Chapter 113: A Desperate Situation

When everyone heard the young general mention the name "Zhang Xiao," they were all startled and exchanged glances with varying expressions.

For a moment, only a few people in the room were asking each other in confusion, "What's going on?"

At that moment, a government official who looked to be around thirty years old stepped out from the crowd.

He clasped his hands together in front of him, bending his waist until it was parallel to the ground. "Young general, I'm really sorry, there must be some misunderstanding here."

Although this person did not know Xie Ji's identity, he could tell from the Huainan army behind him that Xie Ji was someone he could not afford to provoke.

However, at this time, the governor's beloved son was murdered, and he was in a hurry to find the murderer. This was a golden opportunity for him to show off in front of the governor!

Even if this group of people looks intimidating, I am only trying to help the governor save his son. As long as I speak earnestly, this young general will surely give the governor face and make an exception.

If I make a great contribution to Lord Zhang, I'll surely rise to prominence in the future.

Thinking of this, he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips. "Our young master Zhang Xiao from Lord Zhang's family was kidnapped by the villain Ding Jin yesterday, and there's still no news about him."

The brothers had searched every street and alley, every dilapidated house and wasteland in Yangdu City, but they hadn't found a single person. They figured the person had escaped through the east gate.

"You see, saving lives is urgent. If we delay any longer, the young man might be in danger. Please, young general, do us the favor of leaving the city to search."

As he said this, he kept glancing at Zhang Xuren out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that the other party did not show any displeasure, he felt even more confident.

"Don't worry, we're just going to investigate clues. We won't cause you any trouble. We'll come back and report to you as soon as we find the young master!"

After hearing this, Xie Ji suddenly burst out laughing. He held a gun in one hand and rested the other on the saddle, leaning forward as if trying to get a good look at what this idiot looked like.

He sneered, "You lot have all been sold out by your Lord Zhang, and you're still here counting the money for him."

The officer was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, his face full of confusion: "Why do you say that, young general?"

Lord Zhang is the Prefect of Yangzhou. His son has met with misfortune. Although we are of lowly status, we are still legitimate officials receiving salaries from the imperial court. It is our duty to search for him.

"Looking for someone? It's only right and proper?" Xie Ji sneered, turning his head to look at Pei Zhiwei, his tone blatantly mocking.

"There are too many people, I really can't recognize them. Madam Pei, could you point out which one is Zhang Xiao?"

Pei Zhiwei, mounted on his horse, pointed to Zhang Xuren's left rear. "The one to Zhang's left rear, six feet one inch tall, wearing a constable's uniform."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the officers' eyes immediately turned to him.

There was indeed a man dressed as a constable there. While everyone else was looking in the direction that Madam Pei was pointing, he was the only one with his head down.

Only after feeling everyone's gaze did he reluctantly raise his head, revealing a face that looked remarkably like Zhang Xuren's. Who else could it be but Zhang Xiao?

An old constable couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "What... what's going on?"

Why is the young master wearing our clothes?

"Weren't they said to have been kidnapped?"

"Kidnapping?" Xie Ji raised an eyebrow, his voice suddenly rising.

"Are you guys really stupid or just pretending? You've come this far and you're still asking what happened?"

Your Lord Zhang knows that we have evidence of his crimes, and with death looming, he's thinking of taking a gamble.

They wanted to use your breakthrough of the city gate guards as an opportunity to escape!

Zhang Xuren's previously tense face relaxed the moment Zhang Xiao's identity was exposed.

He waved his hand, signaling the surrounding officials to step back, then rode to the front, staring directly at Xiao Yunzhan, "When did you discover this?"

Xiao Yunzhan sat leisurely on horseback. Having caught up on several hours of sleep, he looked much better than during the day and spoke with much more patience.

He slowly began, "Actually, you're very smart."

After receiving news of our raid on Xinluo Ward, you relied on your position as the third-rank governor of Yangdu, knowing that we did not have sufficient evidence to detain you first.

We also understand that we have limited manpower. Even if we can find evidence of the Zhang family's collusion with Silla, we won't be able to pinpoint the exact details concerning you, Zhang Xuren, in a short time.

He paused, his gaze falling on Zhang Xuren's clenched hands: "With your brains, it's impossible that you didn't realize that while we were investigating Xinluofang, we would have planted spies around you."

If you dare to escape, no evidence is needed; a single word from me will be enough to stop you.

So you chose the riskiest and most likely way to lower people's guard, letting Zhang Xiao leave the mansion first to find a place to hide.

Everyone in Yangdu knew he was a brainless spendthrift, so no one was wary of him.

Just as you predicted, the informant completely ignored him and never even considered reporting it to us.

He snorted coldly, "But the worst thing you could have done was send over a severed hand to make us believe that Zhang Xiao had been kidnapped by Ding Jin?"

"Oh?" Zhang Xuren frowned. "What's wrong with the severed hand?"

Xiao Yunzhan kindly explained to him, "There are only two difficult parts of a person to draw: one is the eyes, which are where a person's spirit and energy reside."

Secondly, there's the hand; as the saying goes, skin is easy to paint, but bone is difficult to depict.

When I was young, I worked very hard to draw these two positions well, and practiced with the court painters for three whole years.

The curves of the knuckles and the lines on the palm may look similar, but the details are all different.

"When you first stormed into the county government office, I was also taken aback by you, but after carefully examining the severed hand, I immediately recognized that it wasn't Zhang Xiao's hand."

Zhang Xuren's eyes darkened: "Then why don't you suspect that I was confused by my concern and made a mistake without careful observation?"

"Lord Zhang is too kind." Xiao Yunzhan suddenly laughed, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"You had nine daughters and one son in your life, but then an accident happened, and the doctor said you would never be able to have children again."

So you value Zhang Xiao more than your own life. Even if you're so concerned that you lose your composure, you would never fail to recognize your son's hands.

He grew up in luxury, but he was neither good at literature nor martial arts, and he had never even lifted heavy objects. So where did the calluses on his palms come from?

And you yourself said that, apart from a few of us, who else in the entire Yangdu City would dare to touch your precious darling?

In other words, if we hadn't touched him, he wouldn't have ended up with a broken hand.

He paused deliberately, then continued, "Even if you really admit you were wrong..."

Imagine any father who truly loves his son would stay home and wait for the perpetrator's next instructions, rather than conducting a large-scale search to provoke the perpetrator.

But what about you?

From the moment the wooden box was received, officials were scattered all over the city, as if they wanted the whole of Yangdu to know that Zhang Xiao had been kidnapped.

This isn't about wanting to find your son quickly; it's clearly about wanting everyone to know you've 'lost your son.'

Zhang Xuren was silent for a moment, then asked, "Since you know that severed hand is not my son's, why do you still play along with me?"

"Firstly, although I recognized that it wasn't Zhang Xiao's hand at the time, I really didn't have a chance to tell Lady Pei and Xie Ji about it." Xiao Yunzhan turned to the side and pointed at the two of them.

"Furthermore, if I were to expose on the spot that it wasn't Zhang Xiao's hand, you would simply say, like you are now, that you were confused because you were concerned."

We still can't do anything to you, but you can use this as an excuse to hide Zhang Xiao even more thoroughly.

Even if we bring you to justice in the future, it will still take a lot of time and effort to search for him everywhere.

Instead of doing that, let's just play along and see what tricks you're up to.

"When did you start conspiring with me to put on this act?" Zhang Xuren turned his gaze to Pei Zhiwei, his eyes filled with inquiry.

Pei Zhiwei gently shook her head: "There was no deliberate collusion."

It was only the broken leg that was later given to me that made me discover the flaw.

Even though you've noticed the length and width of your feet, because everyone walks differently and puts pressure on different points, the calluses on the soles and heels will also be different, making it easy to spot something amiss.

I originally intended to tell you about this while you were still 'unconscious,' but the prince secretly stopped me.

In that instant, I knew that the prince had already seen through everything.

Since he hasn't exposed me, he must have other plans. So naturally, I'll go along with the prince's wishes and continue the charade."

"So, I was the last one to discover it?" Xie Ji sat on his horse, looking ashamed.

"It's not that I've discovered anything wrong with you, Lord Zhang, but rather that I've discovered something wrong with our Prince Rui and Lady Pei."

Especially our Prince Rui, I grew up with him since childhood, how could I not know what kind of person he is?

If you tell him to go back to Yaoguangyuan, he will actually drag me back to Yaoguangyuan.

Even His Majesty's words might not carry such weight with him, let alone a mere prefect like you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Yunzhan suddenly coughed and glared at him warningly.

Xie Ji quickly changed the subject: "That's why I let him pull me into the carriage without any resistance."

After we got into the carriage, he wrote on my palm, instructing me to pretend to be angry with them, to avoid their surveillance, and to go out of the city to arrange for the Huainan army.

"Or do you really think I'm some coward who only takes his anger out on the servants when he's upset?"

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar, growing louder as it approached, like muffled thunder rolling across the ground, making the soil beneath one's feet tremble slightly.

The officers instinctively looked in the direction of the sound and saw a burst of firelight emerging from the darkness. The sound of horses' hooves grew closer and closer, accompanied by the clanging of weapons, clearly indicating that a large number of troops were approaching.

Zhang Xuren's eyes lit up instantly, and a sinister smile gradually appeared on his face. He reined in his horse and took two steps back. "Xiao Yunzhan, have you forgotten? This is Yangdu City, my Yangdu City, Zhang Xuren's city!"

If you all die tonight, I will still be the governor of Yangdu!

Why do you think I should waste my time here with you?

Xie Ji pointed his spear at Zhang Xuren with a whoosh, the tip of the spear reflecting a cold glint in the moonlight. "Zhang Xuren, how dare you!"

"Hahaha..." Zhang Xuren laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.

"Since you don't want to give me a way out, then let's fight to the death!"