Volume 2 Wu Zhong Ke Chapter 31 Joy and Sorrow Intertwined (Seeking Bookmarks)

  Autumn Equinox, County Government of Fan Township!

  The zither and the guqin play a lively tune, the Wu family's mansion is decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with excitement. In the hall, cups and chopsticks are crossed, everyone drinks freely and enjoys themselves.

  A few days ago, a perfect ambush was laid on the riverbank, completely annihilating the Qin army's left school lieutenant An Tong's troops. The rebel army of Fan Township gained great momentum and their reputation spread throughout Jiangdong. This celebratory banquet was naturally unavoidable, as for why it was postponed for so many days, it was because everyone wanted to celebrate two happy events together.

  That day at the Chen residence, Ying Bu helped Wu Rui's father and daughter block an arrow. Miss Wu Mei was very grateful to him. Because she herself was a "medical soldier", she took care of him by his sickbed until he recovered. Wu Mei had already been grateful to Ying Bu, and added her admiration for the hero, so she began to have thoughts about marrying her daughter off to him. Ying Bu was deeply moved by Wu Mei's meticulous and gentle care.

  One unmarried, one unwed, they had a good impression of each other, and a good marriage was thus formed. Ying Bu was brave and skilled in battle, generous and righteous, Wu Rui liked him very much. What's more rare is that the daughter and he were mutually in love, so she readily agreed to their marriage. They chose to hold the wedding on the autumnal equinox, which also served as a celebration of the victory in the recent ambush, bringing double joy to all, with everyone rejoicing together.

  Due to the large number of guests, the wedding banquet started at noon. The Wu family's hall and courtyard were filled with tables, and it was very lively.

  "Congratulations, Brother Ying and Sister-in-law!" Yin Xu and Pu Jun stepped forward to offer a toast!

  "Hurray! Hurray!" Ying Bu held up a lacquered "feather cup" and drank with the crowd, extremely bold and generous.

  Lu Ming stepped forward and joked: "Brother Ying, you should know when to stop, or it will ruin a good day!"

  Yin Xu also chimed in: "A night in spring is worth a thousand pieces of gold! Brother Ying, don't get drunk, or you'll waste this beautiful scene!"

  "Scram, you little stinker!" Ying Bu jokingly kicked away the crowd.

  Although Wu Mei was standing far away, she still heard it in her ears and couldn't help but feel a little shy. However, Yin Xu's "A night of spring is worth a thousand pieces of gold" really caught people's attention, this young master Yin's words are truly pleasant to hear. Immediately, she thought of the beautiful scenery with Ying Bu, and a faint blush floated onto the bride's face.

  Yin Xu returned to his seat and saw Wu Chen walking over, bowing his hands and smiling: "Congratulations, Brother Wu, on becoming a great uncle!"

  "Wu Chen scolded: 'Brother Yin also came to laugh at me?' Wu Mei was his sister, and by rights Ying Bu should be his brother-in-law, but Ying Bu was much older than him, making this title awkward. In recent days, everyone had been teasing Wu Chen about this."

  Yin Xu smiled and said: "My brother mustn't take it to heart, just be casual for now! By the way, do you have something to ask me?"

  Wu Chen slapped his forehead and said, "I almost forgot. Father said today is a grand celebration, and it's only fitting that the military and civilians of Fan County rejoice together. I recall that there are many prisoners in the county prison, most of whom were caught and imprisoned by Chen Kui. I thought to myself, let's sort them out, if they're not guilty of heinous crimes, release them."

  "This is good! Or is it just my brother being thoughtful!"

  "Where?" Wu Chen said: "I told my father, he was happy to drink a lot today and didn't want to ask too much. Let me come find you to discuss. If Brother Yin doesn't mind the bad luck, are you willing to go with me?"

  "I'll keep you company!" Yin Xuan had nothing better to do, so he immediately stood up and followed Wu Chen out the door.

  The prisoners in the jail heard that Miss Wu's grand wedding was celebrated by the whole county, and they were so excited to be released from prison. However, there was an old man with a lame leg who hung his head, neither sad nor happy, like a walking corpse. Under the shouts of the bailiffs, he followed the crowd out, as if the world had nothing to do with him.

  It's been half a year since I last saw the sun, walking out of the prison gate, the midday sunlight is especially dazzling. It took the old man half a day to get used to it, and he looked up at the sky from afar, the azure sky contrasting sharply with his gloomy and pale complexion. He simply walked with faltering steps, moving forward with the crowd, grief is nothing compared to being heartbroken, that's probably what it means.

  Yin Xu and Wu Chen stood at the bottom of the stairs, and every prisoner who passed by would be rewarded with a portion of food and a few coins. This was also a way to delight in the joy of the common people and fulfill their benevolent duty. The prisoners who received the gifts were emotionally moved, and after expressing their gratitude, they left.

  "Next!"

  The old man with a lame foot hobbled closer, silently took the food from Wu Chen's hand, and Yin Xu handed over a few coins, saying: "Old man, you take it!"

  Ouch!

  The old man with a lame foot trembled, and the food in his hand fell to the ground. He slowly raised his head and looked at Yin Xu's face. Everyone couldn't help but feel strange, and Yin Xu felt a strange feeling in his heart. This old man seemed very familiar, as if he was...

  The old man's face was cold and stern, and he suddenly slapped a loud slap on Yin Xu's face.

  "Hey! How dare you hit my young master..."

  The old man's actions left everyone stunned, and just as they were about to step forward to subdue him, they stopped in their tracks. Because of this slap, Yin Xu did not dodge or react.

  Bang!

  Another slap in the face, the lame old man's body shook, and he stared at Yin Xu with a fierce gaze.

  Yin Xu had already recognized the old man's identity and asked in a trembling voice: "Li Shu, how did you end up here? Yu Niang...?"

  This old man was the owner of Xiangxi Inn, Li Bozi, Yu Niang's father. When Yin Xu saw him like this, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart. Li Bozi had suffered imprisonment, what about Yu Niang?

  "Yu Niang!"

  The old man squeezed out two words, and tears burst forth, the grief and grievance that had been pent up in his heart for nearly half a year surged up like a flood. The scene of Yuniang jumping into the river in front of the Temple of the Goddess appeared before his eyes once again, and it was imaginable how great a blow it was to an old man who had lost his daughter.

  Tears streamed down Li Buzi's face, rolling off his dark and pale complexion. The sound of his mournful wails echoed through the courtyard, moving all who heard him to sorrow. Everyone could see that this old man had a great connection with Yin Xu. Yin Xu's face turned deathly pale, and Li Buzi's expression told him that something had happened to Yu Niang, filling his heart with grief and fear.

  After a long while, Li Bozi's crying gradually stopped. Yin Xu stepped forward and asked, "Uncle Li, how is Yuniang?" Everyone heard that his voice was trembling slightly, and they all guessed that this Yuniang had an extraordinary relationship with Yin Xu, and now she might have encountered some misfortune, and their hearts were all in a sweat.

  For nearly a year, Li Bozi spoke for the first time, trembling as he recounted how after Yin Xu killed someone and escaped, Ma Shi and Wu Youcai forced him to marry. He took Yu Niang and fled overnight, but was caught up with. Wu Youcai had ulterior motives and intended to take advantage of her, but Yu Niang refused to be humiliated and threw herself into the river, her body lost forever. Li Bozi told of how he was then imprisoned in a large prison for the crime of being an accomplice to a fugitive.

  Yin Xu listened, his sadness and anger reaching a boiling point. His fists were clenched tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms as he struggled to control the trembling of his body. Li Bazi finished speaking and wept: "Because you coveted Ma's jade pendant, killed her cousin, and also because you were close to Yuniang, which led to Yuniang being implicated."

  Yin Xu was also deeply self-reproaching, Li Buzi's words were not wrong, Yuniang indeed suffered because of his involvement. He thought that Yuniang had no direct relationship with him and would not be pursued by the authorities, but unexpectedly Ma Shi and Wu Youcai... it was his own carelessness! He had planned to finish this in a day or two and then return to Xiangxi Town to visit Yuniang, but unexpectedly they were separated forever, never to meet again.

  Unconsciously, Yin Xu's tiger eyes had already become moist, and Li Buzi even cried until he fainted.

  "Brother, help me take care of Uncle Li!" Yin Xu instructed and then shouted in a low voice: "Pu Jun, prepare the horse to follow me!"

  After a while, dozens of fast horses rushed out of the city and disappeared in the dust, heading in the direction of Xiangxi Town.