Chapter 232 Man’s calculation is not as good as God’s calculation
Since the death of Captain Qiu and his son, the Southern Pacification Office has not been so lively, with officials standing in a sea of ​​people in the yard.

Kong Qingxiang stood at the entrance to the cell with a knife in his hand, looking at the countless angry eyes and scolding mouths, without saying a word, and even with disdain.

If looks could kill, Kong Qingxiang would have been tortured to death countless times!

The Fourth Prince’s face was even gloomier than those civil officials. As a prince, he had never suffered such contempt and humiliation. He wished he could cut Kong Qingxiang into pieces with his own hands.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t. Kong Qingxiang was not only a captain of the Southern Pacification Division appointed by the emperor himself, but also the grandson of Duke Yansheng. The word “Kong” in his name forced him to be cautious again and again.

Outside the courtyard gate, several captains of the Southern Pacification Division were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, constantly stretching their necks to look at the door leading to the front yard.

At this moment, a leader of the bandits came running over, panting: “Sir! Sir!”

A captain from the Southern Pacification Division hurried over to greet him: “How is it? Have the people from the Imperial Household Department arrived?”

The leader of the bandits: “Loyal and brave Lord is here.”

The thousand households: “Quick! Come and welcome them!”

Before he finished speaking, Wang Daniu, holding a knife, strode in with Li Hu as his escort. Li Hu’s forty personal soldiers, holding knives, divided into two rows and trotted in on both sides of them.

Several captains of the Southern Pacification Division hurriedly went up to greet him and saluted: “My Lord!”

Li Hu walked hurriedly while asking, “What happened?”

Several captains of the Southern Pacification Division told the story of what had happened in unison.

Li Hu stopped in his tracks, a little incredulous: “Kong Qingxiang forced the Fourth Prince and others out of the cell with just one knife?”

Several captains of the Southern Pacification Division nodded.

Li Hu laughed. The Fourth Prince was such a waste, and this Kong Qingxiang was such a stubborn person. Wouldn’t it be enough to let them take the people away?
Li Hu looked at Wang Daniu.

Wang Daniu understood and waved his hand.

All the bodyguards ran in together, and screams were immediately heard in the courtyard.

Li Hu walked in and stopped in the courtyard. He swept his eyes across the faces of the frightened civil servants, and finally looked at the Fourth Prince who was protected by several guards.

The Fourth Prince also looked at him quietly.

Li Hu then slowly walked forward.

“Lord Zhongyong, are you here on imperial orders?” a voice asked loudly.

Immediately, several officials followed suit and shouted:

“A saint cannot be insulted!”

“Kong Qingxiang must be severely punished!”

“kill him!”

Li Hu didn’t even look at them, he walked straight to the Fourth Prince, clasped his hands and said, “Fourth Prince.”

The fourth prince nodded and asked, “Are you here by imperial order?”

Li Hu smiled and said, “I was passing by and heard that there was something exciting to see here, so I came to take a look. Your Highness the Fourth Prince is here to see the excitement, too?”

Looking at the smiling Li Hu, the fourth prince’s mouth twitched. Jia Yucun was right. This kid was really full of bad intentions. He dug a hole for himself as soon as he opened his mouth. If he denied it, he would ask more questions, and if he talked too much, he would reveal his flaws. If he admitted that he was here to watch the fun, these clean officials would definitely think that he was here to laugh at them.

Li Hu ignored him and looked at Jia Yucun again: “Have you finished your official duties in the government office?”

Just as Jia Yucun was about to speak, Li Hu continued, “Your reinstatement as Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and your promotion to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue are all grace from His Majesty. You are eating a salary from the court, not from anyone else’s family!”

Jia Yucun was slightly stunned. What the hell is this? Why is he so angry?
The officials present were all successful candidates in the imperial examinations. Naturally, they heard the sarcastic tone in Li Hu’s words and were immediately furious. Countless heads came over, and countless pairs of angry eyes were looking at Li Hu.

“Everyone retreat!” Wang Daniu immediately stood in front of Li Hu, and his bodyguards also ran over.

“This is the capital of the Dashun Dynasty. There is no way to overturn it.”

Li Hu raised his hand to stop the guards, and then stretched out his hand to push Wang Daniu away. Then he slowly walked forward and said to the Qingliu: “Why, do you have something to say to me?”

This is the aura of a great general. Those clean officials knew that Li Hu would not attack them, so they subconsciously retreated when they saw him coming. Some even fell down in panic, and the scene suddenly became chaotic.

Li Hu waved his hand and turned to walk towards Kong Qingxiang.

Looking at Qingliu rolling on the ground like a clown, the Fourth Prince’s face became even uglier, and he cursed inwardly: Waste!

Jia Yucun looked at Li Hu and then at the Qingliu which was still in a turmoil, and blinked his eyes wildly.

Kong Qingxiang came over and said, “Uncle.”

Li Hu nodded and said, “Where are the people?”

Kong Qingxiang: “He’s locked up in a cell.”

Li Hu: “Let him go.”

Kong Qingxiang, however, looked embarrassed and stood there hesitantly, with no intention of taking a step.

Li Hu: “What’s wrong?”

Kong Qingxiang blushed: “Well, I was just busy beating him.”

Li Hu’s mouth twitched, and he asked again: “He didn’t kill me, did he?”

Kong Qingxiang quickly replied: “He’s not dead, not dead. I beat him, but I wasn’t too harsh.”

Li Hu looked at him doubtfully: “Really?”

Kong Qingxiang just opened his mouth but no sound came out.

All right, Li Hu understood, and turned to look at Wang Daniu. Wang Daniu understood, and led two personal soldiers into the cell.

The fourth prince came over and said with a smile, “In the entire capital, no one except Captain Kong can prove his identity. I’d like to trouble Captain Kong to prove it in front of all the adults and confirm his identity, so as to avoid making a fool of himself in the future.”

Li Hu smiled and nodded: “It should be.”

Kong Qingxiang: “Yes.”

At this time, Wang Daniu walked out of the cell.

Behind him was Kong Xiaoer, who was being held by his personal soldiers, looking in a miserable state.

Seeing Kong Xiaoer being released, those upright people immediately rushed over, and they all looked like their ancestral graves had been dug up, glaring at the culprit Kong Qingxiang.

Just as the Fourth Prince was about to speak, Li Hu spoke up: “I heard from the Imperial Household Department that some local government officials dared to forge travel permits for money. Some people say that you are the second son of the second branch of the Duke of Yansheng’s mansion. Is this true?”

Kong Xiaoer did not hear these words, but just stared at Kong Qingxiang fiercely.

A slap in the face caused blood to flow from the corner of Kong Xiaoer’s mouth. Wang Daniu said, “I’m asking you a question!”

This aroused public anger. Those clear-minded people showed angry faces and uttered deafening curses. As for who said what and what they cursed, it was impossible to hear clearly.

With a “slap”, Wang Daniu slapped Kong Xiaoer in the face again, and then shouted: “If anyone scolds you again, I will slap you again!”

Those clear streams suddenly became like ducks with their necks strangled. Their voices suddenly stopped and they all glared at Wang Daniu.

Wang Daniu glared back without showing any weakness.

Li Hu ignored them and asked Kong Xiaoer, “Are you the second son of the second branch of the Yanshenggong Mansion?”

Kong Xiaoer heard it clearly this time and quickly replied, “Yes, yes.”

Li Hu: “What are you going to Beijing for?”

Without waiting for Kong Xiaoer to answer, Li Hu said, “Let me introduce myself. My surname is Li and my name is Hu. I have been friends with the Yanshenggong Mansion for a long time. I have thought about it and I will tell you the truth.”

The fourth prince looked at him expectantly: “Who did you come to meet in the capital? Tell us, and we will find him and get you out.”

Li Hu glanced at him, this guy is too impatient!

Kong Xiaoer replied hesitantly: “See, see the Fourth Prince.”

All the officials were shocked and a riot broke out.

Li Hu glanced at Wang Daniu.

Wang Daniu glanced at the crowd and shouted, “Quiet!”

As expected, the courtyard soon became quiet.

The Fourth Prince pretended to be surprised and asked, “What do you want to see the Fourth Prince for?”

Kong Xiaoer: “I don’t know.”

Li Hu was stunned at first, then looked at Kong Qingxiang, meaning: he did not participate in the drawing of lots?
Kong Qingxiang understood what he meant and nodded.

Kong Xiaoer spoke: “I have a letter to give to the Fourth Prince”

The fourth prince asked anxiously, “Where’s the letter?”

Kong Xiaoer: “It’s sewn into the hat.”

The fourth prince: “Where’s the hat?”

Kong Qingxiang suddenly remembered: “It fell on Qianmen Street.”

Li Hu also remembered and asked anxiously: “Is there any logo on the hat?”

Kong Xiaoer: “There is a word ‘Kong’ on the left side of the hat.”

Li Hu immediately said to Kong Qingxiang: “Report this news to the Minister immediately, quickly!”

Kong Qingxiang: “Yes.” He answered and ran out like the wind.

Li Hu said to the Qingliu again: “I’m sorry, no one is allowed to leave here before there is news from the palace.”

When these words were spoken, the Qingliu were shocked and angry, but they also knew that this was the rule and could only swallow their anger.

The fourth prince blinked and asked, “I can’t leave either?”

Li Hu smiled and said, “How dare I? Even if I had eight heads, I wouldn’t dare to stop you. Please do as you please.”

The Fourth Prince felt relieved upon hearing this and folded his arms: “I will speak for you to the Crown Prince.”

Li Hu pretended to be overjoyed: “Thank you, Fourth Prince.”

The Fourth Prince smiled and nodded, then said to the captains of the Southern Pacification Division, “Take good care of the adults.” After saying that, he walked out.

Just as Jia Yucun was about to follow, he was stopped by the guards. He wanted to ask Li Hu for help, but did not dare to speak.

Li Hu: “Anything important?”

Jia Yucun’s eyes lit up and he quickly told him about the transfer of grain for disaster relief.

Li Hu thought about it and said, “Go ahead.”

Jia Yucun: “Yes.”

Li Hu looked at Jia Yucun’s back which was gradually disappearing in the heavy snow, smiled and said, “Let’s discuss it properly.”

(End of this chapter)