Catching Monsters

Chapter 317 Of course, the lord reprimanded him.

Jiang Yun helped the badly injured Qian Buchou back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion as quickly as possible.

At the same time, Xu Suwen and Jiang Qiaoqiao returned from a walk and shopping, with Jiang Qiaoqiao carrying Xiao Hei.

Xu Suwen was still holding the sweet cakes she had brought for Jiang Yun from the street.

As soon as the two arrived at the gate of the courtyard, they saw Qian Buchou sitting inside, covered in wounds.

"Ah!" Jiang Qiaoqiao was shocked when she saw this and asked, "Brother Qian, how did you get injured like this?"

Xu Suwen also stepped forward quickly, looking at Jiang Yun with a puzzled expression: "What happened?"

"Xiao Hei, come over here and help." Jiang Yun looked at Xiao Hei first and waved him over.

Jiang Qiaoqiao quickly placed the little black dog in her arms onto Qian Buchou.

Soon, a faint white light emanated from Xiao Hei, enveloping Qian Buchou.

In the white light, Qian Buchou's wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Despite being seriously injured and on the verge of death, Xiao Hei was able to save people. Qian Buchou's suffering was mostly just superficial injuries.

For Xiao Hei, it's a minor problem.

While Xiao Hei was being treated, seeing the curious look Xu Suwen was giving him, Jiang Yun also spoke in a low voice, explaining the whole story.

After hearing this, Jiang Qiaoqiao frowned deeply and couldn't help but say, "I've heard many people talk about the eminent monks of Bailong Temple. They all have kind faces and gentle features. I never thought they would be involved in human trafficking."

Xu Suwen did not show any surprise on her face, but said in a deep voice, "In recent years, there have indeed been many cases of ordinary people in the capital going missing. I never expected that it would be related to this Bailong Temple."

Jiang Qiaoqiao, standing nearby, couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Sister Suwen, doesn't the government investigate?"

"Cases of missing civilians are all handled by the Jingzhao Prefecture government for investigation." Xu Suwen shook her head as she said this, adding, "Unless it's a family member of a high-ranking official or nobleman who gets into trouble, why would the Jingzhao Prefecture government care?"

"Not to mention that Hakuryu-ji Temple is now involved."

At this point, Xu Suwen frowned deeply, looked at Jiang Yun, and said in a deep voice, "Now that you know about this matter, I'm afraid Bailong Temple will not let it go easily."

Jiang Yun's expression hardened, and he said in a deep voice, "Shall I go to the palace immediately to see His Majesty?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Suwen shook her head slightly and said with a solemn expression, "It's no use. Bailong Temple has been operating in the capital for many years and its influence is deeply entrenched. It's not something that can be accomplished by you casually offering a few words to His Majesty."

"You say Bailong Temple is involved in human trafficking, but if His Majesty asks you for evidence, can you produce it?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun couldn't help but nod slightly, agreeing with Xu Suwen's reasoning.

After a long silence, Xu Suwen said, "The most urgent task is to immediately collect irrefutable evidence of the crimes committed by Bailong Temple."

"With irrefutable evidence presented before His Majesty, the White Dragon Temple will have no way to overturn the case."

"We need to get this evidence before Hakuryu-ji destroys it."

Xu Suwen had served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years and was well-versed in some of the rules of the capital.

Just then, Qian Buchou, whose injuries had fully healed, slowly asked, "Miss Xu, can my words serve as irrefutable evidence?"

Seeing this, Xu Suwen turned to look at Qian Buchou and shook her head slightly, somewhat helplessly: "It's useful, but not enough."

"If we want to deal with a force like Hakuryu-ji, relying solely on so-called confessions is probably not enough."

“It is very easy to fabricate confessions. Even if you just grab any monk from Bailong Temple and take him to the Jinyiwei prison, you can get a lot of confessions out of him.”

"Confessions are only applicable to those His Majesty wants to deal with, and those who lack power in the capital."

Jiang Yun frowned, but he could understand the rules.

After all, this set of rules is beneficial to all the wealthy and powerful.

Furthermore, limited by the investigative methods available in this world, most of the time, they can only obtain confessions through verbal and physical coercion.

Destroying the 'evidence' is incredibly easy.

The advantage of doing this is that it will become significantly more difficult for the powerful and wealthy to punish them.

However, Xu Suwen slowly said, "In short, the key to dealing with Bailong Temple is to make His Majesty want to deal with them, not what they did."

……

Inside Li Wangxin's residence, he was drinking tea and leisurely playing with the birds he kept in the backyard.

The affairs of the Zhenfu Division are not busy these days, and there have been no major cases in the capital for some time.

The current focus of our work is dealing with the banditry in the southwest. Yang Liunian is leading a team to the three southwestern provinces.

Originally, His Majesty had them investigate the reasons for the enormous consumption of military supplies and food, but recently, he has changed the focus of their work.

As Xiao Yuzheng's most trusted confidant, he naturally knew about the Imperial Seal of the State. Now, he learned from His Majesty that the Imperial Seal of the State was probably in the hands of the rebel leaders in the three southwestern provinces.

So he sent a secret letter, instructing Yang Liunian and others to go to the three southwestern provinces first to see if they could find the Imperial Seal of the State and bring it back.

As for investigating the consumption of military supplies and food, that became a secondary matter.

Just as Li Wangxin was teasing the bird, a servant from the mansion suddenly rushed over.

"Master, Abbot Fakong of Bailong Temple has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Li Wangxin raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "Quickly, please invite him in."

Upon entering the living room, Abbot Fakong was already seated, a smile on his face. He said, "Abbot Fakong, what brings you here these days? Please come and sit with me." Li Wangxin's wife revered Buddhism, and Abbot Fakong was highly respected within the Buddhist community, so Li Wangxin naturally greeted him with courtesy.

After Abbot Fakong took his seat, he put his hands together and glanced at a box that was nearly a meter tall that he had brought with him: "Madam Li reveres the Buddha, and I also believe that she is a person with affinity to the Buddha, so I have specially sent her a gift."

"Gift?"

Li Wangxin's gaze fell on the box, and then he opened it.

Inside was a golden Buddha statue made of pure gold. Judging by its weight, it was probably quite heavy. Based on Li Wangxin's experience in accepting bribes, this golden Buddha statue probably weighed at least a hundred pounds.

If one jin of gold is converted to one hundred taels...

This golden Buddha statue is probably worth tens of thousands of taels of silver.

This is a huge sum of money. Li Wangxin narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the monk with a puzzled expression.

Why are the monks at Hakuryu-ji Temple being so generous?
If someone is unusually attentive, they must have something to ask for.

Li Wangxin closed the box, his smile fading slightly, and calmly said, "This golden Buddha is quite valuable. What does Abbot Fakong intend to do?"

With tens of thousands of taels of silver involved, the other party's ambitions are likely quite substantial.

Abbot Fakong clasped his hands together and slowly said, "Lord Li, you may not know this, but this morning, a valuable treasure was stolen from our Bailong Temple. According to our investigation, the thief was Jiang Yun, a centurion of the Dongzhenfu Division."

"Who?"

Li Wangxin narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Abbot, you may not know this, but although Jiang Yun is young, he has a bright future in our Embroidered Uniform Guard and is highly regarded by me."

"Moreover, this boy is clever and quick-witted, and he is very good at solving cases. If the abbot says that he stole the treasures of your temple, I will not believe it."

Abbot Fakong finished speaking with a smile: "Lord Li, that's why I sent this Buddha statue."

Li Wangxin chuckled and said, "I still trust Jiang Yun's character. You think this little bit of gold is enough to ruin Jiang Yun's character?

Seeing that Li Wangxin still wouldn't budge, Abbot Fakong took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Li, tonight I will send you another golden Buddha of the same size."

"You see?"

Li Wangxin stared intently at Abbot Fakong: "Send two more statues before nightfall. I will handle the matter of Jiang Yun stealing from your Bailong Temple impartially."

Abbot Fakong was overjoyed to see that Li Wangxin had agreed. He immediately nodded and said in a deep voice, "Yes, Lord Li, I will take care of it right away."

Soon, Abbot Fakong turned and left with great interest.

Li Wangxin stared at Abbot Fakong's retreating figure, narrowing his eyes slightly. He then instructed his servant, "Go and fetch Jiang Yun for me."

Jiang Yun was also preparing to meet Li Wangxin at that moment.

He planned to lead a search party for Bailong Temple, but mobilizing the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) of the Eastern Garrison Command required approval from his superiors.

Yang Liunian is not here.

Since the Eastern Garrison Command had not yet appointed a Garrison Commander, they could only apply for a search warrant from Li Wangxin.

Just then, Jiang Yun was informed that Lord Li Wangxin wanted to see him, so he hurriedly went to Li Wangxin's residence.

Led by the servants of the Li family, Jiang Yun soon arrived at the courtyard of the mansion and saw Li Wangxin teasing a bird under a tree.

"They're here?" Li Wangxin turned to look at Jiang Yun, then shook the bird in the cage before kicking the box beside him: "Take a look for yourself, see what's inside."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun hurriedly stepped forward, opened the box, and found a golden Buddha statue inside.

Jiang Yun's eyes flickered slightly, and he hurriedly said, "Sir, what is this...?"

"Your subordinates have not received any reward without merit..."

Li Wangxin almost burst out laughing. This kid is dreaming. He glared at Jiang Yun: "Is this for you? It's something that Abbot Fakong sent to me."

"Tell me, you brat, how did you get involved with Hakuryuji?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun solemnly recounted the details of the human trafficking incident at Bailong Temple.

After finishing speaking, Jiang Yun took a deep breath and said, "Lord Li, I would like to request a search warrant to search Bailong Temple and investigate the evidence."

Li Wangxin stared at the little bird in the cage and slowly said, "But Abbot Fakong is preparing to give me two more golden Buddha statues to frame you for stealing the temple's treasures."

"This puts me in a difficult position. Once I've made a promise, it's like a horse that can't be taken back."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun remained silent, waiting for Li Wangxin to continue.

"By the way, according to the laws of our Great Zhou Dynasty, the crime of theft should be punished with thirty strokes of the cane and three months of imprisonment, right?"

"Yes." Jiang Yun nodded slightly.

Li Wangxin then thought of something else: "However, according to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, our Embroidered Uniform Guard is always on official business. Sometimes the business is urgent and we cannot detain people. If we commit a minor offense, we can be exempted from punishment after being reprimanded by our superiors."

Did I blame you?

Jiang Yun nodded respectfully: "Of course, Your Excellency has reprimanded me."

"That's good. In this way, it's in accordance with the law." Li Wangxin nodded slightly and solemnly said to Jiang Yun, "As for the search, there's no need to rush. We'll take action when the other two golden Buddhas arrive."

"These are all evidence of Bailong Temple's bribery of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"In addition, mobilize all personnel from the Eastern Garrison Command, temporarily seal off Bailong Temple, and thoroughly investigate the human trafficking case."

(End of this chapter)