A legless mute suddenly vanished into thin air?

Who’d believe it?

Xie Zhifei commanded: “Zhu Qing, Daqiang, you two identify everyone who entered and left the Military Commission today, one by one. Front gate, back gate, side gate, dog holes—don’t miss any.”

“Yes!”

Zhu Qing and Luo Daqiang received orders and turned to leave.

Imperial Physician Pei’s curiosity rose again. “What crime did this mute commit?”

Xie Zhifei: “Arson.”

Imperial Physician Pei grew even more curious: “He doesn’t even have legs. How could he commit arson?”

Asked this, Xie Zhifei was also helpless.

Taking over the Five City Military Commission from former boss Bai Yanlin, Xie Zhifei as new official lit three fires. The first was to inventory the people in the Military Commission’s prison.

This inventory turned up a mute.

This old fellow had entered prison over a decade ago. Crime: arson.

Arson typically meant half a year’s imprisonment before release, but this mute, once released, would be caught and brought back within half a day.

Crime: still arson.

Just like this—released over ten times, caught over ten times. The former-former-former Military Commission boss hardened his heart, thinking this was incorrigible recidivism, and simply kept him locked up.

This imprisonment lasted over a decade.

Xie Zhifei knew upon hearing that this person planned to die of old age in prison.

No legs, a mute—outside he couldn’t even compete with dogs for food. Prison at least had food and drink, a place to sleep, sheltered from wind and rain.

“Normally this person just curls in a corner sleeping. After sleeping, he eats. After eating, sleeps again. Doesn’t cause trouble. Even if we feed him one meal less, he doesn’t cry out.”

Xie Zhifei: “I thought, forget it. He’s pitiful. Let him be.”

“He’s not hiding from some enemy, is he?”

Imperial Physician Pei stroked his sparse beard and clicked his tongue. “Looks a bit like it!”

“Father, time to return.”

Young Master Pei smiled ingratiatingly: “It’s late. Mother’s waiting at home for you to eat dinner!”

“You still remember your mother?”

Hearing this, Imperial Physician Pei’s anger flared. About to start scolding, Zhu Qing returned.

“Master, everyone coming and going today were our own brothers. Only an hour ago, Old Man Shen left through the back gate pulling a cartload of night soil.”

Imperial Physician Pei blurted out: “Could this person be hiding in the night soil bucket?”

Young Master Pei quickly covered his mouth, muffled voice saying: “He’s not afraid of being fumigated to death either.”

“Master, chase or not?” Zhu Qing asked.

Chase him for what? He was a person due for release anyway.

These words were about to emerge when a thread of doubt suddenly flashed through Xie Zhifei’s mind.

Strange!

If this mute wanted to leave prison, just telling a guard would suffice. Why soak himself in a night soil bucket and suffer?

Everyone at the Military Commission, top to bottom, hoped he’d hurry up and leave.

Something’s not right!

Xie Zhifei slapped the table: “Chase!”

…

For the Military Commission to find a person wasn’t easy, but chasing a night soil cart was simple.

Within half an hour, Old Man Shen was blocked on his way home.

Seeing Zhu Qing dismount, he immediately knew things were wrong. He quickly collapsed to his knees, pulling out a silver ingot from his robe and tremblingly offering it.

“Master Qing, this, this is what the mute gave me.” Old Man Shen had lost two front teeth, so his speech whistled.

Zhu Qing glanced at the silver but didn’t take it: “Where is he?”

“Halfway, he climbed out of the night soil bucket.”

“Where did he go?”

“This… I don’t know.”

“Where did you let him off?”

“Right by Blacksmith Wang the Second’s shop, in that empty alley.”

Zhu Qing extended his hand, forcefully pointing at Old Man Shen. “You just wait for the boss’s judgment. This night soil hauling business—don’t expect to continue.”

“Master Qing.”

Old Man Shen suddenly lunged forward. “This humble one wasn’t after his few taels of silver. He did a great kindness to my family, a great kindness!”

Zhu Qing laughed coldly: “How strange. A mute who can’t speak—what great kindness could he do for Old Man Shen?”

“Master Qing, he can read fortunes.”

Old Man Shen looked up. “If not for his warning, my idiot son would have fallen in the river and drowned two years ago.”

“Just spin your tales!”

Zhu Qing withdrew his leg and walked to the cart to examine it. Suddenly his expression turned severe, and he quickly returned.

“What did you just say? He can read fortunes?”

Old Man Shen nodded repeatedly.

“How does he read them?”

“With his mouth!”

Zhu Qing really wanted to lash him with a whip.

A mute who couldn’t speak—how could he possibly read fortunes with his mouth?

“I report birth dates and times to him. He holds a brush in his mouth and writes on paper.”

An arson mute could actually write?

Zhu Qing keenly sensed something wrong.

He immediately mounted his horse and commanded: “Split into two teams. One follows me to find the person. One takes this old thing back to the Military Commission for the boss to interrogate properly.”

“Everything I said is truth, Master Qing! This humble one was just repaying kindness!”

Hearing “Boss Xie,” Old Man Shen was frightened and began wailing again.

“Master Qing, spare me! This humble one won’t dare again. In the future… in the future, I’ll haul night soil for the Military Commission for free, isn’t that enough?”

“Master Qing… Master Qing…”

…

The sky slowly darkened.

Xie Zhifei looked at Old Man Shen on the ground, pupils rapidly expanding and contracting.

“Ding Yi, carry me to the cell where the mute was kept.”

“I’m going too!”

“Me too!”

Young Master Pei looked at his father: Why are you joining the excitement?

Imperial Physician Pei: You can join, why can’t I? This old man rarely has leisure. Managing idle affairs—is that not allowed?

Ding Yi ignored the Pei father and son’s eye battle. He quickly hoisted Third Master on his back and headed straight for the rear prison.

The Pei father and son followed closely behind.

Seeing the boss arrive, the prison head quickly carried an oil lamp over, face full of guilt: “Boss, that mute…”

Xie Zhifei sternly interrupted: “Where was the mute kept? Take me there.”

Hearing this tone, the prison head was frightened and quickly led the way.

“Boss, it’s this cell.”

“Open the cell door.”

“Yes!”

“Ding Yi, put me down.”

Xie Zhifei: “You and Huang Qi go in and search.”

Someone kept in this cell for over a decade would definitely leave some traces.

“Mingting, you go too.”

Damn it!

The stench is overwhelming!

Young Master would vomit up last night’s dinner!

Pei Xiao pulled out a handkerchief from his robe, firmly covering his nose and mouth, following Ding Yi as he ducked into the cell.

The cell interior smelled worse than outside.

Pei Xiao thought: What sin did I commit?

That one-legged mantis Xie kept issuing commands: “The floor, the walls—don’t miss an inch. Tear open the sleeping straw pile.”

Young Master is too lazy to acknowledge you.

Pei Xiao couldn’t hold out and ducked back out. “My eyes are blurry. Those two are enough.”

Xie Zhifei glanced at the prison head: “Get more lamps.”

“Yes!”

Lamps brought, the entire cell suddenly brightened.

Ding Yi and Huang Qi searched inch by inch.

Nothing on the floor;

Nothing on the walls;

That left only under the straw pile.

The two exchanged glances. One extended his hand to gently lift the straw pile while the other brought his oil lamp close.

“Master, quick, look! There’s something on the floor.”

Xie Zhifei’s heart skipped a beat. His long arm hooked Young Master Pei’s shoulder. “Come, accompany me inside to look.”

“I’m going too.” Imperial Physician Pei was dying of curiosity, first to duck in.

Soon, everyone crowded into that tiny space.

Under lamplight.

Every pair of eyes suddenly widened, filled with shock.

After a long moment, Imperial Physician Pei sighed deeply.

“What did I say? The most dangerous place is also the safest place.”