"No wonder the Situ Family dared to let Liu Cheng handle this matter," Ye Haoxuan said to San. "Look at this, itâs done in a way that leaves no traces. Oh, by the way, what does the Government Office of Jinzhou say about Huang Manli not being in the office?"
"The Government Office of Jinzhou says Huang Manli bribed the bailiffs to escape, and her whereabouts are currently unknown."
"Liu Cheng has kept himself and the Government Office of Jinzhou spotless, as if what Zhong Yongqian did has nothing to do with him, nor has it any connection with the Situ Residence. It seems openly we really canât do anything to him."
At this moment, San smiled grimly, making the scar on his face look even more menacing.
"Your Highness, donât worry about causing him trouble. While investigating Huang Manliâs situation, I also looked into Liu Chengâs background and found out quite a bit about him. Any one of those things could get him beheaded."
"Is that so? What has he done?"
San whispered a few words into Ye Haoxuanâs ear.
Instantly, Ye Haoxuanâs face turned grim. "Really?"
"Absolutely true. Every month in Jingzhou, newborns go missing, and it was sheer luck this time, or else I wouldnât have found him out."
It turns out that after investigating Huang Manliâs family, San went to the governmental office to investigate Liu Cheng.
Unexpectedly, he stumbled upon Liu Cheng holding an infant, not sucking but drawing out a tube from the infantâs head.
Even San, being such a ruthless person, was startled by what he saw, prompting him to investigate Liu Cheng further, and subsequently discovering that newborns disappeared every month in Jingzhou without any findings from the authorities. This made him speculate.
San knew this matter was significant, so he didnât linger in Jingzhou but hurried back to Heng River.
"Excellent!" Ye Haoxuan said, "We will set off for Jingzhou tomorrow. I want to see why Liu Cheng is doing all this."
"And on the Heng River end?"
"Isnât Prefect Min here? Tell him to quickly conclude Zhong Yongqianâs case, and inform him that regardless of whoâs backing Zhong Yongqian, he must die. As for the matters in Jingzhou, I will personally go for the trial."
Zhong Yongqian was already facing a murder charge, which was severe enough, but during the interrogation, other issues like corruption surfaced, which could slow down the investigation if they were all thoroughly checked.
Moreover, he feared that after he left Heng River, Prefect Min might go easy on Zhong Yongqian due to his backing by the Situ Residence, which is why he gave these instructions.
He hadnât intended to interfere in local officialsâ trials, but Liu Cheng had crossed a line, so he also wanted to ask why the Situ Family placed Huang Manli in the Ye Family.
"Yes!"
The next day, Li Luru was still asleep when Ye Haoxuan pulled her out of bed.
"What are you doing?"
"Get up, weâre hitting the road."
"If weâre leaving, then weâre leaving, but why are you lifting my blanket? Do you know youâre not supposed to just barge into a girlâs room like that?"
Seeing her just awakened, with her hair all messed up like a ruffled lion, Ye Haoxuanâs eyes showed a hint of amusement. "Who said I barged in arbitrarily? I knew this was your room, thatâs why I came in on purpose." He emphasized the word âpurposeâ.
"You... you... get out!"
"One quarter-hour. If youâre not out by then, I wonât wait for you."
With that, Ye Haoxuan left the room.
Li Luru then frustratingly scratched her hair, then spent half a quarter-hour tidying up and stood in front of Ye Haoxuan.
"Where to?"
"Jingzhou."