Chapter 28 Sir, please dine with me

Prefect Yang replied calmly, "I just learned about this this morning and rushed to the yamen to investigate. It was the jailers who were lazy and dared to drink while on duty, which allowed the thief to escape. I have punished those jailers and sent people to track down the thief's whereabouts."

Xiao Zhinian was half-believing and half-doubting, and thought deeply: "From the tone of the thief, it seems that he knows you. Tell me, do you know that person?"

Prefect Yang's eyes flickered without leaving a trace, and he bowed and said calmly, "I don't know him."

Shen Zhejiang glanced at him sharply, knowing that it was inappropriate for him to interrupt in this situation, so he touched the back of Xiao Zhinian's hand under his sleeve to remind him.

Xiao Zhinian understood what he meant, and held Shen Zhejiang's hand in return, his tone as cold as ice: "Have you thought clearly about the consequences of deceiving me?"

"I dare not hide it!"

"That's good to know. Take me to the prison to have a look. There is no such thing as a thief who can escape unscathed. If the thief dares to escape, he will definitely leave some clues behind."

Prefect Yang stepped aside and let Xiao Zhinian go first.

Han Weiwei saw that they were about to leave one by one, and she had no place to complain about her grievances. She felt that Xiao Zhinian's words were more important, so she knelt down in front of him and said, "Sir, please make the decision for me!"

Before Xiao Zhinian could say anything, Yang Zhifu said in a dignified manner, "You heard what I said just now. The thief who killed your grandfather has fled. I am trying my best to catch him. You can go home and wait. I will let you know when I catch him."

Han Weiwei cried to Xiao Zhinian, "Sir! Please help me! If we can't find the thief, my father will die with regret. I am alone and helpless in this world and I don't want to live anymore!"

Xiao Zhinian said, "I understand. You can go back first."

Then he left.

Han Weiwei chased after him, shouting, "Sir! Sir!!"

"Miss Han," Chen Zhejiang couldn't bear it, so he helped her up and whispered, "Here are fifty taels of silver. You can use it to make a coffin for Han Aong and bury him properly. If it's not enough, just ask me. As for catching the murderer, I will take care of it for you."

As he spoke, he took out a bamboo green purse from his sleeve and stuffed it into Han Weiwei's hand.

Xiao Zhinian glanced sideways at the purse, somewhat displeased.

Why would Shen Zhejiang give his things to others? He also wants them.

"No, Mr. Shen, I can't accept it!" Han Weiwei refused.

"Take it."

After pushing and shoving each other, especially seeing that her and Chen Zhejiang's hands were about to stick together, Xiao Zhinian felt annoyed. He reached out and snatched the purse, then grabbed a handful of silver bills and slapped them into Han Weiwei's hand, saying quickly: "It's settled. Here is one thousand taels, take it, and I will give you an explanation for the rest. Okay, I have business to attend to."

He was so generous that everyone around him was stunned.

Han Weiwei also stood there in a daze, at a loss as to what to do.

Prefect Yang: “…”

Shen Zhejiang: “…”

On the contrary, Xiao Zhinian was very happy. He exchanged one thousand taels for the things that Chen Zhejiang brought with him. He did not lose anything but made a profit.

What a fool.

"Yang Shihui, lead the way."

Xiao Zhinian cleared his throat and tried hard to suppress the corners of his mouth that were about to curl up to the ceiling.

-

Soon, a group of people arrived at the cell.

Prefect Yang led the way and brought them to the prison gate where the thieves were imprisoned. The scene had not been cleaned up yet, as if they were waiting for Xiao Zhinian to come and inspect.

Xiao Zhinian found chaos all around him. The iron lock fell crookedly on the ground, and the prison door was not in much better condition, with a large section broken off. It seemed that there must have been a fierce fight last night.

The jailer was drunk and let the thief escape.

"Ask the man who was on duty yesterday to come over."

Xiao Zhinian looked around and said so.

Prefect Yang said in embarrassment: "I'm afraid that's impossible. Those two committed a serious crime. I ordered them to be beaten with a hundred sticks. One of them died on the spot, and the other died not long after being carried home."

Covering the mouth was quick and skillful.

The dead cannot speak.

Xiao Zhinian said indifferently: "You are really quick in doing things."

Prefect Yang readily responded, "Thank you for your compliment, sir. I hope you can give me some advice in the future."

"Alright, leave now. You have nothing to do here," Xiao Zhinian waved his hand. "If you have anything important to say, please report it. Everyone leave now."

Before leaving, Magistrate Yang was cautious and signaled the jailer to keep a close eye on them, and then he walked away slowly.

If I say that the thief's escape has nothing to do with Magistrate Yang, who would believe it?

Just as Xiao Zhinian was thinking, a rude roar sounded in the prison.

"What are you doing? No one is allowed to touch anything here! Get out!"

Looking sideways, he saw the jailer grabbing Shen Zhejiang. Shen Zhejiang staggered back due to the sudden brute force and bumped into Xiao Zhinian.

Xiao Zhinian quickly retrieved the man, kicked the jailer, and shouted angrily, "How can I allow you to shout at me? Get out of here!"

The jailer rolled aside angrily.

Xiao Zhinian straightened Shen Zhejiang up, and quickly checked whether he was injured or not, and asked with concern: "Are you okay?"

"No problem," Shen Zhejiang shook his head, squatted down, and carefully examined the mat in the corner, "Look."

"What did you find out?" Xiao Zhinian was also squatting beside him.

"Dust."

Shen Zhejiang lowered his head and rubbed his fingertips across the mat. When he lifted it up, it was covered with dirty dust and he placed it in front of Xiao Zhinian.

Perhaps it was a telepathic connection, Xiao Zhinian instantly understood what Shen Zhejiang meant: "Sir, you mean, this mat is very dusty and no one has ever slept on it."

Chen Zhejiang nodded. To avoid being overheard by others, he had to lean over to Xiao Zhinian's ear to explain, "Luo City is usually very windy and sandy, but the prison is surrounded by high walls on all sides, so sand accumulation is inevitable, but it won't accumulate this thick overnight."

In this case...

The thief was not detained here last night!

Xiao Zhinian turned around and ordered someone to call Yang Shihui back, and Shen Zhejiang held him down silently.

Without any evidence, we can't do anything to Yang Shihui, and we have to plan carefully to catch the thief.

"Forget it. There's no rush."

Xiao Zhinian helped Shen Zhejiang stand up and was about to say something else when he heard the rumbling sound of his hungry stomach.

It was Shen Zhejiang who was hungry.

He hadn't had a drop of water from last night until now, and he rushed here in a hurry, so it would be strange if he wasn't hungry.

"......" Shen Zhejiang looked embarrassed and tilted his head and said, "I have something to do, so I will take my leave first."

Xiao Zhinian laughed secretly, and naturally took Shen Zhejiang's hand and walked out of the prison, saying: "I'm hungry. If it's not urgent, sir, please have dinner with me."