Cheng Guang's heart began to harbor some doubts as his gaze settled on Song Yunqi, waiting for his answer.
Under Cheng Guang's scrutiny, Song Yunqi hesitated for a moment before he said with an odd expression, "Princely Heir, this Zhang Shunlong is different from the other slaves; he seems to have been demoted to slavery."
"Demoted to slavery?" Cheng Guang frowned slightly.
Song Yunqi nodded slightly, "Yes, Zhang Shunlong's family, his father, was a common yamen runner in Ping'an County who had committed a mistake. His father was thrown into the dungeon and was awaiting execution, and he himself was demoted to a slave."
"A mistake?" Cheng Guang wondered.
What kind of mistake would cause the yamen to send a runner directly to the dungeon and even demote his offspring to slavery? It was like trying to eradicate them root and branch.