"It's this man, he's the one called Hong Dao."
A servant pointed him out. The chief constable didn't speak as he stepped forward to look, and sure enough, he saw a young man lying on a bed, tossing and turning. A flush of fever coated his flushed face, his lips were dry, and his tightly shut eyes were restless, his eyeballs rolling about underneath. From time to time, he made noises, and one could tell at a glance that he was immersed in a nightmare.
"Without a doubt?"
"Yes, it's him," the servant replied without the slightest hesitation.
The bailiffs were veterans. One look told them it was a genuine illness, and they spat in disgust, afraid of contagion, and didn't step forward. The chief constable said coldly, "You dare to slack off at a time like this? Drag him out. Don't tell me you expect me to do it myself!"
"Yes!" The bailiffs had no choice but to go over, pull the man straight up, and drag him onto the ground.
Seeing that the man seemed neither awake nor fully asleep, they didn't care. Confirming it was him, they bound his arms tightly behind his back, trussing him up securely, and dragged him directly away.
"Hold on!"
Just as the man was dragged out of the courtyard and nearly to the front yard, a figure rushed over from the back, panting in a manner that made one worry he might cough up blood on the spot if he ran any faster.
"What are you doing?" The newcomer hurried up close, took one look at the bound man, and instantly grew somewhat furious.
"Hong Dao is this heir's servant! What manner of men are you, daring to enter the Marquis of Pacifying the South's Residence to make an arrest? Is