Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1760: The Consequence of a Loose Tongue

“Everyone, please step aside, don’t crowd, don’t add anything more, the mule cart is already full and will tip over… We’re about to set off, please clear a path!” The soldiers responsible for leading the way shouted hoarsely, having struggled for more than a quarter of an hour to finally carve out a path.

However, there were too many townspeople seeing them off, walking and stopping intermittently, they only reached the main city gate after the hour of the dragon.

On both sides of the main city gate, horse carriages, mule carts, and cow carts were parked, sent by Magistrate Hao, General Liang, Vice Magistrate Qi, and wealthy households in the city to bid them farewell.

Qin San Lang instructed the convoy to halt, dismounted, and went over to greet General Liang and the others: “I greet all the lords, it’s not proper of me to trouble you to come and send us off.”

This was spoken humbly, and General Liang and Magistrate Hao were very pleased to hear it.

General Liang replied, “You have saved Xing’an Prefecture, everyone in the city is grateful to you, as are we, it is only right to come and see you off.”

Qin San Lang laughed upon hearing this, his smile bright yet shy, and General Liang and Magistrate Hao each regarded him as if looking at their own son.

Yet Lord Qi felt that Qin San Lang was pretending, clearly he was engaged in the brutal task of wielding a blade, why pretend to be a compassionate man?

However, Vice Magistrate Qi was not foolish; he would not speak such thoughts publicly unless he were promoted to a second-rank official, then he would dare to point at Qin San Lang and say it.

Yet, oh heavens, the Emperor did the opposite of what they wished, he wanted to keep them suffering further because his and Magistrate Hao’s work was too good!

What kind of mind does the Emperor have? Why is his thinking so contrary to theirs?

Overcome by bitterness, Vice Magistrate Qi was nearly in tears, finding it utterly unjust.

As he was feeling distressed, he heard Qin San Lang say, “General Liang, Magistrate Hao, Lord Qi, regarding the matter I previously sought your help with, I ask you to continue assisting me in locating my missing relatives. My family and my in-law’s family will certainly send you generous gifts to thank you for your kindness.”

Qin San Lang had earlier visited the government office and asked for their help in finding Gu Fuya’s family, Tian Xiaohua’s elder sister, Old Mrs. Yan’s missing granddaughter, and Gu Dalin’s wife.

He had provided them with a register detailing the circumstances of each family and the details of the missing individuals, along with some portraits and several silver notes as a reward.

General Liang said, “I have instructed the guards at the four city gates to inquire when checking people entering and leaving Xing’an Prefecture, and if there are any suspicious individuals, they will detain them and send word to you.”

Since the drought in the Northwest leading to fleeing over the years, seven years had passed, yet the families of Qin, Gu, and Luo Tian were still searching for their lost women; General Liang felt this dedication was precious, so he was willing to assist.

Magistrate Hao also assured, “Rest assured, anyone who settles in Xing’an Prefecture will be thoroughly checked; we will also dispatch people to the counties and villages outside the city to search, and will inform you if there is any news.”

However, Vice Magistrate Qi felt that Qin, Gu, and Luo Tian were foolish, so many years had passed, and the lost ones were women and girls… In this kind of world, anyone could guess what those unprotected women might encounter outside; their purity had likely been ruined long ago.

Why keep searching?

Would bringing them back disgrace the entire family?

“Is Company Commander Qin looking for someone?” Master Sheng San’s voice suddenly rang out. Upon seeing Qin San Lang look toward him, he cupped his hands with a smile and said, “I am not very talented, but my family has some connections in Xing’an Prefecture, Yongcheng Prefecture, and Daliang Prefecture. If Company Commander Qin doesn’t mind, you can discuss your lost relatives’ details, and I promise to help look for them, maybe there’s a chance of finding them.”

After his offer, he explained, “I came to see you off and learned of the Rong bandits’ divine insect repellent when spy Qing Lang was captured; my pregnant wife sought a package of medicine from your esteemed wife.”

Qin San Lang knew about this and had investigated the Sheng family… How should one speak of this Sheng family? They were native to Xing’an Prefecture, with ancestors who were generals, civil servants, bandits, and merchants—diverse in their involvement, yet a well-rooted local family within the Prefecture.

“Master Sheng San, hold on a moment,” Qin San Lang personally went to Gu Jinli, took a package from her, and handed it to Master Sheng San, “Inside are the details of the lost relatives, I am indebted to you, Master Sheng San.”

Master Sheng San accepted it joyfully, saying with a smile, “Rest assured, Company Commander Qin, I will do my utmost to help search for them.”

He then handed Qin San Lang a token, one belonging to the Sheng family.

Qin San Lang accepted it, though he felt somewhat… Wasn’t Master Sheng San too enthusiastic?

However, Master Sheng San knew when to stop; seeing Qin San Lang receive the token, he tactfully stepped back behind the lords to stand beside his family’s vehicle, just like many other wealthy gentlemen in the city, waiting to send them off.

General Liang, Magistrate Hao, and Vice Magistrate Qi exchanged farewell messages with Qin San Lang; General Liang then ordered, “Sound the drums, send the soldiers off!”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Drums and music sounded from the city tower, and the city gate slowly opened to the rhythm. After Qin San Lang and the Company Commanders saluted General Liang and the others, they led the grand convoy of relatives out of the city with grandeur.

“Madam, we maids will diligently make the medicine, do not worry!” Ye Jingzi, along with the remaining maidservants, shouted toward the distant carriage carrying Gu Jinli, bowing in farewell.

“Zhang’er, work hard and don’t worry about us two old folks!” This was spoken by Elder Xia and Old Lady Xia, left behind in Xing’an Prefecture to assist Ye Jingzi.

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhang waved back at them, saying, “Grandpa, Grandma, your grandson will strive to succeed!”

Will create a noble path for you.

“Company Commander Qin, Mrs. Qin, take care!”

“Hero Qin, come back soon, boo hoo~”

Crying were the town’s young women and widows who had fallen for Qin San Lang.

Such a handsome and valiant man, who achieved great merit; rumored to be soon promoted to Great General, yet he just left, they hadn’t even begun to pursue him!

“Alas, they’re leaving now.” General Liang felt uneasy, having once fought side by side, the sudden departure made him reluctant.

Magistrate Hao also watched the grand convoy leave with reluctance.

Vice Magistrate Qi, however, was eager for Qin San Lang and the others to leave quickly. Watching the departing convoy, he suddenly thought of something, tugging at Magistrate Hao’s sleeve, whispering, “My lord, don’t you feel they bring bad luck?”

Magistrate Hao frowned, looked at Vice Magistrate Qi displeased, and asked, “What do you mean by that?”

After all, Qin San Lang saved Xing’an Prefecture, can you not speak so frivolously?

Vice Magistrate Qi explained, “My lord, I’m not spreading rumors; but isn’t this situation a bit strange? Think about it, the Rong bandits supposedly shouldn’t touch us, they should aim for Long’an Prefecture… But ever since this group of relatives entered Xing’an Prefecture, the Rong bandits came, followed by poisonous insects, siege, spies, never a moment’s peace; we almost faced total destruction in Xing’an Prefecture. Isn’t this bad luck following upon them?”

He suggested, “My lord, maybe Xing’an Prefecture is influenced by their misfortunes; perhaps we should choose a day to hold a ceremony to rid the city of bad luck?”

“Ha!” Ms. Gao Lei was furious, glaring at Vice Magistrate Qi, coldly smiled and said, “Since Vice Magistrate Qi finds the soldiers’ relatives so bothersome, then fine, take your Doctor Qi with you; my Lei Family’s Courtyard can’t dare keep him experimenting with insect repellent, lest the bad luck harms him, and by contacting Vice Magistrate Qi, it further curses your entire family—wouldn’t that be terrible!”