Chapter 47: 047. Aren ‘t you going?
Translator: 549690339
[Won’t you go?]
The cold wind whistled, and the rain was continuous.
Mai Fei stood by the window with his hands behind his back, his face even darker than the sky.
Yesterday, he had asked Chang’an to send Su Liang 5,000 taels, and the “return gift” he received was a piece of fresh pork. He had the servants cook it, but the taste was quite ordinary. It wasn’t the meat’s fault, but the cook’s skill was not good enough.
Therefore, last night, Mai Fei told Chang’an that he planned to visit Su Family
Village today to see just how good the Feng Shui was, making Ning Jing and Su Liang unwilling to leave. More importantly, if he went, for the sake of the 5,000 taels, Su Liang should at least treat him to a meal.
Unexpectedly, a major incident occurred in the County Prison.
Mai Fei was the County Magistrate on the surface but was investigating the iron smuggling case in secret. Recently, there had been significant clues, and someone was desperate.
The prison wall had been deliberately demolished, and the escaped prisoners had all been helped by someone.
What Su Liang said to Hu Er, that Su Xingzhe was too weak to run out or get far, was not the problem.
Even if the wall had collapsed, the prisoners held by iron chains should not have been able to escape.
However, the fact was that no matter whether those prisoners wanted to or could escape, someone would “help” them.
The biggest problem was what the person behind the scenes would “help” those prisoners do next…
Chang’an rushed in to report, “Master, there is another family in the south of the city that reported a break-in before dawn, and money was stolen. Two people were also killed.”
The chill in Mai Fei’s eyes intensified. “Has the reward been issued?”
Chang’an nodded, “As Master instructed, 500 taels for providing clues and assisting in the capture, and 1,000 taels for directly capturing a prisoner and sending them back. With great rewards come brave men!”
In Bei’an County, this was a rare, generous reward.
However, Mai Fei shook his head, not optimistic about the situation.
During the day, the rain was not heavy, but Bei’an County town and the surrounding villages that received the news had their doors tightly closed, and most businesses on the streets remained closed.
No one went out, and only a few people saw the posted rewards.
Government soldiers were divided into several teams, investigating house by house, and at the same time, verbally informing the residents of the hefty rewards.
However, half a day had passed, and those prisoners who had been tortured in prison and were physically weak, and should not have been able to run far, could not be found.
From last night to this noon, there were five murder cases in the county town, all involving robbery and murder, in five different locations.
The number of incidents matched the number of escaped prisoners.
If ordinary people encountered this situation without knowing the inside story, they would inevitably be dissatisfied with the newly appointed County Magistrate.
However, Mai Fei was not worried about what the common people thought, but rather that innocent people had died, and in the future, he would be criticized by his political opponents, such as the second prince.
If, in the end, he had exhausted his efforts to crack the iron smuggling case, but because he couldn’t even manage a County Magistrate position well, causing a heavy loss of life to the common people, he would be very upset.
In the rainsoaked and heavily guarded city, the appearance of Ning Jing and Su Liang’s carriage at the city gate seemed a bit abrupt.
Someone ordered the carriage to stop, and when the approaching government soldier recognized Ning Jing’s face, he was stunned. “Isn’t this Young Master Ning?”
As the first-place scholar in this year’s Court Examination, and with an extraordinary appearance and temperament, most people knew what Ning Jing looked like after walking around the county town a few days ago.
Ning Jing lifted the rain shield slightly and asked what had happened.
The soldier knew his importance and did not dare to offend. He told them about the escaped prisoners who had committed murder.
“Try not to walk around outside. If you have any clues, please be sure to inform the county government!”
Ning Jing nodded, pressed down the rain shield again, and urged the carriage to continue forward.
He and Su Liang had heard about this matter from Hu Er and left Su Family Village for the county town.
Since it was raining, walking or riding horses was inconvenient, and suddenly disappearing from the village might cause unnecessary misunderstandings, so they took a carriage into the city.
“Five prisoners, five robberies and killings, and all the culprits escaped successfully. This is definitely someone’s design. Not to mention Su Xingzhe, he is not capable of doing this.” J Su Liang’s voice came from the carriage.
She thought that the real culprits behind the murder and panic were probably not the prisoners. They were just tools and cover for someone else.
When Ning Jing came to the city, he saw the government soldiers and reported the matter to Chang’an. When Chang’an met Mai Fei again, he mentioned it.
Mai Fei fixed his gaze, “I was just looking for him!” “Let me invite Young Master Ning!” Chang’an said.
“If Su Liang is with him, call her too.” Mai Fei ordered.
Ning Jing and Su Liang arrived at the county town house. As they were planning their next move, they heard someone knocking on the door.
“Young Master Ning, my master invites you!” Chang’an got straight to the point, and when he saw Su Liang appear in the corridor, he said loudly, “Master invites Miss Su as well!”
Su Liang was a bit puzzled. It would be unusual for Mai Fei to be relaxed enough to talk to them about something not very urgent.
They followed Chang’an to the County Government where Mai Fei lived in the back mansion.
As soon as they entered, they saw seven or eight common people kneeling in the rain, their faces blurred by the constant kowtows, unable to distinguish between tears and raindrops.
Cries and pleas were interwoven with the sound of rain, bringing sadness to those who heard them.
Chang’an was also stunned, not knowing what was going on with these people, and hurriedly led Ning Jing and Su Liang around them.
The door was open, and Mai Fei sat in the shadows, holding a semi-wet letter in his hand, his face as gloomy as the ink spreading on paper.
“Master, Ning Jing and Miss Su are here.” Chang’an said respectfully.
Mai Fei looked over, put down the letter in his hand, and gestured for Chang’an to leave.
Chang’an went outside, closed the doors and windows, frowned at the kneeling people in the courtyard, and called a guard to a corner to inquire in a low voice.
“They arrived as soon as you left, they are the families of the top three scholars in this year’s Court Examination.”
“The three scholars who set off yesterday for the Provincial City’s Qianshan Academy have all been captured!”
“The three families received letters from the kidnappers, written by the scholars themselves and stamped with blood handprints.”
Chang’an frowned as he listened, “What does the letter say?”
The guard’s face turned ugly, “It says to exchange the master’s head for the lives of the three scholars.”
In the room, Mai Fei showed the letter to Su Liang and Ning Jing, asking for
their opinions.
“The three literati who set off yesterday, no matter how slow they walked, could not be caught up by the escaped convicts last night. Moreover, they committed murder in the city, came out of the city to catch people, and then sent the letter to the three families early in the morning.” J Su Liang said, “This is someone’s premeditated plan. Lord Mai, you don’t expect us to help, do you?”
However, Mai Fei nodded, “Yes.”
Su Liang was puzzled, but Mai Fei turned to Ning Jing, “I’ll ask you one more time, did you get Xing Yusheng’s token merely because he happened to be in Bei’an County, and you just happened to meet him by chance?”
The one who answered was Su Liang, “Actually, the token was given to me.” Mai Fei frowned, “What do you mean? Explain clearly.”
“The crown prince Xing Yusheng is seriously ill and recuperating at Qiuming Manor. We got to know each other because of the former County Magistrate’s daughter, Huang Wanwan. I treated him, and that token was a thank-you gift,” Su Liang said.
Not to clear the relationship with Xing Yusheng, but the fact was just like that.
Mai Fei knew about Huang Wanwan because he had asked Chang’an to investigate Xing Yusheng’s activities in Bei’an County. It was after Su Liang went to the county government to report Huang Wanwan that they had contact with Qiuming Manor.
Su Liang’s words could be completely matched.
Otherwise, if Ning Jing had been a member of Bei Jingwang Mansion long ago, he would not have signed up only half a month before the examination.
“I thought Ning Jing was Xing Yusheng’s good friend, but it turns out it’s you.” Mai Fei rubbed his forehead, “You are really good to Ning Jing.”
Su Liang guessed the reason why Mai Fei came to them. The iron mine smuggling case might have something to do with Bei Jingwang. The chaos in Bei’an County from last night till now must have something to do with the smuggling charges Mai Fei wanted to investigate.
If Mai Fei suspected that Ning Jing had a close relationship with Bei Jingwang Mansion, he would have asked Su Liang to come along and was ready to have a good “chat” with them.
But Su Liang didn’t ask. As long as Ning Jing could remain silent, he would not speak.
Knowing the beginning and end of their relationship with Xing Yusheng, Mai Fei no longer explained why he was looking for them.
“Do you have a solution to the current situation?” Mai Fei asked.
Ning Jing stood up, “No, goodbye.”
Su Liang quickly reacted, got up, and said, “Magistrate Mai, we can’t be of any help, so we won’t bother you.” She hurriedly left following Ning Jing.
Mai Fei watched the two of them leave with an umbrella, looking like they didn’t want to be bothered, even if there was something important they had no time for.
Chang’an entered, “Master, what should we do about the three scholars?”
If the top three of the Bei’an County Court Examination were all killed, it would be very troublesome.
Mai Fei said coldly, “I have sent someone to call for soldiers, but I’m afraid it might be too late.”
The man behind the scenes knew Mai Fei’s identity. He could not risk his life to exchange for the three scholars. Even if the three scholars were still alive, they would not live much longer.
Since arriving in Bei’an County, the secret investigation had not encountered much resistance.
Only today did Mai Fei learn that it was because he had not found anything earlier, and the man behind the scene was observing.
As soon as he found some important clues, something happened immediately. Whether it had anything to do with Bei Jingwang was not yet certain. Mai Fei nopea tnat Ning Jing was a newcomer recruited DY Bel Jlngwang. In tnat case, he could turn Ning Jing against them and get some useful information. The families of the three scholars were still crying for Mai Fei to save them, and a woman fainted.
Mai Fei let Chang’an find a place to settle them down. He looked at the dark clouds gathering in the sky and finally realized the difficulty of this errand.
Ning Jing came by carriage, and after leaving the county government, he got in the carriage and let Su Liang drive.
As the carriage slowly moved away, Su Liang asked softly, ‘What should we
They came to arrest the death row prisoners, but they couldn’t cooperate with Mai Fei openly, because some secrets couldn’t be exposed in front of Mai Fei.
“Find a hidden place,” Ning Jing said.
Su Liang understood, driving the carriage into the nearest alley. When she spoke again, she got no answer. Pulling back the curtain, Ning Jing had disappeared.
Su Liang didn’t look for him, knowing that he must have discovered something or thought of a solution.
She drove the carriage alone across the alleys, returned to their home in the county town, closed the door, and waited for Ning Jing to return.
About an hour and a half later, Ning Jing finally returned.
He took off the coarse cloth coat he had found somewhere and threw it into the backyard.
Su Liang handed him a cup of hot tea, and before she could ask anything, there was a knock on the door.
It was Chang’an again. Seeing Su Liang quickly opening the door, he looked at her and saw Ning Jing sitting by the window drinking tea.
“Magistrate Mai has new instructions?” Su Liang asked.
Chang’an quickly looked away and saluted, “Half an hour ago, those three scholars were found! It was the arrest officer who was bribed. Yesterday, he represented the county government in sending the scholars out of town and drugged their food. He kidnapped them and hid them in his own house.”
Su Liang was surprised, “How did you find out?”
“The arrest officer suddenly said he had a stomachache and wanted to go home, but he was caught with a broken neck at his doorstep! As soon as we received the news, we rushed over, and although we didn’t find the killer in his house, we found the three scholars and many unidentified properties.”
Su Liang sighed, “It’s too dangerous, and I don’t know which hero saved them in time.”
She knew in her heart that Chang’an suddenly appeared because Mai Fei was suspicious of their involvement in the arrest officer’s death.
“That’s right,” Chang’an nodded.
“The iron mine smuggling has huge profits and is tempting. It’s not necessarily just the arrest officer who was bribed.” Su Liang thought about it and reminded Chang’an, “It’s worth checking the prison officers who were on duty last night and were not killed.”
Chang’an’s expression changed, “There were two who were injured but not killed… I’ll take my leave!”
As Chang’an hurried away on horseback, Su Liang closed the door and returned to the room.
Without asking, she knew that Ning Jing must have guessed that someone from the county government had been bribed and involved. At this time, those “ghosts” would inevitably want to kill people.
Ning Jing could use his special abilities to detect the murderer.
Fortunately, the three scholars were still alive. Before Ning Jing took action to kill, he must have determined their whereabouts, and even the sudden return of the arrest officer to his home was likely caused by Ning Jing’s secret actions. “Didn’t we agree that I would fight?” Su Liang sat down. “You solved it all by
yourself.”
Ning Jing closed the book, “He gave up a name.”
“Who? I’ll catch him.” Su Liang felt there was work to be done.
Ning Jing’s thin lips opened slightly, “Me.”
Su Liang: …
“Framing you to make Mai Fei think that Bei Jingwang Mansion is behind the scenes?” Su Liang quickly guessed.
Ning Jing nodded, “The fifth house in Yumin Lane, West City, with two old locust trees at the door. Go ahead.”
“Is it the man behind the arrest officer?” Su Liang asked.
Ning Jing nodded, “Be careful.”
Su Liang looked serious, “Okay, I’ll go check it out. You’re not going?”
Ning Jing shook his head, “I’m tired.”
Su Liang silently went back to the room, changed into a new set of men’s clothes, covered her face with a cloth, put on a bamboo hat, opened the back door, and made sure there was no one around before walking away quickly.
A moment later, Ning Jing went out again, heading west..
