Upon hearing this, Chang Yuan's eyes widened immediately. As the County Magistrate of Pingting County, how could he not know about the division of the Wang Family, with Second Young Master Wang fleeing with his concubines and children? How could they be back now?

This isn't right...

"Did you just say that Wang Ran's two concubines have returned, but Wang Ran hasn't?"

The steward shook his head: "The soldiers at the city gate only said they saw Wang Ran's two concubines and children, but not Wang Ran."

Upon hearing this, due to his keen awareness of the situation, Chang Yuan knew something must have happened. He instantly said, "For now, don't inform the Wang Family. First, bring them to the Government Office for a detailed inquiry."

"Master, it's too late. The Wang Family likely already knows." The steward said with a wry smile.

The reason the noble clan can remain a noble clan is that it has entrenched itself locally for hundreds of years, almost monopolizing the local social resources. Countless people rely on the noble clan to make a living.

And the County Magistrate is an outsider, with a term of about three years. Once the three-year term is up, they leave. For the local people, they would rather offend the County Magistrate than the noble clan.

Because if you offend the County Magistrate, you can endure it for three years, but if you offend the noble clan, unless you plan to leave the area, you and your descendants will be oppressed by the noble clan.

Unless Chang Yuan has someone above backing him, who can mobilize the local Defense Army, his power could easily be rendered void.

One must know that the Chief Clerk and County Magistrate in the Government Office are all held by people from the noble clan.

So, there are also ears of the noble clan within the Government Office. Whatever the County Magistrate knows, the noble clan will soon find out as well.

Chang Yuan frowned and said, "Then first bring them over, let me question them."

"Yes."

...

Soon, Wang Ran's two concubines and children were brought to the Government Office to undergo Chang Yuan's questioning.

"Didn't you leave the city heading for Jiangnan? Why have you returned, and where is Second Young Master Wang?" Chang Yuan said with a stern face, his voice indifferent, as he slammed the gavel down.

The two concubines were so frightened they knelt down, and the child wailed and cried. One of the concubines, gathering her courage, recalling what Wang Ran taught her, said tremblingly, "Master, my husband was kidnapped by bandits from Fu Ze Village."

Saying this, the concubine took out a letter and said, "This is a letter personally written by my husband, instructing the family to pay a ransom of ten thousand coins before the bandits will release him."

"What? Bang..."

Chang Yuan's brows furrowed as he slapped the table in front of him angrily, "Audacious bandits! How dare they so blatantly defy the law."

Chang Yuan was indeed infuriated. After all, Pingting County was under his jurisdiction, and the occurrence of such a kidnapping event would naturally fall under his responsibility.

What angered him the most was that they could kidnap, but why couldn't they quietly inform the Wang Family? Why must they, in broad daylight, boldly send people outside the city for all to see? Now so many eyes are watching.

This was a naked slap to his face.

The steward took the letter from the concubine's hand and presented it to Chang Yuan.

After reading it, Chang Yuan snorted coldly, "Did the bandits say when the transaction should be made?"

"They said, once the family is ready with the ransom, send someone to Fu Ze Village. As long as the ransom is untouched, they will release the person immediately." The concubine said.

"How bold! Do they really think I dare not send troops to annihilate them?" Chang Yuan snorted coldly.

The concubine seized the opportunity and said, "I implore the Master to be the judge for this humble concubine and rescue my husband."

"..."

Chang Yuan couldn't respond to this. If he wanted to quash them, he would have acted a month ago; why drag it out until now?

The steward, who was also the steward at the Government Office, saw the master's dilemma and interjected, "I ask you, could you clearly see how many bandits there were in the village? Was the bandit leader that Child Student Chen Mo? What is his strength, do you know?"

"Explain in detail." Chang Yuan finally joined the conversation.

"This humble concubine does not know, as I was kept inside the house the whole time and was not allowed to leave. I do not know the situation in the village, but the leader of the bandits is indeed named Chen Mo." The concubine said while comforting her child.

"Is it that you don't know, or are you intentionally withholding information?" Chang Yuan slammed the gavel again. He had a vague feeling that the other party was not merely seeking ransom.

Just as he was about to press further, a constable hurried in, respectfully saying, "Master, the Chief Clerk and members of the Wang Family have arrived."

Chang Yuan raised his eyebrows, his eyes tightly fixed on the concubine who had just spoken. He then handed the letter to the steward and said, "The questioning is over; you may leave."

The steward put the letter back into the envelope and returned it to the concubine.

Soon, the Chief Clerk came in with members of the Wang Family.

The Chief Clerk was indeed from the Wang Family, and the position of Chief Clerk had been held by them for decades while numerous County Magistrates had come and gone, yet the Chief Clerk remained unchanged.

Upon entering, Chief Clerk Wang saw that Wang Ran's concubines and children were unharmed. He first bowed and cupped his hands to Chang Yuan, then said, "Master, has something happened? Why were the two women summoned to the Government Office?"

"Indeed, a major incident has occurred. Your family's Second Young Master has been kidnapped by bandits from Fu Ze Village outside the city. A ransom of ten thousand coins is required to secure his release. I have inquired about the situation and now that it is clear, you may take them with you, Chief Clerk Wang." Chang Yuan said with a light smile.

Chief Clerk Wang was stunned and did not linger in the Government Office. He took his people and left promptly.

Watching the departing figures of Chief Clerk Wang and his entourage, Chang Yuan said, "Send someone to keep an eye on the Wang Family."

"What does the Master mean?"

"In these times, being cautious is never wrong," Chang Yuan sighed.

...

The Wang Family, main hall.

"Father, these bandits are too rampant. They first seized our Wang family's land and tenants, then killed our Wang family's guards, and now they've even taken Ran'er, extorting tens of thousands of coins. It's outrageous to even use Ran'er as leverage, demanding a ten thousand coin ransom." The Wang Family's eldest son said.

"Indeed, our Wang Family has been rooted in this place for hundreds of years. Even successive County Magistrates have had to show us some respect. When have we ever suffered such humiliation?"

"In my opinion, this money should not be paid."

...

Thump, thump!

At this moment, Wang Cultivator rapped his cane, and the room fell silent. He handed two letters, written by Wang Ran himself, to his eldest son.

The eldest son read the letters and was visibly shaken, "These bandits even dare to scheme to make our Wang Family their internal collaborator, it's simply outrageous."

"What?" The other clan members also took the letters to read, and their faces also changed color. They all looked at Wang Cultivator, awaiting his decision.

Wang Cultivator stroked his cane, his face heavy. After pondering for a while, he settled the matter: "This may not necessarily be a bad thing, at least not yet. Ran'er says in his letter that Chen Mo has joined forces with the Celestial Master Thieves. Since Ran'er wrote it in his letter, it's evident that Chen Mo instructed Ran'er to write as such..."

Speaking of this, Wang Cultivator closed his eyes and said, "It's a case of a wolf in front and a tiger behind. If Chen Mo and the Celestial Master Thieves really are in league, if we don't agree now, when the city falls in the future, our Wang Family will definitely not escape. Besides, we have no choice. If I'm not mistaken, the County Magistrate has already harbored suspicions about us."

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