Late Song Dynasty: From Imposter Magistrate to Emperor Donning the Imperial Robe

Chapter 145 Orphans

"Thief!"

"Protect the master!"

"Let go!"

The moment Li Chong's horse was stopped, the yamen runners accompanying him immediately tensed up.

Since Li Chong arrived in Yanggu County, he has stirred up quite a storm and offended many people, so it's understandable that some people hate him.

Therefore, Li Chong always attached great importance to his personal safety, and never forgot to bring his yamen runners with him to protect him wherever he went.

These constables all knew who gave them their good life. If something happened to Li Chong, where would they find another boss who was so generous?

Therefore, as soon as the little beggar grabbed Li Chong's horse's head, the yamen runners next to him drew their knives.

At least one thing can be guaranteed now: as long as Li Chong hasn't used up all the wealth he's seized from the bandits, his men will remain loyal.

Before Li Chong could recover from his surprise, the little beggar was dragged aside and then subjected to a barrage of blows.

If they hadn't been too afraid to kill in the street, and had switched the blade, that kid definitely wouldn't have survived.

However, it was not easy. In no time, the little beggar's head was bleeding profusely.

"Stop! Don't fight anymore." Li Chong dismounted and walked over with a serious expression.

"Sir, danger..."

Li Chong pushed him away: "Didn't you hear him protesting his innocence? Besides, he's just a teenager, and you guys beat him up like that, what danger could he possibly be in?"

Upon hearing this, the constables dared not stop him and scattered to drive away the people and maintain order, leaving only two people to guard Li Chong.

Once the crowd dispersed, Li Chong was finally able to see clearly what the person who had blocked his way looked like.

The little beggar curled up on the ground, covering his head with his hands, trying his best to protect his vital organs such as his abdomen, leaving his back exposed for people to beat.

Although it looks terrible, it's actually just some superficial injuries and doesn't cause any real harm.

It's obvious at a glance that this kid is used to being beaten and knows how to minimize the harm to himself.

Although Li Chong said there was no need to worry, he was actually quite afraid of losing his life. After sizing him up, Li Chong didn't approach him again: "Boy, since you're blocking the road and crying out for justice, you should know who I am. Now you can tell me what your grievances are."

The little beggar looked him over and, seeing that it was indeed Li Chong, immediately disregarded his wounds and knelt down on the ground.

"I beg you, Your Honor, to grant me justice and avenge my parents!"

Li Chong frowned: "Who are your parents? What grudge do they have against you? Explain yourself."

Looking at the little beggar, Li Chong had a feeling that he recognized him, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.

Upon hearing Li Chong's question, the little beggar quickly lowered his head and rubbed his face vigorously a few times, then brushed aside his disheveled hair and looked up.

"Does the master still recognize me?"

Li Chong frowned as he looked at the little beggar, and after a moment, his eyes suddenly widened.

"It's you!"

Looking around, Li Chong took a few steps forward, casually sending the surrounding constables away.

"What's your name again? Didn't I tell you to move your parents further away? Where are they?"

The little beggar gave a bitter laugh: "Your Excellency is indeed a just and upright official, you still remember me."

This little beggar is the family member of the maid who was killed by Zhu Bingzhong. It was the three of them who went to sue Zhu Bingzhong, causing Zhu Bingzhong to be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane by Li Chong.

But how could they, who had received a huge compensation payment after not seeing their son for several months, let their only son end up in this situation?

Li Chong's ominous premonition grew stronger.

"My dad calls me 'Doggy,' and my parents..."

The orphan of the Zhu family, nicknamed Gou'er, wished he could bite his lip until it bled.

He said, enunciating each word clearly, "My parents...they are dead!"

As soon as he finished speaking, tears welled up in the dog's eyes.

At his age, it was already remarkable that he had managed to hold on until now after the death of both his parents. After meeting Li Chong, who was someone he could barely rely on, he could no longer pretend to be strong.

"really!"

Li Chong's gaze turned cold, and then burst into anger.

Dog didn't need to guess who the murderer was to know about the deaths of Dog's parents; this was simply outrageous!

Does he really think there is no law in the world and no one can punish him?

However, looking around, he saw that a large crowd of onlookers had gathered. Although there were officials maintaining order, it couldn't stop the passersby from watching the spectacle.

Li Chong paused for a moment, then stood up.

"Ziyi, please help me take him with me. We'll go back right away."

Xie Wenyou was somewhat reluctant upon hearing this: "Brother-in-law, it's fine for you to help someone seek justice, but don't drag me into it. This little beggar smells terrible, you want him to ride a horse with me? Why don't you find someone to take him to the yamen on foot? There's no need to be in such a hurry."

Although he was eager to see how Li Chong would help people seek justice, the thought of him, from a privileged background, taking care of a little beggar still made him somewhat resistant.

Li Chong completely disregarded his thoughts: "Stop talking nonsense, just take him! Otherwise, don't expect me to say anything good about you to your sister."

If Li Chong weren't so insecure about his riding skills, he would have led the group himself.

However, Xie Wenyou had been riding horses since he was a child and his riding skills were quite excellent, so Li Chong could rest assured that he could lead the group.

As for the other yamen runners, Li Chong still didn't quite trust them; who knew if there might be someone with ulterior motives among them?

If they discover Gou'er's identity and go to inform the Zhu family, that would be very bad.

Yes, they are loyal to Li Chong, but their loyalty is contingent on sufficient benefits.

If betraying Li Chong could bring them enough benefits, Li Chong believed they wouldn't hesitate much. In the end, Li Chong's ability to gain these subordinates was largely due to his official position.

Building a truly trustworthy team is still a long and arduous task.

Without further ado, the group quickly returned to the yamen. Li Chong did not have anyone take Gou'er to the front yamen, but instead led him straight into the back yamen.

"Sister, I'm back to see you!" Xie Wenyou rushed in excitedly. "My brother-in-law brought back a little beggar."

Xie Wenyu came out to greet him, happily taking his younger brother's hand, then looked at Li Chong with a puzzled expression.

"What's wrong with you?"

What's the point of bringing back a beggar?

Li Chong waved his hand and pulled Xie Wenyou back: "Go, find someone to give him a bath. Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't say anything out of line."

"It's me again?"

Xie Wenyou's face fell, and he looked pitifully at Xie Wenyu: "Sister~~~".

Xie Wenyu didn't understand why Li Chong wanted Xie Wenyou to do such a thing.

"There are still many servants in the house, so we can hand them over to others." She beckoned over a servant, preparing to replace her younger brother.

Li Chong shook his head: "I'm teaching him how to handle cases. This is a victim who blocked the road to plead for justice. It's a serious matter, so having Ziyi participate in the whole process is like giving him a preview lesson."

Upon hearing that it was a serious matter, Xie Wenyu immediately changed his mind.

Under the pressure from the two men, even though Xie Wenyou was unwilling, he had no choice but to obediently take the dog downstairs to take a bath.