In the main room, the Second Miss was holding a golden hairpin, trying to figure out where on her body to hide it. Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a BANG. Several government officers stood in the doorway. The one in the lead commanded, "Everyone! Take off your jewelry and outer clothes, and assemble in the front courtyard!"
The young maids in the adjacent side room immediately started to cry and scream. The sudden commotion startled the Second Miss, making her jump, and the golden hairpin in her hand fell to the floor.
The government officer's gaze lingered on the golden hairpin for a moment before he barked, "All of you, out! Take off your clothes and jewelry!"
The young maids came out of the side room, weeping. Gu Fei pulled the Second Miss into a corner and reached out to take off her outer clothes.
The Second Miss clutched her chest in terror. "No, I can't! There are men here!"
Gu Fei gave a bitter smile. "Second Miss, you have to. We can only go to the front courtyard in our undergarments."
'There will be even more men outside soon!'
The Second Miss quickly understood. Her face went pale, and she clutched the lapels of her dress, trembling slightly.
Gu Fei didn't press her. She knew the Second Miss needed a moment to prepare herself mentally. As for herself, she didn't need to strip down; she was still recovering from an injury and was already wearing a set of white, fine-cotton undergarments.
The Second Miss hesitated for a while, but seeing the maids around her undressing, she could only remove the jewelry from her hair and body one by one, biting back her shame. Then, gritting her teeth, she took off her outer robe. Fortunately, she had managed to hide all the jewelry against her skin.
Next, the guards herded everyone into the front courtyard.
The vast courtyard was filled with people.
The Pingyang Marquis and the Heir of Pingyang, dressed only in their undergarments, were kneeling on the ground, trussed up completely.
A crowd of female family members huddled to one side, shivering uncontrollably.
Gu Fei moved with difficulty, following the Second Miss to stand in the crowd.
Soon, large chests were carried out one after another. As a few guards were carrying one over, a rope suddenly snapped. The chest tilted and fell to the ground, its lid flying open, and a floor full of glittering gold ingots tumbled out.
Gu Fei peeked through a gap in the crowd. That one chest of gold ingots had to weigh at least a hundred jin!
She blinked. 'What a pity. So much gold. Although gold wasn't worth much in my past life, in this world, you can't get anywhere without money!'
'I want it so badly, WAHHHH.'
An official shouted a reprimand, and the guards scrambled to pick up the gold ingots and stuff them back into the chest.
The crowd stood in the courtyard for an unknown length of time. At first, some of the women were still crying softly, but later, perhaps having cried themselves numb, they all just stood there, dazed.
This continued until the very last chest was carried out.
An official waved his hand. "Men and women, separate! The men will be taken to the Ministry of Justice Prison, the women to the women's cells at the Ministry of Justice."
That shout was like a drop of water hitting a hot oil pan.
Those who had been numb, or who had still clung to a sliver of hope, were now completely desperate.
Crying, screaming, collapsing to the ground, beating their chests and stamping their feet—the scene was one of utter chaos.
Just then, the Pingyang Marquis's six-year-old illegitimate son broke from the crowd and ran toward the main gate, screaming, "I don't want to go to prison! I don't want to go to prison—"
Before the words had even left his mouth, a government officer drew his waist-saber and swung it at the little boy.
The little boy's running form froze in an instant. A line of blood spurted from his neck, accompanied by a sound like a wheezing bellows.
His small body slowly collapsed. A heart-wrenching scream erupted from the crowd: "Xing'er—"
The Second Miss's face was ashen. She trembled uncontrollably, gripping Gu Fei's arm tightly. Gu Fei gently patted her hand to comfort her.
"Quiet down! Anyone else who makes a sound will share his fate!" an official shouted harshly.