TFWYH – Chapter 840 Unjustified Detention

After Ling Yue paid the city entrance fee, the deputy commander in charge of the city gates led his men to inspect the cargo.

Without warning, his expression changed.

He pointed at Ling Yue and barked,

“Men! Arrest them all!”

“What?”

Ling Yue was stunned.

It wasn’t until the city guards rushed forward in unison and restrained Gesang and the rest of his group that she finally came to her senses.

“What do you mean by this?” she demanded. “On what grounds are you arresting people?”

“These people are all from the Northern Frontier, aren’t they?” the deputy commander declared self-righteously. “You’re smuggling goods into the capital, and you still dare argue? Men, arrest her too!”

Inwardly, however, he was overjoyed.

Ling Yue had been waiting outside the city gates since early morning.

Curious about what she was doing, he had sent someone to investigate.

Ling Yue herself was tight-lipped, and nothing useful could be pried out of her.

But her maid…

Her maid had been much easier to fool.

With just a few casual questions, the girl had proudly revealed everything about Ling Yue’s business.

The moment the deputy commander heard about it, greed took root in his heart.

So many rough jade stones…

How much fine jade must be hidden inside?

How much money was that worth?

He had already heard that the antique shop currently undergoing renovations in the city belonged to the younger sister of Minister Ling.

So this was her business.

A jade business.

The profits from jade were astronomical.

Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have dared lay a finger on Ling Yue.

Although he belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction, Minister Ling currently enjoyed the Emperor’s favor, and he had no desire to stir up unnecessary trouble.

But…

The temptation was simply too great.

If he seized this shipment of rough jade and presented it to the Crown Prince…

Wouldn’t the Crown Prince protect him?

Not only would he protect him, but he might even reward him with a promotion.

And naturally…

He himself could pocket a handsome share of the profits.

It was a win on every front.

Having made up his mind, the deputy commander staged this entire incident.

Naturally, Ling Yue knew nothing of his scheme.

She forced herself to remain calm and said coldly,

“I am the younger sister of Minister Ling. Why would I knowingly break the law by smuggling goods?”

She assumed the deputy commander simply didn’t know who she was and hoped her identity would make him back down.

Instead, he sneered.

“Whether it’s smuggling or not will be determined after an investigation.”

“Take them away!”

“Yes, sir!”

The city guards moved in at once.

Gesang and his men didn’t dare resist.

Ling Yue hadn’t expected her status to be completely ineffective.

Could it be…

He already knows who I am?

Is he deliberately targeting me?

Or… is his real target my brother, Ling Yu?

Gesang grew anxious.

“Little Sister Yue, what do we do now?”

Ling Yue was just as worried, but she did her best to steady herself and reassure him.

“It’s probably the work of my brother’s political enemies.”

“Don’t panic.”

“It’ll be alright.”

In truth…

She wasn’t confident at all.

It wasn’t that she feared the shipment would be confiscated.

The cargo had been transported legally.

Gesang had paid taxes every time he entered a city.

She wasn’t afraid of any inspection.

What she feared…

Was that this incident would bring trouble upon Ling Yu.

“Damn it!”

“The deputy commander didn’t suddenly decide to do this on a whim.”

“He clearly planned it in advance.”

“Who told him these wagons were carrying rough jade stones?”

Ling Yue was furious.

Even if someone intended to inspect the cargo or became greedy after seeing it, there would still be a process.

But judging from the deputy commander’s expression just now…

He had clearly known everything beforehand.

He had acted with complete confidence.

Ling Yue didn’t notice that, the moment she said those words, Zhao Xiaoyu, standing behind her, guiltily lowered her head.

Regret flooded her heart.

She shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly earlier.

She had simply thought Ling Yue was incredible.

She admired her so much that she wanted everyone to know how amazing she was.

But…

It seemed she had ruined everything.

As the guards began dragging them away, Ling Yue shouted angrily,

“This is the capital, beneath the Son of Heaven’s very feet! Are you truly going to ignore the law?”

“It is you who broke the law.”

“I am merely enforcing it according to the statutes.”

“Take them away!”

the deputy commander roared.

The soldiers began escorting the group forward by force.

Ling Yue’s eyes reddened with anger.

Just then…

A figure descended from the sky.