A life of two souls traveling through time

Chapter 269 Seeking Asylum

The newly opened cloth shop in Yujiang City sold so well that it overshadowed the famous Jiangnan master Li. If it was just ordinary business competition, the Li family would not be worried. However, although the other party was competing fairly on the surface, they were secretly imitating the craftsmanship of the famous Jiangnan master Li. What made Mu Liang even more worried was the mysterious boss of the Shuiliu Cloth Shop from Wucangguo and the killer organization behind him, Jiuhe.

Even though he knew that Shuiliu Cloth Shop was using dirty tricks, Jiangnan Mingli had no choice but to work hard on the new cloth. Li Yunye had confidence in Jiangnan Mingli's tie-dyeing skills, and believed that as long as they maintained their reputation, they would not be afraid of these petty thefts.

Seeing his brother being so optimistic, Mu Liang couldn't bear to tell him about the Jiuhe killer organization.

"Sir, Shopkeeper Mu, please look at these new cloths."

That day, after Li Yunye and Mu Liang finished their breakfast, they went to Li's dyeing workshop before it got too hot. Manager Liu hurriedly spread the newly dyed cloth in front of them.

This batch of new fabrics is different from the previous bright colors, but fresh and elegant, refreshing. It has the hazy beauty of Jiangnan, the tranquility of the sun and moon in the Nanshan bamboo sea, and the various shapes of clouds and birds flying in the blue sky...

"It has to be the craftsmanship of the famous Li family in Jiangnan." Looking at these fresh and unique fabrics in front of him, Li Yunye became more convinced that no other fabric shop in Jiangnan could replace the Li family.

Mu Liang also nodded slightly, but did not say anything. He had asked Manager Liu to change the style, and Manager Liu did change it according to his words. The cloth in front of him lacked the bright colors of last year, and was more elegant, but it was still the elegance of the Jiangnan water town, which failed to impress him.

"The first batch of dyeing should be shipped to Yujiang City first." Seeing that Brother Mu Liang did not speak, Li Yunye instructed Manager Liu again.

"Yes." After Liu Guanshi finished responding to the young master's instructions, he paused for a moment and said, "But young master, the latest batch of dyes has not arrived yet."

"They're on the way. I asked someone to pick them up yesterday. They'll probably be here in the next two days." Mu Liang smiled as Manager Liu finished speaking.

After hearing this, Manager Liu nodded with relief.

"Master, Master Mu Liang, Ma Ming is wanted by the government." At this time, An Yun ran into the hall in a hurry with a notice.

"Ma Ming is wanted? What's going on?" The three people in the hall were all shocked when they heard this, and Mu Liang asked hurriedly.

Ma Ming had not been seen for several months after being secretly taken in by the Li family at the farm. How could he be wanted by the government when he had never even left the farm?

"The notice says that he is related to the Majia Village Massacre..." An Yun naturally couldn't explain it clearly, so he opened the notice in his hand in front of the two young masters.

"When the Majia Village tragedy happened, Ma Mingren was already at the farm. How could he be related to him?" Manager Liu at the side also frowned, puzzled.

"This is easy. Ma Ming is innocent, so just let him go to the government to explain himself." Seeing that Brother Mu Liang had a serious expression, Li Yunye disagreed.

"It is impossible for the government to arrest Ma Ming for no reason. Someone must have deliberately directed the disaster of Majia Village to Ma Ming. But who is this person? And such a simple false accusation will be refuted as soon as Ma Ming shows up, right?"

"He's the village chief of Majia Village." Mu Liangcai finished speaking when Lao Zhou suddenly climbed in through the window, almost scaring Manager Liu out of his voice.

"Is there anyone still alive in Majia Village?" Lao Zhou's words made several people look surprised again, and Li Yunye couldn't help but ask.

"Only the village chief Ma survived. I heard that he hid in the mountains for a few days before reporting to the Lin County government, accusing Ma Ming of colluding with bandits and waiting for an opportunity to retaliate against Ma Village." After wiping the sweat off his face, Old Zhou poured himself a cup of cold tea from the table and drank it while speaking.

"This Village Chief Ma is really interesting. It was him who tricked Ma Ming into taking the risk to come to Li's dyeing workshop to steal the craft. But now he is framing him? I think he is the one waiting for an opportunity to take revenge. He must be dissatisfied that Ma Ming came to my Li's house and escaped this disaster!" Li Yunye felt a headache when he heard this. It was really one problem after another. In addition, the hot summer weather made him irritable, and his words were weird.

Although Li Yunye was aggressive, he was secretly worried. After all, Ma Ming had settled down in Li's farm. If the government knew about this, would they suspect Jiangnan famous Li? After all, Majia Village was burned to the ground, and now there was only the eyewitness left, the village chief Ma. If he made up stories and accused others, even if Jiangnan famous Li had nothing to do with the incident, he would be suspected because he took in Ma Ming.

"Old Zhou, please go to the farm and bring Ma Ming back to Qile City. However, please ask Manager Li to arrange it secretly and don't disturb the lady." Mu Liang didn't think any more and immediately said to Old Zhou. The tragedy in Majia Village was of great importance and a famous person like Li from Jiangnan could not hide anything from the government.

Since Village Chief Ma was not dead, Mu Liang guessed that the person behind him must have spared his life. But now he suddenly came out to frame Ma Ming, probably because he was instructed by the person behind him.

If this person is the owner of Shuiliu Cloth Shop, and he was the one who ordered Jiuhe to destroy Majia Village, and he is a native of Wucang, Mu Liang could not help but feel flustered when he put all this information together. The opponent is so powerful that the famous Li in Jiangnan cannot contend with him alone. It seems that it is time to take this opportunity to tell the governor everything.

Two hours later, Lao Zhou hurriedly took Ma Ming back to Li's Mansion, and Mu Liang personally took him to the government office in Qile City.

"Sir, the village chief Ma has been temporarily arranged by the Lin County magistrate to stay in the government office." In the government office, the head constable Zhou Bing was reporting to the prefect You Zhiji about tracking the village chief Ma yesterday.

"Did he meet anyone?" You Zhizhou looked up and continued to ask.

"No, he didn't even leave the county government office yesterday." Zhou Bing also replied.

"Sir, the shopkeeper Mu, who is famous in Jiangnan, has come to the government office with Ma Ming." At this time, a bailiff appeared outside the door and reported.

"What did you say? Who did Manager Mu bring?" These words shocked the two of them. Zhou Bing quickly turned around and asked the yamen runner outside the door again to confirm.

"Ma Ming, it's the Ma Ming that our government wants to arrest." The bailiff outside the door nodded in response.

"Don't make any noise, bring the person in first." Without waiting for Captain Zhou to speak again, Prefect You gave the order.

The bailiff was somewhat surprised when he heard this, but he still did as he was told.

"Sir, don't you want to interrogate him first?" This was the first time that the prefect met the wanted suspect directly in the study.

"This is about a famous Li from Jiangnan. I'd like to hear Manager Mu's explanation first." You Zhiji put down the pen in his hand and sighed. It was indeed beyond his expectation that the famous Li from Jiangnan was involved.

"Don't be afraid. Just tell the truth when you meet the prefect later." Mu Liang, who was waiting outside the hall, turned around and saw Ma Ming's tense face. He stepped forward and patted his shoulder to comfort him.

"Manager Mu, why did Uncle Yong fabricate and frame me? Isn't he afraid that he will be severely punished for fooling the government like this?"

Ma Ming was not afraid to meet the prefect, but he was worried that if he told the truth, Village Chief Ma's lies would be exposed. The government would be furious when they found out that they were being mocked, and as a common citizen, Village Chief Ma would probably be punished more than just a few beatings for committing insubordination.

When he and his grandmother learned that Majia Village was massacred and burned, he and his grandmother were sad for a long time. Now he was very happy to hear that Uncle Yong, who had been kind to them, survived. But he was shocked that Uncle Yong falsely accused him of being the real murderer of the massacre and burning of Majia Village. Could it be that Uncle Yong held a grudge against him because he took his grandmother to the Li family after the Majia Village dyeing factory was closed down?

Mu Liang had no way of answering Ma Ming's question. After all, he couldn't explain the complicated situation to the child in just a few words.

Soon, Mu Liang and Ma Ming were brought into the study room behind the hall by the yamen runners who had returned with the report. When they saw the prefect, they knelt down and bowed in obeisance.

"This is not a trial court. Everyone, please stand up." After You Zhiji sent the bailiffs away, he looked at the two people kneeling on the ground and said.

When Mu Liang saw that Magistrate You did not question them in the court but called them to the study, he guessed the magistrate's intention and felt relieved.

"Are you Ma Ming, a villager from Majia Village?" You Zhizhou didn't beat around the bush and asked the thin boy next to Xiang Muliang directly.

"Your Excellency the Governor, I am a villager from Majia Village, Ma Ming." Ma Ming was calm and composed. He raised his hand and bowed to Governor You.

"Well, where were you ten days ago?" Seeing the calm and confident young man in front of him, You Zhizhou felt relieved and continued to ask.

"Your Excellency, I was at the Li Family Farm ten days ago."

"Who can testify for you?"

"The manager of the Li family farm also has two farmers."

"When did you go to the Li family farm? Have you been staying there since then?"

"About four months ago, I took my grandmother away from Majia Village and followed Shopkeeper Mu to Lijia Farm. I have never left the farm since then. Today, Shopkeeper Mu sent someone to bring me into the city."

After hearing this, You Zhiji turned his head and looked at Mu Liang.

"My lord, what Ma Ming said is true." Mu Liang also bowed to Prefect You in response.

"What is going on? Manager Mu, please tell me in detail." You Zhiji then began to question Mu Liang.

The most important thing for Mu Liang to come here this time was to seek asylum for the famous Li from Jiangnan to Zhizhou You. So after Captain Zhou brought Ma Ming out of the study, he told Zhizhou You about the events in Majia Village and the recent Shuiliu Cloth Shop in Yujiang City after the appearance of the imitation cloth, as well as his own guesses.

"So you also know Jiuhe." After listening to Mu Liang's statement, You Zhiji's expression changed from shock at first to anger and finally became more and more solemn. He stood up and walked to the window, and after a long silence, he sighed.

"I only thought of the Jiuhe assassin organization when I accidentally heard someone mention the massacre of the entire Jiangnan Wharf Escort Agency five years ago."

"It's not advisable to alert the enemy about this matter." You Zhiji turned around and stared at Mu Liang with a pair of meaningful eyes.

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency the Governor, I have never mentioned the matter of the Nine Rivers to anyone."

"Including your sworn brother, Li Yunye?"

"I was afraid that he would worry, so I didn't tell him."

Only then did You Zhiji nod with relief.