Li Xiaobao thought to himself that he had not seen his father for many days. Why did his father hold on to the money bag when he came back? "Dad!"
"You haven't been back for several days, why did you come looking for me and ask for my money bag?"
"What's wrong with this money bag?"
Li Da breathed a sigh of relief, "Nothing, nothing."
"But, have any strangers come to our house these days?"
Li Xiaobao felt a little guilty and said with erratic eyes, "No... no strangers, just a few of my brother's friends who came to look for me. I said that my brother hasn't been at home much recently, so they went back."
Li Da saw something strange in his son's expression, "Really?"
Li Xiaobao shook his head firmly, "No."
Li Da took a deep breath, sat down, picked up the tea and poured it into his mouth, "That's good."
"Uncle, he..."
Li Da glanced at Li Xiaobao and said, "Stop asking about adults' affairs and read your book!"
Although Li Xiaobao was not convinced, he did not dare to disobey Li Da's order. He turned around and sat in front of the desk, but his eyes bypassed the books in front of him and secretly fell on his father.
He always felt that since they moved into Li's house, strange things happened one after another.
In other words, there were strange clues before moving into Li's house.
First, his brother, who was burdened with huge debts, suddenly became rich, and then his father was called into the county government. And then... people in the town and even in Fengchun County joined the Tiancai Society like crazy.
Li Da noticed his son's gaze and said, "If you don't study carefully, why are you looking at me?"
"Your brother is away from home, and your father and I have to endure hardships at the county government every day, so that you can study hard and get ahead in the future. You are still here three days fishing and two days drying nets. Are you worthy of your brother and me?
?!"
Li Xiaobao was about to refute, but felt that his father was right, so he had to swallow his anger and move his eyes back to the book in front of him.
"You have to remember, if anyone asks about the money bag, just pretend you don't know. The money bag belongs to your uncle."
After saying that, Li Da turned around and left.
Since it was Li Shisan's lost money bag, it has nothing to do with their family, and he won't be afraid of being traced to himself in the future.
However, the Lu Qingfeng next to Master Xia...did he really pick up that money bag by accident?
No, he has to go to Li Shisan to ask clearly!
After he left Li's house and searched several gambling houses where Li Shisan often went, but no one was there, he ran to the old bachelor Li Shisan's home, only to find that the door in front of him was closed and no one was there.
Finally, he caught a passing neighbor and asked, but when he saw that it was Li Da who was asking, the man immediately changed his tone and said in a strange and sinister tone, "Hey, isn't this Li Yamen who works in the county government? How come he has so much free time to take care of his own family?
Are you a poor relative?"
"you!"
Li Da didn't want to argue with this person, so he said solemnly, "I just want to ask you where Li Shisan went?"
The man said with an indifferent expression, "If he's not in the field, then he's in the gambling shop. Don't you know about your relative who is a gambler?"
"Do you think I haven't looked for him before I came? If he were here, would I still go to his home to look for him?"
"If he is not in these two places, then I don't know where he can go."
Li Da felt even more nervous, but he heard the man say, "I remember someone said yesterday that Li Shisan had a great fortune and met Mr. Xia, the new arrival in Fengchun."
The man's eyes flashed, and he said teasingly, "Could it be that someone else also got the opportunity, and like you, was taken to the county government by Mr. Xia to work?"
"Master Xia?"
"Yes, I heard that Mr. Xia came incognito yesterday, and I didn't miss the details. At that time, your Li Shisan was present."
Li Da felt something was wrong and quickly turned back to look for Li Xiaobao.
"When did your uncle ask you to borrow money?"
Li Xiaobao watched his father go and come back and asked himself such a question. He thought it was because he had not found his uncle, so he just said in a false way, "I remember... it should be the day before yesterday."
Li Da then felt relieved. Li Shisan must have borrowed Xiaobao's money bag and accidentally dropped it in the field yesterday. Only then was he picked up by Lu Qingfeng who was in disguise with Master Xia.
"Dad, you are so worried about this money bag. Could it be that there is something else going on with this money bag?"
Li Xiaobao quietly looked at his father, only to see his pupils shrinking, and subconsciously wanted to deny it. Li Xiaobao continued, "Don't lie to me. You asked me for that thing as soon as you came back. You must have asked your uncle for confirmation just now. I'm sure
It was because he didn't see anyone else that he came back to look for me."
Li Da didn't expect his son to see it clearly, but he didn't dare to say it clearly. He just said, "Don't worry about it. In short, this thing is very important."
"Your brother...even your life and mine..."
What Li Da said later was so vague that Li Xiaobao didn't hear it clearly at all, and saw his father turning away decisively again.
"What! You always treat me like a child!"
Mr. Xia didn't even treat him as a child!
Lu Qingfeng, who had been holding his breath and eavesdropping for a long time, squeezed the money bag in his hand. It seemed that the inside of this small money bag was definitely not simple!
When Lu Qingfeng returned to the county government office, he found Xia Yuhuai and reported the situation as soon as possible, and then the two of them tore through the money bag.
So, the two of them stared at the pile of rags in front of them.
"Qingfeng... tell me, is there any difference between this and an ordinary money bag?"
Except for the extra layer of silk lining, the embroidery is more complicated, and the lace is more diverse, there doesn't seem to be any difference?
Lu Qingfeng also looked puzzled. He thought there would be something confidential if he opened it!
"It seems...not."
"How about asking Li D directly?"
Simple, clear, direct and efficient.
Xia Yuhuai shook his head, "Don't be reckless!"
"I tested the Tiancai Hui's messenger today and found out that there is something fishy behind this matter. It is definitely not a simple money fraud as the Queen Mother and I had inferred before."
"Now that we know there is an expert behind it, arresting Li Dalai will not help. Let's study it further."
"By the way, where is Li Shisan now?"
Lu Qingfeng said helplessly, "Yesterday I just asked a few questions, but he was frightened out of his mind. Later, when I went to look for him, I found him fainted at the entrance of the alley, so I had to take him back to the post office in Fengchun County.
The hospital will diagnose and treat him."
"Then, who else knows that Li Shisan is in Fengchun City?"
"No, the post is full of guards that I brought with me, so you can rest assured."
Xia Yuhuai nodded, "Keep an eye on Li Da. This person is quite weird, and I always feel that Li Lingfeng's death is inseparable from him."
Lu Qingfeng asked curiously, "How do you know, sir?"
He hasn't even talked about what happened to Hu Xun in the front yard this afternoon!
"Have you forgotten what Li Shisan said yesterday?"
Lu Qingfeng thought for a while and then answered, "He only said that Mr. Li was against Tiancaihui and it was the Stone God who convicted and killed Mr. Li. He didn't say anything else?"
"But the Sky Stone Messenger said that Mr. Li's death had nothing to do with them."
Lu Qingfeng smiled and said, "Will adults believe what such a messenger says?"
"I believe."
"Because they don't have to lie."
"It is a fact that Mr. Li is at odds with Tiancai Hui. If Tiancai Hui kills Li Lingjiang, it can be blamed on Shi Shen. No one will or dare to object anyway. On the contrary, it will make the people worship him even more."
Lu Qingfeng asked doubtfully, "But after all, they are imperial officials. They did it... do you still dare to admit it?"
Xia Yuhuai laughed to himself, "Do you think court officials like us have any prestige in Fengchun?"
"Although the envoy spoke more politely today, he looked so arrogant that I, Xia Yuhuai, have never seen him before anywhere else."
"Then... what does this have to do with Li Da?"
"Li Shisan said that Li Da told him about Stone God's convict, but when you and I investigated before, everyone in the county government followed Li Lingfeng to keep Stone God out."
Lu Qingfeng said with admiration, "Your Excellency, you are wise! There was a dispute in the front yard in the afternoon. At that time, Hu Yamen accused Li Datong of having something to do with Li Lingfeng's death. However, because there is no evidence, I cannot report it to you, Your Excellency."
"oh?"
"He said that the night Mr. Li was assassinated was supposed to be the night for Mr. Li, but Mr. Li had diarrhea and was unable to stay on duty. When the assassin attacked, no one around Mr. Li warned him. It was not until the fire broke out that he attracted everyone to rescue him.
Your Excellency also came at that time."
Xia Yuhuai was shocked and said, "How come we only know such important news now?!"
Lu Qingfeng said helplessly, "Your Excellency has been pursuing Tiancai Hui, so our focus is on Tiancai Hui, so we have not taken into account these details..."
"Go and bring Yamen Hu here. I want to question him personally."
"Then this..."
Lu Qingfeng looked at the pile of rags that were in pieces. Xia Yuhuai frowned and said, "Li Da cares so much about this purse. It can't be useless. Go find some embroiderers and medical workers to take a look."
Let’s see if there’s anything weird about this purse.”
Lu Qingfeng nodded in response, put away the pile of cloth, and turned around to find Hu Xun for questioning.
Xia Yuhuai thought for a moment and realized that it was the right way for him to write a letter to Chen Liu immediately.
By the time Hu Xun knelt in front of Xia Yuhuai, he was no longer as arrogant as he was in the afternoon, and there was a bit more contempt in his eyes.
Xia Yuhuai seemed not to know and just asked him, "Did you get into a dispute with someone in the front yard in the afternoon?"
Hu Xun hummed a few words through his nose, "Yes, Hu Xun, but I'll punish you as an adult."
Xia Yuhuai said with a smile, "How did you know that I am going to punish you?"
Hu Xun turned his head to the other side and said, "My lord has found this villain right now. Apart from supporting Li Da, I can't think of any other reason."
Xia Yuhuai did not want to beat around the bush and said directly, "You said that Mr. Li's death was related to Mr. Li. Do you have any evidence?"
Hu Xun shook his head, "No."
"Then what you said in the afternoon was all just speculation on your part?"
Hu Xun looked back angrily at Xia Yuhuai and said, "These are facts that are obvious to all. Do we still need to speculate?!"
"Li Da just relied on the name of being from the same clan as Mr. Li, and he practiced perverse tactics in the county government. I have followed Mr. Li for many years, how could I believe in such crooked ways!"
"It was Li Da who was on duty the night Master Li was killed. With so many assassins sneaking in, Li Da was nowhere to be found. We only saw him the next day. If he is not suspicious, who is?"
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
Hu Xun looked up at Xia Yuhuai, looked directly into his eyes and asked, "Sir... do you really care about Master Li's death?"
"If you really care, why would you join the Tiancai Club so quickly?!"
"Master Li was sworn in with the Tiancai Society when he was alive. He wanted to destroy the Tiancai Society, but he was killed by a traitor and was forced to terminate it. So, what about you?"
When Hu Xun raised his eyes again, his eyes were filled with resentment.
Xia Yuhuai said slowly, "How do you know that I am not here to correct the problem?"
"If you were...you wouldn't invite that envoy to come to the county government in a grand manner!"
"Hu Xun, let me ask you, Mr. Li and Tiancaihui went against each other, what was the result?"
Hu Xun said indifferently, "Since you are greedy for life and afraid of death, how can you dare to say that you are correcting the path?"
Xia Yuhuai shook his head and disagreed, "I respect you as a man, but if I die, how can I correct you?"
Hu Xun was speechless by Xia Yuhuai and just looked to the side angrily.
"It seems that you have a close relationship with Mr. Li. Why don't you come and tell me what Mr. Li is in your eyes?"
When Hu Xun talked about Li Lingfeng, it was as if he had opened up a conversation, "Master Li is the most courageous county magistrate that I have ever followed."
"The previous county magistrate ignored the Tiancai Society, allowed it to wreak havoc, and even recruited Li Dada into the county government!"
Speaking of Li Da, Hu Xun's tone was even more urgent.
"Later, the county magistrate was transferred and Mr. Li took over Fengchun and vowed to uproot evil societies such as Tiancai Society."
"Although his methods were a bit drastic, they were effective in the end. At that time, the Tiancai Society had a tendency to converge."
Xia Yuhuai frowned and asked, "But I heard that Mr. Li has joined the Tiancai Society and only works for them?"
Hu Xun said angrily, "It's not just Tiancai's conspiracy to confuse the truth with the truth!"
"But no one really believes it!"
Xia Yuhuai felt a little ashamed, looked away, and asked instead, "Why did Caihui become so arrogant again that day?"
Hu Xun also replied with a doubtful tone, "Since Mr. Li returned to Beijing last year to report on his work, he has been a little depressed when he came back. Even dealing with the Tiancai Society was a little unable to do what he wanted. This allowed them to take advantage of the loopholes and make the master more confident.
The reality of taking refuge.”
"But Hu Xun knows that Mr. Li has never stopped wanting to get rid of Tiancaihui!"
"So, Mr. Li must have been killed by someone from the Tiancai Society! Even if people outside believe in some god made of stone, I, Hu Xun, don't believe it!"
Xia Yuhuai helped Hu Xun up and said, "It's rare that there are some sensible people in this good spring."
"Sir, you?"
"I came here to annihilate the Tiancai Society on the orders of the Queen Mother, so how could I join the enemy?"
"The Queen Mother?!" Hu Xun said excitedly, "The Queen Mother also knows about this?!"
Xia Yuhuai nodded heavily, "I had heard about the Fengchun Rebellion in Xiayi before. At that time, I mistakenly believed the rumors and thought that Mr. Li had betrayed him, so I took advantage of the Queen Mother to visit Xiayi and reported the matter. The Queen Mother specially sent me to find out what happened.
