Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 213 Discovery
Liu Shizhang hurriedly went to the gatehouse, handed out the several invitations in his hand, and asked the steward to send them to the government office to mobilize people to investigate in various parts of the city.

He would investigate every place he could think of, including the patrol office, the weapons workshops in the city, and the barn; he would investigate all the matters he had handled and the people involved.

After working for half an hour, Liu Shizhang returned to his study, sat down, and drank a cup of tea.

“Brother,” Liu Erniang’s voice rang out, “I’ve prepared some pastries for you.”

A plate of osmanthus cake and a bowl of cheese were placed on the table. These were things that Liu Shizhang usually liked to eat, but he had no appetite today.

"What's wrong, brother?" Liu Erniang asked softly. "Is it because Father has too many things to attend to?"

Liu Shizhang remained silent, and Liu Erniang continued, "I received gifts from the Xie family: two gold hairpins and several bolts of brocade..."

Before Liu Erniang could finish speaking, Liu Shizhang frowned: "Which Xie family?"

Liu Erniang was taken aback, not expecting her brother to ask such a question: "Naturally, it's from the Xie family in Kaifeng." Could it be that the Xie family in Daming Prefecture could send such a thing?

Even if it were delivered, she wouldn't be so happy.

What she meant by saying this was to remind her brother that Xie Shumi was on good terms with his family, and that even if He Tan targeted them, Xie Shumi would help them.

"That hairpin was personally chosen by Xie Erniang. She said that this style is currently fashionable in the capital."

The fact that Xie Erniang sent so many gifts shows that she wasn't angry about the clay stove. She even comforted her, saying that it's inevitable for newly made things to be like that, and that she would get better with more practice.

Xie Erniang has a truly wonderful nature. If she becomes empress in the future, she will surely be a model of virtue for the nation.

Liu Erniang spoke for a while, but found that her brother's expression was still deep. Just as she was about to ask again, she heard a series of hurried footsteps.

Liu Shizhang immediately looked towards the door, a bad premonition creeping into his heart.

Before the steward could call for the door, Liu Shizhang said, "Come in!"

The door opened, and the steward led a military officer inside.

"Young Master," the general bowed to Liu Shizhang.

Liu Shizhang asked, "Have you found anything?"

The general nodded: "Do you still remember Chenyao Village?"

Liu Shizhang shook his head; it was a small village, and he really didn't have any impression of it.

The general looked around.

Although Liu Erniang hid behind the screen, the general still noticed that there were other people in the room.

“It’s alright,” Liu Shizhang said. “It’s Second Sister.”

The general then continued, "It's the village that the deserter went to."

Speaking of deserters, Liu Shizhang vaguely remembered: "What about that village?"

The general said, "The people of Chenyao Village have all disappeared. I heard it's because there was a smallpox outbreak in the village, and they moved to the mountains to hide. I went to check, and all the things they usually use are still there, but no one was left to look after the village."

That is to say...

The entire village left Daming Prefecture.

A string in Liu Shizhang's heart seemed to snap; he no longer believed it was a coincidence. In such cold weather, the entire village, young and old, had to trek a long distance into the mountains.

Is it really because of acne?
impossible.

Liu Shizhang said, "Go and find out where they went immediately."

The general responded and left.

Liu Erniang came out from behind the screen, wanting to call her brother to ask for details, but Liu Shizhang had no time to pay attention to her and strode towards the study in the main courtyard.

He had just stepped outside the study when he discovered that someone was inside his father's room.

The steward opened the door, and Liu Shizhang saw the observer and two generals.

Prefect Liu seemed to have anticipated this. He looked up at Liu Shizhang, and in just one glance, he saw something amiss on Liu Shizhang's face. Prefect Liu asked, "Where did I go wrong?"

Liu Shizhang bowed and said, "The entire village of Chenyao, which once hid deserters, has disappeared." His palms were sweaty as he said this.

There must have been a seed of trouble left behind back then, which has now been rekindled.

"My lord," Liu Shizhang said, "what should we do now?"

Prefect Liu looked at the Inspector and said calmly, "Go!"

When a problem is discovered, it proves that their rule is no longer impenetrable; someone has already breached it, and there will definitely be a second and third problem, only they will be hidden deeper.

The observer led his men out, while the father and son sat quietly in the study awaiting news.

When the observer returned, he had already made progress: "The armory has also run into trouble."

Liu Shizhang looked surprised: "Commander Feng led his men to deal with the armory. Wasn't it said that the craftsmen and soldiers on night duty that day were already dead? And the accounts inside were also..."

The accounts will be burned by Feng Chuan, and when they are reported, it will be said that they have disappeared without a trace.

Liu Shizhang personally intervened in this matter, and he deliberately brought forward the incident at the weapons workshop by two days, when the military officers of the patrol office had not yet left Daming Prefecture.

Then we'll say that He Tan ordered the military officers to do it.

Prefect Liu asked, "Have you seen the body of the dead craftsman?"

Liu Shizhang said, "Several people were beheaded, and their bodies were disposed of in the mortuary by order of Tan Xiang. The sooner they are buried, the less likely anyone will find anything wrong during the investigation, since the times of their deaths don't match up."

"These were all arranged by Tan Xiang himself, so there shouldn't be any mistake."

Tan Xiang had long been aligned with them, so it was unlikely that he would sabotage them.

Prefect Liu looked at the Inspector.

The observer reported: "Traces of a fight were found in the armory, along with an arrow that was not taken away. The arrowhead has blood on it, so it does not appear to be a forgery."

"I had people dig up the buried bodies. Although the number of bodies matched the number of craftsmen on night duty that night, some of them were blurry and their identities could not be identified."

Another coincidence?

impossible.

Someone did this to cover it up... which means that some of the craftsmen who were on night duty that night are still alive, and these people will become witnesses.

Prefect Liu said, "Tan Xiang is in trouble. Either he secretly informed on him, or he was being blackmailed."

"There's someone hiding in the shadows in Daming Prefecture. He's fooled all of us. Who do you think that person is?"

As Prefect Liu spoke, the Daming Prefecture tabloid was still spread out on the table.

Liu Shizhang's eyes widened. Could it be... could it be...?

“Wang...Wang...Yan”

If it really is Wang Yan, then we're in big trouble.

Prefect Liu said, "We don't know where he is right now, but we'll try our best to prevent more evidence from falling into his hands."

Wang Yan may have already obtained evidence that they used an arms workshop to transport goods.

He could also submit a memorial to the throne, using the excuse that the annual military pay was insufficient and they had to raise money privately to escape punishment.

But the charge of using the army as a merchant caravan, which nearly led to a mutiny, cannot be placed on him.

Liu Shizhang said, "My son sent people to search for Chenyao Village, but I'm afraid it's already too late..."

Prefect Liu said, "The villagers' departure was not arranged by them. Such a large-scale commotion would definitely attract my attention. They wouldn't be so careless."

Therefore, there must be an opportunity.