Chapter 35: A Presumptuous Request
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The problem was that there was no evidence at all, so what Liu Sanniang said could not be entirely trusted.
If she could be trusted entirely, then shouldn’t Liu Cheng be the real criminal who burned down the mortuary?
The case of the fire in the mortuary was solved in that manner because there was too little evidence.
If what Liu Sanniang said was true, then the real murderer should be Liu Cheng.
Zhang Guizhi was framed and wrongly executed.
Ever since Wei Shilai became a magistrate, he had never wronged anyone.
Zhu Zongyang looked at Wei Shilai and thought to himself. ‘How can Magistrate Wei believe Liu Sanniang’s one-sided story? If he believes it, it’s equivalent to admitting that he executed someone wrongly.’
However, what Wei Shilai said the next second shocked everyone.
“Get all the constables to gather outside the office building. I want to make a trip to the Zhou Mansion.”
Wei Shilai had always believed in Liu Sanniang. He just didn’t expect the matter to be so serious. The criminal he couldn’t find actually had extraordinary ability.
“Yes, my lord.”
After receiving the order, Lin Zheng turned around and left without hesitation.
“Miss Liu, I have a presumptuous request. Please come with me to the Zhou Mansion.”
Wei Shilai cupped his hands at Liu Sanniang and asked sincerely.
He was just a county magistrate of Yong County. The power of the Zhou Mansion was above his. If he dropped in on the Zhou family, they would definitely see him. However, to persuade them, he wasn’t all that confident.
Without any evidence, the Zhou family wouldn’t believe that the criminal had been eyeing their daughter and was about to take action.
However, if he didn’t do anything, after the daughter of the Zhou family was abducted, he would lose his job. Yong County was under his jurisdiction, and if he couldn’t find the criminal, Old Master Zho would definitely vent his anger on him.
The current head of the Zhou family was a businessman, but his son was an official in the imperial court.
Wei Shilai couldn’t afford to be careless this time.
Liu Sanniang hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
Zhu Zongyang was in disbelief. “Sir, you…”
Wei Shilai looked at Zhu Zongyang. “Assistant Zhu, come with us. I still need to ask you how we should set up the defenses.”
Zhu Zongyang nodded.
“Let’s go and visit the Zhou Mansion.”
Wei Shilai nodded at Liu Sanniang and walked out.
He also noticed that the way Lin Zheng looked at Liu Sanniang changed. It seemed that Liu Sanniang had used her power on Lin Zheng and persuaded him.
Wei Shilai smiled. The assistant still had doubts because he hadn’t experienced the power first-hand. Once he experienced it, he would definitely be awe-struck.
Wei Shilai didn’t like to suck up to the rich and powerful. He had always treated the Zhou family with respect. Other than that, he had no other interaction with them.
Without Liu Sanniang, he would very likely be kicked out of the Zhou mansion.
However, with Liu Sanniang around, Wei Shilai was fairly confident.
Looking at Liu Sanniang, Wei Shilai felt a little guilty. She was a little girl, and she probably didn’t want to have this power, but she was kind and upright and wanted to help.
Liu Sanniang could have said nothing to avoid being implicated, but she didn’t.
After today, Wei Shilai respected Liu Sanniang even more.
He could feel that what Liu Sanniang wanted was to have a clear conscience, just like him.
Liu Sanniang covered her face with a handkerchief because she did not want anyone to see her face.
They took a carriage to the Zhou Mansion. There was a long line outside the Zhou Mansion. A man who looked like a butler was assessing the men. Looking at these young men, one could tell that the Zhou Mansion was also recruiting guards.
Butler Zhou was holding a stick, his two mustaches swaying as he spoke. “Listen up. It’s not that easy to be a guard of the Zhou Mansion. Our Zhou Mansion doesn’t keep useless people. Those who don’t have ability can go back home now.”
“Those who are chosen will get one tael of silver a day, but if anything goes wrong, they will have to pay with their heads.”
After saying that, Butler Zhou glanced at the long queue with disdain.
One tael of silver a day was simply too generous.
Many people automatically ignored the last part that Butler Zhou said.
They all thought that with so many guards, how could anything go wrong?
Wei Shilai came out in a hurry, and all the people from the government office had been sent out. Only Liu Sanniang and the assistant were with him.
Wei Shilai walked over and said politely, “Butler Zhou, I have something to tell Master Zhou. Can you inform him?”
Although Wei Shilai did not suck up to the Zhou family, he had been invited to the Zhou mansion a couple of times. He was also the county magistrate, so the butler of the Zhou Mansion knew him.
Butler Zhou smiled. “What brings Magistrate Wei here? My master is out of town today.”
Master Zhou was a businessman, so he was naturally busy.
Wei Shilai believed that Butler Zhou was not lying to him, but when he thought of why he was here, he added. “Are Old Master Zhou and Madam Zhou at the mansion? I have something really important to tell them. Please inform them of my arrival.”
Seeing how serious Wei Shilai was, Butler Zhou leaned closer to him and lowered his voice. “Magistrate Wei, did something happen?”
Although Old Master Zhou was also in charge, he was no longer the head of the family. What was so urgent that Magistrate Wei had to come all the way here to see the Zhou family?
Butler Zhou was also a little curious. After all, as a butler, if he was not quick-witted, he would not be able to hold on to his position.
Wei Shilai smiled slightly. “It’s about the missing children.”
Butler Zhou was still confused, but he knew that he shouldn’t delay Magistrate Wei any longer. He quickly gestured for them to go in. “Magistrate Wei, please come in. I’ll go to inform the old master.”
The missing children case had caused a huge unrest among the townspeople, especially because this criminal might have a grudge against the rich and would choose children with a good family background.
Councilor Huang had lost his daughter. Mrs. Huang was happy to have a daughter at an old age, but now with her daughter gone missing, she was crying her heart out. If she couldn’t find her beloved daughter, she would die.
Although the Zhou family was heavily guarded, they did not dare to be careless. Madam Zhou was uneasy all day long. Seeing that other families were hiring guards, she also wanted to hire guards. If the person wasn’t caught, everyone would feel uneasy.
Butler Zhou quickly invited them in.
Out of curiosity, he kept staring at Liu Sanniang.
He thought to himself. ‘Magistrate Wei never takes in concubines. Why is there a young girl beside him?’
The Zhou Mansion was very big. If no one led the way, they would probably get lost.
Zhu Zongyang could not help but look around. He was just an assistant and was not even qualified to interact with a family like the Zhou family. This was the first time he saw such a house, and was overwhelmed. He glanced at Liu Sanniang and was a little surprised.