Dimension Paradise, I am a summoning apostle

Chapter 444 Three Chests of Treasury Silver Lead to Trouble and Disaster

The next day, Chu Danqing first sent a visiting card to the prefect, and after receiving a reply, she brought gifts to his door.

This delay meant it was already afternoon.

The Prefect warmly received Chu Danqing, especially since Chu Danqing's gift was quite substantial.

The two got along quite well, but before long, a servant came to report that Constable Chen Biao had something important to report.

The prefect immediately summoned Chen Biao.

The other party immediately knelt down upon arrival. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Chu Danqing and hesitated to speak.

"Speak, Young Master Chu is an honored guest, it's no trouble at all," the Prefect said with a smile.

"Yes," Chen Biao replied, then said, "Reporting to the lord, I was ordered to arrest the thief who stole silver from the treasury. Now that he has been apprehended, I have presented two ingots of stolen silver."

As he spoke, he took out two silver ingots from his pocket.

Two servants from the manor took it and handed it to the manor lord.

The prefect examined it carefully and confirmed that it was the treasury silver that had been stolen last night. With a look of joy on his face, he said, "Did you bring the stolen goods and the thief back with you?"

"We've got it. It's locked up and being held in the jail awaiting its fate," Chen Biao replied immediately.

Upon hearing this, the joy on the Prefect's face grew even stronger.

"Young Master Chu, please wait a moment. I will first go to court to conduct the trial. After this matter of the theft of the treasury silver is settled, I will return to have tea with you," the Prefect said, rising to his feet.

Chu Danqing stood up and said, "Your Excellency is too kind. I would also like to see where this thief came from, that he is so bold."

"Perfect timing, please." Upon hearing this, the Prefect invited Chu Danqing to accompany him to the court.

On the way, the prefect asked Chen Biao, "Is this thief a traveler or a local? What's his name?"

When asked this question, Chen Biao stammered, "I dare not hide it. The one who stole the treasury silver was none other than my brother-in-law, Xu Jingnian."

Upon hearing this, not only did the Prefect pause in his steps, but Chu Danqing also stopped.

He suddenly realized that the silver in Bai Zhenniang's three boxes could be the treasury silver of Jinjiang Prefecture.

Thinking about this, Chu Danqing's blood pressure also rose a bit.

To be honest, he suspected that Xu Jingnian might not be the kind person who saved Bai Zhenniang back then, but rather the snake catcher.

Otherwise, you'd get scammed multiple times in a row.

"Very well, since he is your brother-in-law, let's spare him the beating when he's brought to court later," the prefect replied.

Chu Danqing said, "I also met Xu Jingnian yesterday and even acted as a matchmaker for him. With his skills, I'm afraid he has no way of stealing this silver."

The two of them were somewhat surprised when he said this.

I never expected that Chu Danqing would have a relationship with Xu Jingnian.

The main reason is that Chu Danqing has an extraordinary temperament and her identity is definitely not ordinary. How could she possibly know Xu Jingnian and even act as a matchmaker for him?

"I just don't know if this marriage has gone through or not?" Chu Danqing looked at Chen Biao.

"It's done, it's done." Chen Biao felt relieved. With such a distinguished guest speaking up, he could be treated leniently as his brother-in-law.

When the Prefect heard Chu Danqing say this, he also had some thoughts about Xu Jingnian.

The main reason is that Chu Danqing's gift was very generous. If I want more in the future, I will definitely have to get to know him better.

We should sell him a little something.

They quickly arrived at the courtroom and the court session began.

Xu Jingnian was brought in, and the Prefect said with a gentle smile, "So you are Xu Jingnian? Judging from your young age and physique, you certainly cannot steal this treasury silver."

"Tell me in detail where you got this treasury silver."

It was also thanks to Chu Danqing being here; otherwise, even if he were Chen Biao's brother-in-law and thus spared the beating, he wouldn't have been so easy to talk to.

Xu Jingnian learned the whole story while he was in jail, and he was secretly annoyed.

Looking up, I saw Chu Danqing sitting to the side.

“Master, these are the family heirlooms that my brother-in-law gave to my wife.” Xu Jingnian said, pointing to Chu Danqing, “This young master Chu is my brother-in-law.”

Everyone looked at Chu Danqing, who was also completely bewildered, and then his face darkened.

The problem is that Xu Jingnian wasn't lying, and Chu Danqing could also sense that the other party genuinely believed it.

Therefore, Bai Zhenniang claimed that the three boxes were given to them by Chu Danqing.

In addition, Chu Danqing had previously said he would pay for their marriage, although he didn't actually pay because they couldn't reach an agreement later, but he did say that.

"Don't talk nonsense. We're not brothers-in-law," Chu Danqing said immediately. "Besides, I have my own money and don't need to steal any treasury silver."

The Prefect agreed with Chu Danqing's statement and scolded Xu Jingnian, "Young Master Chu spoke up for you as a matchmaker, and you immediately started to slander him. It seems that someone must be behind this."

The gift that Chu Danqing brought when he visited was worth more than thirty boxes of treasury silver, let alone three boxes.

Those people are clearly powerful and wealthy; even a little bit of wealth slipping through their fingers is like a mountain of gold and silver.

There needs to be logic to make accusations. Otherwise, if you say that the emperor ordered you to do it, does that mean the prefect would actually go and arrest the emperor?
"Confess honestly, or you will be severely punished!" The prefect did not give him any leeway this time.

Previously, you had a relationship with Chu Danqing, but now that you've offended him yourself, he'll definitely handle things strictly by official procedures.

Startled, Xu Jingnian confessed everything that had happened the day before.

She recounted how she met Bai Zhenniang and Chu Danqing, how they recognized each other as relatives and acted as matchmakers, and how they got married last night and sent silver this morning.

Then his gaze fell on Chu Danqing. Since Bai Zhenniang was Chu Danqing's sister, there was something to say about this.

Chu Danqing noticed the other person's gaze and said, "I am here to find my family for my Dabai. Yesterday, I met Bai Zhenniang only a quarter of an hour earlier than Master Xu."

"If you ask me about anything else, I don't know either." "After acting as a matchmaker for Master Xu, I returned to discuss the marriage and had a disagreement with Bai Zhenniang, so I left in anger."

"Master Xu should also be aware of this matter."

Xu Jingnian was honest: "What Young Master Chu said is true. However, my wife did not leave in anger, but rather because there were important matters at home. I suppose she was trying to save face."

With this answer, everyone understood that this matter was probably stirred up by the woman surnamed Bai.

Upon seeing this, the Prefect immediately wrote a red slip and said, "Go to Qingbo Manor and bring back Bai Zhenniang and Bi Qing'er."

"Understood." Several constables received the order and went out.

An hour later, the constable returned.

They were all terrified and their clothes were tattered.

"Oh no, oh no!" the constable cried as soon as he returned. "There's no mansion here. It's just the ancestral hall of Cao Xigong's family. It's been dilapidated for decades."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingnian couldn't help but shudder.

Everyone present, except for Chu Danqing, looked grim.

"Then what is the reason for your actions?" the prefect asked, suppressing his fear.

He had heard of demons and monsters, but had never seen one.

"When we arrived at the place, we asked the local constable," the constable explained the situation.

When they arrived at Qingbo Village, they asked around and found no woman with the surname Bai.

When asked about the location, the local security officer said it was an abandoned ancestral hall.

This terrified the constables, but if they couldn't catch the person even with the red token, they would be punished when they returned.

Therefore, we had no choice but to bite the bullet and go through with it.

They did indeed see Bai Zhenniang and Bi Qing'er.

Just as they were about to arrest the two, a sudden change occurred.

Five evil spirits suddenly sprang out from the entrance of the ancestral hall. Each of them had a blue face, fangs, a ferocious expression, horns on their heads, and a burly build.

He immediately started fighting with Bai Zhenniang and Bi Qing'er.

The fighting was so fierce and chaotic that even the constables and local officials who managed to escape were inevitably caught in the crossfire.

He escaped with his life, but returned in a sorry state.

Upon hearing this, Chu Danqing narrowed his eyes; the five ghosts must indeed be the Five Ghosts.

Using the Five Ghosts is certainly risky; it's treating them like servants. If the Five Ghosts are weak, they certainly wouldn't dare to resist.

But once they gain power, they will inevitably turn against them.

Chu Danqing couldn't help but think of the five ghosts who had been sneaking around in the gatehouse last night, doing something that must have been related to their transformation into evil spirits today.

After hearing this, the Prefect swallowed hard.

"This...this..." The prefect was at a loss for what to do.

I thought it was just a case of stealing money from a treasury, but I never expected it would actually involve ghosts and monsters.

"Go and invite the monks and Taoists," the prefect could only say upon hearing this.

As for Bai Zhenniang and Bi Qing'er, they can fight with ghosts and monsters and even dare to steal treasury silver. Even if they are not monsters, they are not righteous.

We definitely can't count on them.

"I'll go," Chu Danqing said. "I know some magic, and my guards are also skilled in martial arts."

"I found my dog's family using magic."

"After recovering the treasury silver, I hope Your Excellency will be lenient with Minister Xu," Chu Danqing pleaded for Xu Jingnian.

Ultimately, Xu Jingnian didn't do anything wrong.

As for being overcome by lust? No one can resist that.

A hot-blooded young man suddenly meets a beautiful and wealthy woman who doesn't want him to marry into her family but instead pays for his marriage out of her own pocket.

Most people would fall for it, let alone Xu Jingnian, who was already under the influence of the spell. Even if he was fully conscious, he would still be controlled by Bai Zhenniang.

Upon hearing that Chu Danqing had volunteered to solve the problem, the Prefect was delighted: "Then I will trouble Young Master Chu."

"As for Xu Jingnian, he was also bewitched by demons. If the treasury silver can be recovered, he should naturally be treated leniently."

"This matter was not his fault."

It's impossible to be innocent; after all, someone still needs to take the blame.

Bai Zhenniang and Bi Qing'er, who could fight evil spirits, certainly wouldn't dare to move, so they could only choose Xu Jingnian, an ordinary person.

"I'll be right back," Chu Danqing replied, then got up and left with Da Bao.

Anything that could cause such a dramatic change in the five ghosts in a single night—no, in the middle of the night—must be a treasure.

In addition, the pearl on the official hat of the prefect was stolen.

Chu Danqing suspected that the pearl on the official's hat was stolen by the Five Ghosts.

As luck would have it, this pearl is very likely the same pearl that the Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix polished in the Milky Way.

Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for the Five Ghosts to suddenly become stronger.

(End of this chapter)