freenovelworld Chapter 445 Prison Visit
Chapter 445 Prison Visit
Xiao Tang smiled slightly and said calmly, "This was my idea. How could it be that Uncle Huo pulled me? It was clearly me who pulled you."
Huo Qi felt a surge of emotion.
The group of people in prison had been his brothers for many years. Buying them food and clothing and visiting them in prison was something he should have done out of obligation. Xiao Tang had only been on the mountain for half a year, but she was the one who contributed the most money and effort to help everyone. It was truly admirable.
Meeting Xiaotang was the luckiest thing that ever happened to them!
The next day, they saw the imperial edict posted in the county. The emperor had decreed that everyone was pardoned from the death penalty. Those who committed minor crimes would be sentenced to imprisonment according to the law, for periods ranging from two or three years to several decades. Those who committed serious crimes could serve in the army to atone for their crimes and perform meritorious service.
Lin Xiaotang and Huo Qi read it carefully and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Especially Lin Xiaotang, whose heart had been in her throat for days, finally settled safely in her belly.
When she persuaded everyone to come down the mountain, she was worried that they would turn themselves in to the authorities with high hopes, and if they were sentenced to beheading, she would feel a little reluctant.
If others knew, they would surely laugh at her for considering the bad guys.
Huo Qi said happily, "That's great. As long as it's not the death penalty, anything is fine. Sooner or later I'll be released after serving my sentence."
"Yes, once I get out of prison, I can go back to being an ordinary citizen."
The two happily took the silver to buy clothes and food for everyone at the shop, and then went to the government office to visit the prisoners.
Lord Zhao was promoted but had not yet taken up his new post. When his subordinates reported that a man was visiting him in prison with a little girl and a cartload of clothes and food, he was nearly speechless with astonishment.
"What the hell? Someone actually came to visit a prisoner at this hour? Isn't that visitor one of these bandits' accomplices?"
When he submitted his memorial to the emperor, he repeatedly assured him that all the bandits in the prison were already there. What if there were any who had escaped?
During the interrogation, everyone gave the same story, insisting that everyone had turned themselves in. He hadn't expected to be deceived.
At the time, I was so happy that I was going to make a great contribution and get promoted that I didn't think about these things in detail.
Lord Zhao felt like the sky had fallen!
He trembled with rage, gritting his teeth as he said, "Come with me and see who this person is, daring to openly visit these bandits in prison. If they are accomplices, arrest them immediately!"
When he arrived angrily with his men, Lord Zhao was stunned to see Huo Qi, who looked like a scholar, and Lin Xiaotang, who had red lips, white teeth, and a bright face.
How could a scholar and a young girl know this group of bandits?
Is this what is going on?
He stepped forward with an air of superiority, his nostrils almost pointing to the sky, and walked past Lin Xiaotang and Huo Qi to sit in his official seat.
Lin Xiaotang and Huo Qi hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Lord Zhao.
"I greet you, sir."
"Who are you in the hall, what is your relationship with those people in prison, and why are you visiting them?"
Huo Qi coughed lightly and said, "My lord, I am a cousin of Wu Jun in prison. We lost contact many years ago. Today, when I passed by the government office, I saw the notice and the list on the wall. That's when I learned that he had been a bandit all these years and had recently turned himself in."
Regardless of what crime he committed, he is one of the few remaining relatives of this humble citizen, and it is both morally and logically my duty to visit him in prison.
Lord Zhao nodded in understanding, "He is a kind and righteous person. As long as he is not an accomplice, it will be fine. I am not an unreasonable person. It's just a prison visit. I will register his identity in a moment."
Huo Qi bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency. I am grateful."
After saying that, he took out a silver ingot and stuffed it into Lord Zhao's hand.
"My lord, my family is poor, and I hope you will not find this small token of my appreciation offensive."
Letting him visit the prison won't affect anything, and since he gets paid, that's even better.
Lord Zhao straightened his back, pretending to be embarrassed, and stuffed the silver into his sleeve.
Lin Xiaotang thought to herself, "Uncle Huo is indeed a scholar. He can spout nonsense so easily without blushing at all."
If one didn't know him personally, one would definitely think he was a seasoned veteran.
After tidying up his clothes, Lord Zhao glanced at Lin Xiaotang and continued to ask questions.
"Young lady, who are you, and whom have you come to visit?"
Lin Xiaotang obediently replied, "My lord, my parents and family do business in the capital. Mingcui Tower is a joint venture between my father and a friend. A few days ago, when we were on our way to the capital, we passed by a mountain and encountered bandits. The bandit leader had some grudges against our family in the past, so he kidnapped me and took me up the mountain."
Unexpectedly, they didn't make things difficult for me; they just scared me a bit and then released me. When I learned they had come down the mountain to turn themselves in, I was overjoyed and grateful that they had spared my life. So I came to visit them in prison, bringing them some clothes and food, hoping to help the authorities reform them, make them repent, and turn over a new leaf.
Lord Zhao paused for a moment, then exclaimed in amazement, "You little girl are really lucky to have escaped unscathed from the bandits. It's a miracle. They spared your life and even gave you clothes and food. They are kind-hearted."
I never expected my family to own a restaurant in Beijing. You can't judge a book by its cover; they must be rich.
Lin Xiaotang took out a purse filled with heavy silver coins and slowly stepped forward to hand the coins to Lord Zhao.
Lord Zhao suppressed his joy and pretended not to care about gold and silver, but in reality, he was faster than anyone else to collect them.
He coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment and said, "This is a prison, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter. You two should be mindful of the time and return quickly."
Lin Xiaotang and Huo Qi exchanged a glance, feeling relieved, and bowed in unison.
"This humble subject thanks Your Excellency for granting my request."
"I thank you, sir. You are wise."
Concealing their excitement, the two men carried their belongings to the prison. Lord Zhao, moved by their kindness, ordered two soldiers to help them carry the load.
In the prison, everyone was moved to tears when they saw that Lin Xiaotang and Huo Qi had come to visit them, bringing clothes and food.
The bearded man cried his heart out, gripping Huo Qi's hand, "Brother, this life is worth it... sob sob sob...!"
Scarface, fearing that the guards in the prison might overhear something they shouldn't and implicate Huo Qi, covered the bearded man's mouth with his hand, preventing him from continuing.
He lowered his voice and warned, "Idiot, don't say things you shouldn't. Do you want to drag Huo Qi into jail too? He was just exonerated and his name cleared."
The bearded man realized what was happening and quickly nodded and blinked.
Qu Xiao whispered, "Huo Qi, let's be brothers again in the next life!"
Huo Qi smiled and nodded, then handed the items to them.
Scarface was even more moved, because his older brother was supposed to take care of everyone, but in the end it was Xiaotang and Huo Qi who took care of him.
"When my elder brother gets out of prison, I will repay you both with my life."
Lin Xiaotang smiled and said, "No need for the 'tying grass and carrying rings' ceremony. You can bring people to help me plant medicinal herbs and sell rice."
Scarface nodded, his face full of certainty.
"must!"
Half a month later, after being persuaded by the government, half of the brothers in prison voluntarily joined the army and went to the border to serve the court and atone for their crimes.