Chapter 265: Getting Worse and Worse (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Wan Yun had grievances he could not voice.

I never realized before that Lord Xie had such a narrow mind...

After returning from Yu Well Village last time, Wan Yun spoke up for Xu Yuan twice, and Xie Qingman's attitude toward him changed drastically.

This "Ghost Thief Case" was something Xie Qingman insisted on taking over herself.

Then she dumped it on Wan Yun.

Wan Police Inspector felt that Lord Xie had someone outside, so he wanted to drive him away to make room for his new favorite.

This matter certainly could not be blamed on Xu Yuan.

Wan Yun simply could not find any other help.

Xu Yuan also did not expect Xie Qingman to be so ruthless toward her subordinates.

Even if everyone parted ways—Wan Yun had not betrayed anyone; surely they wouldn't just drive a person out of the Purification Bureau?

Xu Yuan thought for a moment; this matter might be related to the three Dream Eaters, so he could not let it go unattended.

"Brother Wan, do not rush; let us think of a solution together."

Seeing Xu Yuan willing to help, Wan Yun clearly breathed a sigh of relief, then thinking of Xie Qingman's ruthlessness, sorrow inevitably welled up: "Sigh, this old brother truly followed the wrong person..."

Xu Yuan spared no harsh words for Xie Qingman: "The fault is not yours; it is that those above lack any magnanimity."

Wan Yun's spirits lifted again: "Come, let me tell you the situation..."

Just as he was about to begin, a commotion suddenly erupted from outside.

Wan Yun frowned in displeasure and asked outside: "What is going on?"

The Captain under his command immediately replied: "This humble one has already sent men to investigate; my lord, please wait a moment."

The noise was coming from outside the main gate.

Wan Yun's duty room was not far from the main entrance.

Soon, Wan Yun's subordinates came running back, shouting: "The people of Shanhe Bureau are causing trouble again!"

Xu Yuan's eyebrows shot up like swords: "What?! Remembering the food but forgetting the beating, are we?"

Lord Xu sprang to his feet and strode out with long strides.

Wan Yun hurriedly chased after him: "Hey, hey, hey, younger brother, do not be impulsive."

Outside the main gate, He Youxing did not show himself; leading the Purification Bureau side were Shi Bading and Sang Yizi.

The Shanhe Bureau side had not many people, only about a dozen, but the young man leading them, appearing around twenty-eight or twenty-nine, wore the official robes of a Master of Law.

Wan Yun whispered in Xu Yuan's ear: "That is the new Master of Law who succeeded Lady Fu Shuanghui, named Miao Yu; it is said he has a formidable background."

Five people from Shanhe Bureau stood at the front, while Miao Yu stood arrogantly behind with a few others.

Miao Yu's voice was clear and bright, his spirit soaring, possessing all the characteristics of "success at a young age."

"This official need not speak much to you lot."

"Call He Youxing out."

You mere group of lowly inspectors are not of equal status to this lord.

Naturally, there is no place for you to speak in front of this lord.

Miao Yu did not feel he was being arrogant; in his perception, the facts were simply so.

As soon as Xu Yuan appeared, the five Captains from Shanhe Bureau in front instinctively shrank backward.

Xu Yuan glanced over and recognized a few faces.

They had been beaten by him last time.

"Is Shanhe Bureau not being too bullying?" Xu Yuan immediately played the victim: "Last time they blocked the main gate of our Purification Bureau; how little time has passed, and now they are coming to our door again?"

Someone whispered a few words into Miao Yu's ear.

Miao Yu raised his eyes to look at Xu Yuan, sneered, and still addressed everyone from the Purification Bureau: "Since He Youxing dares not come out, tell him: this Ghost Thief Case belongs to our Shanhe Bureau; you are not to interfere!"

"On what grounds?" Shi Bading was greatly dissatisfied.

Wan Yun's face darkened, thinking to himself that it would be fine if Shanhe Bureau took it over; just don't block them...

Xu Yuan asked with dignity and without fear: "Master of Law, you must at least give a reason."

Miao Yu said: "Last night, not only wealthy merchants in the city were robbed, but also a warehouse belonging to the Canal Authority at the dock!"

Xu Yuan and the others were startled.

The warehouse of the Canal Authority was heavily guarded.

Moreover, ordinary people would absolutely not dare to provoke the Canal Authority; this case has become huge.

Shi Bading had no excuse to object anymore.

The Canal Authority is extremely powerful within the imperial court, and according to past precedents, as long as the Canal Authority is involved, the case is always handed over to Shanhe Bureau to handle.

Wan Yun quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Yuan, however, still had to make a mocking remark: "Has Shanhe Bureau cleared up the case of the Fishermen's Gang secretly raising evil spirits? Do you need our Purification Bureau to help you investigate?"

Miao Yu's face darkened.

The Fishermen's Gang had been doing this for quite some time, even before Miao Yu took office.

This was not counted as his responsibility, but it did lose face for Shanhe Bureau nonetheless.

"Mind your own affairs!" Miao Yu swept his sleeve and left: "If you dare to stretch your claws over here, this official will chop them off!"

The Captains under him, acting like a fox borrowing the tiger's might, made a chopping-hand gesture toward the crowd from the Purification Bureau.

The result was seeing Lord Xu pretending to charge out, which frightened them into quickly following Miao Yu's pace and running away.

Shi Bading, furious, kicked a hitching post near the gate: "This is truly damn frustrating!"

Since He Youxing refused to appear, the crowd naturally appeared weak when facing Miao Yu.

He Youxing did not feel he was being cowardly; he simply believed he was ready to leave and saw no need to make enemies in Zhan Cheng.

The little prestige he had left in the Zhan Cheng office plummeted again and again.

Xu Yuan patted Wan Yun's arm: "Take the Shanhe Office by force, Brother Wan. You go explain it to Lord Xie."

Wan Yun nodded, turned around, and entered the yamen to find Xie Qingman.

"You can't blame me for not solving the case; the Shanhe Office won't let us get involved."

Shi Bading still could not accept it; he grabbed Xu Yuan's arm: "Are we really just going to ignore this?"

Xu Yuan spread his hands: "Since the Canal Office is involved, if we investigate further and Miao Yu files a complaint, not only us, but even Lord He won't be able to withstand it."

Shi Bading was suffocated with anger; his shoulders shook as his strength had nowhere to go, and in the end, it could only turn into a long sigh.

Xu Yuan returned to the Nancheng patrol station, went straight to Zhang Laoya, closed the door, and said in a low voice: "Go find your three mistresses. I have important questions for them."

If they really did it, and the Shanhe Office caught them, under interrogation they would reveal they came looking for Zhang Laoya, who has been living in the Nancheng patrol station all along.

Relying on the "friendly relationship" between Lord Xu and the Shanhe Office, the Shanhe Office would most likely link this case to Lord Xu.

When Wan Yun sought help, Xu Yuan was actually not so urgent about this case.

Now that the Shanhe Office has taken over, Xu Yuan has to investigate whether he wants to or not.

Zhang Laoya was startled: "What are you doing? I'm trying to hide as fast as I can."

Xu Yuan then asked: "Are those three as greedy as you?"

Zhang Laoya did not deny his own greed; after all, he cultivated the "Merchant Art."

"Yes."

"When they came looking for you the previous times, did they do any petty thefts on the side?"

Zhang Laoya's eyes darted back and forth: "This, this... how would I know..."

"Looks like they did."

Seeing he could not hide it from him, Zhang Laoya simply admitted it.

Xu Yuan still had many questions; the Canal Office was powerful. Even if the three Dream Eaters were greedy and stole money from wealthy merchants in the city, why would they actively provoke the Canal Office?

But if it wasn't them, this was simply too coincidental.

"Do they have a way to bypass the Door Gods?"

(End of this chapter)