Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 1033: The Duke Powerless to Seek Justice and Turn the Tide (2)

Chapter 1033: Chapter 1033: The Duke Powerless to Seek Justice and Turn the Tide (2)

"That’s right, we cannot let Lord Wei Yuan succeed, and we certainly cannot let that vile woman off easily! Come, let’s go to the Lord Wei Yuan House together and demand justice for General Xiao!"

"..."

More and more people heeded the call to seek justice for Xiao Ruiyuan. Under the leadership of a few ringleaders, they streamed out of the Government Office and headed toward the direction of the Lord Wei Yuan House. A rough count estimated there were at least three hundred people. Following behind them were even more people, drawn by the excitement.

Even though these onlookers felt that General Xiao was being treated unjustly and despised Lord Wei Yuan for digging his own grave, they variously abstained from taking a stand for Xiao Ruiyuan due to various concerns and silently chose to be bystanders.

Watching the entrance to the public hall become empty, Jingzhao Yin stared with wide eyes for a long time before snapping back to reality, internally marveling at the high regard the people held for Xiao Ruiyuan and feeling a hint of envy in his gaze.

Officials sought office for fame or profit. Jingzhao Yin came from a distinguished background, and his family lacked neither gold nor silver. His ambition in joining the government was to earn a good reputation that could benefit his descendants. Only after taking office did he realize how difficult the path was, especially as Jingzhao Yin, where he found himself constrained in many ways—so many that he almost forgot his initial intention for becoming an official.

Now, seeing the reverence and love the people had for Xiao Ruiyuan, a sudden hope surged in Jingzhao Yin’s heart: perhaps if he persisted in being a good official that sought the well-being of the people, he might one day receive the same respect and adoration from all as General Xiao did today!

What happened next was somewhat out of control. The citizens intent on seeking justice for Xiao Ruiyuan made their way in a great procession toward the Lord Wei Yuan House, attracting the attention of many passersby along the way.

Out of curiosity, some passersby asked those in the know about the whole affair, and after learning the ins and outs, like most people, they were filled with indignation. Quite a few abandoned their intended tasks to join the ranks of those condemning Lord Wei Yuan, rushing toward the Lord Wei Yuan House together.

When they reached the Lord Wei Yuan House, the enraged citizens approached and started banging fiercely on the doors. However, Xiao Xiong and Lady Wei, already informed of the situation, were scared out of their wits and strictly ordered the doorkeepers to hold the doors at all costs and not to let anyone in. Thus, no matter how the crowd outside knocked or shouted, not a single person inside was willing to open the door.

After continued knocking for a while and seeing no movement inside, people’s patience finally ran out, and they became decidedly impolite in their language:

"Open the door, open it now, don’t think you can hide inside and be spared. If you have the nerve to commit such a beastly act, why don’t you have the courage to open the door?"

"Right, you’re a Lord Hou, hiding inside like a shrinking turtle, isn’t that shameful? If you don’t open the door soon, we might just break it down!"

"Hmph, surely he must be feeling guilty and dares not come out! It’s fortunate that General Xiao, with his godlike bravery, has not tarnished the Hou Mansion’s name. Just relying on that shrinking turtle, it’s possible that he’ll destroy the foundation that the Xiao Family’s Ancestors fought so hard to build! How could such a father who undermines his own son give birth to such an outstanding son as General Xiao? God truly is blind!"

"..."

Fearful at seeing the door-knocking go on for half an hour with no sign of stopping, and completely unaware of what had happened, the doorkeeper was terrified, contemplating the possibility of the crowd, who seemed like a bunch of bandits, breaking in.

As the door-banging grew louder and the entire door started to creak as if it were about to collapse, the doorkeeper was at his wits’ end and hurriedly ran to the inner house, seeking advice from his master.

Since the front gate would not open, two agile young men climbed up a large tree near the wall and successfully flipped into the courtyard. They then sneaked up to the main gate and, seeing no one at the keeper’s post, boldly went to the back of the door, withdrew the bolt, opened it, and let the shouting crowd outside in.