Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

County government office and county magistrate's residence

As dusk fell, candlelight flickered in the main hall of the county government's backyard, stretching and shortening shadows against the oppressive walls. The air was as stagnant as lead, and every breath carried a heavy weight of anxiety. Liang Dahai paced anxiously in the center of the hall like a caged beast, his boots echoing dully on the blue bricks, as if each step treaded on the tense nerves of the crowd. From time to time, he would suddenly look up at the closed courtyard door, his eyes filled with anxiety that threatened to burst out.

"The head shopkeeper...could he have...run away?" Liang Dahai finally couldn't help himself. His voice was dry and hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against the ground, breaking the suffocating silence. These words, like a stone thrown into stagnant water, stirred up layers of ripples.

Qian Ming jumped up from his chair, his face livid and his eyes sharp as a knife. "Liang Dahai! What nonsense are you talking about? The head shopkeeper is a gentleman, his word is his bond! Since he promised to bring the young master back, there is no way he would do something so treacherous as to desert the battlefield!"

Wang Ergou crouched in the shadow of the threshold, his long-extinguished pipe dangling from his lips, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky with a hollow gaze. He sullenly exhaled a puff of nonexistent smoke, his voice low and sighing: "It's already this late... the sun's almost setting... If they really found him, they should have crawled back, right?" Those words, like a needle, pierced everyone's heart.

"No! I can't wait any longer!" Mu Tou suddenly jumped up from the chair in the corner, and the movement was so great that it overturned the chair with a sharp "clang" sound! His eyes were red and bloodshot, the veins on his forehead were bulging, and his fists were clenched and creaking, as if he was about to bite someone in the next moment. "I have to go to Jia Village! I want to see him alive, and I will carry the young master back even if I die!"

Qian Ming strode to the door, arms outstretched like a wall blocking the way, and shouted sternly, "Stop! Wood! Yesterday, the head shopkeeper warned us before he left that no one is allowed to leave the house without permission today! Do you want to disobey orders?!"

"Care about me?!" Mu Tou turned around suddenly, his eyes blazing with madness, his muscles bulging, and his aura terrifying. "Qian Ming! If you want to stop me, ask my fist first if it agrees!"

The atmosphere is tense and ready to explode!

At that moment, the curtain to the inner hall was lifted. Zhang Shiyi carefully supported Zhang Liu, whose head was wrapped in a thick, blood-stained cloth, and tremblingly walked out. The old butler's face was as pale as paper, his lips chapped. Every step seemed to drain all his strength, his body hunched, relying entirely on Zhang Shiyi for support. The cloth on his forehead was faintly stained with dark red blood, the mark left by the desperate collision yesterday.

"Mu Tou..." Zhang Liu's voice was hoarse and broken, like an old bellows. His cloudy and lifeless eyes looked at the furious Mu Tou, filled with endless fatigue and dead silence, "If you have the strength... just... use it on the old man... I failed to protect the young master... I... I haven't wanted to live for a long time... If I'm alive... I have no face to see the master..." Two lines of turbid old tears silently rolled down his wrinkled and blood-stained cheeks, hitting the cold ground and everyone's heart.

Mu Mu felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over his head. His anger instantly extinguished, leaving only endless sadness and self-blame. He hurried forward and carefully supported Zhang Liu's shaky body. "Master Liu... you... you're worried too! Jia Village is only twenty miles away. With my strength, I can make the round trip in half an hour! Let me go!"

Zhang Liu's skinny hands trembled as he grasped Mu Tou's wrist. He spoke with all his might, "Manager Gao Da... is a top scholar in Hedong, a figure who appears only once in many years! His brains... his calculations... is it possible... is it possible that he's not as clever as you?"

"But...Sixth Master..." Mu Tou wanted to argue.

"No buts!" Zhang Liu suddenly raised his voice a little, then bent his waist in pain because of the wound, gasping, "Young Madam... Young Madam has already nodded and agreed to the arrangement of Manager Gao... You... What else do you want? Are you going to disobey the mistress's orders?" He looked up at Mu Tou, his eyes full of pleading and commanding.

Mu Tou dejectedly let go of his hand and stumbled back a step. A wry smile uglier than crying appeared on his face, and his voice was filled with bitterness and self-mockery: "Our young master... his life or death is unknown, his whereabouts are unknown... We, the servants, can only sit in this deep courtyard... like... like useless people! If this gets out..." He slammed his fist on the pillar beside him, making a dull sound, "I'm afraid even the stray dogs on the street will laugh their heads off!"

Just then, a flurry of hurried, chaotic footsteps approached from afar. Huang Liang, accompanied by Yang Zhao, Fang Yue, and the others, rushed in, looking grave and dusty. The hem of Huang Liang's official robe was stained with mud, and his forehead was covered with beads of sweat, clearly from his hasty journey.

"Master Zhang...is there any news?" Huang Liang panted, his voice filled with anxiety that was hard to conceal.

Mu Tou rushed to Huang Liang as if he had found a savior, pointing excitedly outside the door. "Master Huang! You've arrived just in time! Please judge! The young master is in trouble, shouldn't we, the close guards, go look for him? Being locked up in the mansion and waiting for news like this... how can this be?!"

Huang Liang was stunned and looked at Qian Ming in confusion: "What... do you guys mean?"

Qian Ming quickly stepped forward to explain, "Sir Huang. Our military bank's head treasurer, Mr. Gao Jiong, has issued strict orders. He must personally go look for the young master. No one else is allowed to leave the house, to avoid... to avoid causing trouble."

"Gao Jiong?" Huang Liang frowned slightly, then relaxed. "Oh, it's that Hedong genius, the shopkeeper Gao Da... I heard he's truly a man of extraordinary talent..."

Yang Zhao, standing by, looked disapproving and interrupted, "He's just a scholar, barely able to even tie a chicken, how dare he make such a boast? Ultimately, finding the perpetrator and apprehending the culprit depends on warriors like us!"

Fang Yue, who had been silent all this time, raised his head at this moment and retorted with an extremely firm look: "County Lieutenant Yang is wrong! The chief manager always keeps his word! I have seen with my own eyes during these few months of military service that he has fulfilled every one of his promises, no matter how difficult they were! Without exception!" His tone was firm, with an almost blind trust in Gao Jiong.

Huang Liang sighed deeply, rubbing his brows worriedly. "Alas... I've heard a little about Manager Gao's abilities... But the situation is dire right now. We're almost losing control of the three major Gaoyang families... Today, the Shi, Zhao, and Wang families have jointly closed the market, and everyone in the city is already in a state of panic."

Yang Zhao added solemnly, "The county government is currently short-staffed. All the detectives and runners have been dispatched to maintain order and conduct searches. If the three major families really take advantage of this opportunity... to do something... we won't be able to defend ourselves!"

"The three great families closing their markets for a day," Huang Liang said in a voice filled with helplessness. "It's already a catastrophic disaster for the people of Gaoyang! Rice prices are skyrocketing, firewood is in short supply, and the people are complaining... If this continues, there might be a civil uprising!"

The curtain of the inner hall was lifted silently again.

Huangfu Ling slowly emerged. She wore a plain white dress, no makeup on, and her face was almost transparently pale. Only her eyes, incredibly bright and bottomless, seemed to hold a volcano about to erupt. Her presence instantly silenced the noisy hall, and everyone's gaze was fixed on her.

"All consequences," she said in a low voice, but it penetrated every corner clearly, with a cold determination, "will be borne by my Zhang family."

Everyone bowed quickly to make way for her, their voices filled with awe: "Young Madam!" "Madam Huangfu!"

Huangfu Ling walked steadily to Huang Liang, bowed slightly, and looked him straight in the eye. "Sir Huang. He is the father and mother of Gaoyang, and he carries the people of Gaoyang on his shoulders. But he is also my husband, the only support I have in this life." Her voice was calm, yet contained great power. "Everyone, at this moment... please understand the heartache I feel as a woman... "

Huang Liang looked at the seemingly weak but imposing wife of the county magistrate and bowed deeply. "Madam... Your humble servant... Of course I understand your deep concern! But... But the interests involved are so interconnected. A single move can affect the entire situation..."

"The Zhang family owns a large military force," Huangfu Ling interrupted him, her voice rising suddenly with unquestionable authority. "The family wealth is worth more than tens of millions! In other words, the Zhang family is wealthy and powerful, and we can afford this loss!" She paused, her eyes sweeping over the crowd, each word clear and distinct. "If that's not enough..." Her right hand gently pressed on the hilt of the sword at her waist. The movement was gentle, but it sent a chill through everyone. "My Huangfu family, a family of military commanders for generations, can also afford it!"

These resounding words, like thunderclaps, stunned both Huang Liang and Yang Zhao. Huang Liang, observing the undeniable resolve in Huangfu Ling's eyes, took a deep breath and bowed solemnly once more. "Madam... Madam, since you say so, you understand the righteousness of the cause! I... I will do my utmost, for the people of Gaoyang and for Lord Zhang, to stabilize the situation!"

Huangfu Ling nodded slightly and returned the greeting: "Then I would like to thank Master Huang on behalf of my husband."

Watching Huang Liang, Yang Zhao, and the others hurried away with mixed feelings, Huangfu Ling turned around and faced the servants. The calmness on her face instantly vanished, replaced by a heart-pounding gloom and coldness.

"No news yet?" Her voice was so low that it seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth.

Everyone lowered their heads in silence and shook their heads silently. The heavy atmosphere almost crushed them.

Huangfu Ling suddenly smiled. It was a cold smile, devoid of any warmth, but her eyes burned with a maddening fire. "Yesterday, I wrote a letter informing my father of the situation here." She slowly drew the sword from her waist, the blade reflecting a chilling light in the dim candlelight. "Once he receives the letter, he will immediately dispatch Yunzhou's elite troops to surround Gaoyang City... completely!" Her voice suddenly became harsh, like an icy spike piercing the bone. "When the time comes, I will personally lead the troops and slaughter the entire Shi family first! No one will be spared! Then I will deal with the rest of the scum! Not a single one... will be spared!" She flicked her wrist, pointing the tip of her sword into the air, murderous intent surging. "If the court blames me for this and wants to hold me accountable..." A cruel arc curved her lips. "I will seize all the military assets, dissipate the Zhang family's millions of wealth, and recruit righteous men from all over the world! I must give my husband justice in this clear and bright world! Give me, Huangfu Ling, an explanation!"

Zhang Liu was already in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. He fell to his knees with a thud, and banged his forehead heavily on the blue bricks: "Young Madam...this old slave...this old slave is guilty..." Blood seeped out from under the bandage again.

Mu Tou knelt on one knee with a thud, his right hand pressed against his chest, his eyes filled with the same madness and determination: "Young Madam! If that's the case! Mu Tou is willing to be the vanguard! Follow him till death! Kill him till the world is turned upside down!"

Wang Ergou, Liang Dahai, Qian Ming, Zhang Shiyi… everyone knelt silently, leaving only the sounds of heavy breathing and suppressed sobs in the hall. The entire mansion fell into a dead silence, even the candlelight seemed to be dimmed by the heavy atmosphere, and the air was as frozen as a frozen lake.

despair--!

Just when the suffocating silence reached its climax, a crisp, abrupt, and even somewhat leisurely sound of a hard object colliding came clearly from the direction of the public office next door like thunder!

That's... the sound of billiard balls colliding!