Chapter 350

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuo instantly flared with rage. He cursed uncontrollably: "Since you know who I am, you still dare treat me like this! You've truly eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall! Do you believe I'll have my father take your lives!"

However, Ai Jiao paid no heed to Lin Shuo's cursing. He simply didn't want to bother with this foolish fellow. With an expressionless wave of his hand, he said coldly: "Men, bind him and take him away!"

No sooner had the words fallen than several well-trained soldiers surged forward like ghosts. Ropes already prepared in hand, they moved with practiced, decisive motions. In the blink of an eye, Lin Shuo was trussed up five-flower style, without the slightest room to resist.

Although Lin Shuo sputtered curses, spewing filth too vile for the ear, he himself had not a shred of strength to resist. After all, he was merely a frail scholar with no strength to truss a chicken — how could he be a match for these Yan Family Army elites.

Ai Jiao found Lin Shuo's foul language thoroughly annoying. He couldn't even be bothered to listen further. Casually picking at his ear, he grabbed a rag and stuffed it into Lin Shuo's mouth as if tossing garbage.

Finally, Ai Jiao dropped an expressionless "Take him away!" and turned to leave without looking back.

Ai Jiao led a group rushing to the inn, preparing to rendezvous with Yan Wang. Although Yan Wang had already dispatched a detachment to Fu Zhou, his heart remained uneasy.

After all, the saying goes: the most dangerous place is often the safest. If Lin Shu and his companion hadn't left the city but were hiding somewhere inside, they'd be hard to find.

Thus Yan Wang decided on the spot and ordered two squads to respectively guard Yu Zhou's two city gates — the South Gate and the North Gate.

This way, even if those two were truly hiding in the city, they'd struggle to escape. Once everything was properly arranged, Yan Wang finally let out a slight breath of relief, then led the remaining soldiers, along with the tightly bound Lin Shuo, galloping toward the garrison.

Upon reaching the garrison, Yan Wang wasted not a moment. He rushed Tang Qi and Ai Jiao into the command tent. Immediately after, he sent men to bring Lin Shuo in.

At this moment, Lin Shuo had been bound tight by ropes the whole way, a wad still stuffed in his mouth — utterly miserable. He no longer cared about appearances; his originally slick, oily hair was now a tangled mess, several strands dangling down his cheeks like catfish whiskers.

The soldiers unceremoniously hurled Lin Shuo to the ground like a sack. He staggered, lost balance, and landed squarely on the icy floor.

Seeing this, Yan Wang looked at Lin Shuo expressionlessly and ordered coldly: "Take the thing out of his mouth!"

The soldier at the side, hearing the command, lunged forward like a starving tiger pouncing on prey, and rudely yanked the rag from Lin Shuo's mouth.

Yanked so suddenly, Lin Shuo's throat let out a retch. He glared, jaws wide, readying another torrent of abuse.

But before he could utter a sound, Ai Jiao spoke first: "This isn't your Inspectorate. Even if we kill you here, not a soul will speak a word for you!"

Hearing this, Lin Shuo's heart turned cold. He instantly realized how perilous his situation was, and forcibly swallowed the filth back down his throat, daring not speak lightly again.

Seeing Lin Shuo finally quiet, Yan Wang unhurriedly asked: "Where did your father go?"

Lin Shuo wore a blank look and stammered: "My father... at this hour he should be at home handling official business... why don't you go find him, what are you grabbing me for?"

Ai Jiao glared fiercely at Lin Shuo and snapped: "Say what you're told to say. Where's all this nonsense coming from!"

Lin Shuo shuddered at that glare, hurriedly clamped his mouth shut, and dared not speak another word.

Seeing this, Yan Wang pressed on: "Your father isn't home. Where did he go?"

Lin Shuo hesitated, then replied carefully: "He... he might have gone out... probably went to another Inspectorate to discuss matters..."

Yan Wang immediately followed up: "Which prefecture's Inspector does he usually get along with best?"

Lin Shuo said helplessly: "I really don't know! My father's work matters — I've never asked, and he never volunteers to tell me." Hearing this answer, Yan Wang was clearly disappointed; he couldn't help furrowing his brows.

Ai Jiao at the side, seeing this, warned sternly: "I advise you not to cook up any bad ideas, trying to deceive us. Otherwise, the consequences will make you wish you were dead!"

Lin Shuo trembled in fright and hastily waved his hands: "Sir, I wouldn't dare! Every word I've spoken is true. I really don't know!"

Seeing this, Yan Wang softened his tone slightly and continued: "Then where is your maternal grandparents' home?"

Lin Shuo hurriedly answered: "My mother is a native of Yu Zhou. She and my father grew up together from childhood — true childhood sweethearts."

Yan Wang pondered a moment, then asked: "Then where exactly in Yu Zhou is your maternal grandparents' home located?"

Lin Shuo scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed: "This... I forgot the house number, but I know the way. I can take you there."

Yan Wang looked at Lin Shuo's state and thought: this man doesn't look like a shrewd sort; he probably wouldn't lie to deceive us.

So he decided to send Tang Qi with Lin Shuo to the maternal grandparents' home, to see if those two were truly hiding there.

Tang Qi led a small squad, along with Lin Shuo, to Yifeng City, leaving only Ai Jiao and Yan Wang behind. Yan Wang pulled out the intercepted letter from his bosom and examined it carefully. Seeing this, Ai Jiao curiously leaned in, and Yan Wang didn't guard against him.

Ai Jiao looked for a while, then doubt stirred in him. He spoke: "Wang, you're saying Lin Shu and the Fu Zhou Inspector are in cahoots?"

Yan Wang mused briefly, then replied: "If he's in league with the Fu Zhou Inspector, it explains things. Every time the Prefect comes to inspect Yu Zhou, he must pass through Fu Zhou, since Fu Zhou lies between Peizhou and Yu Zhou.

By the time the Prefect reaches Fu Zhou, the Inspector has already received word and immediately sends men to notify the Yu Zhou Inspector. Thus the Tongling Commandery Prefect is kept in the dark the whole time."

Finishing, Ai Jiao nodded thoughtfully, signaling agreement: "Wang's words are quite right. It indeed makes sense."

But then the conversation turned. Yan Wang suddenly frowned, as if realizing something amiss, and continued: "However, I keep feeling something isn't quite right..."