Injustice

"Da da da"

The mare, with its graceful little steps, carried the princess as it trotted over.

It snorted and gently nuzzled Xu Qi'an's face. The latter stroked its neck repeatedly to soothe it.

The princess untied the bundle hanging on the horse's back, took out a blue robe and handed it to Xu Qi'an. Then, she glanced at the young woman, hesitated for a moment, and took out her own cotton-padded coat as well.

"Put it on. If you catch a cold, all your efforts to save someone will have been in vain."

In late autumn, the climate in Yongzhou is chilling to the bone. If people are pulled out of the river and do not change their clothes or keep warm in time, the mortality rate is still very high if they get sick.

"The old man's house is just ahead. Let's go there to change our clothes."

The old man holding the bamboo pole hurriedly said.

Xu Qi'an, holding a clean blue robe and cotton clothes, bowed and said:

Thank you, sir.

He immediately took the horse, pulled the young woman along, and followed behind the old man.

The surrounding people were still talking, pointing and gossiping, or marveling at how lucky Zhang the Cripple's wife was to have met someone who was a good swimmer and willing to jump into the water to save her in the freezing cold.

After walking less than a hundred meters, the old man turned into a cobblestone alley and pushed open a black wooden door covered with signs of corrosion.

Behind the door is a small courtyard house with a square skylight overhead.

The young woman's face was now ashen, her lips were pale, and she was trembling uncontrollably.

If Xu Qi'an were still a martial artist, he could easily dispel the chill from her body by channeling his Qi.

However, Qi is the exclusive domain of martial artists. At lower and mid-levels, only martial artists can utilize Qi across all systems.

At higher levels, other systems can also utilize Qi as the physical body strengthens, but they are far from comparable to martial artists. For example, with the Power Gu, at Lina's level, she can actively refine essence into Qi, focusing on the physical body and using Qi as a supplement to better exert combat power.

"Take her to change her clothes." Xu Qi'an took the large package down and tossed it to Mu Nanzhi.

The princess held the woman tightly in her arms, glanced at her, quietly stuffed the beautiful cotton-padded jacket back into her bundle, and took out a less attractive cotton-padded coat.

I was careless just now and accidentally took a nice piece of clothing.

Watching the two enter the master bedroom, Xu Qi'an, guided by the old man, went to the side room to change his clothes.

"Sir, would you like to leave for a while?"

Xu Qi'an said tactfully.

The old man was taken aback and asked in bewilderment, "What's wrong, young man? Are you shy?"

"No, I was afraid of scaring you," Xu Qi'an smiled apologetically, looking at the old man without saying a word.

The old man placed the clean towel on the table and left the room.

Xu Qi'an untied his robe and took off his undergarment. There were four nails embedded in his flesh on his front abdomen and back, the wounds were dark red and gruesome.

His Primordial Spirit was sealed by a nail at the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head.

The Demon-Sealing Nail sealed his cultivation, including his strength. Now he only has the sturdiness of a third-rank martial artist, but he can't unleash enough power. Even if he wanted to kill someone using his tough body, it would be difficult.

After changing into dry clothes, Xu Qi'an and the old man sat in the simple hall, warming themselves by the fire. A pot of yellow wine sat on the fire, and the two chatted idly.

"Grandpa, do you live alone?"

"Yes."

Where are your family members?

My husband passed away last year. We have a son and a daughter. My daughter married and moved to another town and hasn't come back to see me for many years. As for my son...

The old man paused, a hint of helplessness flashing in his slightly cloudy eyes:

"A few years ago, a flood destroyed all the crops. To feed his family, he went hunting in the mountains with a hunter, but he lost his footing and fell off a cliff, dying instantly."

A moment of silence.

Xu Qi'an himself had experienced great sorrow and pain, so he wouldn't say things like "please accept my condolences."

At this moment, the old man picked up the wine pot and said with a smile, "This wine is best when it's warmed just right; if it boils, the flavor will dissipate. Young man, have a taste."

There aren't any extra cups at home.

Xu Qi'an poured out the wine pot, took a sip, and his eyes lit up. The taste was fresh, sweet, and mellow, with a perfect balance of sour, bitter, spicy, and astringent notes. After swallowing the wine, a rich and fragrant aroma lingered on his lips and teeth for a long time.

There are countless fine wines in the capital, but this is truly the first time he has tasted one.

At this moment, a plate of poached chicken and salted boiled peanuts would be just right. Xu Qi'an thought regretfully, feeling somewhat impatient to find an inn to stay in and drink with the princess until dawn.

The old man nodded in satisfaction, and seeing the man's lingering expression, a smile appeared on his wrinkled face.

"Judging from the young man's accent, he's probably not a local from Yongzhou."

"From the capital."

The old man was filled with respect and said, "So you're from the capital. No wonder. You and your wife are a perfect match."

"Hey, old man, how can you live with yourself saying that?" Xu Qi'an thought to himself.

Just then, the princess and the young woman came out. The latter was still pale, and her slender body was shivering slightly from the cold.

The old man beckoned the two of them to come over and warm themselves by the fire. Xu Qi'an noticed something unusual in the princess's expression; she seemed to be trying her best to suppress her anger.

"What's wrong?"

Xu Qi'an handed the wine pot to the young woman, gesturing for her to take a sip to warm herself, then turned to look at Mu Nanzhi.

The old man sighed, "Did Zhang the Cripple go gambling again?"

The young woman lowered her head and nodded.

Seeing this, the old man commented, "It seems life is unbearable."

The young woman shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

Mu Nanzhi said with a gloomy expression, "Her man gave her away."

"Giving it away" is a euphemism. The story is this: the young woman's husband, Zhang Youfu, is a cripple. Because of his disability, he cannot do heavy work, and the family has always been poor.

Zhang the Cripple was a man with high aspirations but low abilities. Unwilling to live a hard life, he became addicted to gambling.

Over the years, their already meager lives became increasingly unbearable.

Gambling is a losing game, and Zhang the Cripple was no exception. He not only lost all his wealth but also accumulated a mountain of debt.

The biggest creditor was a hoodlum named Zhu Er.

Zhu Er colluded with the casino to squeeze Zhang the Cripple dry of his money, and then lent him money, which resulted in him winning nine times and losing thirteen times.

His purpose was not for money, but for Zhang the Cripple's wife, the young woman in front of him.

He threatened Zhang the Cripple with the debt, demanding that Zhang pawn his wife to him, promising to return her only if he could repay the debt.

With no other options, Zhang the Cripple reluctantly agreed and signed the contract.

The young woman was taken away by Zhu Er yesterday and forced to submit to him. This morning, while Zhu Er was asleep, she secretly escaped and attempted to jump into the river to commit suicide.

After listening, the old man sighed again, as if he had long expected that Zhang the Cripple would eventually reach this point.

The practice of wife-selling was quite common in the southern part of Great Feng. It was fine when life was peaceful, but once natural disasters or man-made calamities occurred, the practice of wife-selling would become prevalent.

Such practices are strictly prohibited by law, but the government usually turns a blind eye and tacitly approves of them.

Xu Qi'an examined the young woman again; she was indeed beautiful, with a gentle and delicate temperament that could easily arouse a man's possessiveness.

Mu Nanzhi repeatedly gestured with her eyes, asking Xu Qi'an how he should handle the young woman.

"How much silver does your husband owe that Zhu Er?"

The young woman looked up, glanced at him timidly, and whispered, "Thirty taels."

Thirty taels of silver is a considerable sum; in the capital, it represents a year's income for a well-to-do person. In a small county like Fuyang, however, thirty taels of silver is enough to buy a large house.

However, when it comes to gambling, it's not that simple.

If the young woman wasn't lying, and Zhu Er colluded with the gambling den to rip off Zhu Er, then he didn't actually pay a single tael of silver—he got something for nothing and lured a charming, virtuous young woman into his trap.

The old man whispered, "This Zhu Er is a notorious thug in the county. He's sworn brothers with the county magistrate's nephew. He has dozens of men under his command. Even the busiest street in the county has to pay him protection money."

"Many people are dissatisfied with him, but even more people are afraid of him. With the county magistrate protecting him, he can act with impunity."

Moreover, she's quite clever and has "reasonable" ways to bully men and women Xu Qi'an added in his mind.

"As the saying goes, if you're going to do a good deed, do it to the end. You now have two choices: First, we will pay off the thirty taels your husband owes Zhu Er, and you can go back and continue living with your husband."

"Second, the contract is illegal, but I'll settle it for you. However, you must divorce your husband. I'll give you some money afterward; you can go back to your parents' home or go somewhere else—it's up to you."

The young woman lowered her head and said softly, "A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; how can she return to her parents' home? I'm a local; if I leave the county, where will I find a living?"

Xu Qi'an knew that she had chosen the first option.

He immediately left the young woman thirty taels of silver, then led the mare and Mu Nanzhi away from the old man's house.

"If you have any questions afterward, come find me at the best inn in the county town."

"Sir, the wine is good, thank you for your hospitality."

The two men and one horse walked out of the alley and gradually disappeared into the distance.

The old man watched them leave, then returned to his house and was astonished to find a silver ingot left where the young man had just sat.

The old man had never seen such a substantial amount of silver in his entire life.

In the county, there is a large courtyard with three courtyards.

Zhu Er, his face full of scars, sat in the hall, his expression grim, and shouted at his subordinates:

"Catch that little wench back. She's shameless. From now on, she'll stay in the house for the brothers to vent their frustrations on. There are so many brothers who can't find wives; it's perfect to make the most of them."

He had already tasted the pleasures of that young woman; Zhu Er had always been a man who easily bored with the old and sought the new.

Although the contract did not permit him to do so, the cripple was penniless and could not even come up with three taels of silver, let alone thirty.

This woman is his from now on, and he can do whatever he wants with her.

"Gurgle."

Several men swallowed hard.

Zhu Er was very satisfied with his subordinates' reactions, believing that his decision was absolutely correct and had greatly won over the hearts of the people.

During this period, Zhu Er felt that his luck had turned around, which was mainly reflected in four aspects. First, he won more money than he lost when gambling at the gambling den. This refers to the fact that he did not cheat; it was purely due to incredible luck.

Secondly, the businesses he ran, including several shops and properties, suddenly became very successful and prosperous.

Third, the county magistrate, who had initially been lukewarm in attitude, accepting bribes while looking down on him, suddenly changed his tune and became sworn brothers with him.

The idea of setting a trap at the casino to squeeze Zhang the Cripple dry, and then using the debt to coerce him into taking the young woman into his household, was suggested by the county magistrate.

Otherwise, given Zhu Er's personality, he would prefer to force himself on women and coerce them into submission.

The county magistrate, as expected of a scholar, devised a method that was watertight and had no side effects.

Fourth, his men grew increasingly respectful and loyal to him.

With his wealth and power rapidly expanding, Zhu Er even considered venturing into Yongzhou City.

Compared to the main city of Yongzhou, what is Fuyang County, this small county town, worth? Zhu Er gathered his scattered thoughts and pondered what kind of gift to give to the county magistrate.

Women are eliminated from the options; would a county magistrate lack women?

Silver was also ruled out because it was a common gift, and it lacked distinctiveness and failed to express his sincerity.

Just then, a subordinate rushed in and said, "Second Master, Zhang the Cripple and his wife are here. They say they've come to repay the money."

"Pay back the money?" Zhu Er was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard. He said in a deep voice, "Let them in."

A moment later, a thin, limping man entered, pulling in a pretty young woman whose arms were bulging as she held her tightly.

She had several bruises on her face, as if she had just been beaten, but she still held onto what she was carrying tightly, without letting up for a moment.

"Second Master, we've come to return the money."

Zhang the Cripple bowed and scraped, his face full of obsequiousness.

Zhu Er ignored her and instead looked at the young woman, squinting as he said:

Where did you go?

The young woman tightened her grip on the object in her arms, looking somewhat fearful yet forcing herself to be brave. "We're here to return the money. Where's the contract?"

Zhu Er stared at her. "Where's the money?"

The young woman took out a cloth bag containing three ingots of official silver, each ingot weighing ten taels.

Official silver was not something ordinary people could use. It wasn't that they weren't qualified, but rather that the face value was too high. Ordinary people generally used copper coins and loose silver.

"Where did this government silver come from!"

Zhu Er glared and asked loudly.

The young woman trembled with fright, and Zhang the Cripple quickly said, "A stranger gave it to me."

He immediately recounted the incident. After the young woman returned home, she told Zhang the Cripple what had happened. Zhang the Cripple's initial thought was not to repay the debt, but to take the money to gamble.

But the wife, who had been pawned, protected him fiercely, and he, being thin and frail with difficulty walking, couldn't snatch her away in time.

They had no choice but to compromise and redeem the person first.

Zhu Er, a stranger from out of town, glanced around, then suddenly slammed his fist on the table and roared, "..."

"You shameless woman, how dare you steal my silver while I'm sleeping! Tie them both up and lock them in the woodshed!"

The Zhang couple, the lame man and his wife, turned pale and cried as they were dragged away and locked in the woodshed.

"Second Master is brilliant!"

The subordinate chuckled and said, "Where did Zhang the Cripple get thirty taels? Nobody would believe it if I told them; he must have stolen it from Second Master."

"Second Master, that young wife..."

One of the subordinates looked on with envy; they had taken Zhu Er's words to heart.

"What's the rush? They're locked up. Are you afraid they'll escape?"

Zhu Er frowned and scolded, "You good-for-nothing. Go and investigate that outsider, see where he comes from. Heh, if he can casually produce thirty taels, he can easily produce three hundred taels, or even more."

In the best inn in the county town, Xu Qi'an carried a pot of wine in his hand. The wine, which had just been warmed, also made the pot feel warmer.

The princess sat at the table, with a pot of wine beside her. The wine contained ginger slices and spices. She was neither a good nor a bad drinker. After a few sips, her face flushed as if she were drunk, which made her look somewhat charming.

"Sages and worthies of the past are all forgotten, only drinkers have left their mark."

He said softly.

"What a beautiful poem!"

The princess praised him highly, then turned to look at him. "And then?"

Xu Qi'an said irritably, "It's gone down there."

He sipped his wine slowly, "I'll go check on that young woman later. Since I've already helped her, I might as well see it through."

The princess sighed, "Actually, we shouldn't have interfered. So much trouble has happened along the way."