Chapter 226

Su Xuntian led the constables to the Chang's Carriage Company to arrest them. The operation went very smoothly, and there were no cases of armed resistance. Ever since Qi Mu's death, his subordinates were no longer as arrogant as they were in the past. Facing the constables, they didn't have the courage to openly resist.

By the time the sky brightened, Chen Muyan, the tax envoy, the accountant of the tax department, and a few other key figures, as well as the important figures of the Chang's Carriage Company, were all escorted to the county government office. They were detained in a few temporary cells awaiting trial. The interrogation immediately began. As soon as one person was taken out, another person was brought in. The atmosphere in the county government office was very tense.

When Hua Qingfeng saw the pile of silver from Chen Muyan's house, he knew that Ye Xiaotian had won again. Register Wang could only keep his mouth shut in the face of this scene. Under these circumstances, Hua Qingfeng didn't need to investigate whether Ye Xiaotian's methods were rough and whether the procedures were legal. The only sensible thing for him to do was to take the initiative.

Therefore, Hua Qingfeng immediately reported everything that happened in Hulu County to Prefect Zhang Duo in Tongren Province. He also suggested that Prefect Zhang Duo immediately send people to the Great Mountains Department to control the relevant personnel in Tiger Pass. While Hua Qingfeng was busy reporting the situation to Prefect Zhang, Ye Xiaotian was in his detention room, interrogating the prisoners one by one.

Chen Muyan was wearing the same green robe as when he left the house last night. Because of his special status, he didn't have any instruments of torture on him. Seeing him come in, Ye Xiaotian smiled and pointed to a chair, saying, "Ambassador Chen, please sit."

Chen Muyan boldly sat down on the chair, her eyes looking straight ahead. Ye Xiaotian poured a cup of hot tea for him and gently placed it on the table next to him. He paced and smiled, saying, "Ambassador Chen, I was only doing my duty. Please forgive me."

Chen Muyan slightly closed his eyes and didn't say a word. From the looks of it, no matter what you want to do, he will send Xu Shu to the Cao camp.

Ye Xiaotian coughed and picked up an account book. He flipped through two pages and said to Chen Muyan, "Ambassador Chen, on the eighth day of last month, the goods from Chang Clan's carriage and horses were recorded as 37 boxes in your tax department's account book, and the goods ferried from Moon Bay Ferry was 57 boxes. How come there were 20 boxes less at the time of customs? It can't be that they grew wings and flew away, right? Ambassador Chen, can you dispel my doubts? "

Chen Muyan still closed his eyes and didn't say anything like that.

Ye Xiaotian smiled and said to himself, "If I were Ambassador Chen, I would say that I received 37 boxes at the customs. As for the other 20 boxes, how would I know? It has nothing to do with me. But … there's another question that I can't avoid. But … there is another question.

Ye Xiaotian circled around Chen Muyan twice and turned to face him. He bent down and the tip of his nose was almost touching Chen Muyan's forehead. He then asked, word by word, "Ambassador Chen, how do you explain the silver found in the cellar of your study?"

Chen Muyan still didn't say anything, but his cheeks twitched a few times. Ye Xiaotian straightened his back and continued to pace with his hands behind his back. He said, "Ambassador Chen, now that things have come to this, you can't deny it. Why don't you tell me the truth? Even if you don't say it, it won't help."

Chen Muyan still closed his eyes and didn't answer. The corner of his mouth slightly curled, revealing a trace of a mocking smile.

Ye Xiaotian sighed and waved his hand. "Take him away!"

The two bailiffs walked over. Chen Muyan opened her eyes and glared at Ye Xiaotian coldly. Then, she followed them out of the room. Chen Muyan walked out of the detention room just as Chang Zizai was being brought in. The two's eyes met and immediately looked away. Their faces were expressionless.

Chen Muyan walked a few steps along the corridor and suddenly frowned. "I need to relieve myself."

Chen Muyan was, after all, an official of the county. The bailiffs couldn't treat him like an ordinary criminal. The two bailiffs hesitated for a moment before leading him to the toilet in the corner. Chang Zizai was dragged into the detention room by the clanking iron shackles. He didn't receive the same treatment as Chen Muyan.

Chang Zizai entered the signing room and casually stood there with his feet slightly apart. He looked at Ye Xiaotian, who was sitting behind the desk, with a disdainful gaze. His expression was very arrogant. Ye Xiaotian's face darkened. He sternly said, "Chang Zizai, do you know your crimes?"

Chang Zizai raised his head and loudly said, "This commoner has always been a law-abiding citizen. I don't know what crimes I have committed!"

Ye Xiaotian sneered, raised the account book in his hand, and said to him, "On the eighth day of last month, your Chang Family's carriage and horses company sent 57 boxes of goods into the customs at the Moon Bay ferry. Why did it change to 37 boxes when you entered the customs? What about the 20 boxes? Why did they disappear without a trace? "

Chang Zizai mischievously said, "Second Master, this commoner's memory isn't good. I can forget yesterday's events today, let alone last month's events. Based on what you've said, it could be that the head of the boatmen deliberately overreported and embezzled the wages of the shipping company. "

Ye Xiaotian leaned forward with one hand on the table. He faintly smiled and said, "You say the head of the boatmen embezzled the wages? If your carriage and horse company didn't pay the shipping fees for the 50 boxes of goods, would the shipping company pay the boatmen the wages for the 50 boxes of goods? "

Chang Zizai unconcernedly said, "Your Excellency's words make sense. Then … he must have been robbed by bandits on his way here and 20 boxes were stolen? Or maybe the road was slippery and some of the goods fell off the cliff. Aiya, this commoner really can't remember. I'll have to trouble Your Excellency to investigate this yourself. "

Ye Xiaotian smiled and leisurely said, "Where should I go to investigate? I'll go along the small path in the back of the mountain. What do you think? "

Chang Zizai's body suddenly trembled and his expression changed greatly. Ye Xiaotian looked at him without blinking. Chang Zizai's eyes revealed extreme shock. He didn't know what Ye Xiaotian knew, nor did he know how much Ye Xiaotian knew. However, these words immediately struck a sore spot in his heart.

Ye Xiaotian laughed. This time, he really laughed. He laughed very happily. "Chang Zizai, when you were arrested, you must have been thinking about what evidence Ye Xiaotian had to dare to arrest me. If I didn't have any evidence, it would be easy for him to arrest me. If he wanted to let me go, I wouldn't have left! Isn't that right? "

Ye Xiaotian's smiling appearance looked exceptionally treacherous in Chang Zizai's eyes. "However … you were suddenly arrested by me. You must not be able to figure out what I'm relying on. If you can't figure it out and don't have the opportunity to ask others, you will definitely order your trusted aide to see if the hidden goods are in good condition."

Ye Xiaotian gently tapped his forehead and pretended to think. "But once your men find out that the goods have not been discovered, how will they tell you? Let me guess, hmm … where are they? They won't let you meet each other. If there is anything hidden, it will be discovered … ah! I have an idea! "

Ye Xiaotian clapped his hands and excitedly said to Chang Zizai, "Use a specific dish to remind me. How about it? For example, if everything is fine, make a roasted bamboo chicken. If there is an accident, make a red fermented shad. Owner Chang, you know everything outside like the back of your hand. Who can do anything to you? "

Chang Zizai's face paled as if he had seen a ghost. How could Ye Xiaotian notice the ordinary mountain road behind Chang Zizai's carriage house? How could he see such a small road and associate it with smuggling goods? What was even more frightening was that Ye Xiaotian's method of using food as a secret signal was the method he had discussed with his trusted aide before he was taken away.

Chang Zizai wished he could immediately grow wings and fly back to the carriage house. He wanted to tell his men not to check the hidden goods. Ye Xiaotian was luring the snake out of its hole! But there was nothing he could do now. He could only watch helplessly as his men walked step by step into the trap set by Ye Xiaotian. This person was simply a devil.

Chang Zizai clenched his fists tightly. His nails dug deep into his palms. Regret was like a poisonous snake that was devouring his heart. Seeing his expression, Ye Xiaotian knew that he had guessed correctly, and his mood became even more cheerful. "Owner Chang, I have left a few brothers near your carriage and horse dealership. One of them is especially good at hiding in the forest. He is the most outstanding hunter, and even the most cunning fox, as long as you are targeted by him, you will not be able to escape! Haha … "

"Sir! Ambassador Chen … Ambassador Chen has committed suicide! "A bailiff suddenly burst through the door and shouted while gasping for breath. Ye Xiaotian's laughter came to an abrupt end.

A large group of petty officials and bailiffs had gathered in front of the latrine door. They stuck their heads out and discussed. Ye Xiaotian stood in the latrine and covered his nose with a white handkerchief. He silently looked at the latrine pit in front of him.

The pool was filled with yellow soup. Because someone had fallen into it, the stench was overwhelming. On the surface of the golden soup were two official boots. They were Chen Muyan's feet. This Ambassador Chen was also a ruthless person. He had unexpectedly plunged head first into the cesspool and used such an unconventional method to end his life.

Although Chen Muyan had courted death, they were both government officials after all. They would often see each other, and there was no personal grudge between them. Ye Xiaotian couldn't just stand by and do nothing. He was silent for a long time. Then he held his breath and walked out. He said to the crowd, "Everyone, someone go find a rope and get Ambassador Chen out."

With a "huala" sound, the crowd of petty officials and bailiffs dispersed. Not a single one was left. It was unknown if they had listened to Ye Xiaotian's orders and returned to find a bamboo pole or rope. Or if they had escaped. Ye Xiaotian shook his head and called out to Old Lu who was sweeping the floor, "Old Lu, come here for a moment!"

Old Lu ran to him. Ye Xiaotian took out a silver ingot weighing two taels from his sleeve and placed it in Old Lu's hand. He said, "Go to the market and find two people. Tell them to pull Ambassador Chen out from the cesspool and get some water to wash him clean. Two taels of silver, is that enough? "

Old Lu nodded his head repeatedly. "Enough, enough, enough. Two taels of silver is enough. Don't worry, Master. Leave this matter to this old man."

Ye Xiaotian nodded his head. He glanced in the direction of the latrine and walked with heavy steps into the detention room. Old Lu beamed with joy. He put the silver ingot into his pocket and turned around to look for a rope. Looking for someone? Looking for someone? Old Lu's job was to sweep and clean. Fertile water should not flow into the fields of outsiders!