Chapter 151: Blinded by the Lamp's Shadow

In the study, Jiang Jili's expression looked somewhat gloomy.

He placed a piece of paper in front of Li Lin: "Take a look."

Li Lin took it, and after reading it his expression was also somewhat surprised.

"It turns out it wasn't the Qin family of Yue Commandery behind it!"

Li Lin had been ambushed yesterday, and today Jiang Jili had already investigated the matter quite clearly.

"In other words, that person wasn't coming for me — actually, they were coming for you. Then the one behind the scenes deliberately wanted to sow discord between the two of us, to make us enemies!" Jiang Jili's expression was ugly.

"But you can't find out who the person behind the scenes is."

Jiang Jili nodded and said: "Yes. The trail just went cold."

Li Lin thought for a moment, then said: "Who else knew you were going to the tavern to meet me?"

"A few of my servants." Jiang Jili said: "They're all death warriors my family has raised since childhood — they wouldn't betray me."

Li Lin smiled: "Then it can't possibly be something I arranged."

It really was absurd.

"Then who else could it be!" Jiang Jili was somewhat irritated.

Li Lin suddenly said: "Wait… the ones who knew you were coming to see me aren't limited to your few servants — there's also your family, after all, since the jade sword was sent over by them."

Jiang Jili looked at Li Lin and said angrily: "Impossible!"

"Your family isn't necessarily your closest kin." Li Lin smiled: "For instance, your close relatives and the like."

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Jili's eyes.

The open rivalry and covert scheming within great clans was nothing new.

And it was also very possible.

"That's impossible!" Jiang Jili still said the same thing.

Li Lin, however, understood that the other man actually already suspected it — the reason he was being stubborn was simply that family shame shouldn't be aired before outsiders.

So long as he didn't admit it, he wouldn't feel he'd lost face.

Li Lin smiled and said: "Still, County Deputy Jiang, you're really impressive — in less than a day, you've already investigated things to this extent."

"I've studied the *Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified*." Jiang Jili said helplessly: "And originally I wanted to be the County Lieutenant, but I didn't expect you to snatch it away from me."

"Being County Deputy, you can still investigate cases. I don't believe the County Magistrate would stop you from hearing cases."

Jiang Jili said helplessly: "But without the authority to command government office Runners, many things are done with my hands tied."

Li Lin smiled — he understood what the other meant. Jiang Jili wanted the authority to manage government office Runners, but Li Lin couldn't possibly hand that matter over to him.

The County Magistrate, County Deputy, and County Lieutenant were originally meant to check and balance one another, each handling their own duties.

Seeing Li Lin unmoved, Jiang Jili sighed, then said: "Right, I don't know what happened when you all went to Bobai Military Town, or what benefits you obtained. But now that… Patrol Inspector Su's daughter, and his grandson, have run into some trouble — I think you should go take a look."

Li Lin was stunned for a moment, then stood up: "Together?"

"No, I don't want to get mixed up in these matters." Jiang Jili cupped his fists and smiled: "I'll head back first — see you another day."

Li Lin saw Jiang Jili out, then went to Su Huafang's daughter's home.

He had just arrived when he found a large crowd gathered ahead, with even several government office Runners maintaining order.

From within the crowd came the sound of an argument.

Li Lin walked over, and immediately a sharp-eyed government office Runner spotted him.

A government office Runner trotted over, cupped his hands and said: "County Lieutenant, what brings you here?"

"What's going on here?"

The government office Runner said: "The senior branch of the Su family brought a group of people to surround the Su family's grandson's home, saying the grandson's family stole their gold."

Hmm?

Li Lin was somewhat puzzled — hadn't Bai Zhiwei warned Su Bei not to flash his wealth?

He walked over, and several government office Runners immediately pushed through the crowd, shouting: "The County Lieutenant, my lord, has arrived — quiet down and clear the way!"

The watching crowd immediately parted to form a passage.

Li Lin walked through and saw a group of Su family members gathered outside the low wall of a small courtyard.

Four middle-aged men, a swarm of aunts and grannies — at least a dozen or more — plus several young fellows, nearly thirty people surrounding a small house.

And in the courtyard, Su Bei was supporting his mother, blocking the doorway.

The clothes on the two of them were very disheveled, even torn in several places.

Their faces also had several red scratch marks.

Seeing Li Lin arrive, a look of excitement flashed in Su Bei's eyes.

The thirty-plus members of the Su family were also somewhat afraid seeing Li Lin, but they still mustered their courage to stay where they were.

After all, money could embolden a person.

Only, no one dared step forward to speak.

Li Lin looked left and right, then smiled and asked: "I heard the commotion here — what happened?"

Before Su Bei could speak, the senior branch of the Su family jumped out first.

"Reporting to County Lieutenant, my lord — these two nephews of my sister actually stole gold from the household. We want it back, and they refuse. Arrest them — outrageous!"

Li Lin looked at Su Bei and asked: "Did you steal gold?"

Su Bei wasn't stupid — he knew some things couldn't be said — and shook his head vigorously: "No, we didn't steal anything."

"Then where did the gold in your house come from?" The senior branch of the Su family was actually passable in looks, but the greedy look on his face made him somewhat repulsive: "A full three gold ingots. Don't talk about your little house — even if we sold the two of you entirely, you wouldn't be worth one gold ingot. Much less say it was given to you by your gambling-bird of a father."

The watching crowd burst into laughter.

Li Lin looked at Su Bei: "Three gold ingots… that really is a lot of money. Kid, do you have anything to say — can you explain where the gold ingots came from?"

Although there were some oversights, not all the gold ingots had been discovered — only three had been seen — which could be considered a blessing within the misfortune.

Su Bei lowered his head and said nothing.

Li Lin looked at the woman: "Su Shi, do you have anything to say!"

Su Shi said nothing either.

"Since neither of you has anything to say, take Su Shi and Su Bei to the prison for detention first," Li Lin said in a calm tone: "We will retry the case on another day."

Hearing this, the elder branch of the Su family beamed with joy.

At that moment, a young child rushed out of the room, crying out: "Don't take my mother away, don't take my brother away... Waa!"

The child cried terribly; the onlookers pointed and whispered, and most of them felt distressed just watching.

Li Lin thought for a moment and said: "The Su family has a young child who needs care. Su Shi, you need not be imprisoned. Stay at home to look after the young son, but under no circumstances may you leave the county town. Do you understand?"

Su Shi bowed lightly, tears in her eyes: "Thank you, Commandant."

"Someone, go into the house and retrieve the three gold ingots, then take them to the interrogation room to be sealed temporarily as stolen goods..."

The elder branch of the Su family panicked: "Commandant, those are our family's gold."

"The case hasn't even been investigated yet, and it's already yours?" Li Lin asked back with a smile.

Often, the common people do not fear officials who scowl or shout at them.

What they fear is when officials smile.

The elder branch of the Su family immediately fell silent, even instinctively stepping back two paces, afraid to meet Li Lin's eyes.

Li Lin waved his hand: "Take them away, and take the gold too."

Soon, several government office Runners searched the house, found the three gold ingots, and took Su Bei away.

Seeing there was no more spectacle to watch, the crowd dispersed.

The elder branch of the Su family watched Li Lin's retreating back, stamped their feet in fury, but dared not say a word.

Li Lin walked slowly; only after about two incense sticks' worth of time did he return to the county government office, then went down to the underground prison in the interrogation room.

The light here was dim, and the air carried a musty smell.

Su Bei was locked in the largest iron cage, lying on a pile of straw in a daze.

Li Lin walked over and gently tapped the iron bars.

Su Bei was startled; upon seeing it was Li Lin, he immediately jumped up, clasped his hands in a fist, and respectfully said: "Commandant."

"How could you be so careless?" Li Lin asked.

Su Bei said helplessly: "It was my younger brother who spoke out of turn... Besides, I truly never expected that my eldest uncle would believe a young child's words. While mother was away from home and I was chopping wood in the backyard, he came to the house and ransacked the chests and cabinets. If I had not heard the noise, he would have secretly taken the gold."

(End of this chapter)