Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

However, she never expected this visit to be so difficult.

At first, Liu Sisi went directly to the main entrance of the county government office to ask to meet with County Magistrate Su, but she was denied.

“Miss Gan, Lord Su County Magistrate is not in the office. Please go back.”

The governmental office’s runner at the gate looked apologetic.

Helpless, Liu Sisi had to back down: “I am sorry, but can you help me with a message? I would like to meet Madam County Magistrate.”

The constable looked even more apologetic: “Miss Gan, Madam County Magistrate left early this morning with Lord County Magistrate. Constable Zuo also went with them.”

Liu Sisi thought for a moment: “Then… ”

“Miss Gan, Lord County Magistrate has said that no one is in the office today,” said the constable, with a suggestive look in his eyes.

“…I see. Excuse me, may I ask you, what was the crime for which Minister Di was detained yesterday in the office’s jail?”

The constable and the person next to him exchanged glances. He obviously hadn’t expected Liu Sisi to ask this question and hesitated for a moment before finally replying.

“It is said that he showed no regard for human life; I heard that among the people who died at the narrow pass a few days ago, several were ordinary civilians passing by and were also killed by Lord Di as bandits!”

Liu Sisi gasped. She then realized the seriousness of the matter!

“I see, thank you very much.”

Thanking him, Liu Sisi turned around and walked back, lifting the curtain and getting into the carriage.

“Let’s leave this place for now.”

Ms. Gao, who was following Liu Sisi, looked nervous: “Madam, are we just going to leave like this? Shouldn’t we think of a way out?”

As the carriage moved forward, Liu Sisi casually lowered the curtain and turned to look back at Ms. Gao.

“You must have heard what the constable said just now; Lord Su County Magistrate and his wife are most likely in the office. They refuse to see us, so they ordered the constable to say so. Even if we force our way into the office, we will only add unnecessary crimes to Yelei and it won’t help the situation at all!”

Ms. Gao started crying: “This… this is a serious crime! What should we do now?” Ms. Gao was completely at a loss.

The reason Ms. Gao was so nervous was not only because Di Yelei was imprisoned, but also Da Niu.

“No worries, we are now going to see someone who can definitely help!”

Liu Sisi’s eyes were heavy, and she couldn’t help but grip the embroidered handkerchief in her hands tightly.

Wrapped in this handkerchief was the strange, jade-like circular object that Zuo Xingyu had given her at the scene of the crime a few days earlier. Zuo Xingyu had said that he would take it back after three days, which should be today.

However, she had no intention of returning it today!

At that time, she didn’t think of it, but after carefully recalling over the past two days, it seemed that she had seen it somewhere before. It wasn’t until last night when she was worried and anxious that a moment of radiance flashed through her mind, and she suddenly realized where she had seen this object!

When they were initially on Heilong Mountain, she saw Elder Leisure with a similar circular object attached to his clothes. Later, the two girls who led her out of the plum grove also wore one; the difference was that Elder Leisure’s accessory was pure black, while the ones on the girls were gray-black with a hint of blue.

Considering the jade green with blood-red color of the one she held, which seemed like two intertwined four-legged snakes or perhaps strangely shaped winged snakes or two devouring lizards, could she infer that the person holding this object might have a slightly lower status than Elder Leisure, but much higher than the two girls?

She knew that the people here believed that black was extremely noble.

She was holding this accessory when she went up the mountain, but whether or not she could come down safely was uncertain. However, if she wanted to save Di Yelei, she would have to make an attempt.

This time they drove past the Goddess of Mercy’s temple and did not stop; instead, they bypassed the Zen temple and went up another winding mountain path below, all the way galloping towards Black Dragon Mountain.

The surroundings were extremely quiet, with only the sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels rolling over the gravel road.

“Madam, it’s so quiet around here, not even a bird is chirping. Will we be able to find anyone after we go up the mountain?”

Ms. Gao couldn’t help but lift the curtain to look outside before she put it down again and said.

Liu Sisi calmly closed her eyes and said: “Human eyes are the most deceptive. You see silence around you, but it doesn’t mean there are no people around. Don’t worry! We will definitely find someone after we go up the mountain.”

Obviously, Ms. Gao didn’t quite understand: “If Madam says we can find someone, then we will definitely find them.”

Liu Sisi slightly opened her eyes to glance at her and didn’t say more, but closed her eyes again.

Legend has it that there are ninety-nine bends on this mountain path from the foot of the slope to the destination, but who knows if it’s true!

The carriage followed the winding path of broken stone up the hill, stopping at the end of the path in front of numerous stone steps.

Liu Sisi got off the carriage and looked up. The stone steps at the top seemed to form a small road made of countless stones.

Here, at the high wall-like barrier made up of countless stones or rather a mountain gate, was the entrance to the legendary Black Dragon Mountain stronghold that had been famous for more than thirty years in the nearby region.

Liu Sisi said nothing more and started climbing the stone steps, lifting her skirt hem. Old Cheng and Ms. Gao followed closely, Yong counting the number of steps as she climbed.

“Thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five…seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-three…”

Exactly ninety-nine steps, not one more or one less, she finished them just in time to stand beneath the high wall.

Looking up close, she realized that the height of this wall-like barrier seemed to be even higher than the city wall of Macheng County!

“Old Cheng, call out that Liu Sisi wants to see Elder Leisure.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Old Cheng stepped back and cupped his hands to his mouth, shouting: “Liu Sisi wants to see Elder Leisure!”

Old Cheng had just called out once and was about to call out again, but there was movement up there.

“Please come in, Miss Liu!”

With crackling gears, a large carry basket with thick iron chains fell from above.

As soon as the basket touched the ground, Liu Sisi didn’t hesitate to step in, followed by Ms. Gao and Old Cheng, who rushed in as well, but the basket had already begun to rise.

“Madam!” The two were anxious.

“You two wait here for me to come out.” Liu Sisi looked down and instructed them as the iron chains hoisted her up.