Chapter 403: Extra: Retribution

Master Zhou’s house was raided.

This was something that Wen Yu, Master Qing, and Yi Bai had been looking forward to the most since Tan Shi’s death.

The new Emperor had someone investigate the Bai family case.

Evidence related to this “Master Zhou” was found from Prince Wu, so the Zhou family was raided.

Zhang Jiangqing personally participated, so Wen Yu got all the firsthand information.

However, the results were frustrating. Li Qun’s eldest son, eldest grandson, and a series of other people knew nothing about what Li Qun, the head of the family, had done. He didn’t even know where his father and younger brother had gone.

No useful evidence was found at home. They also searched the small courtyard where Li Qun usually talked business and met people, but there was nothing useful.

Wen Yu couldn’t help but curse: This cunning old fox!

Did he really do things so perfectly?

It was a pity that the capital was in chaos at that time, the Crown Prince and Grandson were in danger, and the Qi family was also in a mess, so they couldn’t take care of him.

By the time they settled down and wanted to detain him, he had disappeared.

Wen Yu had to admire that Li Da Niu’s methods were really just child’s play compared to this.

Four or five months passed like this, and the new Emperor’s throne was firmly established.

That day, Zhang Jiangqing came and brought important news.

“Li Qun is dead?” Wen Yu widened her beautiful eyes in disbelief.

“Yes. He was found by a mountain villager who was chopping firewood. He must have been in a hurry to escape, and the carriage fell off a cliff. The mountains and forests there are high and dense, and no one found him for a while. Now the body has decayed, but the clothes, the jade pendant he wore, and the seal he carried with him proved that it was him.”

Wen Yu didn’t know whether to be happy or depressed. “Such a powerful figure, would he die so simply?”

“Everything was shown to his eldest son in prison, and he said it was indeed his.”

Wen Yu said sullenly: “This is really cheap for him! This result is not good! The Bai family’s case happened many years ago, and there is no reliable human or physical evidence. Only with the testimony of key people can this case be overturned justifiably!”

She, Master Qing, and Yi Bai were both happy and dissatisfied with this news…

After a while, Mu Bo and Zhang Yuan returned. They went to Master Zhou’s hometown.

This time, they brought back some explosive news for Wen Yu.

“Li Qun’s youngest son and his eldest grandson are dead!”

Wen Yu and Master Qing looked at each other… “Tell us what happened!”

It was still Zhang Yuan who spoke, “This is how it happened…”

It turned out that Li Qun’s youngest son, along with his wife, two sons and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, had fled west.

When they reached the neighboring county, he opened the letter he was carrying as instructed by his father. He was dumbfounded when he saw it, and when he opened the box, there were new identities, land deeds, and house deeds inside.

He looked at it back and forth for a long time, then sat down: “Let us change our identities and hide our names, waiting for his news. But this… why? Is there a mistake?”

His wife, sons, and daughters-in-law were also dumbfounded. Their families were all in the capital, and the family left in a hurry without even saying hello. Now they were directly changing their names and surnames, and they could never go back!?

How could this be?

His eldest son was quite smart: “Father, did grandfather participate in Prince Wu or Prince An’s fight for the throne… He was afraid of being exposed, so he let us go and leave a root for the Zhou family?”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“I don’t know what your grandfather did. But he has always been meticulous in his work. Since he has asked us to change our identities, the matter should not be small!”

The women all started crying.

The Zhou family in the capital was living a truly good life! The little granddaughter who came with them was about to get engaged to the man she admired.

Was it all over? Would they never return to the capital?

No matter how capable Li Qun was, he could only provide them with some houses and land, ensuring they had no worries about food and clothing. But how could they know how to live the life of ordinary people without official positions?

“Where is grandfather? Where is eldest uncle? They wouldn’t… have had an accident, would they?”

They had no news after leaving the capital. Everyone looked at each other, feeling a chill from the bottom of their hearts.

Especially the women, who married into the Zhou family, never thought they would encounter such a thing! They all started throwing tantrums, refusing to go any further, creating a situation where they could neither advance nor retreat.

In the end, Li Qun’s youngest son decided that he would take his eldest son to see the place where they were supposed to settle first. Once everything was arranged, they would come back to pick up the women and children.

So, they rented a courtyard locally to settle down, and he took his eldest son and two guards to the place where they were going to settle.

Perhaps Li Qun himself didn’t expect…

His usual method of framing someone was to accuse them of colluding with bandits!

And his own youngest son actually encountered bandits.

Zhang Yuan said, “Their group of four encountered dozens of bandits who robbed them of everything they had. They were all killed. These bandits later encountered our master’s subordinates and were wiped out! We followed the trail back and discovered the truth.”

Previously, after Qi Wu settled the Qi family army, he sent Qi Xiao over. Qi Xiao’s head was swelling from a series of events, and he ran away to the Qi family army in a flash. These bandits were caught by his subordinates.

“Madam, guess who the bandit leader was?” Mu Bo and Zhang Yuan’s eyes lit up.

“Who?”

“It was the real Master Zhou’s grandson!”

“What?” Wen Yu felt her back go numb. “Really?”

“The real Master Zhou was also a talented person. Although he was not married before he went to the capital to take the imperial examination, a maid by his side became pregnant. His family was afraid it would affect his marriage, so they sent the maid to the countryside. Later, he passed the examination in the capital, but he never mentioned the maid.

His family was afraid of upsetting him, so they didn’t bring her when they entered the capital. Later, his parents died one after another. The maid was even more ignored and bullied by others. That son became an illiterate farmer. When he grew up, he got married and had a son. Later, a disaster struck, and his grandson became a bandit!”

After hearing this, Wen Yu and the others couldn’t help but sigh, “This is truly karma, retribution!”

✿✿✿

“Master Zhou hasn’t been seen by his hometown people since he entered the capital. He didn’t even return to his hometown when his parents died. It’s just that he’s powerful and influential, and no one dared to mention it!”

“After the bandits were caught, the master learned the truth and followed the trail. He captured the family of women and children and is sending them to the capital! This is the letter written by Li Qun, as well as the identities and land deeds.”

Wen Yu slowly flipped through these things and said to Master Qing and Yi Bai, “He prepared so well, how could he have had an accident and fallen off a cliff to his death?”

Master Qing nodded, “Maybe he changed his identity and hid. It’s hard to find him in a vast sea of people.”

Yi Bai said, “If falling off the cliff was a trap he set, it means he hasn’t gone far. Or maybe he’s hiding in plain sight, maybe… he’s back in the capital!”

Wen Yu’s eyes lit up. “It’s really possible! Otherwise, with the chaos in the capital, he changed his identity and left. Who would know where he went? Why would he fake his death?”

Yi Bai nodded, “At that time, the situation was uncertain, he might have wanted to wait and see. But the capital is so big, where can we find him? We can’t search every household, can we?”

Wen Yu said, “We can search every household, but I’m afraid we won’t recognize him even if we see him…”

They racked their brains, and suddenly Wen Yu’s eyes lit up, “This person is very particular about his life. Incense…”

Yi Bai’s eyes also lit up, “Then let’s see where the best incense shop in the capital sells its best incense!”

“Xiang Zhi Ge. Go get their account books!”

Wen Yu gave the order directly; no one dared to provoke her in the capital now. Soon, the manager of Xiang Zhi Ge came with the accountant, holding the account books.

Wen Yu and Yi Bai looked at the accounts while questioning the manager.

This manager actually recognized Master Zhou. Although Master Zhou tried to disguise himself when buying incense, there were only two types of incense he liked. No matter how he changed his appearance, the manager was not a fool and knew it long ago.

He just didn’t say anything.

Following this clue, they continued to investigate.

Finally, Wen Yu pointed to an address on the account book where incense was delivered: “This is probably it!”

Yi Bai was excited and wanted to go to the door to arrest him in person.

Wen Yu shook her head, “Don’t think it’s so simple. He must have a backup plan.”

After Li Qun escaped, he really returned to the capital and changed his identity. He lived in this small courtyard in the north of the city. Although he was depressed, he still lived a luxurious life.

Suddenly one day, a group of people attacked his courtyard.

He kept the most elite guards by his side, and the two sides fought.

He remained calm; since he had been discovered again… He grabbed a small package and entered the secret door. The secret door led to the adjacent courtyard. Once he entered that courtyard, he could go out to the street.

He had another place to stay.

But he didn’t expect that the people who came to arrest him were also very capable. They didn’t give him much time. When he got out of the secret door and arrived at the adjacent courtyard…

Several people, led by Wen Yu, were standing there waiting for him.

Li Qun saw Yi Bai at a glance…

What else was there to misunderstand? He didn’t hesitate, reached into his sleeve, took out a pill, and swallowed it directly.

Wen Yu was so angry that he even wanted to die without saying a word?

“Dig the medicine out of him!”

Laba stepped forward and slapped Li Qun on the back… but he didn’t vomit…

Wen Yu was even angrier. She looked around, and there was a latrine for servants nearby. “Go, get some shit and urine, and pour it down his throat! Make him vomit!”

Li Qun was shocked: “…” This damn woman! “Don’t you dare humiliate me!”

Wen Yu sneered, “Of course I can! This is just the beginning! Just you wait!”

There were really quick-witted people who brought a ladle of something unknown and poured it down Li Qun’s throat.

“Kill me! Ugh…”

Li Qun had lived for so many years, how could he have ever suffered such a thing? He was extremely particular about his life and had a bit of a cleanliness obsession.

This time, he really vomited even his gall. His face and hair were stained with some yellow substance.

Only then did he know what it meant to be worse than death…

✿✿✿

A few months later, Li Qun was sentenced to death, and his children and grandchildren also received their due punishment.

The Bai family’s case was overturned.

Two years later, Master Qing and Yi Bai returned home… to reunite with their third sister and eldest sister’s son.

Yi Bai, after a year of searching, finally found a secret cave in the mountains.

There were many secret manuals and objects of the Bai family inside.

As the new head of the Bai family, he decided to present these treasures to the Emperor…