Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1240: Defecting to the Mountains

"He was beaten." Gu Jin’an’s surprise was evident, his tone suggesting a pre-existing suspicion.

Young Master Dou nodded, confirming, "Indeed, he received twenty lashes from the Yulin Army, leaving his entire back shredded."

In the past, he had purchased the rank of a Yulin Army Spear, and upon returning to the Capital, he would occasionally entertain some Yulin Army members. Having maintained a good rapport with them, he could procure insider information, thus learning a considerable amount.

"His back was completely torn apart!" Gu Jin’an was utterly stunned. How could such a thing occur? Was Lord Qi not a favored official of the Emperor? Was the Emperor now disregarding the counsel of his trusted ministers?

Deeply concerned, he voiced his worry: "That must be a grievous injury. I wonder if it has resulted in any internal damage."

Young Master Dou replied, "It shouldn't be that severe. The Yulin Army colonel administering the punishment was aware of Lord Qi’s favored status with the Emperor and exercised restraint. Internal organs should not have been affected."

However, given the state of his back, it seemed plausible that some internal organs might have sustained minor damage.

"Rest assured, Lord Qi is in the prime of his life. With proper recuperation, he should recover fully." Young Master Dou, needing Gu Jin’an’s continued assistance with his work, attempted to assuage his worries by speaking casually about Lord Qi’s predicament.

Gu Jin’an perceived the perfunctory nature of his words and, frowning, inquired, "Young Master Dou, do you believe that Lord Qi’s actions were reckless and ultimately futile?"

Gu Jin’an felt a surge of anger. Lord Qi had been a benefactor to his family and a righteous official who advocated for the common people—a benevolent figure he greatly admired. If Lord Qi’s deeds did not garner widespread support, he would be deeply disheartened.

Young Master Dou’s heart skipped a beat; he had been discovered.

"Brother Gu, you’ve misunderstood. That was not my intention. Lord Qi is indeed a good official who speaks for the people, and I hold him in high regard."

Believe me, I truly admire him. Nevertheless, I still believe Lord Qi should not have dared to provoke the Emperor in his rage. What foolishness, to offer counsel only to be rebuffed and beaten, nearly to death.

It is commendable to be a good official, but the most crucial aspect is to preserve one's life first.

One must endure—only through prolonged endurance can one accomplish more for the people.

Gu Jin’an gazed intently at Young Master Dou, his grip tightening on the brush until it snapped with an audible crack, the writing instrument breaking in his hand.

"Careful now; the brush is of little value, but your hand, as a Small Three-Yuan Scholar, is precious," Young Master Dou cautioned, stepping back a few paces, wary of a physical outburst from Gu Jin’an.

Gu Jin’an, however, withdrew his gaze, turned, and leaned one hand on the table, speaking in a low, resonant voice: "Lord Qi is a good man... he deserves a good outcome."

Young Master Dou chuckled and retorted bluntly, "You, who have endured hardship and witnessed great wickedness, still cling to the notion that good deeds are rewarded? Should I commend your innocence or deem you naive?"

Delusional. Do you fancy yourself living in some immortal’s mountain abode? Believing in cosmic retribution?

Gu Jin’an acknowledged his momentary agitation, but Lord Qi was the first person to champion his family’s cause and, furthermore, was a civil official. In Lord Qi, he saw a reflection of his own potential future.

Therefore, he earnestly wished for Lord Qi to receive a just reward, rather than have his passion and talents extinguished.

He raised his hand, his fingers brushing against the dagger concealed within his sleeve. This dagger was a gift bestowed by Lord Qi to Xiao Yu, intended as protection after Xiao Yu had saved his wife and children. Later, when Xiao Yu acquired a superior blade, he passed this dagger to Gu Jin’an.

Xiao Yu had remarked at the time: "Initially, I intended to give it to Big Sister. However, observing how closely Big Brother resembles Uncle Qi, it seems more fitting for Big Brother. Even if it’s not utilized for self-defense, it can serve as a reminder to strive towards becoming like Uncle Qi soon."

But now, did he still aspire to emulate Lord Qi?

No, his objective had always been clear. He would not gamble with his life and the lives of his family to support a tyrant.

"Brother Dou, your family resides in the Capital and wields considerable influence. Might you be able to deliver these two bottles of medicine to Lord Qi?" Gu Jin’an retrieved two bottles of medicine for treating external injuries and presented them to Young Master Dou. "These bottles contain herbs gathered from the mountains. While not as esteemed as medicinal ingredients found in the Capital, they grow wild and possess potent healing properties."

Young Master Dou listened, the corners of his mouth twitching, and remarked, "If your intention is for Lord Qi to depart the Capital, simply state it directly. Must you employ such convoluted language that gives me a headache?"

Gu Jin’an pressed the medicine into his arms, his voice adopting a colder edge: "If you desire a more explicit statement, it can be provided, but I fear you might risk losing your head."

It was certain that the Emperor would assign guards to watch over Lord Qi, and the messenger would come from Young Master Dou’s faction. If the Emperor's agents overheard such a conversation, Young Master Dou's position could be in jeopardy.

Young Master Dou sputtered, realizing that arranging Lord Qi’s departure from the capital needed to be handled with great discretion.

Accepting the two vials of medicine, Young Master Dou offered a single assurance: "Very well, I shall dispatch someone to the Qi family. However, whether Lord Qi will heed the request or is even capable of leaving, I cannot promise."

Rumor had it that Lord Qi was remarkably devoted to the Emperor. Even if the Emperor gave him leave, he might choose to remain, seeking to offer counsel and correct the Emperor's course.

Seeing that Young Master Dou had agreed, Gu Jin'an's anger and worry subsided. He then inquired about other pressing matters: "What is the situation in Central State? I understood they weren't increasing the taxes there."

Young Master Dou let out a cold chuckle. "Indeed, the tax rates in Central State remained unchanged. However, since the onset of the disaster refugee crisis, the region has been in perpetual turmoil. The Yuchang and Tongshan Prefectures, situated near the Northwest Chidao, have long been unable to maintain order, struggling even to collect standard taxes. Mountain bandits, exploiting the populace's existing burdens from the summer tax, have intensified their raids, plunging the citizens of Central State into even deeper hardship."

"Provincial officials across Central State have turned a blind eye to the welfare of the soldiers, employing brutal methods to extract taxes from their families. The administrators within the Central State Commander Department likewise lack the funds to adequately pay the soldiers or alleviate the financial strain on their households, sparking widespread discontent among the troops. In response, many soldiers have absconded with their families, seeking refuge in the mountains. This situation has since escalated, culminating in the Chief Commander himself absconding with his troops and their families, establishing a sovereign domain in the mountains. They are acutely aware that with the Central State Commander Department's current strength, eradicating this rebellion is an insurmountable task."

"You see, people tend to follow the actions of others. Once a single soldier flees with his family, others are emboldened to do the same. It is said that the garrison army camps in Yuchang Prefecture and Tongshan Prefecture are now sparsely populated; nearly everyone has deserted."

"What? Young Master Dou, is this truly what you’re saying? You’re not jesting, are you? How can this possibly be?!" He Jinseng was utterly stunned, his entire body trembling. Having never endured famine, never known true hunger, and always having had access to scholarly pursuits, this young man from the south could not fathom the profound suffering in the Northwest.

"And these were soldiers, receiving the court's stipends. As long as they remained in the barracks, they would continue to receive their pay. Why would they abandon their posts to become bandits in the mountains?"

He Jinseng was deeply perplexed, believing that forsaking a legitimate livelihood to embrace a life of banditry in the mountains was an act only a fool would commit.

Upon hearing this, Young Master Dou laughed and countered, posing a question to He Jinseng: "What if the court had ceased providing their military salaries?"