Ordinary
All the refugees present widened their eyes in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
The wind howled in the open, sweeping across the barren land for thousands of miles. The refugees, clad in tattered rags, had no proper clothing to shield them from the cold. Hunger had hollowed their cheeks, and desperation clung to their weary frames.
Yet, amidst them stood a man who was different.
He wore a cotton-lined robe—clean and intact. His hair, previously disheveled and obscuring his face, had been lifted by Jiujin, revealing smooth, unblemished skin. He looked fresh, his complexion nothing like the pale, emaciated faces of the true refugees.
A murmur of suspicion rippled through the crowd.
"Are you from Qizhou?" someone demanded angrily.
"What are you doing in our ranks?"
"Scammer!" another accused.
The tension escalated as the refugees clamored, pointing at the man.
"Girl, he was the one! Him and the others—they encouraged us to storm the village!"
"Yes! The lady is right! We were deceived into this foolish act!"
"Miss, you are kind-hearted. Please, have mercy on us. We'll identify these culprits! They were the ones who led us astray, coercing and tempting us into raiding the village!"
Panic flashed across Big Head's eyes. He struggled in Jiujin's grip but couldn't break free. Desperation crept into his voice as he shouted, "It wasn't me! Don't blame me!"
Yu Linlang sneered, her gaze sharp. "Wasn't it? Didn't you deliberately stir things up? Didn't you hide among the refugees, inciting chaos? Didn't you encourage them, fanning the flames?"
She took a step forward, her voice steady and piercing. "You are clearly not from Qizhou. So why are you here, pretending to be one of them?"
A hush fell over the crowd.
"Weizhou Prefecture was ordered to accept refugees," Yu Linlang continued. "The proper route was along the official road, leading straight there. So why did this group suddenly divert to our small village in Xiaxian?"
"The refugees of Qizhou are thousands of miles away. How could they possibly know about this remote village unless… someone led them here with ulterior motives?"
Realization dawned on the refugees, and anger replaced their earlier confusion.
"That's right! It was them!"
"They tricked us into coming here!"
Some of the older women clutched their children and wept bitterly. They were already suffering—why would someone use them like pawns in a scheme?
"It was Big Head!" a man cried out. "He told us that Weizhou Prefecture was still ten days away! That we would die of hunger and thirst if we didn't find supplies!"
"Yes! I can testify too! Big Head and his men kept talking about a nearby village—Fu Village! They said it was wealthy and might have food to spare!"
"You scheming rat! We were already desperate, and you used that against us!"
"Beat him! Make him pay!"
Big Head's face drained of color. He raised his hands to shield himself, but a group of enraged refugees had already thrown him to the ground, kicking and striking him in their fury.
Jiujin, watching from behind Yu Linlang, folded his arms and sneered.
At that moment, Madam Hu and Madam Fang arrived with a group of guards, only to be met with the chaotic scene.
Village Chief Chen Funong was visibly alarmed. Hundreds of refugees had gathered, and violence was breaking out. If this continued, it would surely escalate into a legal disaster.
"Enough!" he bellowed. "Get back! Stop the fighting at once! This matter has been reported to the authorities. If you dare to cause further trouble, the county magistrate will send soldiers to arrest you!"
The refugees hesitated. The weight of the law was enough to stop most of them, though a few strong young men continued to land blows on Big Head.
Madam Fang's sharp eyes caught sight of the beaten man, and her expression darkened. "What are you all doing?" she demanded.
She turned to the guards and snapped, "Break them apart at once!"
Yu Linlang's voice was calm but firm. "Jiujin, don't let anyone escape in the chaos."
Jiujin stepped forward in an instant, slamming her foot onto Big Head's back just as he attempted to crawl away. The fire stick in her hand came down hard, earning a sharp cry of pain.
Madam Fang gasped. "You! Who do you think you are? How dare you be so reckless?"
Yu Linlang met her gaze with a cool expression. "Why are you so agitated? Could it be that you know this man?" Her sharp eyes swept over Madam Fang and Madam Hu.
Madam Fang's expression stiffened. "What nonsense! Who are you to make such accusations?"
"Madam Fang, mind your manners," Madam Hu interrupted with a knowing smile. She studied Yu Linlang carefully, as if assessing her worth.
The girl was slender, and there was something striking about her despite her ordinary looks. But as the letters had described, she was nowhere near as beautiful as her mother, the renowned beauty of the capital.
Madam Hu masked her disdain behind a polite smile. "Miss Yu, my husband's family name is Hu. We are here under the orders of the old lady of the governor's residence—to bring you home."
Hongwei, standing beside her, smirked in arrogance. "Madam Hu is one of the most trusted madams in the governor's household," she added, glancing at Yu Linlang and Jiujin with barely concealed contempt.
Yu Linlang paid them no mind. Instead, she flicked her gaze toward Jiujin, who immediately understood.
A loud crack echoed through the air as the fire stick struck down again.
Big Head screamed in pain, his body twitching on the ground like a dying fish.
Madam Fang's face twisted in horror. She lunged forward, trying to grab Jiujin's weapon. "How dare you! Do you plan to kill him?"
Yu Linlang intercepted her, gripping her arm tightly. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "Don't interfere. These bandits led the refugees astray and nearly caused disaster. They deserve to be beaten to death right here."
Madam Fang's breath hitched. "You wouldn't dare!"
Yu Linlang smirked. "Try me." With a sharp push, she shoved the old woman backward.
The force made Madam Fang tremble—fear creeping into her heart as she met Yu Linlang's unwavering gaze.
On the ground, Big Head screamed again. "Stop! Please! Spare me!"
"Mother, save me!" he wailed, scrambling toward Madam Fang in desperation.
Madam Hu watched with narrowed eyes, her mind racing. This was bad. Things were spiraling out of control.
Sure enough, Big Head and a few others threw themselves at Madam Fang's feet, sobbing.
"Mother, please! Help me!"
"Madam, I beg you!"
Madam Fang's face paled. She hesitated, but her emotions betrayed her.
Yu Linlang's lips curled into a sneer. "So, he really is your son?"
A stunned silence fell over the crowd.
Madam Fang's hands clenched into fists, her expression crumbling as realization dawned.
"It seems," Yu Linlang murmured, "that we've found the true mastermind behind all this."