At the entrance of the magistrate’s office, seeing Song Wan Yue and Gu Yi coming over, Sheriff Liu instructed the magistrate to quickly report to the magistrate.
He welcomed them forward, “Miss Song, Young Master Gu.”
Master Gu and the County Magistrate were quite close, and every time they came they would bring them some goodies or simply reward them with some silver to buy wine and drink. Sheriff Liu in particular got the most and naturally took a bit of care of Gu Yi; not to mention Song Wan Yue, Song Hanlin’s sister and Old Master Xu’s maternal great-granddaughter, so he didn’t dare to be rude.
“We came over to ask the imperial doctor what herbs he needed, and also, how is the case progressing?”
The news of Qin Qian’s fake death was told to them when the county emperor went to the academy, so Sheriff Liu had nothing to hide and lowered his voice, “Qin Qian didn’t know what he said after being interrogated alone by the Third Prince, who had his attendants come to the imperial doctor to treat his injuries, and also had his guards go to the Weiyuan Dart Office to call the Qi Wu couple over.”
Song Wan Yue raised her eyebrows slightly and pretended to be surprised, “Called Qi Wu and his wife over?”
“Yes.”
The Third Prince’s guards wouldn’t let them get close, so Sheriff Liu had a guess in his mind, thinking that the two of them weren’t outsiders, and added, “I think Qi Wu and his wife should have something to do with Qin Qian.”
Song Wan Yue looked at Gu Yi, who casually pulled out a silver ticket and quickly shoved it into Constable Liu’s hand, “It’s been a hard few days, take it and buy some wine.”
Surprisingly, it was a silver ticket, at least ten taels, Sheriff Liu’s heart blossomed and his mind searched hard for what else he could tell them.
“Miss Song, young master Gu, the lord has an invitation.”
The magistrate who had gone to report came back to invite people.
“I’ll go, you stay outside and wait for me.”
Gu Yi understood the meaning of her words and nodded, watching her go inside before turning around and going back inside the carriage.
Song Wangyue went straight to the backyard with the magistrates, and the county magistrate was waiting for her not far from the third prince’s courtyard.
When she arrived at the front, Song Wan Yue gave the County Magistrate a bow.
“Don’t bother, I’ll take Miss Song there.”
When the County Magistrate heard that the Third Prince had called Qi Wu and his wife here, he also guessed whether they were related to Qin Qian, and thought that there couldn’t be, and if they were, they should have been arrested instead of sending someone to invite them here.
But if they were not related to Qin Qian, how could they have called them in after interrogating him? The county magistrate couldn’t figure it out and wanted to follow Song Wangyue in while she was here to get a clear picture, because after all, it was a matter of whether he could still keep his black hat.
Song Wangyue thanked him and followed him over to the courtyard, but when she reached the entrance, she was stopped by the guards.
The county magistrate stepped back a little without a trace.
As if not seeing his movements, Song Wan Yue said to the guard, “Please pass on, I’m here to ask the imperial doctor what herbs he needs.”
“Wait.”
The guard went in to report.
When Qi Wu heard that, his face changed and he subconsciously had to find a place to hide.
“What are you afraid of, a countryside girl, is this prince something she can just want to see?”
The Third Prince scolded him and ordered his guards, “Say that this prince has already had someone prepare it.”
The guard came out and spoke the Third Prince’s words.
Song Wangyue glanced towards the room, her inner strength was not deep enough now, she only vaguely heard the Third Prince’s reprimand just now, and did not hear exactly what was said.
“When I go back today, I think of a few suspicions and want to ask Qin Qian, so please go and say them again.”
The guard looked at her with a cold face.
Song Wangyue was not afraid and looked back at him.
The guard’s hand was on his belt knife, if it was in the capital, as far as Song Wangyue’s eyesight was concerned, he would have thrown the person out immediately, but now ……”
Song Wangyue looked at him as if she did not see his movements and was puzzled.
The guard took a deep breath, suppressed the coldness, did not say a word, and turned to go in again to report.
The county magistrate’s back was covered in cold sweat, and he silently stepped back some more, admiring Song Wangyue’s courage, for just now the guard was about to draw his sword, but Song Wangyue was as calm as if nothing had happened.
“Miss Song ……”
I was just about to kindly persuade her to say a few words, the emperor is not like ordinary people, if they really annoyed them, at any time will be placed a charge, beheaded.
The guards came out of the house.
The Prefect’s words stopped and he was about to silently step back some more, when he saw the man behind the guards, and his foot, which had been raised in surprise, forgot to drop.
The Third Prince carelessly glanced at the County Prince, the County Prince only felt a chill at his back and bowed in fear, “Greetings, Third Prince.”
“Qingping County.”
The county eunuch’s body trembled in fear and his voice shook, “Present.”
“Didn’t you tell Miss Song that Qin Qian was dead?”
The county magistrate didn’t react for a moment, subconsciously looking up at him, his mouth still slightly open.
“Hm?”
The county magistrate gave a jolt and said at once, “Miss Song, Qin Qian has indeed died, and the subordinate official has not yet had the time to tell you.”
“Dead?”
“Dead.”
The Prefect spoke with finality.
Song Wan Yue was puzzled, “I remember you telling me that he faked his death, how did it turn out to be a real death?”
“This ……”
The magistrate secretly raised his eyes to look at the Third Prince, touching his gaze with a slight anger, his heart trembled again, and he hurriedly said, “I wanted to ask him about the mastermind behind his death today, and had him tortured, he didn’t survive, so, he died.”
Song Wan Yue nodded her head, meaning to say, “He died at a very good time.”
The county magistrate did not dare to look up, lest Song Wangyue see the weakness on his face.
“In that case, I have nothing more to do.”
After saying that, Song Wangyue gave a bow to the Third Prince, “Please don’t blame me for disturbing the Third Prince.”
“If the imperial doctor needs any herbs, I will instruct Qingping County to buy them myself, so you should not come over in the future.”
“My daughter understands.”
Song Wangyue left the county office, got into the carriage and instructed the driver to go back. Not too far out, she knocked on the carriage wall, “The carriage is broken, you guys go down and check it.”
The coachman hurriedly stopped the carriage and jumped down to check.
Xiao Si, however, understood the meaning of Song Wan Yue’s words and jumped down with him, pretending to check with the coachman.
Song Wangyue told Gu Yi what had just happened, “Since we can’t see anyone inside, let’s wait here.”
Half an hour later, Qi Wu and his wife came out of the county office, mounted their horses and headed this way, seeing a carriage parked in the middle of the road and giving it a few wary glances.
The coachman was lying on the bottom of the cart, hammer in hand, nailing something to the wheels, and Xiao Si was leaning over looking at the coachman.
The carriage curtain was lifted and Song Wan Yue came out, surprised to see them, “Uncle Qi, Aunt Qi, what a coincidence.”
Qi Wu suddenly stopped his horse, “Song, Miss Song.”
Song Wan Yue looked in the direction they were coming from, “Where are uncle and aunt going? That seems to be the county office over there, right?”
Hearing her words, Madam Qi’s face suddenly turned white.