Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Gao Zhao's words were blunt. He wasn't telling him to find the monk's whereabouts at all; he was clearly threatening him, implying that he knew Gao Zhao was colluding with the Beggars' Sect!

This matter isn't a huge deal, but it's not insignificant either!

As a military patrolman, it's perfectly normal for him to mingle on the streets and deal with all sorts of people; it's nothing unusual at all!

But if Gao Zhao decides to make a big deal out of this and cause trouble at the government office, that's a different story!

He had just ordered the patrolmen to find people and promised them a reward; these people are now all witnesses!

If someone uses their public power to help underground gangs seek revenge and commit evil deeds for personal gain, then they're finished. Forget about whether they can still hold their position as commander; they'll be lucky if they're not exiled!

"Young master... why did you go to such lengths?" The officer smiled bitterly. He had finally found this fat sheep and wanted to take advantage of him, but he never expected that this fat sheep would suddenly show its ferocious fangs today.

"What do you mean by 'too much'!" Gao Zhao waved his hand and said, "Didn't you say yourself that you'd reward me with a string of cash for providing information on the fat monk's whereabouts? I'll earn that string of cash from you today to exchange for that thief's theft, is that not enough?"

"Young Master, what are you doing..." The officer looked at his expression, trying to confirm if he had any deeper meaning.

"What? Not enough money?" Gao Zhao frowned. "Should I go and capture that monk for you?"

"No need, no need!" Yu Hou waved his hands repeatedly. He didn't know what Gao Zhao was up to, so he could only smile obsequiously and say, "Since you want people, young master, I'll take care of it right away!"

Gao Zhao waved his hand and said, "Hey, don't force yourself!"

"No, no!" Yu Hou said with a fawning smile, "Young Master is right. I also think that this kind of behavior of taking money from people at every turn and demanding bribes is not good. I'll go and argue with them right now!"

"Hmm, your awareness is quite high! We must dare to fight against unhealthy tendencies and evil practices!"

Gao Zhao nodded in satisfaction and said, "Since you're not forcing me, could you torture that thief first, and then I'll go rescue him?"

"Ah!" Yu Hou was taken aback. There's such a request? You're not even sincere about saving people!

Gao Zhao saw his confusion and explained, "I'm doing this for your own good! If you say you arrested the wrong person and made someone spend a few days in jail, that's unfair. That person will definitely not be happy and will come back to cause trouble for you."

"But if you torture him now, he won't care about fairness or justice anymore; he'll just want to escape. That way, you'll have less trouble."

Lord Yu: "..."

In all the years I've worked in Kaifeng Prefecture, I've never seen anyone who dared to cause trouble after leaving!

Gao Zhao glanced at him sideways. "What? You think what I said is wrong?"

"Yes! What you said, young master, is absolutely right. I was just beginning to understand the logic in your words!" the officer hurriedly echoed, then added, "Shall I go and make the preparations now?"

Gao Zhao nodded slightly and said, "Okay! Go ahead! I'll come find you in an incense stick's time!"

The officer left in a hurry, leaving Lu Qian and Gao Yi looking at Gao Zhao with blank expressions, wondering what he was up to. Wasn't he supposed to be bringing them in for legal proceedings? How did he suddenly turn into someone trying to bail them out?

Moreover, the methods used to bail people out don't seem very legitimate!

Gao Zhao noticed their gazes and laughed loudly, "How about that? I told you we shouldn't encourage this kind of evil trend, didn't I? You both must firmly believe that good will prevail over evil!"

Fearing he would bring up the matter of bringing them to justice again, the two immediately clapped their hands, saying, "Young Master, you're right!"

……

Shi Qian was squeezed into a corner of the cell, his face bruised and swollen, looking quite pathetic!

He grew up in poverty and often went hungry. Fortunately, he met a master who taught him unparalleled lightness skills, and from then on, he made a living by stealing.

But so many years have passed, and he is now twenty-five years old. He has long been tired of this life of theft and wandering. This time he came to the capital to see if he could find a job and live a stable life.

But to his surprise, he was arrested by the Kaifeng Prefecture military patrol as soon as he arrived. This made him both fearful and awe-inspiring. As expected of the capital city, it was full of hidden talents. Before he could even make a move, his identity was exposed!

After the initial shock, he calmed down. The people of the capital were indeed formidable. The spectacle he had witnessed that day was caused by a kind-hearted and extremely upright young man exposing the Beggars' Sect's trick of harming children.

That young man later spoke up for the common people and upheld justice!

However, once he arrived in prison, his perception of the capital changed again. Not only was the environment filthy, but the other prisoners in his cell also bullied him because of his small stature!

Unfortunately, despite his exceptional lightness skills, he couldn't use them here and could only endure their beatings and insults!

He had suffered these past two days, but he had made up his mind that after this trip, he would leave the capital immediately and never come back.

"Shi Qian, come out!"

As he was lost in thought, a burly jailer came to the cell door and shouted menacingly.

Shi Qian was startled and hurriedly got up. Then the jailer grabbed him and dragged him out like a chick!

Shi Qian, with a fawning smile, asked ingratiatingly, "Sir, where...where are we going?"

"Stop talking nonsense! You'll know when we get there!" the jailer snapped impatiently, quickening his pace and dragging Shi Qian along, making him stumble.

Before long, the two arrived at a room. Upon seeing the bloodstained instruments of torture hanging on the wall, Shi Qian's legs immediately went weak. "No, I haven't done anything wrong! Why have I been brought to the torture chamber?"

As soon as he entered, another jailer came over and, without saying a word, hung him on a wooden frame.

Is this going to involve torture?

Shi Qian turned pale with fright.

"Are you going to confess on your own, or confess after the beating?"

A cold voice came from behind. Shi Qian looked up and saw a person sitting behind the table opposite him. The person was shrouded in shadow and his face could not be seen.

Shi Qian hurriedly cried out, "My lord, I haven't done anything wrong! I've just arrived in the capital, I don't know what I'm supposed to be accused of!"

"Hmm, don't know what to recruit? That's easy!" The official paused slightly, then called out, "Come on, teach him a lesson!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a jailer spat a mouthful of wine onto his whip with a "pfft," then grinned maliciously as he walked toward him.

"This is wrong! You're forcing a confession out of me!" Shi Qian shouted. "Even when questioning someone, the registrar should first interrogate them, and then the judicial officer should verify the confession. How can you resort to torture without even knowing the facts?"

The officer immediately sneered, "Heh, you still say you haven't done anything wrong? You seem to know all the procedures in prison like the back of your hand. You must be a repeat offender! Come on, beat him!"

Upon hearing this, the jailer raised his whip. When Shi Qian saw the barbs on the whip, his heart sank. He thought to himself that the capital was much darker than Gaotang Prefecture. If this whip came down, he would be crippled even if he didn't die!

He closed his eyes in despair, resigned to his fate, and awaited death. Just then, a furious shout rang out: "Stop! What are you doing?!"

Shi Qian opened his eyes in surprise and looked in the direction of the sound, and saw a young man striding towards the torture chamber.

Suddenly he recognized the man; it was the young master who had stood up for justice on Horse Street that day!

He actually showed up again!

At that moment, he vaguely saw that the young master was radiating light!

[Gratitude points from Shi Qian +1]

Gao Zhao blinked. "That's it? I haven't even started my performance yet!"