Chang Bao said softly, “These people look like mountain bandits.”
Yuan Chuan nodded, “The area around Jiangzhou has many mountains, and there are several bandit dens.”
Mu Qing said in surprise, “Did they get caught? They can’t be sentenced to exile, can they?”
“It should be so. If they were to be granted leniency, they wouldn’t be locked up here. Being imprisoned here means they must be sentenced. These people have strong physiques and look like skilled laborers.” Chang Bao analyzed the situation seriously.
Upon hearing this, the Lin family was so frightened that they couldn’t eat, their eyes wide with fear as they looked at the bandits in the opposite cell.
There were at least fifteen criminals in the three cells combined! All of them were muscular and looked intimidating!
Lin Zheng realized with horror that among the exiles to the border, their Lin family was currently the lowest tier of criminals! Although Zhang Fang was alone, he had a prime minister father supporting him in the court! Mu Qing and his two companions knew martial arts! The Lin family had nothing and were nobody!
Once he understood the situation, Lin Zheng was even more determined to win over Mu Qing and his companions. He cleared his throat, signaled to the Lin family not to eat, and then snatched the food from their hands, placing it on the ground. He forced a flattering smile and said to Mu Qing and his friends, “Three heroes, I hear that you are martial artists. A bowl of rice must not be enough for you. Our Lin family is not hungry; why not eat these bowls of rice for us?”
He was so sincere, hoping that the three could accept this goodwill and welcome the Lin family!
Mu Qing rolled his eyes in disdain and ignored Lin Zheng, continuing to talk to his companions, “If this group has also been exiled, then this journey will be lively.”
He deliberately said this for the Lin family’s benefit. Mu Qing and his companions were not afraid of these bandits, and as for Zhang Fang, they would naturally protect him. They had promised Zhang Fang not to make things difficult for the Lin family, but they had not vowed to protect them.
Sure enough, after hearing this, the Lin family’s faces turned even more pale with fear. Lin Zheng directly knelt down and begged Mu Qing and his companions, “I beg of you, heroes, to take care of us! My two daughters cannot withstand the torment of these bandits!”
Not only would Lin Qiao Qiao and Lin Yue Rong be targeted by the bandits, but perhaps other women of the Lin family could also be harmed. Lin Zheng was truly terrified. The women of the Lin family could not be left to suffer at the hands of these bandits!
Mu Qing, however, chose not to scare the Lin family any further. The presence of bandits traveling together was indeed a problem. Especially the female criminals among these convicts; as Zhang Fang said, from officials to male criminals, anyone could bully these female convicts.
Seeing Mu Qing unmoved, Lin Zheng had no choice but to turn to Yuan Chuan and Chang Bao, pleading, “I beg you two heroes to look after us!”
Yuan Chuan, who despised men bullying women the most, softened a bit and replied, “If they dare to act, we will certainly respond.”
With this reassurance, Lin Zheng and the others felt somewhat at ease.
Meanwhile, the bandits across from them were not pleased. They cursed as they fought over the gruel, quickly finishing all the porridge in the bucket. Each person managed to grab only a few mouthfuls, feeling unsatisfied and simmering with anger as they stared enviously at the rice bowls across the cells.
Seeing those bowls of white rice sitting on the ground, untouched, only fueled the bandits’ hatred! They yelled viciously at the Lin family, “You have rice but won’t eat it, you lot! Throw the rice over here for us to eat!”
The Lin family was frozen with fear, unsure of what to do.
Lin Zheng thought they could not give in to these bandits; if they backed down even a bit, they would surely be stepped on! He felt a surge of anger and couldn’t help but mutter, “These wicked bandits should be executed! How can they be sentenced to exile? The officials of Jiangzhou are truly incompetent!”
Though Lin Zheng was not a good official in the past, in the face of those who were wholly harmful to society, he directly sentenced them to the guillotine! In Lin Zheng’s view, sending these people to meet their end could ensure they would be reborn well in their next lives; surely, they would be grateful to him for that?
The Lin family’s noncompliance and disregard incited the criminals in the opposite cells to curse in fury.
“A bunch of dog trash! Don’t let me catch you! Otherwise, I’ll be sure to break your necks!”
“Not only will I break their necks, but I’ll also dismember their limbs! Let’s chop them to pieces!”
“Don’t spare the bones either; toss them out to feed the dogs!”
These malicious words turned the Lin family’s faces pale and their bodies trembled. Some whispered to Lin Zheng, suggesting they flatter the bandits.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zheng pounded his thigh and shouted, “These bandits don’t deserve rice! They rob, kill, and burn without any restraint! What good have they ever done? They deserve to be put to death on the execution ground! They should be reborn as decent people in their next lives!”
His agitation raised his voice.
The bandits in the opposite cell clearly heard what Lin Zheng said. They all pointed at Lin Zheng, their eyes fierce like ghosts, yelling at their companions.
“He dares to curse us!”
“Don’t let him off!”
“Everyone listen, if you catch him, make sure to beat him to death!”
Lin Zheng:…
His heart was racing, and he glared with anger at the side branch that had suggested he appease the bandits. In a fit of rage, Lin Zheng slapped the person. Now he had successfully enraged the bandits! The road ahead was going to be perilous!
Zhang Fang, locked in the best cell, was completely unaware of the situation unfolding here.
The women and children of the Lin family were confined in the cell opposite him.
Lin Qiao Qiao and Lin Yue Rong occasionally stole glances at Zhang Fang. They wanted to speak to him but were too timid to do so.
Finally, it was Lin Yue Rong who mustered her courage and said, “Young Master Zhang!”
Zhang Fang was reading with great focus. After a while, he sluggishly turned his head to look at the opposite cell, his expression filled with confusion.
Lin Yue Rong took a deep breath, seizing the moment to say, “Thank you, Young Master Zhang, for your care on this journey!”