Chapter 10, the Emperor's decree has arrived

For two consecutive nights, two women took turns leaving their marks, nearly exhausting Li Jing. Upon stepping out of the prison, he seemed like a completely different person compared to when he entered.

Suddenly, a rapid thundering sound of hooves striking the ground echoed from a distance, and a knight galloped into the town

"My lord." The two women spoke almost in unison

Enough, let's think of another way. We can look for an opportunity to escape once we are on the road.

You are worse than a beast; you actually pushed your own sister into the abyss.

Li Jing fell silent. Indeed, what difference would it make if he shouted? Wang Liang had already colluded with Zhang Kuguan, who had extorted sixty mu of land from their family in this matter, and would certainly not stand on his side. What he was facing were not good people, but a group of thuggish, rogue soldiers.

Are you not afraid that I will say all of this in front of so many people if you speak it out now

Hehe, to be honest, Zhang Kuguan only received sixty mu of land, while the forty mu that Wang the blacksmith and my family gave to your family actually all ended up in my hands. I dug a pit to bury you, yet your family still has to marry off Fourth Sister to me, and you will have to thank me for a lifetime, hahahaha, how about that, didn't see that coming, did you

A few people were momentarily speechless, yet Wang Liang approached them.

Sixty acres of land? Didn't Zhang Kuguan extort one hundred acres of land?

With a clang, the prison door swung open, and a ray of autumn sunlight fell upon Li Jing's face, the dazzling light blinding him momentarily. He instinctively raised his hand to shield his face, taking a while to adjust to the bright world outside the dungeon

Li Jing was still unaware that the Wang family had proposed to the Li family after his imprisonment. Not only had Wang Liang's engagement to the fourth sister been settled, but even his own engagement to the third young lady had been arranged with a formal agreement. Han Shi had instructed Wan'er to leave a legacy for the Li family, and this matter had also come to the attention of the third young lady, Wang Gui Niang. She suggested that this matter should be handled by her. Wang Mu, being a traditional woman, believed that since her daughter had already been engaged to Li Jing, she could be considered part of the Li family. This seemed reasonable, but Wang Liang was unwilling. Previously, he had agreed to revisit his sister's engagement in order to facilitate a smooth betrothal with Wan Jing. Now that their engagements had been settled, and with Li Jing being exiled, the Wang family had the perfect opportunity to cancel his sister's marriage.

Wang Liang's eyes were filled with anger as he approached Li Jing and said in a low voice: "At this point, I might as well tell you the truth. It is indeed because of these matters. I am not afraid to tell you that it was because I advised Zhang Kuguan to capture you in order to seize your family's sixty acres of land that you have fallen into your current predicament. Originally, your family's land had already fallen into Zhang Kuguan's hands, and he intended to release you. However, it was I who persuaded him, which led to your sentence of three thousand miles of exile. So, how do you feel about me?"

On the evening of the second day, Li Jing, who had just regained some vitality, saw two women again, first Wang Guiniang and then Wan'er. This time, Li Jing exhibited a somewhat reckless attitude, perhaps because he knew that this departure might mean he had only a few days left to live. He spent some tender moments with these two women, who were nominally his wives and concubines.

The Emperor's edict, a great amnesty for the world

Looking at the two individuals, Li Jing felt a mix of emotions. These two could be considered his wives and concubines. However, in reality, he did not harbor any feelings of love for them. Fate had played a cruel trick; now that they were gone, he could only wonder how these two would manage in the future. He couldn't help but think of the two widowed sisters-in-law; would the Li family be adding two more widows?

Do you still not understand what I am saying? Rest assured, I will not expose your true colors here. Today, I have only one thing to say to you: do not be too extreme in your actions, and be wary of retribution. Sometimes, it is not that retribution does not come, but rather that the time has not yet arrived. If one commits too many wrongdoings, there will inevitably come a day of reckoning.

Wang Liang let out a cold laugh: "Since I dare to speak, I naturally have no fear. Do you think you will have the chance to say these things again? After I finish these few words with you, the constables will immediately take you away, informing you that not far from the town, a group of bandits has reportedly arrived, committing all sorts of heinous acts of murder and robbery. Hehe, you understand."

Thank you for your concern. Wang Liang turned his neck halfway, not daring to meet Li Jing's gaze directly

Under the escort of the military officer and two constables, Li Jing emerged from the prison walls and arrived at the entrance. There, he saw Han Shi, dressed in coarse cloth, along with two sisters-in-law and younger sisters who had come to greet him. Additionally, several cousins from other villages had also arrived, and families from Wangli Village that had close ties with the Li family were present to bid farewell.

Li Jing knelt before Han and said: "Mother, I am unfilial and can no longer serve you at your knees. In the future, please take good care of your health."

We are about to set off, if there is anything you want to say to your family, make the most of the time, I will give you another half an hour. Although the military leader looks fierce, he is actually a good person

What did you say? Wang Liang felt somewhat guilty, yet he pretended to be calm instead.

I am not concerned about you; it is just that now Fourth Sister is to marry you, and I do not wish for her to lose her husband at such a young age. Wang Liang, here, I ask you for a straightforward answer: why are you doing this? Is it really worth all of this?

The criminal is on the road! The constable shouted, and the two officers came over to urge Li Jing to set off.

That night, Li Jing consumed the family heirloom tiger whip wine brought in by Wan'er from the blacksmith's house, and it took a long time for him and Wan'er to settle down. Initially, it was thought that this somewhat absurd situation had come to an end, but unexpectedly, just as Wan'er stepped out, another woman, familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar, entered. She was the third sister of Wang Liang, a neighbor who had grown up alongside Li Jing, and the reason for describing her as familiar yet unfamiliar was that, in Li Jing's memory, he was very familiar with Wang's family and Wang's wife, yet in reality, he had never seen her before.

Li Jing sighed inwardly; although the spring breeze had blown several times, conceiving a child was not so easy

This is not only due to the harsh conditions in the prison, but also due to psychological pressure; however, it is primarily because of the legacy left behind.

Having been imprisoned for less than half a month, Li Jing has lost a significant amount of weight. Not only are his clothes dirty and worn, but his complexion is also extremely pale, with deep-set eyes, dark circles, and bloodshot sclera. Additionally, his chin is covered with a patch of dark stubble.

Throughout the night, I was subjected to the extraction of semen and preservation of seeds by two women, enduring this for nearly an entire night

Li Jing felt a jolt in his heart, not expecting Wang Liang to be so ruthless, that even the exile of three thousand miles was not enough for him; he actually planned to pretend to be a bandit and kill him outside the city

At this moment, Li Jing had already concluded that this incident was undoubtedly instigated by Wang Liang, who, even if not the mastermind, certainly played a role in fanning the flames from behind. "You two may return now; I have a few words to discuss with Erlang."

"Put on the wooden collar!" a military leader with a horizontal saber stepped forward and shouted loudly. Immediately, two prison guards came forward and placed the seven-pound wooden collar around Li Jing's neck. They also took out a pair of handcuffs and leg shackles and put them on Li Jing's hands and feet. With this complete set of equipment, Li Jing could not help but bend his body slightly under the pressure.

"Sanlang, should I call you brother-in-law or little brother-in-law?"

Raising his shackled hands, Li Jing gently wiped the tear stains from the faces of the two individuals

That girl, born with a stubborn mind, I have seen through her; in this lifetime, she truly will marry no one but you. Since this is the case, I am merely fulfilling her wishes.

Tears streamed down Han's face uncontrollably as he held Li Jing's face and said, "My child..." Before he could finish his sentence, he was already choked with emotion, unable to speak, and weeping silently

Is this all? Is this why you want my life? Li Jing said coldly

Wang Liang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly turned his head and glared at Li Jing, angrily saying: "Why? You still ask me why? This is all because of your Li family's lack of benevolence first, so do not blame me, Wang Liang, for being unjust later. Back then, if it weren't for your father insisting on dragging my father to Zhedong, how could he have died amidst the chaos of soldiers? Later, your elder brother was the head of the grain transporters in our village, and as a result, he led our entire grain transport team of over fifty people into the hands of the bandits, not a single one returned. And why is it that you refuse to accept Gui Niang, wasting her precious springtime and causing her such suffering? Furthermore, I came to your family to propose marriage, but your family, knowing that no one can produce grain nowadays, still insisted on asking me for two stones of grain as a betrothal gift. Tell me, is your family being reasonable?"

Li Jing had thought that the person who would harm him would be Wang Liang, but he never expected that this scoundrel would be so shameless

You ... ...

How can you, my lord, say such words that hurt my sister's heart? Although you and I have not yet formally married with a matchmaker and held a wedding ceremony, we have indeed engaged a matchmaker and arranged our marriage. Moreover, we have already consummated our union; how can you still utter such words to humiliate us sisters? Please rest assured, my lord, that whether it is my sister Wan'er who gives birth to the offspring of the Li family or I who bear your children, we will raise the children well.

After Wan'er and Gui Niang left, Li Jing coldly stared at Wang Liang: "Wang Liang, are you not afraid of divine retribution?"

When it was Wan'er and Gui Niang's turn, both young girls, only fifteen or sixteen years old, had already changed their hairdos to those of married women. Gui Niang styled her hair into a falling horse bun, while Wan'er fashioned hers into a coiled bun that gathered the hair at the top and then twisted it around. Originally still innocent young girls, they had suddenly transformed into young married women.

I am sorry, I have let you down. In the future, if there is a suitable person, just go along with it.

However, Wang Guiniang was exceptionally resolute, nearly reaching the point of wanting to hang herself or jump into a well. In desperation, Wang Liang had no choice but to stop intervening and let her be. After Wan'er left, Wang Guiniang entered Li Jing's prison again and concocted a potion. Li Jing truly wanted to refuse, but at that moment, the medicinal wine was indeed potent, leaving him somewhat out of control

Each family member stepped forward, expressing their heartfelt wishes for one another.

Li Jing's gaze was fixed on Wang Liang, yet Wang Liang avoided direct eye contact and did not meet his gaze.

Li Jing and others were just about to set off when they suddenly saw the knight returning, accompanied by Cui Zhenjiang, Wang Tui Guan, and a group of military and civil officials from the town.

"Go ahead and shout, do you think anyone will believe you just because you shout? You should think carefully, if you shout, what will happen to the safety of the women in your family?" The madness in Wang Liang's eyes was evident.