Du Huoguan's hand remotely pointed a gem into the pond, and with his back turned, he asked: "Are you pleading for two thieves?"
Lan Qiaoyan: “It’s not really pleading. If it’s confirmed they truly stole it, then whatever happens to them, be it death or dismemberment, they brought it upon themselves.”
Du Huoguan stopped in front of a tall basin, his finger stirring and selecting gems in the basin, and asked: “What’s your relationship with those two thieves?”
Lan Qiaoyan stopped in front of him, “Just two local natives, what relationship could I have with them? They often come to Far-Gazing Tower to sell things, so after a long time, their faces became familiar, that’s all.”
Du Huoguan picked up a gem with both hands and examined it, “There are many people who sell things at Far-Gazing Tower.
You are very close with Ba Yingshan, is such a minor matter worth coming to me for? Little Lan, are you taking me for a fool?”
Lan Qiaoyan quickly offered an apology, “How could I dare! Compared to other natives, I am indeed more familiar with those two, and they could even be considered my daughter’s friends.”
The expressionless Du Huoguan’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he turned around, looking very interested, “Is that your… quasi son-in-law?”
At these words, Lan Qiaoyan’s face instinctively tensed.
She hadn’t expected even this official to have heard. Thinking of her daughter’s reputation, her expression became even more unnatural, and her tone was less respectful, “Prison Inspector, rumors are not to be believed.
My daughter is not yet married. Your spreading rumors everywhere will tarnish my daughter’s good name.”
Du Huoguan stifled a laugh, “What’s there to it? If it is, it is; if it isn’t, it isn’t. But then again, if he really is your quasi son-in-law, a little petty theft isn’t a big deal anyway.
As long as the victim receives due compensation, and as long as the victim has no complaints, what’s wrong with making an exception for you once?”
Lan Qiaoyan said with an emphasizing tone: “The foolish opinions of others can still be understood, but why must the Prison Inspector make fun of me? Although my humble daughter is not a favored daughter of heaven, she is not someone just anyone can be worthy of.”
Du Huoguan asked directly: “Since you look down on him, why go to such trouble?”
Lan Qiaoyan fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: “I truly look down on him.
His status, position, and the reality gap are clear; they cannot be bridged by the word ‘willing’. He cannot give my daughter what she needs, and I cannot allow him to ruin my daughter’s life…”
She lowered her head as she spoke, paused, and then looked up again, saying: “Though I look down on him, there’s something about that boy I admire, two words: loyalty and righteousness! In life, besides facing reality, one must always retain some thoughts.
To meet someone who can make me speak up, I feel it is he who has completed me!”
Du Huoguan’s gaze flickered incessantly, the gem tumbling between his fingers. After a long while, he coldly uttered five words: “I want the truth!”
Lan Qiaoyan choked up, truly at a loss for words.
She felt that her previous words had been heartfelt enough, she was speaking the truth, but the other person simply didn’t believe her, which left her speechless.
Yet, she could understand.
After a brief turn of thought, she put away the emotional expression on her face and spoke matter-of-factly: “Indeed, nothing can escape the Prison Inspector’s keen eye. Then I won’t beat around the bush.
That boy is the so-called chief of East Nine Plains. A month ago, a strange thing happened in East Nine Plains: a large amount of goods suddenly appeared for sale at Far-Gazing Tower, an amount so large that it allowed over a hundred people from East Nine Plains to be sent out at once.
Recently, I heard that something strange happened in East Nine Plains, and today that chief was arrested. I don’t know if it’s related to that large sum of goods.
I know many people are spreading rumors about his relationship with my daughter. Regardless of how outsiders misunderstand his closeness with Far-Gazing Tower, I feel it’s necessary to clarify one thing with the Prison Inspector: that large sum of goods was absolutely not smuggled in by my Far-Gazing Tower from the outside.
I stand by my words: if they truly stole the items, whatever happens to them, be it death or dismemberment, they brought it upon themselves. But I absolutely do not wish for someone to be deliberately framing them, and thereby implicating Far-Gazing Tower.”
Having finished speaking, she bowed slightly, signifying she had said all there was to say. Without another word, she turned and gracefully departed.
Stepping over the threshold and facing the outdoor light once more, her expression was calm and composed, even tinged with a certain indifference.
Since some words were not understood, she had no choice but to speak in a way they would understand.
Du Huoguan watched the departing figure, the gem that had been tumbling in his hand now still. His thoughts were clearly still immersed in the surprising information the other party had provided.
After a while, he came to his senses, casually tossed the gem back into the tall basin, and with a flash, appeared on the stairs inside the hall, then with several more flashes, reached the top floor.
In the elegant space on the rooftop, the light was bright, with the main furnishing being just one table and chair.
The man clad in a violet gauze robe was not seated in the chair behind the table, but instead on the steps in front of it, guarding a large black umbrella. He held a brush and was painting erotic scenes on the umbrella surface, drawing them vividly.
The side table served as a place for his paints.
Du Huoguan approached him and glanced at the unsightly images on the umbrella, long accustomed to this person's peculiar taste.
He still remembered asking the other person years ago why he drew erotic pictures on the umbrella.
The man pointed his brush towards the sky and said that if anyone liked to look, then let them look their fill.
However, he had to admit, practice truly made perfect; his current painting skill was indeed far superior to what it had been back then.
When the other person stopped his brush to dip in paint, Du Huoguan finally spoke: “Jailer, what Little Lan said about those two thieves and that large sum of goods might be related to the current situation.
It’s worth investigating.”
Nie remained silent, as if he had heard nothing, and continued to apply his brush to the umbrella surface, engrossed in his painting.
Seeing no reaction from him, Du Huoguan said no more, bowed, and retreated.
Meanwhile, Lan Qiaoyan, who was about to leave the inner city, caught a glimpse.
She saw Ba Yingshan emerge from a side road, and the two happened to “meet” serendipitously.
Ba Yingshan looked surprised, glanced at the direction she came from, and asked: “Madam, did you go to see the Jailer?”
Lan Qiaoyan smiled: “City Lord Ba, you jest.
The Jailer’s dignity is admired by heaven and man alike; how could I meet him whenever I wish? I merely came to ask the Prison Inspector about something.”
Ba Yingshan uttered an “oh” and asked: “What matter required you to seek out the Prison Inspector?”
His implication of 'why not come to me' was clear, and he was also probing.
Lan Qiaoyan didn't overly conceal it, “Didn’t the city guards just arrest two people at my doorstep? These two happen to be quite familiar to me. I don’t believe they stole anything.
It just so happened that I heard the Prison Inspector was here. Such a coincidence? I was worried if it was aimed at my Far-Gazing Tower, so I went to ask him.
City Lord Ba, rest assured, I have absolutely no other intentions. As long as it has nothing to do with my Far-Gazing Tower, that’s fine.”
Ba Yingshan’s expression tightened, and he smiled faintly: “Arresting people at your doorstep? Such a thing happened? I will immediately inquire about it. Madam, next time such a thing occurs, you can directly ask me.
There’s no need to disturb the Prison Inspector.”
Lan Qiaoyan smiled back, “I haven’t seen him in a long time.
Even if there’s nothing, I would still bother him. I’m still balancing accounts over there, City Lord Ba, if you have no other instructions…” She gestured towards the door.
Ba Yingshan stepped aside to let her pass, still smiling faintly: “I won’t see you off.”
The two parted ways.
Not until the woman’s figure disappeared outside the arched gate did Ba Yingshan turn and walk away with a dark expression.
However, he had only gone halfway when a subordinate reported, “City Lord, the Prison Inspector has gone to the main prison.”
Ba Yingshan’s heart tightened, and he grunted, “Understood.”
Just as he was about to head to the prison, his subordinate quickly added: “The Prison Inspector personally appointed a few people to take over the prison, kicking out all the other brothers inside.
Without permission, no one is allowed to approach. The accusing victim was also kept inside the prison and hasn’t come out.”
Ba Yingshan’s pupils constricted, and he quickly lowered his voice to ask: “Where is the person who instructed the victim?”
The subordinate whispered back: “City Lord, rest assured, the person was dealt with as soon as they left the city. I’ve confirmed it multiple times, there’s absolutely no way it can be traced back to you.”
Ba Yingshan slightly exhaled, tilted his head, and gestured for him to continue monitoring, while he himself quickly departed.
Zhixu City’s main prison was empty, the light fluctuating between dim and bright.
Most of its cells were vacant, holding no prisoners besides those arrested today.
In just a short while, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were covered in whip marks, their clothes torn to shreds.
All of Shi Chun’s toes were exposed from his shoes.
Although the two were separated into different interrogation rooms, their attitudes were consistent: neither would admit to theft.
Both cried foul, claiming they had been framed.
Having learned their confessions, Du Huoguan made an appearance before Shi Chun, mainly seizing the opportunity to see the young man rumored to be pursuing Lan Qiaoyan’s daughter.
After observing him, he left. Immediately, someone else took over the interrogation, asking about the origins of the large sum of goods from East Nine Plains.
The matter of theft was no longer brought up.
Shi Chun keenly realized that the direction of the interrogation had changed.
Wu Jinliang, on the other side, had the same realization.
Though interrogated separately, both knew what they could and could not say.
As for the theft case, it was not shelved. Du Huoguan personally handled it, confronting the accusing victim himself.
As soon as the accompanying guard revealed Du Huoguan’s identity, the victim’s face changed dramatically. He had never imagined he would receive such a high-level treatment.
In the Land of Exile, Du Huoguan was an absolutely terrifying presence.
For the victim, this was completely outside the planned scenario.
Du Huoguan calmly offered a piece of advice: “Is it a false accusation? If it is, name the instigator, and I will consider you to have been misled. All past offenses will be forgiven.
My guarantee is effective.”
There were no threatening words, yet the pressure brought upon the victim was suffocating.
The victim’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and cold sweat inexplicably broke out. He couldn’t give an answer for a moment.
Du Huoguan, however, had already discerned the answer from his reaction. He merely took one step forward, and the victim suddenly fell to his knees, trembling as he confessed the truth.
The victim admitted that he was instigated by someone to deliberately frame Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang. The instigator was his chief, the chief of Seven Bends.
The victim said that he initially dared not commit such an act of framing within Zhixu City and did not want to agree. Later, his chief revealed that someone in the city guards had given instructions, only then did he gain the courage.
However, the chief did not reveal which city guard had given the instructions.
His final part of the confession was spoken to the accompanying guard, appearing eager to confess.
Du Huoguan did not hear it, seemingly not even interested in hearing the rest, and turned to leave beforehand.