Su Mengyan didn't expect him to decide on the candidate so quickly. She glanced at the guards kneeling on the ground, then turned back to ask Situ Yao, "Did he really go there voluntarily?"
"Do you think I forced him to die?" Situ Yao was almost laughing at her anger. "Since you have doubts, go ask him yourself if he is willing."
Situ Yao felt that in her heart, he was not even as good as a personal guard who had no connection with her. It was really unpleasant to not be trusted by others.
Su Mengyan smiled awkwardly. Perhaps she had thought too badly of Situ Yao. Seeing that he was angry, she quickly calmed him down. "Don't be angry, sir. I don't doubt your intentions."
The guard kneeling on the ground also spoke up, "Miss Su has misunderstood the young master. I went there on my own accord."
"No one knows what the situation is over there. Have you thought it through?" Su Mengyan hoped that he would think carefully, after all, there was a possibility of sacrificing his life.
The guard nodded without hesitation, his eyes full of loyalty to his master.
Seeing this, Su Mengyan didn't know what to say, so she told him everything she knew. It took her a full hour and a half to finish.
Su Mengyan gulped down some tea to moisten her throat. She was surprised to find Situ Yao still there. She asked him, "Sir, aren't you busy today?"
"Are you really Su Mengyan?" Situ Yao's eyes were deep and calm. When she was stared at by him, it seemed as if all the secrets in her heart were seen through.
Su Mengyan almost choked on her tea and smiled awkwardly, "Why do you ask that, sir?"
"Nothing." Situ Yao suddenly let go of his guard and leaned lazily against the back of his chair. "Do you think He Xuyu is trustworthy?"
"Didn't you believe him before, sir?" Su Mengyan remembered that he had said with certainty yesterday that there was no problem with He Xuyu.
"People change." Situ Yao narrowed his eyes, the corners of his lips moving slightly, "I can't see through people's hearts either."
"In that case, let's just ignore him for now." Su Mengyan didn't want to put all her hopes on one person.
However, He Xuyu's letter arrived in the evening. The person who delivered the letter was a stranger who claimed to be He Xuyu's good friend.
Situ Yao was cautious and did not send anyone to the inn. He did not show up himself, but asked an unfamiliar personal guard to retrieve the letter.
The letter contained only one simple sentence: "The people infected with the plague are all confined in the temple on Sifang Mountain outside the city."
"Is there a Sifang Mountain outside the city?" Su Mengyan immediately asked someone to ask Zhao Qing.
The fact is, there really is a Sifang Mountain, but he doesn't know whether there is a temple there.
"Sir, I think this is extremely strange." Su Mengyan carefully recalled what He Xuyu had said before. "He is the magistrate of Qinghe County and has only been in Chu City for a short time. How could he have a good friend here?"
"Someone pretended to be him to send us a letter?" Situ Yao frowned. If that was the case, He Xuyu must have been discovered, and their situation was not good.
Su Mengyan felt that his current expression was a little scary, so she didn't nod, but chose to say comforting words, "Actually, that's not entirely true. Maybe this letter was sent by Lord He."
"We can send people to Sifang Mountain, but be careful not to fall into Wang Shouli's trap." Situ Yao made arrangements in an orderly manner. "The bait can act tonight. Send someone to warn the yamen runners and find the place where the people are hiding as soon as possible."
He wanted to proceed with both at the same time. If Sifang Mountain was real, everyone would be happy. If it was fake, Wang Shouli would probably not let He Xuyu and the others go.
The next day, the guards who had pretended to have the plague were quickly taken away, followed secretly by others. As for those who went to Sifang Mountain, they had also been gone for an hour.
Just as they were waiting for news in the inn, Wang Shouli's men suddenly came to visit.
"Lord Wang invites Master Si and Young Master Si to the prefectural governor's residence to enjoy the scenery."
Su Mengyan recognized him; he was the one who delivered the message for Wang Shouli and the others in Zuihonglou. To avoid being discovered, she hid in the back.
Situ Yao put on a gentlemanly smile and asked gently, "Are we going now?"
"The adults said we have to do it as soon as possible." He also specifically emphasized that the young master should be brought along.
Situ Yao resisted the urge to change his expression and said, "Let me go and get ready."
Su Mengyan hurriedly changed into men's clothes, adjusting her face shape while asking, "He came to us at this time, is he suspicious of something?"
"Eighty percent." Situ Yao pinched his brows, "No matter what happens, you must remember that saving your own life is the most important thing."
He had never given such serious instructions before. Su Mengyan nodded heavily. Wang Shouli specifically asked to bring her along, just to threaten Situ Yao, but it also depends on whether he has the opportunity!
Wang Shouli has now taken over the prefectural government office, and the other officials are in collusion with him, and no one thinks there is anything wrong with it.
When Situ Yao and the others went there, the gate of the prefectural mansion was wide open, like a trap waiting for them to fall into.
This time, only Wang Shouli was there. Situ Yao and the others were led over. He put down his teacup slowly and said in a very arrogant manner, "Master Si is here."
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long," Situ Yao asked doubtfully, "I wonder why you asked me to come here?"
"Enjoy the scenery." Wang Shouli stood up and walked out. "There's a place in the prefectural government where the lotus flowers are in full bloom. I wonder if Mr. Si is interested in going with us to see them?"
"Since your Excellency has given me such a gracious invitation, I would be remiss to refuse." Situ Yao followed.
Wang Shouli acted as if he had just seen Su Mengyan and said hypocritically, "If you don't want to listen to our small talk, you can just walk around the prefectural government by yourself."
Situ Yao protected her behind him, "My little brother has a naughty personality, it's safer for him to follow me."
Wang Shouli didn't say anything else. He took them around everywhere as if he really wanted to enjoy the scenery.
When Su Mengyan reached the back garden, she heard screams. She glanced at Situ Yao, but he shook his head, signaling her not to make a sound.
Wang Shouli acted as if he didn't hear anything and led them closer and closer to the screams. Su Mengyan could hear them more and more clearly, as well as the sound of sticks hitting flesh.
"What's going on, sir?" Situ Yao feigned confusion and asked jokingly, "Did sir set up a prison in the prefectural government?"
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Master Si." Wang Shouli walked over straightly. "It was a disobedient subordinate. I don't know who ordered him to help outsiders deal with me."
Su Mengyan saw clearly that the person lying on the ground covered in blood was He Xuyu. She resisted the urge to rush over and hid behind Situ Yao without making a sound.
"Is the young master scared?" Wang Shouli asked her specifically.
"This is the first time I've seen this kind of scene." Su Mengyan lowered her voice, sounding indistinguishable between male and female.
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