"Are you from the Tang Clan?" Wang Boyan asked.
Liu Qiaoer shook her head: "I don't know him. I have never been out of Fengxin County."
Come to think of it, how could a mere maid of humble origin know anyone from the Tang Clan
"Lu Yunzheng... ? Is he still alive?" Wang Boyan asked again.
Liu Qiaoer aimed the crossbow at his neck again: "You talk too much."
Wang Boyan is really smart. His brain can be called detective level in ancient times. He guessed everything through the conversation with her. No wonder interrogation is also a skill.
Under the pressure of Liu Qiaoer, Wang Boyan shut up.
Liu Qiaoer also had something to ask, so she just blurted it out.
"The Su family's warehouse has Madam Lu's jewelry and government silver. Is the Lu family's raid related to the Su family? And since the Su family was able to invite the Yuzhou prefect's people, are they the ones who framed Mr. Lu?"
Wang Boyan frowned, it was indeed her who stole the Su family's warehouse.
"In fact, even if you didn't tell me, I also knew that the imperial court put seals on the boxes to prevent the disaster relief grain funds from being misappropriated, and the words 'disaster relief' were written on the grain bags. I saw them all in the Su family warehouse, but it's not enough."
"The imperial court distributed 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 dan of grain for disaster relief this time, but the Su family only has one-third of that in their warehouse."
"Coming from the capital to Fengxin County, we stripped off layer by layer. We'd be lucky if we could keep half of it. As for the rest, we can tell whether the prefect of Yuzhou is greedy or not by looking in his warehouse."
The disaster relief money is under strict inspection, so they will just put it in the warehouse and take it out to sell after the storm has passed. If you check it now, you will definitely find it.
Wang Boyan was unable to answer Liu Qiaoer's questioning because what she said was true. Perhaps Lu Yunzheng had also found out that the prefect of Yuzhou and the Su family were secretly relying on the third prince.
Therefore, no matter how many times Lu Yunzheng checked, there was nothing he could do; County Magistrate Lu had to take the blame.
The reason why Magistrate Lu and his family have not been killed yet is because Lu Yunzheng's investigation of the case made too much noise and was known to the Crown Prince and others. If they had taken action at that time, they would have been afraid that the Third Prince would have been exposed.
After the Chinese New Year, someone will come to Fengxin County to take office as the county magistrate, and that will be the date of the death of Magistrate Lu and his family.
"If you don't say anything, I'll take it as your consent." Liu Qiao'er said, "Do you choose to make a deal, or choose to die?"
The bows and crossbows were pointed at his forehead, and cold sweat broke out on Wang Boyan's forehead, but in front of a little maid, he still maintained a calm expression.
"What deal?"
"Find solid evidence from the Yuzhou prefect and clear Magistrate Lu's name. When you're done, I'll give you half of the Su family's finances."
Wang Boyan was somewhat tempted, but after thinking about it, he was still a little worried.
"Lu Yunzheng is not their opponent. You are just a servant. Even if I give you the evidence, you can't shake their position."
Liu Qiaoer smiled coldly: "At least we know who our enemies are, and at least let those corrupt officials be more restrained. Not everyone can be as greedy as them."
Wang Boyan's heartstrings were touched. In fact, he was unwilling to go along with the crowd, but he just wanted to survive.
"Wang Boyan, why did you study and become an official in the first place?" Liu Qiaoer asked him.
Wang Boyan answered honestly: "To bring honor to the family and to have money."
Liu Qiaoer's expression turned stern: "Then a scum like you really can't be kept. An official who doesn't care about the people's affairs is not a good official."
When talking about this, Wang Boyan felt very aggrieved. I don’t know why, but he suddenly exploded.
"Why don't I worry about the people? I didn't solve the case clearly. I never protected the rich and the officials. But you know that the court is like this. If you don't go along with the corruption, you will end up like Lord Lu."
"I, Wang Boyan, was born in a poor family. I have no other skills except studying. I also had lofty ideals and I also felt compassion for the world. But they are all greedy. If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. You are just a little maid and you don't know how to be an official at all."
"It is not us, the petty officials, who control life and death, but the imperial court and the present emperor. If you have the ability, go and tell him that water can carry a boat but can also overturn it. I understand this principle, but does the emperor understand it?"
Liu Qiaoer now understood a little bit that everyone probably has their own helplessness.
Looking at the blazing fire, Liu Qiaoer put away her crossbow and stood up to leave.
"Okay, you don't need to investigate the Su family's affairs. Leave Fengxin County tomorrow and pretend nothing happened tonight."
Liu Qiaoer turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by Wang Boyan.
"But you haven't told me how you stole so many things from the Su family."
Liu Qiaoer's eyes instantly turned cold and sharp: "Everyone who knew the secret is dead, do you want to die too?"
Liu Qiaoer doesn't know martial arts, Wang Boyan knows a little, but he can't beat her with the crossbow.
Wang Boyan knew that Liu Qiaoer would not speak anymore, but he was unwilling to accept it.
"If I give you the evidence, can you really give me half of the Su family's lost property?"
Liu Qiaoer liked to hear this: "Of course, money is nothing. What I want is the truth."
Seeing that Liu Qiao'er was about to leave, Wang Boyan spoke again: "Lu Yunzheng is still alive, right?"
With a "whoosh" sound, the sleeve arrow brushed past Wang Boyan's ear and was nailed to the pillar behind him.
Liu Qiaoer put on her cloak, went out, and hid in the darkness.
Wang Boyan was stunned for a long time before he pulled out the arrow from his sleeve. He looked at the material and clicked his tongue: "He is indeed a rich man. The arrowheads are all made of steel. Every inch of steel is worth an inch of gold."
How could a little maid be so rich? He guessed correctly, Lu Yunzheng must be alive.
It was not known whether Liu Qiaoer had really frightened Wang Boyan, or the money he agreed to for the cooperation was too much. The next day, Liu Qiaoer heard the news that Wang Boyan had left Fengxin County.
The case of the theft in the Su family’s warehouse has become an unsolved case.
It was gradually forgotten because there was a new bustle in Fengxin County that attracted everyone's attention.
The reason why the Su family became the richest family in Fengxin County is that their businesses are spread across most of Fengxin County.
However, as the Su family's warehouse was robbed and countless gold and silver were lost, the Su family's finances became tight, and the Su family began to sell off their property a few years ago.
But before Liu Qiaoer's turn came, the other merchants had already divided up the profits.
The most profitable businesses left by the Su family were the grain shop, rouge shop, cloth shop, and gambling house.
In ancient times, gambling and gambling were both legitimate industries, but the taxes paid by gambling and gambling were more than other industries.
When County Magistrate Lu was still in office, he did not like to let common people gamble. Gambling gave people a feeling of getting something for nothing, but in reality, nine out of ten people would lose.
He couldn't control other people's children, but none of the Lu family's children went to the gambling house. The Lu family's servants didn't dare to go either. If they were found to have entered the gambling house, they would be immediately fired or sold.
After the first month comes the second month, the day when the dragon raises its head, and everyone begins a new journey.
After Lu Yunzheng finished his work, he continued to study. Gu Mubai was only a scholar. If he wanted to go to Beijing, he had to pass the imperial examination and become a juren.
Lu Yunzheng plans to take the exam on behalf of Gu Mubai this time.
Just as he picked up the book, the maid Xia Ying came in with tea and said, "Master, you should bring Qiao'er home as well. Madam has already arranged for her to be with the second master, but she goes to the gambling house every day. The little money she earns will be lost sooner or later."