Feng Daniu had been feeling quite depressed lately. He never expected that events from several years ago would resurface. Currently, he faces only two options: either get arrested and implicate the Qin family, leading to their mutual downfall, or get arrested and pin the blame on Uncle Fu and Luo Jiu, then wait for the Qin family to bail him out.
Between complete ruin and potential salvation, anyone would know which to choose.
Of course, he wasn’t afraid of the Qin family abandoning him after crossing the river. If they were to disregard him later, he could still drag them down with him. Thus, he ultimately agreed to Wang Decai and Third Master Qin’s scheme.
There was no choice—if one didn’t look out for oneself, heaven and earth would destroy them. He could only apologize to Uncle Fu and Luo Jiu. They had only themselves to blame for blocking the Qin family’s path to wealth.
So that evening, Feng Daniu finally left the Tian residence and meandered his way to the Li family home. He even bought a package of osmanthus cakes along the way. As he approached the Li residence, he saw Uncle Fu squatting by the osmanthus tree near their entrance, smoking his pipe on the bluestone slabs.
Li Jingfu had been troubled by the Qin family matter these past few days. Though his mood was poor, he absolutely wouldn’t allow others to take advantage of the Li family, so he naturally set up his trap and waited for events to unfold.
Sure enough, just as he finished his pipe, he saw Feng Daniu approaching from afar and squinted as he sized him up.
“Hey, Brother Feng, where are you headed?” Li Jingfu asked.
“Where else would I be going? It’s still the first month of the year, and I’m passing through Huizhou, so I came to see Uncle Fu. Haven’t met in a while—how have you been?” Feng Daniu replied with a smile as he approached, lifting the osmanthus cakes in his hand.
“Not too well,” Li Jingfu replied bluntly, giving him a sidelong glance.
“What’s wrong? What’s troubling Uncle Fu?” Feng Daniu stepped forward, pretending to be familiar.
“You’re what’s troubling me, Brother Feng,” Li Jingfu said directly.
“What have I done to trouble you?” Hearing Li Jingfu’s words, Feng Daniu’s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly had an ominous feeling. This was the kind of sensitivity developed from years of living as a bandit, constantly dancing with death.
“I hear you had a hand in the robbery and massacre of the merchant caravan I was with back then?” Li Jingfu fixed his gaze on Feng Daniu.
“Don’t talk nonsense. That caravan was attacked by the Tartars—what does it have to do with me?” Feng Daniu feigned anger, but sweat appeared on his forehead. His earlier bad feeling had proven correct. Of course, he would deny such matters to his dying breath.
Naturally, Feng Daniu wasn’t too surprised that Li Jingfu harbored suspicions about this matter. After all, the Suzhou Surveillance Office was investigating, and he was now wanted by the imperial court. It was reasonable for Li Jingfu to question him.
“Oh…” Li Jingfu drew out the sound noncommittally, then tapped his pipe and stood up, inviting Feng Daniu inside.
Feng Daniu breathed a sigh of relief. Once he entered the Li family gates, his mission would be complete. He just needed to wait for the people arranged by the Qin family and Wang Decai at the magistrate’s office to make the arrest.
However, Feng Daniu never expected that as soon as he stepped through the door, sword light would flash from both sides, and two waist-daggers would press against his neck. His forehead was now covered in beads of sweat. “Li Jingfu, what’s the meaning of this?”
Feng Daniu shouted his question.
“What’s my meaning? I should be asking what you mean. You’re currently wanted by the imperial court—instead of fleeing, you bring osmanthus cakes to visit me? Could it be that Brother Feng doesn’t value his own life? Besides, since when have we been close enough for such visits? I’m quite honored by your attention. Also, I’m rather curious—Brother Feng, you’ve always been suspicious by nature, aren’t you afraid I might report you to the authorities? Today’s behavior doesn’t match your usual pattern.”
“Haha, Uncle Fu jests. We’ve both made our living in the northern territories—surely there’s some friendship between us. I naturally trust Uncle Fu. But such jokes shouldn’t be made,” Feng Daniu said, gently pointing at the daggers still pressed against his neck.
“I’m not joking. I’m looking out for my own life here,” Li Jingfu said, then dropped a bombshell: “What terms did the Qin family and that Wang fellow offer you, that you’d risk your life to drag me down with you?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t understand,” Feng Daniu’s face changed dramatically.
“Don’t understand? Or pretending not to understand?” At this moment, Li Zhenniang entered through the door and addressed Feng Daniu. She knew that regarding the Qin family matters, her father couldn’t speak freely, so naturally, she would speak: “The merchant caravan massacre from back then—you passed the information to the Tartars on the Qin family’s behalf, didn’t you? The Suzhou Surveillance Office has been watching you about this since last year. You didn’t know at first, but then one day you received a letter and learned about it. Then you appeared at the Tian residence in Huizhou, and not long after, Third Master Qin secretly came to Huizhou from the northern territories. The three of you together set up quite an elaborate trap, aiming to frame our Li family and the Luo family, isn’t that right?” Zhenniang methodically laid out Wang Decai and Third Master Qin’s scheme.
Hearing Li Zhenniang’s words, Feng Daniu was shocked. He understood that his every move had been under the Li family’s watch. However, since his purpose had been achieved, he shrugged indifferently now that he was exposed: “There’s no choice. For my survival, I had to inconvenience you all. Don’t blame me—blame Wang Decai and the Qin family.”
“How can you be so sure this will save your life?” Luo Wenqian, leaning against the doorframe, asked Feng Daniu. He had returned to Huizhou two nights ago, and now everything was ready, just waiting for the right moment.
“Whether it can save my life or not, you’ll know soon enough,” Feng Daniu said, mentally counting the time. It had been about half an hour since he entered the Li residence—the people arranged by the Qin family and Wang Decai should arrive soon.
“Hmm, confidence is good. Let me mention someone—wonder if you remember him?” Luo Wenqian rubbed his nose and continued.
“Who?” Feng Daniu asked suspiciously, again having a bad feeling that things wouldn’t go as Wang Decai and Third Master Qin had planned.
“Zhao Zhen—remember him?” Luo Wenqian said.
“How do you know about him?” Feng Daniu jumped in shock, his heart churning. Zhao Zhen was the key figure in the entire incident.
“Because I just returned from the northern territories. Officials Xuan and Yan have been arrested, though General Qi has allowed them to atone for their crimes through meritorious service, so this news hasn’t been released. Now, let me tell you the latest news—Ba Hannaqi has surrendered, and Zhao Zhen has been captured. Zhao Zhen has confessed everything about the incident from back then. So, do you think the Qin family can still protect you? They can barely save themselves!” Luo Wenqian said, watching Feng Daniu’s face turn ashen.
“Then what do you want me to do?” Hearing Luo Jiu say this, Feng Daniu knew the Qin family was finished. Wang Decai and the Qin family had been setting up their trap, but they had walked right into the pit that the Li family and Luo Jiu had prepared first—wasn’t this just asking for death?
“Just tell the truth,” Zhenniang said from the side.
Actually, with Zhao Zhen and Ba Hannaqi’s testimonies, whether Feng Daniu turned on them or not didn’t matter. However, since Wang Decai and the Qin family had used Feng Daniu to dig a pit for the Li family and Luo Wenqian, having Feng Daniu turn on them would be more satisfying.
Feng Daniu remained silent, head bowed.
The Li family members and Luo Jiu didn’t press him further. Someone like Feng Daniu would naturally understand what was best for his survival.
At this moment, the sky grew dark, and lightning flashed through the gray clouds. Following the heart-rending thunder, large raindrops began pelting down, and soon the bluestone ground was covered in white splashes of water.
Just then, a squad of yamen runners, led by a constable from the magistrate’s office, surrounded the Li family’s eighth branch residence.
The main gate, side entrance, and back door were all under watch.
“Guard well, don’t let the imperial wanted criminal escape,” Constable Mo shouted to his runners before pushing open the main gate of the eighth branch residence.
“Master Mo, what are you doing?” Li Liujin, who opened the door, asked.
“Arresting an imperial wanted criminal,” Constable Mo told Li Liujin.
“Aiya, Master Mo, you jest. Our Li family is law-abiding—how could we have an imperial wanted criminal?” Li Liujin said indignantly.
“That’s not for you to say—we’ll know after we search,” Constable Mo said as he led his men into the Li residence.
At this time, Li Jingfu, Li Zhenniang, and Feng Daniu were sitting in the main hall. When Constable Mo burst in with his men and saw Feng Daniu, he was delighted—caught red-handed.
The iron chains were immediately thrown over Feng Daniu’s head. At the same time, Constable Mo addressed Li Jingfu: “Master Li, someone has accused you of collaborating with bandits and Tartars, causing the tragic merchant caravan massacre back then. Now, please come to the yamen to answer some questions.”
The Li family had some standing in Huizhou, so Constable Mo spoke relatively politely.
“These false accusations—who accused me?” Li Jingfu asked angrily, playing his part.
“You’ll find out at the yamen,” Constable Mo said simply, directing his runners to escort Li Jingfu and chain up Feng Daniu before leaving the Li residence.
“Zhenniang, what’s going on?” Madam Zhao asked Li Zhenniang in shock, while Madam Wu beside her was also anxious to the point of jumping.
“Grandmother, Mother, don’t worry,” Zhenniang quickly comforted her grandmother and mother, then quietly explained the cause and effect of the situation. Meanwhile, Li Dalang had also gone to the yamen—necessary arrangements had to be made.
Such a major event naturally alarmed the Li family’s sixth, seventh, and ninth branches, and even Old Madam Li came over with her walking stick.
Zhenniang invited Old Madam Li inside and similarly explained the situation in detail, mainly to prevent the elderly from worrying.
“Good, truly if you don’t kill the snake it will turn and bite you. This time, we must ensure Wang Decai has no chance of recovery,” Old Madam Li said through gritted teeth.
“Yes,” Zhenniang nodded.
Meanwhile, outside, the news of Li Jingfu’s alleged collaboration with bandits and Tartars had caused an uproar.
“Li Jingfu collaborating with bandits and Tartars? How is that possible?” Most people shook their heads.
“Why not? Many people go north to mine gold, but how many get rich? How did Li Jingfu alone make his fortune? I’d say the possibility of collaborating with bandits and Tartars is quite high,” some who envied the Li family’s eighth branch’s wealth gloated.
“This matter isn’t so simple. We’d better not jump to conclusions—let’s wait for tomorrow’s hearing,” someone suggested.
“Yes, yes, let’s wait for tomorrow’s hearing,” others agreed.