The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 560: Disaster Descends from Heaven

At first, Hua Yuanming and another person entered the army directly as junior officers, commanding thirty men. Although they held the lowest rank of a military officer, almost no one under them obeyed. However, whenever they took action, those people were beaten so badly that they cried out for their parents. Precisely because of this, all the soldiers under their command were subdued.

He turned his head and stared at Cai Shilin: "What mistake have we made that you want to arrest us? On what grounds?"

Both being Colonels, unless a grave mistake unforgivable had been committed, Cai Shilin did not have the authority.

Cai Shilin sneered: "You really refuse to face reality until the last moment, pretending! Keep pretending in front of me! Born bandits, rough and brutal, do you think just because you have some skills, you can do whatever you want?"

Gu Hongxin, although looking down on a Colonel like Cai Shilin, who had little martial arts skills but carried significant authority, still patiently clasped his fists and said, "Captain Cai, we are colleagues. With all this commotion, you should at least let us know what happened?"

Cai Shilin looked at them with disdain: "Let me tell you, this is not some lawless land. Murder must be repaid with life!"

This sentence startled Gu Hongxin, and he urgently said, "It must be a mistake! We did not kill anyone!"

Cai Shilin sneered: "Mistake? You wish. There are both witnesses and evidence. You think you can still deny it in front of me? Seize them!"

Immediately, the hundred men under his command moved to tie them up. Hua Yuanming was furious, hating most when false charges were laid against him. Just as he was about to resist, Cai Shilin continued nonchalantly, "As serving Colonels, if you resist, the charges will be even heavier!"

Gu Hongxin said helplessly, "You keep saying we killed someone, who exactly did we kill?"

Cai Shilin replied, "You will naturally find out when you meet the official!"

Hua Yuanming angrily said, "We haven’t done it, and no one can pin this on us!"

Cai Shilin smirked, "Whether you did it or not, it’s not up to me or you to say. The official will judge impartially!"

Seeing the situation, Gu Hongxin realized he couldn’t reason with Cai Shilin. Resisting would only complicate matters unless they quit being a Colonel. But even quitting wouldn’t solve it, as they would be pursued by the Government regardless.

He quickly said to Hua Yuanming, "Second Brother Hua, we are innocent. The official will judge fairly. Let’s clarify the situation!"

"Third Brother, can’t you see? This guy clearly harbors ill intentions. He’s setting us up!"

Cai Shilin’s face darkened, "This Colonel is ordered to arrest people. If you keep insulting me, don’t blame me for being rude!"

Gu Hongxin said, "Captain Cai, my Second Brother Hua is straightforward. Being falsely accused of murder is hard for him to accept. We’ll go with you!"

But then Cai Shilin narrowed his eyes and said, "Second Brother Hua? Third Brother? So there should be an elder brother, too?"

Hua Yuanming furiously said, "What business of yours?"

Cai Shilin sneered, "The official stated that this case is of grave concern. The identity of the slain person is significant, and there might be others behind the scenes! Where is that elder brother of yours? I will arrest him too!"

"How dare you!" Hua Yuanming scolded, "Cai Shilin, it was me who insulted you before and looked down on you. If you want revenge, come at me, but don’t drag in unrelated people!"

Cai Shilin’s eyes flashed with contempt, "This Colonel has no time for your nonsense. Where is your elder brother? Have him come with you to see the official!"

Gu Hongxin also frowned, "Captain Cai, isn’t this unnecessary? Our elder brother is just an ordinary person. He hasn’t taken any military position, and we haven’t seen him for days. It’s not related to him, even if there’s something!"

Cai Shilin arrogantly said, "This Colonel has said, whether it’s related or not is not for you or me to decide. The official will decide. Everything connected to you must come for questioning. If your elder brother has nothing to do with your case, he will be released after questioning. This can’t help but raise speculation!"

Hua Yuanming shouted, "We’ve already said we didn’t kill anyone!"

Cai Shilin merely laughed coldly.

His attitude made Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin even more exasperated, but they had no way out.

Of course, Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin were not going to reveal where their elder brother was. They came to be Colonels to bring honor to their family and achieve great things. Now accused of murder, it’s disgraceful enough just to talk about it. How could they involve Xia Wanqing?

Cai Shilin, relentless and unmoved, directly seized the two of them.

However, Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin weren’t too worried because they hadn’t killed anyone. They were on duty during that time, and there were witnesses. As long as they saw that official, things could be cleared up.

They thought not mentioning Xia Wanqing would keep him safe, but it was far from simple. Just as they were captured, someone went to apprehend Xia Wanqing.

Xia Wanqing never expected trouble to come falling from the sky while sitting at home.

Lately, he had been living comfortably. Hua Yuanming and another did progressively better in the army and had even gotten promoted. He couldn’t say he wasn’t tempted, but Wenjin didn’t want him to be an official, so he didn’t pursue it.

Wenjin told him that there were many good wines in the Capital City. He could taste all the fine wines and cuisines there and even gave him a bunch of silver notes.

Wenjin’s filial piety touched him, and he lived by it.

In the morning, as he prepared to go to another restaurant to try different fine wines, he hadn’t left when a team of soldiers surrounded his courtyard.

Xia Wanqing frowned, why would soldiers besiege his courtyard like this?

He walked over and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

A man in a Colonel’s uniform stepped forward, hand on a waist knife: "Who is Xia Wanqing?"

"I am!"

The Colonel said, "Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin committed a crime. The official ordered us to take you in for questioning!"

Xia Wanqing was shocked: "Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin? What crime did they commit?" Weren’t they becoming officers? How long has it been? How did they commit a crime? What kind of crime could they have committed?

The Colonel, with a formal face, said, "I don’t know the specifics either. You will understand once you go!"

Xia Wanqing wanted not to go, but then he felt worried about his two sworn brothers, so he said, "Alright, I’ll go with you!"

He gave a few instructions to the old servant in the courtyard, then left with the Colonel. Although the Colonel and his men were strictly vigilant, hands on their waist knives, they didn’t tie him up as they had done with Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin.

When Xia Wenjin returned, half an hour had passed since Xia Wanqing left. Seeing Xia Wenjin, the old servant rushed over, saying, "Miss, Master has been taken away!"

Xia Wenjin was stunned, "Uncle He, who took my father away?"

Uncle He, anxious and tongue-tied, gestured and said, "A group of soldiers, quite a few, saying something about the Second and Third Young Masters committing a crime..."