Dream of the Red Chamber: Rising from Refugees to Sweep Across the Land

Chapter 26 Liu Feng: I'm coming to find you now, let's see if you're still alive!

Liu Feng felt incredibly frustrated; he had never felt so humiliated in either of his two lifetimes combined.

In the past, when I read novels, the protagonists who traveled through time always easily defeated the ancients and had a smooth life. But when it came to him, he was always one step ahead of others and even led by others. He was so angry that he broke his waist knife.

Liu Feng glanced at the corpse hanging from the roof beam, then walked out cursing.

The man who hanged himself was the manager of the bank.

After the madam's death, this was the fifth person connected to the Sogyoku-in (a type of brothel).

After the lead about prison food was cut off, Liu Feng was not discouraged; instead, he was inspired to fight. He thought about it all night, going through the entire process of the child being abducted and sold, and determined the target he needed to investigate next.

All the brokers, banks, and pharmacies that had dealings with Shuyu Academy, as well as the canal boat guilds that ran the route from Jinling to the capital, were all suspects.

But then an awkward thing happened: whoever Liu Feng investigated died.

Regardless of whether this person is involved in the case or not, he will be hanged before him.

Now everyone avoids him, treating him like a plague god.

Liu Feng knew perfectly well that the mastermind behind the scenes wasn't forced to react to each move, but deliberately muddied the waters to trick and disgust him.

In those days, those who could afford to open brokerage firms, banks, and pharmacies were all influential figures with powerful backers.

Some local gentry have already come to visit the Vice Commissioner, their words implying that Liu Feng should stop and stop making trouble.

Liu Feng knew in his heart that if he continued to die like this, he would not be able to stay in Jinling City.

Seeing Liu Feng in a daze, the squad leader approached him: "Warden, are we going to the boatmen's guild?"

Liu Feng snapped out of his daze, glared at him, and strode out of the courtyard.

The canal boatmen's guild was a semi-legal force; they had men and weapons, so going there would be pointless. The other side could easily find some excuse to send them away.

If you really push someone to the brink, those desperate criminals might actually dare to stab him.

Besides, if it's really as we suspect, and the boatmen's guild is their hideout, then going there would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

Liu Feng is now a legitimate official of the imperial court, and his status is different from before, so there is no need for him to risk his life.

"Keep your voice down, Liu Yanwang is out!"

As soon as Liu Feng stepped out of the courtyard gate, he heard these words and was immediately stunned.

The officer behind him immediately stepped forward, his eyes blazing as he searched through the crowd: "Who was speaking? Who was speaking just now?"

The onlookers were so frightened that they scattered in a panic.

"stop!"

The team leader wanted to give chase, but Liu Feng waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's go back."

In fact, Liu Feng also suspected someone else: the prefect of Jinling.

But he could only ponder this matter in his heart; let alone investigate it, he didn't even have the right to meet the other party.

He went home feeling incredibly frustrated. He investigated the case, but in the end, he became the villain, and it was even said by ordinary people that he was the bad guy. It was so frustrating.

"Second Master is back!"

Xiangling skipped over and hugged the waist knife in Liu Feng's hand.

"Why didn't you go play at Miss Lin's courtyard?"

Liu Feng now particularly enjoys pinching her cheeks; they're so smooth and tender, it's as if you could squeeze water out of them with a single twist.

"Miss Lin's tutor has returned..."

Xiangling pouted and said, "They assigned the young lady so much homework. If she can't memorize it tomorrow, they'll spank Xueyan's hands... You bad person!"

Liu Feng smiled. Jia Yucun had gone to visit a friend recently... Oh, Jia Yucun didn't recognize Xiangling?

"Did you see Mr. Jia?"

The girl didn't answer. As soon as Liu Feng turned around, Xiangling bumped into him and cried out, "Ouch!"

"What are you thinking about?" Liu Feng pinched her cheek again.

Xiangling pouted and hesitated for a long time before whispering, "Second Master, that Mr. Jia is not a good person."

Liu Feng raised an eyebrow: "How so?"

Xiangling blushed instantly, lowered her head, and whispered, "He...he kept staring at me...and asked me where I lived, who my parents were..."

"So what did you reply?"

I ignored him and ran home.

Liu Feng smiled, patted her head, and turned to go inside.

Xiangling ran inside, hung up her waist knife, and quickly poured Liu Feng a bowl of tea: "Second Master, shall I massage your shoulders?"

Liu Feng took a sip of tea, put down the bowl, and leaned back in his chair: "Where did you learn this skill this time?"

Xiangling ran behind him, gently placed her small hands on his shoulders, and slowly massaged them, which actually looked quite convincing.

As she massaged, she chuckled, "I secretly learned how to do it after seeing Miss Lin massage Madam's shoulders."

Liu Feng patted her hand with a smile. This girl was really diligent. She learned from others how to massage his back, legs, and feet, and helped him relax his muscles and bones at night. She was quite capable.

Xiangling suddenly remembered: "Oh right, Master Lin is coming back..."

"When?"

They said it would only take a day or two.

"Prison Warden Liu!"

"What is it?"

Liu Feng got up and went out. A young man dressed as a servant came up to him. He was Liu Ma's son, Liu Quan, who shared the same name as Heshen's steward.

"Warden, there is an imperial edict." Liu Quan swallowed hard.

Liu Feng: "Which level of imperial edict?"

Liu Quan's voice trembled slightly: "The imperial edict! The imperial edict has arrived!"

Liu Feng was startled, then asked in confusion, "The imperial edict has arrived, why are you summoning me?"

"It's...it's for you." Liu Quan looked nervous.

"Mine?" Liu Feng was completely stunned, his face filled with disbelief. "You didn't hear me wrong?"

Liu Quan: "You heard right, the imperial envoy is already waiting in the main hall!"

Liu Feng: "Go and give them your answer first, I'll be right back after I change!"

Liu Quan immediately turned around and ran out.

Liu Feng hurriedly turned around and went back into the house, preparing to go to the bedroom to put on his official robes, but he saw Xiangling holding his official robes and already standing in the living room.

Liu Feng smiled and stepped forward, taking the black gauze hat from his official robes with both hands and putting it on his head. Xiang Ling then shook out the official robes and lifted them up, and Liu Feng reached out and put them on.

Xiangling tied his belt and bent down to put on his official boots.

Liu Feng supported Xiangling's bent back with one hand as he put on one of her official boots, and then supported her back as she put on the other.

Xiangling straightened her back and helped him adjust his official robes, looking both frightened and flustered.

Liu Feng smiled and touched her face: "It's alright, don't worry. Second Master hasn't taken you as a concubine yet, nothing will happen."

Xiangling's face flushed bright red instantly. She bit her lip and whispered, "Second Master, I'll be waiting for you at home."

After saying that, she turned around and ran back to her bedroom.

Liu Feng took a deep breath and strode out.

The emperor actually issued him a special imperial edict—what could it say? Could it be that he's ordering him to investigate this case? Don't be ridiculous, he's just a lowly ninth-rank official...

The news quickly reached the backyard. Upon hearing it, Lin Daiyu lost all interest in reading. She held the book in her hand, but her eyes remained fixed on the doorway.

Finally, footsteps sounded outside the door. Xueyan rushed in, shouting in a panic, "Miss, something terrible has happened..."

Lin Daiyu suddenly stood up, the book in her hand falling to the ground with a "thud": "What's wrong?"

Xueyan gasped for breath, her face full of unhappiness: "Prisoner Liu... Prisoner Liu has been transferred to the capital."

Lin Daiyu was taken aback at first, then said irritably, "You scared me to death! I thought it was something terrible."

Xueyan pouted, looking displeased: "Now that Prisoner Liu is gone, who will buy us snacks? Who will protect the young lady when she goes out for a stroll?"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Lin Daiyu slowly sat down, a sudden emptiness in her heart, and asked again, "Then what official position did he get promoted to?"

Xueyan: "A centurion of the Northern Garrison Command, a sixth-rank official!"

Northern Garrison Command?

Lin Daiyu frowned slightly. That was no good place! Was the Emperor using Liu Feng as a weapon?

She thought for a moment, then stood up again: "Let's go to Mother's."

......................

After seeing the imperial envoy off, Liu Feng returned to the main hall and gently stroked the imperial edict with his fingertips. Now he could go and visit the prefect of Jinling.

A wicked glint suddenly rose in my eye: I'm coming to find you now, let's see if you're still alive...