Chapter 16: The Bandit Suppression Order
“Should I help you with your hair?”
Xin Che’s tone, though phrased as a question, carried a hint of authority.
Jiang Lili promptly handed him the cloth without hesitation.
She was quite pleased with the amount of hair on this body, but the long locks that reached her waist made her arms sore from the effort of braiding it.
If there was an opportunity to take it easy, why not seize it?
Xin Che took the cloth from her and gently cupped her hair in his large hand, his motions soft as he dried it.
The room was quiet, and Jiang Lili felt as though she could hear the beating of her own heart.
She decided to start a conversation. “Has the village doctor seen Mother? How is she now?”
“Mother just took some medicine and rested for a while. She’s already feeling much better.”
Xin Che’s expression was focused. “Thanks to you.”
He didn’t want to say anything like “I will repay this favor tenfold,” as actions spoke louder than words. He wasn’t one for empty promises.
“We’ll stay here for four or five days and then leave.”
Otherwise, they would bring trouble to Guan Village. The path of exile was one that still had to be walked.
Jiang Lili thought about the plan she had discussed with Guan Yue. “In five days, Guan Yue will take the convicts and officials out of the village to mine stones. At that time, we’ll stage an escape.”
She leaned in and whispered to Xin Che. “We’ll do this first and then that. We’ll definitely have those arrogant officials under our control.”
After explaining the plan, two small dimples appeared on her face as she flashed a sly, mischievous smile. “What do you think?”
Xin Che smiled in response. “Alright, we’ll do it your way.”
Jiang Lili hadn’t anticipated that her long hair would be so difficult to manage. As sleepiness began to overcome her, her head slowly drooped forward, little by little, until she finally couldn’t keep herself upright and fell forward.
Xin Che’s reflexes were quick. He caught her small head in his hands, his expression one of helplessness.
…
The next morning, Jiang Lili woke up naturally and stretched lazily as she opened her eyes.
She had no idea when she had made it to the bed.
Running her hand through her hair, she noticed it was dry and fresh, and there was no heavy or sore feeling that usually came from sleeping with damp hair.
Feeling the emptiness in her stomach, Jiang Lili quickly threw on some clothes and headed out in search of food.
After meeting with Guan Yue yesterday, she had told the little maid that there was no need to deliver meals for the next few days.
As soon as Jiang Lili stepped outside, she grabbed a young girl from the village to ask for directions and soon found her way to the dining hall where the village leaders ate together.
Inside the hall, there was a large round table in the center. Guan Yue was seated at the head, while the other two leaders had yet to arrive.
“Lili, you came just in time. The cook made some delicious soy-sauce beef noodles this morning, with meat pies and pear juice!”
Seeing Jiang Lili enter, Guan Yue quickly patted the other half of the bench next to her. “Come, sit here!”
“The last time we sat on a long bench to eat noodles was back in senior year of high school!”
Jiang Lili sat down next to Guan Yue, feeling a wave of sentimentality.
Who would have thought that after graduation, she and her high school friend, who had fought side by side, would be sitting together at a table like this, having a meal and embarking on an adventure in such a strange world?
The beef noodles in front of her were topped with green onions, and large chunks of beef were spread across the noodles, coated in a rich sauce made from mushrooms and yellow soybeans. Jiang Lili quickly picked up her chopsticks and dug in.
On a chilly autumn morning, a steaming bowl of beef noodles was pure bliss!
As they ate, Jiang Lili and Guan Yue chatted about funny things that happened in high school, and the air was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
Just as Jiang Lili was finishing her noodles, the second and third leaders of the village entered, both with dark expressions.
Both leaders had a strong, imposing presence, and their scowls made them even more intimidating.
The third leader, Luo Qiuniang, had a serious expression as she placed the whip at her waist onto the table.
Jiang Lili immediately stopped smiling.
“Qiuniang, what are you doing? You’re scaring my little cutie.”
Guan Yue shot a glare at the third leader, but she knew that Luo Qiuniang wasn’t targeting Jiang Lili—there must have been something urgent happening.
Guan Yue asked, “What’s going on?”
Luo Qiuniang poured herself a glass of pear juice and pointed to her subordinate who had followed her in. “You explain.”
The young man quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands in respect. “Village Chief, our informants say that the government is about to issue a bandit suppression order, to eliminate the mountain bandits from Yanzhou to Linzhou!”
“What?” Guan Yue was so startled she stood up. “We just captured Xu Youshan less than twelve hours ago! How did the Magistrate of Yanzhou hear the news so quickly?”
Jiang Lili’s face showed her shock, and the noodles in her bowl suddenly lost their appeal.
Did Xu Youshan’s father find out already? How could the news spread so fast? Wasn’t Xu Youshan missing longer than this when he went out to visit the br*thel?
Moreover, Xu Youshan left home for a trip, so it wasn’t strange that he hadn’t sent a message back the entire night.
“No, it’s the Magistrate of Linzhou who’s issuing the bandit suppression order.”
The young man shook his head, explaining the situation. “It’s said that the second son of the Magistrate of Linzhou instigated this. He wants to lead the attack on the bandits himself to earn political achievements and rise through the ranks!”
“This second son is determined to please the Magistrate of Linzhou. He’s currently recruiting soldiers and organizing a force.”
Guan Yue slapped the table in frustration. “What’s the second son going crazy for? We didn’t rob the Magistrate of Linzhou’s house!”
“Ah, you don’t know, do you? Something big recently happened at the Magistrate of Linzhou’s house!”
The young man began excitedly sharing the gossip he had overheard. “The eldest son of the Magistrate of Linzhou, you know, he was born a fool, right?
“But a month ago, the eldest son accidentally fell into a pool. After lying in bed for a month, his condition suddenly improved, and his mental illness was cured!”
“What? That happened too?”
Even the little maid who was serving the food was caught up in the gossip.
Jiang Lili felt a sense of familiarity as she heard about the eldest son’s fall into the water, and how his mental illness was suddenly cured.
The young man continued, “Guess what happened next! The eldest son not only stopped being foolish, but he became incredibly smart, speaking in fluent, eloquent sentences.”
“The Magistrate of Linzhou was hosting an imperial censor at the Lotus Pavilion, and the eldest son recited a poem that amazed everyone!”
Jiang Lili’s suspicion deepened. “What poem?”
“Let me think, it was so refined that I didn’t quite remember it.”
The young man scratched his head, trying to recall. “Oh, ‘Lotus, emerging from the mud yet untainted, washed in the clear water yet unsullied.’”
The more he spoke, the more animated he became, as if he had witnessed it himself. “Wow, it immediately stunned the imperial censors! They praised the Magistrate of Linzhou for having such a great son.”
Just as the fourth leader entered the room and overheard the gossip, he was also astonished by the line of poetry. “What a beautiful ‘emerging from the mud yet untainted’!”
“This poem not only perfectly described the situation, but it also subtly showed the integrity and uprightness of the Magistrate of Linzhou!”
“It’s really killing two birds with one stone, brilliant, absolutely brilliant.”
When Guan Yue and Jiang Lili heard this famous line from Ode To The Lotus by Zhou Dunyi, they exchanged a glance. Oh, good grief!
Another transmigrator, and they didn’t even pop into the group chat!
How shameless—using Zhou Dunyi’s poem to show off.
**TN
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