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Finest Servant Chapter 666
🕑 Added 2023-11-19 05:59:41 +0000 UTCChapter 666 Two Questions
Upon hearing that he intended to return all the embezzled silver to Xuzhou, Cheng Zili and Zhang Qun were filled with immense admiration. It was a well-known fact that it was easy for government officials to collect money but hard to give it back. General Lin's action undoubtedly broke the unspoken rules of the officialdom, restoring justice to the people of Xuzhou.
"Also, I declare to all the villagers, whether they are of Hua or Miao people," General Lin Wanrong said with a stern face, "Nie Yuanqing's crimes are heinous and too numerous to record. I have already reported to the Emperor that Nie Yuanqing need not be escorted to the capital. As soon as the Ministry of Personnel's document arrives, he will be executed outside the Xuzhou Prefecture. In these troubled times, harsh punishments are necessary. We cannot let this scoundrel die too easily. He must be subjected to a thousand cuts and a lingering death as a warning to others. All the citizens of Xuzhou may witness the execution!"
This showed that General Lin was truly furious. His methods were harsh, but they were to seek justice for the common people. The good days for the people of Xuzhou had indeed arrived. Both Cheng Zili and Zhang Qun, excited, bowed in unison: "Thank you, General Lin! We will attend to it immediately!"
The two of them rushed out, full of energy. General Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly. He might have handled the Xuzhou Prefecture, but how many more Nie Yuanqings were out there in the world? How could they all be eliminated? Eradicating corruption was the hardest task in the world. Zhao Zheng, still a child in swaddling clothes, was already burdened with heavy responsibilities, unaware of the many headaches he would face in the future.
Lost in thought, Si De suddenly burst in: "Brother San, quick, quick, the second elder of the Miao Village has brought you a wedding outfit!"
A wedding outfit? General Lin Wanrong blinked and then realized the implication, urgently saying, "Quick, let him in!"
"Congratulations, congratulations!" The second elder entered, beaming with joy, holding a brand-new white Miao garment.
It was a good day indeed. Remembering Sister An's charming eyes, General Lin's heart warmed, and his worries vanished. He greeted the elder with a smile and a bow, taking the garment: "Thank you, Uncle, for delivering this personally. I am truly honored!"
Si De handed over a sealed red envelope, which the elder accepted with a laugh, his heart filled with joy: "Thank you, Ah Lin Ge. A great joy is upon us. Please hurry to the mountain; the Holy Maiden is eagerly awaiting you!"
"Good, good!" General Lin Wanrong, unable to hide his joy, quickly changed into the new garment.
The Miao outfit, made especially for him, fitted perfectly. Looking at the sleeves adorned with silk threads symbolizing the purity of the White Miao, he suddenly recalled the shy, beautiful face of Yilian as she changed his clothes at the Yingyue Hamlet.
"Uncle, I want to ask you about something," he sighed softly.
The second elder laughed heartily: "We're almost family now, why be so formal? Ask me anything."
Ah Lin Ge's extraordinary status and abilities, coupled with his deep care for the people of Xuzhou, made his union with the Holy Maiden a great and beautiful event. The elders' perspectives had shifted from resistance to acceptance.
"Uncle, did you see Yilian this morning?" General Lin asked in a low voice, cautiously.
"Yilian?" The elder shook his head: "I haven't seen her. But her father, Buyi, discussed Miao Village affairs with us all night and only rested at dawn. Ah Lin Ge, why do you ask?"
"Oh, it was Yilian who led me to Wulian Peak, creating this wonderful bond with the Holy Maiden. I must properly thank her!" He dared not reveal that the young girl had sacrificed her feelings for him, for if the elders knew, wouldn't they be enraged?
It was rare for Ah Lin Ge to acknowledge and repay kindness, and the second elder nodded in satisfaction. Dressed in the Miao attire and adorned with bright red, General Lin set off towards Wulian Peak amid the deafening sound of firecrackers and the harmonious melody of ritual music.
The proclamation about returning the silver to Xuzhou and the execution of Nie Yuanqing had just been posted. The area inside and outside Yunlian County was already bustling with people, crowded around the public notice board. The Hua and Miao citizens gathered together, excitedly hugging and cheering, celebrating with firecrackers that seemed to mark a festival, burning from one end of the street to the other, unceasingly.
The wishes of the common people were actually very simple. They did not expect the officials to be highly capable but only hoped for them to be honest, upright, and fair. But in this vast world, how many could truly meet these expectations? General Lin observed this scene with a sigh, suddenly reminded of Zhao Zheng's identity, feeling the weight on his shoulders increase.
"Look, it's Ah Lin Ge, Ah Lin Ge!" Some sharp-eyed individuals spotted General Lin in the grand red bridal sedan and exclaimed in shock.
"Ah Lin Ge, Ah Lin Ge—" The crowd surged forward like a tide, excitedly shouting his name. The street was so crowded that the sedan could not move an inch further.
General Lin had no choice but to step out of the sedan, continuously bowing and folding his fists in greeting. The whole of Yunlian County erupted in excitement, having suffered enough at the hands of corrupt officials. Suddenly, Ah Lin Ge appeared from the heavens, reviving the livelihoods, exterminating the treacherous, and eliminating bullies. He had done everything the people of Xuzhou had hoped for. How could they not be overjoyed?
Today was the joyous day of Ah Lin Ge's wedding with the Holy Maiden. The crowd grew larger and larger, with laughter and cheers resounding to the skies. Wherever his sedan went, the crowd followed, and the procession to welcome the bride grew longer and longer, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Wulian Peak was already draped in red silk, adorned with lights and decorations. As the sedan approached, the music and firecrackers erupted, and everyone cheered loudly, the atmosphere incredibly lively.
"Halt!" As they approached the foot of the peak, a group of Miao girls, dressed in their festive attire, appeared before them. Girls from the Red Miao, White Miao, Green Miao, and Flower Miao tribes, all smiling, blocked the way of the sedan.
Si De, ever quick-witted, hurried forward with a smile: "Ladies, the hour is late. Please allow us to proceed to the mountain. Don't make the Holy Maiden wait too long!"
As he spoke, he handed out red envelopes one after another. The girls accepted the envelopes, tucking them away with giggles, saying, "Thinking of taking away our Holy Maiden so easily? Get Ah Lin Ge to come down and speak. If he answers well and we're satisfied, only then will we let him pass. Otherwise, the Holy Maiden might have to spend tonight alone, teehee!"
When the bridal procession encountered such a blockade, they had no choice but to play along! General Lin quickly descended from the sedan, smiling and bowing: "Ladies, what can I do for you?"
The girls sized him up and down, and suddenly a young Flower Miao girl blinked and asked in a sweet voice, "Ah Lin Ge, do you like our Holy Maiden?"
"Of course!" Lin Wanrong declared earnestly, "My affection for the Holy Maiden is like clouds enamored with the sky!"
"Ah Lin Ge's sweet words are so touching!" The Flower Miao little sister giggled, "But pretty words are not enough. We'll believe you only if you eat this!" She triumphantly held up a fiery red, long, and pointed chili pepper in her hand.
"Ah Lin Ge, this is our Miao village's unique facing heaven pepper. Even the bravest mi duo can only eat half a day and still needs to drink three buckets of water," the Second Elder reminded kindly.
Lin Wanrong's face turned pale with fear. These little sisters, always accepting red envelopes and posing tough challenges, were absolutely tyrannical; it was as if they wanted his life!
"What, are you scared now? If you don't dare, then you can't go up the mountain. Hee hee!" Seeing his hesitation, the girls of the Miao family burst into laughter.
Si De, anxious, came up close to him. "Brother San, what do we do?"
In Miao territory, marrying the Miao village's Holy Maiden, what else could he do but accept? Lin Wanrong clenched his teeth in determination, "Fine, I'll eat!"
He strode forward, taking the sharp facing heaven pepper from the Flower Miao little sister's hand. With a twinkle in her eye and a mysterious smile, she warned, "Ah Lin Ge, think it over. This pepper is quite domineering. Eating it might leave you with a stomachache for three days and nights!"
A stomachache was better than heartache. If he couldn't ascend the mountain today, wouldn't Sister An be in utter despair? His teeth chattering, he finally steeled his heart and stuffed the pepper into his mouth.
As soon as he bit into it, he realized something was amiss. The pepper was crisp and deliciously sweet, not at all domineering. He had been tricked by these girls, a paper tiger indeed!
"Ah Lin Ge, you're so silly!" The girls' laughter filled his ears.
He had passed the test! Overjoyed, Lin Wanrong was about to step through the crowd when a Red Miao girl quickly blocked his way. "Hold on!"
Lin Wanrong looked up, startled. "Zitong? Why is it you?"
"Thinking of ascending the mountain so easily?" Zitong snorted, "Someone asked me to pose you two questions. If you can't answer, I can't let you go!"
Lin Wanrong's heart pounded, his voice trembling, "You mean Yilian?"
Zitong glanced at him, dissatisfied, "It doesn't matter who it is, will you answer or not?"
"I'll answer, of course!" Lin Wanrong nodded hurriedly.
"That's more like it," Zitong smiled slightly, her expression softening, "First question. Why did the lantern you released last night fly into the sky?"
The magical flight of the lantern had been witnessed by all, and no one knew what magic Ah Lin Ge had used. Zitong's question instantly captured everyone's attention.
"That's actually quite simple. If you observe carefully in daily life, you can discover this secret," Lin Wanrong said with a slight smile, "When the tung oil-soaked wick burns, the air inside the lantern heats and expands, the air pressure decreases, and the air becomes lighter than the outside, causing it to rise."
The logic, simple in his words, left the audience half-believing. Could such a rudimentary concept really create a lantern that flies to the sky?
Lin Wanrong, without further explanation, spoke solemnly, "True knowledge comes from practice. If my brothers and sisters doubt me, they can also try making a few lanterns like I did. Surely, there will be unexpected surprises."
Zitong, deep in thought, was stealthily scanning the crowd. Lin Wanrong, already attentive to her actions, followed her gaze and caught a glimpse of a delicate figure flashing through the crowd before vanishing.
"Yilian!" Lin Wanrong almost leaped up in excitement. It was her, it had to be her. Yilian was alive!
Filled with joy and urgency, he was about to dive into the crowd after her, but Zitong blocked his path with a smile. "Regardless of whether your words are true or false, someone will surely try the flying lantern. Now, the second question. Climbing the mountain of blades is a feat only revered shamans of our Miao people have accomplished. Ah Lin Ge, you are a Hua person. How did you manage to do it?"
This question was even more gripping. Everyone had witnessed Ah Lin Ge ascend the thirty-six steps of the mountain of blades, a feat impossible to fake. They all yearned to know the secret behind it. As Zitong voiced the query, a hush fell over the surroundings, countless pairs of eyes fixed on him, eager for his response.
Lin Wanrong's eyes twinkled, and he chuckled, "This question is not so simple. It would be best to have someone personally conduct an experiment."
"I'll do it!" Zitong bravely volunteered, biting her lip.
"That won't do," Lin Wanrong slowly shook his head. "There are rules to climbing the mountain of blades. Whoever poses the question must conduct the experiment for it to be effective."
His ambiguous gambit left Zitong in a difficult position, her gaze constantly sweeping the crowd. Lin Wanrong, with sharp eyes, spotted those bright, sparkling eyes among the people and was instantly overjoyed.
The woman, noticing his gaze and panicking, tried to flee but found herself running into a broad chest. Ah Lin Ge's familiar voice, trembling, rang in her ear, "Where will you run to this time?"
"Yilian, you can't blame me for this. He found you himself!" Zitong giggled, clapping her hands, hopping beside the two. "Ah Lin Ge, use her for the experiment. Our Yilian is very willing."
"Sister!" The girl chided softly, her face flushed with a rosy blush.
The lively little sister stood before him, confirming that Sister An had not deceived him. But what deal did Sister An speak of? Lin Wanrong gazed at her gently, sighing, "Yilian, why are you so foolish?"
These words were meant for Yilian alone. The girl raised her head, surveying Lin Wanrong with a profound look, suddenly breaking into a smile, her eyes misty with tears.
"Do you want to know the secret of climbing the mountain of blades?" Lin Wanrong silently grasped her hand.
"Yes!" Feeling the warmth of his palm, Yilian's delicate body trembled, tears suddenly streaming down like a fountain as she nodded vigorously.
Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "Alright. Today, I will let little sister Yilian truly experience the sensation of climbing the mountain of blades."
