379 Flaw
“That’s quite pitiful.” Seeing that Old Master Du was crying, Lin Suisui sighed softly. Then, she put down the teacup in her hand and asked in a low voice, “However, since you guys were already seen through by those northern barbarians, how did you guys escape?
Even if the two of you didn’t participate in this scheme, you are still members of the caravan.
“It can’t be that because you refused to collude with your companions who have ulterior motives, those northern barbarians were moved by your high-minded character, so they were merciful to you, right?”
Lin Suisui sat at the table as she sized up the two men in front of her. The teasing look in her eyes couldn’t be hidden anymore. “Besides, you guys said before that the reason you chose to stay in this small tribe was that you guys had lost your way on the grassland and had no choice but to go to that small tribe to rest.
However, because you went for wool and came home shorn, only the eight of you escaped back to the empire.
Previously, you guys told the constables in the county governor’s residence that everything on you guys had been robbed by the northern barbarians and you guys were even almost sold like livestock. In the end, you guys found an opportunity to escape!
However, only a few of you escaped. All the remaining goods and other necessities were left in the northern barbarian tribe.
“So, how did the eight of you escape and successfully cross the grassland, then reach the border and get discovered by the patrolling city defense camp?”
This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment nitpicking. When Lin Suisui heard this story, she really couldn’t help but laugh.
Did these two people really think everyone was stupid?
How could they say have the nerve to tell them this story full of loopholes?
“We were lucky to escape. When we escaped, we encountered a passing caravan.” Old Master Du was stunned by Lin Sui’s question. After a while, he explained with a pale face, “We begged for a long time and promised that after we returned to the empire safely, we would definitely reward them heavily. That’s why they were willing to give us a ride.”
At this point, Old Master Du even put on a pained and sad expression. “We’ve all signed an agreement. If we don’t send the money over in time, we’ll be in big trouble.”
“That can’t be right. I heard that when you guys were discovered by the patrol camp, you guys were all lying by the roadside. If you guys hadn’t been discovered early, you guys would be in the mortuary by now.
Why? Since you guys have already said that they would get a huge reward, the other party shouldn’t have left you guys in the wilderness, right?
“After all, if you guys die, even if you guys had signed an agreement, where would they go to ask for money?”
Lin Suisui wasn’t that easy to fool.
The smile on her face widened, and she became more and more convinced about her guess.
She only paused for a moment before continuing to say to Old Master Du, “So, you still want to continue lying to us?”
“Are you suspecting us?” Seeing that he couldn’t deceive them anymore, Old Master Du simply changed his approach. He glared at Lin Suisui unhappily and accused, “Yes, we know that we came back in a sorry state this time.
However, we really had no choice. Those people said that they would only help us reach the empire, then they left us by the roadside!
Moreover, with an IOU, they weren’t worried about not being able to get the money.
It was written clearly in black and white that if anything happened to us, our families would have to pay for it.
Yes, I know you’re going to ask why we agreed to such harsh conditions.
But what else could we have done? It was for the sake of survival!”
It had to be said that Old Master Du was good at winning people over.
He covered his face as he cried sadly. It was also because of his words that Yuan Niang and the others, who were originally wary and suspicious of him because of Lin Sui’s doubts, wavered a little.
Perhaps they were really in trouble…
“I see. In that case, you guys are really unlucky.” Lin Suisui smiled, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. Her gaze became even colder. “Not only did you encounter unscrupulous merchants when you guys were escaping, but now that you’re finally saved, you encountered me, who also has malicious intentions towards you guys too.”
“You…”
“Guards, take these two away!”
Just as Old Master Du sensed that something was wrong and was about to speak, he was frightened by Lin Sui’s sudden shout. He took a few steps back and fell onto the edge of the bed. Su Le, who had received the order, arranged for someone to tie him up.
“You don’t have to explain. I’ve already given you guys a chance to tell the truth, but you guys didn’t cherish it.” After Lin Suisui stood up from her seat, she sized up the two people who were pressed to the ground but were still struggling to defend themselves. Then, she explained to the others, “I know what you guys want to say. To be honest, from the moment I saw you guys, I knew that you guys weren’t from our empire.”
“Do you want to know why?” Seeing Old Master Du’s look of disbelief, Lin Suisui smiled at Old Master Du, who still refused to give up and felt that he could still turn things around, with a hint of disdain. “The job you two received was given to you at the last minute, right?
They probably taught you two some basic etiquette and habits of our empire’s people before you two set off.
It had to be said that you guys practiced quite well.
Unfortunately, when you stood up and bowed to me when I entered just now, your right shoulder tilted to the right with your head. This was a gesture that only northern barbarians would do when bowing.
“Although you tried your best to hide it, the habit you’ve developed since you were young still manifested itself. No matter how hard you tried to hide it, you still exposed yourself.”