For most people in Shi Nanfu City, this night was no different from usual.
But for the city guards and the people in the prefect's Yamen, it was a sleepless night.
The city guards were okay. They just received an order from Monk Ma, asking them to enter a state of combat readiness from now on. They all went to the city wall to be on guard duty. They also watched the city gate and were not allowed to open the door without an order.
At the same time, they were also mobilized by the red messenger to block the loopholes in the corners of the city wall.
Although I was exhausted and couldn't sleep all night, I was still tired. At least I didn't have to worry about losing my life accidentally.
The people in the magistrate's yamen don't have the peace of mind that the city guards have.
After Zhu Xiucai led people into the prefect's Yamen, he immediately woke everyone up, announced that he was taking over the Yamen, and questioned them one by one.
But they did not say why they were taken over, nor did they say what they were interrogating and investigating.
So it made people panic.
Someone secretly tried to escape, but was captured on the spot by the red-clothed messenger. Without any chance to make excuses, he was dragged directly to the Demon Suppression Department next door, where his life or death was uncertain.
There are also people who spread the news secretly.
The news spread smoothly.
But just when they were secretly relieved, Zhu Xiucai snatched them out with a smile on their face, put them in iron shackles, and sent them to the Demon Suppression Department next door.
As for the letter they sent out, the messenger in red was well prepared and sent people to follow them and caught the person who received the message.
So much so that their companions couldn't help but wonder if they had been betrayed by them.
Not only that, during the interrogation process of these red-clothed envoys, if anyone is suspected by them, they will be immediately sent to the Demon Suppression Division next door!
Hearing the shrill screams coming from the Demon Suppression Department, the officials and servants in the prefect's Yamen trembled.
In order to gain a chance to be frank and leniency, the officers and servants in the prefecture's yamen could only tell all the bad things they had done in the past.
From collecting bribes, corruption and extortion... to watching the widow from the next village bathe and use the toilet when I was a child, they talked about every bad thing they could think of!
Of course, there were also some who wanted to hide things or lied, but none of them could be hidden from Zhu Xiucai's eyes and his true saying of "seeing fire like fire" and "knowing everything clearly".
As for ordinary people, it was only after dawn that they realized that Shi Nan Fucheng was different from before.
The city gates were closed tightly, and the guards on top of the city still had their bows and arrows ready, giving a very guarded appearance.
This made the people couldn't help but guess, are the mountain bandits and water bandits going to attack the city? Or are there demons causing trouble outside?
Just when they were panicking, small monsters were beating gongs and drums and riding bamboo horses through the city, shouting excitedly:
"Li Tingfang kills people and raises monsters, and has been captured by the Department of Demon Suppression!"
"While the Demon Suppression Department is investigating the case, everyone must return to their respective homes. No one is allowed to move around without permission!"
"Reporting a thief will reward you, harboring a thief will be considered an accomplice!"
When they first saw this scene, not only did the people feel uneasy, but they were even more frightened, fearing that these little monsters were the subordinates of monsters, pretending to be the monster-suppressing commander.
But soon, an immortal wearing a Taoist robe and possessing the spirit of an immortal floated down the street on the gentle breeze, calming the people with his yin and yang voice.
What this immortal said was similar to those of those little monsters, except that he announced his identity in every sentence and added the following sentence: "Pindao is the True Monarch of Hundred Explosions. Last night, under the leadership of Pindao, all thieves and evildoers were eliminated."
Something like that.
At the same time, there were several night watchmen from the former Shi Nan Mansion Demon Suppression Department following him to testify to what he said.
The common people did not know the badge of the red-clothed messenger, but they knew the night watchman in the Demon Town of Shi Nan Mansion.
Compared to the badges of the red-clad messengers, the words of these night watchmen they knew were undoubtedly more convincing.
For a time, there was a lot of discussion in the city, and everyone was discussing Magistrate Li and his monster son.
Li Tingfang's reputation in Shi Nan Mansion is neither good nor bad, but now everyone hears that this guy not only killed several people, and used their heart and soul to feed his stupid son, but also stole their people's money.
The fool was fed the essence and blood, and he was suddenly frightened and angry, and cursed one after another:
"Other parents and officials are just trying to steal people's wealth and wealth, but Li, a bastard like him, actually went out of his way to extract blood from people's hearts and souls!"
"I said before that this bastard Li Thief is not a good person. Now you see, I am indeed right? He is really sucking our blood!"
"Mom, I'm so embarrassed. I told you that I've been having trouble having sex recently. It's not because I'm incompetent, but it's because Li Thief sucked away the essence and blood... Wife, you can't blame me for this. You have to blame me.
Thief Li!"
After a discussion, the people went home one after another.
It's not that they were really so obedient, the main reason was that after Cui Youhang and others finished reporting, envoys in red clothes began to take the city guards to the streets to arrest people.
At the same time, Xiao Qingji played gongs and drums and announced along the way: "Anyone who does not stay at home and walks in the streets in violation of regulations will be regarded as an accomplice of Li Thief and will be arrested and severely tortured by the Demon Suppression Department."
Ordinary people didn't even dare to go to the ordinary Yamen, so how could they dare to go to the Yamen of the Demon Suppression Division? After hearing this warning, they naturally hurried home for fear of being accidentally injured.
As for Li Tingfang’s gossip, there will be plenty of time to discuss it later.
In the Yamen of the Demon Suppression Division of Shi Nan Mansion, Qin Shaoyou also stayed up all night.
At the moment, he is in the mission room of the Demon Suppression Department, comforting Mr. Xu Qi and others.
"Shaoyou...Qin Baihu, ugh, I'm really ashamed."
Although Xu Baan was still in a weak state, his consciousness had recovered. When he saw Qin Shaoyou, he blushed and shook his head.
He was sent by Xue Qingshan to escort Xue Xiaobao to Beijing, but he was tricked. Not only did he fail to protect Xue Xiaobao, but he also dragged Xue Xiaobao into protecting them.
If Qin Shaoyou and his men hadn't arrived in time, they and Xue Xiaobao would have been killed by the enemy... No, they were killed by the enemy.
"I don't blame you for this, I just blame Li Tingfang for being too cunning, and the witches under him who are too capable..."
Qin Shaoyou encouraged [Skillful Tongue] and comforted Xu Baan with a few words, which finally made him feel a little better.
Qin Shaoyou was about to ask them what it felt like to be bewitched and why they were holding on to their sarcomas and laughing like idiots. Qin Qiaoer quickly came over with Taoist Priest Qiu Shi and told him the good news.
"Li Tingfang opened his mouth and confessed."
"So fast?"
Qin Shaoyou was stunned when he heard this.
It had only been a few hours, right? Li Tingfang's mouth was pried open. His mouth was not very tight.
After listening to Qin Shaoyou's inquiry, Qin Qiaoer corrected him with a smile: "It took less than a quarter of an hour to pry open his mouth, and the rest was during the interrogation. This Li Tingfang was very tough before the torture, and shouted, 'I won't tell you even if I'm beaten to death.'"
I thought I had encountered a tough opponent, but before all the tricks were used up, he confessed to the crimes he had committed and also confessed to several cases that we didn’t know about..."