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Chapter 1664: We'll Go, You Go Home
🕑 Added 2023-09-07 02:04:28 +0000 UTCChapter 1664: We'll Go, You Go Home
Meng Qi's hand tightened as his elder brother's words hit home.
Meng Yunzheng hesitated over the holes for a moment but didn't press any of them, retracting his hand soon after.
Meng Qi was puzzled, "Brother, let's hurry and go inside."
"Shu Yu and I are going, you go home."
Meng Qi widened his eyes in disbelief, "W-why?"
Meng Yunzheng pointed at Yuangui, whose face was pale, his remaining strength barely keeping him upright, "Although his injuries received urgent treatment, they're too severe. It's not suitable for him to risk himself with us again. If we delay further, his life will be in danger. You take him out and find a doctor to heal his wounds."
"But..." Meng Qi blinked, glanced at Yuangui who was indeed mentally dazed, unable to stand properly and sitting in a corner for support.
They couldn't just leave someone in that condition behind.
Meng Qi wanted to suggest that Shu Yu take him out since the secret chamber was even more dangerous. After all, he was here to save his own father, so he should be the one to go.
But then he thought about Yuangui's age. It wouldn't be appropriate for his future sister-in-law to support a grown man outside.
Moreover, both Yuan Gui and his future sister-in-law were unfamiliar with the town. It would be risky if they encountered patrolling officials on their way out.
With a determined expression, Meng Qi finally nodded, "Alright, I'll take Yuan Gui out. You, uh, be careful."
Yuangui, however, regained his breath and said to Meng Yunzheng, "Are you planning to go there alone? Since you already know the location of the secret chamber and how to get in, we should directly report this to the authorities and have them come over. There are many bandits; it's too dangerous for just the two of you."
Report to the authorities?
Meng Yunzheng and the others chuckled. He said to Yuangui, "When we arrived here, something was off about the atmosphere in this town. I suspect there might be a traitor within the officials' ranks, and their position is not low. So, reporting to the authorities might not rescue the captives; it might implicate us instead."
He didn't mention that even the county magistrate and prefect might be compromised. Some things were better left unknown.
Yuangui was taken aback, a traitor?
As if realizing something, his face lit up with sudden understanding.
"No wonder, no wonder when the soldiers pursued me that day, they followed in this direction. But even as I hid in the courtyard, I never saw them come in to search. Back then, I didn't think much of it and assumed they had chased the bandits elsewhere. But now that I think about it, they must have known something was wrong with this courtyard and deliberately avoided it."
Even within the official ranks, there were traitors. The bandits were operating right under their noses, and yet they pretended not to see.
No wonder so many days had passed, and there was still no progress in capturing the bandits within the town.
If even the authorities were compromised, then would there be any hope left for ordinary people like them?
Yuangui clenched his fist, "Then what do we do? If the authorities are indifferent, do we just... wait to die?"
"Of course not. The imperial court won't abandon this place. We'll wait for reinforcements." Meng Yunzheng told him, "The immediate concern is for you to recover from your injuries. When the time comes to deal with the bandits, we might need to lend a hand."
Yuangui nodded with a heavy expression.
Meng Yunzheng pulled Meng Qi aside to talk, his voice lowered, "Be cautious when you leave the courtyard, try to avoid people. If, by any chance, you encounter officials, say that you encountered a bandit who robbed you and that you managed to fight them off together. Point in a random direction. Remember, don't reveal that you've been to this mansion."
