
…
Shing shing shing! Three crossbow noises rang out. Three crossbow bolts flew out and accurately pierced the throats of the three bailiffs. The three of them clutched their throats. They didn't even have time to make a sound before they fell to the ground. Their feet stomped twice and they died.
Once the bailiffs died, the ropes loosened. The already dying Fourth master's powerless feet gradually regained strength.
He slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the prisoner next door with a confused and muddy gaze. He didn't know why the other party had saved him, nor did he see clearly how the other party had saved him.
The prisoner seemed to have done nothing. His eyes were looking straight ahead as he crouched by the bars.
The Fourth master's entire body was sore and weak. His pants were wet and smelly, but he knew he had escaped death.
At this moment, the thick wall behind him, as if it was being manipulated by a ghost, quietly opened up a hole, revealing the clear blue sky outside!
…
…
Gao Da pulled back his long knife. His face was slightly pale. Forcefully breaking through the thick walls of the Suzhou government prison had also used up a lot of his zhenqi. He entered the prison cell, picked up the Fourth master with one hand, and left the prison.
Another Overwatch Council official entered and pulled out the crossbow bolts from the throats of the three bailiffs. He then carefully arranged the situation in the prison cell before walking to the side of the bars and extending his hand.
The prisoner who had saved the Fourth master's life earlier did not say a word. He handed the hidden crossbow in his hand to the Overwatch Council official's hand and pointed at the food box beside him.
The Overwatch Council official picked up a chicken leg and placed it in his hand.
The prisoner smiled with satisfaction.
The Overwatch Council official lowered his voice and said, "Wait another two months. Sir still needs you as a witness."
The prisoner nibbled on the chicken leg and nodded.
Not long after the Overwatch Council official left, the prisoner flicked the rest of the chicken leg into a cell diagonally across from him. Suddenly, his face changed, and he cried out in a shrill voice, "Help! Save me! Someone is killing and breaking into the prison! "
… …
The carriage left the small alley behind the Suzhou government and slowly drove toward the governor's yamen. However, there was now an extra person in the carriage.
The Fourth master sat paralyzed in fear under the carriage chair. He raised his head to gaze at the young and handsome figure and was speechless for a moment.
Fan Xian shook his head and sighed. "Rich and powerful families are indeed always filthy and dirty."
Shortly after, he smiled slightly and said, "Now that you've seen it clearly, I don't need to say more. In the future, you have to grasp the Ming family well and work well with the Seventh master."
The Fourth master swallowed. The scene of him narrowly escaping death had given him too much psychological impact. It did not allow him to think at all. He nodded his head fiercely.
Fan Xian said in a quiet voice, "The old matriarch wants to kill you and blame it on the Overwatch Council. She wants to spread it to the people and create an image of me as shameless and cold-blooded. She wants to stir up the emotions of the people to protect the Ming family … but now that I've saved you, she has instead blamed the Ming family for breaking into the prison … what do you think she will do?"
The Fourth master's eyes were lifeless. He shook his head and endured the pain in his throat. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Sir … don't underestimate that old … that old b * tch."
…
…
So, my condition is not just a problem of my mental state. I've caught a cold, a bad cold. Hissing pain … I've written less, but the quality seems to be better. My satisfaction is rising.
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened afterwards, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. There are more chapters. Support the author. Support the original reading!)
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