Chapter 548: Bandits

Chapter 548: Bandits
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ah Lian nodded. Thinking of the relatives and villagers who had been killed by the evil thieves and buried in the pit at the foot of the mountain, she said to Li Yu, “Madam, when the officials come, we still want to hire someone to bury our relatives.”
“Alright, I’ll mention this to the officials. Remember the faces of the bandits who came to the village all these years. Get someone to draw them so that we can find them.”
Ah Lian looked at Li Yu and said, “Madam, we remember all the thieves who left. The thieves who came to slaughter the village that night all wore black masks. The leader of the thieves wore a mask and only his eyes were exposed. That evil thief was tall and his voice was a little hoarse. He stood there and didn’t attack.”
“I heard him give the order to keep the young women. I also heard my father-in-law shout that it wasn’t bandits. It was soldiers.”
Li Yu remembered it in her heart. “Alright, tell the sisters that when the officials come, tell them everything you remember so that we can search faster. Go and do your work first. The steward in the manor went out yesterday and will probably come today. I’ll go to the village entrance to guard it later and catch him first.”
Ah Lian nodded and said, “Got it. I’ll go back and let them think about it. Remember them clearly.” Li Qing, Zhao Cai, and Constable Leng split up and set off for the two nearby towns before dawn to ask about Li Yu.
Ruyi and Ji Xiang split up and rushed towards the capital.
Li Qing and Zhao Cai arrived at another town the next morning. After asking around the town, there was still no news of Li Yu.
Zhao Cai said to Li Qing, “Uncle, Ruyi and Ji Xiang went up the mountain path and didn’t turn around to chase after us. I guess the mountain path they went to is the direction those thieves fled in. We think we should go back and take a look. ”
Li Qing thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright, let’s go back and see if Constable Leng and the others have found anything before making plans.”
After discussing, the two of them turned around and walked back. Halfway through, they met Constable Leng and the others who had turned around. Seeing that they had not found any useful information, they could only turn around and walk back.
Ruyi had just arrived at the city gate on her horse when Little Loach and Mao Dou, who were guarding the city gate, saw Ruyi riding her horse towards the city gate from afar. They ran forward happily and their eyes darkened when they saw that Ruyi was alone.
Ruyi arrived in front of the two of them. Little Loach looked at Ruyi. “Uncle Yi, did you find Madam?”
“Found her.” Ruyi smiled at the two of them. The two of them jumped almost
80 feet in joy and reached out to Ruyi. “Uncle Yi, let’s go back quickly and tell Master the news.”
Ruyi nodded and pulled the two of them onto their horses to rush towards the Zhou residence.
Ruyi, Little Loach and Mao Dou stopped their horses at the entrance of the house. Little Loach and Mao Dou jumped off their horses and ran towards the residence.
Mao Dou said to Uncle Liu, who was looking at them, “Uncle Liu, Madam is fine. Madam even killed those robbers.”
“Alright, alright, alright. Hurry up and tell Master.” Uncle Liu ran towards Ruyi and took the reins.
She smiled and muttered, “It’s good that she’s safe.”
Ruyi smiled. “Yes, as long as you’re safe.”
Little Loach and Mao Dou ran out of the study and shouted at Zhou Jia,
“Master, we’ve found Madam. Uncle Yi is back…’
Zhou Jia rushed out of the study and saw Ruyi striding in alone. He looked at
Ruyi. “Where’s Madam?”
“Madam is in a village in Shanyang County…” Ruyi took out the letter from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Jia.
Looking at Ruyi’s tired appearance, Zhou Jia nodded and said, “Alright, go eat something and rest first.” Ruyi agreed and left.
“Little Loach, tell Ruyi that I’m going to the palace,” Zhou Jia said as he quickly walked out.
“Yes, Master.” Little Loach turned and ran towards the kitchen.
Zhou Jia entered the palace and saw Chu Yuhao. He bowed and said, “Your Majesty, my Madam was kidnapped by the coachman at home yesterday.
Madam pretended not to know and was brought to Liang Village in Shanyang County. The steward at home discovered it at the north city gate and followed her all the way… Madam asked the steward at home to bring back a letter. It related what my Madam saw and heard in Liang Village. It’s really heinous.”
Chu Yuhao looked at Zhou Jia in surprise. “Madam Li has been kidnapped.
Hurry up and hand over the letter.”
The eunuch took the letter from Zhou Jia and bowed before handing it over. Chu Yuhao read what Li Yu had written quickly, as well as what she had seen and heard in Liang Village, what she was preparing to do next, and the request for the capital to cooperate.
Chu Yuhao looked at the letter in his hand in disbelief. He never dreamed that such a tragedy would happen in Shanyang County under the emperor’s feet.
Those people were actually so bold as to fabricate that the village had suffered a plague and slaughtered everyone in the village, leaving the women to watch their relatives die…
After more than ten years, no one had discovered it. They had even hoarded a large number of weapons in the manor. Other than Second Brother, whose life and death were unknown, who else dared to do such a thing?
Chu Yuhao turned to look at the eunuch. “Summon Chu Sihai to enter the palace.” The eunuch bowed and left.
Chu Yuhao said to Zhou Jia, “Go to the Dali Temple and find out who the county magistrate of Shanyang County was ten years ago and where he is now. Then, find out who the current county magistrate of Shanyang County is.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Zhou Jia bowed and left.
In less than an hour, Chu Sihai entered the palace. Chu Yuhao told him what Li Yu had discovered.
He began to give a series of orders. “Send someone to the north city immediately to contact Ji Xiang of the Zhou family and ask them to keep an eye on the north city. Then, send someone to Shanyang County to monitor the county magistrate of Shanyang County. Hurry up and monitor those people in the capital who are related to the Second Prince’s noble consort. Find out who they interacted with. After Second Brother disappeared, did anyone leave the capital and live elsewhere? Also, send someone to Liang Village to protect Madam Li.”
After receiving the order, Chu Sihai left the palace and instructed Ding Yi,
“Hurry up and bring people to North City to meet Ji Xiang.”
After Ding Yi left, Chu Sihai returned to the bank and got someone to go to Shanyang County. He got someone to keep an eye on the Eldest Prince and Second Prince’s families.
Zhou Jia quickly found out that the county magistrate from ten years ago had been dismissed and investigated ten years ago. On the way back to his hometown, he encountered bandits and his entire family was wiped out. He took the dossier and returned to the palace to report to Chu Yuhao.
Chu Yuhao looked at the dossier that Zhou Jia had submitted and sneered. “The entire family was wiped out when they encountered bandits. It’s obvious that he was silenced . Someone actually believed such lies and even approved the case to be closed.”
Zhou Jia bowed and said, “Your Majesty, you hadn’t succeeded the throne at that time. You also know how the people below worked at that time.”
Chu Yuhao recalled that the capital at that time was the world of the noble consort and her son. Even he had to hide far away in Tongzhou.
The people working under them had to act according to their whims. It was not strange for such a thing to happen..