She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 251 - 250: Why So Stupid

Chapter 251: Chapter 250: Why So Stupid

Zhou Bingyi stopped Jiang Yifan next to the small corner gate behind the county government office, leading his attendant to exit through the small gate.

Standing in the deserted alley behind the county government office, Zhou Bingyi harshly wiped the sweat from his forehead. Before, he hadn’t realized how difficult this youngster Jiang Yifan was to deal with—not only had he crafted an airtight trap, but his speech was also full of cunning strategies. If he could also please the woman who closely resembled Duke An’s granddaughter, and use this opportunity to maneuver adeptly with Duke An, it was very likely his prospects would still be very bright.

He really shouldn’t underestimate this youngster in the future.

After turning out of the alley behind the county government office, Jiang Yifan’s servant Shi Shu was already waiting at the street corner ahead. Spotting Zhou Bingyi from afar, Shi Shu quickly approached and bowed deeply, saying, "This servant, Shi Shu, pays respects to The Old Master. Please, this way, The Old Master."

"No need for formalities, lead the way," Zhou Bingyi said with a slight nod, speaking gently.

Shi Shu led Zhou Bingyi to the main prison of the county government office and whispered a few words to the jailer waiting outside. The jailer immediately bowed to Zhou Bingyi, continuously addressing him as The Old Master.

Zhou Bingyi said nothing, merely waving his hand to signal Shi Shu and the attendant to stay outside while he followed the jailer into the prison.

The jailer led Zhou Bingyi without pausing. After passing through several doors, they came to the solitary cell where Liang Qiyuan was detained.

For Liang Qiyuan, the past few days had been as long as years, hoping every day that his brother-in-law would come a moment sooner to rescue him from dire straits. Every time there was a noise in the prison, he would rush to the cell door filled with hope, eagerly casting his gaze. In just a few days, he had experienced countless disappointments, leaving his heart numb.

Now that someone was indeed coming, he was so stunned that he hardly reacted.

Zhou Bingyi stood outside the cell, peering through the thick cell bars at the disheveled, weakened figure huddled on an earthen platform inside, and he couldn’t help frowning.

The conditions inside the cell were much better than usual, with not only a straw mat on the earthen platform but also a quilt, which, although worn, seemed sufficiently warm. The clean chamber pot in the corner of the cell had its lid on and did not have the pungent odor typical of prison cells.

What made Zhou Bingyi uncomfortable was Liang Qiyuan’s state. Judging by the time, Liang Qiyuan hadn’t been in prison long, and just as Jiang Yifan said, it appeared he had not been tortured or mistreated. But the once-proud and haughty Liang Qiyuan had changed, looking so listless.

The jailer, seeking to please, glanced at Zhou Bingyi before calling out to the inside, "Elder Liang, you have a visitor." With that, he signaled to the accompanying prison guard to unlock the cell door.

Hearing the clanging sound of chains, Liang Qiyuan finally lifted his head. His dull eyes brightened instantly upon seeing Zhou Bingyi, and he stepped down from the platform, rushing to the bars, exclaiming, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, you’ve finally come. Your brother has suffered greatly; you must seek justice for me."

With that, he moved to the cell door that was about to be opened, attempting to squeeze through. The prison guard, taken aback, swiftly pushed the barred door shut again, turning to look at the jailer.

The jailer, with a face full of helplessness, said to Zhou Bingyi with difficulty, "The Old Master, what do you think we should do about this..."

Zhou Bingyi barked, "Worthless thing, aren’t you going to withdraw?"

Liang Qiyuan was startled, and Zhou Bingyi strode over in two steps, snatched the prison door from the jailer, flung it open, and kicked Liang Qiyuan back inside. He entered as well, slamming the prison door behind him.

Liang Qiyuan tumbled to the ground, gaping with wide-eyed shock toward Zhou Bingyi, "Sister, brother-in-law?"

The head jailer bowed to Zhou Bingyi and said, "This one will wait outside. After two quarters of an hour, I will return. If the Old Master has any needs, just call out loudly." Having said this, he locked the prison door once more and withdrew with the jailers.

Liang Qiyuan watched as Zhou Bingyi’s face darkened; the hope that had just ignited in his eyes faded away, replaced by fear. He watched the jailer and his men leave his sight, then crawled forward a few steps, clutching at Zhou Bingyi’s robe with terror in his voice, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, why do you look like this? I haven’t rebelled; I truly haven’t. It’s all Jiang Yifan framing and accusing me. You need to investigate him, he’s the one disregarding the law, abusing his power to protect that wench from Clear Water Village."

"Shut your mouth!" Zhou Bingyi snapped. "After causing such a disaster, you still have the nerve to speak of right and wrong in others?"

Liang Qiyuan knelt up and argued, "Brother-in-law, believe me, I was really framed by Jiang Yifan. Think about it, brother-in-law, why would I, who was living a good life, rebel? It was him who listed all the crimes, setting me up for that lowly woman..."

"How dare you continue speaking!" Zhou Bingyi cut off Liang Qiyuan’s words, wishing he could kick him again, "I ask you, when you sought the Qi family’s daughter to make pastries for your house, did you bother to inquire clearly about her family background or her history?"

"I, I..."

"What about you? Before you sent people to cause a commotion in her snack shop, did you ever inquire if she was powerless to retaliate? Continuously splashing silver to ruin her business, did you never ponder why she was so indifferent, why she gave up her trade and just watched your people create trouble one after another?" Zhou Bingyi asked angrily.

"Without knowing any background, you recklessly laid hands on others; that’s seeking death! You’re not only leading yourself to the grave, but also taking your entire family with you!"

Liang Qiyuan stubbornly said, "I don’t need to ask to know; their family is just an old farmer who fell on hard times for decades and only recently returned to his hometown. They managed to save some silver with a breakfast stall and open a small shop. The mightiest thing they’ve done is managing a livestock farm for Sixth Master Rong. Raising livestock is the vilest of tasks, fit only for the lowliest servants."

Zhou Bingyi leaned forward and slapped Liang Qiyuan across the face, hissing, "You imbecile, you see death in front of you and yet you persist in your defiance! Just for those words you uttered just now, you’re bringing doom upon yourself. The servants attending to Qi Ye now are from the noble and prestigious Duke An’s Mansion, and the guards who beat your house servants that day are also retainers from Duke An’s Mansion. They treat Qi Ye like Duke An’s granddaughter. You wanted her to serve you pastries in your house—just for that alone, they’d be justified in how they deal with you, let alone if you keep on courting death nonstop!"

"Duke, Duke An?" Liang Qiyuan’s eyes widened, and he was at a loss for words. Struck by a sudden realization concerning his niece’s visits to the Qi family, he stared at Zhou Bingyi and blurted out in shock, "Did Biyao and Shuyu already know about this, and that’s why they went to make friends with that woman? You knew such a thing, brother-in-law, and you didn’t tell me!"

Zhou Bingyi looked at Liang Qiyuan, opened his mouth, but spoke no words. How could he tell him just how foolish his brother-in-law was?

After a good while, Zhou Bingyi finally sat down at the edge of the earth platform, feeling very disheartened, and said to Liang Qiyuan, still kneeling on the ground, "Stand up, stand up and talk."