Chapter 470
The sun shone brightly early in the morning, and news of the Changxing Inn incident spread through the streets and alleys of Liuxian County as if it had grown wings.
"What did you say?" Constable Miao, who was eating porridge, put his bowl back on the table with a clatter, frowning at his wife. "Tell me exactly what happened."
"Oh, you're an official of the yamen, and you're asking me, a woman?" Madam Xie snorted impatiently. For twenty days out of thirty, he could be at the yamen, and whenever asked, he would say he was arresting criminals. Those who didn't know would think the yamen was so busy, but what was the result? Bah, they were all no good.
"Shut up, second child's wife, just say it properly when you're told!" Seeing her second son's displeased expression, the mother-in-law scolded him with a stern face. Although they were cousins, they should have restrained their temper after getting married. How could she speak to her own husband like that?
Seeing that both her parents-in-law looked displeased, Madam Xie dared not put on airs anymore. "When I went to buy vegetables just now, I heard it from Uncle Qi, the fish seller. Last night..."
It was not uncommon for the yamen to arrest people in the middle of the night. Constable Miao often did so when he was on duty. The reason this news spread so quickly was that there were kidnappers involved. The key was that these kidnappers were released shortly after being imprisoned, and they even brought constables to the inn.
"Mother, this is not me gossiping. Aunt Hu was there too. She went to the inn to deliver meat yesterday evening and saw the young girl. She even said the girl was spirited."
As Madam Xie mentioned it, Madam Miao also remembered this. She looked at her son, whose face was grim, and said, "That's right. Aunt Hu also said that Xiao Ling was too dark, unlike the young girl at the inn, who was as white as a peeled egg."
Madam Miao and the neighbors in the alley had comforted them at the time, saying that those who could afford rooms at the Changxing Inn must be young ladies from wealthy families who didn't have to work, so they were naturally fair and tender. Unlike the young girls in their own homes, who helped with chores from the age of five or six, and some even had to go to the fields, which made them tanned and dark.
"That young girl was educated. The calluses on her fingers were all from holding a brush." Constable Miao stood up. Even though he didn't know the girl's background, she was definitely not a country bumpkin. He was the one who sent those two kidnappers to prison, so how could they have left in the middle of the night?
Seeing her son striding out of the house, Madam Miao shouted, "Second child, aren't you eating breakfast..."
Constable Miao, who had left home in a hurry, turned a corner and walked directly towards the Changxing Inn. From a distance, he saw many people pointing and gesturing at the inn, and four constables were guarding the entrance.
He walked over quickly, poked his head inside, and said, "Brother Sheng."
"Don't ask too much, and don't interfere. We'll do as the higher-ups say," Cao Sheng said, placing a hand on Constable Miao's shoulder and lowering his voice. "If the superior asks, just say what you know."
Constable Miao had been working at the yamen for seven or eight years. At this moment, Cao Sheng's reminder made him realize that he was not qualified to inquire about this matter, otherwise, it would be inviting trouble.
However, thinking of Zhan Feiyu's well-behaved little appearance, Constable Miao couldn't help but say, "That young girl is an educated person, and her family must be extraordinary. Aren't they afraid?"
If they were ordinary people, it would be fine. But this young girl lived at the Changxing Inn, had maids and attendants, and traveled in two carriages. This was not an ordinary family.
"It depends on whose background is stronger who will be the ultimate victor," Cao Sheng sneered. Since some people dared to do it, they naturally had the confidence. If they really fell into trouble, it would be considered eliminating a scourge for the people.
When He Nuan brought the breakfast to the table, the onlookers outside the inn had already been dispersed by the constables, and the lobby was quiet. The excessive quietness actually exuded a sense of strangeness.
"Miss." He Nuan glanced at the constables guarding the entrance, then handed the porridge to Zhan Feiyu.
If they were indoors, Zhan Feiyu would definitely have asked He Nuan to sit down and eat together, without so many formalities. But outside, He Nuan strictly followed the rules, and Zhan Feiyu did not speak, slowly eating her breakfast.
A quarter of an hour later.
"Sir." The group of constables guarding the entrance spoke in unison.
County Lieutenant Cheng still had a stern face. When he saw Cao Sheng, Constable Miao, and others, his expression became even more displeased. After all, the few constables who followed his lead were still lying in the infirmary, with the least serious injury being a broken leg. With a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, they would not be able to return to duty at the yamen for a while.
"Constable Miao, follow me inside." After saying that, County Lieutenant Cheng strode towards the inn.
Cao Sheng gave Constable Miao a look, signaling him not to meddle in other people's business, and then continued to guard the entrance of the inn with his subordinates.
"The little girl is quite bold." A booming voice sounded sinisterly. County Lieutenant Cheng looked coldly at Zhan Feiyu, who was slowly eating.
Surrounded by the constables from the yamen, let alone a young girl, even an adult would tremble with fear. The girl in front of him was either overconfident or simply foolishly brave due to her young age.
Without even a glance at County Lieutenant Cheng, who was in official uniform, Zhan Feiyu continued to eat the sweet douhua with a spoon. After finishing a small bowl, she took the handkerchief handed by He Nuan to wipe her mouth.