dognovel Chapter 127 The Little Genius
Chapter 127 The Little Genius
They initially thought their spoils and prisoners were quite substantial. But compared to Si Yuankai's army, it was nothing!
Putting aside the dozens of large crates, the sheer number of prisoners tied up like grasshoppers behind the horse was astonishing!
What attracted the most attention were the rescued civilians. They were all young women, including many girls. There were at least a hundred of them, forming a large procession at the end of the line.
Yu Wanran's mood suddenly became heavy.
Most of the people brutally slaughtered did not survive. And these rescued women, seemingly spared, have lost their innocence in the eyes of their families and clansmen.
I wonder if the world will allow them to survive?
She had limited abilities and couldn't help everyone. She could only do her best to eliminate the bandits so that the remaining people would no longer suffer the same calamity.
Seeing Si Yuankai dismount, toss his riding whip to his personal guard, and stride confidently toward her, she felt a stirring in her heart and went to meet him.
"Miss Yu, your assistance in suppressing the bandits in Decheng this time has truly rendered a great service to the imperial court! The magistrate and I will certainly petition the court to commend you!"
"There's no need to ask for credit..."
Yu Wanran didn't want to attract the attention of the Duke's mansion because of this. If Xiao Wang found her useful, he would be even more determined to control her.
"If Lord Commander truly wishes to reward me, perhaps... you could grant me one request?"
"What request?"
Si Yuankai became slightly interested. The other person looked indifferent and detached, making him seem like a detached person. He hadn't expected the other person to say such things to him. It seemed there was nothing special about him.
Yu Wanran had no idea what the other person was thinking with that ambiguous smile, but she calmly stated her own thoughts.
"Commander Si, when we enter the city, could you use a cart to transport these rescued women directly back to the yamen?"
Si Yuankai was stunned, never expecting that she would talk about something that had nothing to do with the reward.
These rescued women are essentially spoils of war for the government, and they will certainly be publicized with great fanfare upon their return to the city. Why would they make such a strange request?
Yu Wanran knew he wouldn't understand. As a man, and in a high position at that, how could he possibly understand the hardships women face!
She offered a further explanation in a nonchalant tone.
"I don't need the commander to recommend me for merit, nor do I need any reward from the court. I only hope that when these victimized women are sent back to the city, they can be discreetly allowed to remain in the public eye and retain their last shred of dignity!"
Making them walk into the city alongside bandit prisoners in full view of everyone, being pointed at and gossiped about by the welcoming crowds, and having their faces seen clearly, is no less than a second injury to them!
At that time, even if they wanted to survive, the gossip would drive them to the brink of despair.
Rather than doing that, it's better not to save them!
Si Yuankai opened his mouth slightly, unable to speak for a moment. A flash of insight struck him, and he understood Yu Wanran's good intentions. He couldn't help but feel a sense of regret for misjudging her, along with admiration.
"I understand!"
He readily agreed: "When we return to the city, I will arrange for carriages and horses to take these women directly to the inner yamen. I will also discuss their whereabouts with Magistrate Xue and make proper arrangements for them!"
He looked at Yu Wanran, making no attempt to hide the admiration in his eyes.
"Miss Yu possesses a noble heart and acts with kindness and integrity, which I greatly admire!"
Yu Wanran breathed a sigh of relief, feeling fortunate for the more than one hundred female victims, and couldn't help but compliment them.
"The Lord of the Thousand Households is open to good advice and fair in upholding justice, which is a blessing for the people of Decheng!"
Si Yuankai watched her curtsy and turn to leave, the aloofness in his cold, star-like eyes fading away. In their place was a barely perceptible warmth, like a fire quietly igniting in the cold night.
Yu Wanran did not return in triumph with the main force, nor did she accept the cheers of the people who had rushed to the city gates to welcome the soldiers. Instead, she withdrew quietly from the scene, entering the backyard of the county government office in a vehicle carrying a hundred victimized women.
Song Lianghan and Xue Jingui waited excitedly there. Xue Jingui led Yu Wanran and Yan Qing into the small reception hall, and without saying a word, Song Lianghan bowed deeply to Yu Wanran!
Si Yuankai sent messengers to deliver the good news; everyone in the county government knew that Yu Wanran had personally killed the bandit leader, Mad Dog. And Songjia Village was precisely the one wiped out by Mad Dog's gang!
Yu Wanran helped him avenge his blood feud. He would naturally remember such a great kindness forever!
Yu Wanran helped him up and asked with concern, "Genbao, how is your sister?"
Speaking of this, Song Lianghan was extremely relieved: "The doctor said that it was fortunate that my sister was brought to the hospital in time and is out of danger. If it had been two days later, it would have been troublesome. Even if she had survived, she would have been burned into a mentally disabled person!"
After saying this, he was overcome with gratitude and wanted to kneel down before Yu Wanran. Without her help, he would not have been able to save his only living relative.
Yu Wanran supported his elbow to prevent him from bowing down, and gently patted his shoulder.
"A man's knees are worth more than gold! You are destined for great things, so don't kneel down to anyone easily."
After washing up, Song Lianghan had handsome features, bright eyes, and an air of scholarly refinement about him. Once he gained some weight, he would definitely be a strikingly handsome young talent with a promising future.
She immediately thought of her little niece, Yu Xiaoxiang. If she could marry her niece to Song Lianghan, that would be a wonderful match for her.
Unfortunately, Xiao Xiang is just a peasant girl with no proper upbringing. Song Lianghan's current status as a student is probably too high a match for him. If she were to try and arrange the marriage, Song Lianghan would certainly agree, but that would make it seem like she's taking advantage of a favor!
Suppressing these thoughts, Yu Wanran made up her mind to prioritize her niece's education upon returning home, determined not to let her family neglect the child's development!
Only by improving her own qualities can Xiao Xiang find a suitable husband in the future.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with the two men, Song Jingui busied himself directing the yamen runners to settle the more than one hundred rescued women, and the entire back yamen was immediately in an uproar. Song Lianghan took Yu Wanran to the backyard to visit his sister.
Song Lianghan's younger sister is named Song Chuxue. It is said that she was born when the first snow fell in winter, hence the name.
She was six years old, a year younger than Yu Xiaoxiang. She lay listlessly in bed, her small face so thin it was the size of a palm, her eyes bulging out, looking very pitiful.
Yu Wanran wasn't wearing any jewelry. She coaxed Song Chuxue with a few words and then took out ten taels of silver as a gift for Song Chuxue.
At that time, she consciously wanted to befriend the Song siblings. However, Song Lianghan was clueless about social etiquette and felt that he had already received a great favor from them and could hardly repay it, so he was unwilling to accept the money Yu Wanran offered.
After much back and forth, Yu Wanran had no choice but to tell the truth.
"Genbao, you and your brother have lost your home and have nothing to your name. How do you plan to make a living in the future? You still want to take the imperial examination, right? If you stubbornly refuse to accept other people's kindness, how can you realize your ambition?"
Song Lianghan was stumped by the question. After a long pause, he said firmly, "I have good handwriting and can help people with copying letters. Even if life is tough, I will try my best to support my sister!"