Chapter 92

The Li Mansion was bustling with traffic and very lively.

Jiang Li and Wang Bujiu showed their invitation, and the servant in charge of reception soon led them to the study in the front courtyard.

The County Magistrate was waiting there, and along with him was Du Ren Mei.

"How is it?" the County Magistrate asked eagerly.

Jiang Li bowed to him. "I have not failed the mission; the criminal Mei Ruxi has been captured and is waiting for trial in prison."

The County Magistrate breathed a long sigh of relief.

Finally caught him.

This Mei Ruxi was simply ignorant of the height of the sky and the depth of the earth, daring to touch even the daughter-in-law of the Prefect's family; he was too insane, and the people above had given him a death order to send the person to the capital before the end of the eighth month.

He estimated it would be either death by a thousand cuts or being cut in half at the waist, and maybe even castration before execution.

But who could he blame? Blame him for bringing it on himself.

"Good, good, good, thank you for your hard work, Constable Jiang; today can be considered a double happiness!" The County Magistrate laughed loudly, patting Jiang Li's shoulder intimately. "I've always been at ease with your work; you've been tense for so many days, so you should take a good rest. Come, come, come, join the banquet with me."

The three talked as they walked toward the flower hall; the County Magistrate asked about the process of the arrest, and Jiang Li picked what could be said.

Wang Bujiu was a rough man and wasn't good at these polite words, so he felt at ease being a background board.

Du Ren Mei's feelings were completely different.

In terms of official business, he was Jiang Li's superior; in terms of private matters, he was still Jiang Li's father-in-law; how could he not have a say?

As a result, he couldn't get a word in, and Jiang Li hadn't even given him a look from the beginning, completely treating him as if he didn't exist.

Isn't that annoying?

Du Ren Mei coughed heavily a few times, and in the gap between the two talking, he squeezed his voice in. "Jiang Li, sit next to me later; I'll introduce you to a few distinguished guests."

No matter how angry he was, he was still his son-in-law; he should pull him up if he could.

"Many thanks, Lord Du." Jiang Li didn't even turn his head, his tone very cold. "I'm a martial artist; I only know how to dance with swords and guns, and I don't know how to make connections with people, so forget it."

He spoke very politely, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that Jiang Li just didn't want to bother with him.

Du Ren Mei couldn't get off the stage even more, pointing at him and saying crossly: "Hey, why are you so ignorant? I'm doing this for your own good..."

Seeing the two were about to clash again, Wang Bujiu hurriedly stepped forward to block Du Ren Mei's line of sight, grinning. "How about I sit next to you, Lord Du? Can you introduce me to them?"

Du Ren Mei glared at him, snorted coldly from his nose, and flicked his sleeves away.

"You two in-laws, you're truly enemies; you fight wherever you go, and I've never seen you talk properly." The County Magistrate shook his head with a smile.

"Lord, you're wrong." Jiang Li said seriously. "I have no relationship with Lord Du, and we are not in-laws."

"Good, good, good, if you say we aren't, then we aren't."

The County Magistrate knew the messy affairs of the Du Mansion very well, so he didn't feel there was anything inappropriate about Jiang Li's behavior; if it were him, he was afraid he wouldn't have a good face for this father-in-law either.

The three soon entered the flower hall and took their seats.

Those sitting at the same table were all the gentry and wealthy merchants of Wutou Xian, and seeing the County Magistrate arrive, they all stood up to greet him.

The County Magistrate introduced Jiang Li and Wang Bujiu to them. "These are my two most capable subordinates; they are very helpful, and I'll have to rely on everyone to take care of them in the future."

Everyone immediately understood that the County Magistrate wanted to promote these two.

So they started spouting flattery.

"Constable Wang's physique, at a glance, is extraordinary; he's definitely material for doing big things in the future."

"Constable Jiang is truly handsome and talented; I wonder if he's married?"

"Constable Jiang, I have a niece who is virtuous and talented, and she's a perfect match for you; why don't you come over for tea when you're free?"

Prince Ji was also at this table, and hearing this, he burst into laughter. "I'm telling you all, don't have wild thoughts; Jiang Li already has a master, and his wife is not someone to be trifled with. Be careful that your niece goes and doesn't come back."

He didn't know what kind of witchcraft that ugly woman Du had used to hold Jiang Li so tightly; if anyone said a bad word about her, Jiang Li would beat them up.

Even he, a Prince, had almost been beaten by Jiang Li, let alone someone else's niece.

Jiang Li smiled and didn't argue.

Seeing him like this, the person naturally gave up the idea.

For a time, cups were exchanged, and it was very lively.

Prince Ji had a few drinks and felt a bit tipsy, sighing: "It's a pity; today is a beautiful scene, but there's no beauty to accompany. If Miss Cao Qianqu from the Linglong Pavilion were willing to come and play a song, this family banquet would be truly complete."

The County Magistrate was choked by the wine.

You know it's a family banquet, right? Sitting next door are all female guests, many of whom are unmarried girls; what kind of etiquette is it for a prostitute to come?

"Yes, I'll definitely invite her next time I have the chance." But I won't invite you next time.

The person sitting next to Prince Ji had a good eye and immediately followed up: "That's right. I've had the honor of seeing Miss Qianqu once; she's truly beautiful, a national beauty, and deserves to be called the number one beauty in the world."

"You have taste." Prince Ji laughed loudly. "Miss Qianqu is indeed very beautiful. But number one in the world..."

He raised his wine glass and drank it in one gulp, continuing: "Recently, a flower-thief appeared in Qingzhou Prefecture, called Mei something? It's said that those who have seen him are all bewitched by his beauty, sleeping uneasily, unable to sleep at night, and feeling dizzy. I'm actually curious and really want to see what he looks like to be able to bewitch so many women."

Jiang Li and Wang Bujiu looked at each other and didn't say a word.

The County Magistrate hurriedly greeted everyone to eat.

Du Ren Mei, however, chimed in: "That's not difficult. To tell the Prince, that flower-thief is currently locked in our Wutou Xian prison. If the Prince wants to see him, you can go anytime."

Prince Ji's eyes lit up, and his gaze looked toward the County Magistrate. "Really?"

The County Magistrate: "..."

This Du Ren Mei, in order to suck up to Prince Ji, really dared to spit out anything.

Who knew if Mei Ruxi had accomplices outside? If there were, what if they heard the news and came to rob the prison? Wouldn't he, the County Magistrate, be responsible?

"There is indeed such a criminal, but whether it's the one the Prince is talking about, I don't know."

Prince Ji waved his hand. "No matter, anyway, I'm idle, so I'll go take a look after the banquet is over, just to relieve boredom."

The County Magistrate had no choice but to agree.

Just going to take a look, he thought it would be fine.

He felt resentment toward Du Ren Mei in his heart; with Du Ren Mei's personality, if it weren't for the protection of the Beian Marquis Mansion, he was afraid this official position would have been stripped long ago.

Behind several screens on the female guest side, the maid Xia He hurried over and whispered something in Du Mingzhu's ear.

Du Mingzhu found an excuse to go out.

When she reached the door, she secretly looked at the male guest side.

Heh, that Jiang Li was actually sitting with his wife's adulterer, and the relationship between the two seemed quite good.

Truly stupid.

When he finds out the truth, he'll probably have a very good-looking face, she thought. She was quite looking forward to it.

The two walked behind the rockery in the small garden. Du Mingzhu first scanned the surroundings to confirm there was no one else, then asked in a low voice: "Has that bastard arrived?"

"Yes, Miss."

Xia He said proudly: "We've already hidden Zheng Shi in the cellar, and then tricked Du Ruo, saying her mother was spending the festival with the master here at the Li Mansion; she believed it."

Very good, next, just wait to see a good show.