After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 111: Chapter 112: Her True Identity

Soon, Hee Lingchuan marched Fatty Wang into Hee Chunhua’s temporary residence, where two of Hee Chunhua’s Guards were stationed.

The mistress of the house was also there, trembling as she watched them.

Hee Lingchuan asked her, "The man who was in this house before, was he also one of the mountain bandits?"

"My child’s father was killed. That damn scoundrel murdered him and took his place to spy on you." And that wasn’t all the villain had done to her. Tears streamed down the mistress’s face. "Please, Lord Official, save our lives!"

Hee Lingchuan sighed. "Go inside and lock the door from the inside. What happens out here has nothing to do with you."

The mistress nodded silently, turned, and went into the main room. The group heard the metallic sound of the door being locked.

Hee Lingchuan put Fatty Wang and Mrs. Zhu in the kitchen. The five of them guarded the doors and windows, all gripping their weapons tightly.

Before long, footsteps sounded from outside.

Hee Lingchuan listened intently. There were quite a few people, and their steps were unhurried. It was clear that whoever was approaching was composed, not panicked or in disarray.

More importantly, he also heard small, mincing steps.

Those were Madam Ying’s steps.

He immediately opened the main door and stepped outside.

Sure enough, Hee Chunhua had returned with his family, followed by his Personal Guard, Zhao Qinghe.

Another man, named Mozhe Jingxuan, was someone Hee Lingchuan also recognized. He was an advisor his father had brought from Black Water City.

When they saw Hee Lingchuan open the door, they were all startled. Hee Chunhua breathed a sigh of relief. "You’re back. Good, good!"

During the chaotic battle by the lake just now, he had been worried about his eldest son, who had been out of sight.

Then the group entered, and the Personal Guards took up positions around the perimeter to ensure their master’s safety.

Madam Ying asked her eldest son, "Where did you go just now?"

"I was preparing a gift for Father." As Hee Lingchuan spoke, he led his father inside and pointed to Fatty Wang on the floor. "This fatty is one of Boss Lui’s men, and he holds a high position among the mountain bandits. He was staying with Mrs. Zhu, and I was wondering how to get him back here. Then the battle by the lake started..."

Hearing that the fat man was one of Lui Han’s confidants, Hee Chunhua’s constantly furrowed brow relaxed slightly. He clapped Hee Lingchuan on the shoulder and said, "Well done!"

"He’s already made a preliminary confession. The mountain bandits took over Qianteng Town the day before yesterday, and they still have over two hundred accomplices in town."

"Accomplices?" Hee Chunhua was alarmed.

"The interrogation was interrupted just now. I can still..."

Before Hee Lingchuan could finish, Hee Chunhua cut him off. "No need. Leave this to me from now on."

He sent some men to interrogate Fatty Wang. Mrs. Zhu, who had been in the kitchen, hurried out.

There were now six or seven people standing in the small dining room. She walked straight up to Hee Chunhua and dropped to her knees with a THUD.

"Mr. Hee, save me!"

This was so sudden and unexpected that even Hee Chunhua was stunned.

Madam Ying stepped forward to help the woman up, saying softly, "Get up and speak."

"My name is Zhu Xiu’er. I am the granddaughter of Zhu Xiyan, the Minister of the Ministry of Imperial Stables. Seven years ago, I was drugged and abducted at the Flower Festival Temple Fair in Xin’an and sold to a wealthy merchant in Qianhai. His wife was very jealous and secretly sold me here."

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing mottled old scars on her thin arms, as if from a whip. "I tried to escape several times but was always caught, which left me with these. I have other scars in more private places that I cannot show."

Everyone looked at each other, momentarily speechless.

After a long moment, Hee Chunhua said in a low voice, "Lord Zhu lost his granddaughter seven or eight years ago, and the long, fruitless search was a well-known story in the Capital City. The Xin’an County Governor even lost his post over it. But how can you prove that you are Zhu Xiu’er?"

The challenge of having to prove one’s own identity was always the most vexing.

But Zhu Xiu’er was clearly prepared. She turned and gathered up her hair, showing everyone the mark on the back of her neck. "This lotus-petal-shaped red mark, I’ve had it since birth. The first time my grandfather saw it, he said that when I grew up, I would be as graceful as a lotus orchid. My grandfather loves his wine and always used to warm it under the trellis in the backyard."

She paused. "I can tell you everything about my childhood. Every single detail can be verified."

Seeing how fluently and guiltlessly she answered, the advisor said to Hee Chunhua, "Sir, this matter will be very easy to verify."

Hee Chunhua also nodded. "Good. You will travel with us."

Mrs. Zhu was so overjoyed she began to weep, and she bowed deeply. "Thank you, Sir!"

"You have helped us a great deal. It is we who should be thanking you." Hee Chunhua waved his hand dismissively. "Otherwise, the mountain bandits would still be plotting against us in the shadows."

He glanced at Madam Ying, who understood his meaning. She stepped forward, took Mrs. Zhu’s hand, and led her aside to talk.

Hearing that her husband and mother-in-law had been murdered and her two children taken hostage by the mountain bandits, Madam Ying sighed. "These wicked men should all be brought to justice."

Hee Lingchuan took out a green apple and took a loud CRUNCHing bite. "Justice? The law doesn’t care about these things. It takes a villain to deal with a villain."

Ouch, why were the apples in the mountains so sour? He clutched his jaw, feeling like his teeth were on edge.

Madam Ying glared at him.

’Comfort, this is about providing comfort. What does that brat know?’

* * *

After the leaders from both sides agreed, the officials’ soldiers and the bandits quickly withdrew to their respective territories. The former occupied the east side of the village, the latter the west.

Hee Chunhua had actually wanted the other side to safely release the residents of the west side of the village as well, but Lui Yao was no fool. He knew they were excellent hostages and refused to agree, no matter what.

Hearing this news, the villagers on the west side burst into tears.

At first, Lui Yao paid them no mind, but the sound of their weeping shook the heavens and irritated him. He finally waved his hand. "Tell them to shut up, or I’ll cut out their tongues for a drinking snack later."

He had done such things before, but with the officials’ soldiers just across the way, it wouldn’t be wise to provoke them too much.

Speaking of which, he looked left and right. "Where’s that damn fatty?" Usually, for annoying little things like this, he wouldn’t even have to say anything; Fatty Wang would be the first to rush out and handle it.

Of course, he wasn’t going to see the fatty.

A few bandits were starting a fire to roast fish. Lui Yao took a sip of wine. Even though they had just been in a fight, he was in a remarkably good mood.

Before, he had been constantly worried that his unreliable underlings would slip up and be exposed by the soldiers. But now, it was better. Everyone had dropped the act, and establishing this truce in the village had instead brought a period of peace.

A trusted subordinate at his side advised, "General, you should drink less. What if they attack tonight?"

Lui Yao scoffed. "Them? Attack? Don’t give that dog official too much credit!"

He wiped his mouth. "That Lord Official is on his way to Xiazhou to take up his post. These three hundred men are his entire retinue, just like you all are to me. Without his core followers, he’ll be in an unfamiliar place where he knows no one, and he won’t be able to get anything done! Forget losing half of them—he can’t even afford to lose thirty percent! Tell me, do you think he’s hoping for dawn to come sooner so he can get on the road, or is he thinking about launching a sneak attack on us tonight?"

"Of course he wants to escape as soon as possible," another man said flatteringly. "That dog official’s courage and foresight are nothing compared to yours, General. Besides, he’s just a passing-through official. Why would he meddle in local affairs? As long as he’s told he can leave safely and go his separate way tomorrow morning, he definitely won’t make a move tonight!"

Lui Yao narrowed his eyes and put down his wine cup. "After the Fourth Period of Night, tighten the watch. We can’t let them run away. By the way, what did you say earlier about where Wu Shaoyi’s and Pei Xinyong’s men are?"