Chapter 98: Missing

After leaving that house, Xie Shouzheng asked the surrounding neighbors. From the neighbors, he learned that the daughter of that family had gone missing three days ago, after which the family began to close their doors to guests and stopped doing business.

It was also on the night three days ago that the neighbors heard clanging sounds coming from the family's courtyard, and not long after, the sound of a carriage and horses driving away. After dawn, the main gate was locked, and no one was seen again.

Combining the previous situation with the movement at night, the neighbors guessed that they had gone out to look for their daughter.

After recounting these circumstances, Xie Shouzheng asked Dongfang Qi for instructions: "Young Master, what should be done about this?"

Dongfang Qi pondered for a moment and said, "If it involves a homicide case, it should be reported to the government office. If we get involved in every case, I'm afraid we will never reach the Northern Border."

Lin Qingyue sneered: "So you still know that you have important matters to attend to and cannot be delayed."

Dongfang Qi said, "Even if I meddle in other people's business, I will do it within my own capabilities and time—Xiao Hui, you go to the government office to report the case. Do not reveal your identity."

"Just say that you went to repair the carriage and smelled blood inside, suspecting that someone had been harmed. They are local residents; if they wanted to leave the city, there would definitely be records of entry and exit. If there is no record of leaving the city, then disappearing into thin air is unjustifiable."

"Ordinary government runners may not have a nose as sensitive as yours, but if they investigate carefully, they will definitely be able to find clues. In short, let them handle it first."

Xie Shouzheng replied, "Alright, I'll go to the government office. Are you waiting here, Young Master, or what?"

Dongfang Qi looked at Lin Qingyue, who had been watching the people queuing for food, and suddenly said, "I'm suddenly a bit hungry again; why don't we go taste the food there too?"

Dongfang Qi said, "Although we have dressed low-key, we clearly don't meet the standard of the poor."

Lin Qingyue raised her eyebrows and smiled: "What does that matter? Just find some tattered clothes to change into, right?"

And so, the group of four split into two paths.

Lin Qingyue, Dongfang Qi, and Hong Yao mixed into the food shed to eat.

Xie Shouzheng continued to run errands, going to the government office to report the case.

The government office had a place specifically for receiving visitors for cases, and Xie Shouzheng was naturally familiar with that set of procedures. After finding the corresponding person, he stated the situation.

Finally, he emphasized: "You must investigate the scene carefully; there must be no omissions. Also, the records of entry and exit from the city are also a key direction for the investigation; do not..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted: "How to investigate the case and from which aspect to start, the catchers have their own worries. You are so long-winded, don't tell me you also want to be a catcher? Alright, we have already recorded the case, and it will proceed according to the process. You go back!"

Xie Shouzheng was a bit annoyed: "What kind of attitude is this? Officials do not take the people as the foundation, but instead act high and mighty and perfunctory; how can you be worthy of this official uniform?"

The small official's tone was even sharper: "What kind of thing are you, daring to lecture this official? Someone, beat him out!"

Immediately, four or five government runners came out, pushing and shoving, and pushed Xie Shouzheng out of the public gate.

Xie Shouzheng's fists were raised in anger, but thinking that the overall situation was important and he couldn't cause trouble for the Crown Prince, he snorted angrily: "I won't argue with you; you'd better investigate the case I just reported properly. If you dare to be perfunctory, I..."

"What will you do?" Those government runners laughed heartily.

"Where did this fool come from, really thinking he's a big shot?"

"Alright, alright, the case has been accepted and will be handled. If you dare to talk nonsense again, we will arrest you for disturbing the peace!"

Xie Shouzheng snorted and stopped arguing with them. He thought that after returning to the capital, he would inquire about the final result of the case in his capacity as an official, and then he would know whether they had been perfunctory.

After coming out of the government office, he didn't dare to delay for a moment and immediately ran to the food shed that was providing relief to the poor just now, to reunite with Dongfang Qi and the others.

After arriving there, he did not find Dongfang Qi.

Xie Shouzheng was a bit puzzled: Didn't they agree to meet near here? Where did those three go?

He asked the manager of the food shed, who said, "How would we know where people are? There are so many diners coming and going, how could we know the whereabouts of everyone?"

Xie Shouzheng checked nearby to see if they had left any marks.

But he checked all the roots of the walls and big trees nearby, and there were no marks!

This was very abnormal.

Even if they encountered something temporarily and had to leave here, they would have left a mark so that Xie Shouzheng could follow in time.

"So..." Xie Shouzheng suddenly became nervous, "Young Master and the others, they're missing!"

This is terrible!

Xie Shouzheng searched around for a while, his heart becoming more and more panicked. He knew he couldn't continue like this, so he wanted to find the local Xuanjing Division branch and mobilize manpower to find them.

But before he could reach the Xuanjing Division, he was suddenly stopped by a dozen government runners.

"We suspect you are related to the disappearance case of the Sun carpenter's family; come back to the government office with us to answer questions! Come with us."

"What the hell?" Xie Shouzheng reacted and immediately cursed, "Damn it! Are you all useless? I'm the one who reported the case; why are you treating me as a suspect? Do you have evidence?"

"Our word is evidence!" The other party's tone was very arrogant.

"Get lost! I don't have time to play around with you!" Xie Shouzheng was anxious to find Dongfang Qi, pushed away the government runner in front, and was about to leave.

"The suspect is resisting arrest, take him!" With a sharp shout, a dozen government runners drew their swords in unison.

Xie Shouzheng was not to be outdone, and they soon started fighting.

With his strength, dealing with a dozen government runners was not a problem at all. But just as they were fighting, a child rushed out from the roadside, and it looked like he was about to be accidentally injured.

Xie Shouzheng hurriedly withdrew his move, turned around, and pushed the other party away.

It was just this moment of distraction that two iron chains had tightly wrapped around him.

The sound of a child crying came from around, and passersby gathered around, pointing and gesturing.

In broad daylight, he couldn't show his demon arts, so he could only be tied up and taken away, thinking that once he reached a place with fewer people, he would find a way to escape.

The government runners escorted him all the way to a quiet corner. Xie Shouzheng looked around and saw no passersby, preparing to break free from the iron chains.

But he was caught off guard and covered by a sack. He didn't know what was mixed into the sack, but the smell was unpleasant. In an instant, Xie Shouzheng felt dizzy and fainted.

The government runner kicked him a few times, saw that he didn't react, spat, and cursed: "Meddlesome outsider, making our brothers run for over an hour before finding you! Didn't you want to find the Sun carpenter's family? You'll see them soon enough!" ===== CHAPTER 99 =====