Chapter 7: Night Exploration In White Horse Town
There were no longer civilians gathered outside White Horse Town, but the soldiers surrounding the area seemed even more numerous.
The evil mountain bandits had been publicly decapitated and displayed, and the civilians who died could finally rest in peace. Mo Zheng narrowed her eyes and looked toward the foot of the distant mountain, where many new graves had appeared.
“Work faster!” an officer shouted loudly, pointing his knife at the new menial laborers, “Clear the wood and stone debris, search the bones.”
With the shouts, the menial laborers were driven into formation and issued baskets and iron rakes.
Mo Zheng tucked the bamboo pole into her waistband and reached out to take a basket and iron shovel. The soldier distributing them noticed and reminded her, “Sticks are useless.”
Mo Zheng forced a fawning smile: “It’s my eating tool, I can’t bear to throw it away.”
The soldier saw two more people behind her also holding sticks and recognized them as beggars from the city. He knew their habits—due to hunger and weakness, they needed the sticks to support themselves while walking and to drive away wild dogs fighting for food—so he didn’t ask further.
“Lose the basket, iron shovel, or rope, and you’ll be treated as a thief.” The soldier only gave a cold warning.
Mo Zheng acknowledged it, took her things, and walked away. She heard the laborers behind her whispering, “They even want to recycle these? I was thinking of taking one when I leave and selling it for money.”
Mo Zheng turned back with a smile and whispered, “Then work hard to wear it out.”
The two laborers immediately laughed, thinking this youth was quick-witted, and hurried to catch up with him. “Youth, let’s go together.”
Hooves thundered as several officials galloped up, dismounted, and saw the erected tents were empty. They hurriedly asked, “Where is Ji Xunshi?”
The soldiers pointed toward the town. “The inspector is at the east end of the town.”
The officials exchanged glances. “He even has to guard it personally?” “No need for that, it’s just…” “Let’s hurry over too.” They discussed in low voices as they quickly walked inward.
Mo Zheng shoveled up a pile of charred stones with the iron shovel, using the motion of wiping sweat to look toward the direction they were heading.
It was the courtyard house Yang Luo had mentioned.
“No slacking!”
The supervising officers had sharp eyes and cracked their whips with sharp snaps.
Mo Zheng withdrew her gaze and focused on working.
Relying on menial labor, though she could get three meals a day, it was truly exhausting, and they weren’t allowed to rest until torches were lit and visibility was poor.
The resting place was right where they worked. Each person was given a blanket, wrapped up, lay on the ground, and fell asleep.
At night in White Horse Town, the ruins were shrouded in darkness.
However, besides the lights at the town entrance where the officials and soldiers rested, there were also flickering lights at the east end of the town.
Compared to other places, the damage here was more severe; it had almost been burned flat by the fire, with barely any trace of the former courtyard house. It didn’t even need menial laborers to clean it up.
At this moment, torches were planted here, and a tent with hanging curtains was set up. Two officers sat outside guarding it, though both had their heads drooped in sleep.
Mo Zheng’s footsteps were silent, approaching like a cat.
One officer’s head jerked as he suddenly woke up, instinctively looking behind him. The night wind blew, causing the hanging curtain to sway slightly and lift a corner, revealing the uncovered sarcophagus inside.
The officer shivered.
The officer beside him was also startled awake.
“What happened?” he asked.
The first officer rubbed his arms, not wanting to admit he was a bit afraid, and just said, “What kind of family is this? Everyone else has been buried, why haven’t they?”
All the other deceased had been buried as quickly as possible to prevent epidemics, but this family alone had their master placed in an ice coffin, with a tent erected and people guarding it.
The other officer yawned. “They found out whose relatives they are and sent someone to the capital city to ask. Waiting for news.”
“The capital city? That’s too far.” The first officer muttered, covering his nose and mouth with his hand. “And we have to guard it. How long? The bodies are already starting to stink.”
The other officer yawned again. “Stop complaining. Their relatives must be important. Ji Xunshi even came personally to guard during the day.” He glanced at the sarcophagus. “Pretty tragic too—mother and daughter burned to death hugging each other tightly. Even the corpses can’t be separated.”
The first officer rubbed his arms again, unwilling to think of the sight of burned bodies. “Don’t talk about it. Let’s sleep.” He closed his eyes first.
The other officer stretched lazily, shifted to a more comfortable position, and closed his eyes.
Soon both fell asleep again.
The shadow that had originally walked away silently approached the sarcophagus again, stretching and elongating in front of it.
Mo Zheng straightened up, her brows slightly furrowed.
Burned mother and daughter?
Mother, daughter?
Yang Luo didn’t mention any sisters. She’s still alive, so why does this sarcophagus have a daughter?
Mo Zheng leaned down to look inside the sarcophagus. The corpses were surrounded by ice, filled with various spices to prevent decay, and covered with a white cloth.
Mo Zheng lifted the white cloth. They were burned beyond recognition, but it was clear they were two people embracing—one adult-sized, one in her teens.
This…
Mo Zheng’s expression changed, and suddenly her eyes sharpened as she looked toward the town entrance.
……
……
Countless torches lit up at the town entrance, like a fire reigniting, with dense dark clouds seeming to rise in the flames, obscuring the view.
Hooves clattered amid noisy clamor.
The originally sleeping menial laborers all woke up, staring blankly toward the firelight.
“What’s happening?” Mo Zheng asked the person beside her.
The person beside her seemed startled, turning to see it was a youth. Though he had only arrived today, he worked nimbly and even taught them how to slack off without being noticed, so they all recognized him.
“A group of people came, don’t know who.” He said, then asked puzzledly, “A Sheng, where did you go just now?”
It seemed they hadn’t seen her earlier.
Mo Zheng pointed to a nearby pile of debris. “I was lying there sleeping, sheltering from the wind.”
This kid knew how to enjoy himself. The person nodded and asked no more, watching the town entrance with Mo Zheng.
“Must be big officials.” Mo Zheng said, narrowing her eyes. “Look, even the inspector came out to greet them.”
However, the inspector looked very angry and shouted, “What are you doing here!”
The group approached, not wearing official uniforms or soldier uniforms, but black clothes embroidered with colorful threads, carrying knives and swords—gorgeous yet chilling.
“We Embroidered Uniform Guards are here on imperial orders to investigate. We’ve come to check things out.” The leader said.
The inspector sneered coldly. “Investigate whom? Me? Who wants to investigate this official? His Majesty or Wei Jiao!”
A voice came from the dark crowd, overpowering the inspector’s and carried clearly to the menial laborers’ ears by the night wind.
“Ji Ying, as the saying goes, if you don’t do guilty things during the day, you won’t fear ghosts knocking at midnight. Why are you making such a fuss?”
The voice was pleasant, clear and cool.
Accompanying the words, someone urged his horse forward.
This was a young man, around twenty, with deep brows and eyes, somewhat pale skin, even his lips colorless.
At first glance, he wore black clothes, but closer inspection revealed deep red inner lining. As the horse moved, his robe fluttered gently, like a flower slowly blooming.
Mo Zheng heard the person beside her suck in a breath. “He really looks like a ghost.”
A rather gorgeous ghost, Mo Zheng added inwardly, looking at the young man—Wei Jiao.
