Forced to marry, I picked up a young powerful official

The sound of horse hooves arrived in an instant.

Soon, the gate of the courtyard was pushed open by a group of people, and more than ten yamen runners with swords and torches rushed in, instantly illuminating the entire courtyard.

Zhong Shan was also among them. As soon as he entered the yard, he searched for Shen Nankui with his eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she and He Hua were safe. Then he looked and saw that Cai Ling and Hei Niu were also there. He looked happy and his heart, which had been beating wildly all the way, suddenly calmed down. As the energy was released, he couldn't help but collapse to the ground.

Seeing this, Shen Nankui hurriedly asked He Hua to go and check his injuries.

As soon as the yamen runners entered the yard, they surrounded everyone. One of them, who looked like a squad leader, looked around the yard and asked, "What happened here?"

Zhong Shan hurriedly got up and said, "Sir, these four bandits attacked my house at night, robbed my property and injured people. Please arrest them quickly!"

A yamen runner came over and replied, "Boss, one dead, one seriously injured, and two disabled."

The squad leader's face turned grim. He glanced at the bandits on the ground, with an inexplicable emotion in his eyes. After a moment, he said, "Someone died. Who caused this?"

"It's me." Cai Ling stepped forward and said.

"You?" The squad leader sized him up and squinted his eyes and said, "Since you have such skills, you can just subdue them and wait for the government to rescue you. Why hurt their lives? Don't you know that killing people is also illegal?"

Hearing this, Cai Ling frowned.

"These thieves have committed all kinds of evil in Yongzhou. I heard that the government offered a reward of 100 taels for their heads. Today, I caught them and prevented them from harming the lives of the people in this courtyard. This can be considered as helping the government. Even if you don't give me the reward, there is no reason to punish me, right?"

He never dealt with people in the government, but that didn't mean he was afraid of the government. He continued to taunt, "Why, since the government has issued a reward notice, can't I kill these thieves? Do you want to see everyone in this courtyard die at their hands before you'll be satisfied?"

"you!"

The squad leader was choked and his face turned pale.

"These thieves are certainly guilty, but the government needs to interrogate and judge them. How can you be allowed to make decisions?"

He stared at Cai Ling coldly, "Looking at your skills, you must be a gangster. You are ruthless and speak rudely to the government. I think your behavior is very suspicious. You should come back to the government with me to be questioned!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nankui and his companions were all stunned.

Only a few thieves who fell to the ground had a hint of gloating in their eyes, but no one saw it.

"Is your remark a little too joking?"

Shen Nankui suddenly asked.

The squad leader looked over and saw that she was a pregnant woman with a big belly. He couldn't help but look a little disdainful.

"How dare you, a woman, interfere in the affairs of the government?"

Shen Nankui stood beside Cai Ling, gently holding her belly with both hands, and raised her chin with a little pride, "So what if I'm a woman? Do you know who I am?"

Before the bailiff could ask any more questions, she continued, "I am the daughter of the Shen family in the capital. My father is a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. My sister is the wife of the son of the Marquis of Jianning. My husband is the top scholar in the imperial court. We were attacked in Yongzhou tonight. Thanks to Mr. Cai's rescue, we were able to save our lives. I asked you all to come here to ask you to catch the murderer. Now that the murderer has been subdued, you don't quickly take them back for interrogation, but take away the benefactor who saved me. Doesn't this seem a bit unreasonable?"

She had encountered danger tonight, and her hair and clothes looked a little disheveled, but her posture was still calm, and there was a hint of anger in her expression that made people dare not look directly at her.

The majesty that only a superior could have on her actually frightened the class leader.

What about the Crown Prince, the fifth-rank official, the number one scholar... He didn't expect that he would actually encounter these titles that sounded so far away. He also didn't expect that such a prestigious person would live in this ordinary-looking courtyard?

The squad leader secretly looked at Shen Nankui again. Judging from her demeanor, she should not be lying.

He thought for a moment, then said with a smile: "So the lady is actually a noble lady from the capital. I am sorry for my poor eyesight. Please don't blame me."

"You were frightened tonight. Since this young master is your benefactor, I dare not disrespect him. We will arrest these bandits and bring them back for strict interrogation. We will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation!"

He waved his hand and the bailiffs began to act.

When the bandit leader was lifted up, although his limbs could not move, he was still conscious and said in a hoarse voice: "Gong Tao... he is here..."

"what!"

The squad leader's pupils shrank, and he immediately walked towards him, "He showed up?"

The bandit leader nodded and looked towards the yard.

The squad leader looked around but found no trace, so he walked up to Shen Nankui and asked, "Madam, besides these four thieves, have you seen anyone else tonight?"

Shen Nankui nodded, "There is a fifth person, but I don't know where he came from. He seemed to be at odds with these four people and started fighting as soon as they met."

"Then do you know where he went?"

Shen Nankui shook his head. "The scene was too chaotic at the time, so I didn't notice it. It seemed that the man suddenly ran away before you came."

The squad leader looked frustrated and pointed at Cai Ling and asked, "How could you let him go when you are so skilled?"

The dying bandit leader suddenly said, "It was him who helped Gong Tao escape. They are accomplices!"

Hearing this, the squad leader's eyes narrowed immediately, revealing a dangerous light.

"Do you know that this person is a wanted criminal by the government?"

Shen Nankui said coldly: "Whether he is a wanted criminal or not is none of our business. Investigating cases and arresting criminals is the government's job. We don't know who the wanted criminal is. We only know that the man just now was helping us to stop these bandits. Besides, he can come if he wants to and leave if he wants to. It's not up to me to decide. Is the Yongzhou government so incompetent that they blame others for their own incompetence?"

"Believe it or not, I have sent a letter to the Marquis of Jianning's mansion, asking the Marquis of Jianning to write a petition on my behalf, asking the court to clean up the Yongzhou officialdom?"

Her words were serious, and the squad leader did not dare to offend her for the moment, and hurriedly said, "Don't be upset, madam. I was wrong. I have no doubt about your intentions. However, Gong Tao is a wanted criminal by the government, and this is really a serious matter. Since he appeared here tonight, please allow us to search this yard. He is responsible for a murder, and this action is also for your safety."

Shen Nankui did not refuse, but only said: "Quick battle, quick decision."

The squad leader clasped his fists and hurriedly led his subordinates to search the yard.

The door of the main room was wide open and faced the yard, so the furnishings inside were visible. Even the only wardrobe that could hide a person was open. The squad leader knew that this must be Shen Nankui's residence. He did not dare to offend her too much, so he hurriedly searched the house, but found nothing, so he retreated and went to check other rooms.

After the search, the bailiffs all returned to the yard.