Chapter 651: Chapter 262 My Mother-in-law is a Loyal Servant (Part 6)_3
This is just like with Mom and him.
Mom issues the commands, and he follows them well; Mom is formidable, and he, the worker, isn’t too shabby either.
Having been negated and oppressed for over twenty years, Feng Zhongliang’s heart seemed to be revived with vitality after finally receiving affirmation and praise from a close relative.
His entire being, inside and out, radiated a rejuvenated spirit.
He Tiantian nodded, Hmm, this is confidence!
"Alright, let’s not talk about this right now. Let’s go find Captain Qian!"
He Tiantian didn’t act alone; she brought Feng Zhongliang with her.
She wanted to demonstrate her capabilities in front of Feng Zhongliang, so that he would trust her even more.
Being a mama’s boy is really just about not having grown up.
The mother is strong, so he listens to her.
But once the wife shows she’s even more formidable, he can’t help but lean toward his wife.
In the main hall, Captain Qian and a few of his trusted brothers were in a very bad mood.
There used to be Feng Zhongliang, who would take care of things in advance, ensuring there was meat and wine for every meal – not as good as the delicacies of the Capital City, but not too bad either.
But today, Feng Zhongliang had made no arrangements, and Captain Qian and his men had no choice but to eat the food prepared by the post station.
Coarse millet buns that choked you, greens devoid of any oil – truly hard to swallow.
Captain Qian, on this official trip, though he had managed to get a lot of silver from the people of Marquis Mansion and Feng Zhongliang.
Still, the man was like a living Pi Xiu, always taking in but never giving out. If the food wasn’t to his liking, he would only curse at Feng Zhongliang for incompetence, never willing to pay out of his own pocket.
Barely filling his stomach halfway, Captain Qian impatiently pushed away the bowls and chopsticks, unwilling to eat any more.
He glanced over at the people from the Marquis Mansion wolfing down their food. Clearly, their meals were far inferior to those of Captain Qian and his military men.
Seeing nobles and noblewomen who were once high and mighty, living in luxury, now having no regard for face or etiquette, eagerly gnawing at their dark buns, Captain Qian’s smoldering heart suddenly felt a touch of glee.
It was at this moment that He Tiantian and Feng Zhongliang arrived.
"Captain Qian, the condition of the Wei Family’s Eldest Miss isn’t looking so good."
Upon seeing Captain Qian, He Tiantian did not explain why Feng Zhongliang hadn’t prepared things in advance but instead spoke with feigned gravity.
"Hmm?" Captain Qian was taken aback. Obviously, he hadn’t expected that after he injured Wei Yuanniang, not a single person from Marquis Mansion sought retribution from him. Instead, a servant who had been stripped of her status came to demand justification.
"Didn’t you call for a doctor?"
Picking at his teeth with the nail of his little finger, Captain Qian appeared nonchalant on the surface but was actually a bit nervous inside.
"Indeed, a doctor was called, and medicine was applied. But the Eldest Miss is only four or five years old, and the wound is too deep—"
He Tiantian’s face was a mix of concern and anger.
She knew what Captain Qian’s words meant – they merely implied that he had not stopped Feng Zhongliang from seeking medical help for Wei Yuanniang, and that was already a "merciful exception."
After all, everyone in Marquis Mansion was guilty, and it was normal for a few people to die on the way to the Capital City for trial.
"Our Eldest Miss is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis Mansion. When she was a hundred days old, the Saint had commanded a special delivery of rewards from a thousand miles away."
He Tiantian wasn’t intimidated by Captain Qian’s demeanor but continued, "The Marquis is missing, and some in the court falsely accuse our Marquis of colluding with the enemy and committing treason!"
"The Saint was enraged and ordered the entire Marquis Mansion to come to the Capital City for a hearing."
"Captain Qian, I, a humble woman, don’t understand the matters of the court, but I can recognize a few words. ’Awaiting a hearing’ should mean waiting for an investigation, right?"
Here, He Tiantian gazed directly into Captain Qian’s eyes, emphasizing each word clearly, "It means that the Saint has not yet condemned Marquis Pingnan. The people of Marquis Mansion are not yet branded as criminals; at most, they are relatives of suspects awaiting investigation!"
Captain Qian was struck with a sudden realization.
Dammit, the reason he had turned a blind eye to the actions of Feng Zhongliang and others along the way was precisely because of this.
The Saint had indeed ordered the family of the Marquis Mansion to be escorted to the Capital City, but had not yet confirmed their crimes.
Thus, this journey to the Capital City was different from "exile."
If the Marquis Mansion had been convicted and the family exiled,
then it would be entirely normal for a few people to die during the exile process.
But now, the Wei Family wasn’t being exiled — they weren’t criminals.
Considering this, Captain Qian and his subordinates had only harassed some maidservants and concubines along the way.
For the legitimate masters of Marquis Mansion, Captain Qian had at most intimidated them and hadn’t been deadly.
The journey had already gone halfway, and within the entire Marquis Pingnan’s Mansion, only Wei Yuanniang had been injured today.
Others, if weakened to the brink, it was all due to exhaustion and hunger.
"Hmph, I’m a rough man, I don’t care about any suspects or non-suspects—"
Captain Qian felt uneasy inside but still maintained a tough facade.
He Tiantian, however, didn’t continue to intimidate him but instead suddenly switched to a smile, secretly handing Captain Qian a silver note with a hundred taels denomination, "Captain Qian, you’re far from a rough man; you are the most valiant and kind-hearted."
"Our Eldest Miss has suffered a grievous injury, and she’s still young; for the rest of the journey—"
A slap followed by a sweet date — accordingly, Captain Qian’s face broke into a smile; he secretively pocketed the silver note and waved his hands dismissively, "You know, I have poor sight; I mostly just look at the adults!"
So for a child like Wei Yuanniang, Captain Qian essentially "couldn’t see"!