Seeing Wang Dali, their backbone, being captured, the villagers at the north city gate became a mob. Everyone was panicking. Before Fang Qinhu and his men even took action, they had already scattered.
By the time Lin Zihan led the army to the outskirts of the city, most of them had already fled. Only a few were still holding on.
Telling the men to keep an eye on that area, Shang Luoshu went to meet Lin Zihan with Fang Qinhu and handed over the witness Wang Dali to him.
After all, Lin Zihan was nominally in charge of the Yangxian case this time.
As for Lu Yinxi, she went to look for Ling Yin.
"I don't want to enter the city!"
The army camped ten li outside the east city gate. Before the young girl even entered the camp, she heard a shrill female voice.
Having not seen her for a few days, this girl seemed to be in high spirits.
"Miss Ling, we meet again!"
Seeing the fourth young lady coming, Hongrui slightly loosened her hold on Ling Yin and explained voluntarily, "My lady, she just tried to escape again."
"Again?"
Lu Yinxi couldn't help but laugh. She motioned for Hongrui to let her go. "Is Miss Ling not satisfied with my hospitality?"
"Nonsense. If I treated you like this, would you be happy?"
Frowning and rubbing her wrist, Ling Yin looked completely reluctant. "You saved my life, and I've told you all the information I know. We should be even. But you, without any explanation, ordered people to imprison me and forcibly brought me back to Yangxian!"
Lu Yinxi had indeed not considered this matter properly. She immediately curtsied to Ling Yin to apologize. "It was my oversight. Please forgive me, Miss Ling."
The situation was special at that time. Since she didn't know much about the affairs in Yangxian, Lu Yinxi didn't dare to trust her words easily. That's why she thought of controlling the person first and then confirming it on the spot.
Seeing the other person's sincere attitude, Ling Yin's annoyance faded a bit, but she still didn't let up. "That's more like it! So, when do you plan to let me go?"
"I'm afraid I can't agree to this request."
"What do you mean?" Ling Yin couldn't help but widen her eyes. "You said we're even. Why can't I..."
"Because I hope Miss Ling can help me draw a map of Xia Shouzheng's mansion."
The young girl was smiling, and her phoenix eyes reflected Ling Yin's almost panicked expression.
"Are you going to assassinate Xia Shouzheng?"
Lu Yinxi lowered her eyes, and her mind couldn't help but start to wonder. The relationship between this young girl and Xia Shouzheng didn't seem to be that simple!
"So, Your Highness means that the incident in Yangxian was a hoax planned by the Assistant Regent?"
After listening to Shang Luoshu's account of what had happened during this period, Lin Zihan couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Shang Mozheng had gone to great lengths to get the King of Jing to leave the capital just to let him see a hoax? It always felt like there was a bigger conspiracy behind this.
"For now, it seems so. And in the capital, everything is calm."
Even though Shang Luoshu was not in the capital, Chen Guang still diligently sent news. From this, he learned that Shang Mozheng in the capital had not made any strange moves. He was even more well - behaved than usual.
So, after all this talk, they still didn't know what the Assistant Regent's purpose was in this scheme.
Letting out a soft sigh, Lin Zihan said, "Your Highness, I think we may still have to find a breakthrough from Xia Shouzheng."
Shang Luoshu nodded in agreement and had no objections.
That afternoon, Fang Qinhu led three hundred soldiers straight to the outside of the north city gate, ordered to deal with the remaining members of Wang Dali's party. Shang Luoshu put on the armor he had worn when he left the capital and led his personal guards straight to Yangxian.
Xia Shouzheng had already received the news that the army had arrived. After learning that the king would enter the city in the afternoon, he quickly led the villagers and guards in the city to come out to greet them in a rather disorganized manner.
As for the refugees who had been lingering at the east gate, no one knew where they had been driven.
The armor glistened like scales in the sun, and the whole city seemed to be filled with golden - armored soldiers.
Even though there were only a hundred people, Xia Shouzheng still had to be intimidated by their imposing manner. He didn't even dare to look them in the eye. He didn't come to his senses until Shang Luoshu dismounted. He hurriedly led everyone to kneel down.
"I, your humble official, welcome His Highness the King of Jing!"
"Prefect Xia, there's no need for so much ceremony."
Lu Yinxi didn't accompany Shang Luoshu on this trip. She was still trying to persuade Ling Yin to draw the map.
"Miss Ling, I'm sure you've already noticed that we're from the court. Based on your previous testimony, we have reason to suspect that the uprising in Yangxian was manipulated by Xia Shouzheng."
"So, as long as you're willing to draw a map of his mansion's terrain, you'll be credited with a great merit in the future!"
For ordinary people, receiving a reward from the court was a great honor. Without exaggeration, it was like their ancestors' tombs emitting auspicious smoke.
But Ling Yin wasn't very excited after hearing this. Instead, she frowned and asked with a tentative and timid voice, "Will he die?"
Lu Yinxi immediately realized that the "he" she was referring to was Xia Shouzheng. After thinking for a while, she said seriously,
"Miss Ling, in a minor sense, Prefect Xia has broken the law while in office! In a major sense, he is attempting to subvert the Shang Dynasty. Do you think he will die?"
There was no need for an answer. Ling Yin already knew the answer.
However, the young girl's words weren't over yet.
"However... considering that Xia Shouzheng doesn't have the guts to do this alone, we think there's probably someone behind him. If someone can persuade him to confess the mastermind behind the scenes, his crime might be reduced by a few degrees."
Hearing this, the young girl's eyebrows seemed to show some intention, but in the end, her expression turned cold. "I'll draw the map for you."
She and he were no longer related. Since that was the case, why should she care about his life or death!
Oh ho~
A hint of playfulness emerged in Lu Yinxi's heart, but there was still a smile on her lips. "Then, once Miss Ling finishes drawing the map, I'll send you away."
It seemed as if she never considered the possibility that Ling Yin would draw a fake map.
Having made up her mind to leave, Ling Yin acted quickly. In just two quarters of an hour, she had placed the topographic map of Xia Shouzheng's mansion in front of Lu Yinxi and then left without any hesitation.
Inside Yangxian County
Even though he had the powerful backer of the Assistant Regent, Xia Shouzheng didn't dare to neglect Shang Luoshu. Afraid that the environment in the post - station was not good, he directly booked the best inn in the city for him. He even thoughtfully invited the best geisha in Yangxian to serve him. All the silver spent was covered by the wealthy gentry in the city.
In times of famine, these upper - class people were always unaffected.
However, it was unknown what the ordinary villagers would think when they saw these actions.
Shang Luoshu didn't know about this for the time being. After entering the city, he directly went to the Yangxian Prefectural Yamen with Lin Zihan.
Xia Shouzheng followed behind the two of them. His heart was in his throat, and even his beard was wet with sweat. But he still respectfully flattered them. "Your Highness and Lord Lin are thinking about handling the case as soon as you enter the city. You're so concerned about the people. I, your humble official, am really ashamed!"
"Since you know you should be ashamed, Prefect Xia, why did you do such a heinous and treasonous thing!"
Gone was the amiable expression when they first entered the city. Lin Zihan slapped the table with one palm, showing his full might.
There were only two words in Xia Shouzheng's mind: Here it comes!