Chapter 382: Escape
Since he was imprisoned, Liu Jie was severely tortured. There was a period of time during which he was not interrogated because the prison guards were interrogating officials. Then it continued for more than ten days.
But he remained silent.
"What are you talking about him doing?" Jiang Kangan changed the subject: "Have you prepared everything you need to go to Nanlong?"
Jiang Wenjing: "... Isn't there still some time?"
Speaking of this, Jiang Zhiyu paused: "Yes, second brother, you have to stay in Xu's house for a while starting tomorrow."
Jiang Kangan and Jiang Wenjing also paused with her, and their hearts were immediately hanging.
Zhiyu rarely spoke like this. Could it be that Zhiyu would let him go home to protect Jiang Wenjing only if something happened that endangered his life?
The two looked serious, holding their breath waiting for Jiang Zhiyu to speak, or to listen to her thoughts.
Then, Jiang Zhiyu said, "There are too many southern gnawing insects. You must also receive training."
As soon as these words came out, the two of them were relieved.
Jiang Wenjing was even more arrogant: "Oh, what did I think you were going to say? That's it? I've suffered a lot of assassinations in the Mobei military camp, and my vigilance is definitely higher than that of my elder brother and uncle."
"You are very confident. I also think you will finish it earlier than them!"
Jiang Kangan: "..."
Hearing Jiang Zhiyu say this, Jiang Wenjing became even more excited. Zhiyu believed that he could beat his elder brother, so he would never let her down!
It's just a test, come on!
Jiang Kangan sighed and patted Jiang Wenjing on the shoulder: "Young man."
Jiang Wenjing looked at him in confusion.
...
On a cloudy night, the air was humid and heavy, like a huge rock pressing on a person's heart.
Someone ran quickly over the puddles on the ground, splashing water.
"Your Highness, this is bad. Liu Jie has escaped from the prison!"
...
Inside the prison, Jiang Kang'an looked at the broken prison door with a gloomy face. Xing Maozhi was beside him, with the same expression.
The three guards in charge of guarding were kneeling on the ground, with whip marks all over their backs, obviously having been severely punished.
"What happened? How did he escape?"
Xiao Lingyu walked in quickly from outside, looking at Jiang Kang'an with a frown.
"To answer your Highness," Xing Maozhi stepped forward with his back bent, "It was these idiots who were on duty today. According to him, they thought there weren't many people in the prison, and no one would dare to come to rob the prison, so they sneaked out to buy some wine."
"After three rounds of wine, several people fell on the table, unconscious, until one of them woke up from a dream, and then, he saw this scene."
Xiao Lingyu listened to him, his face was terribly gloomy.
"How did you become the Minister of Justice! You brought out such ignorant idiots! Don't you know how important Liu Jie is..."
Xing Maozhi was scolded by him, and could only bend his back to apologize.
"Your Highness, the most urgent task is to find the prison robber. He chose this time to act because of the rain. The rain can wash away the traces. If we delay any longer, I'm afraid there will be no clues."
Jiang Kangan stood in front of the two people, avoiding Xing Maozhi's grateful eyes, and pointed at the three jailers: "Why did you choose to drink today instead of earlier or later? I suspect that someone among these people has informed the police. Take him away and torture him severely!"
The other jailers quickly tied up the three people.
Xiao Lingyu also knew that what Jiang Kangan said was right. He suppressed his anger and observed the traces on the ground.
"The prison door was broken by an axe, and so were the handcuffs," Xiao Lingyu pointed to the cut and showed it to Jiang Kang'an: "A man with great martial arts skills who uses an axe as a weapon..." "
Your Highness, maybe he doesn't usually use an axe as a weapon, but the axe is more powerful than a knife or sword."
Xiao Lingyu's eyelashes flickered: "You have a point."
After searching for a while, there was nothing else except the clue of using an axe.
Several people looked solemn.
He turned his eyes to Xing Maozhi, and his voice was very cold: "Since Liu Jie entered the prison, he has not said a word?"
"Your Highness, yes."
Xiao Lingyu sighed lightly, closed his eyes, and opened them for a long time: "Go to your father to apologize first."
No one objected to this.
...
The rain was getting heavier, the emperor sat there, silent, and the room was silent.
The wind outside the courtyard seemed to blow into the house, and it was so cold that it made people feel chilled.
Xiao Lingyu, Jiang Kang'an, and Xing Maozhi knelt in a row.
After nearly half a cup of tea, the emperor spoke faintly: "Get up, everyone. He just ran away. Since we can catch him once, we can catch him a second time."
The second time, it's easy to say, but it's not easy.
The first time was because Prince Yu was bait, Liu Jie would come anyway, so we set a trap and just waited for him to fall into the net.
This second time, Liu Jie was on guard, and there was no bait, so how could he be caught?
These four words lingered in everyone's mind.
The emperor tapped the table with his fingertips: "You say, can Prince Yu's corpse be used as bait again?"
Everyone was terrified and looked at him in surprise.
"It was just a joke. One or two of you reacted so strongly." The emperor laughed out loud. "I won't blame you. You all look so embarrassed, as if I am going to do something to you."
The three looked at each other and curled their lips tentatively.
"It's raining hard. Go back and have a good rest tonight. We will check again tomorrow. It doesn't matter whether we can find the truth or not. The important thing is to think about how to catch him the second time."
With the emperor's guarantee, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
"However," the emperor's eyes fell on Xing Maozhi, "You, the Minister of Justice, have been so derelict in your duty. I still have to punish you."
"Just fine you half a year's salary. I will keep a close watch on you in the future. If there is a next time, I will not let you off so easily."
It's just a fine of half a year's salary, and you don't even have to suffer physical pain!
Xing Maozhi was overjoyed and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am willing to accept the punishment."
...
Even when he came out of Yu's study, Xing Maozhi still felt as if he was in a dream. He raised his lips slightly and prepared to get on the carriage under the umbrella held up by his subordinates. However, a black shadow flashed by in his peripheral vision.
Xing Maozhi paused while getting on the carriage and looked carefully.
Raindrops as big as beans hit the ground, and the figure could not be seen clearly. The subordinate holding an umbrella saw that he did not move and asked in confusion: "Sir?"
Xing Maozhi closed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking. Then he got into the carriage: "Go to Xu's Mansion."
The carriage was shaking, and the scene of the imperial prison emerged in Jiang Kang'an's mind, but he heard the coachman outside say: "Sir, Lord Xing's carriage seems to have been following us."
Jiang Kang'an opened his thin lips and said: "Don't worry about it, just let him follow."
"Yes."
When they arrived at Xu's Mansion, the rain gradually weakened and the carriage stopped, but Jiang Kang'an did not move. Until he heard a sound, Jiang Kang'an lifted the curtain and said in surprise: "What is Lord Xing doing?"