Waves/3【Edit】

"They've all been dead for a few days."

Ye Xuanling was so shocked that she sat up from the couch. The scene from the daytime kept lingering in her mind. There was a dark pool under her eyes, and her previously bright pupils were now filled with red bloodshot.

She forced herself to calm down and wiped the sweat from her forehead. It was already midnight, she hadn't turned off the lights, and the surroundings were silent.

Her breathing seemed faster than usual.

Before coming to Kanzhou, Ye Xuanling sold the snake grass she had collected from Dongdao Mountain to a group of traveling merchants for money. During the day, she went to Kanzhou Prefecture, but she didn't intend to disclose her identity as an Anping County resident. However, the two officials she met on the way claimed that the entire herb had died of an epidemic.

But she clearly saw that some people had no signs of the disease.

She walked forward, smiling flatteringly at the two officials, "I just heard you say which county has been struck by an epidemic and everyone has died? Could it be Anping? A while ago, my second master told me that he'd take some time off to go back to Anping to visit my aunt."

The two exchanged glances at Ye Xuanling in surprise. "Miss, please accept my condolences. This happened in Anping County two days ago... well, I won't say anymore."

Ye Xuanling didn't expect that these two people were still considering her feelings. She thought that it should be easy to get information from these two people over the air.

"Second Master, has it been decided? No one is left in Anping County?" She frowned slightly, her eyes drooping, and she looked like she was about to cry.

One of the officers waved his hand and sighed, "Our old clerk just received the news a few days ago. He was heartbroken. He's already very old and has a lot on his mind, and now after hearing this, he's taken to his bed."

Ye Xuanling's expression shifted slightly as she continued to ask, "Heartache?"

Another person continued what this person said, "This old clerk is also from Anping. I heard that his grandson is less than five years old. It is normal for him to be heartbroken." The two sighed over the passing of the child, with regretful expressions on their faces.

After finishing her conversation with the two men and waiting for the official to walk away, Ye Xuanling's expression suddenly turned cold. Looking at the provincial government office, she felt relieved.

Winter snowflakes come quietly, and the ground outside the window is covered with white snow.

She remembered that she had closed the window before going to bed, so why was it open again? She didn't pay much attention to it, thinking that maybe it was just the cold wind that blew it open.

After being awakened by the dream, she couldn't fall asleep again, so she sat at the table and poured herself a glass of water.

Old clerk.

She had no idea there was someone working in the prefecture. There were so many things she didn't know, but this person was a breakthrough. Since the prefecture had already closed the case for Anping County, did the governor know there was a hidden story behind it that led to the case being closed so hastily?

The books in the secret room are nowhere to be found. Based on this fact, Liu Dakou must be alive.

She didn't close the window, letting the cold wind hit her face. This was the only way she could be sure she was still alive. But surprisingly, she didn't feel the chill. The room was so quiet that even the sound of the wind outside the window was so harsh when it came in.

At daybreak, Ye Xuanling washed up and walked towards the west side of the city. She had already heard from the inn that the old clerk from the prefecture originally lived next to the government office, but had taken two days' leave and returned to the outskirts of the city.

Just cross a long street and go straight out. However, West City is not as lively as the city center, with less traffic and only a few people around.

The outskirts of the city were very different from the inner city of Kanzhou. Ye Xuanling wasn't sure how to describe it. With its numerous residential houses, it looked like a small county town. It was the middle of the night, and wisps of smoke drifted from the kitchens of the houses as they cooked over fires. In the courtyards, artisans were busy crafting wooden and iron tools, weaving strips of bamboo into baskets and winnowing baskets.

The warm winter sun was quite dazzling, shining directly on Ye Xuanling.

There is a river in Kanzhou, and the river has branches. There is a small river flowing on the outskirts of the city. The golden sound on the surface of the river folds and changes with the movements of the woman washing clothes. The movement of the stick in her hand never stops, and the sound is powerfully transmitted to her ears.

He walked forward, bent over, and asked the woman in front of him, "Auntie, do you know which family the old clerk Li is from?"

The woman seemed dazzled, with a few tears on her face. She frowned and squinted at Ye Xuanling: "Miss, are you looking for that old man Li Si?"

Ye Xuanling pretended to be obedient, nodded, smiled and said "hmm".

The woman put down the stick in her hand and pointed her in a direction: "That's the house. I'm afraid that old man hasn't left the house for a long time."

"Thank you very much."

Ye Xuanling knocked on the door, but no one answered.

After waiting for a while, she found a window that was tightly closed but had a small hole. She didn't intentionally look through the hole to see what was happening inside, but instead whispered, "Li Shuli?"

The person lying on the couch was not asleep. He just kept his eyes open and looked at the sky quietly. His weathered eyes did not even blink. He turned sideways and rested his arms under his head.

"Li Shuli, Anping is an empty city, there is another hidden story." Ye Xuanling said calmly facing the cracked wooden door.

"Who are you?" Li Si stood up from the couch with a "bang". Without waiting for her answer, he opened the door directly. The person in front of him was a girl of seventeen or eighteen years old.

This girl was also pretty, her face like a pear blossom in full bloom in spring, her face natural and simple. She wore a jade-green cotton and linen jacket, with only a white silk string tied in her hair, giving her a youthful and innocent look. Her hair blew in the morning breeze, and her round eyes were full and bright, clear and bright. However, the tinge of cyan beneath her eyes betrayed her fatigue, haggardness, and frailty.

The snow falling on the branches dyes the sky frost, and the jade-clear words are pure and clear.

Ye Xuanling nodded slightly: "I heard that Li Shuli is from Anping County?"

Li Si: "Yes, what is the reason why the girl is looking for me?"

Li Si paused for a moment, waiting for the man in front of him to explain his origins and reasons. The girl in front of him was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "My great-aunt is also in Anping, but Anping County is plagued by an epidemic. Today, I heard from the officials that Anping County has been wiped out. Li Shuli must be very distressed.

I have come here to relieve your worries."

"Jieyou?" Li Si's movements were unnatural and reserved, with very small movements. He glanced sideways at the outside of the courtyard, "Miss, please come in."

He motioned her into the house.

The room was plainly furnished, with few fine appliances and dim lighting. Li Si opened the window, allowing a clearer view. There was a bit of spider web hanging in the corner of the room.

Ye Xuanling didn't move much while observing these things. Li Si asked her to sit down and poured her a cup of tea.

"Do you know the girl's name?"

She smiled: "Li Xuanling."

"I really don't know what the girl is talking about."

The man before her had a pale face, wrinkles around his eyes, and looked like he was already in his prime. She had considered showing up herself and handing over a letter, but after much thought, she decided the best approach was to establish a good relationship with Li Si and obtain the paperwork.

On closer inspection, this document is just an excuse. Even at the fastest possible speed, it would take two and a half days to get from Anping to Kanzhou. The official claimed to have received the news from Anping two days ago, but who could have passed on the information even before that? Liu Dakou, that's simply impossible. Who knows where he's escaped to and is now enjoying himself?

The official also heard that the information might be wrong, and that the officials of Kanzhou had gone down to investigate and used this as evidence to abolish the county and exterminate the people.

There should be something recorded in the inspection document.

"Does Li Shuli have any family members in Anping County?" Ye Xuanling didn't answer his question directly, but instead asked, "Does anyone remember the circumstances of their deaths?"

Li Si nodded: "Yes."

"I copied the inspection documents."

"Does anyone know what this plague is?" Ye Xuanling acted anxious, shaking off the nervousness and uneasiness in her heart. She pretended nothing had happened and answered Li Si's question, "I'm afraid Anping isn't deserted because of the plague."

"No?!" Li Si was shocked. "But this document is recorded by me. The people in Anping died in a horrific way. Their bodies were ulcerated and covered with pus-filled ulcers."

After saying this, Li Si regained his composure and asked, "Where are you from, Miss Li? Why do you know so much about this?"

Ye Xuanling lied without blinking, "I'm registered in Kanzhou, but I've never settled down, so I've wandered around the beautiful country. My great-aunt is from Anping, and I saw her seven days ago before I left for Dianhai. She didn't contract the disease."

Li Si thought the girl's words were strange: "Just because she didn't get sick seven days ago doesn't mean she won't get sick during this period."

"Of course I know, but my great-aunt doesn't like noise and has always stayed at home. She never goes out." To prevent the lie from being too exposed, she immediately added, not giving him a chance to breathe. "My great-aunt doesn't have any relatives or friends in Anping. After learning about the epidemic, she certainly wouldn't go out, nor would she let anyone in."

"Scribe Li, may I see that document?"

Li Si's mind was in turmoil. This man was eloquent and clearly well-prepared. He could produce the document, but the underlying message was vague and he couldn't be sure. But the child inside him, no more than five years old, was begging him to find out the truth.

After much thought, he agreed. However, he couldn't take the document out. If he really wanted to read it, he could only go to the state capital and memorize it, and then make a copy when he got out.

After confirmation, Li Si asked Ye Xuanling to wait for him in the city, and he would come out in half an hour at most.

During this time, Ye Xuanling bought paper and pen and wrote down the recent events.

First, he found someone at a mass grave. The next day, an epidemic broke out. He then borrowed a book from Liu Dakou and searched for medicine. Returning to Anping, he found it deserted. After parting with Ji Yan, he arrived at the provincial capital and heard that the Anping case had been filed and the epidemic had spread. He fabricated a lie and asked for documents.

Ye Xuanling drew many circles around the three words: picking up people, borrowing books, and documents.

Rescuing Ji Yan from the mass graves and then the ulcer attack—the timing couldn't have been so coincidental. Furthermore, Master had said at the time that he wasn't an ordinary person. Ye Xuanling couldn't quite tell in what way. But this man could be a soldier or... a bandit? This conclusion was drawn based on the scarred man's clothing that day.

Liu Dakou had said the book she'd given him was priceless, yet he was willing to lend it to her rather than let her copy it and leave without it. She hadn't been suspicious at the time, but now, she was filled with doubts. She wasn't sure whether it was true or not. It was said that the red spots on the master's body should have faded after drinking the medicine, but on the day of his burial, his body still looked like someone who had contracted the disease.

If the book is true, it would not be true unless the master was killed before he recovered from his illness.

If it is fake, Liu Dakou must be hiding many secrets.

The third point is about the inspection documents. Li Si said that the document was copied by him personally and was sent to him by officials after inspection. This shows that in the eyes of Kanzhou Prefecture, no one in Anping County was alive.

But she had seen the cause of death, and if the document was also forged, then there would be something wrong with the entire Kanzhou Prefecture!

He paused for a moment with the wolf-hair brush in his hand, and the brush that had just been dipped in ink was suspended in the air. Inadvertently, a drop of ink fell on the white paper and spread, spreading and infecting the lines of the white paper.

Finally she wrote an official title on it.

prefect.