Chapter 12 is about you, and I must guard it.
"Has Your Highness read that manuscript?"
As soon as the three of them left Linyang Prefecture, Jin Shu voiced the question that had been bothering her.
Li Jin flung his fan away with a swish, a hint of anger in his eyes. He turned and glared at the plaque of Lin Yang's residence: "I've seen it. A few words, utter nonsense. In the still chilly spring of March, eight days after death, how could he possibly stink like that? Does he think I have a diseased mouth and nose?"
Li Jin, who usually kept his emotions hidden, could not hide his dissatisfaction with Lin Yang's residence this time, and his words were full of disdain.
When they first arrived, Li Jin specifically instructed Yang An not to make a fuss, but once they stepped through the gate of the government office, the scene inside was quite impressive.
The entire staff of Linyang County Government Office lined up on both sides and knelt down to pay their respects.
He said nothing, frowned, glanced back at Yang An, flicked his sleeves, and walked straight inside.
This alone was enough to plummet Yang An's reputation. Later, when questioned about the case, he knew absolutely nothing, infuriating Li Jin.
"Lord Yang's handling of cases can't be called bold; it should be called barbaric." As they walked toward the market, Li Jin recounted Magistrate Lin Yang's methods and tactics. "There were two people living in the same courtyard as the deceased. One was born blind, and the other was a cripple with a severe leg injury. From different perspectives, both of them were suspects with the commonality of being unable to move around easily."
"He's doing well, locking both of them up." He sneered, "Waiting to see who can't hold out first and confesses."
Having served as the head of the Six Doors for so many years, this was the first time Li Jin had witnessed such a case-solving method.
Without evidence, without reasoning, and without even knowing who the dead person was, they just arrested two beggars and locked them up, waiting for one of them to sign and put his fingerprint on the document.
He was really angry.
Seeing his furious back, Jin Shu, who was following behind him, glanced at Zhou Zheng, her eyes full of pleading for help.
She still had many questions about the case to ask, but looking at Li Jin's expression, she was afraid that he would get even angrier after she asked them.
But Zhou Zheng glanced at her and said, "Sect Leader, Mr. Jin wants to know the whole story."
Li Jin, who was walking in front, paused, raised her eyebrows in surprise, turned her head, glanced at Zhou Zheng, and then at Jin Shu, who also looked surprised.
When did these two become so in sync?
He chuckled softly, exhaled a long breath, and waved his hand: "After buying the knife, let's find a teahouse to sit for a while."
Seeing that he didn't continue, Jin Shu raised her hand, rubbed her temples, and thanked Zhou Zheng with great difficulty: "Lord Zhou, thank you."
"It's alright. It's my duty as a subject to remind the sect leader to watch his composure."
Listening to his earnest explanation, Li Jin, who was walking ahead, felt the anger that was stuck in her throat dissipate by about 80%.
"Mr. Jin, it's you who should ask the sect leader who will pay for the swords?"
Whether Zhou Zheng did it on purpose or not, Li Jin, who was walking in front, almost burst out laughing.
Behind him, Jin Shu widened her eyes, stunned for a moment, and then asked in a serious tone, "This... this tool for the job also has to be bought with your own money?"
She was utterly shocked, her heart pounding. Could it be that by entering the Six Doors, she had boarded a pirate ship?
Fortunately, Li Jin's first words at the knife shop were, "Pick whatever you like, I'll pay." He then sat happily to the side, watching Jin Shu carefully select her tools under the shopkeeper's guidance.
"So stingy, it seems I'll have to treat you to tea later." He smiled and fanned himself, his gaze fixed on her retreating figure.
But Zhou Zheng nodded and said solemnly, "I am facing you, so I must guard you."
Upon hearing this, Li Jin had no time to think about it when the shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise, "Ah? Sir, although this knife in our shop is sharp, if you want to use it to take someone's life, then I won't sell it to you!"
Before him, Jin Shu held a sharp boning knife, looking at him in surprise, waving her hands repeatedly: "No, no, no, it's not about taking a life, I'm just asking how sharp this knife is..."
"How can you ask such a question?" The shopkeeper raised his eyebrows high. "I can understand asking if it's quick to disembowel someone, but asking me if I'm good at removing human bones... that sounds terrifying!"
Jin Shu bit her lip, feeling very wronged. She tried to explain, but didn't know how to say it, in order to appear slightly more refined in these two matters.
"Shopkeeper, you've misunderstood, I just..."
"But what do you mean, 'but'?" Before she could finish speaking, the shopkeeper snatched the knife from her hand and put it back behind the counter, muttering to himself, "Lin Yang just had a murder case, and the murderer hasn't been caught yet. Everyone's in a panic. And you, a young man from out of town, are spouting such outrageous things. I really don't dare do business with you."
Seeing things taking a strange turn, Jin Shu became anxious. But Li Jin stood up, took two steps forward, and pulled her aside, shielding her behind him.
"Shopkeeper, you've misunderstood." Li Jin smiled slightly, while Zhou Zheng took out the Six Doors' black token from his pocket and showed it to the shopkeeper. "The Six Doors handles cases, and we've come here specifically for the murder case you mentioned."
Looking at the black dragon token in Zhou Zheng's hand and the black robes of a Six Doors constable on his body, the shopkeeper was skeptical and glanced at the three of them.
The sect leader among them possessed an extraordinary air, wearing a light yellow Shu brocade outer robe with exquisite and luxurious patterns on the collar and cuffs, clearly indicating a person of high status and position. Although it was unclear whether this Six Doors was genuine or not, he certainly seemed to be someone the sect leader should not offend.
Seeing that the shopkeeper was less wary than before, Li Jin smiled and said, "Shopkeeper, from what you just said, you seem to know a lot about this case?"
As the sun set, the entire knife shop was bathed in a golden glow. The shopkeeper, his face illuminated by the light, hesitated for a moment, then nodded and whispered, "I heard it from the lantern vendors on the street across the way. They said the county government arrested two beggars on that street, saying they killed another beggar."
Three beggars?
"These three people were said to live together in an abandoned courtyard on the outskirts of the city. They said they killed him and buried him, leaving half of his thigh sticking out. It was terrifying."
Li Jin listened carefully and pondered for a moment: "...Those two are both disabled beggars, how could they possibly kill someone?"
“It’s still possible!” The shopkeeper leaned forward, speaking with certainty and looking particularly gossipy. “These three people could form a beggar gang in Linyang. One of them is blind, but apart from being blind, he’s incredibly nimble and can climb trees and chop wood. The other one has a leg injury and is lame, but he can tell fortunes, and he’s quite accurate! He’s managed to save up a lot of money over the years by fortune telling.”
"As for the one who died..." The boss paused, raised his hand, pointed to his head, and shook his head, "He had mental problems, was mentally challenged, and had difficulty walking. If these two really wanted to fight, I don't think it would be a big problem."
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