Chapter 1059: Chapter 895: Wanted Criminals

"Sir! Ahead is Yingnan Mansion."

Wearing a bamboo hat and dressed in a raincoat, Ming Mo glanced at the road ahead. Seeing the city gate of Yingnan Mansion already in sight, he couldn’t help but shout joyfully.

Gu Chengyu nodded. They had taken a shortcut and reached Yingnan Mansion in just a day.

The shortcut wasn’t an official road. It was rugged and mountainous, so Ming Mo and Gu Chengyu treaded with extreme caution. However, it was much faster than taking the official route.

"You go to the inn and reserve two rooms for us. We will rest for the night," Gu Chengyu said, seeing that dawn had just broken, planning to stay at the inn for the day before addressing other matters.

Judging by the pace of the disaster victims, they should also reach Yingnan Mansion today.

"Yes, sir!"

As Gu Chengyu and Ming Mo reached the city gates of Yingnan Mansion, they saw a large crowd of disaster victims gathered on the open area outside the gates.

"Didn’t that official say that once we reach Yingnan Mansion, we’d be settled? Why won’t the officials of Yingnan Mansion let us into the city? They don’t even give us food. Aren’t we in the same situation as we were in Hangtian Prefecture?"

One of the disaster victims looked angrily at the city gate of Yingnan Mansion and said.

"Exactly, if we had known we’d still be without food or drink here, we wouldn’t have come to Yingnan Mansion. We’ve traveled for so long for nothing."

Gu Chengyu, holding his horse, waited to enter the city while listening carefully to the conversations of the disaster victims outside, feeling nothing stirred in his heart.

Did these disaster victims really think they could enter Yingnan Mansion just like that? When did he ever say such a thing?

This many disaster victims would never be allowed into the city, or else chaos would ensue within.

Gu Chengyu had separated them to facilitate management. Otherwise, if they gathered in large numbers, they would start causing disturbances.

As for food, Gu Chengyu had already set his sights on the granaries of Yingnan Mansion.

It’s said that the granaries of Yingnan Mansion were nearly overflowing. Why not borrow a bit? The court wouldn’t really contribute nothing. He was currently waiting for the disaster relief funds.

But Gu Chengyu also didn’t plan to spare the wealthy merchants of Yingnan Mansion.

These people, all well-fed and with potbellies. For the sake of the disaster victims, for the court, shouldn’t they be compelled to contribute something?

The Government Officials guarding the city became furious at the sight of the disaster victims waiting on the open ground outside.

These disaster victims had come from Changtian Prefecture, and the closer city should have been Hangtian Prefecture. Why had they come all the way to Yingnan Mansion?

Their presence was certainly adding to the officials’ workload. Word was that there had even been a riot in Hangtian Prefecture before, so how could they not be wary?

Feeling dissatisfied, they naturally treated the citizens entering the city with less courtesy.

"Hurry up, stop dawdling, are you intending to walk till nightfall?"

Two Government Officials cursed and pushed a citizen roughly forward into the city, then called for the next person.

While Gu Chengyu waited in line, a foul stench suddenly erupted in the crowd. Two men were pushing a single-wheeled cart forward, preparing to queue to enter the city.

The citizens queuing beside them also caught a whiff of the odor and quickly stepped aside.

The Government Official caught the stench and spat on the ground before looking towards the source of the odor.

"Hey! I’m talking to you! Do you have a night soil bucket on that cart? It’s so stinky it’s making me want to vomit."

Gu Chengyu also raised his handkerchief to cover his mouth. It was truly such a stench that it made one nauseous just to smell it.

There was surely night soil inside the large wooden bucket on that single-wheeled cart.

And these two just happened to be behind him in line, the odor almost made Gu Chengyu want to vomit up the mantou he had eaten the night before.

A Government Official came near Gu Chengyu, first assessing him with a glance. Noticing both Gu Chengyu and Ming Mo leading fine horses, wearing bamboo hats and clad in raincoats, wrapped tightly, he couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

Though it was raining today, it was just a mild drizzle. Was it necessary to be wrapped up so thoroughly? Plus, the sky was somewhat dim, making it hard to see these two people’s faces.

The Government Official couldn’t help but think of the two fugitives the court was currently hunting. Could it be these two?

Another two Government Officials saw him standing still and were surprised. One of them began walking towards Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu raised an eyebrow, what’s going on? Weren’t they supposed to be checking the two people behind him? Why were they coming towards him?

This Government Official stepped back a couple of steps, signaling another to be alert.

Both placed their hands on the hilts of their swords, then one shouted, "You there, take off your bamboo hats."

Gu Chengyu was a bit bewildered. What’s going on? Were they talking to him and Ming Mo?

Ming Mo frowned; if it wasn’t that the lord wished to keep his identity concealed, how could these people dare to bark orders at him? They should know better who they’re dealing with.

"Didn’t you hear? Take off your bamboo hat," one of them yelled loudly when they saw Gu Chengyu and his companion unmoved.

Gu Chengyu had no choice but to raise his hand and prepare to remove his hat. Another Government Official discreetly glanced at the posters on the city wall, then his eyes flashed with excitement.

The tension and excitement in his gaze left Gu Chengyu puzzled.

He looked towards the city wall and saw two posters with bold words "Wanted Criminal" standing out prominently.

Gu Chengyu felt speechless for a moment. Suspect him as a wanted criminal? The distance was too great to see the poster’s details clearly.

To clear his suspicion, Gu Chengyu reluctantly took off his hat.

The Government Official looked on, oh! It was a rather handsome young gentleman.

With a face like jade, eyes bright like stars, lips red and teeth white, how could such a good-looking person be a wanted criminal? Definitely not; that’s impossible.

The wanted criminal on the poster had a full beard and coarse features, completely different from the person before him.

Looking at Ming Mo as well, he was also a fresh-faced young lad.

The Government Official realized he had overthought, feeling a bit dejected.

He called out to the two men behind Gu Chengyu, "Talking to you! Is this cart holding night soil buckets?"

Gu Chengyu turned to look, his eyes scanning the two men pushing the cart. Their patched clothing indicated they were undoubtedly from poor families.

They were also wearing bamboo hats, their faces obscured.

"Officer! We came into town so early to collect night soil, you see..." One of them said helplessly, hands clumsy.

The Government Official frowned upon hearing this, "Take off your hats. Isn’t Old Man Wang the one who collects night soil? Why have you taken over?"

The Government Official was quite familiar with Old Man Wang, as he always appeared at the city gate at this hour every day to enter the city.

Moreover, the large wooden bucket and its distinctive stench made it impossible not to recognize Old Man Wang.

"He’s our father. He’s been ill for the last two days, so we’re taking over his duties for now." The two men took off their hats, nodding and smiling apologetically.