“Princess, this old servant is thinking that since we haven’t been able to find the Shen family for so long, they must be hiding somewhere, and there must be someone helping them.”

The wet nurse served hot tea, knelt respectfully to the side, and shared her analysis.

Princess Qu Ling rolled her eyes: "Do you need to tell me? Someone must have helped us, but I've searched the entire Qingyang Town so many times, and I still can't find it!"

She knew, of course, that someone was secretly helping them.

But what good will it do to know?

Didn't she still not find it?

"Princess, think about it, we've searched so many places, haven't we missed something?"

"What, can't you speak properly? If you can't speak properly, you don't need a mouth."

Princess Qu Ling glared venomously at the wet nurse.

Is he just making her guess with only a sentence or two?

Who is the master after all?

The wet nurse inwardly groaned; she had hoped the princess would guess the answer so she could flatter her.

But unexpectedly, the shot hit the horse's leg.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness, but I feel that our people have never contacted the county government. Perhaps the Shen family is hiding there."

The wet nurse kowtowed once, and then spoke earnestly.

We haven't been able to find them; we haven't seen a single trace of them.

That's rather bizarre.

Therefore, the most likely explanation is that the place they searched for did not contain the Shen family's property.

Upon careful reflection, it's clear that none of their people in Qingyang Town ever went to the county government to conduct a thorough investigation.

“…You mean that insignificant official dares to outwardly comply with my wishes while inwardly defying me?” Princess Qu Ling was greatly surprised.

I always thought that Princess Quling had never doubted Magistrate Zhang.

Because that thing was always obsequious, Princess Qu Ling, though only ten years old, was used to seeing people with such faces.

Therefore, she never took Magistrate Zhang seriously, because she knew that such a person wouldn't dare to do anything if there were benefits involved or his status held over him.

"If that's not the case, how do you explain why our people haven't been able to find the Shen family? And the timing of the magistrate's injury was too coincidental, and that wild girl... she's only so young, how did she escape from the prison? And how could she assassinate the magistrate?"

More importantly, why would she assassinate the county magistrate? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

The wet nurse felt increasingly uncomfortable with the situation, which is why she decided to come and tell the princess.

Princess Qu Ling felt increasingly uneasy, and immediately ordered, "Guards! Guards! Send everyone to the county government office and turn it upside down! Find the person in the first place!"

Soon, the people brought by Princess Quling followed her to the county government office.

A large crowd packed the county government office to the brim.

Before anyone could come out, Princess Qu Ling gave the order: "Search! Don't miss any corner!"

Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we'll find that person for me today.

"yes!"

"Princess, Your Highness, what are you doing?" Fang Ze hurriedly led his men out, not daring to stop them, and could only bite the bullet and ask the princess.

Princess Qu Ling sneered, "You know perfectly well what you've done. Do you think I'm a fool?"

These words made Fang Ze's heart pound. He didn't dare to look up and immediately knelt down, crying out his innocence: "Your Highness, Your Highness is wise. No one in the county government dared to disobey Your Highness's orders."

What has the princess found out?

That shouldn't be the case.

Just insist you don't know.

Princess Qu Ling ignored him and instead summoned everyone in the county government office, including the seriously injured magistrate, as well as the sweepers and cooks.

Then he said loudly:

"I know that someone in the county government has hidden the Shen family! How dare they mock me like this! I will not only kill this person, but also his entire family!"

And every one of you here is an accomplice! If any of you can step forward and tell me what you know, as long as the facts are true, I, the princess, will forgive and forget.

Otherwise... ask your whole family if their necks are tough enough!

Princess Qu Ling stood high on the platform, her expression arrogant and indifferent.

If she can't find Shen Liuliu today, she's going to go on a killing spree!

I refuse to believe that even if we kill everyone in Qingyang Town, we still won't be able to find Shen Liuliu!

"Princess?"

"Cough cough cough..."

The magistrate exclaimed in surprise, followed by a long string of coughs, as if he were coughing up his internal organs.

Princess Qu Ling sneered.

The wet nurse immediately lit an incense stick and said calmly, "If you don't speak within this short time, it will be of no use later."

After he finished speaking, no one said anything.

But soon, some people couldn't hold on any longer.

A constable stood up and said, "Princess, I... I saw Fang Ze leave the county office two days ago. I don't know what he's been up to!"

Fang Ze suddenly turned around and looked at the other person, his sharp eyes seeming to cleave the person in two!

Once one person steps forward, many others will follow suit.

“I…I saw it too, Fang Ze sneaked away from Qingyang Town…”

"The county government kitchen always makes more food than it needs, but there's never any leftovers..."

"On the day the adult was stabbed, I saw..."

With everyone chiming in, they quickly exposed Fang Ze and his group completely.

Although, no one has concrete evidence.

But when pieced together from countless clues, it's easy for people to speculate in a certain direction...

Fang Ze was drenched in cold sweat. Lord Zhang lay on the stretcher, his face still normal, but he was filled with remorse.

If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess.

"Very good, very good. Men, bring Fang Ze, that other guy, and this Lord Zhang out here! Give them a good beating!"

Princess Qu Ling sat down and called out haughtily.

She won't kill these three people now. She wants to wait until she finds the Shen family, especially Shen Liuliu, and make them watch with their own eyes as those who helped them... lose their heads!

That would be great!

“Princess, they are talking nonsense. I did leave Qingyang Town, but it was to visit my mother-in-law when she was sick. Everyone knows that.”

Fang Ze hurriedly protested his innocence.

Lord Zhang also said, "Your Highness, I don't even know the Shen family. It's impossible for me to almost lose my life for them, is it?"

Judging from his pale face, you can tell how vicious those two stabs were, right?

Is acting really this good?

"Heh. Hit!"

Will Princess Qu Ling listen to these things she doesn't want to hear?

Obviously not.

With a wave of his hand, some of the men from the county government boldly pushed Fang Ze and the other two to the front, and then started beating them with boards!

Fang Ze and the other man were alright, but Lord Zhang was just a weak scholar who hadn't fully recovered from his knife wound. He fainted after a few blows.

But the beating continued!

What's even more tragic is that the person wielding the board was a constable from their county government!

"Princess!"

The people who searched the county government office are back!

Princess Qu Ling unconsciously sat up straight.