Chapter 838: Chapter 801: Courting Death on the Wrong Day

Wow! This is an escapee slave!

The spectators nearby immediately felt their gossip instincts ignite.

Catching an escapee slave is quite the spectacle. If the master is furious enough and throws the matter into court, people might witness delicate and beautiful maidservants from wealthy households being beaten. Quite the show indeed!

Watching a master catch a female slave in the Great Tang is akin to watching a side chick being publicly scorned in modern times. Regardless of the pitiable state of the slave or the side chick, spectators would just stand idly by, some even engaging in playful banter.

The crowd would not discern whether the person before them was truly an escapee slave; they simply believed there’s no smoke without fire.

Who would dare to reduce a free person to a slave in broad daylight? Under Tang law, the distinction between free and slave was strict; free people were protected. Even parents selling their children would face lashes, not to mention others.

If someone truly acted so audaciously, they would certainly not be a commoner who could be easily provoked. Nobody would dare invite trouble upon themselves.

Lin Wanwan never expected to encounter something so ridiculous today as labeling a horse as a deer. Perhaps because she was too approachable, leading people to mistakenly think she was easily manipulated?

Unlike typical noblewomen of the Great Tang, she hadn’t sent a card ahead announcing her arrival at the temple, expecting the monks to make a grand fuss in welcoming her to a VIP room. Instead, she joined Qin Shi and others in a common procession for incense and carnival.

Given privileges unused, others naturally assumed she had none.

Lin Wanwan was not very familiar with the anecdotes of the Great Tang, being separated by a thousand years.

But occasionally online, she would see traffickers publicly assaulting women, pretending to be the husband or legitimate spouse, and blatantly abducting them.

The simple moral values of the onlookers would lead them not to intervene, a timeless trait.

Ah, today she encountered just such a situation.

However, she wasn’t worried at all, as the group of strong men who rushed at her were defeated thoroughly by Liu Rushi and Xiaoyan, without needing her to lift a finger.

Although Lin Wanwan had only three guards with combat power — Kun Lun, Liu Rushi, and Xiaoyan — dealing with these ruffians was more than enough.

The old woman falsely accusing Lin Wanwan, finding one plan foiled, rolled her murky eyes and immediately came up with another. She pulled out a pearl and raised it high, shouting, "There’s a great reward for anyone who captures the escapee slave for my lady...ah—"

Before her voice trailed off, a streaking sound pierced the air toward her, causing her arm intense pain, and she dropped the pearl.

The dazzling pearl rolled to the ground, causing a stir.

It turned out that Lin Wanwan, during the old woman’s nonsensical crowd inciting with the pearl, directly activated the sleeve crossbow, released two arrows, decisively and swiftly piercing her arm.

With the scent of blood in the air, the spectators immediately stepped back a bit, fearing unintended consequences.

This slave is so audacious; could they truly be a slave?

Uprising against one’s betters was indeed a capital offense!

The old woman clutched her arm, trembling uncontrollably from the pain, realizing she’d hit a hard wall, internally regretting her actions immensely.

But having made a move, an arrow on the string must be released. Who can escape unscathed depends on the strength of the parties involved.

She tried to speak again, but Kun Lun stepped forward and crushed her jaw, her mouth bloodied, rendering her unable to utter another word.

Meanwhile, those strong men who made their move were either wailing on the ground or knocked out.

Liu Rushi and Xiaoyan, trained in martial arts, were not ordinary women, and their attacks were not something the average person could withstand. These ruffians could handle common people, but they were no match for Liu Rushi and Xiaoyan.

To avoid tarnishing the sacred Buddhist ground, neither even drew their swords.

At this moment, the frightened Hong Yan and Ji Yue also squeezed in front of Lin Wanwan, shielding her with their bodies.

The wooden box containing green bean cakes, originally held by Hong Yan, had already fallen to the ground, scattering everywhere.

Lin Wanwan gently brushed aside the two, walked towards the old woman who was pinned by Kun Lun, looking down on her calmly and indifferently said, "Gag their mouths, tie them up, and send them to the officials later."

"Yes."

With the confrontation concluded, the monks assigned to maintain order hurried over.

"Amitabha, the sanctuary of the Buddhist sect, forbids brawling."

The fighting had already ended, and now there were only those lying there wailing and still seeing stars.

Ji Yue quietly told the monks about Lin Wanwan’s identity, and they looked at Lin Wanwan in amazement. Upon seeing her cold and slightly impatient expression, their hearts trembled, and they immediately escorted away those on the ground.

"Lin Tanyue, please come to the back room to rest."

Lin Wanwan glanced at the scattered green bean cakes on the ground and said "what a shame," then led her entourage following the monks.

The bloodied old woman kept making "mmm" sounds, ignoring the pain, trying to reach for the large pearl on the ground.

In just an instant, the crowd surged, and the fallen pearl vanished without a trace.

Even the monks who came to take the old woman away didn’t notice it.

This time, the old woman’s group not only failed to capture a high-quality woman, but they were all arrested, suffering immense losses.

Once Lin Wanwan and her group left, the polo field quickly returned to its lively atmosphere, as if what had just happened was but a fleeting moment.

With no spectacle to watch, people returned to watching polo, betting, and selling snacks.

Meanwhile, those walking towards the temple’s Great Hall’s back room encountered Xiao Chong and his group, just coming out in their polo attire.

After paying their respects, before the monks could speak, Ji Yue, noticing Lin Wanwan’s expression, quickly reported, "Xiao Mingfu, these villains just took advantage of the crowd to falsely accuse my lady of being an escapee slave from their house, trying to abduct her amidst the chaos. Fortunately, Miss Liu and others subdued them. I hope Xiao Mingfu will seek justice for my lady."

Xiao Chong, upon seeing the group marching in with the captured people, had a hunch. Hearing Ji Yue’s words, he immediately believed it without doubt and couldn’t help but ask, "Was Cousin scared?"

Lin Wanwan shook her head, "With so many people, and with Xiao Liu and Xiaoyan’s excellent skills, I was unharmed."

"That’s good."

Having encountered such a matter, naturally, polo entertainment must be paused.

Xiao Chong then said to the monks, "Find a vacant spot, I will try these crooks here."

"Yes." Though monks are not in worldly matters, they are still under county magistrate’s authority and naturally wouldn’t oppose.

Having just learned these individuals provoked the famed Village Lady Le’an, the monks knew this matter wouldn’t end well.

Anyone who pays attention to Mao County’s upper circles knows that Village Lady Le’an comes from the Empress Palace and is now engaged with Xiao Mingfu.

For someone so shortsighted to provoke her, it would inevitably result in yet another crackdown on crime and vice. With the New Year approaching, a little peace was warranted, but it seemed they were courting their demise.