I am her husband and I can't bear to see her being taken advantage of.
"Investigate the Prime Minister's matter. County Magistrate Dai has other arrangements, and General Xie is also within the scope of investigation. Master Su's matter is ours."
Constable Peng and Constable Wu were ordered by County Magistrate Dai to come to Su's house to investigate the case and ask Su's family for confessions so that Su Huaihai could be found as soon as possible.
Mrs. Su smiled widely, her dark eye bags slightly bulging, her large eyelids puffy. "The two officers have done their duty conscientiously, and we will tell them everything we know."
Before and after her father disappeared, Su Qingli spent the most time negotiating with Tan Xi. At that time, the old couple hoped that she could live a stable life in the Qi Mansion and have children for the Qi family, so Su Qingli had no intention of returning to the Su residence.
The last time she saw Su Huaihai was because of the matter between Qi Mansion and Tan Xi. She had always believed that it was a rumor spread by Liu Meishuang who bribed the servants in Qi Mansion.
Two days after their unpleasant parting, she returned home from a walk and found that her father had disappeared without a trace.
"Li'er's father was furious about Li'er that day, so his son-in-law Qi took Li'er to the mountains to relax. Zhaoming and I thought her father might have gone out with his daughter and son-in-law, but he wasn't among those who came back."
Mrs. Su sighed and burst into tears as she spoke.
"Mother, don't be sad. Father will be found safe and sound." Su Qingli hugged Mrs. Su and gently comforted her who was once in a low mood.
Constable Wu caught up with Tan Xi, who was being vague about his details. "Where is this Mr. Tan Xi, the man Miss Su mentioned, from? Do you know where he lives?"
"I didn't ask any further questions. I have an appointment with him tomorrow. If you two officials want to meet him, I can introduce him. He suffers from a heart disease, has a rough life, and has a disfigured face. There is no way he would attack my father."
Su Qingli shook her head affirmatively. She had only known Tan Xi for a short time, but she firmly believed that Tan Xi had good character and had no reason to hurt her father at all.
Constable Peng was quick-witted, reflecting on Su Qingli's previous confessions. "Miss Su, are you saying that Miss Liu and the Prime Minister were childhood sweethearts, and that he quietly imprisoned your father just to vent Miss Liu's anger?"
"That's possible." Su Qingli had never mentioned her disgraceful experience as a concubine in the Prime Minister's Mansion. Now she was about to reveal her deal with Fu Xuechen. It was a stain on both parties, so it was better not to talk about it.
Constable Wu felt that Su Qingli's speculation was absurd and bizarre. "The Prime Minister is upright and honest. He would never let go of such a trivial matter, let alone a private matter like yours."
"Miss Su, the case of Master Su's corruption was not caused by the Prime Minister's interference or abuse of power for personal gain. It was Master Su's insatiable greed. If the Emperor and the Prime Minister do not punish him, they will be doing a disservice to the people of this world."
Constable Peng guessed part of the reason. It might be worthy of criticism that the Prime Minister abandoned Su Qingli, the daughter of a corrupt official, but Su Huaihai was indeed greedy and embezzled countless public funds. It was a great blessing that he was not beheaded in public.
"My father was greedy, and he certainly deserved it, but that's no reason for him to disappear without a trace. His title has been stripped, and he's become an ordinary citizen. I can't imagine who would kidnap him."
Su Qingli did not deny that Su Huaihai was corrupt. She initially thought that Fu Xuechen had overthrown the Marquis' Mansion out of revenge.
Later, after her investigation, she found that it was an indisputable fact that her father had embezzled and committed crimes to a huge amount of money.
Despite this, Su Qingli still felt that Fu Xuechen was a suspect in the crime. During the short one or two months that she was a concubine in the Prime Minister's Mansion, Fu Xuechen's despicable nature was fully exposed in front of her, and he often used her family to threaten her into submission.
"Miss Su, we can't jump to conclusions about Mr. Su's disappearance. Our government is also investigating. We will make the decision for you and give you a reasonable explanation."
Before leaving, Constable Wu gave Su Qingli some advice. He had no right to comment on other people's private affairs and could only proceed from the perspective of impartiality.
"Goodbye, my two officers."
The mother and daughter sent the two men to the door of Su's house.
After the two men had gone far away, Madam Su, still apprehensive, confessed her feelings to her daughter: "From what these two officials said, the Prime Minister seems to have a good reputation in the officialdom."
Su Qingli supported Madam Su and walked slowly towards the main hall. "Mother also heard that they were somewhat protecting the Prime Minister."
"Even though our Marquis' Mansion was forcibly transformed into the Prime Minister's Mansion and they were driven out of their own home, they didn't even think that the Prime Minister would be the one who kidnapped your father."
Mrs. Su couldn't help but sigh. It was obvious that Fu Xuechen had made an enemy of their Su family and there was a deep grudge between them. However, the people in the yamen flattered Fu Xuechen everywhere, and their words and deeds seemed to show that they regarded him as an upright old man.
"It's probably because the Prime Minister disguised himself well in front of them, so he was able to win the love of many people and officials." The Fu Xuechen in Su Qingli's eyes was very different from the Fu Xuechen seen by the officials on duty.
This was also the result of Qi Jinqian's indoctrination and guidance, which led to Su Qingli's misunderstanding of Fu Xuechen becoming deeper and deeper.
In the county government office, Fu Xuechen hid behind a screen, and County Magistrate Dai was also inside. Two constables reported everything they had found in Su's house.
"You said that this Tan Xi you mentioned is the most suspicious." County Magistrate Dai has been handling cases of all sizes in the capital for many years and is very perceptive.
When he heard the name Tan Xi, Fu Xuechen's fingers trembled slightly.
"Miss Su said she will meet with this Tan Xi tomorrow. Should we follow her? I'm worried that there might be something wrong with Tan Xi and that Miss Su might get into trouble."
Constable Peng expressed his willingness to go with Su Qingli to protect her life.
Su Huaihai disappeared without a reason and has not been found yet. To be on the safe side, I am afraid that Su Qingli will also encounter an accident.
"You should follow her tomorrow. Don't let anyone discover your whereabouts. Be careful." County Magistrate Dai thought for a while and felt that Constable Peng's idea was correct.
Since the county government has taken over this case, it has an obligation to protect the victim's family.
Fu Xuechen stood by without saying a word, waiting for County Magistrate Dai to finish his business so that he could confess and receive leniency.
After the two detectives finished their reports, County Magistrate Dai dismissed them. "Your Excellency, I have overstepped my bounds. It is my duty to do so. I beg you to cooperate with the authorities in the investigation."
Fu Xuechen's eyes showed admiration. He rarely praised others. "County Magistrate Dai, you have done a great job. You are not afraid of a high-ranking official like me. You are a rare county magistrate in the capital. Baichuan has a unique vision and really knows how to select people."
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, is too kind. I am simply fulfilling my duty as an official, ensuring the peace and tranquility of the people and resolving their problems."
Magistrate Dai did not take credit for it. He bent his body slightly and answered with a bow in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.
"To be honest, I am the Tan Xi you're looking for, County Magistrate Dai. I've been hiding my identity in a roundabout way to help Miss Su escape her suffering. The Sixth Young Master Qi is not a good man. We were once husband and wife, and I can't bear to see her being used and led to eternal damnation."
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