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Chapter 542 Smoke and White Eyes (10,000 words)

The old man's smile and words were incredibly simple and honest.

It has a rough, rugged feel, like the north wind blowing through the loess soil.

If his head hadn't been several times larger and attached to a wall, everything he said would have been easily convincing.

The "brick walls" on all four sides squeezed inward together.

The wall seemed to cut off their space directly from the town of Changxian.

The area where Xu Yuan and his two companions could move around was becoming increasingly narrow, as if they were about to be crushed into meat patties.

Di Youzhi threw out his sword pellet. He was skilled with a knife, so the "sword pellet" transformed into a handleless double-headed curved blade, shaped like a crescent moon, and pierced into the wall with a clang.

The brick wall, however, began to writhe like flesh and blood, trying to swallow the knife whole.

Zhou Leizi scattered a handful of seeds.

His seeds have now undergone special cultivation.

Each seed is covered with long, thin thorns.

Spikes like tentacles, seeds like strange insects, first darted swiftly across the wall, then burrowed into the places that had turned into flesh and blood to grow.

But the walls of flesh and blood turned back into bricks and stones, sealing the seed inside.

If Zhou Leizi's skill level is higher than the old man's, then these seeds will be able to break through the bricks and stones and grow.

But Zhou Leizi's skill level was clearly far inferior to that of the old man.

His seed was sealed.

"Hehehe." The old man laughed at the head that had grown onto the wall: "I never lie, your time is running out."

The walls kept getting cramped.

Di Youzhi and Zhou Leizi had no room to maneuver.

"If you don't agree, we'll kill you all and replace you with a new emperor. We'll keep killing until someone is willing to obey Prince Jing's orders!"

Xu Yuan looked at the huge old man's head in front of him.

As the story reached its final moments, the head even twisted and stretched down from the wall, its neck resembling that of a giant snake.

Xu Yuan is driving the "Wangming".

It was clear that the old man's skill level was only fourth-rate.

I just found it very funny.

"You meticulously planned a conspiracy, and now you think you've got the victory in the bag?" Xu Yuan asked. "Have you considered that even if your conspiracy succeeds and traps us, you're actually no match for us?"

As Xu Yuan spoke, he waved his hand, and the tendon pill flew out.

The animal sinew rope swiftly made a slipknot, and with a whoosh, it looped around the old man's neck, tightening securely with a pull.

At the same time, Xu Yuan turned around and kicked out from under his clothes without warning.

It slammed onto the wall with a loud thud.

The Dragon Transformation Technique combined with the Fighting General Technique.

The wall suddenly turned into flesh and blood.

The massive surge of flesh and blood rippled and vibrated, attempting to neutralize the force of the kick.

If it were still a brick wall, it would definitely have been kicked to pieces.

But even a wall of flesh and blood couldn't neutralize the force of that kick.

A clear footprint first appeared on the wall.

It sank in more than an inch deep.

Then the fleshy walls writhed, but could not dissipate this immense force.

Spiderweb-like cracks started from the footprints and quickly spread outwards!

The old man's eyes widened in pain; the kick had caused him immense agony, and a scream was already rising in his throat—but Xu Yuan suddenly tugged at the animal sinew rope.

The rope tightened again, choking his screams.

Xu Yuan continued, "Didn't you ever consider that the reason the three under the Directorate ignored you was because they knew you were no match for me?"

The old man didn't know before, but now he wants to say he does, yet he can't say it.

That kick knocked down a wall.

The old man's method was thus broken.

The hustle and bustle of the county town outside suddenly rushed in.

Di Youzhi and Zhou Leizi instantly felt as if they had returned to the mortal world.

Outside the wall, Zang Tianlan and Wenren Luo walked over unhurriedly.

The old man's eyes bulged out, almost as if they were being squeezed out of their sockets.

Wenren Luo, still holding the rough porcelain teapot in his hand, said nonchalantly to his senior brother, "I told you there was no need to come."

Zang Tianlan walked towards the old man.

The old man's face was bulging with veins, his eyes were bulging, and he was baring his teeth, making him look extremely terrifying.

Just as Zang Tianlan took a step, one of the old man's eyeballs suddenly popped out of its socket!
The fist-sized eyeball smashed to the ground, exploding with a loud "bang" and releasing a large plume of thick white smoke!

In an instant, everything around us was shrouded in a misty fog.

Xu Yuan felt the animal sinew rope in his hand become lighter.

"Oh no!" Xu Yuan puffed out his chest and blew a sharp breath.

The white smoke dissipated, and the surroundings were empty; the old man was nowhere to be seen!
"Huh—" Wenren Luo, who was focused on playing with the teapot, also exclaimed in surprise. This old man is something else.

A fourth-rate individual, yet managed to escape right under Zang Tianlan's nose.

Xu Yuan stomped his foot, and two fiery wheels appeared beneath his feet, flames surging forth. Xu Yuan rose into the air, searching around but found nothing.

"This method... is so bizarre, I've never encountered anything like it before." Xu Yuan frowned and landed, then asked Wenren Luo and Zang Tianlan, "Senior brothers, you've been in Beidu for a long time and have seen a lot, have you ever seen such a method before?"

The two shook their heads.

Wenren Luo said, "He can't escape."

But Wenren Luo didn't explain in detail why he couldn't escape or how to find him.

Instead, he asked Xu Yuan, "How was your investigation at the Li family's place?"

While answering, Xu Yuan was still checking the traces around him.

But that wisp of white smoke was quite strange; it dissolved and eroded all the traces.

Xu Yuan frowned, wishing Zhang Meng were here.

He was calculating in his mind: Zhang Meng and Fu Jingyu should be arriving in Beidu soon, right?

Yes, Lord Xu also "divided his forces into two groups".

Xu Yuan was in the open, while Fu Jingyu and Zhang Meng were in the shadows.

On the surface, the individual abilities of the members of this team are also obvious.

They are easily targeted by malicious individuals in the shadows.

However, Zhang Meng's abilities are special, and since he has only recently joined Lord Xu's ranks, he is not yet conspicuous.

He and Fu Jingyu conducted a secret investigation as a supplement to Xu Yuan's team, which was openly involved.

However, Fu Jingyu and Zhang Meng did not take the Imperial City Bureau's fast ship, but instead hired their own fast ship.

The boats need to dock at the pier at night, so the speed will naturally be two or three days slower.

Finding no clues, Xu Yuan waved his hand and said, "Let's go back first and ask the Lei family about the situation this afternoon."

……

After Xu Yuan and the others left, four streets away, in the shadows of a corner, a dirty beggar stirred.

He pulled off the tattered, dirty clothes covering his body, revealing an old man missing an eye.

This garment is a craftsman's work designed to conceal one's presence.

It shares the same origin as his "law".

They actually managed to keep it from Xu Yuan and Zang Tianlan.

He hadn't dared to move a muscle just now, but now he was trembling all over from the pain.

Blood kept flowing from his eyes.

He didn't care, he curled up on the ground, clutching his groin and rolling around, making low growling noises.

The old man didn't know if it was his bad luck or Xu Yuan's good luck.

That kick aimed at the wall landed squarely on his groin.

They kicked down that wall, and they also shattered the old man's dignity as a man!
This is, of course, because Lord Xu is incredibly lucky.

Are the many astrological configurations that enhance good fortune merely for show?
The old man's face was covered in bulging veins, not only because his neck was bound by the animal sinew rope, but also because his testicles were in excruciating pain!

He kept rolling around on the ground.

He banged his head against the wall to distract himself.

He took several medicinal pills before he was able to suppress his injuries.

It took a while for the medicine to take effect, and he finally recovered. He was covered in sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

He leaned against the wall, his only remaining eye gleaming with a cold, vicious light as he scanned the surroundings.

Blood gushed from his other eye socket like a fountain, staining his shirt a deep crimson.

The injury to his genitals has been temporarily suppressed, and although it is very painful and humiliating, it can be reversed in the future.

Although buying a pill that can "regenerate severed limbs" is expensive, as long as it can grow back, that's fine.

The reason why the eunuchs in the palace could not grow back was because the "purification room" had a special kind of sorcery that once the skin was cut off, it could not grow back.

The old man's most important task now is to find an eyeball.

That white smoke trick came at a huge cost.

If you don't use your eyeball to block the eye socket, the bleeding will continue.

They'll literally bleed him to death!

No matter what medicine or pills were used, they couldn't stop the bleeding.

The old man listened intently and realized there was a house behind the wall.

They're all ordinary people; we could just climb over and kill them, take their eyes.

But the lazy man's eyes darkened, and he gritted his teeth, realizing he couldn't do that now.

Chang County is so small, if something happens, the whole county will know about it very quickly.

Xu Yuan must still be searching for him, which would leave traces.

Suddenly, two stray dogs ran past from the side.

They rushed into a box not far ahead.

The old man struggled to his feet and followed him inside.

As soon as he entered the alley, the old man saw a stray dog ​​riding on the back of another dog.

The old man flew into a rage: "You bastard, how dare you mock me to my face!"

A whimpering sound came from the alley, but it quickly subsided.

After a while, the old man came out of the alley and blinked hard.

The dog's eyeballs were a bit small, so he had to squint, otherwise they might fall out if he wasn't careful.

The old man sighed. The price was huge, but if it could lead to great things, it would be worth it.

……

Back at the inn, Xu Yuan and the others began to discuss the matter.

"Prince Jing?" Wenren Luo replied casually while fiddling with the teapot, "He just told you that so brazenly? Then it's obviously fake."

Xu Yuan nodded.

Of course it's fake.

The old man probably wasn't well-informed and didn't know that when he was in Anyang Prefecture, Cheng Guojiu had come out to test him.

At that time, Xu Yuan understood that although Prince Jing's lineage had ambitions, they would still obey the emperor's arrangements in everything.

They would never dare to voluntarily step forward to vie for the throne.

Di Youzhi: "What exactly is this old man's purpose? Is he trying to smear Prince Jing? Is he perhaps an enemy of His Highness Prince Jing?"

Xu Yuan looked at Wenren Luo, who then said, "His Highness Prince Jing has a very good reputation in Beidu. If we have to say who he has a grudge against, it would be Prince Cheng."

The princes studied in the Wenhua Hall. Prince Jing was always first, while Prince Cheng was unruly and always came in last, so he would get a slap on the hand from his teachers.

It is said that Prince Cheng harbored resentment towards Prince Jing because of this.

After a pause, he continued, "The birth mother of Prince Cheng, Consort Jing, was from the southwest and entered the palace as a selected concubine."

But in reality, his family were wealthy merchants in the southwest, possessing mountains of gold and silver, and his family was also the leaders of the "Baiyuanliu" sect, a major Buddhist sect.

Each of the seven major sects has a guild, which people commonly refer to as "huizi".

The southwestern provinces are covered with dense forests, teeming with snakes, insects, tigers, and wolves. The people are known for their fierce and warlike nature and have historically been skilled in the arts of poisoning and killing.

Therefore, the southwestern provinces have the most legal revisions.

There are also many related Dharma revision conferences.

"Baiyuanliu" is one of the three major Dharma cultivation societies in the southwest, and it ranks among the top ten Dharma cultivation societies in the entire Huangming Dynasty.

Therefore, even in the "talent show," not just anyone can be selected.

Even if you are selected, you may not have the chance to show your face to the Emperor or be seen by him.

These roads were all paved with silver.

However, Consort Jing's background was far inferior to that of the other concubines in the harem.

Therefore, Prince Cheng was bullied by his brothers from a young age.

Unfortunately, Consort Jing was someone who knew no respect.

The daughter of a merchant was born with a fiery temper.

In the harem, if one suffers even the slightest injustice, one must find a way to get it back.

She was also quite shrewd, making no major mistakes but constantly making minor ones.

Thanks to her ability to conceive and the wealth of her family, she has lived a peaceful and stable life until now.

The most important factor is that her family is wealthy.

When Wenren Luo mentioned Prince Cheng and Consort Jing, Xu Yuan couldn't help but think that it was indeed possible that the mother and son were responsible!
The old man's method of framing him was extremely crude.

A truly cunning and meticulous mastermind would never do such a thing.

She did agree with Consort Jing and Prince Cheng, showing a shrewd and vindictive nature.

Moreover, everyone else was watching the case from the shadows, not daring to make a move, but the two of them jumped out without thinking – only someone with their personality would do that.

Another piece of evidence is that the old man was a cultivator.

The methods used were bizarre and unusual.

Consort Jing's family controlled the "Hundred Sources Stream," and there were many practitioners of magic in the southwest of the Ming Dynasty whose lineages were incomplete but whose methods were obscure and wicked.

Di Youzhi asked, "Sir, what should we do now? Should we report to Beidu?"

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "No need, we'll investigate our own."

There are some things Xu Yuan doesn't need to say to his subordinates.

This old man had followed him all the way from outside the Northern Capital, and Sheng Shan had already discovered him before.

Xu Yuan believed that the Imperial City Guard must have already reported to the Emperor.

As a subject, one should not meddle in the emperor's family affairs.

Moreover, given Lord Xu's temperament, if he had suffered a loss in that battle...

Of course, we'll try every means to fight back.

But Lord Xu has come out on a great deal, so let's just pretend this never happened.

After lunch, Xu Yuan prepared to take his men to the Lei family's house.

The location of the Lei family was not so easy to find out.

Zhou Leizi stopped a person on the roadside to ask him a question, but the person looked blank: "Lei family? Which Lei family? There are a lot of people with the surname Lei in this city."

Zhou Leizi: "It's about Yi..."

Xu Yuan pulled him back and waved his hand, signaling him not to say anything more.

"Ask someone else."

Zhou Leizi stopped a few more people, but they all shook their heads, not knowing either.

Xu Yuan observed secretly and found that these people's expressions did not seem to be faked.

"In other words, the Lei family is not well-known in Chang County."

“The Lei family produced a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), which should have been widely known in a small county like Chang County.”

"The current situation can only be attributed to the Li family's deliberate suppression."

"After all, the Li family would never want anyone to mention the time when the engagement was broken off."

"Therefore, the fewer people who know about the Lei family, the lower the chance that this matter will be exposed."

Xu Yuan sorted out the situation in his mind and realized that the Li family's actions were understandable.

Xu Yuan even felt that such a heartless and ungrateful man should be severely punished.

But this raises another question: "Few people in the city know about the Lei family, so how did Imperial Censor Dai discover this clue?"

Imperial Censor Dai had only come by on his way to investigate whether the so-called "auspicious golden rooster" of the Li family was true or false.

Di Youzhi then asked, "Sir, shall we go to the county government office? Order them to send someone to take us to the Lei family."

Xu Yuan shook his head: "Go to the Li family."

The county government officials will also be the next targets for questioning.

Moreover, Xu Yuan and his party entered the city so openly that the county government must have already been informed.

They haven't come looking for us yet, and their attitude is self-evident.

The Li family must know where the Lei family lives.

Xu Yuan and his two companions returned, and the servants at the Li family's gate politely invited them inside while simultaneously reporting to Li Ken.

Xu Yuan waved his hand, explained his purpose, and said, "Just send us a guide."

The servant went inside, and after a short while, Li Ken came out in person, accompanied by a steady old steward: "Uncle Gui was my family's neighbor in my early years, and later he worked for the household."

Uncle Gui knows everything about our dealings with the Lei family back then.

"Let him take the master there. If the master has any questions, Uncle Gui can answer them."

Xu Yuan cupped his hands in greeting: "Young Master Li's arrangements are impeccable."

Uncle Gui was chubby and not very tall; he would get a little out of breath when he walked.

But you can still see the marks left by the hardships of his early life on his face.

"This way, Lord Xu." Uncle Gui led Xu Yuan and the other two: "The Lei family lives not far away."

Xu Yuan and the other two followed. Uncle Gui, a talkative man, took the initiative to say, "I used to be neighbors with Master Li. He was a bamboo craftsman and I was a carpenter. We often did some work together, and our two families have always had a good relationship."

After Mr. Li became successful, he invited all of us old neighbors to work at his residence.

What can ordinary people like us do?

"Master Li is a nobleman now, and we don't understand the rules and customs of nobles. Master Li is just remembering our past relationship and letting us live in his mansion in our old age."

Xu Yuan nodded and added a compliment: "Master Li is a man of great virtue."

Uncle Gui continued, "This Li residence was built on the original site of the Li family's old house."

The Li family bought all the houses of dozens of our old neighbors around here, not only paying a high price, but also building new houses for us not far away.

The Lei family and the Li family lived not far apart. The second sister of the Li family and that heartless scoundrel from the Lei family were childhood sweethearts. The two families knew each other well; otherwise, why would Master Li have taken out a loan to help him with his studies?

At this point, Uncle Gui stomped his feet in anger: "Who would have thought that little brat would pass the college entrance exam and then dump Li's second sister?"

Fortunately, Heaven has eyes; the Li family prospered, while the man surnamed Lei was banished to the north to eat snowflakes…

He seemed to realize he had spoken out of turn, coughed twice, chuckled, and said nothing more.

After turning a few corners and going around two streets, the houses in front of them suddenly became low and old. They hadn't gone far when Uncle Gui pointed to a courtyard ahead and said, "Look, that's the one."

Looking around, Xu Yuan and the other two saw that the family of a scholar who had passed the imperial examination had a low gate, dilapidated doors and windows, and uneven roof tiles.

They didn't seem any better off than their poor neighbors.

Uncle Gui went up and knocked on the door, shouting loudly, "Old woman Lei, come out! An adult wants to ask you some questions."

Footsteps sounded in the courtyard, followed by an old voice muttering incessantly through the door: "Old Guizi, you'll die a horrible death! Clinging to the Li family, you torment us orphans and widows every day, you have no conscience..."

The sound reached behind the door, and then with a creak, the two wooden doors slid open from the inside, revealing a short, plump old woman.

Her hair was gray, and although her body was somewhat hunched, she was in excellent spirits. Her eyes gleamed with a sharp light. She first glared fiercely at Uncle Gui, and then cursed, "You damned bastard, what are you doing here with your men again?"
"Didn't the officials from the imperial court already question me a while ago? I, this old woman, have told you everything, so why is this never ending?"

Uncle Gui suddenly became anxious: "You old woman, don't talk nonsense! When did we arrange for you to say anything..."

Then the old woman plopped down on the threshold and began to wail and scream, "The Li family is bullying us!"

"Are you trying to kill us?!"

“I’ve said whatever you want me to say, and now you’re going to humiliate me? My son, he worked so hard to pass the exam, and you’ve driven him to the north. You just want to kill my son and make the Lei family line die out…”

She cried out and suddenly took off her smelly shoes, banging the soles on the threshold while cursing, "Old Li, you dog, will have your heart ripped out by evil spirits sooner or later!"

Zhao Guizi, you bully us orphans and widows because you rely on your master's power. You'll get your comeuppance sooner or later. May you be struck by lightning and have sons born without an anus..."

She banged louder and louder, and her curses became increasingly vulgar.

Uncle Gui's chubby face turned bright red, but Xu Yuan and the other two didn't feel awkward at all.

They were all from small towns. For example, Xu Yuan often saw mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law arguing in the neighborhood in Shanhe County. That was the typical way they behaved...

"You, you, you crazy woman..." Uncle Gui was trembling with anger, but he couldn't do anything about the madwoman Lei.

Xu Yuan gently patted Uncle Gui's shoulder: "You go back first, we'll ask her alone."

Uncle Gui panicked: "Lord Xu, please don't listen to this crazy woman's nonsense! We absolutely did not threaten her!"

Xu Yuan nodded and said, "Don't worry, sir. No matter what anyone says, I will not listen to or believe everything I hear."

Uncle Gui was still a little worried and hesitated to leave.

Xu Yuan pointed at the old woman from the Lei family and said, "You'll only feel awkward if you stay here."

The madwoman let out another dry howl, her curses becoming even more vulgar: "Zhao Guizi, your wife has been sleeping with Li Laoguan for a long time! You cuckold, you really think Li Laoguan is taking care of you? He's just making it easier for him to have an affair with your wife!"

Uncle Gui calmed down and looked at Lei's mother: "I really didn't realize back then that you and your son were this kind of people."

He shook his head and left.

After Uncle Gui had walked away, Xu Yuan said, "Alright, stop howling. Come inside and talk to me."

A large crowd had already gathered around, all watching the spectacle.

But this was clearly not the first time Lei's wife had done this; everyone just laughed and pointed, as if it were commonplace.

Xu Yuan wanted to go in, but Granny Lei remained on the threshold and refused to get up.

Xu Yuan snapped his fingers, and the animal sinew rope flew out, lifting her up directly.

Xu Yuan stepped inside.

The courtyard was in a state of disrepair.

Xu Yuan went back into the house.

The furnishings inside the house were completely opposite to its exterior.

It can't be called luxurious, but it's certainly very tasteful.

Xu Yuan nodded to himself.

That's more like it; those things outside are for others to see.

Let people know that the Li family is bullying others.

But since Lei Jinshi was an official after all, even in the harsh conditions of the four northern provinces, he wouldn't really be destitute.

I can't let my mother suffer.

Di Youzhi and Zhou Leizi followed them inside and closed the courtyard gate.

Xu Yuan sat down in the room and said to the old woman from the Lei family, "Did your scholar Lei really have a marriage agreement with the Imperial Concubine Yi back then?"

Old Mrs. Lei glared at him and retorted, "What kind of official are you? You're younger than my son, so your rank must be low. Do you have the right to ask this question?"

Di Youzhi and Zhou Leizi secretly curled their lips, thinking to themselves, "She really is a shrew from the streets."

Xu Yuan didn't mention the official title of "Doctor of Geography," as the old woman wouldn't understand the title and it wasn't impressive enough.

Xu Yuan simply said, "I am a sixth-rank official, which is higher than that of Scholar Lei."

Generally, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) would be granted an official rank of the ninth grade.

Sure enough, this immediately frightened Granny Lei.

She muttered to herself, "The last censor who came was a seventh-rank official; this one is even higher."

Xu Yuan then asked, "What did you say to that censor? Did you really just say whatever the Li family told you to say?"

Seeing the old woman's eyes darting around, Xu Yuan warned her again: "You'd better tell the truth, I have my own tricks to distinguish between truth and falsehood."

This matter is extremely serious. If you lie, it won't just affect your son's future, it could even affect his life!

The old woman trembled slightly and said repeatedly, "To tell you the truth, we haven't had much contact with the Li family over the years. Besides, I still have some backbone. The Li family bullied my son, how could I let them manipulate me?"

She gave an awkward smile: "I was just angry that Zhao Guizi was a bully who relied on his master's power."

Xu Yuan nodded: "Then let's talk about your son and Consort Yi."

The old woman from the Lei family immediately cried out in injustice: "It was the Li family who ruined my son's reputation!"

Our Lei family has never made a betrothal to the Li family, so how can you say that our Lei family broke off the engagement?

If you don't believe me, you can ask our other relatives and friends in the Lei family.

My husband died young. If my son were to get married and the betrothal ceremony were to take place, it would definitely require the involvement of uncles and elders from the clan. This is not something that an old woman like me can cover up by lying alone.

Xu Yuan nodded, then asked, "Did you say the same thing to that censor?"

“Yes.” Old woman Lei’s eyes started darting around again, but in the end she still had to consider the current status of the Imperial Concubine Yi and dared not smear her too much: “My son and the second sister of the Li family at most… once had some feelings for each other.”

Later, when my son passed the high school entrance exam, that old man Li tried to curry favor with him, spreading rumors that my son was betrothed to his family.

Old Mrs. Lei argued vehemently, "If there really was a marriage contract, where is the marriage certificate from back then? Can he produce it?"

Xu Yuan then asked, "The Li family said that they lent money to support your son's education..."

"Nonsense!" Old Mrs. Lei jumped up as if her tail had been stepped on. "Where's the IOU? Such a large sum of money, and that stingy old man Li just gave it to us for nothing? Without even a written agreement?"

Xu Yuan nodded and said calmly, "Alright, I understand. Let's stop here for today."

Xu Yuan got up and walked outside, with Di Youzhi and Zhou Leizi following immediately.

Old woman Lei followed closely, chattering on and on: "My lord, what I'm saying is the truth. You must do us justice! My son was a perfectly good scholar, but the Li family drove him to the north. My son is suffering so much! Please have pity on us, a widow and her orphan..."

Xu Yuan had already strode out of the courtyard when Zhou Leizi unceremoniously raised his arm, blocking the old woman from following him out to continue the conversation.

……

The Changxian County Government Office has a long history, and the stone tablet in front of the main hall is said to date back to the Yuan Dynasty.

However, the oldest building in the entire county government office is the prison on the west side.

Narrow and low, yet incredibly sturdy, it has withstood wind and rain without collapsing.

In the study in the backyard of the county government office, Magistrate Xia Chang was drowning his sorrows in wine.

Xia Chang knew that the "geography PhD" had already arrived.

If a poor and run-down place like Chang County can't be completely under his control, and if no little thing can escape his notice, then he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.

Xia Chang really didn't want to get involved in this karma.

But he knew he couldn't escape it.

It all depends on when that Lord Xu comes to find him—whenever Magistrate Xia holds court to adjudicate a case, he deliberately delays the final verdict.

Because he knew that his verdict would determine the fate of both the plaintiff and the defendant kneeling below the court.

Both of them looked at him expectantly, their eyes like those of a puppy craving food.

Magistrate Xia really enjoyed the feeling of being able to influence the fate of others.

But now, he is the one waiting to have his fate pronounced.

Who can escape the wrath of Heaven?
Xia Chang ate four snacks with his wine and drank half a pot of Shaoxing wine, then dared not drink any more.

He was afraid that Xu Yuan would come knocking on his door at this time, and that he would get completely drunk...

"Can't people even drink to drown their sorrows and still have a good time?" Xia Chang cursed angrily, becoming even more upset.

He got up and opened his shirt, feeling a bit stuffy and hot, and wanted to go out for some fresh air.

However, they did not realize that they had become somewhat unsteady on their feet.

He walked into the courtyard, where there was a small lotus pond outside the study.

He vaguely saw something in the lotus pond, but as he tried to see it more clearly, his vision became increasingly blurry. He walked closer and reached the edge of the lotus pond.

A hand emerged from the water, its length far exceeding that of a normal person, grabbed his neck, and pulled him into the water.

As soon as Xia Chang touched the water, he felt his whole body stiffen and he couldn't move. The eighth-rate scholar drowned silently in a shallow lotus pond.

Two hands stretched out from the lotus pond, returning to a normal human state.

He climbed up, squinting with one eye.

He dragged Xia Chang's body out of the water, carried it on his shoulder, and tiptoed into the study.

Then he laid the body flat, took a thin-bladed knife, skillfully peeled off Xia Chang's entire skin, and then twisted his body and crawled inside!
……

The county government office was originally lax in its security.

However, after the incident involving Consort Yi, all the account books and records in the county were placed under strict control.

The county constable was a low-level martial arts practitioner who had been living and working at the yamen recently, personally leading his men to guard the treasury.

Nothing serious had happened, and the head constable had become somewhat complacent.

He was gambling with a few of his constables when he suddenly saw the county magistrate walk in with his hands behind his back. He quickly kicked aside his men and went up to him with a smile, saying, "Your Excellency."

"Hmm." Xia Chang responded, "Open the door, I want to inspect it myself."

"Yes." The constable immediately opened the door.

"You all stay outside and guard the area; no one is allowed to come in."

"Yes."

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the county magistrate came out: "Be careful and guard the area, don't let any bad guys sneak in."

"Don't worry, even if a fly flies in, I'll catch it and determine whether it's male or female."

Xia Chang nodded and left. He then went to the county magistrate's office and told him, "I'm going to Xiaotuo Township to inspect the flood situation. I'm entrusting the affairs of the county to you."

The county magistrate hurriedly said, "But that Lord Xu has already entered the city and may come to the county magistrate at any time to inquire about the situation..."

"You know about those things, so you can handle them for me."

The county magistrate was dumbfounded: "This, this..."

Xia Chang patted him on the shoulder and said, "After I step down, I will recommend you to the court so that you can succeed me as the county magistrate."

Having offered benefits, the county magistrate had no choice but to bite the bullet and take the blame.

After that, Xia Chang disappeared without a trace.

……

Xu Yuan went straight to the county government office after leaving the Lei family.

Upon learning that Magistrate Xia Chang had gone into hiding, he frowned but said nothing more, asking, "Where is his household registration? I need to take a look first."

"My lord, please follow me."

The county magistrate led them into the treasury, retrieved the Li family's household register, and presented it to them, saying, "Your Honor, please take a look."

Xu Yuan glanced at it once, his expression changed, and he slammed the household registration book down in front of the county magistrate.

The county magistrate was puzzled: why was this official so angry?
"See for yourself," Xu Yuan said coldly.

The county magistrate glanced at the household register and was so shocked that he fell to the ground.

It clearly records the two daughters of Old Man Li and her husband Lei Chengyuan!
"This, this..." The county magistrate stammered.

They had looked through the household registration book many times, and there was never this record before!
The county magistrate felt a chill run down his spine and roared outside, "Ma Dagou, you get the hell in here!"

The head constable of the county government was named Ma Quan.

Outside the county government gate, there was a restaurant that kept a big yellow dog.

Ma Quan's head looks a bit like this dog's head, hence the nickname, but no one would actually call him that to his face.

Ma Dagou rushed in, his face extremely grim, but before he could lash out, the county magistrate had already shouted angrily, "Who has entered this treasury recently?"

Ma Quan scratched his head: "Nobody's here. Ever since we locked these old books in, I've been guarding them day and night, and no outsiders have ever come in."

"Really?" The county magistrate clearly didn't believe it.

Ma Dagou raised his hand: "I guarantee it with my own head!"

Xu Yuan suddenly asked, "If there are no outsiders, then where are your own people? Who came in?"

“The county magistrate,” Ma Dagou blurted out, “he was here just an hour ago…”

The county magistrate stumbled back three steps, then plopped down on the ground. Feeling he understood everything, he pounded his chest and cursed, "Damn you, Xia Chang! You tricked me..."

Xu Yuan snapped, "Shut up!"

The county magistrate was suddenly speechless.

"Xia Chang has probably already been murdered."

"Huh?!" The county magistrate and Ma Dagou were taken aback.

The county magistrate stammered, "The county magistrate said he went to Xiaotuo Township to inspect the flood situation..."

"Then send someone to Xiaotuo Township immediately to see if the county magistrate has gone there. Wouldn't that make things clear?"

The county magistrate gave Ma Dagou a push: "Go and send someone quickly."

Ma Dagou quickly ordered two of his men to go to Xiaotuo Township. When they returned, they saw Xu Yuan slowly flipping through the household registration book.

Ma Dagou couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened?"

The county magistrate, distraught, stammered, "The Imperial Concubine Yi's... household registration... was... altered..."

Ma Dagou: "Then we can just change it back, right?"

The county magistrate grasped at a straw: "Yes, Lord Xu, let's change it back..."

Xu Yuan gave him a cold look.

The magistrate instantly regained his composure, then sat back down in despair.

Change it back? That would make things even more complicated!
Xu Yuan put down the household registration book, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's go and see where Magistrate Xia lives."

Emerging from the treasury, Xu Yuan snatched the key from Ma Dagou's hand, locked the door himself, and handed the key to Di Youzhi: "You stay here. No one is allowed to enter without my order!"

"Don't worry, sir, not even a fly can get in!"

Di Youzhi strode to the doorway like an iron tower.

Xu Yuan searched the backyard of the county government office and found some traces.

I also smelled a faint scent of blood in the study.

But there is no other evidence.

Just then, a pleasant voice suddenly rang out from the side: "Xu Yuan."

The county magistrate who was with Xu Yuan was so frightened that he jumped up.

Xu Yuan said helplessly, "Little Martial Aunt, you're really scaring people like this."

Miao Yan blushed and revealed her form.

"This, this, this..." The county magistrate knew his stuff; this kind of stealth technique was extremely advanced!
Miao Yan Zhenren felt wronged.

She didn't want to show her face in public.

But she really is the most suitable one.

Xu Yuan asked the county magistrate to leave, then asked, "What is it?"

"Your two subordinates are here."

Xu Yuan was overjoyed: "Zhang Meng is here? Where is he?"

Xu Yuan came out this time with two teams, one openly and one covertly.

However, Xu Yuan did not tell Lang Xiaoba and the others about Fu Jingyu and Zhang Meng's secret team. Instead, he told the three people under the Jianzheng Sect.

The agreed-upon communication code was also given to them.

Fu Jingyu and Zhang Meng hurried along the way, arriving in Beidu only one day later than Xu Yuan.

Then they rushed to Chang County without stopping.

Xu Yuan relayed the order through the Immortal Miaoyan, and Zhang Meng immediately carried it out. First, he went to the place where the old man had ambushed Lord Xu at noon and smelled it. Then, Immortal Miaoyan used her magic to make him invisible and enter the backyard of the county government office, where he smelled it in Magistrate Xia Chang's study.

The final conclusion was: "It was done by the same person; both places had the same strange smell."

Wenren Luo, while fiddling with the teapot, said with a puzzled look, "This is not right."

Although Consort Jing liked to act recklessly, she was actually quite sensible in private.

The brutal killing of a high-ranking official was too taboo for her; she would never do such a thing.

Xu Yuan thought about it more carefully and became increasingly convinced that it wasn't Consort Jing and Prince Cheng who did it.

Because of insufficient motivation.

Prince Cheng may indeed harbor resentment towards Prince Jing, but the root of the problem in Chang County lies in the "establishment of an heir."

Consort Jing should have been well aware that her son had no hope at all.

Since there's no hope, why get involved in Changxian's affairs?
Just to vent your anger, you might risk your life?
Consort Jing, with her calculating nature, would only ever feel that this was a losing proposition after all her calculations.

"We need to find that old man."

Xu Yuan had originally planned to have the Imperial City Guard deal with the old man, but now that he had killed Xia Chang and altered the household registration, he could no longer ignore it.

Wenren Luo asked Xu Yuan, "Do you have a way to find him?"

Xu Yuan pointed at Zhang Meng: "He has it."

……

In the afternoon, Magistrate Xiachang came out of the county government office and walked along the main street in front of the gate towards the city.

After passing through an alley, the person who emerged was once again a middle-aged man with squinting eyes.

He put on a human skin mask.

He couldn't remember when he got that middle-aged man's face.

Anyway, since they were people who had offended him, he could just kill them and strip them of their faces.

He was extremely pleased with himself. He had altered the crucial piece of evidence, and it wouldn't be long before the Ming Dynasty's court was thrown into chaos!

The Ming Dynasty must be thrown into chaos!

Chaos is the only way to weaken a nation. Only when the Ming Dynasty is weakened can Japan have a chance to restore itself!

He found a teahouse, asked for a private room, and then took out writing brush, ink, and cinnabar. Using the likeness of this face, he forged a travel permit for himself.

His "method" includes a special trick used to forge various letters, documents, and so on.

Afterwards, he took the travel permit and checked into an inn not far from Xu Yuan and the others.

The inn faces the street, and when the windows are open, you can see the main entrance of Xu Yuan's inn.

He was filled with passion, and the great goal he had strived for his entire life finally saw a glimmer of hope!
Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Who?" he asked warily.

A waiter's voice came from outside: "Sir, it's me. I'm bringing you hot water."

He replied, "Coming."

The person, however, drifted towards the window.

He didn't ask for hot water.

Although it was normal for the inn to deliver hot water in the evening, he still decided to be cautious.

He gently pushed open the window, shrunk himself to the size of a child, and jumped out through the narrow window crack.

But instead, he jumped headfirst into the "dream come true" carriage!
(End of this chapter)