When he saw the waiter's eyes shining with excitement that he could no longer conceal, Lin Jiangnian understood.
As expected, the waiter in this shop set his sights on Xiaozhu and Lin Qingqing.
"It seems that I have underestimated your black shop."
Lin Jiangnian glanced at the waiter in front of him with a half-smile.
The waiter's smile faltered. "Sir, you've misunderstood. We're not a shady shop at all... We operate with integrity and clearly mark our prices. We're definitely not a shady shop."
"If this isn't a black market, then what is?"
Lin Jiangnian looked at him and said, "Do you really think I'm a fool?"
The waiter's smile gradually faded as he realized something. This 'sucker' before him, wasn't he stupid?
"Sir, what do you mean?" The waiter's eyelids twitched, and at the same time, he made a secret gesture with his hand hidden behind his back.
"I originally wanted to see just how shady this shady shop of yours is, but I didn't expect it to be so unexpected!"
Lin Jiangnian sighed, "Three hundred taels? You really can ask for that? Even more ruthless than me?"
Three hundred taels of silver. In some places within the Daning Dynasty, some ordinary people could not earn this amount in their entire lives.
The waiter in this shop is really ruthless!
The waiter realized that this 'sucker' was about to go back on his word, and his expression immediately changed: "Are you trying to... default on your debt?"
"Defeated?"
Lin Jiangnian shook his head slightly: "I never default on my debts, but if you want my money, it depends on how much you have."
Lin Jiangnian smiled at the waiter, then slowly stood up and gently patted the round little butt of the maid next to him.
"Let's go."
Bored along the way, Lin Jiangnian stumbled upon a shady shop, and naturally, he was happy to chat with the waiter. Now that he had eaten and drunk his fill, and had confirmed the waiter's purpose, he didn't need to worry about the rest.
The little maidservant was originally watching a play when she was suddenly attacked by His Highness in public. Her little face immediately turned red with shame, her eyes were filled with resentment, and she stood up feeling aggrieved.
Seeing that the 'fat sheep' was about to leave, the waiter got anxious and stopped pretending.
"Want to leave? Not that easy!"
"If you don't pay back the money you owe us, none of you will be able to leave!"
As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen strong thugs rushed in from outside the door and blocked the way of Lin Jiangnian and others.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Zhu's originally blushing face suddenly turned pale with fear. She subconsciously took a step back and hid behind His Highness. Lin Jiangnian looked at these strong men with a calm expression. What surprised him was that although these strong men looked very imposing, they all had bruises on their faces.
It looks extremely weird!
"Catch them for me!"
Seeing that the medicine was not working, the waiter could no longer do anything about it.
This 'big fat sheep' must be caught today.
As several burly thugs approached, Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes and stood still. A figure passed by like an afterimage, and then, without knowing when, Lin Qingqing stood in front of Lin Jiangnian.
"Master...you may go ahead. I will leave this place to you."
Lin Jiangnian glanced at her and nodded slightly: "Check it out."
After saying that, Lin Jiangnian took Xiao Zhu out of the restaurant.
Those strong thugs wanted to chase, but were stopped by Lin Qingqing. What they saw was Lin Qingqing's indifferent face and the increasingly strong aura.
"call out!"
The sound of a long sword being unsheathed.
Then, there was a series of screams and wails.
Less than a quarter of an incense stick's time later, the restaurant was completely silent. Lin Qingqing stood there, her eyes cold and expressionless.
Not far away, the waiter was watching the scene with a dull look in disbelief. When Lin Qingqing's eyes fell on him, the waiter trembled all over.
"thump!"
His legs went weak and he fell to his knees.
"Lady... spare my life!"
“…”
In the small town.
Lin Jiangnian took Xiaozhu for a stroll on the street.
Although the town was small, it wasn't deserted, with plenty of goods being sold on the streets. I stopped by a few stalls and bought a few small trinkets for Xiaozhu. Though they weren't worth much, the little maid was delighted, her smile blooming like a flower, and any slight resentment she'd felt before was completely forgotten.
At some point, Lin Qingqing's figure returned to behind Lin Jiangnian, motionless.
It was only when Lin Jiangnian turned around that he noticed her presence.
"How is it?"
"I've checked it out."
Lin Qingqing said expressionlessly, "As Your Highness expected, this is indeed a shady shop... This shop specializes in ripping off merchants along the way, and it also secretly engages in some dirty business..."
The waiter was not a man of strong character. After seeing Lin Qingqing's methods, he admitted his mistake on the spot and confessed everything honestly.
“Human trafficking?!”
After listening to Lin Qingqing's report, Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes. He didn't expect that this small black shop was actually engaged in the business of trafficking women?
"In that case, the power behind this black shop is probably not small!"
Lin Jiangnian nodded slightly.
This place wasn't far from Xunyang County, yet in such a small town, there was a black shop that forced women into prostitution. The power behind it was quite powerful. In fact... it was probably closely connected to the local government.
Collusion between officials and businessmen has long been commonplace.
"Your Highness, what should we do next?"
Lin Qingqing asked, "How should we deal with them?"
"If they were just trying to extort money from customers, it would be understandable. But they're kidnapping and trafficking people, forcing women into prostitution. Such heinous behavior requires this prince to intervene!"
Lin Jiangnian sneered.
Trafficking women and forcing women into prostitution was a heinous act that was considered outrageous to both humans and gods, and had long been a violation of the laws of the Daning Dynasty. Since he had come across it, he naturally had to intervene.
"Since it's a shady shop, we should shut it down first and then investigate the forces behind them!"
Lin Jiangnian said calmly: "Uproot the forces behind them and don't let any of them go!"
"yes!"
“…”
Lin Jiangnian was not one for meddling in other people's affairs, but since he had come across this, he naturally couldn't just sit back and watch. The fact that something like this had happened in Xunyang County was enough to show that the prefect of Xunyang County had failed in his duty.
Lin Qingqing is worthy of being a subordinate trained by Zhiyuan himself, and her efficiency has never disappointed Lin Jiangnian.
The black shop was shut down, and the thugs in the restaurant were all arrested. Even Xie Yongqing, who was lying injured in bed, was thinking about how to take revenge on the two women yesterday. The next second, someone put a knife to his neck.
"thump."
Xie Yongqing, covered in wounds, was thrown into the yard in a panic. He looked up in horror and saw several figures in black armor standing in the yard.
A cold and fierce aura, full of murderous intent.
Xie Yongqing trembled violently, looking terrified.
This, what is going on?
These black-armored figures are obviously from powerful backgrounds... When did they provoke such people?
At this moment, a young man appeared in the main seat in front.
He was wearing a brocade robe and was sitting lazily on a chair with an indifferent look in his eyes. His handsome face was looking at him indifferently with a bit of nonchalance.
"Are you the owner of this black shop?"
When Xie Yongqing saw the young man and the two beautiful women standing beside him, his pupils shrank and he suddenly realized something.
Another tough guy again?!
At this moment, he was extremely angry and wanted to slap the waiter to death.
You do nothing but cause trouble to him every day!
"Sir...this gentleman..."
Xie Yongqing forced an extremely ugly smile on his face: "I am the owner of the inn..."
Lin Jiangnian's eyes remained nonchalant. "I heard that two women came to your restaurant yesterday?"
Xie Yongqing's eyelids jumped: "Yes, yes?"
"So, the injuries on your body were caused by them?"
Xie Yongqing's expression was very stiff, but he still managed a smile that was uglier than crying: "Yes, yes..."
Lin Jiangnian nodded slightly, that's right.
This shady shop, from the waiter to the thugs, to the boss in front of him, all were covered in scars. I was puzzled at first, until the waiter confessed everything and the truth came out.
Just the day before Lin Jiangnian arrived, this black shop was smashed up!
"I'm asking you."
Lin Jiangnian glanced at him again: "Where did those two women from yesterday go?"
Xie Yongqing suddenly felt uneasy: "Little, I don't know either?"
"oh?"
Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes: "You don't know?"
Xie Yongqing trembled and said, "Yesterday, those two female warriors smashed up our shop and then left... I don't know where they went."
Xie Yongqing naturally would not admit it.
However, Lin Jiangnian sneered: "You, the boss, are not very honest!"
Xie Yongqing's heart skipped a beat: "I, I don't understand what you mean, sir..."
"not understand?"
Lin Jiangnian gave him a playful smile: "You'll understand in a moment!"
Xie Yongqing was stunned. Before he could react, he saw a strong man with an expressionless face approaching.
“No, don’t…”
“Help, help…”
“…”
Restaurant, front hall.
Lin Qingqing stood respectfully aside: "Your Highness, he has confessed everything. The owner of this restaurant does have some connection with the government office in Xunyang County..."
"And the two women who came yesterday..."
Lin Qingqing paused, a glint in her eyes: "According to the description of the boss and the waiter, one of the two women is indeed very likely..."
"Kite."
Lin Jiangnian raised his eyebrows.
Lin Qingqing nodded, her eyes dancing with excitement: "I didn't expect that we would catch up with Sister Zhiyuan."
Lin Jiangnian did not comment.
According to the descriptions of the restaurant owner and the waiter, it does match.
The woman in the bamboo hat is most likely Zhiyuan, and as for the other one... judging from the description, she looks somewhat like the female assassin who left just now.
If you calculate the time, the time since the female assassin left is completely consistent?
While Lin Qingqing was excited, she quickly remembered something and a trace of worry appeared in her eyes: "Your Highness, according to what the boss said, the government has intervened. Sister Zhiyuan is very likely to be arrested and imprisoned in the county jail. Should we help..."
"That's not necessary!"
Lin Jiangnian shook his head slightly.
Lin Qingqing wasn't sure why Zhi Yuan had come to Xunyang County, but Lin Jiangnian knew it all too well. They were still a few days away from Xunyang County, and the fact that Zhi Yuan had left the palace early and had now been caught up by Lin Jiangnian was enough to prove she must have had other motives.
Lin Jiangnian really wanted to see what his little maid was doing!
"Qingqing?"
"I'm here."
Lin Jiang said in a young voice, "Go and investigate secretly first... By the way, don't reveal your whereabouts. Do not act rashly without the order of this prince."
Lin Qingqing's eyes were filled with surprise and excitement: "I obey your command!"
“…”
Chaoyang County.
It is a small county town under Xunyang County.
The county town is not very big, but as the county town closest to Xunyang County, it is quite prosperous.
Chaoyang County Government Office.
Inside the cell.
"They are slandering and framing others!"
Inside the cell, Shen Lingjun's face was filled with indignation and his eyes were filled with anger.
After leaving the town and sending Wu Qianqian home safely, Shen Lingjun agreed with the woman in the bamboo hat to travel together to Xunyang County.
Unexpectedly, they met officials from the county government on the way, who arrested them and took them back to the county government and put them in jail without any explanation.
And the crime they were imprisoned for was... murder?
When did they kill anyone?!
Shen Lingjun was angry and frightened, and keenly sensed a hint of conspiracy.
"Sister, what should we do now?"
Shen Lingjun turned around and looked at the woman in the bamboo hat not far away in the cell. Now that she was framed and imprisoned, the only person she could turn to was the woman in the bamboo hat beside her.
Inside the cell, the woman in the bamboo hat was remarkably calm. Her cold face beneath the hat quietly surveyed her surroundings before shaking her head: "Don't be impatient!"
Don't be in a hurry?
How can we not be urgent?
Shen Lingjun was extremely anxious. Just as she was about to speak, she realized something and froze for a moment: "You, did you do this on purpose?"
She recalled that she had been stopped by government officials before, but the woman in the bamboo hat in front of her didn't seem to intend to resist... With her martial arts skills, it would be easy for her to avoid being caught by government officials.
Then the only possibility is...she did it on purpose?
"I guess so." The woman in the bamboo hat nodded slightly.
Shen Lingjun was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help asking, "Then, then why do you want to..."
The woman in the bamboo hat did not answer, but said calmly: "Don't be impatient, wait a little longer."
wait?
Shen Lingjun was a little confused.
But now locked in a cell, she had no choice but to wait.
This wait lasted a whole day.
Until dark and night fell, no one came into the cell again.
As if forgotten.
In the silent cell, Shen Lingjun sat in the corner, worried. She had realized that something was wrong.
Being thrown into jail for no apparent reason is probably related to the restaurant owner. It must be his cousin who's behind the scenes...
I never thought a small police chief would have such power. How could he confuse right and wrong and arbitrarily slander and arrest ordinary people?
The sky in Xunyang County is so dark!
Just as Shen Lingjun was thinking about how to escape, he saw the woman in the bamboo hat in the corner stand up and slowly walk to the door of the cell.
"bite!"
As she raised her head slightly, the lock on the cell door shattered.
The cell door opened and the woman in the bamboo hat stepped out of the cell.
Behind him, Shen Lingjun's eyes gradually became dull.
Just, just get away like that?
Hey, sister, why didn’t you tell me earlier that you wanted to escape from prison?
You've made me worry all day like this. It's very tiring, okay?
Shen Lingjun was in a very complicated mood. When she looked up and saw the woman in the bamboo hat walking away, she suddenly reacted and hurriedly caught up.
…