noffsinger Chapter 1119 Finding Wang Huai'an
Chapter 1119 Finding Wang Huai'an
After leaving the Prince's Mansion, Shen Zheng and the other two went to the Accounting Office again, but still found nothing.
Upon returning to the government office, Yu Shizhang rushed over after hearing the news and discussed countermeasures with them.
Constables and garrison soldiers were dispatched to search for Wang Huai'an's whereabouts. Su Yan and other county soldiers were also sent out by Shen Zheng, not to find Wang Huai'an, but to investigate the origins of the rumors.
Wang Huai'an's disappearance was suspicious, and the rumors circulating in the mansion were also suspicious. Shen Zheng believed that the two were closely related and were very likely the work of the same person.
In the tense and sticky atmosphere, the sun gradually rose higher, and noon arrived.
No one was in the mood to eat. The officials stood outside the hall discussing in hushed tones, while Shen Zheng and the others sat inside, repeatedly analyzing Wang Huai'an's movements.
Shen Zheng found one thing very suspicious: "Dianrong Pavilion opens at Chenshi (7-9 AM), and Wang Huai'an went to Wuyi Lane at 4:45 AM... Why would he go so early? There's no need to rush to buy rouge."
Yu Zhengqing nodded in agreement and boldly guessed, "Was someone led him there?"
Otherwise, they simply couldn't understand why Wang Huai'an would go to Wuyi Lane half an hour early.
If Wang Huai'an was led there by someone, then everything makes sense.
This leads to other problems.
"How did the other party meet Wang Huai'an? And what reason did they use to lure him there? Where did he go after arriving at Wuyi Lane? Why didn't the merchants in Wuyi Lane see him?" Shen Zheng asked as she pondered.
The group silently looked out of the hall.
The officials were whispering among themselves.
Some people looked anxious and kept looking out; some were uncomfortable from standing for a long time and rubbed their waists and stomped their feet; others looked into the hall from time to time, waiting for Shen Zheng and the others to give instructions.
Yu Shizhang looked at them and said in a low voice, "What if the person who led him out of the mansion is from the mansion government?"
This may not be impossible.
Yu Zhengqing stood up, about to call the prefectural officials in, when Su Yan rushed over, and all the prefectural officials made way for him.
Su Yan, panting heavily, lowered his voice and said to Shen Zheng, "Master, Lord Wang... has been found."
"Found them?" Seeing his expression, Shen Zheng didn't dare to relax and immediately asked, "Where are they? Are they alright?"
Wang Huai'an absolutely must not be in danger of losing his life.
If something happens to him, Xu Yunyan will have to take the blame.
“Not good…” Su Yan frowned and lowered his voice again: “It wasn’t our people who found him, it was the locals… They found him in a well. When he was pulled out, he was barely alive… He’s in a clinic now, unconscious. We don’t know if he was pushed in or jumped in himself.”
“He wouldn’t jump into the well on his own initiative.” Thinking of the delicate and frail Madam Wang, Shen Zheng said with certainty, “A man who went out happily one morning and promised Madam that he would bring home new rouge would never jump into the well without warning.”
Unless there was a major upheaval, Wang Huai'an must have been murdered.
The group walked out of the hall together, and Yu Zhengqing asked Su Yan in a low voice, "Which well?"
Su Yan followed behind them and replied, "At the end of Zhuqing Alley, that well is in a remote location and is not frequently used. The water is also not very clean, so few people go there to draw water. It was a lazy man who drank until his belly was full and then... urinated into the well. But when he heard the sound of the water, he noticed something was wrong and that's how he found him."
"...Pee?" Yu Zhengqing choked for a moment.
Urinating in a well is an act that would normally result in a severe beating, but today, that person unexpectedly saved Wang Huai'an's life.
In fact, they all had to thank that lazy man for "peeing well".
When the officials outside the gate saw them come out, they all came forward to greet them.
Huo Tongpan adjusted his official hat and hurriedly asked, "Lord Yu, have you found Old Wang's whereabouts?"
Yu Zhengqing glanced at him and nodded.
Seeing this, everyone felt relieved.
Judge Huo wiped the sweat from his brow and, leaning against a pillar, said, "We finally found it! I was scared out of my wits..."
The disappearance of a prefectural official was a truly frightening event.
After all, he was also a prefectural official. This time it was Wang Huai'an who went missing, but what about next time?
Who knows, it might just be him!
Fortunately, the person has been found...
As he pondered this, he followed Yu Zhengqing and the others out of the mansion.
After taking only a few steps, Yu Zhengqing suddenly stopped and said to the officials, "Rumors are spreading throughout the city. Everyone, go about your business and suppress these rumors as soon as possible."
Judge Huo nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, we must hurry, we can't let the rumors harm Lord Xu..."
The officials dispersed, and Shen Zheng and the others took a carriage to the clinic.
Before they even reached the clinic, the carriage was stuck in traffic.
Wave after wave of people surged toward the clinic, creating a cacophony of noise. Shen Zheng listened closely and heard nothing but comments detrimental to Xu Yunyan.
"Why would Lord Wang be so foolish as to jump into a well like that..."
"The people of Tongan County must have pushed him to the brink, leaving him no choice but to jump into the well!"
"You say this person is willing to risk their life, why can't they be more open-minded? If they lose their official position, they can always try to get it back! But if this person dies, what will happen to their family?"
"I heard that Lord Wang's father is also not in good health. Oh dear... Fortunately, Lord Wang was rescued, otherwise he would have suffered the loss of his son..."
"No, Lord Wang is a good official. We can't just stand by and watch him ruin his life. I'm going to the prefectural government office to beat the drum and appeal for justice for Lord Wang! Of all the officials in Liuyang Prefecture, I only recognize Lord Wang!"
"Yes, yes, let's not go to the clinic, I'll go to the government office with you!"
A group of people turned around and headed towards the government office.
"What are you all doing!" Constable Sun's voice rang out, shouting, "Don't block this place, disperse!"
Upon seeing him, the people were a little intimidated, but considering their numbers, one of them boldly said, "Officer Sun, Lord Wang's life is hanging by a thread. Are we really going to have to deal with the people from Tong'an County?"
"That's right!" someone immediately chimed in. "Officer Sun, we don't agree. You're pushing people to their doom!"
"The registrar of Tong'an is a murderer, Lord Wang will never hand him over!"
Someone uttered a sentence, and immediately the crowd erupted in indignation: "Yes! That person is a murderer! A murderer! Lord Wang will never make contact with the murderer!"
Constable Sun's face turned ashen. Just as he was about to dismount, he suddenly saw Shen Zheng walk out of the carriage.
"The murderer?" After standing still, Shen Zheng glanced at the surrounding people and asked loudly, "Then, as the magistrate of Tong'an County, am I not an accomplice of Lord Xu!"
The people were surprised to see her there and fell silent upon hearing this.
Someone whispered, "Lord Shen, we don't mean to blame you, it's just that your county clerk harmed Lord Wang... We just don't want to acknowledge him."
Shen Zheng really wanted them to go and reason with the Emperor, but reason made her hold back.
This is a setup.
A game of chess that seemed to be aimed at Xu Yunyan, but was actually set up for her.