Chapter 208 What’s more, he is Mr. Xie’s teacher, and must be a scholar with extraordinary character.
When Ruan Mian heard them mention the familiar name Zhang Daoyan, he immediately pricked up his ears.
This Zhang Daoyan is the teacher of Lord Xie mentioned by Huo Zong.
"How could Zhang Xueshi, such a good man, instigate students to cheat in the provincial examination? This is a serious crime. Why can't you let it go?"
"I think this matter is not simple. Scholar Zhang is already very old. He is now in his seventies and has returned to his hometown. Since returning from Kyoto, he has been teaching poor students at home. It will not benefit him to encourage cheating."
"I also think something is fishy, but the facts are this way. His student has confessed, and even the examiner has been implicated. I'm afraid this matter will be difficult to correct."
The more they talked, the more they sighed. Even Ruan Mian, an outsider, knew that this matter was not that simple just by listening to this information.
Is it necessary for an old scholar in his seventies to take such a big risk and instigate students to cheat for personal gain?
What's more, he is Mr. Xie's teacher, and must be a scholar with extraordinary character.
Thinking of this, Ruan Mian simply spent more time waiting outside the prison.
Occasionally, he would disguise himself as a student of Zhang Daoyan and spend a lot of money to get some information.
They were unwilling to ask for money even though it was the same as the guards'. It can be imagined that Zhang Daoyan was indeed under close surveillance.
Ruan Mian knew that this teacher was important to Xie Huaian, so he simply took out more gold leaves and asked them to take better care of him with regard to food, clothing and other expenses.
When those people saw so many gold leaves, their faces changed and they smiled and became much more polite.
"Don't worry, young master. Mr. Zhang is so old, we will definitely not treat him unfairly."
Until late at night, she squatted on a tall tree outside the prison and waited quietly.
God helps those who work hard. Finally, two days later, there was movement in the prison late at night.
The big white tiger took her to the most secluded high place, where she could have a panoramic view of the prison.
After being woken up by the big white tiger, Ruan Mian saw a figure coming out of the side door of the prison and heading towards the distant back mountain at an extremely fast speed.
Ruan Mian immediately grabbed the white tiger's neck and said, "Catch up!"
With a whoosh sound, they suddenly descended. As they got closer and closer to the man, Ruan Mian felt that the figure was becoming more and more familiar.
Her eyes darkened slightly, and after the big white tiger overtook her, she was left alone, standing in front of the man.
"Guard Liu?"
As Ruan Mian's familiar voice called out, the man quickly retracted his hand, about to use his hidden weapon! Shocked, he turned and tried to leave, but Ruan Mian stopped him.
"Guard Liu! I already know it's you, why are you hiding from me? Could it be that you no longer value the kindness we showed you in the past?"
These words really forced him to stop.
Ever since Wu Heng's mutiny and the snowstorm, Guard Liu had been separated from them.
Later, after contacting General Huo, I learned that Guard Liu had joined the army, and when the road was being built, he often acted as a messenger for General Huo and the adults, passing messages back and forth.
So when Ruan Mian saw Guard Liu appear here, his first reaction was that it was related to the adults.
She stepped forward, walked up to Guard Liu, and asked directly, "Why are you here? Where is the lord? Do you know where he is?"
Guard Liu actually had the same doubts.
He looked around and asked in surprise after making sure that there was no one around Ruan Mian.
"Madam Ruan, why are you here? And... you caught up with me?"
He boasted of his good martial arts skills, and this time he visited the prison in secret.
"I'm squatting outside the prison, just wanting to find your whereabouts. I know you came to Xingjiazhou for urgent matters, and I also know that this trip is very risky."
"He's my husband, the one I'm married to. I can't just stand by and watch him, knowing he's in danger."
"But...but Madam Ruan, this matter has nothing to do with you. If a woman like you comes here rashly, you might be in danger. Some things should be discussed with you in detail after the adults have finished their work."
"It's not advisable to stay here for long. I'll take you back to a safe place first."
However, Ruan Mian stared at him intently: "If something drastic happens in Xingjiazhou, can you guarantee that my Lordship will return to me safely?"
Guard Liu paused, stunned. Ruan Mian spoke, "You can't guarantee that either. That's why I came here. Guard Liu, I want to see the Master. I'll discuss the rest after I see the Master."
Seeing Ruan Mian was so persistent, Guard Liu had no way to refuse. Moreover, she had already arrived in Xingjia, so it would be safer for her to stay with the adults.
So he agreed to take Ruan Mian to see Xie Huaian.
The two chatted along the way, and through these conversations, Ruan Mian learned that this Guard Liu had actually become Xie Huaian's right-hand man in secret.
When questioned in detail, Guard Liu said that before Xie Huaian became the prime minister, he personally overturned an unjust case for his father, but the case was later transferred to the Dali Temple, where he was assassinated.
The person who assassinated his father was from another faction of the imperial court. Xie Huaian had done him a favor, and the person could help him find out the truth about his father's death, so he secretly joined Xie Huaian's camp in Wu Heng.
This time I came to Xingjia to help the adult teacher escape from danger successfully.
"My Lord said he couldn't show up, so I'm here to help with everything."
"But someone is targeting you, sir?"
Ruan Mian asked in detail, and even Guard Liu didn't know this.
Forget it, everything will become clear when I meet Xie Huaian.
However, the reality was unexpected, because when they arrived at the house, they found that Xie Huaian was no longer there.
Seeing this, Guard Liu was shocked and immediately shouted: "Sir! Sir!"
Even though they searched the house thoroughly, they didn't find Xie Huaian, and there was not even a letter from him, nor any trace of his whereabouts.
Anxiously, an old lady from the next house limped over and told them.
"Are you here to look for the gentleman who lives in this house?"
"At noon today, I saw a group of officials come here and take him away."
When they heard the word "official officer", Ruan Mian and Guard Shi Liu looked at each other and said in unison, "Was he taken away by the official officer?"
Soon, Guard Liu felt that it was unlikely: "No, my lord is also skilled. We have another escape hatch in this house. If the officials come, my lord will definitely not follow them easily."
"unless……"
Ruan Mian subconsciously turned around and looked around the room. Sure enough, he saw a piece of unburned incense under the window paper.
She leaned in to smell it, and a faint scent lingered at her nose.
"Unless it's this."
Guard Liu came over upon hearing the sound, his brows furrowed!
"It's a scam, let's go to the government office and find out what's going on!"
"Wait! If those people are really officials, going to the government office might be helpful, but if they are pretending to be officials, they may not necessarily take you there."
"What should I do then?"
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