I insist

Chapter 66: Confess Honestly

Could you give a brief description of what "suspicious behavior" means?

"Your suspicious behavior needs no description? Answer now, or your whole family will be thrown in jail!"

Upon hearing that she was to be imprisoned, Tian Yumei became even more nervous and shrank back, reaching out to pull Song Miqiu down, only to have her hand pushed away by another hand.

"Mother has her reasons for doing things, don't disturb her."

After saying that, he glared at her, scaring Tian Yumei so much that she didn't dare to reach out anymore, shrinking her shoulders and curling her body into the smallest possible position.

Song Miqiu was unable to squat down and could only look at the guard again.

"Sir, your questioning all night is causing widespread anxiety. Why not reveal a little something to put everyone's minds at ease?"

"Shut up! This concerns the safety of everyone in the city lord's mansion. How dare you, a country bumpkin, concern yourself with this?"

While these words were meant as a deterrent, they also provided the group with a lot of useful information.

Someone broke into the city lord's mansion and injured or assassinated one of the people there, which led to them being interrogated overnight.

Everyone understood, but they didn't relax at all; instead, they looked at the guards with even greater vigilance.

Just because that person dared to assassinate a nobleman from the city lord's mansion, their worthless lives were even less of a concern to that assassin.

Song Miqiu sensed the oppressive atmosphere among the crowd and cursed Yu Huailin, who had run off to the city lord's mansion, in her heart.

They really don't care about the safety of others.

On his very first day in the city, he dared to do something so blatantly. Did he really want to drag everyone into this?

Song Miqiu felt a chill from the soles of her feet and staggered as she grabbed Qiu Tianlei's arm.

"Mother, why are your hands so cold? Are you cold?"

"It's quite chilly at night. Should I go and ask them to take you back to your room to rest?"

Looking at Qiu Tianlei in front of her, who seemed genuinely foolish or pretending, she shook her head and hugged the child in her arms even tighter.

Tian Yumei also noticed that something was wrong with Song Miqiu, so she carefully stepped forward and used her body to block the cold wind blowing in from the front door.

"You're still holding a girl in your arms, don't be reckless."

"I'm healthy, I'll shield you from the wind."

Qiu Tianlei moved directly in front of the two men and used his body to block them from view.

With the cold wind gone, Song Miqiu felt her body warming up a bit, and her sluggish mind began to work frantically again.

Although Yu Huailin doesn't talk about those things much, he would never do something that puts him in such danger.

Then why make him do that on the first day?

Is it really because they're so bold that they think they won't get caught?

Just as Song Miqiu was trying to find a reason for him, she found that none of them were convincing, and she could only look around again.

"Hey you over there, stop looking around!"

"Don't think that just because you're an old man you have no chance. If you don't behave yourself, I can send you to a better place to rest."

Song Miqiu wasn't stupid; seeing the man's ferocious face, she could guess what this so-called "better" place was, and helplessly withdrew her gaze.

But then he felt that doing so was too calm, so he could only hunch his neck, raise his hands above his head and rub them together in a pleading manner.

Seeing her nervous appearance, the guard looked away with satisfaction and stood aside to continue scrutinizing the other people being guarded there.

“That person is utterly wicked and has no idea you are protecting him. If he can still provide some clues, the magistrate might be lenient. But if he remains obstinate, don’t blame us.”

After saying this, the man pulled out his whip again and lashed it at one of the people who were still whispering.

Unexpectedly, the man cried out in surprise and tried to dodge, but the whip wrapped around his ankle and flung him into the air.

As the person was about to hit the ground, many people gasped in shock, and some of the more timid ones even covered their eyes, unwilling to witness the bloody scene.

Song Miqiu had never seen anything like this before, and couldn't help but look away, not wanting to look directly at them.

But after waiting for a long time, she still didn't hear the sound, and couldn't help but look over out of curiosity.

It turned out that the guard was just making an example of someone, slowing down the force just as the person was about to hit the ground, so that the person only fainted.

Song Miqiu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to look away, she felt a strange gaze coming from behind her.

He turned around abruptly, only to find that behind him, besides his daughter-in-law Tian Yumei, were those unfamiliar guests.

But their eyes showed only astonishment and fear of the guards; there was no trace of the strange gaze they had just sensed.

Song Miqiu could only look away and stare ahead with the same expression.

"This is your last chance. If you don't confess, you'll have to experience the methods used in prison."

"My lord, my lord! I truly knew nothing about this. Please, have mercy and spare my life!"

The man was crying so hard he almost reached out to hug the guard's leg.

Unfortunately, he had just reached out his hand when he was kicked away, spitting out a mouthful of blood before falling silent.

Clearly feeling that they were not cooperating, the guards became increasingly impatient and started punching the civilians next to them.

In an instant, the already cramped hotel was filled with the wails of people.

Qiu Tianlei, fearing they would go unnoticed, actually stood up to protect Song Miqiu and the others.

Its unusually high height was immediately noticed.

Song Miqiu felt several gazes directed at him. He wanted Qiu Tianlei to squat down, but then felt that doing so would be too blatant. His eyes darted around frantically, trying to find a way to break the silence.

"Mother, don't be afraid, I will never let anyone hurt you."

"You idiot, squat down right now! Don't let the official misunderstand!"

Qiu Tianlei was taken aback at first, but he still obediently squatted down.

Seeing that he had calmed down, Song Miqiu dared not stop talking and instead made an even sharper sound.

"My lords, we have only just entered the city and do not even know which way the main gate of the city lord's mansion opens. How could we have seen anyone suspicious? Please be so kind as to see the truth!"

"I doubt a peasant woman like you would dare to lie, but if I find out you're lying..."

The guards' gazes did not linger on Song Miqiu, but instead fell on the two children they were protecting in their arms.

Sensing danger, Tian Yumei immediately hid the child in her arms and repeatedly said yes, which allowed the guard to leave.

Song Miqiu looked away and then at the child in her arms who was so sleepy that he couldn't open his eyes but dared not sleep. Her brows furrowed.

"Don't worry, we've already told you everything we know, these guards won't attack us."

But the child didn't move much; he just kept trembling in their arms.

Song Miqiu had no choice but to make an exception and open two more candies to put into the child's mouth.

With the sweetness diverting their attention, they quickly quieted down again.

Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief and rest for a bit, she looked up and found herself in the line of sight of Yu Huailin, who was going up and down the stairs.