Chapter 307: Exposed
Lord Zhou cupped his hands perfunctorily. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Have a seat.” Shangguan Han nodded and said politely, “I didn’t know that Lord Zhou was coming a few days ago. For the sake of the people, I’ve been wandering in the mountains with my men. No one in the city has offended you, right?”
His question reminded Official Zhou of Doctor Jia. His face instantly darkened. The corners of his mouth twitched. “Since even His Highness has asked, I’ll tell you the truth. Xunyang City is really chaotic. It’s a small matter if someone has offended me.”
“How can there be a kidnapping of young girls that lasted for five years? Your Highness, you really have to take care of it.”
!!
Shangguan Han rolled his eyes in his heart. Five years ago, Xunyang was not his territory.
However, he sneered and said with a cold expression, “Lord Zhou is right. I want to manage it well. The moment I took over, I’ve already discovered a problem.”
Lord Zhou was stunned. Why was this different from what he had expected? Shouldn’t Lord An Le agree with him and say some nice words, trying to make him put in a good word for him in front of His Majesty when he returned to the capital?
Shangguan Han did not care what he was thinking. He took out a jade pendant and placed it in front of Lord Zhou. “Lord Zhou, do you recognize this?”
As an old minister in the court, how could Lord Zhou not know what it was?
He frowned. “Your Highness, what do you mean?”
Shangguan Han remained silent. He took out another jade pendant from a box at the side and placed it there.
Lord Zhou was stunned. He glanced at Shangguan Han and reached out to compare the two jade pendants in his hand. Only then did he realize that something was wrong. “Why do you have two jade pendants, Your Highness?”
The corners of Shangguan Han’s lips curled up. “This is also what I’m curious about. Why would I get such a jade pendant from a criminal who kidnapped young girls?
“I’ve been away from the capital for more than a year, so I’m not very sure. Does anyone else have this jade pendant other than the imperial princes?”
Lord Zhou also sensed that something was wrong. His eyelids twitched. Did Lord An Le want him to report this matter to His Majesty?
“After all, this is not a small matter. Lord Zhou, you’ve also seen how intense the emotions of the commoners are over this matter. If word gets out that it was done by the royal family, I’m afraid it will cause chaos.”
Shangguan Han sat back down and picked up his teacup to take a sip. “Besides, who can guarantee that this incident will only happen in my Xunyang City? If I hadn’t found out this time, how long would this matter have lasted? What did that person want to do by capturing so many people?”
“So…” Shangguan Han paused for a moment and continued,” I’ll have to trouble Lord Zhou to bring this additional jade pendant back. If one of my brothers had accidentally lost it, it should be returned to its rightful owner. ”
Lord Zhou came out of the study with a lot on his mind. Zhou Qing went up to him. “Master.”
Lord Zhou nodded. “Let’s go back to the inn.”
“Lord Zhou, I’ll send you out.” Butler Wan led the way respectfully.
Just as he was about to turn a corner, Lord Zhou remembered that he was here to show off his strength to Lord An Le. Why was he being around led by the nose?
He frowned and turned around. He saw the black figure enter Lord An Le’s study.
He only had time to see a side profile before his vision was blocked.
Butler Wan smiled and reached out. “Lord Zhou, this way.”
Lord Zhou wanted to take a look again, but the study door had already closed. He snorted unhappily and pointed at a pa.s.sing servant. “There’s no need to trouble Butler Wan. Let him send us out of the residence.”
Butler Wan bowed. “It’s no trouble at all. This is my duty.”
“Huh?” Lord Zhou pulled a long face.
Seeing his insistence, Butler Wan could only agree awkwardly. He sternly reminded the servant to be attentive before cupping his hands and leaving.
Lord Zhou looked at the servant who was walking half a step in front of him and suddenly said, “Who was the person who entered His Highness’s study just now?”
The servant subconsciously said, “It’s Young Master Shenzhi.”
“Oh? Does he usually wear a mask?” Lord Zhou seemed to be casually chatting.
The servant said, “Yes.”
Lord Zhou frowned. That side profile just now looked familiar.
“Master, Master?”
Lord Zhou came back to his senses and rubbed his temples. He said tiredly, “What is it?”
“Eunuch Li sent someone to ask when we would set off for the capital.”
Lord Zhou pondered for a moment before standing up and walking to the window sill. “Call Lin Xiao over first.”
At night, in the Shen family’s study.
Shen Yijia and Song Jingchen leaned over the desk and flipped through the list.
Song Jingchen’s mask was placed aside.
“These women were sent out in the past few years?” Even though she already knew that these people had committed crimes for a long time, Shen Yijia did not expect there to be so many of them.
There were probably hundreds of them.
“Yes,” Song Jingchen replied in a low voice. Seeing that Shen Yijia had begun to rub her eyes, he closed the book and said, “Go back to your room and sleep first. There’s nothing to see here.”
After so long, it was likely that only 10 or twenty percent of the women listed were still alive.
Shen Yijia pursed her lips. “Alright, what are you going to do with this list?”
Song Jingchen smiled. “There will be a time when it’s useful.”
“Then you have to hide it well. Don’t let anyone steal it.” Shen Yijia puffed up her cheeks and looked serious.
“Don’t worry, not many people know that we have this thing.”
He guessed that Liu Deyi kept this record because he wanted to leave a backup plan, so he definitely wouldn’t let anyone know.
“What if someone knows?”
Song Jingchen chuckled and rubbed her head. “Don’t worry, if there’s something I don’t want to give away, I’d rather ruin it than let others get their hands on it.”
Shen Yijia blinked and grinned at Song Jingchen. She was about to say something.
Song Jingchen suddenly looked out of the window with cold eyes and shouted, “Who is it?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yijia rushed out. A black cat jumped onto the wall and ran quickly.
Shen Yijia rolled her eyes. “It must be Furball’s friend.”
Shouldn’t cats be afraid of tigers? However, it was different when it came to Furball. From time to time, wild cats would come out of nowhere to play with it.
If not for Furball’s physique, she would have thought that it was a cat.
Song Jingchen walked out and glanced in the direction the cat had left. He held Shen Yijia’s hand. “It’s getting late. Go back to the house and rest.”
They turned around and went back to their room.
The tense nerves of the man in black hiding in the dark relaxed. His entire body was already covered in cold sweat. At this moment, his temples were wet, as if he had just been scooped up from the water.
Thinking of what he had seen and heard just now, his heart was still beating wildly.
Young Master Shenzhi was actually the heir to the Song family!
Hearing Lin Xiao’s report, Lord Zhou jumped up in shock. He circled around twice and said anxiously, “Hurry, pack up. Let’s leave the city immediately.”
He had to let His Majesty know about this as soon as possible. Not only had Song Jingchen’s legs recovered, but he had also come to Xunyang City privately.
Eunuch Li finally rested after having diarrhea, but he was woken up again. He was so angry that he kicked Qi Shou twice.
However, if that Zhou fellow wanted to leave, he could only endure it.
Under Lord Zhou’s urging, the dozens of people quickly packed up and left the inn.