Chapter 53: Prison Calamity
Yu Wan looked at the three small bowls that were pushed in front of her. Each bowl was filled with rich soup and rice. There were crystal clear shark fins, plump and juicy meatballs, fresh and sweet shellfish meat, tender and smooth winter bamboo shoots, and several types of wild mountain mushrooms that had been cooked until they almost melted into the soup.
This was truly a delicacy.
The base of the soup seemed to be made of pig bones, emitting a strong fragrance. There was also milky white bone marrow floating on the surface of the soup.
Yu Wan felt that her stomach, which was clearly not hungry, began to rumble again.
It was not time for lunch yet. There were no other customers at the stall, only the stall owner and his wife, who were silently wrapping dumplings.
When the two of them smelled the fragrance, they couldn’t help but look over. The little guy’s back was facing them. They only saw three small backs, but the things on the table…
The two of them swallowed their saliva and did not say anything. They lowered their heads and continued to wrap the dumplings in their hands.
The three little lads placed their hands behind their backs and widened their big black eyes as they looked at Yu Wan without blinking.
The meaning was obvious—
Here’s your meal.
Yu Wan was stunned. “Do you know who I am?”
The three little lads looked at her adorably.
“You woke up halfway yesterday and saw me, right?”
They were still looking at her adorably.
Yu Wan felt that it was most likely so.
They looked like they were less than two years old, but they could recognize her after just one meeting. They were really three smart babies.
Yu Wan looked at the food on the table and thought to herself, “They know how to repay kindness.”
How could there be such smart, sensible, and ridiculously beautiful children?
Yu Wan had never liked children, but now, she felt like her heart was about to melt. Who would have thought that the children would be so cute when the Yan Family’s daughter was so annoying?
I really want to steal them home. What should I do?
Yu Wan was so frightened by the thought that appeared out of thin air that her entire body trembled. Even her stomach stopped growling!
Was she crazy? This was someone else’s children, not hers. What was she thinking? She took a deep breath and composed herself. She looked at the three children and said, “Who did you come out with? Does your family know that you’re here?”
The three little lads remained silent.
Yu Wan’s gaze lingered on the three of them. “Which one of you is the oldest?”
There was finally a reaction. The three of them took a step forward!
Everyone wanted to be the oldest!
Yu Wan : “…”
Yu Wan could not ask anything and could only wait here with them.
Suddenly, the three little fellows’ stomachs growled.
“So you haven’t eaten either.” Yu Wan picked up the small bowl on the table to feed them, but they didn’t open their mouths.
Yu Wan thought for a while and scooped a meatball from each bowl into her dumpling soup. The dumpling soup was really bad, and the meatballs had also become extremely bad. However, Yu Wan felt that this was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten. She even finished the last mouthful of soup.
She rubbed her stomach, which was so full it would explode. “I’m full. If I eat any more, I’ll explode.”
The three little fellows looked at her bulging stomach and opened their mouths, obediently waiting for Yu Wan to feed them.
The little munchkins were extremely obedient. They ate whatever they were fed. They were not picky and did not hesitate. The three bowls of food were quickly emptied.
Looking at them eating with relish, Yu Wan actually felt a trace of happiness.
They were Yan Ruyu’s children. She hated Yan Ruyu so much, how could she treat her children—
“Am I a saint?” Yu Wan thought in despair.
The three of them finished the last mouthful of rice without wasting a single grain.
Yu Wan took out a handkerchief and was about to wipe their mouths when a series of hurried footsteps came from the alley. Then, a large group of soldiers rushed into the alley.
Yu Wan had never seen the officials in the Capital, but the stall owner and his wife immediately recognized them.
These were clearly the city guards of the Magistrate Prefecture. The city guards were a type of constable, but their official positions were higher than that of a constable. Usually, when a big case happened in the Capital, they would send out the famous city guards.
The not-so-narrow alley was instantly filled with more than ten city guards.
“Where is he?” Asked the young city inspector.
The stall owner and his wife did not know how they had offended the Magistrate Prefecture, but they were so frightened that they put down the dumplings in their hands and stood up trembling.
However, the shop assistant beside the city inspector brushed past them. He raised his hand and pointed guiltily. “There, there.”
The person pointed at was Yu Wan.
Yu Wan’s hand that was holding the handkerchief paused. She looked calmly at the shop assistant who had pointed her out.
When the city inspector saw her appearance, he could not help but narrow his eyes. This little girl was really good-looking!
“What did I do that made you want to bring soldiers to arrest me?” Yu Wan looked at the shop assistant and said indifferently.
The shop assistant couldn’t meet her eyes. He lowered his head deeply.
To be honest, he did not expect the situation to turn out like this. He had only reported the matter of the cloth to the shopkeeper in detail. He had thought that the shopkeeper would praise him for taking on a good business. Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper insisted that those were tributes from the palace. It was impossible for two country bumpkins to get something from the palace. It must be stolen goods.
He asked, “How would a country bumpkin have the guts to steal into the palace? Besides, they don’t have the ability.”
However, the shopkeeper said that they might not have stolen it personally. Perhaps they were just helping others sell the stolen goods.
Then, the shopkeeper reported it.
Then, he was dragged by the city inspector to identify Yu Feng and Yu Wan.
Such a case could not alarm the city guards, but this newly appointed city inspector had never received a case until now. When he heard that someone had reported a case, he immediately rushed over.
“Didn’t you say it was a brother and sister?” The city inspector asked angrily.
The shop assistant whispered, “I don’t know. Lord Yan, why don’t you ask her?”
Lord Yan? Yu Wan narrowed her eyes. “You’re from the General Manor?”
Having his identity suddenly recognized, the city inspector put his hands on his hips and smiled brightly. “That’s right, I’m the eldest young master of the General Manor! My name is Yan Xie! Young Master Yan is my brother-in-law! His sons are my nephew!”
The three little lads looked at him in disdain!
Yan Xie didn’t care about the children beside Yu Wan at all. “You have good taste to be able to recognize me. Unfortunately, I’ve always been impartial. Even if you try to befriend me, I won’t forgive you. Someone! Bring her back to the magistrate!”
The three little lads hugged Yu Wan’s legs and glared fiercely at Yan Xie.
One of the city guards touched Yan Xie’s arm. “Sir, there are three children here.”
“Arrest them too!” Yan Xie said without thinking.
The city guard: “But…”
Yan Xie interrupted him irritably. “But what? If I tell you to arrest them, then arrest them! Arrest all of them! Search this place again later. Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, you have to find that man! This is the first case that I’ve taken over. Whoever stops me from making a contribution, I’ll fight them!”