Chapter 128. Frame-up
A group from the escort agency walked past the group from Peach Blossom Cove. Their conversation traveled into Su Qing and Ji Xiaoying's ears. Xiaoying asked Su Qing uneasily,
1
"Sister, are they talking about old Qin?"
Su Qing put down the work in her hands and said in a confident tone,
"The Emperor only has one Imperial teacher."
"It must be a trap. Elder Qin would never let the barbarians in."
Xiaoying was so angry that her face turned red. She didn't believe that he would betray the country and harm the citizens of the great Xia Kingdom. That old man was loyal to the monarch and loved the country, and he was a good person who punished corrupt officials.
"If you want to punish someone, you can't find a good excuse."
Su Qing laughed coldly. It was time for a change in this broken dynasty.
"What do we do? Will Elder Qin be beheaded?"
Ji Xiaoying was very worried about that venerable and adorable old man. She hoped that nothing would happen to that kind old man!
"I don't think so. He's the Emperor's teacher, so he won't be beheaded so easily."
Su Qing hesitated for a moment and shook her head. She wasn't sure either. The Emperor's heart was unfathomable. Once someone tried to shake his throne, he would kill his father and brothers without hesitation. What more a teacher?
"Will he go to jail?"
Xiaoying was extremely worried. As long as she thought of that white-haired old man being locked up in prison with shackles, her heart felt like a pair of giant hands were grabbing it.
"He will."
Even though Su Qing could see that Xiaoying was upset, she did not lie. Going to jail was the best outcome, but could it be that simple?
Ji Shuisheng and Qiu Yongkang passed through strict inspection of the city guards before entering An City. They had to hurry out if they wanted to buy food and necessities.
The price of grain in An City was twice as high as that in Jin City, but there were still people lining up outside the grain store.
"Uncle, why are there so many people buying food?"
Qiu Yongkang went over to ask the people in the queue. He was a pale-faced scholar who looked harmless, so no matter what he asked, people would be willing to answer him. Ji Shuisheng was too fierce, and he was afraid of scaring people.
The middle-aged man lowered his voice and said to Qiu Yongkang,
"You still don't know that the barbarians are coming? I'm telling you if you have money, then buy more food. Take the food and run; it'll be too late if you wait for the barbarians to attack."
"We came from Jin city but didn't see any barbarians. Why did you say that they're coming? "
Qiu Yongkang asked.
"I heard that the Emperor's teacher let the barbarians in. The Wan family Army can't defend Li City anymore. If the barbarians beat Li City, they must lead their troops South. It would be great if general Xiao were still alive."
The old man sighed and realized that he had said the wrong thing. He looked at Qiu Yongkang in fear.
General Xiao was a treasonous Minister who had conspired with the enemy and committed treason. He missed General Xiao? Wasn't he courting death?
"Alright," he said.
Qiu Yongkang saw the old man's embarrassment but pretended not to hear the old man's thanks and left with a smile.
"Shuisheng."
Qiu Yongkang called Ji Shuisheng with a severe expression. Ji Shuisheng shook his head,
"Don't worry,"
His initial recklessness had already passed. His opponents were too strong. If he wanted revenge, he had to be stronger than them. Fortunately, he had already taken the first step. Revenge was only a matter of time.
Qiu Yongkang spent twice the usual price on buying a cart of food. It was worth it since it could save him the time of a meal. On the way back, he saw a stall selling vegetable buns, so he gritted his teeth and bought a hundred.
They quickly left An City to chase after Su Qing and the others. They realized that there were many more refugees along the way. Many of them were rich people, and they also rode horses and drove carriages. There were many valuables in the carriages, and guards protected them.
There were also ordinary people. They were carrying loads and pushing carts, dragging their children along. Their eyes were filled with panic and confusion about their future.
Who would be willing to leave their home if they could survive but were about to be attacked by soldiers? Those barbarians killed, set fires, ate people's hearts, snatched women, and threw children.
Ji Shuisheng and Qiu Yongkang both had severe expressions. Compared to the hatred of the country and the family, the hatred of the country was more important. Unless one was a man without backbone, no man with a bit of courage could stand watching those barbarian people kill their people.
The villagers had also heard the news that the barbarians were about to attack. When they saw that Ji Shuisheng had returned, they immediately surrounded him with a group of people. They caught up with the group.
"Shuisheng, did you hear the news that the Barbarian race is about to attack?"
Old master Qiu asked Ji Shuisheng. He had seen those Barbarians kill people before. They dug out people's hearts when they were alive, and the screams of those whose hearts were dug out were simply unparalleled.
Just thinking about it made him shiver!
"Yes, I heard about it."
Ji Shuisheng nodded and looked at Su Qing and Xiaoying's carriage. He wondered if he should persuade Su Qing not to go to Su Zhou.
Since it was rumored that Elder Qin had let the Barbarians in, he should have been captured and locked up by now. The Imperial court must have ransacked his house.
When Su Qing heard that Ji Shuisheng had returned, she glanced out of the car. Their eyes met, and Ji Shuisheng walked towards her.
Ji Shuisheng asked Su Qing,
"Su Qing, something has happened to old Qin. Are you still going to Su Prefecture? "
Su Qing nodded,
"I have to go. A patient is waiting for me to treat."
She still had to investigate her background, so she had to travel to Su Zhou.
"Alright, then, let's go to Su province."
Ji Shuisheng nodded. Since he would pass by anyway, he might as well make a trip!
Although he had only met old man Qin once, that old man was full of righteousness and would not commit treason. Perhaps the situation would be reversed.
It all depended on whether the person sitting on the Dragon throne believed that old man Qin had betrayed the country.
"Get out of the way, get out of the way."
Just as they talked, a few soldiers came over on horses and whipped the pedestrians on the road.
Ji Shuisheng hurriedly drove the car to the side of the road. Everyone stopped to let these rude and unreasonable bailiffs pass first.
After the bailiffs on horses drove the people away, three prison carriages came from behind. One of the bailiffs hit a gong as he walked.
"Everyone, quick look. The traitor Qin Feng is the one who let the barbarians in. He caused all of you to leave your homes and caused everyone to be unable to live in peace. He is the sinner of the great Xia Kingdom. Everyone, please take your revenge."
Su Qing and Ji Xiaoying heard the bailiff shout and jumped from the carriage. The two of them looked at the prison carriage together.
Dozens of soldiers were escorting a prison carriage. The carriage was made of thick round wood and was unbreakable. Inside the carriage stood an old man with white hair and a chain. He was only wearing a white shirt with the word 'Prison' written on it.
The White hair covered the old man's face, and a pair of eyes filled with grief and anger glared at the bailiffs through the gaps between "Kill the sinners of the great Xia Kingdom."
Qin Feng's head was broken, and his white hair was dyed red with the white hair.
The general on the horse had an arrogant look on his face as he sneered at old Qin.
"Traitor, I will let you know the people's anger."
As soon as he finished speaking, the people forced to lose their homes were incited. They picked up stones and dirt from the roadside and threw them at Qin Feng's face.
"Kill the old thief who betrayed the country for glory."
"Kill the sinners of the great Xia Kingdom."
Qin Feng's head was broken, and his white hair was dyed red with blood. His body trembled as he looked at the angry citizens with grief and anger. These were the people he had tried his best to protect.
Suddenly, he saw Ji Shuisheng, Su Qing, and Ji Xiaoying in the crowd!
2
