Chapter 522: Return

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

It was not easy for the Imperial Capital to convict him of what had not happened. They could only send people to patrol the vicinity of the Zhou family 24 hours a day and detain Cheng Sheng and Steward Cheng in the prison.

When the government office sent the news to Zhou Jia, Li Yu had already gone to Wang Family Village. She instructed Haitang and the others to pull up the sweet potato vines in the field one by one and clean them in one direction, asking them to remove the excess sweet potato leaves to prevent too many small sweet potatoes from growing from the excess roots and affecting the yield.

After smoothing out the sweet potato vines, she added fertilizer along the ridge. This way, the yield of the planted sweet potatoes would be high.

Li Yu watched as they sorted out the two ridges and rushed back to the city.

During Zhou Jia’s patrol of the various counties and towns under the Yuezhou Prefecture, he dealt with a few bullies and two corrupt officials who preyed on the commoners.

After the inspection, he returned to the Yuezhou Prefecture and learned that Judge Wu had received a lot of documents these days. Everyone kicks a man who is down. Many hidden matters about the Cheng family were dug up. When the Imperial Edict from the capital reached the Yuezhou Prefecture, it sentenced the men of the Cheng family to death, and the women were reduced to lowly status and had to enter the education office.

Cheng Xu had done a meritorious deed by reporting and was exempt from punishment. The Cheng family of Yuezhou was not allowed to participate in the imperial examination for five generations.

The relatives of the Cheng family all said the same thing, ‘When the Cheng family was glorious, everyone else didn’t get much glory. The family broke the law and did bad things, but they implicated the other Cheng family members and caused them to be thwarted from official careers.”

Rats would leave a sinking ship, and no one from the Cheng clan went to the prison to visit Cheng Shan and the others. Those people even took their anger out on Cheng Xu, saying that he had betrayed the Cheng family. Cheng Xu could only sell his family assets and bring his sister to the Wu family with the Wu couple.

Feng Qing, the former magistrate of Yue Prefecture, was sentenced to death and his family was exiled. Vice Prefect Lin and General Zou were removed from their positions and would never be recruited.

Among the miners and blacksmiths detained by the Cheng family in the mine, the Imperial Court took out a portion of the silver they had confiscated from the Cheng family to settle them down. After the dead miners were verified, silver was distributed to the families of the dead miners.

The weapons and armor forged by the Cheng family were distributed to the garrisons in Yuezhou and nearby state capitals as military supplies.

At this point, Zhou Jia’s trip to Yueyue Prefecture ended successfully.

Zhou Jia missed Li Yu and the children even more. He couldn’t wait to go home. After resting for a while, he rushed back with a group of people.

On this day, when they passed by a dense forest, Ding Yi, Ruyi, and the others felt that there was a murderous aura gathered in the forest.

Ding Yi pulled the reins and stopped, looking warily at the forest. Ruyi, Zhao Cai, and the guards surrounded Zhou Jia.

Ding Yi and Hu Cheng rode on their horses and looked into the depths of the dense forest.The forest was quiet and they could not hear a bird cry, making them feel even gloomier.

The two of them Dulled the reins and slowlv walked deeoer into the forest. Chu Jia and the two servants hid in the depths of the forest with long sabers in their hands, quietly waiting for Ding Yi and the others to enter.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the saber, and the cold light reflected flashed in Ding Yi’s eyes. Ding Yi raised his hand and threw out something. With a thunderclap, thick smoke scattered. Ding Yi and Hu Cheng disappeared from Chu Jia’s sight.

Chu Jia thought to himself that something was wrong. Before he could react, killing intent had already arrived. The long and narrow blades in Ding Yi and Hu Cheng’s hands stabbed at the hidden servants in the forest.

Ding Yi stabbed at Chu Jia’s chest. Chu Jia blocked the blow with his saber and dodged it. Chu Jia raised his saber. Before he could skin it, Ding Yi leaned forward and cut his throat. He kicked him away.

A servant slashed at Ding Yi’s back with a long knife. Ding Yi fell to the ground and rolled on his back. He dodged the blow and dodged behind the tree. He dodged another knife and hugged the tree trunk for a series of flying kicks. The servant was sent flying and fell against the tree trunk. Ding Yi jumped down and stabbed the servant in the chest.

Hu Cheng also ended the life of a servant. The two of them stood in the forest and looked around before returning to the team to report to Zhou Jia, “Sir, the people hiding in the forest have all been eliminated.”

Zhou Jia nodded and said, “Continue forward and rest at the courier station in front.”

On this afternoon more than half a month later, the group arrived at the capital. When they saw the city gate, their tense nerves relaxed.

Zhou Jia went to the palace to report to Chu Yuhao. Ruyi and Zhao Cai returned to the house and walked in with their horses.

When Uncle Liu and the doorman saw the two of them, they went up to them in surprise. “The two stewards are back. Is Master back?”

Ruyi and Ji Xiang led the horses in with a smile. “Tiezhu drove Master into the palace to report. He asked us to go home first.”

Uncle Liu took the reins from the two of them and said with a smile, “Manager Xiang even said that the Mid -Autumn Festival has passed and Master should be home soon. I was to get someone to guard the city gate tomorrow. I didn’t expect you to come back today.”

Zhao Cai smiled and replied, “Master couldn’t stay in Yuezhou for a moment longer. We simply packed up and rushed back.”

At this moment, Ji Xiang returned from outside. When he saw the two of them, he quickly stepped forward and put his arm around their shoulders. He laughed and said, “I’ve finally brought you back. If you hadn’t come back, Madam would have gone to the Wang Family Village to collect sweet potatoes.”

The two of them looked at Ji Xiang and suddenly remembered that it was already the end of August. Ji Xiang’s child had already been born. Zhao Cai patted him and said with a smile, “Tell me, did your wife give birth to a daughter or a boy for you?”

Ji Xiang smiled at the two of them. “It’s the little girl. She looks like Gu Yu. Brother Cai, Sister-in-law is also pregnant. You’re going to be a father.”

Zhao Cai was stunned by the sudden good news. Ruyi looked at Ji Xiang and smiled. “Congratulations, congratulations. We can be in-laws in the future.” “Sure! Your Er Chun is not bad either,” Ji Xiang said happily.

Li Yu stood in the courtyard and smiled at the three people who walked in with their arms around each other’s shoulders. Zhao Cai and Ruyi went forward and bowed. “Madam, we’re back. Master went to the palace to report.”

Li Yu smiled and nodded. She looked at the three of them and said, “Alright, it’s good that you’re back safely. Zhao Cai and Ruyi will go back to see their wives and children. Ji Xiang will go to the old residence to pick up Old Master first before going back to bring the children and the wives over. We’ll welcome Master and the two of them tonight.”

The three of them bowed and replied, “Yes, Madam.”

When Li Yu saw them walk out of the courtyard with their arms around each other’s shoulders, she smiled and said to Granny Yang, “Nanny, go tell the cook that Master is back and ask them to hold a family banquet tonight to welcome them. Tomorrow, invite the uncles to a small gathering.” Granny Yang smiled and replied, “Yes, Madam. We’ll get them to prepare now.” Everyone in the Zhou Mansion got busy as if it was a festival.

Zhou Jia only returned home in the evening. Just as he reached the door, he saw Li Yu, the child, Old Master Zhou, and the others welcoming him at the door. He walked forward excitedly and smiled at Li Yu. “I’m back!”

Li Yu nodded with a smile. Yangyang ran over and held Zhou Jia’s hand. “Father, I missed you so much. You’re finally back!”

Zhou Jia smiled and picked him up. “Yang’er has grown taller again. Did you help Father take care of Mother and brothers at home?”

Yangyang nodded with a smile. “Yes, Mother even praised me.”

Yueyue and Xingxing widened their dark eyes and looked at Zhou Jia curiously..