Chapter 445 Why Arrest Me

The sun sets in the west, and the afterglow shines on the official road outside Qingzhou City.

Zhu Lan and his group slowly approached Songtao County.

Inside the carriage, Zhu Qingyan saw Zhu Lan just looking at the scene outside the window without saying a word. He guessed that she was planning her actions tonight, so he smiled and said:

"Relax, Yin'er told me personally that Songtao County Magistrate Chao Tian and Lu Tongpan are close friends. I can absolutely trust him. I will go see him later."

Zhu Lan nodded slightly to her and his eyes fell on Wen Yu who was resting with his eyes closed.

Wen Yu seemed to sense her gaze, his long eyelashes trembled twice, and he slowly opened his eyes.

"Master Wen, you can rest for a while when you get to the post station. I will change the medicine for you. I am afraid you will have to travel a lot tonight."

Wen Yu smiled gently and comforted him:

"I'm fine, don't worry."

Soon, the convoy stopped in front of the Songtao County Post Station, and Li Moxu stepped forward to ask everyone to get off.

Zhu Qingyan jumped down lightly, and Zhu Lan behind her said to her:

"Master Wen's wound has split open. Qingyan, go to the clinic and buy some medicine for wounds."

Li Moxu immediately said after hearing this: "Oh, how can we trouble the Imperial Envoy with such a small matter..."

"It's okay. I've been sitting in the carriage for a long time. It's a good opportunity to stretch my body."

She waved to a few people with her back to them and walked into the county town.

After entering the post station, Li Moxu was busy arranging dinner.

Zhu Lan pretended to chat with Wen Yu, but actually he was secretly watching Li Moxu's every move.

In less than an hour, dinner was ready, but Zhu Qingyan had not returned yet.

Zhu Lan called the postmaster and asked how long it would take to travel from here to the nearest medical clinic and back.

The postmaster replied, "Sir, Songtao County is small, but the nearest clinic is only half an incense stick's walk away. Even if you walk all over the city, an hour will be enough."

Li Moxu also felt something was a little strange when he heard this.

"Your Excellency, you and Master Wen may have your meal first. I will send someone to look for him."

Zhu Lan shook his head. "She has always been cautious and would not delay for so long without reason. I am afraid she has run into trouble. I have something important to discuss with her. Sir Li, please go and look for her in person."

"This..." Li Moxu hesitated, but couldn't refuse, so he had to agree.

"I have never been to Songtao County before, and I am unfamiliar with the place. I will return to my room and take the official seal and documents with me..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lan immediately said angrily:

"How big is Songtao County? I asked you to find someone, but why are you so slow?

If you really don't want to go, I will go myself."

Zhu Lan stood up and Li Moxu hurriedly apologized, "My Lord, I misunderstood you. Please sit down. I will go right away, right away..."

After saying this, he put on his cloak and hurried out of the post station.

After Li Moxu left, Zhu Lan called the postmaster again and asked him:

"Do you have any coarse cotton-padded clothes? The more worn out the better."

"Yes, yes, I will go find it right away."

…

Following the postman's instructions, Li Moxu found the nearest medical clinic.

He described Zhu Qingyan's attire, and the doctor said that indeed such a girl had come to buy medicine just now, and he remembered that she went east after leaving the house.

Li Moxu was puzzled. The way back to the post station was clearly to the west, so why was she going east?

After saying goodbye to the doctor, Li Moxu continued to ask eastward and finally met an old man selling charcoal.

The old man said that he saw Zhu Qingyan walk into a deserted yard opposite, and he never saw her again after that.

Then Li Moxu found the yard that the charcoal seller had mentioned. The gate was not locked. Li Moxu stood at the door, hesitating whether to go in.

Recalling that Zhu Lan had said he had something important to discuss with Zhu Qingyan, and had just blamed himself, if he returned empty-handed without finding that person, he would probably be scolded again.

Alas, a higher-ranking official can crush people to death.

Li Moxu had no choice but to go up and knock on the door. He waited for a while, but when no one answered in the yard, he had to push the door open and walk in.

The yard is not big, with only two rooms, neither of which has lights on. There are weeds growing outside, and it looks desolate and bleak.

"Bang!"

A gust of cold wind blew, and the two wooden doors slammed shut behind Li Moxu, frightening him so much that he shivered.

The night was dark and the fields were deserted. Li Moxu suppressed the goosebumps on his body and bravely went into the house to check, but found that -

The room was completely empty, with no sign of Zhu Qingyan.

But what the old charcoal-selling man said just now didn’t seem like a lie. Could it be that Zhu Qingyan had been here and left?

Li Moxu really couldn't guess Zhu Qingyan's intention, but he had no choice but to quietly retreat from the courtyard, close the two unlocked wooden doors again, and prepare to continue looking for Zhu Qingyan's whereabouts.

Just then, a chaotic sound of footsteps accompanied by flames sounded from behind him.

"You bold thief, how dare you break into a private house at night? Arrest him!" A man who looked like a captain of the police pointed at Li Moxu and shouted loudly, holding a torch.

Li Moxu was startled and shouted:

"Stop! Do you know who I am?"

The head constable walked up to him, with the torch almost touching his face. After seeing his features clearly, he frowned and asked:

"Who are you?"

Li Moxu straightened his back and said seriously:

"I am a grain supervisor who came with the imperial guards, and my rank is the fifth grade. How dare you be so presumptuous!"

"Imperial Guard? Fifth rank?" The captain seemed to have heard a huge joke.

"I've been in the government office all day, how come I haven't heard that the imperial guards are coming?

OK, you say you are an official, what's your proof?"

Li Moxu paused for a moment, "I don't have the certificate with me!"

The head constable sneered and said:

"Okay, stop pretending. How can a fifth-rank official from the capital come to our Songtao County to break into people's homes by picking locks?

You are kidding me!"

He raised his hand, "Brothers--"

"Wait!" Li Moxu shouted, pointing at the other party angrily:

"The Imperial Envoy is staying at your Songtao County Posthouse right now. If you don't believe me, just follow me and I will bring the official documents for you to check."

"What are you looking at? I think you are just stalling for time!"

The head constable stopped talking to him and waved his hand: "Tie him up and take him back to the government office!"

After an incense stick of time, they arrived at the county jail.

Deep in the dark corridor, the sound of banging on the iron door echoed, as well as Li Moxu's furious roar:

"Where is your county magistrate? I want to see the county magistrate!"

"Tell your county magistrate to come out and see me!"

"I am a fifth-rank official appointed by the imperial court. What rights do you have to arrest me?"

The back hall of the county government office.

The captain of the police knocked on the door and walked in. In addition to the county magistrate Chao Tian, ​​there was also a strange young woman in the hall.

The woman was sitting, but her master was standing.

He didn't dare to ask more questions and lowered his head and said:

"Master, the guy we just arrested has been shouting in the prison that he wants to see you, saying that he is a fifth-rank official. In my opinion, should we investigate first..."

"Don't pay attention to it." County Magistrate Chao Tian said in a deep voice with his hands behind his back.

“Put him in a solitary cell and don’t neglect his food and drink.

If he insists on seeing me, just tell him that I'm out on business and won't be in the county these days. Don't say anything else."

"...Yes." The captain took the order and left.

Zhu Qingyan then stood up from his chair and said to Chao Tian:

"Mr. Chao, thank you for your help today."

Chao Tian immediately responded, "Your Excellency, the Imperial Envoy is too kind, but..."

Seeing his hesitation, Zhu Qingyan immediately said:

"Don't worry, if the court investigates this matter, I will take the responsibility for you."

"No, I'm not worried about that." Chao Tian explained quickly, "It's just... this can only delay him for two or three days at most. Otherwise, it's unreasonable."

"That's enough." Zhu Qingyan nodded to him and walked out.

When she returned to the post station, Zhu Lan and Wen Yu had changed into tattered clothes and even smeared dust on their faces. They looked like two refugees. Even Zhu Qingyan almost failed to recognize them.

"Is everything done?" Zhu Lan asked.

Zhu Qingyan nodded:

"I didn't expect that this little magistrate of Songtao County is such a responsible person. Don't worry, the man surnamed Li is in prison, and he won't be able to send out a single word.

Those guys in Qingzhou wanted to hide the truth, but they definitely didn't expect that we have this trick to cut off their support!"

Zhu Lan threw a tattered cotton coat to Zhu Qingyan.

"Hurry up and change your clothes. Let's take advantage of the night and set out to explore Qingzhou again.

I want to see what Qingzhou City looks like after the imperial envoy leaves!"