Chapter 301 Forty-nine Coffins
Xiao Zhian was always in a mischievous mood on his way back to Fengzhao.
Therefore, when they reached the foot of a mountain, he insisted on stopping the team and taking his brother and sister-in-law to the top of the mountain to appreciate the beautiful scenery of Fengzhao. The accompanying ministers had no choice but to stop.
When Xiao Zhian discovered a cave with forty-nine coffins in it while chasing a rabbit halfway up the mountain, no one suspected that he was looking for those coffins on purpose.
After all, the image of the Second Prince as a person who does not work properly is deeply rooted in people's minds. Moreover, everything they saw before their eyes was so shocking that they had no time to doubt him.
Forty-nine coffins were neatly placed in the cave. A copper coin sword was hung above each coffin, and the coffin body was wrapped with red silk thread.
The sound of nails scratching the coffin lid rang in his ears again. Xiao Zhian's face turned pale. "Bring the local county magistrate here."
It was the first time that Lin Lanting saw such a stern and angry expression on Xiao Zhian's face, and he quickly pointed to a general to go forward.
Although he didn't know what was inside these coffins, what he saw was enough to show that it was abnormal.
When he saw the situation inside the coffin, anger welled up in his eyes.
Inside the coffin was a female corpse without any covering. A nail tied with a red rope was nailed into the center of the skull's eyebrows. The red rope was pulled out from the gap and finally wrapped around the coffin.
The bodies were not decayed, but looked like dried fruits. Judging from the condition of the soil in the cave, these coffins did not seem to have been placed there recently.
It is obvious that the body was treated with special means to prevent it from rotting, but judging from the condition of the coffin, it should be about three years old.
When all the coffins were opened, they all showed similar conditions. The women inside were all around fifteen or sixteen years old, with their hair in buns.
There were a total of forty-nine young girls. Lin Lanting inexplicably thought of the forty-nine days of purification that Xiao Zhian experienced when he was captured and taken to Princess Yu's manor.
In addition to the red string on the coffin and the copper coin sword, he gritted his teeth. He didn't expect Feng Zhao also had such unconventional methods.
He must thoroughly investigate and find out who committed such a vicious act.
Xiao Zhian looked at Wei Qingyan. In the scene he saw, the girls were buried alive, so these nails were hammered in after their death.
Since you are going to hammer nails into their foreheads, why not just let them die?
They also have to endure the long-lasting pain and torture of being trapped in a coffin, half-dead.
The next moment, he wanted to slap himself. Why would he think like that? Why should these women die?
Damn it are those who killed them.
And the county magistrate who manages this place also deserves to die.
So, when the county magistrate knelt before him in panic after seeing the situation in the cave, he kicked him over and said, "Asshole, you are eating the people's offerings, is this how you protect the people?"
This is Wutong County, located on the border of Fengzhao, and is not a prosperous place.
The county magistrate's surname is Yang, he is in his early forties and has been transferred here for six years. He should have been transferred to another place three years ago, but because of his mediocre performance, he was kept to succeed him.
Now I am hoping that the results of this year's performance evaluation will be better so that I can leave here and be transferred to a better place.
Therefore, upon learning that Xiao Zhian and his party would pass by here, they made preparations early and planned to entertain them well, hoping to make a good impression in front of all the distinguished people and make the transfer smoother.
I never expected that the meeting would be like this.
"Your Highness, I am wronged. Since I took office, I have never received a case of a missing or murdered girl."
"Then tell me what's in those coffins?" Xiao Zhian said in a cold voice.
"Your Highness, perhaps, perhaps it was in the past..." County Magistrate Yang tried to defend himself.
"You've been in office for six years, how could a coffin be preserved so well after six years?
It is this cave. This prince can discover it just by looking at the scenery. Why did you remain in office for all these years without knowing anything about it?
Or, in your eyes, forty-nine lives are not worth mentioning, or is this simply the work of a dog official like you?"
Yang Jun Shou was terrified, "Your Highness, I absolutely dare not do that. I really don't know."
"Since you don't know, let's send someone to check who owns this mountain." Wei Qingyan said lightly.
The news that Xiao Zhian had brought back Prince Fengzhao had already been passed back to Fengzhao, so it was not difficult for County Magistrate Yang to guess Wei Qingyan's identity.
However, the identity of the crown prince had not yet been confirmed by the queen, let alone the crown princess, so she looked at Xiao Zhian.
Xiao Zhian was furious and kicked him again, "Stupid thing, you can't hear what the Crown Princess said."
Although this cave is not obvious, it is not difficult to find it. To be able to do such a sinister thing in the mountain, I am afraid that few people come to this mountain on weekdays, so it must be private.
His sister-in-law was giving him advice, but this idiot dared to look down on his sister-in-law.
County Magistrate Yang then hurriedly sent people to investigate, but the results he found scared him so much that he fell to the ground.
This mountain is actually under the name of his Yang family?
Moreover, the property was transferred at the government office in his first year in office. When did he buy it?
Suddenly, he thought of his wife. All household affairs were managed by his wife, and he usually didn't ask about them. Could it be that it was his wife who bought this mountain?
Then, then these coffins... No, his wife is so kind, how could she be related to these things.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Your Highness, this mountain belongs to my family, and my wife is in charge of all the farmland and shops in my family.
She is a woman in the harem, and she was probably deceived by the people below her. She definitely... definitely has nothing to do with this matter."
"Then I'll ask Madam Ling how she got this mountain."
Wei Qingyan had a faint smile on his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm afraid I won't be able to make it on my journey after being delayed today. I wonder if County Magistrate Yang's residence is convenient? Can I stay here for the night?"
If it were before, County Magistrate Yang would have been more than happy to do so.
But at the moment, County Magistrate Yang really didn't dare to do so. He knew very well that they stayed in his house to investigate the matter and it would definitely not be just one night.
Although, he was very sure that his wife had nothing to do with this matter.
"What? Are you not welcome?" Xiao Zhian's face was as gloomy as water.
No wonder no one discovered the secret of the cave. It turns out that the mountain belongs to the county magistrate's home. My sister-in-law proposed to live in the county magistrate's home. I think there must be something wrong with this county magistrate's mansion.
After hearing what Xiao Zhian said, Yang Jun Shou was frightened and kowtowed again, "Your Highness has misunderstood, I am just worried that the mansion is too simple..."
Xiao Zhian snorted coldly, "The county magistrate is worrying too much. We can all live there. But the county magistrate has the time to do this. It would be better to quickly investigate who these forty-nine people are and who killed them."
County Magistrate Yang no longer dared to refuse and wanted to personally take Wei Qingyan and others to the County Magistrate's Mansion.
Wei Qingyan said meaningfully, "Lord Yang, please stay and deal with the matter at hand. The bodies have been dried out and are difficult to identify. It just so happens that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's guards are skilled in restoring the deceased's appearance.
I will leave him here to help Master Yang. Then, Master Yang will be able to take a good look at the girls' faces and help them find their families."
Although Jingzhe's skills are not as good as Ji Yu's, they are sufficient.
Lin Lanting's injuries had healed a lot. Hearing the hidden meaning in Wei Qingyan's words, he decided to stay, while the other envoys went to the post station in the city for accommodation.
"Sister-in-law, is there something wrong with County Magistrate Yang?" Xiao Zhian couldn't help asking on the way to the County Magistrate's Mansion.
Shi Yu answered for Wei Qingyan, "He doesn't look smart, or he's hiding it too well. Feng Zhao officials should be transferred every three years.
Zhi'an, order a secret investigation into why County Magistrate Yang was not transferred three years ago. Also, have someone go among the people to see how County Magistrate Yang conducts his official duties."
As for what the situation of the mountain is and why no one pays attention to it on weekdays, Lin Lanting will order people to ask the people nearby.
Xiao Zhian agreed and sent someone to do it. Then he said, "Brother Crown Prince, I don't usually take care of these things, and my subordinates don't have much experience. Can we let Dongzang Jingzhe take care of them?"
Shi Yu stared at him for a moment, "Zhi An, there is no need to be like this."
Zhi'an was concerned about Yang Junshou's indifference to him and Qingyan, and he wanted to promote him.
But Shi Yu knew very well that there would be many more such indifferences in the future, after all, he did not grow up with Feng Zhao.
Just as he couldn't put himself in Feng Zhaoren's shoes for the time being, it would also take time for Feng Zhaoren to accept him.
Xiao Zhian felt a little uncomfortable, for those young women and for Shi Yu, and he didn't say anything else along the way.
When I arrived at the gate of the county magistrate's mansion, I saw a beautiful woman dressed in gorgeous clothes standing at the gate looking towards me.
Wei Qingyan and Shi Yu looked at each other and frowned.
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