Selling My Body to Bury My Father!

Seven days passed quickly.

When Wei Qing first arrived in Qingcheng, he had traveled at full speed due to the urgency of his mission.

This time, returning to the capital, the three of them slowed their pace, traveling and sightseeing along the way.

Seeing that they were only half a day's journey from the Imperial City, a heavy rain suddenly started, forcing the three to temporarily stay in Ping'an County.

They found an inn at random. To their surprise, this disturbed the local county magistrate.

"Your subordinate, Zhao Dezhu, pays his respects to the three Lords."

The magistrate rushed into the inn, out of breath, his official hat askew, his shoes and trouser legs covered in mud and water, and he was drenched.

It was no wonder Zhao Dezhu was so anxious.

The reputation of the Heavenly Realm Division was simply too great; no official dared to be negligent wherever they went.

Wei Qing picked up his teacup. "Lord Zhao, have some water first."

Zhao Dezhu quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, took the teacup with both hands, and drank it in one gulp.

Then, he respectfully placed the teacup back. "Thank you, my Lord. May I ask if the three Lords require any service from this subordinate during your visit to Ping'an County?"

Wei Qing explained, "The three of us are just passing through. We encountered heavy rain, so we are making a brief stop in Ping'an County."

"Lord Zhao, there's no need to trouble yourself. The affairs of the yamen are more important."

"My Lord is correct. Then this subordinate will take his leave."

Wei Qing's words already implied he was seeing them off. Having been an official for many years, he understood this simple principle.

Downstairs.

Zhao Dezhu pointed towards the room where Wei Qing and the others were staying.

"Shopkeeper Chen, those three are extraordinary individuals! You better serve them with all your attention. If there's any slight mistake..."

He narrowed his eyes. "Don't blame me for disregarding our past relationship and sealing your establishment."

Behind the counter, Shopkeeper Chen's eyes darted around, and he smiled broadly. "Lord Zhao, rest assured, this humble one will definitely 'serve with meticulous care'..."

As he said the words 'meticulous care,' he deliberately lowered his voice slightly and made a discreet gesture under the counter.

"Stop!"

Zhao Dezhu's face turned pale. He clapped a hand over Shopkeeper Chen's mouth, looked around, and spoke in a very low voice, "If you want to die, don't drag me with you. Just arrange things normally."

"Understand?"

Shopkeeper Chen rolled his eyes as his mouth was covered, nodding repeatedly.

When Zhao Dezhu let go, he gasped for air. "U-understood..."

In a corner, the inn's waiter silently wiped a table, taking in everything.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, the sunlight pierced through the clouds, gilding Ping'an County, which had been washed clean by the previous night's rain.

After breakfast, Wei Qing and the other two went to the counter to settle their bill.

Shopkeeper Liu smiled and said, "My Lords, Lord Zhao has already paid your bill for you."

"Please convey our thanks to Lord Zhao for his kindness," Wei Qing said, placing money on the counter. "However, we will pay for ourselves."

"This... alright. This humble one will certainly pass on your message."

Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Shopkeeper Liu reluctantly accepted Wei Qing's silver.

Exiting the inn.

Outside the inn, the waiter was already waiting at the entrance with three horses. "My Lords, the horses have been fed and watered. They can run all the way to the Imperial City without issue."

"Thank you for your trouble, young man."

As he spoke, Wei Qing pulled out an ounce of silver from his sleeve and casually tossed it. It landed perfectly in the waiter's hand.

"Thank you for your generosity, my Lord."

The waiter thanked him repeatedly with joy – this one ounce of silver was equivalent to half a month's wages for him!

The three mounted their horses and headed towards the city gate along the stone-paved road.

At a corner of the city wall, Zhao Dezhu secretly watched them leave before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Reaching the city gate.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the city gate.

A woman dressed in gaudy clothes shouted, "Beggarly wretch! Five taels of silver is more than generous of me. Don't push your luck!"

Su Lie clutched a sign that read "Selling myself for twenty taels to bury my father," his eyes stubbornly fixed on the woman.

"Miss, I have been educated since childhood and am literate and good at calculations. If you are interested, twenty taels is my lowest price."

He wanted to buy a decent coffin for his father, so he wouldn't budge on the price.

"Hmph, twenty taels? For a delicate, fair-skinned pretty boy like you, how much are you worth?" The woman sized up the youth, her eyes full of disdain. "I'm charging you too much even at five taels. Don't be ungrateful!"

At this moment, the onlookers could no longer stand by and watch. They stepped forward to defend the weak.

"If you're not buying, don't cause trouble here!"

"The Su family kid just wants to buy a good coffin for his father. Aren't you bullying him?"

"You look quite wealthy, why are you so stingy?"

"Exactly..."

The neighbors all knew Su Lie was a filial son. If his father hadn't suddenly fallen ill, he wouldn't be selling himself.

"Whether I have money or not is none of your damn business!" the woman said, hands on her hips. The jade bracelets on her arms swung back and forth with her movements. "If you dare to blabber any more, be careful my whip doesn't recognize you."

With that, the woman cracked her whip twice fiercely into the air.

The onlookers stumbled back in fear, afraid they might get hit by a whip if they weren't careful.

Once they steadied themselves, their gazes towards the woman were filled with fear.

The woman let out a cold snort, thoroughly enjoying the awe she inspired.

Then, she turned her attention back to Su Lie. "You."

"This young lady has decided to buy today. Five taels of silver. You sell it whether you want to or not."

As she spoke, she waved her hand. Two fierce house servants behind her immediately stepped forward, ready to forcibly drag Su Lie away.

"Stop."

Jun Wushang lunged forward, his Ink Blade drawing out with a clang, positioning itself between the two parties.

"What are you doing? Kidnapping a citizen of Great Zhou in broad daylight is a capital offense under Great Zhou law."

"Try moving again."

The two house servants were instantly intimidated by Jun Wushang's imposing presence. Upon seeing his Warden uniform, their legs went weak with fear.

"Who is it, with such a big mouth, daring to meddle in my business?"

The woman violently pushed the two house servants aside and sized up Jun Wushang. Suddenly, she let out a scoff. "I wondered who it was. So it's just a petty Warden."

"Do you know who I am? Daring to interfere in my affairs, be careful I don't skin you alive."

"Get lost!"

"Oh my～" Jun Wushang exaggeratedly clutched his chest and leaped back a large step, his face a mask of over-the-top terror. "You scared this young master to death!"

"You little brat, you dare to play me."

Seeing this, the woman's expression darkened.

"Do you know? I am the direct niece of the current Consort Xia, and the eldest daughter of the Xia family in the Imperial City, Xia Yiran."

"You're looking for death!"

Upon hearing this, Jun Wushang was first taken aback, then a cold smile curved his lips. "Consort Xia's niece, the eldest daughter of the Xia family, so what?"

"If you dare to break the law, my Heavenly Realm Division will still arrest you!"

The surrounding crowd stirred upon hearing this, surging backward like a tide. A few timid vendors even overturned their stalls.

They hadn't heard of Xia Yiran.

But the names of Consort Xia and the Xia family were already thunderous in their ears!

Those were definitely powers they couldn't afford to offend.