Heaven is the shore of mortal dust

Chapter 29

"I never imagined Qiu Zaifang was so despicable. How can we punish him without evidence?" Chen Chang asked.

“That’s easy. We’ll detain him first and resolve the issue of the grain supplies. Then, we can slowly investigate his background. Although, based on Duan Xin’s account, we can conclude that Qiu Zaifang was 80% responsible, it’s best to find out the truth to avoid wrongly accusing the innocent. Remember those men at Danhe Tower last time?”

Seeing the others nod, he continued, "I suspect those men are Qiu Zaifang's men. Qiu Zaifang seemed to recognize them, and he dismissed us without questioning us. There's definitely something fishy going on. I guess if we find those men, we might be able to learn some inside information. If we can secretly confirm that Qiu Zaifang was indeed behind this, then it doesn't matter whether we have evidence or not; we can fabricate evidence."

"How do we fabricate evidence?" Chen Chang asked again.

"That's easy. Many people know that this jade pendant belongs to the Duan family. Just have the search officers hold it in their hands and say that it was found in the Qiu residence." It's such a simple problem.

"Hahaha, my precious fourth brother, you don't even blink an eye when framing people." Chen Chang laughed excitedly. "Second brother, how about it, isn't it satisfying? Haha, you've really come to your senses."

"However, there is one thing," Wei Zijun said with some concern, "the exchange of grain for salt coupons should be stopped in time, because the large-scale transportation of grain out of the country will inevitably cause local prices to rise and put pressure on the people. Therefore, if the grain in each region is sufficient, we should stop."

Li Tianqi looked at her with a smile, neither saying yes nor no.

Seeing that he was staring at her intently, Wei Zijun couldn't help but ask, "Second Brother, what are you looking at?"

"I never imagined that my fourth brother would not only be chivalrous and righteous, and handsome like Chang Gong, but also possess both literary and martial talents. I've actually picked up such a treasure," Li Tianqi said with a smile.

"Second Brother, why don't you add that I can summon wind and rain and be omnipotent, and just call me a god?" Wei Zijun rolled her eyes at Li Tianqi. He had been desperately trying to get her drunk during the day, and now he was saying nice things to her.

"Hahaha, my fourth brother is so witty. Fourth brother, didn't you see how all those beautiful women were captivated by you today?" Chen Chang laughed.

"Third Brother is joking again. How come I didn't know?"

"You wouldn't believe it, when beauties dance and you're looking at calligraphy and paintings, you can't see their eyes burning as they stare at you. Later, when you're drunk, all those beauties are vying to serve you."

Wei Zijun couldn't tell whether Chen Chang's words were true or false, so she stopped paying attention to them.

Seeing that the matter was basically resolved, and thinking it was time to go back, he asked, "Third Brother, what time is it now?"

"Midnight!" Chen Chang replied.

"Midnight!!!" Wei Zijun was shocked. She had slept for so long!? "Third brother, I must take my leave now. Eldest brother, second brother, I'll be going first." After saying that, he stood up, cupped his hands, and said goodbye.

"Fourth brother, are you drunk again? The city gates are closed. Where are you going?" Li Tianqi said calmly.

"Can't Third Brother open the city gate? Third Brother, please have someone open the city gate and let me out." Wei Zijun looked at Chen Chang, which was too easy for Chen Chang.

"Fourth brother, can't we stay here? Is there some taboo?" Chen Chang didn't want him to leave.

"It's not that I'm taboo, it's that I'm afraid my family will worry." She was indeed afraid that her master and Dieyun would worry, especially that Dieyun, who might even hold a grudge against her for a couple of days.

“Family, is it the ancestral home your fourth brother mentioned? Where is your family located? I can send someone to inform them.” Chen Chang said.

"No need, Third Brother, I can go back by myself."

"That won't do. It's so dark outside the city. You won't be able to see anything. What if you encounter bad people while you're alone? Even if you go back, we'll have to send someone to drive you back. But is it really necessary to go back? You have to come back tomorrow. Why bother?"

Hearing Chen Chang say this, Wei Zijun became somewhat frightened. She imagined the wilderness so late at night must be pitch black and eerie; even with her martial arts skills, she couldn't withstand the shock. Just thinking about it now made her hair stand on end. But if she didn't go back, her master would worry, especially about Dieyun, who was so easily angered and always took her ages to appease.

"No, I have to go back. Some people are worried." She didn't know how to explain, but she had to go back.

"Who's worried? Is it that girl who's engaged?" Li Hongyi asked, glancing sideways at her.

“If you really want to go back, I’ll see you off,” Li Tianqi said calmly.

"No need, no need. Don't trouble yourself, Second Brother."

"Then you're not allowed to go back," Li Tianqi said forcefully.

Seeing her troubled expression, he asked again, "Is there something you can't tell me? We don't even know where our fourth brother is from, can't we even tell him where he lives?"

“No…it’s not that I can’t tell you…it’s…it’s that I can’t say it…” Wei Zijun stammered.

Chen Chang burst into laughter, "Isn't it the same? Haha, what can't Fourth Brother say? Don't you trust your older brothers?"

"No...it's not that I don't believe it...it's that I can't believe it..." she continued to stammer.

"Pfft—" Li Tianqi laughed in exasperation. What kind of logic was this? Was he trying to confuse him?

Li Hongyi, on the other hand, looked at Wei Zijun as if she were a monster.

"Alas! To tell you the truth, my master lives in seclusion outside the city. He saved my life, so I cannot tell you where he lives, lest I implicate him. It's not that I don't trust anyone, but I fear someone might do something unintentional in the future. I shouldn't be saying these things at all, but I have no choice but to tell you because we are brothers."

"You dare to hide it, kid? Since that's the case, I won't see you off, and you don't need to go back either," Li Tianqi said with a smile.

"Huh? You brat, so what you said at the city gate that day was all nonsense?! Who told you my surname is Chen?" Chen Chang shouted incoherently.

"With such a big flag waving around there, who doesn't know your surname is Chen?" Wei Zijun gave Chen Chang a look that said, "You're so stupid."

"Ha-ha-" Li Hongyi and Li Tianqi both burst into laughter.

"Ugh, you brat, you've ruined my mood. I'll spank you!" With that, he grabbed at Wei Zijun.

"Ah, Third Brother, don't come any closer! I didn't know you back then! I won't do it again! Ah, Second Brother, Second Brother, help me!" Knowing she was no match for Chen Chang, Wei Zijun desperately hid behind Li Tianqi.

Li Tianqi laughed loudly and spread his arms to block Chen Chang's attack, clearly playing a game of tag.

"Yes, spank him, and pull down his pants to spank him. I'll also take the opportunity to see if his butt is as white as his face." Li Hongyi sipped his tea with a smile, adding fuel to the fire.

Upon hearing that her pants were to be pulled down, Wei Zijun was so anxious she almost cried. "Chen Chang, if you dare to humiliate me, I... I'll die!"

If her pants were really pulled down, she would be so ashamed she would die.

Upon hearing her words, the three men exchanged bewildered glances, then burst into loud laughter.

The summer night was peaceful and beautiful. The bright moonlight streamed through the windowpane, illuminating two pairs of bright eyes in the darkness. Wei Zijun was forced to sleep on the same bed as Li Tianqi.