Jinling Prefectural Office In the back hall, sandalwood scent lingers.
On both sides of the long mahogany case, the atmosphere was tense.
The prefect of Jinling sat in the main seat, with a fair complexion and swollen eye bags. His fingers were unconsciously twirling his beard and his eyes were twinkling.
Next to him was Magistrate Yingtian Prefecture, whose Chinese-character face was taut and his lips were pursed into a thin line. The local officials below him all lowered their heads and remained silent, no one dared to speak.
Zheng Qianhu, who was Commandery Commandant Office before, was also present. His back was straight, but the knuckles pressing on the handle of the knife were slightly white. His face seemed gloomy, but his eyes were full of helplessness.
He secretly glanced at Li Yan and Wang Dao Xuan who were sitting opposite him. He opened his mouth to say something, but when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them again, feeling aggrieved in his chest.
"Lee...Young Master Li."
The prefect of Jinling coughed dryly, forced a smile, and said with a characteristic official procrastination, "Locust Tree Village's incident is horrifying, and I am heartbroken when I hear about it. However, this matter is of great concern and involves a cult demon. Commandery Commandant Office will work with the Xuanmen Dharma to investigate."
"Young Master generously helped me to find out the cause of Tian Chiliarch's sudden death. I will report to the court and ask for credit for you. As for the case of Lin Trading Company..."
He drawled and looked at Tong San.
The judge next to him immediately responded with a flattering look on his face, "Lin Yaozu secretly communicated with Japanese pirates, causing chaos in Yangzhou's water transportation center. The evidence is conclusive, and Ministry of Justice, the author of the article, Hangzhou Prefecture, is presiding over the trial."
"This is the decision made by the Central Committee, and it is iron-clad. Our Jinling Prefectural Office sect has no right to comment. The young master holds the Qiankun Academy token and understands the people's sentiments. However, interfering with local criminal names and interfering with imperial cases would be... overstepped!"
Li Yan didn't talk nonsense and looked directly at Zheng Qianhu.
He had long expected that it would not be that easy to get the Lin Family people out.
The officials in Jinling are more or less related to those two families, and with Open Sea Faction's current power in Imperial Court, they will definitely not handle matters impartially.
So, he went directly to Zheng Qianhu.
Tian Chiliarch in the capital was killed, and the place was infiltrated by Cocoon Clothes Cult.
If he didn't want to die, he couldn't stay out of it.
Sure enough, Zheng Qianhu coughed, frowned and said in a deep voice, "Master Tongpan, the matter of Locust Tree Village is of great importance. The death of Tian Chiliarch is clearly inseparable from that 'Cocoon Clothes Cult'. Moreover, the real murderer has been found out. Those few people..."
"Zheng Qianhu's words are wrong!"
Another local official from the Aristocratic Clan interrupted, "Tian Chiliarch's death was caused by Demon Arts, and Lin Family's communication is written in black and white in the dossier! How can they be confused?"
"The Qiankun Academy token is noble, but it can't control my Great Xuan Law's criminal conviction! Young Master Li, we know you have worked hard, but don't let others take advantage of you and get involved in things you shouldn't be involved in."
He is a Gusu Lu Family person, so he naturally speaks more forcefully.
"Right or wrong?"
Li Yan took a sip of tea and spoke slowly.
The voice was not loud, but it drowned out the noise in the hall.
"Hundreds of Locust Tree Village were made alive into silkworm cocoons by the cult in the name of 'god silkworm', and Essence Blood was sucked. This is right and wrong!"
"Tian Chiliarch was responsible for escorting, but was turned into withered bones by the evil creature 'Old Man Lin' in the wilderness of Jurong. This is right and wrong!"
"A weaver from Wuzhong, he was forced into a desperate situation by excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes, and turned to a cult to survive. This matter... is even more outrageous!"
This time, with the spirit of fist intention, it went straight into everyone's mind.
His eyes were like lightning, scanning the officials whose expressions changed one by one. "You said that in the case of the Lin Family Trading Company, the chief prosecutor is far away in Hangzhou, and the files are sealed. I will go find them."
"But in Jinling City, the sudden death of Tian Chiliarch, the massacre of Locust Tree Village, and the cult 'Cocoon Clothes Cult' used silk to control the people and plotted internal affairs, all of them... can't be separated from each other!"
"Jinling Prefectural Office and Commandery Commandant Office are responsible for guarding the land, bringing peace to the people, and investigating lawlessness. Now the cult is raging, and the evidence is right under their noses. However, they use the excuses of 'no authority' and 'the case has been decided' to shirk their responsibilities, sit back and watch as the evil atmosphere intensifies, and even... do not hesitate to obstruct the investigation?"
He paused, and his tone suddenly turned cold, with a sharp Killing Intent, "Is it because you are powerless or... unwilling? Or is it because you are afraid that pulling out the carrot will bring out the mud, and implicating some people who shouldn't be implicated?"
"Li Yan! You are so presumptuous!" Tongjian stood up with his hair and hair spread out, "How dare you make unreasonable comments about imperial officials and slander Shangguan in the government office hall?!"
The prefect also lowered his face. "Young Master Li, I respect you as a member of the Qiankun Academy family, and I am very tolerant of you. However, the court's laws cannot be insulted! Commandery Commandant Office will investigate Locust Tree Village's matter thoroughly. As for the Lin Family case, there is no change! If you continue to entangle, don't blame me for being unkind!"
For a moment, the air seemed to solidify into iron.
At the same time, the excavation and cleanup work of Locust Tree Village was also in full swing under the leadership of local Daoist Daoists.
With Commandery Commandant Office watching, no one dared to do anything.
Twisted human figures that were wrapped in thick silkworm cocoons and had long since lost their vitality were carefully lifted out of the crypt of the ancestral hall and arranged in the open space of the village, which was shocking.
The corpses of several "sacred silkworms" as big as wild boars that had been poisoned by Long Yan'er special powder were also dragged out, and their hideous mouthparts were exposed to the sun, causing the soldiers and officers who were cleaning up the scene to vomit and turn pale.
More importantly, several letters with scrawled handwriting and blood stains were found in the kang hole of Zhou Dayong's house.
The letter was secretly written by Zhou Dayong in despair. It recorded in detail how the divine messenger "Cocoon Clothes Cult" used the secret method to extend his life as bait to trick the villagers Attendant into becoming the "Goddess of Silkworms", and how he forced the villagers to contribute their young labor force to enter the crypt to "serve the divine silkworms" and eventually turned into cocoons.
The letter also mentioned the names of several nearby villages that also believed in the "Silkworm Goddess", as well as how he was bewitched and used a special bell to attract "Old Man Lin" to kill Tian Chiliarch. It was clearly pointed out that this was to silence Tian Chiliarch and prevent Tian Chiliarch from deeply pursuing the strangeness behind the Lin Family case!
These bloody and irrefutable evidences were rushed to Jinling City.
The atmosphere in the hall gradually became more subtle.
Zheng Qianhu looked at the evidence in his hand, feeling frightened and said sharply:
"Your Majesty, Master Tongjing! The death of Tian Chiliarch is indeed the annihilation of a cult! The suicide note of Zhou Dayong points directly to the manipulation by someone behind the scenes, with the intention of obstructing the truth of the Lin Family case! This is no longer an ordinary criminal case, but a catastrophe of a cult causing chaos in the country and shaking the foundation of the country!"
"Commandery Commandant Office's duty is to urge the government to immediately send letters to surrounding counties and counties to thoroughly investigate the cult's stronghold! At the same time, the case of the Lin Family's trading company is full of doubts and must be retried!"
"Qiankun Academy Young Master Li's intervention is reasonable and legal!"
"Whoever dares to obstruct it again has a ghost in his heart and is harboring evil spirits!"
He was also anxious. If he didn't make this clear, he might be in chains.
Looking at these evidences and the almost murderous look in Zheng Qianhu's eyes, cold sweat dripped down the forehead of Jinling Magistrate, and he lost his previous aura.
It is indeed difficult to offend the two Aristocratic Clans, but these major cases all occurred on the ground of Jinling, and there is also the Taihu Monster Chaos. If they are not handled properly, they will be accused of dereliction of duty, leading to the growth of the cult, or even Demon Army being an internal collaborator.
When the time comes, it will be light to confiscate the family and exterminate the clan!
At this moment, rapid and orderly footsteps came from outside the hall.
A Yamen Runner stumbled in, with a hint of panic in his voice. "Report--! Report to the Lord of the Prefecture! Beijing...Mystic Sacrificial Official in the capital sentenced thousands of households to Lord Qiu, Commandery Commandant Office Northern Commandery Pacification Bureau, serving Lord Chu, have arrived outside the government office with an edict and the order of General Ministry of War!"
Everyone in the hall was suddenly shocked.
Before they could go out to greet them, they saw two officials wearing black official robes and with a deep breath striding into the back hall.
The leader has a face like a crown jade, three strands of long beard, there is a flash of lightning between his eyes, the corners of his robe are embroidered with ferocious animal patterns Bi'an, and a jade plaque engraved with cloud and thunder runes hangs from his waist.
It is Mystic Sacrificial Official who sentenced thousands of households to Qiu Mingyuan.
Next to him, Chu Qianshi was tall and tall, with a face as cold as stone. He was wearing Mystic Iron scale armor unique to Commandery Commandant Office high-ranking military attachés, exuding the bloody atmosphere of the battlefield. Hanging around his waist was a black Tiger Tally!
Qiu Mingyuan's eyes were like lightning, and he swept over everyone in the hall. He paused for a moment at the table full of evidence and Li Yan, and then said loudly, "Mystic Sacrificial Official Qiu Mingyuan, following the imperial edict and Ministry of War's order, came to Jinling to supervise the affairs of the 'Cocoon Clothes Cult' monster chaos and the remnants of Japanese pirates!"
"Everyone in the Jinling Mansion will cooperate fully and make no mistakes! Anyone who neglects, shirks, or obstructs will be regarded as an ally and will be executed without mercy!"
At the same time, Ministry of War raised the token in Chu Qianshi's hand, with cold light shining out.
The four words "immediate execution without pardon" were like a heavy hammer hitting the hearts of the officials in Jinling.
The faces of the prefect and the magistrate instantly turned pale as paper, with no trace of blood left. Their bodies trembled slightly, and their previous toughness and excuses were gone.
They hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I obey your orders! We will fully cooperate with Chiliarch Qiu, Chu Qianshi, and Young Master Li to exterminate the evil spirits and clear the Qing Yu universe!"
The atmosphere in the back hall changed suddenly.
Qiu Mingyuan and Chu Zhenyue acted vigorously and received all the evidence of Locust Tree Village on the spot, and listened to Li Yan's concise report on the tragedy of Locust Tree Village, the cause of Tian Chiliarch's death, and the relationship between the Lin Family case and the cult. Both of them looked extremely solemn.
The two of them came from the capital because of the death of Tian Chiliarch, the anger of the governor Zhao Wujiu, and the demon chaos in Jinling.
On the way, I received another message from Li Yan entrusted by Golden Swallow Gate, so I rushed even faster.
With them joining, Li Yan is no longer passive in Jinling.
After the handover was completed and they arrived at Commandery Commandant Office Wing Room, Qiu Mingyuan looked at Li Yan and said in a slow tone with a hint of consultation, "Young Hero Li's methods are brilliant, and the merit lies in the country. Mystic Sacrificial Official and Commandery Commandant Office should be kept in mind."
"But the current situation in Jinling, I think young hero also knows that the demon Lei Yin is embracing Yangzhou Cauldron, gathering Demon Army in Taihu Lake, and approaching Jinling! The city is also in turmoil. 'Dragon Offering Ceremony' is around the corner, Jinling City must not have another civil strife!"
Li Yan glanced lightly but said nothing.
Seeing this, Qiu Mingyuan took a step closer and said in a low voice, "I have made it clear that the case of the Lin Family has a wide range of implications, involving the Jiangnan gentry and even some officials. It cannot be clarified overnight."
"If we go into details at this time, it will definitely cause Jinling to be shaken, and people will be panicked. It may even be used by the demon sect to disrupt the 'Dragon Offering Ceremony' and shake the morale of the frontline troops. This will be a happy thing for the relatives and the enemies!"
"My intention is to place the entire staff of Lin Trading Company under the temporary custody of Commandery Commandant Office to ensure their safety. The irrefutable evidence of the murders of Locust Tree Village and Tian Chiliarch discovered by the young master, as well as the suspicious aspects of the Lin Family case, will be jointly signed by me and Chu Qianshi, and will be expedited for six hundred miles, and will be reported directly to the emperor."
"When 'Dragon Offering Ceremony' is successful and the monster chaos in Taihu Lake is pacified, the imperial court will send a powerful imperial envoy to work with Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple to thoroughly investigate the case, clear the innocent people's names, and uproot the moths and rats! What do you think, Master?"
Li Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he instantly understood what Qiu Mingyuan meant.
Without him, the two Aristocratic Clan roots are still luxuriant and cannot cause trouble at this time.
After all, "Dragon Offering Ceremony" is the most important thing right now.
"Just do what Lord Qiu said." Li Yan said with a cupped hand, "Lin Family Everyone is safe, and it will be done. Li just hopes that when the evil atmosphere is cleared away and the cauldron is returned to its place, don't let the unjust dead bear the hatred and let the greedy Xiaoyao!"
"Don't worry, sir! The law of the country is clear and the law of heaven cannot be tolerated!"
The voice of Chu Zhenyue next to him was sonorous, like swords clashing, "Lin Yaozu and others are safer in Commandery Commandant Office prison than anywhere else! This matter is guaranteed by the head of High Person!"
Li Yan nodded, with no expression on his face.
That night, Jinling City South, in the flower hall of a deep house compound.
The silk and bamboo orchestras have long been removed, leaving only oppressive silence and anxiety.
The lights were brightly lit, reflecting faces that were either pale or gloomy.
Present here are officials in casual clothes, as well as luxuriously dressed and imposing wealthy gentry. They are the people in charge of the Gusu Lu Family and Qiantang Xie Family in Jinling, as well as the local officials whose interests are tied to them.
"It's over... it's all over!"
A fat gentleman in a silk shirt said with a trembling voice, "Locust Tree Village Those mud-legged people... how could they leave a letter?"
"Mystic Sacrificial Official! Commandery Commandant Office Northern Commandery Pacification Bureau! Ministry of War will order!"
An official's face turned pale, "Why did the people from the capital come so fast? Qiu Mingyuan is a notorious scoundrel, plus Chu Zhenyue and Killing God... are obviously coming for us! Lin Family's case..."
"Why panic!"
An old man with a calm demeanor and elegant face slammed the coffee table.
He was Xie Yunzhi, the Xie family's person in Jinling. Unlike the others, he remained calm and said in a deep voice, "I have inquired about it, and Qiu Mingyuan said that Dragon Offering Ceremony and the Taihu war should be given priority, so the Lin Family case has been suppressed for the time being."
"This is our respite!"
"If you suppress it for a while, you won't be able to suppress it for the rest of your life!"
Lu Family's spokesperson in Jinling, Lu Gongyuan's relative, Lu Mingyuan, had a sinister look on his face, "The Lin Family case is not important, the evidence is conclusive, and even a few small fish and shrimps can't turn things around. The key thing is 'Cocoon Clothes Cult'!"
"Those bastards said that we forced them to join the cult, which is against the emperor's taboo. The top priority is to quickly clear up the evidence of the Silk Weaving Bureau."
"What's the use of saying this now?"
Xie Yunzhi took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, "The evidence has been cleared, but what about the money? Who will make up for the shortfall?"
One of the officials said cautiously, "Over there in Japan..."
Xie Yunzhi Hearing this, a flash of anger suddenly flashed in his eyes, "What nonsense are you talking about! No one can mention the matters in Japan!"
Seeing several officials bowing their heads in silence, he softened his tone and said comfortingly, "We have just intervened in the silver mine over there. We will only be able to reap the benefits after this period of time, and we must not let the court know."
"As for the group of people from the capital...'Dragon Offering Ceremony' is coming. We just need to cooperate well and someone will cause trouble for them."
"You take advantage of this world and go to the Jinzhou bank to borrow money as soon as possible. First make up for the shortfall, and then destroy the account book. The court will not be able to catch us!"
"Xie Weng has a plan!"
"As Xie Weng wishes..."
Everyone then breathed a sigh of relief and toasted to celebrate.
What they didn't notice was that in a dark corner, a mouse was ducking into a hole. It burrowed in the dark and damp underground for a long time before escaping from the dark alley and gutter.
Soon, the mouse was caught by someone and started squeaking wildly.
The one catching the mouse is none other than Lu San.
After listening, he frowned slightly and said to Li Yan next to him, "There is indeed a problem with this group of people, but it has nothing to do with 'Cocoon Clothes Cult'. They seem to be digging for money in Japan."
"Japan?"
Li Yan is thoughtful.
He vaguely remembered that there seemed to be silver mines over there in Japan.
Is it possible that these guys have their hands in Japan?
But from what I hear, they are not the same group as Cocoon Clothes Cult.
Then why did Cocoon Clothes Cult kill Tian Chiliarch?
Li Yan Spiritual Light flashed in his mind, "Let's go back Commandery Commandant Office!"
He has a feeling that there may be a deeper secret in the case of the Lin Family...