Mu Qing suggested, “How about we take the opportunity to beat that brat up on the way? No, let’s beat him up multiple times! That guy must have done a lot of bad things! At such a young age, if he wasn’t guilty of major crimes, why would he be exiled?”
Chang Bao chuckled lightly, “Any criminal who can be exiled surely has a few lives on their conscience.”
“That’s true. The most satisfying thing I’ve done in this life was kill that corrupt official Cao Xiu with brothers Chang and Yuan!” Mu Qing said proudly, holding his head high.
Lin Zheng was shocked. Cao Xiu was the Inspector of Jiangnan! The governor overseeing military and civil affairs! He had immense power! Even Lin Zheng, despite his efforts to curry favor, couldn’t get close to Cao Xiu. He had been killed by a wandering assassin six months ago. To think that the assassins who killed Cao Xiu were these three young men in the opposite cell!
It’s over. These three are so enraged against corrupt officials, and one of them just threatened to beat him up. Now knowing they are the murderers of Cao Xiu, Lin Zheng was terrified. He feared that these three might kill him on the road to exile!
Mu Qing sat down, discussing seriously with his two partners: “Should we go after that Young Master Zhang or deal with this group of people first?”
The Lin family shrank in fear. These three criminals are assassins! They certainly would not spare them if they wanted to harm Zhang Fang!
Yuan Quan glanced at the Lin family, taking note of their reactions, and slowly said, “I think it’s easier to target Young Master Zhang first. After all, he’s alone, and he must be receiving care from the officials. At that point, Brother Chang and I will distract the officials, and you can knock him out first, then beat him up thoroughly.”
Lin Zheng’s eyes widened; these three are truly insane! Zhang Fang is the Lin family’s support! If they harm him, the Lin family can’t survive! Considering the stakes, Lin Zheng directly revealed Zhang Fang’s identity: “Do you know who Young Master Zhang is? His father is the current Prime Minister!”
This revelation stunned the three young men in the opposite cell.
Mu Qing exclaimed in disbelief, “That brat is the son of Zhang Xiangong?”
Prime Minister Zhang is a beloved official among the common folk! In his youth, he had served as a magistrate in Mu Qing’s hometown, governing it well. Mu Qing vividly remembered the day when Prime Minister Zhang was promoted and sent to a new post, how the townsfolk sent him off reluctantly! That scene was something Mu Qing could never forget.
Upon learning of Zhang Fang’s identity, Mu Qing grew even angrier, gritting his teeth in rage, “Then we must beat that brat up even harder! How can someone with such a good father not cherish it! People like him deserve to be thrashed!”
Lin Zheng: …
No, he thought revealing Zhang Fang’s identity would make them wary of him and not harm Zhang Fang. But he never expected these youths to react this way!
Although Yuan Quan and Chang Bao had never met Prime Minister Zhang, he was recognized as a good official among the populace. Naturally, they respected him and were curious about what great sin his son had committed to warrant exile.
Chang Bao directly asked Lin Zheng, “What did Young Master Zhang do? Did he kill someone? Who was it?”
Lin Zheng, feeling anxious and flustered, no longer wanted to converse with these lunatics.
Yuan Quan threw a stone at Lin Zheng.
It hit him right on the shoulder, causing a sharp pain! His face immediately contorted as he clutched the painful spot, trembling all over.
Mu Qing coldly threatened, “Speak clearly!”
In agony, Lin Zheng couldn’t say a word. Lin Yue Rong had to speak up softly, informing the three young men, “Young Master Zhang killed the Queen’s nephew.”
Yuan Quan suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the prison. Even Zhang Fang, who was reading, heard it.
Just as Mu Qing and Chang Bao were about to ask him why he was so happy, Yuan Quan stopped laughing after a while and seriously questioned Lin’s family: “Was it Dou Changkang who died?”
Lin Yue Rong didn’t know this, and replied, “We only know that Young Master Zhang was exiled for killing the Queen’s nephew, but we are not aware of the specifics.”
Yuan Quan slammed his thigh, informing Chang Bao and Mu Qing, “Do you remember I told you my sister was abducted? I’ve never given up on the investigation; for years, I found that those abducted girls were either sold into brothels or forced into servitude. The luckier ones became rough servant girls, while the unlucky ones were sent to the beds of the powerful.”
At this point, Yuan Quan’s face expressed deep hatred, gritting his teeth as he continued, “These corrupt and despicable people had kept their heads down for the family’s sake. But Dou Changkang in the capital openly took young girls as concubines! He even wrote poems praising the extraordinary nature of the girls! Dou Changkang is the Queen’s nephew! If the person who died was him, then Young Master Zhang has truly done a great deed!”
After hearing this, Lin Zheng cautiously asked, “If the person Young Master Zhang killed was Dou Changkang, then you wouldn’t lay a hand on him, right?”
Yuan Quan remained silent, while Chang Bao raised an eyebrow at Mu Qing.
Mu Qing frowned, analyzing, “Then indeed we cannot harm Young Master Zhang. So, that leaves us with no choice but to deal with you people!”
Lin Zheng and his family were left dumbfounded! Is this person incapable of thinking about anything other than violence? They have no grievance against each other!
Zhang Fang wasn’t aware of any of this. After a night passed, when he was taken out of the cell the next day, he saw three young men being escorted out, standing with them. These three were glaring at Zhang Fang, their eyes filled with suspicion, making Zhang Fang feel uneasy.
Looking at Lin family’s unusual expressions, especially their fearful demeanor towards the three young men, Zhang Fang scrutinized both parties. Was it possible that the Lin family had some past grievance with these three youths? Were they using Zhang Fang as a shield in hopes of scaring these three? That would explain why they were paying such close attention to him.
After roll call, the county arranged for two officers to escort Mu Qing and the others on their journey, joining the group of exiles.
The team added a few more members, creating an odd atmosphere. Both Lin Zheng’s group and Zhang Fang’s were only wearing handcuffs, while Mu Qing and his gang had to wear both handcuffs and leg shackles.
Hao Zhuang whispered to Zhang Fang about the identities of the three criminals: “Those three criminals killed the Inspector of Jiangnan, Cao Xiu, and were captured in Dou County. They should have been executed, but because the border areas need laborers, they were instead sentenced to exile. Young Master Zhang, you must be cautious of those three. They are ruthless, with lives on their conscience!”