"Brothers, let's go! Show us what we've got!"
Team leader Erzhuzi spat, the rope digging into his thick shoulders, and slammed the iron cage onto his back.
As soon as he moved, the veteran behind him, without saying a word, picked up the iron cage and started climbing up the mountain.
Gu Moran squinted.
This infantry heavy weapons transport line can be established.
But the peaceful days didn't even last half a month.
Outside the governor's mansion, a gust of evil wind whipped up withered leaves and pounded against the thick wooden door with a loud "clattering" sound.
There was no brazier in the hall, and the blue brick floor exuded a bone-chilling cold.
Several thick beams cast deep shadows on the ground.
In the very center of the hall sat a rough wooden stretcher, haphazardly covered with a yellowed burlap sack.
The cloth was a bit too short, revealing a pair of bluish ankles, with the toes stiffly sticking upwards.
A foul, fishy smell slowly permeated the courtroom, carried by the draft.
The woman kneeling beside him had disheveled hair and was lying face down on the ground, her forehead slamming against the blue bricks with a loud "bang."
His face was a muddy mess, a mixture of snot, tears, and dust from the ground.
"My lord! I can't live like this anymore--!"
The woman's scream was so loud it cracked, echoing throughout the empty hall.
"That damned ' Tailwind Express '! The fabric they delivered was poisoned! My husband just touched it, and his whole body burned up, he vomited black blood all over the bed, and he's dead!"
Si Renyou sat steadily behind the desk at the head of the table, his eyelids drooping, not wanting to speak.
Fang Bi, leaning on a black wooden cane, stood by his side.
The old fox didn't hand out any tickets; he was waiting for the right moment.
On the left side of the hall, Gan Lingmu stood five steps away with his hands in his sleeves, his thumb rubbing his index finger knuckles tightly.
Tailwind Express.
These four words have taken root so deeply in Yi Prefecture City!
Those rough men in khaki short-sleeved shirts, like a pack of starving wild dogs, carried bags and boxes, darting through the streets and alleys.
They ask for low prices, move quickly, and even compensate for any damage they cause to the item at the original price.
In just half a month, these peasants devoured more than half of Yi Prefecture City's freight revenue.
The Gan Family also controls the water transport and carriage businesses; this isn't stealing business at all.
This is threatening the Gan Family's livelihood!
Not to mention, he had already found out the truth.
Behind this group of people stands Prince Yi!
This clearly shows that they don't respect the Gan Family, nor do they respect the person in charge of the Gan Family!
Today's drama must firmly pin the blame for "poisoning and spreading the virus" on Tailwind Express.
Once the case is confirmed, the governor's office will have to immediately order the granaries sealed off for epidemic prevention purposes.
The plates used by Prince Yi to repair the irrigation canals will all rot.
But now, Gan Lingmu is unwilling to be the first to stick his neck out.
He glanced sideways at Zhao Wuxu beside him.
This fool is now the apple of the eye of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's wife, Lady Wang.
Lady Wang's maternal family runs a silk and spice transportation business. Recently, several large orders were snatched up by Tailwind Express, and she's currently seething with anger, ready to explode at any moment.
Gan Lingmu subtly shifted his toes half an inch to the side, his voice squeezed out through clenched teeth:
"Brother Zhao, if this matter falls through today, we might not even be able to get a sip of swill to drink on the trade routes of Yi Prefecture City in the future."
Zhao Wuxu's already gloomy face instantly turned purplish-red, and his molars clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.
He took a huge step forward, his fingers almost touching the corpse on the ground, and roared at the gong'an:
"Lord Si! This is a matter of life and death! Tailwind Express has somehow attracted a bunch of vagrants and bandits, and the goods they're transporting are all filthy junk!"
Our houses are only two streets away from this aggrieved family's home. If the epidemic spreads throughout the city, who will bear the responsibility?!
Those words were vicious; they essentially used the lives of the entire city to corner Si Renyou.
Upon hearing that someone was backing her up, the woman lunged forward like a mad dog, gripping the felt mat under the magistrate's table tightly. "Sir, issue the warrants! Lock all those scumbags in yellow coats in the death row!"
Thump!
Fang Bi slammed his black wooden cane hard against the blue brick.
The dull thud abruptly cut short the woman's wailing.
Even the circle of yamen runners standing around didn't dare to utter a sound.
Si Renyou slowly put down his teacup.
The porcelain base struck the hardwood with a crisp sound.
This case is a hot potato, and he knows perfectly well who these bastards are after.
"What did the coroner say?" Si Renyou turned to stare at the registrar.
"Reporting to, Your Excellency," the registrar stammered, his neck almost disappearing into his chest. "The coroner said it was an evil spirit entering the body, but he didn't dare examine it closely. This plague... it's deadly, you can't touch it."
Gan Lingmu snorted coldly to himself.
He had already used a large sum of money to cover up the coroner's lie.
Just then, two figures stepped in from outside the high threshold.
Gu Moran walked ahead.
His heavy, oppressive black cloak made his sickly, pale face look like a block of ice.
The soles of his boots pounded on the blue bricks; his steps were unhurried and steady, almost frighteningly so.
Half a step behind was Shen Ling'er, dressed in a plain blue robe and carrying a sandalwood medicine box. She was holding her breath and remained unusually silent.
What kind of Tom, Dick, or Harry would try to set a trap for my husband?
Gu Moran walked straight to the center of the hall and looked up at Si Renyou.
I heard there's a grand opera performance in front of the governor's hall.
His voice was extremely soft, yet it hurt one's eardrums. "What? I've come in person, and Lord Si still won't open the court?"
Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhao Wuxu felt a surge of anger rising to his head.
Relying on the fact that he had a "victim" backing him up and was in the right, he stubbornly took half a step forward, pointed at the white cloth, and sneered:
" Your Prince Yi, you've come at the perfect time! Tailwind Express is doing a great business! The aggrieved client was sitting at home receiving his goods when he contracted the plague and died a violent death!"
Today, in front of the adults, they have to give the people of Yi Prefecture an explanation! Otherwise, they're showing no respect for Your Highness, Prince Yi."
"Please, Prince Yi, order the arrest of the culprits behind the Tailwind Express!"
Gu Moran didn't respond.
He turned his head very slowly, his gaze fixed on Zhao Wuxu's arrogant face.
One breath.
Three breaths.
Five breaths.
That look in his eyes was like looking at a dead person.
The wailing in the hall stopped abruptly, and the woman curled up into a ball as if someone had grabbed her by the neck.
Zhao Wuxu felt as if he were being torn to pieces under his gaze.
His once-straight spine involuntarily slumped, his Adam's apple bobbed frantically, and he dared not utter another word.
Gu Moran finally looked away, his gaze sweeping over the pair of ankles with an eerie bluish-purple tinge beneath the white cloth.
Two slender fingers emerged from beneath the cloak, gesturing towards Shen Ling'er behind him.