Heartstrings Resonance: The Beloved Princess of the Female Power

He jokingly said, "Sir, you may not have any, but the old man and his wife do! They will definitely be willing to spend money on you."

Upon hearing this, Mu Cheng rolled his eyes at A Feng without caring about his appearance and said unhappily, "That's my father's retirement fund and my wife's dowry. How dare I spend their money? I'll have to figure this out myself." He sighed, strode away with his hands behind his back.

As Ah Feng watched Mu Cheng's departing figure, he couldn't help but grumble, "His expression changes all the time, like turning the pages of a book." However, he also knew Mu Cheng's temper and personality, so after grumbling, he quickly went to do what Mu Cheng had asked.

At that moment, the night was as dark as ink. Several men in black silently infiltrated the Mu residence, their figures appearing especially eerie in the moonlight. They headed straight for Mu Cheng's study, which was brightly lit, as if awaiting their arrival. One of the men in black asked, "Sir, should this man be interrogated now or detained? If detained, should he be in the residence or in prison?" His voice was deep and powerful, revealing an unquestionable resolve.

Mu Cheng sat at his desk, clutching an ancient tome, his face composed. He was about to say he was about to begin the interrogation when another servant arrived with a hurried report: "Sir, Lin Feng and his companions have returned, bringing back the missing individuals!" Mu Cheng's emotions surged upon hearing this. He quickly made a decision and addressed the men in black, "Imprison them first!" Then, turning to Jing Qi, he instructed: "Guard the mansion securely. I'll go to the government office."

Mu Cheng hurried to the government office, only to find Lin Feng and Xi Kun already waiting there. Lin Feng, upon seeing Mu Cheng, excitedly stepped forward to report, "Your Excellency, your foresight is as good as a god. He is indeed hidden underground." His voice was filled with admiration and praise. He continued, "There were over two hundred of them, with over eighty dead or wounded. The rest have been imprisoned, awaiting your decision."

Xi Kun also laughed heartily as he stepped forward. He patted Mu Cheng on the shoulder and said, "Lord Mu is very foresighted! These criminals have dug secret passages leading to various places in Youzhou. However, I have already sent people to investigate where the secret passages lead to and to destroy them. I have also sent people with the yamen runners to apprehend other important criminals." His tone was filled with confidence and heroism.

Upon hearing this, Mu Cheng bowed deeply, expressing his deep gratitude to Xi Kun. Xi Kun quickly stepped forward to support him, saying with a smile, "Lord Mu and I are of the same rank. I cannot accept your courtesy!" His tone was filled with humility and kindness.

Mu Cheng expressed his sincere gratitude, "General Manager Xi, you're too modest. If it weren't for your dedicated help as the General Manager of the Army, how could we have captured the thieves so quickly and rescued these people? I, Mu Cheng, will always remember your contribution." His voice was filled with sincerity and respect, expressing his deep gratitude to Xi Kun.

Xi Kun waved his hand and said, "We are both responsible for the peace of Youzhou, so there's no question of who's helping whom. We're all working for His Majesty, so there's no need for such politeness." Mu Cheng was upright, righteous, and unashamedly selfless, and Xi Kun admired him greatly. In comparison, the previous Youzhou prefect seemed far inferior, and Xi Kun had simply brushed off all of Xi Kun's efforts. However, since he hadn't made things difficult for him in front of His Majesty, he let it go.

Mu Cheng also deeply admired this military commander, despite his rugged exterior and delicate heart. Xi Kun stood tall and imposing, exuding an air of authority. He sported a thick beard, which at first glance gave him the appearance of a ferocious tiger. However, a closer look revealed his delicate features. Perhaps he wore the beard simply to appear more menacing.

Mu Cheng's gaze swept over the rescued people in the hall. Their figures looked particularly disheveled in the dim light. Young and old, all were covered in dust and ragged clothes, their faces etched with fatigue and fear. They were a stark contrast to the well-dressed, high-spirited businessmen of the past. Although he had seen portraits of these businessmen before, seeing them in this state, it was difficult to distinguish who was who.

A complex wave of emotions surged in his heart, and Mu Cheng asked in a deep voice, "Are there any casualties?" His voice echoed in the hall, sounding particularly heavy.

Lin Feng stepped forward and whispered, "Except for Master Chen San and his retainers and guards, everyone else is here. However, there are a few injured, and I've sent for a doctor. Also, several of General Manager Xi's men have been killed, and several of our brothers are injured as well."

Mu Cheng frowned upon hearing this, then nodded in understanding. He knew that while the operation had successfully rescued the hostages, the losses incurred during the process were not negligible.

Then, he turned to Xi Kun and said firmly, "I'd like to ask General Manager Xi to take someone to Roma Manor and make sure to apprehend Mr. Chen Sanye and his family."

"Okay, no problem!" Xi Kun readily agreed, and then hurriedly left with some of his men.

Mu Cheng once again looked at the bewildered crowd in the hall, a wave of apology welling up in his heart. But he still said sincerely, "I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you tonight to explain the whole story in detail. We will investigate this matter thoroughly and seek justice for you all."

After Mu Cheng said this, most people's eyes did not show joy, but instead sparkled.

"Sir, there's a commotion outside. They say they want to see their families now." A bailiff came to report.

Mu Cheng's concern deepened after hearing the yamen runner's report. He knew that these rescued people were not only victims but also key witnesses. Their safety, and the information they held, were crucial to uncovering the truth and bringing the criminals to justice.

He looked at everyone and said in a deep voice, "I know your families are worried, but your safety is more important right now. How about this? I'll have someone arrange for your families to come in and see you, but after that, you must stay at the government office until this matter is fully investigated."

He knew that such a decision would not be easy for these people. He immediately ordered the yamen runners to make arrangements and let everyone's family members come in to meet them.

Outside the government office gates, the family members' clamor gradually died down. They were told they could come in to see their loved ones, and though they still felt worried and dissatisfied, they had no choice but to accept this reality. They understood that this reunion was only temporary; what was more important was to uncover the truth and seek justice for their families.

As the family members entered, the government office was suddenly filled with warmth and tears. They hugged each other tightly, expressing their longing and worry for each other. However, after this brief reunion, they would face a long wait and an uncertain future. After seeing each other, Mu Cheng asked them to go back. Although some said they would take the patient home to raise him, Mu Cheng said that the government office would keep the patient together for protection and that they could only see him once a day at noon.

After everyone had left, Mu Cheng frowned. It was already late at night, and everyone was exhausted and in need of rest. He didn't want to embarrass them, so he asked, "Is there anyone willing to stay and explain their situation?" As everyone looked at each other, a woman's voice said, "I'd like to stay and explain the situation to the adults!"

Everyone looked at her with disapproving eyes. Mu Cheng saw everything they did but said nothing. A man with a missing little finger also said, "I'm willing too." Again, everyone looked at him with disapproval.

Mu Cheng looked at the missing little finger on his right hand, and the flesh around the wound had already rotted away. The paleness of his face couldn't be covered up even by the dirt. He said worriedly, "Go and rest first. The doctor should be here soon."

The man shook his head. "Nothing's wrong. I'm not dead. Thank you for your concern."

Mu Cheng wanted to persuade him again, but a man with sagging flesh on his body said, "Sir, why don't you just send someone to protect us? Why do you insist on staying in this government office?" He looked around the government office with disdain and said, "How can people live in this government office?"

Mu Cheng looked at the man in front of him, who looked to be in his thirties, with his body flabby and sagging, and couldn't help but feel disgusted. Judging from his current appearance, it was obvious that he must have been a greasy, overweight man in the past, but perhaps he had recently suffered some hardship, causing a significant loss of fat, leaving only a layer of loose skin. This man had just caused the most trouble among the family members, leaving a deep impression on Mu Cheng.

At this moment, the woman's voice rang out again, scornfully and mockingly saying, "This place is much better than that pitch-black place. We finally made it out, and you're already being picky."

After hearing this, the man snorted coldly and responded, "Xu Guohui, do you still think you are an innocent person? You have long become a fallen woman, waiting to be divorced by your husband!"

When Xu Guohui heard this, she recalled the humiliation she had suffered during this period, and her eyes suddenly turned red. However, she did not cry, but just stood there silently, without saying a word.

Mu Cheng witnessed all of this and naturally understood what had happened. Among this group of people, Xu Guohui was the only woman, and she still maintained a certain grace. How could those bandits let her go so easily? Thinking of this, Mu Cheng sighed helplessly.

Meanwhile, this man, even after exposing someone's scars, acted like a victorious rooster. Mu Cheng couldn't help but rebuke him, "A wound cut by a sharp blade heals easily, but the wounds of harsh words are hard to erase. Don't you understand the principle that wounds heal easily, but harsh words are hard to erase?"

The man still stiffened his neck and said, "Sir, what I said is the truth!"

Mu Cheng frowned and asked him, "So what do you want to do to her, a woman?" He then added in a more serious tone, "This happened not because she wanted to. She is clearly the victim, yet you insult her with words. How are you any different from those villains?"

Xu Guohui felt a warm feeling in her heart, and she was very grateful to Mu Cheng for speaking up for her. Although she no longer had any hope of living, she still felt relieved to hear Mu Cheng's words. Moreover, she couldn't die. She wanted to hand over the entire Xu family to Xu Guoliang's hands. Only after everything was arranged could she leave this world with peace of mind.