Night had already fallen, and the Public Office area in Jiangling City's Cangcheng had long since grown quiet. Yet as the very heart of the Exorcising the Dragon Gang, its patrolling soldiers remained clearly visible in the light of the braziers, and several rooms were still brightly lit.
"So quickly?" Xie Minghe looked at the incoming Staff Officer Zhao, plainly surprised. "Something that happened yesterday, and you have the results tonight?"
"It happened right here in this city. If even this took three or five days, that would be laughable." Seated behind the desk in the middle of the office, Chen Bin answered casually while accepting the wooden document clip and removing the written records inside. "Is the information confirmed?"
"Confirmed. The woman was a palace maid captured when the Empress came south. She then worked at the clothing and bedding factory in Jiyin. Later, because she could read and keep accounts, she was transferred here. She now works under Chief Cao, overseeing the logistical accounts, and already holds the rank of Steward... They probably met when he collected his rewards." Reporting with his head lowered and hands clasped, Senior Staff Officer Zhao could not help feeling awkward. How could he fail to realize now that these two had been upstairs while they were drinking yesterday? Otherwise, how could they have seen what happened with Clerk Little Liu?
"What about that shop?" Chen Bin closed the wooden clip and continued questioning him.
"We have already begun reorganizing and checking the records again, but the shop you mentioned, Administrator, is quite clear. It belongs to Chief Xu's family..."
"Which Chief Xu?" Xie Minghe was utterly astonished.
"Xu Shiying..." Staff Officer Zhao explained cautiously.
"Wasn't his family's property confiscated?" Xie Minghe grew still more puzzled. Staff Officer Zhao: "..."
"What does this