“Fu Shun Escort Agency?”
Zhu Guangxiao, standing not far away, asked as if seeking confirmation, drawing the attention of everyone including Governor Zhang.
Governor Zhang frowned and asked, “You know this escort agency?”
Zhu Guangxiao replied, “Fu Shun Escort Agency is the merchant caravan we encountered on our way to Yun Province, the one that was wiped out by bandits. Fu Shun Escort Agency has another name, called Fu Shun Merchant Association.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Song Tingfeng and Xu Qi An, those two scoundrels. It was these two who had pushed the task onto him that day.
He was responsible for returning the belongings of Zhao Long, the owner of the merchant association, to his family. Following the address, he had found this Fu Shun Escort Agency.
“Perhaps they’ve come to express their gratitude, knowing that the Governor has returned from his inspection,” a Silver Gong speculated.
If not for their elimination of the mountain bandits and recovery of the goods, Fu Shun Escort Agency would likely have suffered a devastating loss this time.
Therefore, it was understandable that the remaining escorts from the agency and Zhao Long’s family members would come to see the Governor and express their gratitude.
This was the first good deed Governor Zhang had done upon arriving in Yun Province. He stroked his beard and smiled lightly, “Then let them in.”
Soon, three middle-aged men wearing thick blue cotton clothes, tightly belted at the waist, black boots, and mouse-skin caps were led in by the Tiger Warrior Guard.
On their chests were embroidered the two characters “Fu Shun” in crimson.
The three men were empty-handed, their weapons having been confiscated at the door.
Xu Qi An narrowed his eyes, scanning the three men. The leader with a full beard was at the Qi Refining Realm, while the other two were at the Essence Refining Realm.
“This humble citizen is Zhao Rui, the new head of Fu Shun Escort Agency. I pay my respects to Governor Zhang,” the bearded man bowed with clasped hands.
In Confucian etiquette, one only kneels to heaven, earth, the sovereign, parents, and teachers. When a commoner meets an official, only a bow is required, not kneeling. Of course, there are exceptions when in court.
No wonder he’s at the Qi Refining Realm, turns out he’s the new head of the escort agency… Only someone at the Qi Refining Realm could support a large escort agency… Xu Qi An withdrew his scrutinizing gaze.
Governor Zhang nodded and said, “What is your relationship to Zhao Long?”
Zhao Rui said painfully, “Zhao Long was my elder brother. When we heard the tragic news, our family was overcome with grief. This humble citizen thanks the Governor for avenging my brother.”
After speaking, he then knelt and kowtowed.
Governor Zhang calmly accepted the kneeling, thinking to offer a few words of comfort and then say some pleasant formalities before dismissing them.
Unexpectedly, after Zhao Rui stood up, he said, “Besides thanking the Governor for his kindness, this humble citizen has also come to deliver an escort.”
An escort?!
Everyone was stunned, re-examining the three men, only now realizing they were wearing the sturdy clothes of escorts, not casual wear.
Governor Zhang carefully asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Zhao Rui clasped his hands and said, “Yesterday, a mysterious client came to our agency, saying he wanted to entrust an ‘item’ to the Governor. The client also said that it was a wanted criminal of the imperial court, and insisted that I must personally deliver it to the Governor…”
“This humble citizen knows this is not proper procedure, that wanted criminals should be handed over to the yamen. But… the payment was too generous to refuse.”
A wanted criminal of the imperial court… Governor Zhang turned his head, glancing at Jiang Luzhong and Xu Qi An. Jiang Luzhong’s eyes showed both surprise and expectation, seeming to have realized something.
As for Xu Qi An, his eyes were murky, his pupils dilated, seeming somewhat unfocused.
For Ning Yan to choose to advance to the Spirit Refining Realm at this time is unwise… Governor Zhang thought to himself, then remembered that for normal people, ten days was the limit. Ordinarily, Xu Qi An should have successfully advanced upon reaching Yun Province.
Who could have imagined he would be so exceptional?
“Bring him in!” Governor Zhang said in a deep voice.
Zhao Rui acknowledged the order and left the relay station with his two companions, heading straight for the carriage parked at the door, which was guarded by over a dozen strong young escorts.
Seeing Zhao Rui come out, the young escorts understood and dragged a man with a sack over his head from the carriage, escorting him into the relay station.
The man seemed to have an injured foot, limping badly and walking with great difficulty.
Entering the relay station, everyone’s eyes were fixed tightly on the man with the sack over his head, especially those like Xu Qi An who knew Liang Youping’s details.
Governor Zhang stood up, pointing at the man with the sack over his head, his tone somewhat urgent as he said loudly, “Quick, quick, take off the sack…”
Without waiting for the Tiger Warrior Guard to step forward, Zhao Rui rushed to pull off the sack, revealing the man’s true face.
A gaunt face, rough skin, and light brown eyes that swept around with extreme sharpness.
Liang Youping, the Registrar of the Chief Command’s Registry Department.
The fugitive Qi Party member who had handed the account books to Xu Qi An.
“Searching far and wide yields nothing, yet it comes without effort…” Governor Zhang muttered. He took a deep breath and ordered:
“Verify his identity!”
A Bronze Gong stepped forward, pinching Liang Youping’s face and carefully examining it before reporting, “It’s him.”
Common disguise techniques used by those who roam the jianghu were nothing more than human skin masks, which were easily seen by those with keen eyes.
Because they were stiff and lacked expression.
As for more advanced disguise techniques, they often involved high-ranking experts, which ordinary people couldn’t achieve.
Phew… Governor Zhang let out a light breath, looking towards Zhao Rui and the others with a smile, saying, “This man is indeed a wanted criminal of the imperial court.”
He glanced sideways at Xu Qi An. The latter understood and quickly went upstairs to fetch the three homebody sorcerers.
“Watch the three escorts downstairs and confirm if they’re lying or not.”
“Yes, Young Master Xu.”
Downstairs, Governor Zhang asked, “What was the identity of that mysterious client?”
“This humble citizen doesn’t know,” Zhao Rui shook his head, “That person wore a cloak with a hood, their identity couldn’t be seen clearly.”
“He’s not lying!” The white-robed sorcerers’ eyes flickered with clear light.
This answer was reasonable. Regardless of their purpose, the person would have disguised themselves when entering the escort agency. There were no regulations in those days requiring identity registration for express delivery.
As couriers of that era, escorts had no social security, and no commercial insurance. If they didn’t understand the rules and asked outright, “Please show your identity and register,” what might await them could be a guillotine.
“Master Zhao!”
Xu Qi An suddenly called from upstairs.
In the hall downstairs, everyone looked up.
Xu Qi An carefully asked, “Did that mysterious client who sent the… delivery say anything else?”
Zhao Rui clasped his hands and said, “Just to bring this person to the relay station, hand him over to the Governor, and say he was a wanted criminal of the imperial court.”
“Anything else?” Xu Qi An prompted, “For example: ‘Holding the moon in hand to pluck the stars, in this world there’s none quite like me’?”
Zhao Rui looked confused, “No.”
“Did he turn his back to you?”
“No.” Zhao Rui was a bit frustrated. What strange questions were these?
Xu Qi An nodded, indicating he understood.
Xu Qi An suspected this was all done by the Show-off King, but he had no evidence.
Although both questions were answered negatively, it didn’t mean it wasn’t Yang Qian Huan the Show-off King. Because after Liang Youping was delivered to the relay station, they would certainly inquire indirectly about the “sender’s” identity.
Although the Show-off King seemed to have mental issues, he wasn’t a fool. He wouldn’t leave such obvious clues.
What confused Xu Qi An was why the Show-off King didn’t appear in person. Logically, this kind of opportunity to turn the tide was exactly what the Show-off King would crave.
Imagine, just when the case had reached a bottleneck and the Governor and others were at their wits’ end, he suddenly jumped out and said in a drawn-out, melodious voice:
“Holding the moon in hand to pluck the stars, in this world there’s none quite like me.”
With his back to everyone, and Liang Youping under his foot!
That would instantly boost his reputation.
Best performance, MVP!
Was there some unavoidable difficulty preventing him from appearing?
Governor Zhang probed a few more questions, then had the Tiger Warrior Guard see the guests out.
“Bring him to my room, I want to interrogate him personally,” Governor Zhang said with his hands behind his back as he climbed the stairs to the second floor.
As Governor Zhang went upstairs, passing by Xu Qi An, he asked, “Did you discover something?”
“No,” Xu Qi An shook his head, then added, “They weren’t lying.”
Governor Zhang made a sound of acknowledgment, “Come with me into the room.”
Xu Qi An, along with the three white-robed sorcerers, followed Governor Zhang into the room. Jiang Luzhong dragged Liang Youping in afterward, tossing the cripple on the ground like trash before turning to close the door.
Liang Youping’s hands were bound, and he didn’t get up, sitting on the ground as if resigned to his fate.
“So you’re Liang Youping?” Governor Zhang sat behind the desk, staring sternly at the crippled Registrar.
“The Governor seems quite familiar with this lowly official,” Liang Youping sneered.
“You killed Huang Bojie, the owner of the dog meat shop at No. 15, disguised yourself as the contact, and handed the account books to us to frame Yang Chuan Nan. Who else is behind you? Confess everything in detail,” Governor Zhang said in a deep voice.
“If I confess, can the Governor spare my life?” Liang Youping laughed coldly.
“You can’t escape the death penalty, but we can make your death quicker,” Jiang Luzhong sat to the side, holding a cup of tea, his smile cold:
“You can try the night watchmen’s methods of torturing criminal officials.”