Chapter 31 Catching a Thief
“Knock, knock, knock…”
Before Lu Qingyao could say anything, the door was pushed open.
A middle-aged man with a goatee and casual clothes came in.
A group of officers and soldiers followed behind him.
Jiang Miaomiao had never seen such a scene before, and reached out for a hug...
Mother... I'm scared...
Lu Qingyao picked up the baby from the cradle and walked over. "I wonder why Lord Xu has come to visit my humble abode?"
Jiang Miaomiao, who was extremely panicked just now, is now lying in her mother's arms.
A deep peace of mind.
Her mother was as steady as a rock, so she had nothing to be nervous about.
Xu Heng raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at the woman dressed as a peasant in front of him and the baby in her arms.
"Oh! Madam Jiang actually knows me."
Lu Qingyao pursed her lips and smiled, "Everyone in Qingshi Town knows Lord Xu. They all say that you are a good official who loves the people like his own children. Even the capital has spread the news."
Jiang Miaomiao felt that her mother was very good at complimenting him!
In this case, it would be difficult for the magistrate to show favoritism.
Xu Heng smiled awkwardly when he heard this, "Mrs. Jiang, you are too kind."
He did receive a lot of money from Zhang.
"I'm here because someone has accused you of stealing someone else's property. Would you allow us to search the property?"
"Who identified him? What was stolen?" Lu Qingyao searched behind Xu Heng and saw Zhang in the crowd at a glance.
"Since Lord Xu wants to search, he should explain it clearly in front of everyone!"
Xu Heng thought about it and agreed. He had to convince people!
He turned to the officers and soldiers and said, "Bring him in!"
Then the soldiers brought in two young boys, who were beaten with black and blue faces.
The two men knelt on the ground trembling, and immediately pointed at Lu Qingyao, "It was her, she was the one who ordered us to steal from the Liu family..."
Lu Qingyao glanced at the two of them and found them looking familiar.
At this moment, Liu Yu Niang also pushed past the soldiers and squeezed in, looking surprised.
"Aren't these the two sons of Old Man Li? How could they do such a wicked thing?"
Lu Qingyao was familiar with the people in the village, but she still couldn't remember who was who.
"It was their father who went up the mountain to hunt the betrothal geese, but was intercepted by Liu Fugui..."
After hearing what Liu Yu Niang said, Lu Qingyao immediately understood what was going on.
Perhaps these two people held a grudge against the Liu family, so they took the opportunity to break into the house and steal.
As a result, he was caught red-handed by Zhang.
He was bought...
"Sister-in-law, please go find their parents."
Liu Yu Niang responded and left.
She also couldn't understand why the old man Li and his family hated Liu Fugui to death.
Why would you help them harm others?
Jiang Miaomiao waved her little hands and babbled.
It sounds like scolding someone.
Bad guy...bad guy...repaying kindness with hatred...
Lu Qingyao looked down at the Li brothers. "Tell me what I told you to steal. When did you steal it?"
When the two brothers heard that they had to ask their parents for help, they panicked.
But they insisted that it was Lu Qingyao who ordered them to do so.
"It was you...you gave us two ingots of silver the other day and asked us to go to the Liu family at night to steal a few pieces of Shu brocade. We helped you steal two pieces back..."
Because Madam Liu said that as long as Lu Qingyao was convicted, she would spare them both.
Lu Qingyao sneered, "Since you're going to steal Shu brocade, you must have seen what those two pieces of Shu brocade look like, right?"
The two brothers looked at each other.
It’s impossible to say that you have never seen it. How can you steal it if you haven’t seen it?
They said in unison: "I have seen it."
"I'm glad I've seen it!" Lu Qingyao nodded with satisfaction. "Then tell me, what are the patterns of the two pieces of Shu brocade?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang in the crowd became panic-stricken.
It wasn't noticeable on his face, but his palms inside his wide sleeves were full of sweat.
The two boys were confused.
How could she not hear that Lu Qingyao was setting a trap for them...
I regretted not explaining it clearly to them.
The two brothers hesitated and could not answer for a long time.
One of them said, "It's too dark... I can't see clearly."
Lu Qingyao chuckled, "Since you didn't see it clearly, how can you be sure that what you stole was Shu brocade?"
Lu Qingyao's gaze fell on Xu Heng's face.
"I don't know what the stolen goods look like. May I ask how you would search for them, Lord Xu?"
Xu Heng scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
It's not that he took the money and didn't do the job, it's really that Zhang and this thief are too stupid...
"Master Xu, these two boys are talking nonsense. If, as they say, they were ordered by me to steal Shu brocade, then they must have seen it before to be able to tell the difference. If they recognize Shu brocade, how could they not know how valuable it is?"
"Since you know how valuable it is, why wouldn't you keep it to yourself?"
"No, we didn't hide anything, your Excellency can see it." Upon hearing this, the two brothers hurriedly explained.
He looked up and glared at the woman in front of him. This person wanted to implicate their entire family!
Xu Heng looked like he was watching a show. He asked his subordinates to find him a stool and then crossed his legs.
Lu Qingyao sighed deeply and looked at Xu Heng. "Master Xu, these two people don't even know what they stole. Then, isn't the claim of them ordering the theft nonsense?"
"Yes, that's what Madam Jiang said. It's all a misunderstanding..." Xu Heng smiled and stood up. "We'll leave now. Sorry for bothering you."
Xu Heng has been in the officialdom for more than ten years and is no different from a veteran.
No one wants to offend.
Regardless of the outside rumors.
The person in front of me is, after all, the wife that Minister Jiang married through formal marriage, a fourth-rank lady.
Even when the Lu family was convicted, her imperial decree was not revoked.
Jiang Yunze never divorced his wife.
Moreover, General Lu had served in the court for decades and had made countless friends and cliques.
Many people in the army are loyal.
Although the Lu family has fallen, you never know if anything happens to this Lu girl, and someone will immediately come out to support her.
As for the one in Beijing.
No matter how far you stretch your arms, you won't come all the way to this remote place.
The two ladies were fighting, and these small fry had better hide as far away as they could.
But the stupid woman Zhang didn't know the consequences and insisted on climbing the high branch.
He has fulfilled his responsibilities and doesn't want to worry about the rest.
He was about to leave when Lu Qingyao stopped him, "Master Xu, please stay... The case hasn't been fully investigated yet, how can you leave?"
Xu Heng was stunned. "Hasn't Madam Jiang been cleared of all charges? Why won't you let me go?"
Lu Qingyao bowed and said, "There are some things I would like to ask the county magistrate to be a witness."
"Well, it doesn't matter if I sit for a while longer." Xu Heng sat back in his chair and watched the show with his arms around his stomach.
Lu Qingyao squatted in front of the Li brothers and sighed softly, "Do you know how many years of imprisonment one will receive for falsely accusing and slandering the wives of officials?"
"Before you do anything, have you ever considered your parents at home?"
Even though the two brothers were illiterate, they had heard that the wives of some high-ranking officials had imperial decrees.
The county magistrate was very respectful in front of her.
They were already extremely panicked and turned to look at the crowd.
Li Dalang changed his statement and confessed truthfully, "We... I just wanted to steal a chicken, but was caught by the Liu Mansion's housekeeper. It was Madam Liu who asked us to identify you. If we identified you, we wouldn't be sent to the authorities. I take the blame for my actions. Aunt, please let my parents go. This has nothing to do with them."
Lu Qingyao followed their gaze and saw Zhang hiding in the crowd with her head down.
Just as he was about to sneak away, she stopped him.
"Oh, Madam Liu finally showed up. The thief doesn't know what the stolen item looks like, but you, the owner, should know, right?"
…
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