Chapter 111: Her True Identity

He Lingchuan quickly escorted Fatty Wang into He Chunhua’s temporary residence, where two of He Chunhua’s guards were also present.

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

He Lingchuan asked her, “Was the man who was in this house earlier also a bandit?”

“My children’s father was killed, and that accursed scoundrel impersonated him to spy on you all.” This wasn’t the only thing the bandit had done to her. Tears streamed down the mistress’s face. “Please, sir, save our lives!”

He Lingchuan sighed. “Go inside, lock the door, and this business out here has nothing to do with you.”

The mistress nodded silently, turned, and walked into the main room. Everyone heard the metallic click of the door locking.

He Lingchuan placed Fatty Wang and Lady Zhu in the kitchen. Five people guarded the doors and windows, all gripping their weapons tightly.

Before long, footsteps echoed from outside.

He Lingchuan listened carefully. There were quite a few people, and their steps were unhurried. Clearly, those approaching were steady and not in a state of panic.

More importantly, he also heard small, quick steps.

These were Madam Ying’s steps.

He immediately opened the main door and stepped outside.

Sure enough, He Chunhua returned with his wife and children, followed by his bodyguard Zhao Qinghe.

Another man, Mo Zhejingxuan, was also recognized by He Lingchuan; he was an aide his father had brought back from Blackwater City.

Everyone was surprised to see He Lingchuan open the door. He Chunhua breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re back, good, good!”

He had been worried about his eldest son, who hadn’t appeared during the recent skirmish by the lake.

As everyone entered, the personal guards spread out to secure the surroundings and ensure the safety of their master.

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

“I was preparing a gift for Father,” He Lingchuan said, leading his father further inside. He pointed at Fatty Wang on the ground. “This fatty is someone close to Boss Lu, and he holds a significant position among the bandits. He was staying with Lady Zhu, and I was worried about how to get him back, but then the fighting started by the lake...”

Hearing that the fatty was close to Lu Han, He Chunhua’s perpetually furrowed brow relaxed slightly. He patted He Lingchuan’s shoulder and said, “Well done!”

“He has already given a preliminary confession that the bandits occupied Qianteng Town the day before yesterday. They still have over two hundred accomplices in the town.”

“Accomplices?” He Chunhua’s heart skipped a beat.

“The interrogation was interrupted just now, I can still...”

Before He Lingchuan could finish, He Chunhua interrupted, “No need. From now on, leave it all to me.”

He sent someone to interrogate Fatty Wang. Lady Zhu, who had been in the kitchen, rushed out.

In the small dining room, where six or seven people now stood, she walked directly to He Chunhua and knelt with a thud.

“Lord He, save me!”

This sudden act surprised everyone; even He Chunhua was stunned.

Madam Ying stepped forward, helped the woman up from the floor, and said softly, “Please stand and speak.”

“My name is Zhu Xiuer, and I am the granddaughter of Zhu Xiyan, the Grand Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud. Seven years ago, I was drugged and abducted at the Flower Festival temple fair in Xinan, then sold to a wealthy merchant from Qianhai. His jealous wife secretly sold me here.”

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing mottled old scars on her slender arms, as if left by a whip. “I was caught every time I tried to escape, and these are the marks. Other scars are in private places and cannot be shown.”

Everyone exchanged glances, speechless for a moment.

After a long pause, He Chunhua finally said softly, “The matter of Lord Zhu losing his granddaughter seven or eight years ago, and searching for her fruitlessly for a long time, was widely known in the capital. The Xinan County Administrator even lost his post because of it. However, how will you prove that you are indeed Zhu Xiuer?”

This “prove you are you” dilemma was the most troubling.

However, Zhu Xiuer was clearly prepared. She turned and lifted her hair, showing everyone the mark on the back of her neck. “This lotus-petal-shaped red mark has been there since I was born. My grandfather said the first time he saw it that I would grow up to be as graceful as a lotus and an orchid. My grandfather loved wine and always warmed it under the trellis in the backyard.”

She paused. “I can tell you about my childhood, every single detail, and it can all be verified.”

Seeing her speak fluently and with a clear conscience, the aide said to He Chunhua, “My Lord, this matter is very easy to verify.”

He Chunhua also nodded. “Very well, you will travel with us.”

Lady Zhu was overcome with joy and gratitude, bowing deeply. “Thank you, Lord!”

“You have helped us greatly; it is we who should thank you,” He Chunhua said, waving his hand. “Otherwise, the bandits would still be plotting against us in secret.”

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

Hearing that Lady Zhu’s husband and mother-in-law had been killed and her two children taken hostage by the mountain bandits, Madam Ying sighed. “These villains should all be brought to justice.”

He Lingchuan pulled out a green apple and bit into it with a crunch. “Justice? Justice doesn’t care about these things. It takes a villain to deal with a villain.”

Ugh, why was this mountain apple so sour? He clutched his jaw, feeling as if his teeth were on edge.

Madam Ying glared at him.

This was comfort, just comfort. What did this brat know?

After both leaders nodded in agreement, the imperial soldiers and the defeated troops quickly retreated to their respective territories. The former occupied the east side of the village, and the latter took the west.

He Chunhua actually wanted the other side to safely release the residents of the west village, but Lu Yao was not foolish; he knew these were valuable hostages and absolutely refused to agree.

Hearing this news, the villagers on the west side wept bitterly.

Lu Yao initially ignored them, but the cries were so loud they became a nuisance, irritating him. He finally waved his hand. “Tell them all to shut up, or I’ll cut out their tongues for drinks later.”

He used to do that, but with the imperial soldiers right across from them now, it wasn’t good to provoke them too much.

At this point, he looked around. “Where’s that dead fatty?” Usually, he wouldn’t need to speak up for such annoying minor issues; Fatty Wang would be the first to rush out and sort things out.

Of course, he couldn’t see the fatty.

A few bandits were starting a fire to roast fish. Lu Yao took a sip of wine. Although they had just fought, he was in quite a cheerful mood.

Before, he had always worried that his unreliable subordinates would expose themselves and be discovered by the imperial soldiers. Now it was better; everyone had dropped the pretense, and forming a village-wide alliance actually brought peace.

A trusted confidant beside him advised, “General, drink less, in case they launch a night attack.”

Lu Yao scoffed, laughing, “Them? Attack? Don’t give that dog official too much credit!”

He wiped his mouth. “That official is on his way to take up his post in Xiazhou, and these three hundred men are his entire retinue, just like you are to me. Without these direct subordinates, he’ll be unfamiliar with the place in Xiazhou and will find nothing easy to manage! Forget losing half; even if he loses only thirty percent, he won’t be able to bear it! Tell me, does he want the day to break early so he can get on his way, or does he want to launch a night raid on us?”

“Of course, he wants to escape early,” another man flattered. “That dog official’s insight and courage are far inferior to our general’s. Besides, he’s just passing through; why would he meddle in local affairs? As long as we tell him he can safely go his way tomorrow morning, he definitely won’t make a move tonight!”

Lu Yao narrowed his eyes and put down his wine cup. “Strengthen vigilance after the fourth watch. We can’t let them escape. Oh, and where did you say Wu Shaoyi and Pei Xinyong’s troops were?”