CHAPTER 388: CHAPTER 361: HOW DARE YOU ARREST ME?

Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen sat in the main hall of the restaurant, indulging in their meal while eavesdropping on the conversation at the neighboring table.

Last time they came, the restaurant was bustling with guests, but this time there were only two or three tables occupied.

"The Witch Clan is now crazily retaliating in Jingchu City, causing a panic among the people. If it weren’t for your invitation, Brother Zhao, I would not dare to go out," one said.

"I’ve heard before that the Witch Clan is vengeful, and I’ve truly seen it this time. They are really ruthless, and that Gu Technique is terrifying.

My neighbor works as a government officer, and after a meal the other day, his entire family suffered severe abdominal pain. Later, when the Crown Prince brought people to investigate, it turned out the Witch Clan had put bugs in the well water. Just imagine how evil they are."

"Shh! Brother Zhao, be careful, the walls have ears!" The person spoke cautiously, glancing around and deliberately looking at Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen a few times.

"Don’t worry, Brother Wang. I heard the Witch Clan specifically targets officers for revenge; we are just common folks, they won’t trouble us."

"Brother Zhao, let’s not talk about the Witch Clan. The Crown Prince fears them so much that he doesn’t dare to eat food or drink tea casually. If they even scare the Crown Prince, we ordinary people should avoid discussing it, lest we bring trouble upon ourselves, especially when we have families to take care of!"

"Brother Wang is right, let us return to the main topic. I came to find you this time because..."

Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen exchanged a knowing glance, understanding each other’s thoughts without words.

This Jingchu City seems unfit to stay in.

But wasn’t it said the Crown Prince had many talented individuals around him? How has it come to this?

Moreover, why doesn’t the Crown Prince stay in the Capital, but always remains in Miaojiang without returning? Doesn’t the Emperor mind, and does Prince Yu have no objections?

Miaojiang is Prince Yu’s territory, and in the books, Prince Yu was one of those involved in the throne battle, not to be underestimated.

After lunch, Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen returned to the inn.

"I’ll ask the kitchen to help prepare your medicine," Yu Xiaolian said, carrying a pack of medicine and heading out.

Just as she reached the inn’s downstairs, a large group of soldiers rushed into the inn.

"Men, guard the front and back doors of this inn. Don’t let even a fly out," the mustached government officer ordered, and a team of officers quickly secured the inn’s entrances.

Yu Xiaolian stood by the counter with the medicine pack, becoming the first person the mustached officer examined.

"What are you holding?" The officer grabbed Yu Xiaolian’s medicine pack, hesitated for a moment, and then tossed it back to her, "Open it and show me!"

He retreated a step cautiously after speaking.

They heard the Witch Clan women are the ones who practice Gu Technique, so they are more cautious with women than men.

No, it was not about caution anymore; it was about hatred.

For women of unknown origin, they preferred erring on the side of killing rather than forgiving.

Yu Xiaolian placed the medicine pack on the counter, untied the fine twine on it, and kindly said, "Officer, this is medicine for treating bruises and injuries. My husband accidentally fell from a hillside while hunting and broke his arm."

The officer prodded Yu Xiaolian’s medicine with the hilt of his knife, then coldly asked, "Get your husband here, identity documents, road permit, anything that proves your identity, bring them all!"

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "I’ll go upstairs to call him!"

As Yu Xiaolian was about to go upstairs, the mustached officer blocked her with his knife, "Stay where you are."

The mustached officer turned to the shopkeeper behind the counter, "You, call all the inn’s guests to come down!"

The shopkeeper nodded and quickly gathered all the inn’s guests in the hall downstairs.

"Which one is your husband?" The mustached officer’s knife never left Yu Xiaolian as he grew more suspicious of her.

Usually, when he interrogated women from ordinary families, they would be tearful and afraid. Someone as composed as Yu Xiaolian must have either experienced larger events or had something to hide.

"Him!" Yu Xiaolian pointed at Su Jingchen with her index finger.

Su Jingchen raised an eyebrow at Yu Xiaolian, you husband?

"Why has my wife offended the officer, making him threaten her with a knife?

She’s timid, best not to scare her, or she’ll cry endlessly in her dreams at night."

The mustached officer snorted coldly, "She’s timid? I didn’t notice. Ordinary women scream and cry like they lost their fathers when they see us. Her calm demeanor seems like that of a Witch Clan member!"

Yu Xiaolian lamented inwardly, accusing her just because she didn’t cry—what sort of reason is that?

"Officer, we just arrived in Jingchu City this morning, I don’t know you, why should I cry at the sight of you?" Yu Xiaolian pretended to be clueless.

The more composed Yu Xiaolian was, the more suspicious the mustached officer became, "Stop talking nonsense, bring out your identity documents and road permit!"

Yu Xiaolian reached into her bosom and took out her and Su Jingchen’s identity documents and road permit.

The mustached officer examined the road permit and then opened the identity documents, "You are a Scholar? You are a Ninth Grade Academic Officer?"

The mustached officer was surprised; these two didn’t seem like it.

Seeing Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen nod in unison, the mustached officer shouted, demanding of Yu Xiaolian, "Didn’t you say your husband was a hunter? How come suddenly he’s a Scholar?"

Yu Xiaolian widened her eyes, "When did I say he was a hunter? I said my husband accidentally fell from a hillside while hunting. Who says only hunters can hunt?"

The mustached officer was frustrated by Yu Xiaolian’s disdainful attitude. Today, he would teach this girl a lesson, disregarding her Ninth Grade Academic Officer title, which sounds grand but actually was just a female teacher.

Besides, on his turf, things would be done his way.

"Recently, most of Jingchu City’s water sources had issues. I suspect you are a Witch Clan member and must take you back for a thorough investigation.

Come, bind her up!"

Yu Xiaolian was dumbfounded by this indiscriminate arrest—were these really the Crown Prince’s men?

Yu Xiaolian no longer hid anything and directly pulled out the waist badge given by Prince Jin Jun Yian, "I am a Ninth Grade Academic Officer; the math problem in the palace examination two years ago was authored by me. This waist badge was personally bestowed by Prince Jin. How dare you arrest me casually?"

The mustached officer didn’t expect Yu Xiaolian to have such background and hesitated for a moment.

His subordinate took Yu Xiaolian’s road permit, examined it, and whispered to the mustached officer, "This Yu Xiaolian was indeed the author of the palace examination problem two years ago. Grand Tutor Fu even praised her in front of the Emperor. Boss, let’s forget about it?"