Just as he reached the city gate and tried to leave the city, the Constables lying in ambush there tackled him to the ground and arrested him on the spot.
At the same time, all the valuables Liu Gen had been carrying were taken by the Constables to the yamen.
Though some people had wanted to pocket them, they were important physical evidence. For the moment, no one dared to try anything under the Investigating Magistrate's nose.
The Investigating Magistrate sat calmly in the main hall. He slapped the gavel. "Liu Gen, what else do you have to say now?"
"If you did not kill him, why did you run?"
"You were clearly guilty and trying to flee while you had the chance. Now that both the culprit and the stolen goods have been caught, what can you possibly deny?"
"What evidence can you produce to refute this official?"
At this point, Liu Gen's face was ashen.
Watching the Constables open the bundle he had been carrying, he fell into even deeper despair.
The silver inside belonged to that out-of-town guest.
He could only drop to his knees and say, "This lowly one has nothing to say."
"This lowly one was too clever for his own good."
The Investigating Magistrate smiled in satisfaction.
The Yamen Runners and Constables all began praising him as well.
"Investigating Magistrate, you are indeed formidable."
But then Liu Gen began to weep. "This lowly one has committed a grave offense, but I truly did not kill anyone."
"This lowly one was merely afraid that I would encounter another muddleheaded official next time, and he would drag me in to take the blame again."
"Fortunately, Investigating Magistrate, you judged clearly and released me this time. That was why I wanted to leave as quickly as possible."