A large group of people dressed in luxurious clothes arrived at this place, first with sword-wielding guards clearing the way, and then a pale-faced man in white rode on horseback.
He had a gentle face, a slender figure, wide brows, and deep eyes, exuding a strong scholarly aura.
Everyone made way until they reached Wen Chaosheng, who was sitting on the ground in a daze by the entrance.
The sword-wielding guard frowned and shouted, but Wen Chaosheng paid no heed, only staring blankly at Liu Jinshi's corpse.
Seeing Wen Chaosheng's attire, the guard assumed he was a madman or a beggar from the county town and showed no politeness, immediately drawing his sword.
A Shui, in the crowd, frowned, her fingertips clamping a small stone that she had somehow retrieved.
Just as the guard stepped forward to warn Wen Chaosheng a second time, the white-clothed man on horseback suddenly spoke, “Do not harm his life.”
“He is blocking the way; just drag him aside.”
Upon hearing the white-clothed man speak, the guard immediately sheathed his sword and came to Wen Chaosheng's side, dragging him away from the entrance of the County Office.
Wen Chaosheng offered no resistance, his attention focused entirely on Liu Jinshi's corpse, his gaze frighteningly vacant.
The white-clothed man observed Wen Chaosheng for a moment, said nothing, and, escorted by a group of guards, arrived at the County Office entrance.
Facing the yamen runners dressed in official uniforms, he pulled out a special iron plaque from his chest, bearing the official seal of Qi.
This kind of official seal was extremely difficult to counterfeit, and once discovered, not only was it a capital crime for the perpetrator, but it also resulted in the extermination of three generations of their family.
It represented the unique power of the Qi royal family.
“Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Chun Qiong, from Langan Pavilion in the Royal City.
I have come to Ku Hai County with the official seal to replace the former County Magistrate Liu Jinshi.”
“Liu Jinshi has governed the county well these past years and was supposed to hand over power and official documents to me, then go to the Royal City to receive his title and rewards.
Now that an accident has occurred, all matters are delayed.
I must first investigate the cause of Liu Jinshi's death.
If you have nothing else, please disperse for now.
Regarding Liu Jinshi's matter… please give me some time; I will definitely investigate it thoroughly!”
The white-clothed man, Chun Qiong, spoke with a clear voice, cupping his hands to the surrounding common people and speaking politely.
Seeing him speak, everyone slowly dispersed.
Although the people here enjoyed a good spectacle, they were not fools.
The white-clothed man was an official, and they were commoners; they could not take advantage of his politeness.
As the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed, the white-clothed man approached Wen Chaosheng, squatted down to look at him, and took out some loose silver from his sleeve, placing it in front of Wen Chaosheng.
He patted him and said, “Young brother, let’s go.
We need to investigate the case, and your presence here will hinder us.”
Wen Chaosheng did not take the silver offered by Chun Qiong.
Instead, he looked up at him and asked, “Are you the newly appointed County Magistrate of Ku Hai County?”
Chun Qiong nodded, “Yes.”
“Is there anything I can help you with, young brother?”
Wen Chaosheng spoke bluntly, “I want an identity as a person of Qi.”
Chun Qiong's eyes shifted, “You are not a person of Qi?”
Wen Chaosheng shook his head, “I am a refugee.”
Chun Qiong was silent for a moment, then said to him, “Then I apologize, young brother, you might have to come with us.”
Wen Chaosheng's gaze suddenly became sharp.
“Are you trying to pin Liu Jinshi's death on me?”
Chun Qiong smiled, “How could I?
Once we confirm that you are indeed not the murderer, we will naturally let you go, and I will also consider arranging an identity as a person of Qi for you.”
Looking at the spring-like smile on Chun Qiong's face, Wen Chaosheng's hand slowly moved behind his back.
The cleaver was hidden at his waist behind him.
It had waited for a long time, only to suddenly lose its original target, but that did not mean it was not sharp.
As long as Wen Chaosheng needed it, it could kill at any time.
“I have been outside the county for three years, unable to step half a pace into the county town except for the third day of each month when I could enter to apply for an identity from Liu Jinshi.
If you really want to investigate me, why do you need to arrest me?
You only need to confirm with the yamen runners who were on duty.”
Chun Qiong shrugged, still smiling, “That's hard to say.
What if they dozed off during their shift… You say you're not the murderer, but you need a witness, don't you?”
Seeing him like this, Wen Chaosheng knew he had no choice.
He could bet that the person in front of him was sincere.
But he couldn't convince himself.
Having lived two lives, his eyes… were too sharp.
No matter how well the other party hid it, the light in Wen Chaosheng's eyes still pierced through that decorated facade, directly striking the depths of the other party's thoughts.
Just as he was about to draw his knife, a plain, deep voice suddenly appeared not far away.
“He is not the murderer; I can prove it.”
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.
A broad-shouldered, tall man in a green shirt stood not far away, his gaze calm, the wind blowing gently through his robes.
Chun Qiong, who was squatting in front of Wen Chaosheng, narrowed his eyes, slowly stood up, and asked the man in the green shirt, “You are…”
The man in the green shirt slowly walked over, glanced at Wen Chaosheng, and said, “My surname is Lu, and I am called Lu Zhiming.
I have lived in Ku Hai County for thirty years.”
“Yesterday, I went outside the county for a walk and saw him.”
Chun Qiong stared at Lu Zhiming, then after a moment, he laughed and asked, “You watched him all night?”
The man in the green shirt lightly shook his sleeve, and a golden leaf appeared between his fingertips, which he handed to Chun Qiong.
“As long as you think so, then it is so.”
Chun Qiong looked at the golden leaf in his hand, weighed it, but did not immediately accept it.
Instead, he brought the golden leaf to the man in the green shirt and said meaningfully, “A refugee is not worth this price.”
“I originally believed him, but now that you've done this, I'm rather suspicious.”
The man in the green shirt's eyes were calm, only smiling faintly, “It doesn't matter.
If he is a person of Qi and stays here, if the adult finds any problems, you can arrest him at any time.”
Chun Qiong and the man in the green shirt looked at each other for a moment, Chun Qiong's fingertips rubbing the golden leaf a few times, and he finally put it away.
“No wonder Liu Jinshi didn't want to leave; this County Magistrate position… really makes money.”
While sighing with emotion, he turned around, casually pushed aside Liu Jinshi's hanging corpse, and entered the County Office alone without looking back.
The man in the green shirt bowed to his back, his voice resonant, “Thank you, sir.”
The yamen runners did not dare to touch Liu Jinshi's corpse, fearing they might leave something behind and be branded as criminals.
It had to be Chun Qiong's attendants who took down Liu Jinshi's corpse and carried it inside.
They all entered the County Office and finally closed the door.
At this moment, A Shui walked to the entrance of the County Office, looked up at the rope and hook, and a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, wondering what she was thinking…