Chapter 972: Chapter 972 Saving Them (1)
....
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“How can you prove who you are?” The man rasped, struggling to open his eyes.
“After all this, you don’t even recognize me?” Gu Chengrui countered with a hint of sarcasm.
“How can I be certain who you claimed to be then?” Gu Chengrui countered.
The man raised his head, scrutinizing Gu Chengrui and then Tiger. Sensing no hostility, he fumbled for a jade pendant and presented it. “Marquis, perhaps this will jog your memory?”
Gu Chengrui examined the pendant carefully. It was indeed the one he’d gifted to Gu Chengsi upon his entry into the capital for the examinations two years ago.
In return, he retrieved his official seal from the medical center and handed it to the man.
Under the moonlight, the man inspected the seal for a long moment before returning it. “My lord,” he rasped, bowing deeply, “please save my master. This is…”
Before he could finish, the man in his arms reached for the bag clutched to his chest. But as he lifted it, he fainted abruptly, sending the bag tumbling.
“Careful; he should be inside. Be careful so that he does not escape again.”
A low, chilling voice spoke from the shadows, followed by soft thuds.
Gu Chengrui reacted swiftly, grabbing a packet of knockout powder from his pocket and charging out with Tiger at his side.
Five figures surrounded the tiny house.
Gu Chengrui and Tiger unleashed the knockout powder without hesitation, rushing at the a.s.sailants.
A struggle ensued. Though the powder didn’t fully incapacitate the attackers, it disoriented them. Even the strongest among them could barely maintain his balance. Consequently, Gu Chengrui and Tiger swiftly subdued them.
The commotion alerted the other guards. “Tie them up,” Gu Chengrui instructed. “Inform the manager that the backyard is off limits—no one is to enter.”
A guard promptly acknowledged the order and raced off.
Gu Chengrui directed someone to move the injured man to an empty room in the back. He then ascended the stairs, requesting the medicine box from Zhou Ying. Returning downstairs, he personally treated the man’s wounds. Fortunately, the injuries were superficial—two slashes that led to unconsciousness due to blood loss.
Once the treatment was complete, Gu Chengrui a.s.signed Tiger and the others to guard the man. Taking the bag the man desperately protected, he entered a guest room. He untied it, revealing an account book and a small booklet.
Gu Chengrui flipped through the account book quickly. The incriminating details centered around corruption involving food supplies, treasury silver, and special funds recently allocated for repairing the river embankment.
The booklet, on the other hand, seemed to be a memorial outlining the current situation in the government offices.
Closing the booklet, Gu Chengrui addressed Zhou Ying with a serious tone. “Babe, check on Chengsi. I fear he’s in grave danger.”
Zhou Ying’s gaze fell on the bloodied memorial in his hand. A solemn nod followed as she extended her divine sense to investigate Zhizhou Manor.
Soldiers had already surrounded the residence, effectively trapping Gu Chengsi’s family. His youngest son, Gu Jiehao, was held hostage by a general.
“Lord Gu,” the general taunted, tightening his grip on the young boy, “have you made your decision? Will you choose the account book or your youngest son?”
“Hong Li,” Gu Chengsi countered, his voice firm, “remember your allegiance. Killing us won’t go unpunished.
“Don’t you fear the Emperor’s wrath for such a brazen act?
“Reconsider your path, Hong Li.
“Join the light, and I can plead for your life with the Emperor.”