Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Smart and Clever
"Are you feeling better?"
Hezhou sat by the wall holding a cup, looking at Xie Xunzhi with guiltily rolled his eyes.
He stood up slowly, the water on his hands swirling around in his hands: "Better, better."
"Pack up, we'll go to Chen Fu later."
Xie Xunzhi took the bowl from his hand and helped him walk to the back.
"Actually, there's no need. I just felt a little greasy from the pancake I ate this morning, so I ran..." Hezhou pulled him and changed direction.
"It's okay, let's go directly to the Chen Mansion. Have you found any clues about the body? And what about those relics that were moved here?"
Xie Xunzhi looked up at him, a gleam in his dark eyes: "No, I didn't see any clues. Let's go to Chen's house as planned."
"Okay, I remember you told me before that the Chen family couldn't be moved... How come..."
During the day, half the people on the street were gone. But when he went out, there were many more scholars reading books on the street, most of them were in their thirties or forties.
Seeing Hezhou coming, he read louder and louder, and looked at the two of them with his eyes alert.
Hezhou felt uncomfortable watching this and pulled Xie Xunzhi back into the small path they had taken before: "Why aren't there so many people here usually?"
"When they're busy, they're in the fields. When they're not busy, they're either hunting in the mountains or walking around the streets shopping. Some even set up stalls in the mornings. Now they're catching up on sleep."
Hezhou slowed down his pace, walked behind Xie Xun, and half-raised him: "I knew a little before, but the test you set covered a wide range of knowledge, so I thought there wouldn't be too many people showing up."
"The treatment is good, and it's government-funded. I looked at the registration list, and there are quite a few people from the Chen family."
"Tsk! Speaking of the Chen family, you haven't replied to the question I just asked you."
Hezhou raised his eyebrows nonchalantly, tilted his head and rested it on him, speaking lazily: "It was the same before. You had your own ideas, so at least tell me! After all, we are grasshoppers on the same rope, and you are still wearing my clothes."
He pulled Xie Xunzhi's pomelo, and his rolled-up sleeves slid down, covering his nails.
"I don't know who did it while playing in the water." Xie Xunzhi lowered his eyes.
Of course it was Hezhou who did it. He actually went to the screen to put on his clothes and accidentally pulled Xie Xunzhi's clothes into the water.
But he is the last thing he wants to admit right now.
"Didn't I give you one as compensation?" Hezhou turned away, taking smaller steps, his shoes making noises as they dragged on the ground. He lay on Xie Xunzhi like a boneless person, like a wronged ghost who came to claim his life.
He buried his head in Xie Xunzhi's neck, and hugged Xie Xunzhi with both arms: "I'm so angry for my beloved, I'm going to be bought by her now! If you don't tell me, I won't leave."
"You are not allowed to go either." There was a hint of grievance in Hezhou's tone, and his men held Xie Xunzhi's waist tightly.
Somehow, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction in his heart, which he attributed to the joy of having successfully pulled off a prank.
Xie Xunzhi tilted his head and couldn't see Hezhou's expression clearly, but he knew that he wouldn't be really sad about this matter. At most, he didn't have much confidence, and he would be a little scared if he really went there.
He stretched out his hand and brushed Hezhou's lips, then pulled him up by his ears: "Didn't I tell you? Whisper the Chen family's servants. Even if the Chen family doesn't come this time, he should be allowed to recuperate for a while to buy you time to farm."
"That convenient pillow talk?"
Hezhou freed her ear and was rubbing it with her hands, tears welling up in her eyes, looking like a bullied young wife.
Xie Xun was stunned and dismissed his ridiculous thoughts: "Didn't Erniu provide us with ideas? Chen Wenjiu's approach is the biggest criticism..."
The door of Chen's house was tightly closed, without even a gap near the door.
Hezhou's heart tightened as he looked at the closed door. He subconsciously grabbed Xie Xunzhi. This feeling was different from before, and a trace of fear rose from the bottom of his heart.
He let go of her hand amidst the soothing gaze, his heartbeat still ringing in his ears like a drum: "Li Erniu is not here, is it too early?"
"Who cares what he does? He's just looking for an excuse from the beginning."
Xie Xunzhi patted him and stepped onto the stone steps. The gate of the Chen Mansion had been repainted, and a pungent odor could be smelled when you got closer.
He knocked on the door, but there was an echo from inside and no one came out for a long time.
"Stop knocking, your hands are red. Why don't you go back first?" Hezhou held Xie Xunzhi. He looked at his fingertips, which should have been white, but had turned red due to excessive force.
He cursed under his breath, his brow furrowed.
Xie Xunzhi sneered, "Now you know you're pretending to be dead? Do you have the official seal with you?"
"Well, didn't you ask me to keep it on me and keep it carefully last time? Hezhou was confused, but still took it out obediently.
"I've drafted a search warrant. All that's left is your stamp. Stay away and I'll kick the door down."
Hezhou hurriedly stamped the document and reached out to grab Xie Xunzhi: "...Let me do it."
Originally, he wanted to say that the Chen family was wealthy and powerful, and if he went in, he might not be able to get out... But then he remembered the rows of people coming over just now, and he understood.
Government positions are now like a piece of meat hanging on the wall. Many people are longing for more than just money. If they can't get out, it is estimated that there will be quite a stir.
Hezhou slapped the stamped paper at Xie Xunzhi. He lifted his shirt and stepped forward to kick the door. The door creaked and shook, but nothing changed except a gray footprint. Instead, his calf was numb from the kick.
"The authorities are investigating a case. Open the door immediately!"
He kicked the door mercilessly several times with all his strength, and the door opened. A doorman dodged in surprise.
The other man adjusted his hat and was shocked to see Hezhou, but then he turned to flattery: "Sir, the master said that he doesn't accept guests today. Can you come another day?"
"My goodness... look at what this is..."
Hezhou slapped the wrinkled paper in front of him: "You don't know the characters, but you know the seal! Search warrant... open it..."
The inside was still the same as before, even a little ostentatious and gorgeous, but the fragrance was missing, and many incense burners were gone.
There were a few servants squatting in the corner near the door, looking into his eyes and smiling awkwardly at him.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
The person who opened the door stopped him, looking embarrassed: "Sir, I can't read. Please explain to me clearly why you are searching so that I can report to my superiors. Please...don't embarrass me, okay?"
"Of course we should investigate the case in the back alley. Two young girls died tragically in vain. You should investigate it thoroughly. What if you are the next one?" Hezhou nodded at him with a sly smile in his eyes.
The servant still stopped him and handed him the search warrant in its original form: "Sir... the master actually ordered that this case be investigated in Houxian. It has nothing to do with our family! The man in our family got drunk and fell into the water. We have already compensated..."
He smiled and stood in front, winking at the side.
"Sir, you can't let an ordinary person like me..."
"Who said we're only here for this?" Xie Xunzhi pointed at the search warrant, his tone unquestionable. "It clearly states that someone is suing the Chen family for refusing severance pay and intending to kill someone. They're also hiding hallucinogenic spices, so we're specifically searching! Are you trying to stop the authorities from investigating the case and end up in jail?"
“No… no…”
"What nonsense!" The butler kicked the man against the wall away. "You useless piece of shit, you brainless idiot!"
"Your Excellency, this is an injustice! The Chen family is so wealthy and powerful, how could they maliciously kill someone for a mere severance pay? Could I meet the person who reported this..."
"See……"
Xie Xunzhi threw a piece of paper at his face and grumbled in a low voice, "Waiting for you to stall so you can move the stolen goods? There's more written on it! Hiring someone to kill someone! Seizing land and using it as an excuse to set up a stall in front of the door to collect rent! If you delay any longer, I'll make a real deal of it to the Chen family!"
The housekeeper put away the fan and stared at Xie Xunzhi with a cunning pair of eyes for a long time. He then bent down and picked up the letter on the ground. His hand holding the fan turned white from the force it exerted.
“Is this true or not?
"Are you from here? ... Nine out of ten..."
"If you don't want to do it, go back!" The sighing sounds behind became much quieter. The people in the corner suddenly felt a chill on their necks. When they turned around, there was indeed no one there.
Several people cried and cursed in their hearts, but in the end they could only smile awkwardly under the sharp gaze of the housekeeper.
The housekeeper carefully examined the search warrant, shook the letter, and smiled, "My lord, is this a rubbing?"
"Oh, if you mind, I still have it here. I wrote it myself, and there is also one written by Lord He in the yamen." Xie Xunzhi smiled.
"I don't have time to waste with you. If you don't get up in three sentences... I will sentence Chen Fu to obstruct public service."
"three……"
The butler put the envelope and the search warrant away unopened, then smiled and said, "Sir, please come in! But if you can't find it... please take me to see the official who reported the false information."
They didn't say anything, just brushed past the butler. As soon as they passed by, the butler's face became gloomy. He raised his eyes and looked outside. Many people who had just been on the street were standing in the corner, all of them were hiding their faces timidly.
"It's up to you, adults."
Hezhou pinched the butler's clothes with his fingers and pulled him back: "What took you so long? Cooperate? Where is the room of the servant who fell into the water?"
The housekeeper opened his fan, flicked his fingers away, and said with a forced smile on his skinny face, "My lord, just pick anyone up."
He turned his eyes to look at Xie Xunzhi, a smile on his face: "My Lord, this master... is smart and clever. I believe he can figure it out himself."
"That's right, it's much better than you... At least I can eat when I see you, and I won't have nightmares at night." Hezhou smiled heartily and patted the butler's shoulder.
"Then I won't be polite. How about you... you look smart... can you lead the way?"
"Me?" The baby-faced man at the back pointed at himself and looked at the housekeeper.
"Master, you're the one being chosen, why don't you hurry up? You're delaying Master's precious business, and you'll be worth a hundred heads." The housekeeper said sarcastically, "By the way, go find Li Erniu. As long as he's not dying, carry him here."
After saying that, he walked away with a dark face, followed by a few people holding fruits in their hands.
“Tsk tsk tsk!”
Hezhou approached Xie Xunzhi to say something in private, but when he turned around, he met the pitiful eyes of the baby-faced boy.
He touched his nose and coughed twice. "I saw you when I was registering for the exam. You're smart... and have a promising future."
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