Chapter 120 Forced into the game
It was dawn and the door opened with a click.

Two bodyguards came out with swords slung over their shoulders and stood outside the door, one on each side.

Then two servants came out with big brooms and started sweeping the open space in front of the door.

There was a rapid sound of horse hooves.

Zhang Cheng came galloping over with eight cavalrymen.

A steward came out to greet them.

Zhang Cheng jumped off his horse and asked anxiously, “Where’s Third Uncle?”

Steward: “Prepare breakfast in the kitchen.”

Zhang Cheng: “Take me there!”

Li San ran towards Lin Daiyu’s courtyard with sweat all over his forehead. Just as he entered the moon gate, two personal soldiers suddenly appeared from both sides: “Who!”

Li San stopped.

A guard spoke up, “It’s Uncle San! The Chuihua Gate hasn’t opened yet, why are you here at this moment?”

Li San wiped the sweat off his face, then quickly walked towards the door with hanging flowers and knocked on the door knocker vigorously.

Soon, a maid’s voice came from inside: “Who is it? Who is it? Why are you knocking on the door at this time?” The hanging flower door creaked open, and a maid stuck her head out and was startled: “Oh, it’s Uncle San!”

Li San: “I have something important to discuss with Miss Lin. Please let me know.”

The old woman was in a dilemma: “Third uncle, it’s not that I don’t want to pass on the message. The girl hasn’t had a good night’s sleep these past few days. Nanny Wang has told us that we must be quiet this morning.”

Li San: “I know, but it’s not a big deal. I won’t disturb Miss Lin at this time.”

The old woman thought for a moment and said, “Well, I’ll go call Nanny Wang.” Then she closed the door.

Li Hu was not at home, and Lin Daiyu had to deal with matters outside, so she converted the three rooms in front of the main courtyard into meeting rooms.

Zhang Cheng stood there anxiously. Li Hu had given him many instructions before he left, but now such a big thing happened. How could he explain to Li Hu!
Li San sat in the guest chair with a gloomy face.

Finally, the sound of many people walking was heard in the back hall.

Then, Nanny Wang came out from the back hall of the conference room.

Li San stood up.

Nanny Wang first bowed slightly to Zhang Cheng, and then said, “General Zhang, please go ahead. The young lady is listening in the back hall.” After that, she turned and went into the back hall.

Zhang Cheng: “Yes.” He cleared his throat and said: “The arsonists were hooligans from the surrounding villages and towns. They said that a businessman named Yang wanted to buy the farm at a low price, so he paid them to set the fire.”

Nanny Wang’s voice: “Young lady, are there any casualties among the tenants and villagers?”

Zhang Cheng replied, “When those ruffians set the fire, they were discovered by Jia Yun’s men. They were burning the barn, but the wind was too strong last night and burned half of the farm. Fortunately, no one was hurt.”

After a pause, he said, “The military camp is ready and can conduct a search at any time.” Then he looked towards the door.

Li San also looked at the door.

After a while, Nanny Wang came out and said to Zhang Cheng, “The girl said that we should not do anything that would give others an advantage at this time. Since this incident happened in Shuntian Prefecture, let’s go to Shuntian Prefecture and report it.”

On his way back to the capital, the second prince submitted a memorial to the Ministry of Public Security, impeaching Li Hu and charging Li Hu with four crimes: disrespecting the emperor, humiliating the prince, embezzling the spoils of war, and misappropriating gold mines, all of which were serious crimes.

Although it was suppressed by the emperor, it still caused quite a stir in the capital.

Zhang Cheng: “Yes.” He bowed towards the back hall, turned around and strode away.

Li San walked to the door and turned back, asking, “Miss Lin, do you want to send a message to Yuqing Palace and ask the Crown Prince to put pressure on Shuntian Prefecture?”

Before he could finish his words, he heard footsteps from inside.

Lin Daiyu came out and bowed slightly to Li San before saying, “No need.”

Li San: “This”

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, “If I don’t tell you, the prince will be more concerned.”

Li San didn’t understand, but nodded anyway.

Lin Daiyu continued, “Let someone spread the word that the man who hired the murderer to set the fire was Yang Qilong.”

Li San understood this sentence and answered, “Yes.” and walked out quickly.

Lin Daiyu looked at Li San’s back gradually disappearing outside the door and said, “Send two personal soldiers to Shuntian Prefecture, put on civilian clothes, and see which families sent people to Shuntian Prefecture and when the prince’s people went to Shuntian Prefecture.”

Nanny Wang: “Yes.”

Not only ordinary people like to “gossip”, but even officials of the time like it. The news that Li Hu’s Daxing manor was set on fire was deliberately spread and soon caused an uproar in the capital.

The most anxious person at this time was the Shuntian prefectural governor. You know, his predecessor was dismissed and imprisoned because of Li Hu’s assassination, and he was still in prison. He didn’t want to go in to keep him company.

In the hall of Shuntian Prefecture, there were many people standing, as an exception. In addition to the officials of Shuntian Prefecture, even the criminal lawyers, financial lawyers, copywriting lawyers and other back-office staff were there.

In the middle of the hall, the Shuntian prefect was slamming his hands on a big case and was furious: “Where is the Daxing County Magistrate? Why hasn’t he come yet?”

The Prime Minister: “Reporting to the Lord, two groups of people have been sent.”

Shuntian Prefecture Governor: “Send more people!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the head of the guarding yamen rushed in, almost tripping, and knelt on the ground to report: “Your Excellency, someone from Yuqing Palace is here!”

Shuntian Prefecture Governor stood up suddenly: “Who is it?”

The head of the yamen runners swallowed his saliva and said, “It’s Zhao, the chief steward of Yuqing Palace!”

The Shuntian prefect was also startled when he heard this and immediately went out to greet them. Zhao Tong led several eunuchs into the yard.

The governor of Shuntian Prefecture and all the officials bowed and said, “Manager Zhao.”

Zhao Tong smiled and said, “I dare not, I dare not.” Then he walked straight into the lobby.

Two eunuchs brought a chair from the back hall and placed it next to the large desk.

Zhao Tong sat down, closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair.

Several eunuchs stood behind him, saying nothing.

The governor of Shuntian Prefecture complained bitterly in his heart. He looked at Zhao Tong who was sitting there resting his eyes, gritted his teeth, and said, “Mobilize all the officials of Shuntian Prefecture to go out within seven days.”

Zhao Tong suddenly coughed.

Shuntian Prefecture Governor was stunned: “Five, three days! We must catch Yang Qilong within three days!”

The chancellor and other officials were all anxious and said, “Your Excellency, three days is too short a time.”

Shuntian Prefecture’s eyes turned red: “Just three days! If we can’t catch Yang Qilong in three days, everyone can go home and hug their children!”

The chancellor and other officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Shuntian Prefecture Governor: “Not going yet?!”

All the officials ran out like the wind.

Shuntian Prefecture Governor walked up to Zhao Tong with a bitter face and said softly, “Zhao Zongguan…”

Zhao Tong then opened his eyes: “Can you solve the case?”

Shuntian Prefecture Governor: “Yes! We can definitely solve the case!”

Zhao Tong looked at him with a smile and said, “Now that the case has been solved, I will come and apologize to Lord Fuzun!”

Shuntian Prefecture Governor quickly shook his head: “I dare not, I dare not, the chief steward would kill me if he said that.”

“It should.”

Zhao Tong stood up and said with a smile: “I won’t disturb you from solving the case.” After that, he led the eunuchs out.

Watching Zhao Tong’s back disappear outside the courtyard gate, the Shuntian prefect dragged his legs, which felt like they were filled with lead, to the big desk and sat down.

At this time, the magistrate of Daxing County ran in, sweating profusely.

The Magistrate of Daxing County: “Your Highness!”

“Get out!” the Shuntian prefect shouted.

The Daxing County Magistrate was not annoyed and prepared to turn around and slip away.

Shuntian Prefecture Governor: “Stop!”

The Daxing County Magistrate had no choice but to stand there.

Shuntian Prefecture Governor patted the case and said, “You have two days to solve the case!”

The Daxing County Magistrate was anxious: “Didn’t you say three days?”

Shuntian Prefecture Governor slapped the big case again: “Just two days! If the case is not solved in two days, you can all go home and hug your children!”

The magistrate of Daxing County replied with a bitter face, “Yes.” He bowed and walked out.

Just as the Daxing County Magistrate left, the head of the yamen runners came in again in a hurry: “Your Excellency, people from Rongguo Mansion and Ningguo Mansion are coming!”

Before he finished speaking, a yamen runner hurried in and said, “Your Excellency, someone has come from the Duke of Shan’s Mansion.”

Shuntian Prefecture Governor closed his eyes and said, “Come on. Come on, everyone.”

Before he could finish his words, another bailiff rushed in like a gust of wind: “Your Excellency, Prince Beijing is here!”

In the upper study, Emperor Yongchang paced back and forth quickly in front of the imperial desk with his hands behind his back.

A large piece of paper was spread out on the imperial desk, with a row of large characters written on it: “Crown Prince, Rongguo Mansion, Ningguo Mansion, Shanguo Duke Mansion, Beijing Prince Mansion, Jia Yucun, Dingcheng Marquis Mansion”.

Emperor Yongchang walked to the imperial desk and sat down again.

Dai Quan walked in with a piece of ink paper in his hand and gently placed it on the imperial desk.

Emperor Yongchang looked at it, then his eyes flashed, and he picked up the pen and wrote the four big words “Liguogong Mansion” on the paper.

Dai Quan glanced at the emperor. Although they seemed to have considerable power, they were just intimidating names. Among these families, only Xie Jing of Dingcheng Marquis Mansion had real power, but he was the emperor’s man. As for Prince Beijing, he was just a clown who jumped up and down. The prince and Li Hu would not appreciate it.

He thought of the daring boy from the Liu family again. If it weren’t for the influence of the incident with Duke Shan, the emperor might have really raided the Duke Li’s mansion.

The boy was left behind by Li Hu in Hetao, as a general, to guard the Langshan Pass.

Just then, the eunuch on duty walked in holding a memorial.

The chief eunuch: “Your Majesty, the memorial from Prince Beijing.”

“Oh?” Emperor Yongchang took the memorial and read it.

After reading it, Emperor Yongchang thought for a moment and said, “Since Shui Rong respects meritorious officials and is willing to share my worries, let him be in charge of this case.” He paused and said, “The Ministry of Justice and Shuntian Prefecture will jointly investigate this case.”

Dai Quan responded: “Yes.”

(End of this chapter)