Chapter 36: The Zhou Mansion
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Without a recommendation, he would not be able to enter such a house and have the chance to admire it.
He was, after all, just a magistrate assistant, but Liu Sanniang was also an ordinary girl. She would never have such a chance to see such a grand house.
He was shocked by the mansion, but Liu Sanniang did not look surprised at all.
Zhu Zongyang could not help but wonder why.
How could a fourteen-year-old girl be so composed!
Butler Zhou brought them to the hall and waited.
He then went to inform Old Master Zhou.
The servants of the Zhou Mansion quickly served tea.
Liu Sanniang couldn’t help but think to herself. ‘It’s not easy to abduct the daughter of the Zhou family out of this place. What method will the woman called Hong Ying use to sneak in and take the girl out?’
Wei Shilai could not sit still. He stood up and walked to the door to look out. He had been an official for so many years and had dealt with countless cases, but none of them were like this.
People were still suspicious of psychics.
Wei Shilai recalled the reply from his colleague and was lost in thought.
Most psychics focused on cultivation. No matter how capable they were, they had to cultivate step by step. Someone like Liu Sanniang was simply impossible to exist, unless she was a god.
There were many capable psychics his colleagues knew of, and their words were trustworthy. However, with all that said, why did Liu Sanniang have the ability to read his mind?
This was a serious matter. He did not want to trust Liu Sanniang completely, but he had to.
As soon as Butler Zhou reported that Magistrate Wei was here to talk about the missing children case, Old Master Zhou immediately came out.
Old Master Zhou was already in his sixties. After retiring from the imperial court, he came back to his hometown.
When Wei Shilai saw him, he greeted. “How is Old Master Zhou doing recently?”
Old Master Zhou smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Magistrate Wei, I’ve been doing very well.”
Butler Zhou followed Old Master Zhou to the main seat. Butler Zhou smiled and said, “Magistrate Wei, what is the important thing you want to tell Old Master?”
Wei Shilai said with a serious tone, “Old Master Zhou, to be honest, I have some clues about the recent missing children case.”
Old Master Zhou quickly asked. “Magistrate Wei, just tell me. If you need my help, I won’t decline.”
Several children went missing in Yong County, and they were all from rich families. Old Master Zhou was naturally worried. He had a great granddaughter at home called Zhou Yanshu. She was one year old and was very likable. During this period of time, his granddaughter-in-law had been taking care of her daughter and didn’t let anyone approach her.
Knowing how cooperative Old Master Zhou was, Wei Shilai heaved a sigh of relief. “I’m relieved that Old Master Zhou is so understanding.”
Wei Shilai took a look at Liu Sanniang and then nodded at Zhu Zongyang. When he came, he had decided that if Old Master Zhou did not believe him, he would get Liu Sanniang to use her power. If Old Master Zhou believed him, he would deploy troops around the Zhou mansion.
Zhu Zongyang said, “Old Master Zhou, during this period of time, constables will disguise themselves as guards to protect your family.”
Old Master Zhou frowned. “Are you saying that the criminal is targeting our Zhou Mansion?”
Old Master Zhou was a little shocked. He thought that Magistrate Wei was here to ask for help from the Zhou family, but he did not expect his family to be targeted by the criminal. His guards were not useless people. They were all soldiers who had been on the battlefield.
However, looking at how serious Wei Shilai was, Old Master Zhou did not dare to be arrogant. He wondered how the criminal could possibly get into such a heavily guarded mansion.
Wei Shilai did not know what Liu Sanniang had seen. Instead of answering Old Master Zhou, he looked at Liu Sanniang.
Liu Sanniang nodded and said, “Yes, the criminal is targeting the Zhou family and you are their last target. Once they succeed, they will immediately retreat.”
With the criminal’s ability to change her appearance, the government would never be able to track her down.
Only then did Old Master Zhou size up Liu Sanniang. He looked at Wei Shilai and asked. “Magistrate Wei, do you have evidence? Don’t tell me you believe what this girl said blindly.”
Wei Shilai smiled. “I do believe Miss Liu.”
Zhu Zongyang felt a little anxious for Wei Shilai. Although Old Master Zhou was no longer an official, he had a rich family background. One could tell that there was disdain in the way Old Master Zhou talked, but Magistrate Wei insisted upon saying he believed Liu Sanniang.
As expected, after Wei Shilai finished speaking, Old Master Zhou didn’t look as amiable as before.
Old Master Zhou smiled faintly. Anyone could tell that he was not really smiling, and his tone was very cold. “Is this how Magistrate Wei plans to find the criminal, by relying on a girl?”
Everyone understood that Old Master Zhou was saying indirectly that Magistrate Wei didn’t care about evidence and believed what a girl said. Such a person was not worthy of being an official.
Wei Shilai nodded at Liu Sanniang.
Liu Sanniang understood what he meant. She stood up and bowed to Old Master Zhou. “Old Master Zhou, sorry for being rude.”
Liu Sanniang walked towards Old Master Zhou. When he had come to the hall, Liu Sanniang already sensed that Old Master Zhou was very guarded, so it would not be easy for her to read his mind.
Butler Zhou immediately stepped forth. “Stop, what are you doing? If you don’t stop, I’ll get someone to pin you down!”
Liu Sanniang stopped one meter away from Old Master Zhou. Butler Zhou widened his eyes and glared at her. “Guard!”
Old Master Zhou raised his hand and stopped Butler Zhou from calling for help.
He looked at Liu Sanniang. What could a little girl do to him? He was not afraid of a little girl.
Butler Zhou looked at Liu Sanniang warily, worried that she would suddenly take out a sword and stab Old Master Zhou. However, Liu Sanniang stopped moving.
She closed her eyes and released a force that enveloped Old Master Zhou. The old man smiled and did not speak.
Liu Sanniang frowned slightly. Old Master Zhou was very vigilant and there seemed to be an invisible barrier surrounding him, making Liu Sanniang hard to penetrate.
Gradually, sweat broke out on Liu Sanniang’s forehead.
Worried for her, Wei Shilai also broke out in a cold sweat.
Liu Sanniang tried to find a weak spot to break through the barrier, but she couldn’t find any. She frowned and condensed her power into a sharp blade to stab at the barrier.
Finally, the barrier was pierced through. When Old Master Zhou felt his memories being invaded, he frowned. Feeling that his memories were stolen away, he looked straight at Liu Sanniang.
Before Liu Sanniang could speak, he immediately spoke up. “Alright, I believe you.”