After learning from the grandmother's mouth that Xue Huai Yuan's former subordinates were sent to Dongshan, Ye Ming Yu asked someone to send the grandmother back. Just as Jiang Li thought, because the mute grandmother was advanced in age, in addition, outsiders thought that she was mute, Feng Yu Tang also didn't take the mute grandmother seriously. Thus no one noticed when Ye Ming Yu's people sent the mute grandmother back.
Inside the room, Jiang Li and Ye Ming Yu sat facing each other as before. It's already very late, but the two people did not feel sleepy at all. Ye Ming Yu looked at Jiang Li and said, "Ah Li, this is not a simple matter."
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Ye Ming Yu knew from the beginning that the Xue family's case was no small matter, after all, it was reversing a guilty verdict. As long as a different view was presented, let the injustice be washed clean, it's necessary to infringe on some people's interest. The current county deputy of Tongxiang, Feng Yu Tang, was clearly not a good person. The thing that Jiang Li wanted to do certainly would not be simple.
But the words said by the mute grandmother had greatly gone beyond Ye Ming Yu's expectation. Feng Yu Tang actually dared to brazenly turn the previous officers into slaves and controlled other people's life and death as he wished. This could be said as being extremely rampant and brutal. Ye Ming Yu absolutely would not believe if he said that there's no powerful backing behind him. Although Jiang Yuan Bai was the chief assistant, powerful people in Northern Yan were not just him alone.
Ye Ming Yu thought he already didn't dare to underestimate this matter's seriousness already, but it seemed that he still underestimated it.
Jiang Li looked at Ye Ming Yu. Upon seeing his grave expression, she understood the worry in Ye Ming Yu's heart. She said, "I know, uncle, but I don't plan to give up."
Ye Ming Yu had expected this sentence. Jiang Li spent so much effort, even opposing Feng Yu Tang with no hesitation, presumably, she really would not give up so easily. Moreover, it was not in line with Jiang Li's temper. In addition, Ye Ming Yu thought Jiang Li's understanding of this matter was much more than his.
He was a boorish man, not as good as eldest Ye or second Ye's smart brains. He couldn't think of any good strategy to help Jiang Li, just do things according to Jiang Li's explanation. Within the scope of his capacity, he would spare no effort to assist Jiang Li.
Thus, Ye Ming Yu only felt tangled for a little while before he frankly said, "Since that's the case, Ah Li, I won't persuade you anymore. As to what to do next, what you want to do, you just need to speak, uncle is with you."
These words warmed Jiang Li's heart. She said, "Even though the mute grandmother said that those people are now in Dongshan, a long time has passed, it's unknown whether Feng Yu Tang and the others moved the people away or whether they are still alive." Jiang Li paused before continuing, "Uncle also heard what the grandmother said. Life is difficult in the mine, Feng You Tang's intention is to torment them, it's unknown how long normal people can persevere over there."
"What you said makes sense." Ye Ming Yu said, "I'll first bring a few people to Dongshan and personally look at the circumstances of those people there. Tongxiang is not big, so it should not be difficult to make a round trip to Dongshan overnight."
Jiang Li continued, "Not only that, if they were really in Dongshan, Feng Yu Tang would definitely have arranged for someone to supervise the laborers. Uncle's people should carefully see how many people there are, whether they can be avoided and not alarming them. If alarming them could not be avoided, whether it's possible to seize all of them within a short time to prevent them from notifying Feng Yu Tang. If reinforcements come, it will be more difficult for us to move."
Ye Ming Yu laughed mischievously, "Don't worry, the matter of threatening people, your uncle, I, am already experienced."
Jiang Li nodded, "I don't know if uncle can give me an answer by tomorrow?"
"So fast?" Ye Ming Yu was surprised.
"I really don't mean to make things difficult for uncle." Jiang Li had an apologetic expression on her face, "it's really because the time left for us is not much. County Deputy Xue will be sentenced in seven days, if no sufficient evidence that could suspend the sentence could be found before the seven days, everything will be in vain."
Ye Ming Yu sighed, knowing that what Jiang Li said was reasonable. If Xue Huai Yuan was dead, there's no point in doing other things since the person was already dead. He said, "Ok, I'll try my utmost for once. Ah Li, when I'm not around, wait in the house for me, pay attention to safety."
Jiang Li said, "Okay." She took out the previously drawn map of Tongxiang from her sleeve and handed it to Ye Ming Yu. She said, "This is the map of Tongxiang that I drew according to what people said. Take it, uncle, it can be used when necessary. I can also draw a map of Dongshan, but have to wait for a while."
Ye Ming Yu took the map. After seeing the map, the densely packed drawings and the fine markings written on it, he was stumped for a moment. Jiang Li said that this was something that she drew according to what people said. However, when Ye Ming Yu was following the sea merchants, he knew that this kind of detailed map could only be drawn by someone who was very familiar with the environment, not by others simply by listening.
He didn't say anything, merely laughed heartily and said, "Good, good, good, with this map, I think half of the work at hand will lighten by half. Ah Li, the rest will be left to you. I'll leave first to give instructions to the brothers."
Ye Ming Yu walked outside to give instructions to his brothers. Jiang Li looked at his rear figure, feeling both guilty and moved. Ye Ming Yu was clearly aware of many doubtful points, yet because of her, he did not ask anything and instead, trusted her. This trust was extremely precious and she would remember this in her heart forever. Since arriving in Tongxiang, Ye Ming Yu had always stood by her side, helping her. This evening, he would set off on an overnight trip without rest. Jiang Li was not willing to let him work so hard, but on the other side was his father.
She believed when she was thinking of a countermeasure, Feng Yu Tang was definitely also finding ways to notify the current circumstances in Tongxiang to Princess Yongning. Once Princess Yongning was aware of this matter, without a doubt, she would quickly think of ways for Feng Yu Tang to block her. However, Jiang believed the biggest possibility was that Yongning would directly order Feng Yu Tang to kill her.
For her and Feng Yu Tang, the crucial point of this conflict was time. Whoever was faster would have more chances of winning. She did not dare to stop for a rest and she could not afford to waste a single moment.
"Tong'er, help me grind the ink." Jiang Li said.
Tong'er immediately walked to the table and Jiang Li picked up the brush. Once, due to curiosity, also because Xue Huai Yuan wanted to know the situation in Dongshan before, she went along with him to Dongshan. Though it was only one time, she still remembered the place she went to. Even though the current Dongshan might be somewhat different because of Feng Yu Tang's "opening", the places approximately did not change much.
She drew the position of the Dongshan mine, which would enable Ye Ming Yu and his people to investigate a bit easier. However, after Ye Ming Yu could find out the situation clearly in his preliminary investigation, she had to personally go to Dongshan. She had spent time with her father's subordinates before and understood them well. If she wanted to ask them to stand up and believe in her, Ye Ming Yu would not be able to do this. She must personally talk to them.
No need for a long time, a moment would do.
......
After a stick of incense, Jiang Li gave the well drawn Dongshan map to Ye Ming Yu. Ye Ming Yu was not negligent and after getting the map, he immediately brought a group of people to set off. Dongshan was not far from here, but after all, it's necessary to be careful when scouting out an unfamiliar place.
Jiang Li kept busy after Ye Ming Yu left. She continued to slowly look through Xue Huai Yuan's case files. Tong'er and Bai Xue persuaded her to rest for a moment as it's taxing for the body to continuously read the files without stopping. However, Jiang Li did not listen and looked on silently. Only when the rooster called three times did she feel sleepy, settled down and took a short rest with her clothes intact.
In the end, she did not rest for long.
Jiang Li woke up by herself. She did not know why, though she was very tired, probably because her mind was on Xue Huai Yuan, knowing that she could not waste even a moment of time, so even in her dreams, she was somewhat sober and prepared to wake up at any time. In her confused sleeping state, she vaguely heard Tong'er talking to a person outside in a low voice, "Miss has just slept. She only lay down at dawn. Master uncle please wait for Miss to rest for a while."
Jiang Li suddenly opened her eyes and stood up from the sofa to see the travel weary Ye Ming Yu outside. Although his face looked tired, his pair of eyes were very bright.
Jiang Li's drowsiness was immediately swept away. Without any hesitation, she asked promptly, "Uncle, you've returned."
Only then did Ye Ming Yu and Tong'er discover Jiang Li walking outside. Tong'er anxiously said, "Ah, Miss, why did you get up?"
"Yes, Ah Li," Ye Ming Yu also said, "Why don't you sleep a bit more?" They walked outside all year round, not sleeping for one night did not count as anything. But Jiang Li was still young, moreover, she was a girl, she would inevitably be very tired.
"I've woken up," Jiang Li asked, "Uncle, how's the investigation in Dongshan?"
Talking about business, Ye Ming Yu no longer cared about other things and immediately replied, "Ah Li, I brought people to take a look and what the mute grandmother said was right; there are people in the Dongshan mine. However, there are people keeping watch outside. We took advantage of the time when the people on night watch to fall asleep before walking to the mouth of the mine. The first time we walked in, we noticed that the Dongshan cave was too big and we could not find the road. We were afraid of getting lost and alarming the people outside, so we first withdrew."
Jiang Li muttered, "Right, the terrain in the Dongshan cave is indeed complicated. It's easy for people who are not familiar with it to get lost. It's correct for uncle and your people to timely withdraw, otherwise, it's easy to get trapped if you get lost inside."
Her words were as if she frequently walked in Dongshan and was aware of the circumstances inside like the back of her hand. However, at this time, Ye Ming Yu did not pay attention to the strangeness of her words and instead said, "Though we did not go in, we are certain that there are people mining gold inside the mine. As for whether they are those officers, we can't tell because we do not know them."
Jiang Li asked, "Why is uncle so sure?"
"Feng Yu Tang's people are too outrageous. We took advantage of the night to go to the mine, so late at night and those miners are still working!" Ye Ming Yu mentioned this matter with righteous indignation. "This is not treating people as human, really too repulsive!"
Jiang Li lowered her eyes. Since Feng Yu Tang had the intention of tormenting these people, he naturally would not let them have an easy time. But how many of those officers could support this round-the-clock working?
"Was uncle able to find out approximately how many people are still inside the mine digging for gold?" Jiang Li asked.
Ye Ming Yu said, "I don't know the definite number, but I guess there absolutely weren't many."
Jiang Li's heart sank and she asked, "Why do you say that?"
"Because there were too few guards," Ye Ming Yu said. "Altogether, there were only two people. If it weren't because we were not familiar with the terrain, to tell the truth, I could have knocked these two people by myself and directly rescued the miners inside. But think about it, if there were many people, how could Feng Yu Tang only dispatched two people to stand guard, wouldn't he fear problems occurring? Unless there were not many and he felt that two people standing guard is enough, naturally it's like that."
Jiang Li was silent for a long time before saying, "What uncle said is right." Actually, there was still another possibility, which was in Feng Yu Tang's eyes, 'a new official brings new officers', Xue Huai Yuan was already almost a dead man. The Xue family had no male offspring, so these former subordinates were naturally also discarded. What kind of people would expend effort to save people who had been abandoned? In any case, no one would save them, so it's not necessary to assign a lot of people to watch over them.
But Jiang Li knew that this possibility was something she thought of to comfort herself. What Ye Ming Yu said was more probable. At least, there were still people alive. After all, it's a good thing. This meant that there's a chance for the witness testimony she was hoping for.
"Ah Li, now the people have been found, but Dongshan's topography is complex. For the time being, we cannot find ways to take all these people out. Furthermore, even if we can take away all the people, I'm not familiar with Tongxiang. I don't know where to safely hide these people away. If Feng Yu Tang sent people to search, the whereabouts of these people would be very easy to find. After all, Tongxiang is too small."
This was a fact and Ye Ming Yu's thought wasn't without any basis.
Jiang Li pondered for a long time before saying, "Uncle Ming Yu does not have to worry where to hide the people away. I have a way." Although Tongxiang was small, it wasn't a place that can be entirely seen with just a glance. Xue Zhao and she grew up in Tongxiang and had gone through every nook and corner. No one knew those abandoned secret chambers that Xue Zhao shared with her as interesting things. Now it turned into hidden treasures.
Even though Ye Ming Yu was baffled as to how Jiang Li was going to solve this problem, he would not ask things that should not be asked. He had a simple brain and was not willing to think of complicated problems. Thus he said, "Okay then, don't mention this thing for the time being. Now, how are we going to bring those people over? You want them to be witnesses, that means bringing them out of Dongshan. If Feng Yu Tang knows that you have this plan or even guesses, he will immediately kill them to shut their mouths. By that time, we will have many things in our hands."
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"Uncle Ming Yu, the reason why you felt that it's inconvenient was not because of the guards keeping watch outside, but rather because you are not familiar with Dongshan and afraid of getting lost in the numerous paths inside the mine." Jiang Li said, "Hand this matter over to me."
Ye Ming Yu asked, "What do you mean? Ah Li, what method do you have?"
"I'll go to Dongshan," Jiang Li said, "enter the mine and bring those officers out."
When these words came out, Ye Ming Yu nearly jumped out. He said, "Don't joke, Ah Li, how can you go in?"
"Yes," Tong'er, who had been listening, also could not help opening her mouth at this moment. "Miss, this is also your first time coming to Tongxiang, Master uncle could not walk because he does not know how dangerous the roads in the mine are. How can you take this risk?"
"I'm not taking risks." Jiang Li said, "I know how to walk inside the mine."
"No," Ye Ming Yu said, "it's too dangerous. Moreover, how do you know how to walk inside the mine?"
"Uncle Ming Yu," Jiang Li looked into Ye Ming Yu's eyes and spoke earnestly, "I said, I know how to walk inside the mine."
Ye Ming Yu was stunned.
Jiang Li's eyes were clear like river water. But the resoluteness in them turned the water into rocks. She did not tell lies, she really knew the way inside the mine.
Ye Ming Yu suddenly did not know what to say. The appearance of this niece of his was sincere, gentle and good. However, there seemed to be countless riddles in her body which made people sometimes think that they would forever be unable to enter her heart.
"Okay." After a long time, Ye Ming Yu finally spoke. "But I can't let you go in alone. Ah Li, I'll go in together with you."
Jiang Li still wanted to say something but Ye Ming Yu waved his hand, "Ah Li, I know you have your own ideas with your work, I will not ask why or what. But I am your relative, I cannot just look on as you take risks. If it was me today that's going to enter the mine, I believe you also will not watch with ease."
Ye Ming Yu's attitude was insistent.
Tong'er and Bai Xue looked at this for a while, then looked at that for a while, each of them not daring to say a word.
After a while, Jiang Li said, "Okay."
Ye Ming Yu heard this and the solemnity just now cleared away. He said, "Okay! Ah Li, say, when do you want to leave?"
Jiang Li, "Now."
"Now?"
"Yes, right now. At this moment, Feng Yu Tang has not yet thought of those officers, but soon he will remember them. Just in case he planned to clear up any and all probable evidence, that would include those officers. So we should not waste any time and must bring those officers out in haste."
"But miss, you just woke up....." Tong'er reminded her.
"It doesn't matter, uncle Ming Yu, let's work hard first. As long as they are brought out and hidden away, the days will temporarily be a bit more relaxed."
Ye Ming Yu replied refreshingly, "It's fine, Ah Li, if you have anything, just need to tell uncle. Uncle absolutely has no objection, go then go!"
Bai Xue and Tong'er looked at each other helplessly. This pair of uncle and niece were both reckless, handling matters without any fear.
"Then let's set off."
......
It didn't take the time of half a stick of incense from the decision to departure.
Although Ye Ming Yu handled matters boorishly regardless of consequences, his temper of promptly doing right after thinking about it would not waste time. In this way, his swift reaction fitted well with Jiang Li's way of thinking. The group took advantage of the early morning to avoid pedestrians and secretly set off to Dongshan.
Ye Ming Yu did not bring all his men and horses. He left a few people behind and one disguised as him to deceive the people Feng Yu Tang dispatched to monitor them.
There were altogether seven people in the group excluding Jiang Li. After Jiang Li and Ye Ming Yu's discussion, the other six people would wait at the mouth of the mine as support while Ye Ming Yu and Jiang Li would enter the mine to look for those officers. Before reaching this stage, they must knock the guards down. To prepare against any eventualities, afraid that they had a special way of transmitting messages, it's best for them to only spend one stick of incense from the moment they searched for the officers to bringing them out.
Actually, it wasn't hard to rescue people, the hard part would be to find those officers in the interconnected mines. After all, there were many mines and it's unknown which path they took. The people of Tongxiang did not know the routes in Dongshan mine. Even if they knew, who dared to show them the way as they all knew that it's Feng Yu Tang's domain.
So the heavy burden fell on Jiang Li.
Due to the danger this time round, they did not bring Tong'er and Bai Xue along. Jiang Li was also dressed as a male with a short linen top, black pants and deerskin boots. Her long hair was tied up and bundled inside a hat, looking like a pretty young master. Part of the gentle beauty was concealed and instead, she had a somewhat sharp heroic spirit.
Ye Ming Yu asked Jiang Li, "Ah Li, no need to worry so much. If they can't be found, we will go back. After several tries, we will be familiar with the road. You don't have to carry everything on your body." Ye Ming Yu felt that Jiang Li was too careful with the Xue family's case. Even though he did not know the reason, Ye Ming Yu did not wish for Ah Li to blame herself in the end.
"Don't worry." Jiang Li showed a slight smile at him. "Uncle Ming Yu, we will find them."
Ye Ming Yu was stunned. He scratched his head and said, "Ok then."
The distance from Qingshi Lane to Dongshan was not far. The whole journey, the carriage walked according to the route Jiang Li explained. Ye Ming Yu gradually noticed that there were no pedestrians on the road that they took and it was utterly remote. It's really impossible for Feng Yu Tang's people to discover them as they took this route. Ye Ming Yu felt strange. According to his knowledge, this was the first time for Jiang Li to come to Tongxiang, but Jiang Li's degree of familiarity with Tongxiang was more thorough than the local people.
Because of this, Ye Ming Yu gradually believed that Jiang Li truly recognized the route in Dongshan mine. When initially he thought that she was just comforting him with her words.
After an unknown period of time, the carriage stopped. Ye Ming Yu spoke from outside, "Ah Li, we've arrived."
Jiang Li jumped off the carriage.
Dongshan was on the western part of Tongxiang, usually almost no one came to this side. This mountain was unlike the usual verdant and secluded mountain, instead, it was extremely desolate. Occasionally the sound of crows could be heard coming through from the sky, which somehow added a bit of melancholy to those hearing it.
Jiang Li raised her eyes and looked in the direction of Dongshan.
She saw a bare, round mountain top, sitting all alone by a dry lake. The mountain was rocky and rugged, the visible shape looked strange, resembling the head of a monster. . Seeing it made people feel panicked. Before, Ye Ming Yu arrived at night and couldn't clearly see what the mountain looked like. Now that he saw it clearly, he felt the hair on his back stood up straight. He was thinking of telling Jiang Li not to be afraid, but then he saw Jiang Li was staring at the mountain peak with a slight smile on her lips. She not only did not show the slightest fear, instead, she looked somewhat happy.
Ye Ming Yu suddenly did not want to say anything.
Actually, Jiang Li had not yet reached the degree of being happy. However, she indeed had a familiar feeling. When Xue Huai Yuan came here with the purpose of checking Dongshan's history, he brought along Xue Zhao and her for a trip. But they merely surveyed the mouth of the mountain and did not enter.
But Xue Zhao had a daring temperament and loved to take risks, so he secretly went inside by himself to wander around a couple of times. Not only that, he still pulled Xue Fang Fei along. Though she looked lovable on the surface, she was actually not one to confine herself to the rules and very willing to explore the secrets of Dongshan with Xue Zhao. It's indeed very different from the narrated unofficial history as they did not find any precious mineral deposits. But coming and going for many times made her very clear of the terrain and what was inside.
Now Feng Yu Tang asked people to once again open the mine. At first Jiang Li thought that the mine had changed somehow, but after thinking, there were dozens of father's subordinates serving as officers before. It's not an easy matter for a dozen or so people to re-open the numerous mines. Besides, Feng Yu Tang sent these officers offer not for them to truly dig for gold, rather, it was to torture them. It should be known that Dongshan mines did not produce gold, everyone knew this fact for many years already.
Therefore, the paths inside the mines should still retain the original route. If there were no accidents, it's still possible to find those people.
Ye Ming Yu asked Jiang Li and two bodyguards to first wait in place while he and his subordinate first "knocked down" the two guards. However, he didn't know if the other party would have a back move. In case something went wrong, the bodyguards would bring Jiang Li to escape.
Jiang Li and the bodyguards quietly waited in the bushes. While waiting for Ye Ming Yu to return, Jiang Li closed her eyes and recalled the memory of exploring the Dongshan mine with Xue Zhao.
As she was about to go through the memory for the second time, the bodyguard beside her said, "Third master has returned!"
Jiang Li opened her eyes and Ye Ming Yu's happy face appeared in front of her. Ye Ming Yu said, "I've knocked the two people down and left a few people to keep watch over there. Ah Li, Let's go in, the others will wait outside! If there's something wrong, just release the signal!"
Jiang Li thought, actually, if there's really something wrong, she's familiar with the route in Dongshan mine and could instead use the mine as a cover to hide. It's just that there's no way to eat or drink inside, moreover, she still had to solve Xue Huai Yuan's matter so it's not possible to hide. If not, the mines were in fact an extremely good place to deal with the bad person.
Thinking about it, she felt it was amusing and couldn't help showing a trace of a smile.
This trace of a smile fell on Ye Ming Yu's eyes, he thought that he had done well and made Jiang Li satisfied. Feeling even more pleased with himself, he said, "Ah Li, don't wait any longer, let's go in."
Jiang Li and Ye Ming Yu entered the mine together.
It was very dark inside the cave. Ye Ming Yu brought the torch forward to illuminate the surroundings. However, it made people see the spacious and void interior of the cave even more. Ye Ming Yu looked at the network of paths and said with fright, "Oh lord, this place is huge! So huge, can we find people? Where should we look for them?"
Jiang Li smiled and said, "It's okay, follow me uncle." She did not wait for Ye Ming Yu to continue to sigh and immediately took the lead to stride over and moved forwards.
Ye Ming Yu could not stop her and could only catch up without delay.
Jiang Li guessed correctly. The routes inside the Dongshan mines had not changed much. Presumably, even if it changed, the previously already dug mines did not need to be modified much. Jiang Li walked forward, following the route in her former memory, while walking, she looked around for any fresh footprints and any variation in the wind scent.
The roads inside the mines were very deep. Ye Ming Yu was afraid that Jiang Li walked too deeply and couldn't find the road back, so he made marks along the way. However, his actions in marking the road was not as fast as Jiang Li's walking. Jiang Li walked very quickly and very steadily. Ye Ming Yu was unable to stop her.
After walking for an unknown period of time, Ye Ming Yu felt that there were mine caves all around, and could not figure out the appearance. He really could not understand how Jiang Li could differentiate all these. As he was about to shout to Jiang Li to ask whether they should withdraw outside, there's an abrupt cough coming from deep inside the mine.
Jiang Li asked, "Who's there?"