Selling My Body to Bury My Father!

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

When Wei Qing arrived, he was on a mission and traveled at full speed.

This time, returning to the capital, the three of them traveled while sightseeing.

Seeing that they were still half a day's journey from the Imperial City, a heavy rainstorm kept the three of them in Ping'an County.

So, the three of them casually found an inn to stay in.

Little did they know.

It directly alerted the magistrate of Ping'an County.

"This humble official, Zhao Dezhu, greets the three lords."

The magistrate of Ping'an County rushed into the inn, out of breath, his official hat askew, his shoes and pants soaked and muddy.

It wasn't surprising that Zhao Dezhu was so anxious.

It was precisely because the Heavenly Realm Division's reputation was too great, wherever they went...

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

Zhao Dezhu wiped the sweat from his brow, took the teacup, and drank it in one gulp. He respectfully placed the teacup back. "Thank you, my lord. May I ask if there is anything you require my assistance with during your visit to Ping'an County?"

Wei Qing explained, "The three of us were merely delayed by the heavy rain and could not continue our journey, so we are making a brief stop in Ping'an County."

"Lord Zhao, please do not mind us. Your work at the yamen is more important."

"You are right, my lord. Then this humble official shall take his leave."

Wei Qing's words already held a hint of dismissal. Having been an official for many years, he understood such simple matters.

Downstairs.

"Shopkeeper Chen, those three who just arrived are no ordinary people." He nervously pointed upstairs with his plump finger. "You'd better be extremely attentive and treat them well. If there's the slightest mistake, don't blame me for disregarding our past relationship and sealing up your establishment."

Shopkeeper Chen, behind the counter, rolled his eyes, his wrinkled face contorting into a fawning smile. "Yes, yes, yes, Lord Zhao, please rest assured. I will definitely serve those lords with the utmost care..."

When he said the words "utmost care," he deliberately lowered his voice and made a strange gesture with his finger under the counter.

"Stop!" Zhao Dezhu's face suddenly turned pale, and he clamped a hand over Shopkeeper Chen's mouth.

"If you want to die, don't take me with you. Just arrange things normally."

"Understand?"

"Mhm, mhm."

Shopkeeper Chen nodded repeatedly.

The night passed without incident.

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

After breakfast, meticulously arranged by Shopkeeper Liu, Wei Qing stood up to pay the bill.

Shopkeeper Liu smiled. "My lords, Lord Zhao has already settled the bill."

Wei Qing placed the silver on the counter. "Please trouble the shopkeeper to inform Lord Zhao that we appreciate his kindness, but we will pay our own way for what we owe."

"This... alright. I will certainly convey your message."

Seeing that he could not refuse, Shopkeeper Liu reluctantly accepted Wei Qing's silver.

Exiting the inn.

A waiter was already waiting by the door, holding three fine horses, his expression respectful. "My lords, the horses have been fed with premium fodder and can take you all the way to the Imperial City."

"Thank you for your trouble, young man."

As he spoke, Wei Qing took out a piece of gleaming silver from his sleeve and tossed it gently. It landed perfectly in the waiter's outstretched palm.

"Thank you for your generosity, my lord."

The waiter clasped his hands together and bowed repeatedly.

This one tael of silver was equivalent to half a month's wages for him.

Taking the horses, Wei Qing and the other two mounted them and headed towards the city gate along the bluestone road.

As they reached the city gate, a curse suddenly rang out.

"You stinking beggar, I'm doing you a favor by giving you five taels of silver."

"You still refuse? Don't push your luck!"

Su Lie clutched a sign that read "Selling myself for twenty taels to bury my father," his gaze stubborn as he looked at the woman.

"Miss, I have been educated since childhood and can also do accounts. If you are interested, twenty taels is my bottom price."

To get a good coffin for his father, he would not back down at all.

"Hmph, twenty taels? You, with your delicate skin and tender flesh, how much can you be worth?" The woman sized up the young man, her eyes full of contempt. "Five taels to buy you as a servant is a tremendous fortune for you! Don't be ungrateful!"

"If you don't want to buy, you can leave. Young Master Su isn't forcing you."

"That's right. He's just trying to get a good coffin for Old Su. Aren't you just causing trouble?"

"You don't look like someone who's short on money, so why are you bullying people like this?"

"Exactly..."

Hearing this, the surrounding commoners all stepped forward to defend the weak.

Su Lie was someone they had watched grow up, and his filial piety was well-known.

If his father hadn't met with an accident, why would he resort to such desperate measures?

"What business is it of yours, you bunch of ruffians, whether I have money or not." The woman put her hands on her hips, the jade bracelets on her wrists swaying with her movements.

"If you dare to speak another word, be careful my whip doesn't recognize you."

Saying that, the woman cracked her whip twice in the air with a loud snap.

The onlookers stumbled back in fear, afraid of getting whipped by accident.

Once the commoners regained their footing, their gazes towards the woman were now tinged with a hint of fear.

The woman snorted coldly, thoroughly enjoying the awe she inspired.

Then, pointing at Su Lie, she said, "You."

"I've decided to buy this today. Five taels of silver. Sell it or not, you have to sell it."

With that, she waved her hand.

As soon as her words fell, two fierce servants behind the woman immediately stepped forward, intending to forcibly drag Su Lie away.

"Stop."

Jun Wushang pushed through the crowd, positioning himself between the two parties.

"What are you doing? Kidnapping someone in broad daylight is a capital offense under the laws of Great Zhou."

"Try moving again."

The two servants were instantly intimidated by Jun Wushang's imposing aura. Seeing that he was wearing the uniform of a Garrison Commander, their legs turned to jelly.

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

The woman violently pushed aside the two servants. Upon seeing Jun Wushang's attire, she snorted coldly, "Aren't you just a Garrison Commander of the Heavenly Mirror Division?"

"Do you know who I am? Dare to interfere in my affairs, and I'll skin you alive."

"Get lost!"

"Oh my, you've scared me to death." Jun Wushang's lips curled downwards, his eyebrows raised in a mocking display of fear, patting his chest repeatedly. Yet, not a trace of fear could be seen in his eyes.

"You brat, you dare to toy with me."

Seeing his exaggerated act, the woman's expression darkened.

"Do you know who I am? I am the niece of the current Consort Xia, the eldest daughter of the Xia Family in the Imperial City, Xia Yiran!"

"You're courting death!"

Upon hearing this, Jun Wushang was stunned for a moment before regaining his composure. "So what if you're Consort Xia's niece and the eldest daughter of the Xia Family?"

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

After Xia Yiran revealed her identity, the surrounding commoners, terrified, all took two steps back.

They hadn't heard of Xia Yiran before.

But the names of Consort Xia and the Xia Family were already

music to their ears.

If the woman's identity was true, she was someone they absolutely could not afford to offend.