USWHC -Chapter 343 Messing with Your Sister, Want to Die? (Part 3)

“Not here? If she’s not here, she can be hiding somewhere else! I’ve seen plenty of cases like this—people hide everywhere, nothing strange about it!” Lord Hao said slowly. “Bring everyone to the yamen for the first trial—make them confess!”

So they were really going to use punishment at the yamen! Upon hearing this, Ji Laoda panicked. “Your Lordship, I’m not going! That woman isn’t my wife, I didn’t kidnap anyone—why must you take me?”

His voice trembled as he spoke, clearly terrified. Was this the start of going to jail? For a simple country boy like him, this was huge—how could he not be shaking?

“Is that so? Then have her husband brought out!” the yamen runner said, his face dark with intimidation.

Ji Laoda relaxed immediately upon hearing that they weren’t taking him. “Your Lordship, my younger brother isn’t at home!”

Lord Hao raised an eyebrow and cast him a sharp glance before speaking coldly, “He’s not here, so you’ll come along first!”

Ji Laoda’s face went pale—why drag him into this again? Sweat drenched his back as he hurriedly said, “Your Lordship, this really has nothing to do with me! Catching me won’t help at all!”

He hesitated for a moment, then forced out, “How about this—when he comes back, I’ll make sure he goes to the yamen to meet you!”

Zhu Jie froze—this guy was a textbook bootlicker! If it were the revolutionary era, he’d be perfect material for a traitor.

The two yamen runners seemed to hesitate as well, exchanging glances. Lord Hao’s voice cut through coldly, “I’ll advise you too—if you catch anyone, release them quickly. Don’t make things messy!”

Then, with a seemingly kind gesture, he turned to the victim, Old Man Zhu: “If you still can’t find anyone tomorrow, come to the yamen. I’ll have my men bring the whole Ji family in. I don’t believe a trial can’t be conducted!”

Ji Laoda’s face turned grim—they were still going to take him! What was wrong with these yamen runners? Did they have some grudge against the Ji family from a past life? They clearly weren’t going to let them off!

Old Man Zhu realized something was different. He couldn’t figure out exactly what, but he immediately sensed that the yamen runners were clearly siding with him. He straightened up, filled with courage, and said loudly, “Yes, I will notify Your Lordship tomorrow!”

Hmph. Even if Zhu Jie escaped back to the Ji family, surely they wouldn’t dare take her in now! Old Man Zhu finally felt some relief.

The yamen runners, having achieved their purpose, didn’t linger in this remote village any longer. With dark faces, they stood and prepared to leave without a word.

The village chief wanted to fawn a little, so he stepped forward and offered, “Your Lordship, why not have lunch here with me?”

The yamen runners frowned, looking at him with disdain. Coldly, they said, “No need. We have urgent business.” They looked truly intimidating.

As they were about to leave, Old Man Zhu timidly stepped forward and asked softly, “If I need to find Your Lordship tomorrow, where should I come?”

For his daughter’s sake, he had summoned the courage to deal with the yamen.

Unexpectedly, Lord Hao was friendly. The usually stern man even gave him a kind smile: “Just have the madam of Yingchun House come find me!”

Old Man Zhu immediately understood. Of course! Even if they were being ‘civil,’ they weren’t this efficient in official work—obviously, it was about money, and maybe flowers too!

He gained even more confidence, seeing Lord Hao finally relaxed. Smiling, he said, “Yes, yes! Thank you for your help, Your Lordship!”

“No problem, no problem!” Lord Hao replied politely. “I have business at Yingchun House anyway—shall I take you both along?”

See, now this is a civil servant truly serving the people! Old Man Zhu was nearly moved—no wonder the meals in Xiangshui Village were turned down; the town had something even better waiting!

“No, no, we still have things to handle!” Old Man Zhu hurriedly declined. Even if he were desperate, he wasn’t getting into the yamen runners’ carriage—too unlucky for him!