Chapter 101: Seeing the Blue Sky at Last

When Xun Ye opened his eyes, it was already noon. He looked at Yun Niang, whose eyes were red and swollen beside him, slowly raised his hand, touched her face, and gently wiped away her tears. “Don’t cry, silly girl. Have you forgotten what Xun Ye brother said to you? I couldn’t possibly die that easily.”

Yun Niang saw Xun Ye wake up and a smile gradually appeared on her face. Then she tightly embraced him and burst into loud sobs. “Woo woo woo, Yun Niang thought if you didn’t wake up, Yun Niang wouldn’t live either.”

Xun Ye held Yun Niang and comforted her. Then he asked softly, “What about those killers from last night?”

“According to what Gu Shen said, they were all exterminated by the Guo Gong and others.”

“How is Black Water Village over there? Call Gu Shen over quickly. There must be something wrong with Black Water Village.”

After Xun Ye spoke, Yun Niang hurriedly ran out to find Gu Shen. Not long after, Gu Shen came before Xun Ye. Looking at the extremely weak Xun Ye on the bed, he laughed heartily. “You brat, you almost lost your life, you know?”

Xun Ye smiled lightly. “I was at ease. Isn’t there Hua Shenyi in your mansion?”

“What Hua Shenyi? Hua Laosheng wasn’t in the mansion last night. It was Murong Bai who saved you, sucked out the poison, and prepared medicine for you. He also got poisoned while sucking out the poison for you, and now he’s resting in the bedroom. To say you’re Xun Da Xia, it’s truly that your life wasn’t meant to end. If Murong Bai hadn’t been there last night, I don’t know what would have happened to you. Thinking about it, Gu Shen really felt that everything happened wonderfully well.”

Then Gu Shen recounted the situation in Black Water Village from last night to Xun Ye: “Last night, Black Water Village also suffered a night raid. Those people sneaked in from the back mountain in the dark, scattered to each house door, and killed as soon as they entered. By the time our people reacted, many villagers had already died. Later, after a fierce battle with the Guo brothers and my mansion’s servants, those people fled. Alas, but the opponents were numerous. The villagers suffered countless deaths and injuries. The remaining people, including the wounded, were fewer than twenty. Black Water Village, from now on, probably no longer qualifies as a village.”

Hearing this, Xun Ye closed his eyes tightly, his heart filled with hatred. Over twenty households, and fewer than twenty people remaining. How many villagers had died here? Thinking about it, it was an unbearable scene of human suffering.

“Regarding the remaining villagers now, my father has already sent people to rescue them and increased manpower to protect them. Soon, they should all be brought back to the county. Moreover, they have all agreed to jointly accuse Qin Hui and reveal the events of five years ago. Qin Hui’s move was a wrong step; he was directly forcing these villagers into rage. ‘Trapping oneself in a cocoon’ describes exactly what he did.”

Xun Ye took two sips of the medicine soup Yun Niang had prepared and responded to Gu Shen, “It seems Qin Hui has gone all out. The calculations were good, but I didn’t expect nothing to come of it. Now he’s finished.” Having said that, Xun Ye lay down weakly again. Gu Shen saw this and didn’t say more. He called over a maid and told Yun Niang, “Yun Niang, you’ve stayed up a night too. I’ll let this maid take care of Xun Ye. You go rest quickly.”

Having experienced the matter of her mother, Yun Niang didn’t dare leave. She insisted on staying to accompany Xun Ye, and even when Xun Ye softly advised her, she remained unmoved. Gu Shen was helpless and could only have someone bring a small bed for Yun Niang to rest on.

When Xun Ye woke up again, it was the morning of the second day. This sleep had been very deep. If not for Gu Shen chattering beside him, Xun Ye could have slept until noon. But when he vaguely heard the word “prefect,” he opened his eyes wide and looked at Gu Shen.

“Xun Gongzi, now we must hurry to the hall with you even if we have to carry you. Do you know? People from the Shang clan have arrived, not themselves, but accompanied by a major figure: the Prefect of Liangzhou, Lord Hai Rui.”

Hai Rui? Although the era was disordered, this figure was still alive. Xun Ye couldn’t help but rejoice. This Hai Rui was no ordinary person; in the original era, he was a famous upright official of the Ming Dynasty. He suppressed powerful clans, implemented land surveys, equalized taxes, repeatedly cleared unjust cases, and punished corrupt officials and gentry, deeply winning the hearts of the people. He always advocated severe punishment for corrupt officials, prohibited private favors and bribes, and feared no powerful. Hence, he was known as Hai Clear Sky. Xun Ye never expected that it would be him, but thinking about it, he felt relieved that it was him. Only he wouldn’t consider any backing from relatives or officials behind him. In his eyes, truly only the people were important.

“Good, I’ll go now. Yun Niang, quickly help me up.” Just as Yun Niang was about to help Xun Ye sit up halfway, a voice outside said, “No need, this official has personally come.”

Then, a middle-aged man walked in. His face was like carved jade, with distinct features, and the sharp glint in his eyes unintentionally revealed made one dare not be slight. He wore a luxurious official robe, and at first glance, it exuded the majestic presence of clothes and body, fully corresponding to the image of a clean official in Xun Ye’s heart.

Xun Ye struggled to sit up, stepped to the ground, and saluted, “This one is Xun Ye, paying respects to Lord Hai Rui.”

Hai Rui quickly approached Xun Ye and helped him sit up. “I have heard from Jia Zhengyi and Guo Gong about your deeds. Well done. You have done very well. This time, you can rest assured. This official came here to punish the lawless.”

Looking at the Hai Rui before him and the arriving Gu Yuan, Jia Zhengyi, and others, Xun Ye’s eyes couldn’t help but become a bit moist. The hardships of these days had finally not been in vain. Now, finally, the blue sky and white sun had appeared.

“Tell this official everything you know. Bring out all evidence. This official will go to the county government to try this case.” After speaking, Xun Ye called Yun Niang to take out a box from the bed.

Inside the box were the detailed lists recorded, the reasons for the events organized by Xun Ye, and the involved witnesses, etc. After looking at it, Hai Rui’s brows furrowed, and he said in a deep voice, “Come here.” A group of soldiers entered the room to await orders.

“Take a team of people with shovels and hoes now, go to Black Water Village, find a place five to four li behind the village, in an area without weeds, dig out the buried corpses. Remember to bring good protection. Most of the deceased also had plague. Additionally, send another team to enclose the county government; none of these people are allowed to leave. If there is any resistance, deal with them on the spot. The remaining team, according to the names on this list, bring them all to the yamen. This official will personally interrogate.”

“Yes.” The officers listened and immediately turned to act. Gu Yuan laughed while saying, “I said little Hai, you brought so many people. I just saw there were over a hundred. How did you bring so many here?”

“Originally, I was to send these people to escort grain to Yong’an. Hearing Jia Zhengyi’s account of the situation here, I brought everyone along. Having preparations in advance? After all, they have backing behind them, to prevent them from doing the desperate fight of a cornered beast.”