“This humble one was only lying here.”

The beggar’s momentum was clearly suppressed.

He truly didn’t dare openly oppose Li Cheng!

After all, he had neither money nor status. If he really ended up in jail, how could he lie here as comfortably as he did now?

So, when it was time to yield, one had to yield.

After saying this, the beggar grabbed his worn straw mat, preparing to continue lying down and resting.

Ji Yunshu also thought the matter was settled and was preparing to continue forward to search.

But—

Li Cheng didn’t leave.

Instead, he lightly kicked the beggar again, saying, “Go sleep somewhere else.”

The beggar was stunned for a moment, then scratched his head with his hand.

His face showed disbelief.

He said, “You want me to leave? Sir, I’ve been sleeping here for over ten years. In those ten years, no one has bothered me. Besides, this place has been abandoned for so long, no one cares about it at all.”

Li Cheng snorted and said, “Yes, no one cared before, but now this official cares. So hurry up and pack your things and leave. Don’t block this alley.”

“Behind this alley is a lake and an abandoned pavilion. No one comes here at all. I’m not blocking anyone.”

“That still won’t do.”

Li Cheng’s attitude was very firm.

The beggar faced the danger of “moving.”

His expression soured.

He said, “Then where do you expect me to go now?”

“This official doesn’t care about that. In any case, you can’t stay here!”

“I’m not leaving! I’ve been here for over ten years. You officials are oppressing the common people.”

“This official is oppressing you. So what?”

A high-ranking City Bureau official was actually arguing with a beggar. If word of this got out, it would truly be quite a spectacle.

Probably only someone like Li Cheng would have the inclination to quarrel with a beggar, fighting over territorial ownership.

Looking at it from another angle, it was actually quite interesting.

The beggar couldn’t out-argue this little tyrant, so he said directly, “I’m not leaving anyway. Either beat me to death then.”

He clutched his straw mat even tighter.

“You…” Li Cheng glared at him.

However, before he could say anything—

Ji Yunshu suddenly asked the beggar a question, “You said you’ve been here for over ten years?”

The beggar glanced at her, “That’s right. I’ve been on this turf for over ten years.”

Just as Ji Yunshu was about to ask more questions, Li Cheng suddenly interrupted, yelling at the beggar, “You ignorant creature, what do you mean ‘your turf’? This is Gaoding City. The place where you’re sleeping now belongs to the King, not to you. If you dare speak nonsense again, this official will have your tongue cut out.”

“…” The beggar swallowed.

He shut his mouth tightly.

His dirty hands also immediately covered his mouth.

He didn’t dare say another word.

Li Cheng continued glaring fiercely at him.

Provoke this young master? You’ll regret it!

Ji Yunshu looked helpless and simply walked closer, approaching the beggar and asking, “I have questions for you. If you know the answers, you must answer me honestly.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to her.

Li Cheng pulled at her and said, “Young Master Ji, if you have questions, just ask me directly. Why ask a beggar?”

“I want to ask about some details of the murder case. Do you know them?”

“I…” He was at a loss for words.

Li Cheng was suddenly counter-questioned and couldn’t speak.

Like having a bone stuck in his throat!

Ji Yunshu directly ignored him and turned to ask the beggar, “You said you’ve been here for over ten years, and generally speaking, people in your line of work should be well-informed.”

People in your line of work!

The phrasing was quite novel.

The beggar immediately felt honored, straightened his back, and looked up at her, saying, “Of course! I know everything. There’s nothing happening in Gaoding City that I don’t know about.”

Patting his chest as he spoke!

The title of “well-informed” wasn’t earned for nothing.

After all, it was publicly recognized.

Ji Yunshu became serious and asked, “Do you know Du Mubai, who was called the ‘Scholar of South Shen’ six years ago?”

The beggar’s eyes lit up, “Him! Of course I know him.”

“You’ve seen him?”

“I have!”

“Where?”

“Right here.” The beggar pointed to the area beside him.

Here?

“Do you still remember which day it was?”

“It was the day he committed suicide!”

Uh!

The surrounding people erupted in astonishment!

They all widened their eyes.

Unbelievable.

Ji Yunshu felt as if she had grabbed hold of a thread. She immediately asked, “And then? When you saw him, was he alone? Or with several people? Or rather, what was he doing at the time? Where was he planning to go?”

She fired off several questions in succession.

The questions left the beggar momentarily unsure how to respond.

He carefully went over her questions.

When he had sorted them out and was preparing to speak—

He hesitated and glanced at Li Cheng.

As if somewhat apprehensive.

Li Cheng was startled, then lightly kicked him again, “What are you looking at me for? When asked questions, answer quickly.”

“I can answer, but…” The beggar put on an appearance of wanting to negotiate.

Li Cheng narrowed his eyes, “But what?”

The beggar smiled, suddenly feeling he had gained the upper hand. He said, “But this place will be mine from now on, and no one can drive me away.”

Pfft—

He had even learned to set conditions.

Today’s beggars were all so shrewd!

This spot was at the alley entrance, a small area enclosed by wooden boards, just large enough for this beggar to lie inside. It provided a place to shelter from wind and rain. Even now in the dead of winter, he could stay here completely comfortably. For over ten years, this beggar had been on this prime location, so this was essentially his home. No one could drive him away no matter who tried.

Hearing him negotiate terms, Li Cheng immediately flared up, “You dare negotiate with this official? Believe it or not, I’ll arrest you and throw you in jail right now.”

The beggar said indifferently, “If you really want to arrest me, then go ahead. But if you want to know about Du Mubai’s affairs, I won’t say a single word.”

“You…”

“You decide for yourself, sir.”

The beggar was about to roll up in his blanket and go to sleep again.

Li Cheng was so angry his face turned ashen.

But before he could unleash his fury, Ji Yunshu timely extinguished it.

Ji Yunshu said directly, “Fine. This place will be yours from now on. You can lie here as long as you want… No one will drive you away.”

A promise!

Li Cheng protested, “I haven’t agreed yet, how can you just…”

“Doesn’t Young Master Cheng want to investigate the case?”

“Of course I do!”

“Then there’s no harm in agreeing to this.”

“This…” Li Cheng paused for a moment, thought about it, and for the sake of investigating the case, could only do this. Then he said to the beggar, “Fine. This place will be yours from now on.”

He finally relented.

“Really?” the beggar asked.

“Of course it’s true. This official always means what he says. Yes means yes, no means no. Would I lie? Whether you believe it is up to you.”

“Then good.” Only then was the beggar satisfied.