Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 321: How to Be Free from the World of Mortals

The craftsmen and workers complained to Master Qiao indignantly that the two men in front of them were the arsonists!
Among them, one was a notorious ruffian and the other was a craftsman in the workshop.

These craftsmen and workers did not actually see the two men set the fire.

The first person to identify these two people was Wen Tian, ​​and those who helped to testify were the spies who pretended to be the laborers.

Among the people who confidently "complained" to Qiao Zhen at this time, eight out of ten did not hear it directly from Wen Tian.

But as they talked, they became convinced themselves.

Qiao Zhen felt a little numb, but also a little relieved.

Obviously, the person that the people in the Speed ​​​​Room want to deal with this time is Shen Ziran from the Duzuoyuan.

If it was just Shen of course it would be fine, but behind Shen of course it was obviously Shen Xi, and the Shen family was a big family in Shanyin.

Thinking deeper, Wang Er came to Shanyin to meet Chu Nianqiu, behind Chu Nianqiu was Chu Yuan, behind Chu Yuan was Qin Hui, behind Qin Hui...

It's really a bit numb.

The only thing that made him feel fortunate was that the people from the Speed ​​Room probably had no specific target when they came to Shanyin.

Therefore, Wang Er tried every means to get close to Shanyin Military Commander Chu Yuan through Chu Nianqiu.

However, Little Nun Dan'er wanted to investigate him indirectly through his concubine Tian.

Now, since Wang Er wanted him to be the collaborator, he had obviously eliminated his suspicion of him.

But now he just hopes that he is still suspected. In that case, he, Qiao Xiaogui, will not become an involuntary chess piece in the battle between the emperor and Prime Minister Qin.

"I understand. This matter still needs to be investigated. Shut up!"

Qiao Zhen scolded with a stern face, stopping the noise made by the craftsmen and workers that was giving him a headache.

Qiao Zhen asked, "Is there any casualty?"

Wen Tian stood in the crowd and answered loudly: "Master, I estimate that there are seven, eight, nine, or ten people who failed to escape."

The spies from Shanyin in Yuzifang who had been sent to work as laborers in the "Tongjianzuo" immediately shouted in cooperation.

"Yes, yes, about ten."

"Has anyone seen Foreman Dai? Has anyone seen Master Lu? It seems like none of them have come out!"

"I...I smelled the smell of cooked meat from the fire."

"God damn it, how dare they do this? There are more than ten lives at stake!"

Qiao Zhen was awed when he heard this. When gods fight, we mortals are nothing but grass. And more than a dozen lives are involved?

Qiao Zhen took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "I am here to supervise the scene. Please send someone to Shanyin Prefecture and ask the judicial officer of Shanyin Prefecture to bring someone here!"

Yang Yuan said solemnly: "Mr. Qiao, I think it is inappropriate to hand this case over to Shanyin Prefecture."

Qiao Zhen looked at Yang Yuan: "What does Erlang mean?"

Yang Yuan said, "The magistrate of Shanyin Prefecture is a student of Mr. Shen Ruoyu of the Shen Mansion, and the arsonist is from the Duzuoyuan. The commander of the Duzuoyuan, Shen, is of course from the Shen family. Should Shanyin Prefecture avoid it?"

Qiao Zhen stared at Yang Yuan for a long time, then nodded slowly: "Erlang's words also make sense, then you should go to the Ministry of Justice to report the case, and let the Ministry of Justice send a judicial officer to investigate."

"I think this is inappropriate!"

Yang Yuan said: "Shen is of course a judge of the Ministry of Justice, and was sent to the Capital Court by the Ministry of Justice.

Now more than ten people have died, and as a victim, I don’t dare to believe that the Criminal Court can make a fair judgment without favoritism. "

Qiao Zhen was slightly angry and said in a more serious tone: "Then, what do you think should be done?"

Yang Yuan bowed and said, "These dozen craftsmen all have wives and parents, and are the backbone of their families. Why did they suffer such a disaster?
As everyone knows, Shen Xi of the Shen family has always had a grudge against Wang. It is hard to say that today's fire has nothing to do with him.

As far as Wang knows, the Transportation Department also serves as the Censorate, which can supervise local officials and monitor local judicial affairs.

Whenever there are major or difficult cases, or cases involving local authorities, the Transportation Department can intervene directly and take over the case, but I wonder if this is the case?"

Qiao Zhen's anger suddenly bubbled up. I just want to stay out of it. Why do you have to force me?
Qiao Zhen said grimly: "Erlang, are you teaching me how to do things?" Yang Yuan said: "I dare not, but as the victim, I am terrified.

If Mr. Qiao is unwilling to take over this case and insists on handing it over to Shanyin Prefecture or the Ministry of Justice, then I have no choice but to..."

Yang Yuan put his hand into his arms.

The corners of Qiao Zhen's eyes twitched violently twice, and he said, "Forget it, then my Transportation Department will take over this case."

Qiao Zhen looked back and saw his servant following Madam Tian and standing in the distance.

Qiao Zhen waved to him, and when the boy came closer, he said:

"You should immediately take my carriage to the Transportation Department and tell Judge Cao Yiqing about the situation here. Ask him to send military officials to prepare to send Jin Sujie and the official Luo Jianyu to lead people to guard the scene.

Send in a few experienced coroners to conduct an investigation once the fire is out."

The boy agreed and ran away like the wind.

Qiao Zhen looked at the two arsonists in front of him who were tied up and had rags stuffed in their mouths, and said to Yang Yuan, "I have to trouble you, Erlang, to help me take them back to the Transportation Department."

Yang Yuan said happily: "It should be so."

Yang Yuan immediately arranged for Wen Tian and several spies to disguise themselves as workers, arrange vehicles, and escort the prisoners to the Transportation Department.

In the afternoon, Wu Chen of the Liangzhe East Road Transportation Bureau sent Jin Sujie and the official Luo Jianyu to the construction site, and surrounded the scene where the fire was still burning and the residual heat was still scorching.

The old coroner who was called in only took a half circle around the fire scene and realized that it would be impossible to enter the fire scene for investigation before dawn.

As for if someone was burned to death in it, with such a big fire and burning all night, I'm afraid nothing will be found out tomorrow.

Of course, they would not say this. Qiao Caosi's face looked uglier than if he had eaten shit. Who would dare to offend him?

Seeing that everything had been arranged, Qiao Zhen said goodbye to Yang Yuan in disappointment.

Watching Qiao Zhen's departing back, Bei'er worriedly said to Yang Yuan, "Mr. Yang, you didn't tell him your true identity. If he doesn't want to offend the local gentry and his colleagues in the officialdom, will he..."

The phenomenon of "officials covering up for one another" is not uncommon in the West, and is even more serious than in the East.

The great nobles, church officials, municipal officials, and even some businessmen and landowners all have great power in the local areas.

What seems like a big deal to many ordinary people is, to them, nothing more than a banquet or some dirty deals of money.

Yang Yuan shook his head and said thoughtfully: "I think this Qiao Caosi should have guessed my identity."

Dan Niang asked doubtfully, "That's impossible. We didn't reveal any flaws."

Yang Yuan said: "But his reaction is very strange."

Qingtang's eyes rolled, and he suddenly said, "Master, do you think it's possible that he has already guessed your identity, but is pretending not to know and deliberately playing dumb?"

Yang Yuan was stunned and asked, "Why is that?"

Xiao Qingtang tilted her head slightly, her eyes full of wisdom: "If you don't know, you don't have to say it. If you don't say it, then the person who did something wrong can just admit it.

Can you just give him a bamboo-cooked pork stew without any explanation? Even adults have to be reasonable, right? "

Yang Yuan laughed and said, "This is just a little trick you used to deal with your master, right? He is a high-ranking official in the imperial court, why would he do this?"

Yang Yuan looked back at the fire scene and said, "No rush, we can only search the fire scene tomorrow. Even if there are flaws, we can only find them the day after tomorrow.

I won't rush to reveal my cards, I'll wait and see if Li Yisen from the Skinning Office can find out anything in the next two days."

After Yang Yuan finished speaking, he walked towards the fire scene.

Dan Niang glanced at Qing Tang and sneered: "I always thought you were missing a string in your brain, and I was afraid that beating you would make you even more stupid. It turns out that you have been fooling me all this time, right?"

Dan Niang was ready to fight, but Qing Tang ran away as soon as he saw her: "Master, Master, my master wants to spank me, can you do anything about it?"

Yang Yuan's voice came from afar: "Don't spank her anymore."

Qingtang said to Danniang proudly, "Did you hear that? Master said you can't hit me. What if I get disfigured?"

(End of this chapter)