☆、001、Caught in an affair and murdered The midday sun was dazzling, and the little bird on the treetop was already showing signs of fatigue, its little head nodding drowsily. Suddenly, it opened its eyes, and as if startled, flapped its wings and flew away. At this moment, two figures hur
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Capítulo 88
"Release them immediately!"
"..."
A series of deafening shouts erupted from the hall, directed at Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue, however, smiled and sat down, holding Xiao Chao in her arms. Her hand remained around Xiao Chao's neck; she simply stared coldly at the people in the room. The shouts gradually subsided; they finally realized that Ouyang Yue now held two hostages, Dashan and Xiao Chao, both of whom held immense significance for them. Even after they fell silent, their gazes towards Ouyang Yue remained unfriendly.
The village chief was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled stiffly, "Miss, please forgive me. Liu Er is just like that. He didn't mean to target you. It's just that we villagers are really afraid of being harmed by corrupt officials. As the village chief, I guarantee that if you can help us get rid of these corrupt officials and then help us live the life you described, this village will be yours."
Some villagers wanted to speak up and criticize, but looking at the hostages in Ouyang Yue's hands and recalling her promises, they couldn't help but shut their mouths. After all, they were just ordinary people; why should they object to a better life? Wasn't that the life they wanted? It was just a change of leadership; it didn't really make a difference to them.
Just like the changing of dynasties, for ordinary people it's just a change of emperor. As long as it doesn't affect their lives, who cares who the emperor is?
Ouyang Yue nodded and touched Xiao Chao's face: "Everyone, don't be nervous. I'm just telling you that I'm sitting down to talk to you because I genuinely want to help you. I wasn't forced into the village. If I wanted to, I could fight my way out. This is a fair trade; no one owes anyone anything. You don't need to be wary of me or guess my identity and purpose. Just know that I'm someone who can help you." Ouyang Yue looked at the village chief and said, "I wonder who this corrupt official you're talking about really is, why he's so arrogant, and why he dares to go against you like this?"
The village chief sighed, "We all like to call this corrupt official 'Red Dog.' He's just a seventh-rank official, a position that probably wouldn't even catch the eye of a young lady in the capital. But in our area, he's a local tyrant, able to rule with absolute power. And the reason he dares to be so arrogant is that it's said he has a daughter who married into a high-ranking official's family in the capital and lives a very wealthy and powerful life."
"Yes, I heard that she was a very famous general who was in charge of the conquest of Guanzhong. Her daughter was very favored by the general and even gave birth to another daughter."
"Yes! It was because his daughter married a great general that he had the opportunity to be sent to a region, and he became arrogant and evil in the village because of this."
Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow: "You just said his name is Red Cheap Dog, so this corrupt official's surname is Red?"
"Yes, his surname is Hong. This name is also quite rare. We'll remember it forever, even if you beat us to death."
Ouyang Yue's lips twitched slightly, and a strange light flashed in her eyes: "This corrupt official's name wouldn't be Hong Dabao, would it?"
...
The atmosphere in the hall changed instantly, and everyone became wary of Ouyang Yue. The village chief immediately asked, "Miss, how did you know? Are you an old acquaintance of this corrupt official?"
Ouyang Yue laughed, her expression wicked: "If we're talking about old acquaintances, you could say that." The village chief and everyone in the hall paled, but Ouyang Yue's voice was cold. "However, I'm even closer to his daughter and granddaughter. Tell me, how do you want this scumbag to die? I'll definitely avenge you! I'll make him regret his actions!"
Huh? Everyone was stunned. Could it be that this young lady has an old grudge against that wretched dog? That's great!
Ouyang Yue coldly stroked the gold bracelet on her left wrist. She was in a hurry to come out and hadn't punished Ouyang Rou yet, but someone was waiting here. If she let it go again, it wouldn't be in her nature!
☆、097、The Beauty Trap!
The village chief breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Ouyang Yue's words.
Although the village chief had always lived in Red Maple Mountain and rarely had the opportunity to travel, he was the most learned man in the village, naturally incomparable to the others. He knew very well that Ouyang Yue's behavior from the moment he met her until now was far from that of an ordinary young lady. She sat quietly in her grey dress, her demeanor indescribably serene, her face refined yet exuding a heroic air. Recalling the nimble handling of the small chariot she had wielded earlier, he realized she was both still as a virgin and swift as a rabbit. He had never seen a woman with such a unique combination of qualities, yet possessing such an air of self-satisfaction. Perhaps the poems often used to praise women in books were just right to describe her.
It was an inexplicable intuition; this woman, though frail, was the one who could save them. When he heard that Ouyang Yue knew Hong Dabao, his heart nearly leaped out of his chest. This woman could save them, but she could also destroy them. Seeing the coldness on Ouyang Yue's face, he finally let out a sigh of relief. He waved his hand and said, "Go prepare some things; I want to properly entertain Miss today."
"Alright, Village Chief." Hearing Ouyang Yue's promise, the villagers, though still skeptical of her boastful words, were still friendly towards her because of their longing for that kind of life. Besides, Ouyang Yue had already promised to deal with Hong Dabao, so she was, in a sense, a friend, not an enemy. They all showed simple and sincere smiles.
Ouyang Yue's eyes curved into a smile, but she saw Liu Er staring at her coldly, his eyes full of hostility. Ouyang Yue lowered her eyes slightly and said nothing. She led Dongxue and Chuncao to the village chief's residence, while Xiao Chao followed beside Ouyang Yue, his little legs running quickly, trotting along the way.
The village chief's room was far more rudimentary than imagined, furnished only with a few basic necessities. The bed, table, chair, and shelves were meager. It consisted of a wooden bed with peeling paint and a missing roof, a table with a broken leg propped up with bricks, a chair that was clearly an afterthought, and a shelf piled with a few books and patched-up clothes. The village chief's clothes were noticeably better than those on the shelf. Ouyang Yue frowned slightly: "I apologize for being so forward, but before Hong Dabao oppressed the villagers, did the village chief live like this?"
The village chief shook his head and smiled: "How could that be? Miss, you've heard before that there's a treasure in the village that Hong Dabao is eyeing. Our village wasn't exactly wealthy, but it was enough to ensure that the villagers were self-sufficient and had enough to eat and wear. The village has been fighting against Hong Dabao for over a decade. If we didn't have some resources, how could we have survived until now? Over the years, we've almost exhausted the village's resources and willpower."
Ouyang Yue nodded slightly; she could imagine this. Just then, a middle-aged woman entered carrying a tray with only a plate of stir-fried vegetables, a few drops of oil on it. Xiao Chao's eyes lit up as he stared at the dish, yet he sat quietly at the table, looking at Ouyang Yue with envy. Clearly, this was considered a good dish. There was also a bowl of soup, with a few drops of oil floating in it, but a chicken head was prominently displayed. Xiao Chao's eyes widened, and he swallowed with difficulty. The woman then brought in several bowls of porridge and rice before leaving, seemingly lingeringly glancing at the dishes on the table before departing.
Ouyang Yue froze in place. The old village chief laughed and said, "There really isn't much edible food in the village. Please don't find these coarse things offensive, Miss."
Looking at the food on the table, Ouyang Yue was honestly not very hungry. Xiao Chao blinked his big eyes and looked at Ouyang Yue expectantly: "Sister, aren't you going to eat?" He looked like a hungry cat, but he refused to pick up his chopsticks first. The village chief also smiled at Ouyang Yue, his old eyes flashing with a shrewd light.
Ouyang Yue sighed, picked up a wild vegetable, and took a bite. Chuncao, on the other hand, gasped.
Although Ouyang Yue, the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion, was not favored by Old Madam Ning or Madam Ning, she was still favored by Ouyang Zhide, so Madam Ning dared not skimp on her meals. Even the lowest-ranking servants in the mansion ate better than this. Chuncao watched Ouyang Yue eat, her eyes widening in surprise. Dongxue, however, remained calm. Seeing Ouyang Yue actually eating, she was also slightly surprised. Which favored young lady in the capital wasn't spoiled from childhood? If it were any other noble lady from the capital, she would probably be so angry that she would throw the dishes over the table. The young lady was indeed extraordinary; her ability to adapt to local customs was something even she greatly admired.
The old village chief's gaze softened even more as he looked at Ouyang Yue.
Ouyang Yue's expression remained unchanged, but she found the food somewhat tasteless. Xiao Chao stared at her with wide eyes. Ouyang Yue picked up her chopsticks and placed the chicken head from the soup bowl into Xiao Chao's bowl. Xiao Chao was taken aback, then awkwardly tried to take the chicken head out: "Sister, you eat it."
Ouyang Yue pressed down with her chopsticks, and the chicken head that Xiao Chao was holding fell into her own bowl. Ouyang Yue said, "Sister isn't hungry, Xiao Chao, you eat it."
Xiao Chao looked at the village chief questioningly. The village chief smiled and nodded. Xiao Chao immediately cheered, reached out his little hand, grabbed the chicken head, and stuffed it into his mouth, looking very happy as he ate.
Ouyang Yue said, "Village Chief, please don't take offense. I'm really not hungry right now." The village chief smiled and shook his head. Ouyang Yue's willingness to eat was already an affirmation of them. How could the village chief not know that these things were incomparable to the delicacies in restaurants outside? Ouyang Yue asked, "I wonder where Xiao Chao's parents are? Why haven't we seen them yet?"
The village chief's expression changed visibly, and his body stiffened slightly. Ouyang Yue's eyes flickered slightly: "It's okay if you don't want to say if it's inconvenient."
The village chief sighed, "There's nothing I can't say. Da Shan's relatives were the ones who were hunting outside and happened to come back when they encountered Hong Da Bao's attack on the mountain. They all died to give the villagers time to save themselves." The village chief looked sad as he spoke, "And Xiao Chao's parents also died at Hong Da Bao's hands not long after he was born when they went out with the villagers to fight the enemy."
Ouyang Yue could imagine the scene. She noticed that the mountain was now mostly inhabited by the elderly, children, and women, with relatively few strong men. It seemed that the struggle with Hong Dabao over the years had caused a continuous loss of able-bodied men from the village, resulting in a rather dire situation. The village chief shook his head and sighed, "Life in the village is becoming increasingly difficult. With the men leaving one after another, the villagers' hearts are almost completely broken. If it weren't for your arrival, Miss, and the temporary peace you've restored, the village would be in danger."
Ouyang Yue was slightly taken aback, her face showing confusion: "Why does the village chief say that?"
“Some villagers are already unable to bear it and want to give up the resistance. The villagers have already discussed it together. If it doesn’t work out, they will give the treasure to Hong Dabao. After all, they are officials and we are the common people. We have been fighting for so many years, but we are only getting more and more miserable. No one can hold on any longer.” The village chief shook his head, his face showing sorrow for a moment. As the head of the village, he was supposed to lead the villagers to prosperity, but now his grandson is cheering even for a little bit of oily vegetable. His heart aches more than if it were being stabbed with needles.
Ouyang Yue disagreed: "Please forgive my bluntness, but even if you give in and hand over the things to Hong Dabao, given his ungrateful nature back then, he probably won't let you off the hook. Besides, all these years of fighting against Hong Dabao have brought you no good, and it's been a headache for him as well. I don't think Hong Dabao is a forgiving person. When you're no longer of use, he'll only become more reckless, and things will probably be much worse than they are now."
The village chief nodded repeatedly, "That's exactly what Miss said. Everyone understands, but life is just too tiring right now. We might as well take a risk and try. Maybe Hong Dabao will really let us go once he gets the goods. Even if I strongly object, no one is willing to listen to my advice." What Ouyang Yue saw upon entering the village truly made her understand the villagers' urgent desire to improve their situation. Therefore, even though they felt her promises were unreliable, they chose to believe her. If Hong Dabao were to extend an olive branch now, the villagers would probably scatter completely. Ouyang Yue's eyes flickered slightly, and she seemed to be deep in thought, her face showing thoughtfulness.
The village chief had already put down his chopsticks; having lost his appetite over these words, he said, "I think I should take Miss to see what Hong Dabao has been spying on."
Ouyang Yue nodded and stood up, saying to Chuncao, "Chuncao, you take good care of Xiaochao's meal. The village chief and I will be right back." After saying that, she left with the village chief without even taking Dongxue with her. The village chief then walked around the back of the village, circling several times until they arrived at a wild forest. The two walked for a while longer, and finally the village chief circled around a mountain. He then pressed a few times on an inconspicuous rock, and the rock slowly moved, revealing a cave about two people high. Ouyang was slightly surprised, not expecting that there was such a hiding place in the village.
They walked in with the village chief. The cave was about one and a half people wide and didn't feel crowded. After walking for a while, the village chief suddenly said, "We've arrived."
Ouyang Yue raised her eyebrows and looked over, then exclaimed in surprise: "This is the treasure that Hong Dabao wants!"
The village chief nodded: "That's right, but Hong Dabao only learned about the treasure in the village from the villagers. If he had actually seen it, he probably wouldn't have had the patience to deal with us for so long. He would have rushed into the mountains at any cost."
Ouyang Yue's initial shock subsided, and she looked at the village chief, saying, "I have a feeling I've suddenly gotten myself into a lot of trouble."
The old village chief laughed and said, "Miss is a true expert with far-sighted vision. The way to enter and exit this cave is a secret passed down from generation to generation by the village chief. I remember when I first saw these things, I was so scared that I sat down on the ground, but Miss remained ca
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