A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 306 Sun Qian
Most of the clerks and constables in the yamen, as well as the wealthy gentry in the county, had not yet had breakfast and were waiting at the city gate early.

By this time, my legs were tired from standing and my stomach was growling. As the sun was already high in the sky, I suddenly saw an inconspicuous horse-drawn carriage on the official road in the distance, slowly approaching, followed by a few light cavalrymen.

When Secretary Qin saw the light cavalryman wearing black boots and official uniforms, he immediately called out to the drummer and suona player behind him, "The master is here, play and beat as hard as you can."

Suddenly, dense and rapid drum beats and high-pitched and loud suona sounds rang out at the city gate.

Everyone was expectantly cheering up, but at this moment, the carriage not far away suddenly stopped.

After a while, a light cavalryman came over on horseback and stood in front of the crowd. He didn't even get off his horse, but looked down at everyone with a haughty look.

Qin Shuban frowned and immediately signaled the drum and suona behind him to slow down.

The man looked at them and said, "Everyone, please go away. Colleagues from the government office, please go to the county office to pay your respects. As for the gentry, you have been traveling for a long time, and we will meet again some other day."

After the man finished speaking, he waved his hand behind him, and the coachman and the cavalry slowly drove over and entered Xiangu County directly from the city gate.

It's a pity that these people haven't even had breakfast and are just waiting here, but they can't even see the new magistrate. It's really a waste of time.

Those wealthy gentry all looked unhappy. He had just arrived in office and hadn't even entered the city gate, but he had already given them a show of power. This new county magistrate might have bad intentions and would be difficult to get along with.

As for Qin Shuban and the detectives, they had already left the city gate in a hurry. We could just tell them to go to the county office to pay their respects. We couldn't let the adults wait for them.

As soon as the people from the government office left, the wealthy locals and the musicians all dispersed, mumbling to themselves...

Just as the people at the city gate dispersed, about half an incense stick later, three ox carts came swayingly from the official road.

As soon as the ox cart arrived at the city gate, it frightened the yamen runners guarding the city, who were so frightened that they almost surrounded the intruder.

Because both ox carts were filled with corpses, and the corpses on the first ox cart were still covered in wriggling blood.

On that day, the foreman of the city guards was Zhang Yufu. He did not take action immediately because he saw Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu, and Ximen Kankan were all sitting on the last ox cart.

At this moment, Zhu Qunxiang had already jumped off the carriage and directly showed the Taiyi Order.

Zhang Yufu then recognized that the man in front of him was one of the sect's special envoys who was in charge of supervising the Elite Selection Society.

The elite selection meeting held every three years is also a grand event in the county. When Zhang Yufu was not on duty, he would go to watch it. He had noticed Zhu Qunxiang before.

It’s just that Zhu Qunxiang usually pays attention to her appearance, but at this moment her hair was disheveled and her clothes were torn, so Zhang Yufu failed to recognize her at first sight.

Zhu Qunxiang said, "Leave two of you guarding the city. The rest will be conscripted by this imperial envoy. Escort these bodies to the county office."

Zhang Yufu clasped his fists and said, "Yes, I will follow the Imperial Envoy's orders!"

Zhang Yufu ordered people to surround the two ox carts, and at the same time he found two pieces of black cloth to cover the corpses to avoid causing panic among the people.

Zhang Yufu led his men to escort two ox carts, and the rest of the people followed behind, heading towards the county office.

Although the corpse was covered tightly with black cloth, the onlookers had no idea what was being pulled in the two dilapidated ox carts surrounded by a team of yamen runners.

But the people watching recognized Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu and the others at a glance.

During the elite selection meeting, Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu and Xia Shuangshuang were the most discussed topics.

At this time, seeing these newly promoted registered disciples actually return in disheveled clothes, suspicions immediately spread, and discussions began in the streets and alleys...

Zhang Yufu and his men escorted two ox carts and drove directly into the gate of the county government office, stopping not far from the lobby of the government office.

Several personal guards of the new county magistrate, Sun Qian, were guarding both sides of the lobby entrance when they suddenly saw a group of people rushing in from the gate of the county office, driving two ox carts.

Ding Xingxing, the leader of Sun Qian's personal guards, immediately came over and angrily said, "Where did this ox cart come from? And it's heading to the government office? Do you think this is a market?"

Ding Xingxing shouted and glared at Zhang Yufu, the foreman of the yamen runners.

Just as Zhang Yufu was about to speak, Zhu Qunxiang stepped forward, flashed the Taiyi Order, and said, "I am the envoy of the sect! I have something important to discuss with your county lord!"

When Ding Xingxing saw Taiyi Ling, he was stunned for a moment and immediately turned around and entered the lobby of the county government office.

On the way, Zhu Qunxiang had already asked Zhang Yufu and learned that the new county magistrate had entered the city earlier this morning.

Sun Qian is in his early thirties, with a dark complexion, very thin, and a goatee on his chin. He has a restrained gleam in his eyes and walks with steady and powerful steps, giving people a sense of shrewdness and capability.

He got off the carriage and went into the backyard of the county government office. He washed up first, then changed into his official uniform and walked slowly to the lobby of the county government office.

Sun Qian took a seat in the lobby. The clerks and detectives of the yamen had already been standing respectfully in the lobby, waiting for a long time.

Sun Qian sat at the desk, glancing at everyone in the hall. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard a chaotic quarrel outside the hall door, and also heard two cow moos.

Sun Qian's face turned dark and he was about to lose his temper. At this moment, Ding Xingxing walked in quickly from outside.

Ding Xingxing whispered in Sun Qian's ear with a serious expression.

"The imperial envoy from the sect?" Sun Qian's eyes moved. He had just arrived at the yamen when the imperial envoy from the sect came to visit. What was going on?

Sun Qian walked out of the lobby quickly and saw two ox carts parked not far away and several people standing there. All of them had messy hair and torn clothes.

But Sun Qian still stepped forward, clasped his fists and said, "I wonder who is the imperial envoy? What is the purpose of your visit to my office?"

Zhu Qunxiang glanced at Sun Qian, walked to an ox cart, and with a whoosh, directly lifted the black cloth covering the ox cart.

The ox cart was piled with corpses and dense blood vessels crawling and wriggling...

"This..." Sun Qian was shocked when he saw this.

Zhu Qunxiang said, "We are the imperial envoys who are in charge of supervising the Elite Selection Association of this county, and we are escorting the newly promoted registered disciples on their way. We were ambushed by the Filthy Blood Cult in the wilderness yesterday afternoon. One of the sect's imperial envoys and three registered disciples were killed."

"This case occurred in Xiangu County, and the three registered disciples of the sect who died were also from Xiangu County. Therefore, Zhu believes that the presiding judgeship of this case also lies with the Xiangu County Office."

"The bodies of these foul-blooded monsters are also considered evidence, so they should naturally be handed over to the county office."

Sun Qian was shocked. He did not expect that he would encounter such a difficult case as soon as he took office. He immediately clasped his fists and said, "My Lords, can you please go with me to the flower hall in the backyard to discuss this matter in detail?"

Now that the case was in his hands, he naturally wanted to know the details.

The people in front of him were all witnesses, but they were either the sect's envoys or newly promoted registered disciples. In any case, he couldn't meet with them in the lobby like he was interrogating a prisoner or summoning a subordinate.

Zhu Qunxiang said, "I just wanted to talk to you in detail."

Sun Qian immediately turned his head to look at Ding Xingxing behind him and said, "Guard the two ox carts and let the coroner perform the autopsy later. Also, I will discuss the case with the others in the flower hall in the backyard. You go to the lobby and call an experienced clerk to come over and record it."

"Yes." Ding Xingxing clasped his fists.

Sun Qian turned his head and smiled, "My Lords, please!"

A group of people followed Sun Qian to the flower hall in the backyard.

When Ding Xingxing saw Sun Qian leaving, he immediately ran to the lobby, called Qin Shuban, and told him what to do. Then he ordered someone to escort the two ox carts to the morgue...

In the streets, as the gossip spread, people knew that Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu and other registered disciples had returned.

Zhu Xiaoqi was wandering around the vegetable stall with a basket on her shoulder when she suddenly heard people discussing this matter. She immediately grabbed the people who were talking about it and asked them carefully. She then heard that Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu and others had just returned and had all gone to the county government office.

When Zhu Xiaoqi heard this, he stopped buying vegetables and immediately returned home to tell Xiao Zongting about the matter.

"nonsense!?"

Xiao Zongting naturally didn't believe it. Xiao Yu and his companions left for Taiyi Sect under the escort of the sect's imperial envoy. How could they return in one day? And they also went to the government office?

But Zhu Xiaoqi looked anxious and said that everyone on the street was talking about this moment, which didn't seem false.

Xiao Zongting was half-believing and half-doubting, so he left the escort agency and walked towards the government office.

When he walked not far from the county government office, he saw Ximen Yong, Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, Tao Jiusong and others gathered near the gate of the county government office.

Xiao Zongting's heart skipped a beat. "Did something really happen?" Xiao Zongting walked over and asked them. It turned out that they had heard people talking on the street and came to the government office. They didn't know what happened. Moreover, the gatekeepers said that the county magistrate had important matters to attend to and would not let them in.

They waited there for a long time. During this time, Xia Zhongyang and Tao Jiusong wanted to break in, but they were blocked by the yamen runners. After all, this was the county government office, and they didn't dare to use force. They could only continue to wait outside the door...

Half an hour later, Zhu Qunxiang and his group walked out of the flower hall in the backyard of the county government office.

Sun Qian personally accompanied them out.

Zhu Qunxiang and his team had already written down the details of the case, and everyone had signed it. After Sun Qian had summarized the details of the case, he would issue an urgent document, one to the clan sect and one to the Censorate in the prefecture.

When they reached the backyard gate, Zhu Qunxiang looked at the registered disciples and said, "My fellow disciples! This big change was unexpected. But our journey cannot be delayed. You can go back today and rest for a night and repack your luggage. We must set off early tomorrow morning!"

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu didn't have much luggage.

Shen Mizhi and Ximen Kankan both brought a lot of things, but they were all destroyed in the explosion.

"What should I bring?! I've already made up my mind. I want to travel light." Ximen Kankan suddenly said.

Duan Rong glanced at Ximen Kankan. He felt that after this ambush, this boy seemed to have matured a lot.

Shen Mizhi's eyes were dim. Shen Yanliu had already gone to Ruyang Prefecture to take up her post. She was left alone in Xiangu County. Where could she go and how could she pack her luggage?
As they talked, the group walked out of the backyard of the yamen, crossed the path beside the lobby, and headed towards the gate of the county office.

Xiao Zongting, Ximen Yong, Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, Tao Jiusong and others were already outside the gate of the county office, anxious as ants on a hot pot...

At this moment, Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan, Xiao Yu, Shen Mizhi and others suddenly came out.

Seeing that Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan and Xiao Yu were all fine, Xiao Zongting and Ximen Yong felt relieved, as if a huge stone had fallen from their hearts.

Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng and Tao Jiusong were still standing at the door, looking inside anxiously.

But after a few people, no one came out.

"Dad!" Ximen Kankan threw herself into Ximen Yong's arms.

Seeing that Xia Shuangshuang didn't come out, Xia Zhongyang pulled Shen Mizhi and asked, "Miss Shen, where is Shuangshuang? Is she still in the county government office?"

Shen Mizhi's face turned pale and she was hesitant, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

When Jiang Heng saw Shen Mizhi's appearance, he immediately had a bad feeling in his heart. He walked up to Ximen Kankan and asked, "Kankan, where is my Qingyu? Why can't I see him?"

Ximen Kankan's eyes darkened and he turned to look at Zhu Qunxiang not far away.

Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, and Tao Jiusong also focused their attention on Zhu Qunxiang at this time. The sect's imperial envoy had the duty to protect these registered disciples.

"Excuse me, envoy! Where are Xia Shuangshuang, Jiang Qingyu, and Tao Rong now?"

Zhu Qunxiang looked a little embarrassed and explained, "We were ambushed by the Filthy Blood Cult on the way, and three of them are dead!"

"Body...death?!"

Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, and Tao Jiusong all looked shocked and didn't turn around for a long time.

"No...Tao Rong won't die...You must have made a mistake..."

Tao Jiusong shook his head, his eyes a little out of focus, and the next moment he suddenly fainted in front of the county office.

Jiang Heng rushed forward, grabbed Zhu Qunxiang's collar, and shouted with a distorted face: "Hand over Qingyu..."

Xia Zhongyang stood there, shaking uncontrollably...

After a flurry of activity, everyone finally woke up Tao Jiusong and calmed the three men down.

After they calmed down a little, Ding Xingxing took them to the morgue to identify the bodies...

Yesterday morning, I just sent my child out of the city to Taiyi Gate. It was supposed to be a happy event, but in just one day, it turned out to be a funeral and I had to go to the morgue to identify the body.

The three of them were silently mumbling in their hearts, hoping that what they would see next was not the body of their own child at all...

After the three people were taken away by Ding Xingxing, everyone sighed and expressed their feelings before dispersing.

Ximen Kankan returned home with his father, and Ximen Yong invited Duan Rong to go with him, but Duan Rong did not agree. Instead, he went to Xiao Zongting's place with Xiao Yu.

He and Xiao Zongting were master and disciple in name only, and he was originally from the Yuanshun Escort Agency. According to etiquette, he should also go to Xiao Zongting's side.

Seeing that Shen Mizhi was alone, Xiao Yu took her with him and went home.

Along the way, several people talked about the ambush by the Filthy Blood Cult. Looking at the wounds on Xiao Yu's shoulder and legs, Xiao Zongting felt a wave of fear.

After arriving home, Zhu Xiaoqi was so happy to see Xiao Yu and Duan Rong coming back that he pulled Xiao Yu around in circles. If Xiao Yu hadn't cried out in pain, Zhu Xiaoqi would not have stopped.

Afterwards, Zhu Xiaoqi went to the kitchen to prepare food, while Xiao Yu and Shen Mizhi went to the boudoir to treat their wounds.

Duan Rong originally had some minor injuries on his body, but when he used the Divine Art of Filthy Blood, all those wounds healed.

At this time, he had no injuries on his body, and he was drinking tea and chatting with Xiao Zongting in the main room.

Zhu Xiaoqi prepared lunch.

She knew that Duan Rong and Xiao Yu would only be back for one day and would leave again tomorrow, so she prepared a very sumptuous meal.

Several people took their seats.

Xiao Yu looked at Shen Mizhi and said with a smile: "Sister Shen, my family only has simple food and drink, please don't despise it!"

Shen Mizhi said: "How could that be? It's very rich! It smells so good!"

Although they had been together for a short time, Shen Mizhi felt a kind of intimacy and warmth from Xiao Yu, which was something she had never experienced in her seemingly glorious but actually cruel life.

"Then eat more." Xiao Yu said, and picked up some dishes for Shen Mizhi.

Duan Rong was sitting at the table in a daze. He thought about the matter of Xie Daohan and Fan Yuanhai. And Yang Zhen was still in the dry well of Xie Lei's old house?
He thought the matter should be over.

Because Xie Daohan was tracking him down because of the Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu cases. And with the death of Fan Yuanhai, the people who handled the Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu cases were no longer around.

An old case that has been closed and the person involved is dead, so who would care?

He was very sure that there was no evidence pointing to him for Xie Daohan's death, and Fan Yuanhai's death was attributed to an ambush by the Filthy Blood Cult.

Even if Yang Zhen wakes up, he has no evidence to prove his mistake!
Seeing Duan Rong holding the chopsticks but just staring blankly, Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at him and said, "What's wrong? Someone left and you can't even eat?"

Duan Rong glanced at Xiao Yu and said, "No. Am I not eating right now?"

As Duan Rong spoke, he stuffed a piece of braised pork into his mouth.

Zhu Xiaoqi blinked his eyes, glanced at Duan Rong, then looked at Xiao Yu, and asked curiously, "Who? Who left?"

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "You want to ask everything? Go ask him."

As Xiao Yu spoke, he raised his chin and nodded at Duan Rong.

Duan Rong said, "Don't listen to Xiao Yu's nonsense. How can anyone leave?"

Xiao Yu sneered and remained silent.

Duan Rong looked at Xiao Yu's expression, and he knew that Xiao Yu had seen some clues. However, he had no intention of hiding this from Xiao Yu. Although the king did not meet the king, he had been a virgin for two lifetimes, and the one-night stand with Lu Qingzhu was too profound for him.

Duan Rong was very clear about his feelings at this moment. Lu Qingzhu had become the woman he could not avoid in his life.

He will find an opportunity to let Xiao Yu know this.

(End of this chapter)