Chapter 98 Missing
After leaving the house, Xie Shouzheng inquired with the neighbors and learned that the daughter had disappeared three days ago and that the family had closed its doors to visitors and had not been doing business since then.
Also three nights ago, the neighbors heard clanging sounds coming from the courtyard of that house, and soon after, the sound of carriages passing by. After dawn, the gate was locked and no one was seen since.
Combining the previous situation and the noises at night, the neighbors guessed that they had gone out to look for their daughter.
After explaining the situation, Xie Shouzheng asked Dongfang Qi, "Sir, what should we do about this?"
Dongfang Qi pondered for a moment and said, "If it involves a murder case, we should report it to the government office. If we get involved in every case, I'm afraid we'll never reach Northern Xinjiang."
Lin Qingyue sneered: "So you know you have important matters to attend to and can't delay."
Dongfang Qi said, "Even if I meddle in other people's affairs, I will do so within my ability and timeframe. Xiao Hui, go to the government office and report the case. Don't reveal your identity."
"Just say you went there to fix the car, smelled blood, and suspected someone had been murdered. They're local residents, so if they were leaving the city, there would definitely be records of them coming in and out. If there's no record of them leaving the city, then they just disappeared out of thin air, which doesn't make sense."
"Ordinary yamen runners may not have as sharp a nose as yours, but if they investigate carefully, they will surely be able to find some clues. Anyway, let them handle it first."
Xie Shouzheng replied, "Okay, I'll go to the government office. Sir, are you waiting for me here, or what?"
Dongfang Qi looked at Lin Qingyue, who had been watching the people queuing for food. Suddenly, she said, "I'm feeling a little hungry again. Why don't we try the food there?"
Dongfang Qidao: "Although we have dressed in a low-key manner, it is obvious that we still cannot meet the standards of poor people."
Lin Qingyue raised her eyebrows and smiled: "What does it matter? Can't I just find some worn clothes to change into?"
So, the group of four split into two groups.
Lin Qingyue, Dongfang Qi and Hong Yao sneaked into the dining tent to eat.
Xie Shouzheng continued to run errands and went to the government office to report the case.
The government office had a special area for receiving case inquiries, and Xie Shouzheng was naturally familiar with the process. After finding the appropriate person, he explained the situation.
Finally, he emphasized, "You must investigate the scene carefully. Don't miss anything. Also, the records of people entering and leaving the city are a key area of investigation. Don't..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted: "How to investigate the case and where to start are the concerns of the constables. You keep rambling on and on. Do you want to be a constable too? Okay, we have already noted the case and will proceed according to the procedure. You can go back now!"
Xie Shouzheng was a little annoyed. "What's your attitude? Officials don't put the people first, but act in a condescending and perfunctory manner. How can you be worthy of your official uniform?"
The clerk's tone was even more aggressive: "Who the hell are you? How dare you teach me a lesson? Come on, beat them out!"
Immediately, four or five yamen runners came out and pushed and shoved Xie Shouzheng out of the government office.
Xie Shouzheng raised his fist in anger, but then he thought the greater good was more important than causing trouble for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He snorted, "I'm not going to argue with you. You'd better properly investigate the case I just reported. If you dare to be perfunctory, I..."
"What do you want to do?" The yamen runners laughed.
"Where did this idiot come from? Do you really think you are a hero?"
"Alright, alright, we've accepted the case and will handle it. If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll arrest you and put you in jail for disturbing the peace!"
Xie Shouzheng snorted coldly and stopped arguing with them. He thought, when he returned to the capital, he would write to them as an official to inquire about the final outcome of the case, and then he would know whether they had been perfunctory or not.
After coming out of the government office, he did not dare to delay for a moment and immediately ran to the food shed where he had just provided relief to the poor in order to meet up with Dongfang and the others.
When I got there, I couldn't find Dongfang Qi.
Xie Shouzheng was a little confused: Didn't we agree to meet up nearby? Where did those three go?
He went to ask the canteen manager, who replied, "How would we know where anyone is? With so many diners coming and going, how could we possibly know where everyone is?"
Xie Shouzheng looked around to see if there were any traces left by them.
We checked all the walls and big trees near Kefu, but there were no marks!
This is very abnormal.
Even if they encountered something unexpected and had to leave here, they would leave a mark so that Xie Shouzheng could catch up in time.
"So..." Xie Shouzheng suddenly became nervous, "Young Master and the others are missing!"
It’s incredible!
Xie Shouzheng searched for a while, his heart becoming increasingly panicked. He knew he couldn't go on any longer, so he decided to find the local Xuanjingsi branch and mobilize some personnel to look for the person.
But before he reached Xuanjingsi, he was suddenly stopped by a dozen officials.
"We suspect you're involved in the disappearance of Carpenter Sun's family. We're taking you back to the government office to question you! Come with us."
"What the hell?" Xie Shouzheng reacted and immediately cursed, "Damn it! Are you all good-for-nothings? I'm the one who reported the case, why do you treat me as a suspect? Do you have any evidence?"
"Our words are evidence!" the other party said in a very arrogant tone.
"Get out of here! I don't have time to mess around with you!" Xie Shouzheng hurried to find Dongfang Qi, pushed away the yamen runner in front of him and was about to leave.
"The suspect is resisting arrest, arrest him!" With a stern shout, more than a dozen police officers drew their knives.
Xie Shouzheng was not willing to be outdone and soon started fighting.
With his strength, dealing with a dozen yamen runners was no problem at all. But just as he was about to start, a child rushed out from the side of the road and was about to be accidentally injured.
Xie Shouzheng quickly retracted his attack, turned around and pushed the opponent out.
In just this moment of distraction, the two chains had already tightly entangled him.
There were children crying all around, and passers-by gathered around and pointed.
In broad daylight, he couldn't show his magic, so he was tied up and taken away. He thought he would wait until he got to a place with fewer people and then find a way to escape.
The bailiffs escorted him all the way to a secluded corner. Xie Shouzheng looked around and saw that there were no passers-by around, so he was about to break free from the iron chains.
He was caught off guard when a sack covered his head. The sack was filled with an unknown substance, but it had a foul smell. Within a split second, Xie Shouzheng fainted.
The bailiff kicked him a few times, but when he didn't react, he spat and cursed, "You nosy outsider! You made us brothers run for over an hour to find you! Aren't we looking for Carpenter Sun and his family? You'll see them soon!"
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