Chapter 558: Chapter 558: The One That Got Away
When Qin San Lang opened the door again, he saw her holding a set of robes, standing in the yard, eyes closed, head raised, enjoying the cool breeze, idly kicking pebbles with her feet.
"Xiao Yu." Qin San Lang called out, and Gu Jinli opened her eyes and ran over, handing him the clothes in her hand: "I bought these for you. Try them on and see if they fit."
Qin San Lang was taken aback as he looked at the robes she had handed over. These robes were bought by her: "Are they expensive?"
The fabric seemed very fine and must cost at least eight taels of silver.
Gu Jinli winked at him and smiled: "They cost only six taels of silver. Isn’t that a bargain?"
The shopkeeper originally asked for eight taels of silver, but since she bought several items, she managed to haggle it down to six taels.
Qin San Lang smiled and nodded: "Indeed, that’s a bargain."
Saving two taels of silver, that was enough to cover her family’s expenses for a month.
"Hurry and try it on; it’s sure to fit." Gu Jinli urged him.
Qin San Lang took the robes, went into the house, closed the door to change, and after changing, he came back out.
The robe was of ink color with white embroidered bamboo leaves at the hem. Paired with his tall and sturdy frame, he resembled a towering ink painting in the world.
As he moved, the hem of the robe swayed gently, with the white bamboo leaves subtly visible, adding a touch of elegance to him.
"Looks great!" Gu Jinli didn’t wait for him to come down and ran over, looking at him and saying: "So handsome."
So handsome?
Qin San Lang was puzzled. What did she mean? Was she complimenting his appearance, or saying he was too dull?
He didn’t understand but was smiling brilliantly: "The clothes are great; I really like them. Thank you, Xiao Yu."
They were just a bit small though, a little tight when worn.
But to Gu Jinli, the clothes seemed to fit perfectly. You could vaguely see the muscles on his chest. A man should have some muscles to look handsome.
Seeing her staring at his chest, Qin San Lang felt a bit embarrassed and discreetly took a step back, saying: "Aren’t you going to the Prefecture Government Office to watch Ma Shisan and the others’ trial? Let’s go."
Gu Jinli looked up at him: "Are you shy?"
Qin San Lang: "...No."
Lately, he had found several ways to train his thick-skinnedness, trying to prevent himself from always blushing, and he could control it quite well in front of others, but it seemed to be less effective in front of Xiao Yu.
It seems he needed to find new methods... Always blushing like this wasn’t good.
Gu Jinli eyed him suspiciously and asked, "Really? Your face looks pretty shy to me, all red."
She wanted to poke it.
Qin San Lang earnestly explained: "I just took a hot bath, my body is hot, so my face is red."
In reality, he always took cold baths.
He hurriedly changed the subject: "Xiao Yu seems not to blush easily."
Gu Jinli: "Are you saying I have a thick face?"
Qin San Lang laughed: "Not at all, just curious."
He had already gotten used to it, so he didn’t think she was thick-faced. He actually quite liked her shamelessness.
Gu Jinli said: "I’ve had training."
In her previous life, some training was essential—controlling one’s emotions, not letting one’s face change color was one of them.
"Let’s go to the Prefecture Government Office and let everyone in the Prefecture see just how handsome Brother Qin from Da Feng Village in Qingfu Town is," Gu Jinli stepped out of the courtyard with Qin San Lang following behind, confusedly asking, "Why have I become ’grass’? What does ’village grass’ mean?"
Gu Jinli continued walking without turning her head: "Flowers represent women, grass represents men, and the best-looking man in the village is called ’village grass.’"
Qin San Lang still didn’t understand and asked, "Why not call it ’village leaf’? If women are flowers, men should be the green leaves."
Gu Jinli stopped in her tracks, turned around, and glared at him: "Are you arguing just for the sake of it? It’s called village grass, there’s no village leaf, ask me one more time and I’ll turn my face!"
Seeing her huffy appearance, Qin San Lang immediately nodded: "Alright, I won’t ask anymore, I am the village grass."
Gu Jinli laughed: "Good boy."
Qiu Lang, along with Ah Duo, Ah Jiang, and a few others were learning how to patrol and were astonished upon hearing this conversation.
Ah Jiang was close to tears: "Why is San Lang like this? How can a heroic man be afraid of a little girl?"
Qin San Lang was skilled at martial arts and knew a lot, having taught them many things that left them in awe; each of them greatly admired Qin San Lang. Knowing that Qin San Lang served in the Military Office, they all thought he would surely become a General one day, but why was such a hero acting so timid in front of Young Master?
This wasn’t the Qin San Lang they knew; could this be an impostor?
With a smack, Ah Duo gave Ah Jiang a knock on the head and scolded softly, "Shut up, how did San Lang teach us? As servants, no matter what our masters say, we must not make unwarranted comments."
At times like this, you act like a deaf person, got it?
Ah Jiang, having been hit, finally shut up.
Gu Jinli had already heard their conversation and shouted over, "Qiu Lang, we are leaving, hurry and follow."
"Ah, coming right away," Qiu Lang replied, and after instructing Ah Duo to watch the house, he left with Danian.
Feng Jin, with Xiangzi, Ah Shi, Sister Li, Xiao Ji, Ah Chun, and others were already waiting in the front courtyard. Seeing Gu Jinli and her group arrive, they immediately paid respects, and then followed her to the Prefecture Government Office.
The city was abuzz with the news that today was the day when the Lord Deputy Magistrate would ascend the court to question Boss Bao and his gang, drawing crowds eager to witness the spectacle. By the time Gu Jinli and her party arrived, the outside of the Prefecture Government Office was already packed with people.
Feng Jin, Qiu Lang, and a few others formed a protective circle around Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang, using the techniques taught to them by Qin San Lang to create a human wall to prevent the onlookers from jostling them.
Sister Li, Ah Shi, Xiao Ji, and other female servants held hands to shield Gu Jinli.
Gu Jinli glanced at Qiu Lang and his group and said to Qin San Lang, "You’ve taught them well."
Qin San Lang just smiled, "I only taught them the simplest things."
If Feng Jin and the others couldn’t even do the job of Protectors, then there would be no point in discussing anything else.
"Silence, silence, court is in session!" a shout rose from the crowd, delivered by a storyteller.
The city’s storytellers had also come to join the crowd, hoping to witness the events so they could later recount the spectacle in tea houses to their audiences.
But because there were too many spectators, and the public court was some distance away, people on the outside couldn’t hear clearly what was being said inside. These storytellers then became messengers, using their loud, well-trained voices to convey the happenings in the court, and adding a bit of their storytelling flair, turned the court session into an exciting performance as though Gu Jinli was listening to storytelling; it was incredibly fascinating.
The Prefecture Government Office had long held evidence of the crimes committed by Ma Shisan and his group, and Hu Deputy Magistrate swiftly passed judgment on them. Ma Shisan, who had previously committed murder, was sentenced to be beheaded the next day.
The rest of the accomplices, without exception, were to be taken to the official mine to labor.
The Great Chu Dynasty favored sending convicted men to toil in the official mines as a form of free labor, taking as many as they could get.
During the questioning of Boss Bao, it was also revealed through one of his concubines that Boss Bao had provided cover for river bandits within the Prefecture.
Ha, Deputy Magistrate Hu laughed, "Looks like we caught a fish that slipped through the net."
It was time to immediately inform Magistrate Liang.
Upon hearing the report, Magistrate Liang promptly sent people to rush to Linhe Prefecture to relay the information to the staff left behind by Junior Minister Ming.
If Boss Bao was merely lending money and collecting protection fees, at most, it would cost his life, his son’s life, but grandchildren and others might be spared. However, since he had been assisting river bandits, sorry, his entire family lineage, all were to be apprehended!