"What are you shouting about? You think you are in your own back garden!" Two jailors rushed in aggressively and beat the cell door with their scabbards so hard that the dust above the cell bars fell down.
Qin Mubai was about to say a few words to Chen Yan when he was interrupted. The cell where Chen Yan was located was far away, and her face could not be seen clearly in the dark light inside the cell.
It's just that voice, I will never admit it!
"Be honest, don't talk to each other in the cell, otherwise it will be unpleasant to be dragged to the iron prison cell and held alone!" The jailer roared at Qin Mubai and Li Ke, and spat several times hatefully. , cursed and left.
Qin Mubai and Li Ke exchanged glances and sat down separately. Chen Yan on the other side did not say anything anymore.
The two of them understood each other, and each walked to the other prisoners in their cells and asked them questions.
"Brother, looking at your condition, you must have been locked up in there for a long time, right?" Qin Mubai asked an unkempt and skinny prisoner sitting in the corner.
The prisoner didn't move. He turned over and glanced at Qin Mubai with eyes as cold as ice and said nothing.
Qin Mubai thought for a while and then said: "I have friends in the Yamen. If my friend comes to see me later, I can ask him to tell the jailer to treat you well and get you some delicious food. Talk to me if you want."
"Say." The prisoner regained his energy, licked his dry lips, and whispered hoarsely.
"How were you arrested and how long have you been detained here?" Qin Mubai asked.
"Last autumn there was a water ghost infestation at Xihe Cao, and they capsized a few official ships that were paying grain taxes. I was greedy and stole a few bags of grain when I came back, and I was arrested as one of the water ghost's accomplices," the prisoner said. , "Most of the people locked up in this cell are people related to water ghosts. Isn't that how you got in too?"
Qin Mubai raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Are all the dozens of people in this cell related to the water ghost case?"
"Yes. But I guarantee that no one is a real water ghost." The prisoner said.
"Why?" Qin Mubai asked in surprise.
"Hmph!" the prisoner sneered, "because they either can't catch the real water ghosts, or they are unwilling to catch them. They have no choice but to grab some innocent people and bring them in to take the blame. They will be imprisoned for several months and half a year, and they will be tried in the synagogue before the autumn. Let it go.”
"Catch and release?" Qin Mubai said in confusion, "Why did they do this?"
"It's very simple! The water ghost has been causing trouble in Xiangzhou for so many years, and even the governor can't wipe it out. But it has to be suppressed. If you can't catch the water ghost, just grab some random people and put them in the cell. It would be best if you can beat them. But if not, then it’s okay to let them go as if they were arrested in error. After all, the officials above found out that they had done something and they didn’t have to live in vain, right?” The prisoner cursed in a low voice angrily, “Good morning, you officials. We are used to doing this! We locals know that whoever is unlucky will be caught as a water ghost. If you get out alive, you will be punished. One stabbing. Young man, I see you are also a child of a wealthy family, so don’t be unable to bear the punishment—Okay, that’s all I’ll say, bring me a fat chicken and a jug of good wine later!”
"That's easy to say." Qin Mubai paused and then asked, "The woman in the innermost room is the one who just talked to us. Did you know?"
"I know, I know! Who doesn't know her? She's famous. It's said that she's a real water ghost!" The prisoner was a little nervous, and he lowered his voice and said with some fear, "I heard the prisoners say when they were cursing, this woman was on the river in one breath. After killing more than a dozen people, the whole river would have been dyed red. If it hadn't been for the state government's efforts to catch her, it would have been terrifying when she was caught with a black cloth over her head. She was tied up and bleeding all over her body, and three or five men tried hard to catch her. It was said that this female water ghost was as capable as killing a chicken. The prisoners called her the devil! , Black Yaksha!”
Qin Mubai felt a little confused after hearing this - Chen Yan is a water ghost in Xihetrough, right? !
"Why hasn't such an important criminal been transferred to the Chang'an Criminal Department for sentencing?" Qin Mubai asked.
"Then how do I know? I'm not an official!" said the prisoner, "Maybe it's because the new governor of the state capital hasn't taken office yet... Okay, don't ask me so many questions, that's all I know. . Remember, with a chicken and a pot of good wine, it’s best to have a portion of stewed lamb tripe... "
After asking questions, Qin Mubai returned to his previous position near Lin Lao to communicate with Li Ke. The information the two of them heard was roughly the same.
"So, Xiangzhou Prefecture Yamen has been accustomed to inaction and prevarication for many years." Li Ke said angrily, "It's really strange that in such a peaceful and prosperous time, there is such a bad behavior. Gangsters running amok!"
"It is inevitable that a forest will contain both good and bad, but it is not surprising that the vast ocean contains hundreds of rivers, and it is full of mud and sand." Qin Mubai frowned and said, "The water ghosts in Xihetrough are so arrogant that they must be exterminated; before that, we There is more to do.”
"That's right. The generals in Xiangzhou are so corrupt and incompetent. It's beyond my expectation! I don't believe it. With the power of a state government, it can't deal with a few water ghosts? It's obvious that someone is deliberately making things easier. Door, tolerate collusion." Li Ke said, a stern look flashed in his eyes, as if he had murderous intent, "Don't let me find out, otherwise I won't be able to spare him!"
"What if... it's like in Jiangzhou, a group of officials committed the crime?" Qin Mubai shook his head with a wry smile, "In my opinion, it has almost become a common phenomenon here in Xiangzhou. Both the government and the military have There must be some tolerance and connivance towards the water ghost. As long as this is found out, it will not be difficult to solve the problem. "
"It makes sense." Li Ke nodded in agreement, "This trip in private has been really fruitful - by the way, why did Chen Yan become a water ghost?"
"I don't know either!" Qin Mubai breathed a sigh of relief and frowned, "Don't believe everything the jailer and prisoners say. I firmly believe that Chen Yan is not such a person. How could she become a water ghost with many evil deeds? Just wait to get out. Later, we will investigate this matter and give her justice!"
Li Ke smiled slightly: "You seem to be very nervous and a little distressed?"
Qin Mubai was startled for a moment, then turned around and leaned his back against the wooden pillar of the cell door, ignoring him.
"Haha!" Li Ke laughed strangely, "You are really a life-threatening criminal. Even if you go to jail, you can meet your confidante!"
“Bang bang bang—”
The jailer rushed in again, banged on the prison pillars and shouted angrily: "Are you really asking for death? Do you believe that I will throw you into the secret room of the iron cell now to suffer a life sentence?"
Li Ke curled his lips, crossed his hands on his chest, sat down and said nothing, but still kept smiling teasingly at Qin Mubai.
After a long time, the light in the cell became darker and darker, probably at night. The jailer came to deliver the meal, and threw in a few steamed buns that were so hard that they could knock people's heads off, and they fell directly into the haystack. Although they were hungry, Qin Mubai and others couldn't eat the food that pigs ignored, so they only drank some water and gave the steamed buns to other prisoners.
"I guess it's time for Quan Wanji and his party to arrive at the Governor's Mansion." Li Ke leaned his head against the wall, licked his lips and touched his stomach, "I'm really hungry..."
Qin Mubai teased him and said, "How about it? You can't bear this crime anymore, can't you? You came to the cell for a private visit incognito. It smells stinky, dirty, and hungry. Aren't you happy? Haha!"
Li Ke grinned in annoyance and embarrassment: "That's true. I'm hiding in this prison and suffering the pain without eating. I'm so full... Ugh! My stomach rumbles when the word "eating" is mentioned. It made a noise."
Xue Rengui and others all laughed. Yuwen Hongtai couldn't bear it any longer. He sat up and shook the cell door with all his strength, shouting: "Prison! You son of a bitch, call your supervisor!"
The whole cell seemed to tremble slightly, and many people couldn't help but cover their ears.
Yuwen Hongtai, however, kept yelling and pulling hard, but no one in the prison cared to pay attention to him. This made him angry, so he slammed into the cell door with his black bear-like body, hitting it seven or eight times. He actually knocked the iron bolts and nails of the cell door loose, and with one force, the entire cell door was broken. The door was removed.
"Hahaha!" Yu Wen Hongtai shouted proudly, "It's open, it's open! Go out and find a restaurant to eat and drink!"
All the prisoners were stunned, and many people started shouting: "Heroes, heroes! Let us out too!"
At first, he didn't think that Yuwen Hongtai could do anything to make him bother him. Now Li Ke was also shocked. He hurriedly stretched out his hand and called: "Yuwen Hongtai, come and sit down! You were originally innocent, but now you are an assault." Escape from prison is as serious a crime as being decapitated and exiled as attacking the government!"
Qin Mubai also laughed: "Heizi, how about you be more righteous and rush out of the cell to get some good wine and food to come back and let us eat together?"
"Uh..." Yuwen Hongtai was stunned, hurriedly threw the cell door and sat back, cursing, "I want to keep this head for a few more days. If it is chopped off, it will never grow back. "
"Haha!" Everyone laughed, and there was laughter in the cell.
Li Ke said with a wry smile: "It's okay, let you make some noise. Maybe someone will recognize us and let us out... Hey, I really asked for trouble! What kind of private visit incognito, nothing Fun!”
Qin Mubai chuckled and thought to himself: Li Ke is still so good at playing tricks, and now he has learned how to set off smoke bombs. He deliberately behaved a little uncontrollably to make people laugh... In fact, he was more stable and unhurried than anyone else. In this regard, he is the opposite of Li Shimin. Li Shimin is a king, and even if he does something wrong, he cannot admit it openly; but Li Ke never forgets to disguise himself by showing weakness and playing tricks.
Who else would be better than me as a father who rules the world, but as a son who is reserved and hides his talents and bides his time... Perhaps, Li Shimin twenty years ago is what Li Ke looks like now, right
The several jailors at the entrance of the cell door were frightened. They all raised their knives and held their swords as if they were facing an enemy. Some of them ran in panic to report for help, saying that someone wanted to escape from prison!
In the main hall of the Yamen of the Governor's Mansion, the new governor of Xiangzhou, Shi Quan Wanji, was sitting upright and talking with a group of local officials in Xiangzhou. Just as he was talking, the jailer came to report and described the situation in the prison. Quan Wanji immediately jumped up and patted his thigh: "Ah, that must be His Highness and his group! The one who wants to break into the prison and escape must be Yuwen." Hong Tai! How many people are there like him in the world?”
"Ah?!" All the officials in the audience were shocked, "Your Highness, are you in Xiangzhou Mansion Prison?"
Wu Facao, who had arrested Li Ke and others before and put them in jail, immediately turned pale: "No, it can't be...!"
"What are you waiting for? Go to the cell and take a look!"
…
There were hurried footsteps and noisy voices, and a group of people poured into the cell. Under the illumination of the torch, Quan Wanji's face turned red at first, and then instantly turned livid.
"You did a good job!!!" he yelled.
"Ah? Is this really your highness?!" Wu Facao and a group of others were completely stunned.
"Why don't you let them out quickly?"
Yuwen Hongtai was the first to rush out, staring with a pair of big copper bell eyes and shouting: "That little thief named Zhao Chong, get out of here! Grandpa will tie you behind the horse's butt and ride you all over the city!"
"Ugh! Spare your life, hero!" Zhao Chong suddenly panicked and knelt down in front of the audience to kowtow. The others also knelt down in panic.
Qin Mubai and Li Ke walked out of the prison, looked at each other, smiled, and shook their heads.
Common officials, mediocre officials! ... Why are the officers and generals of Xiangzhou Prefecture so bad? !
Li Ke did not get angry on the spot, but gently waved his hand and said to Quan Wanji: "Quan Zhangshi, let them all go to the main hall to wait. If you have anything, let's go there and say it, but don't do it in front of these prisoners. a shame."
All the officials trembled in unison, and cried in their hearts: miserable! ! The more calm you are, the more angry you may become. It seems that we are going to suffer!
After that, Li Ke took Yin Yang and Xue Rengui away first.
Yuwen Hongtai was still furious. He stared at Zhao Chong and refused to let go. He wished he could pick him up and beat him up to relieve his anger.
A group of officers and generals got up from the ground, hunched their necks and walked out.
"Heizi, you stay." Qin Mubai said without leaving.
"Oh, okay." Yuwen Hongtai rolled his eyes twice and kicked Zhao Chong in the butt until he staggered and almost jumped on the spot.
"Haha! Look at you still yelling arrogantly at us, damn you! Bah!" Yuwen Hongtai was relieved and cursed bitterly. Zhao Chong didn't dare to reply even after being kicked on the head, and ran away.
Qin Mubai still stood in the prison, glanced towards the innermost room, and raised his fingers at the two prisoners standing aside, shivering and trembling.
"This... Young Master, what are your orders?" The prisoner didn't know how to address Qin Mubai, so he could only say cautiously and timidly.
"This is the new Commander-in-Chief of Xiangzhou Prefecture Zhechong, the son-in-law of the emperor, and the third son of the first-rank Duke Qin Shubao's family - Qin Mubai, General Qin!" Yuwen Hongtai shouted angrily.
The eyes of the two prisoners were straightened on the spot, and their mouths were so wide that they were almost drooling.
Qin Mubai was amused, shook his head and said with a smile: "Immediately open the innermost cell for me and invite the female prisoner out. I want to talk to her; in addition, get a fat chicken for the prisoner in that cell." A pot of good wine, well, it’s better to have a pot of stewed lamb tripe.”
"Uh..." Prisoner was stunned for a moment, seemingly unable to react.
"What, there is a problem, but it still can't be done?" Qin Mubai raised his eyebrows.
"The villain will do it right away!!!"