Free Web NovelChapter 679: Chapter 679: Thief Caught
"Not difficult at all, right?"
Qin Yao shrugged, smiling at Imperial Censor Qi, whose eyes were filled with conflict: "As for whether you want to impeach or not, that’s entirely up to your own conscience."
That being said, once the martial artist reached the government office, he would inevitably report the matter.
And as an imperial censor who knew about it beforehand, if he only submitted the impeachment document after the government, what would the civil and military officials think? What would his fellow censors think?
What would Your Majesty think?
Qin Yao added another comment: "Do you think every time the censors file an impeachment, the evidence is always undeniable before they submit their documents?"
Qin Yao shook her head; she didn’t believe it.
Raising suspicion and gathering evidence are tasks of two different departments.
"Even if this is merely baseless slander, your impeachment can at least make the Crown Prince wary of those around him who like to spread rumors. After all, taking a step back, doesn’t the Crown Prince concern himself with these rumors in the slightest?"
Qin Yao spoke with an air of righteousness: "If this matter is true, should the law bow to the unlawful? The foundation of Sheng Country has been destroyed by those who despise the royal law!"
In summary, "Whether to impeach or not is still up to your own conscience."
Imperial Censor Qi was left speechless. Qin Yao had said everything, leaving him with nothing more to add.
Every sentence ended with "up to your own conscience," really pushing him to escalate the matter.
If he didn’t know that this family had just moved to the Capital City and had no significant connections, he might suspect they were acting on behalf of the Princess Mansion.
Once this matter was exposed, the Princess, who had been severely impeached by the scholars recently, would probably laugh out loud.
The crowd outside the Qi Mansion grew larger, leaving Imperial Censor Qi with little time to ponder.
At the steward’s urging, Imperial Censor Qi scowled at Qin Yao and shouted outside: "Someone!"
Two guards stationed nearby immediately ran in.
Imperial Censor Qi pointed at the martial artist, "Take this thief out and hand him over to the workshop owner, see how much he has stolen."
The guards didn’t hesitate and swiftly carried out the martial artist.
The martial artist looked gratefully at Qin Yao and cooperatively followed the two guards.
The two guards, knowing most of the truth, curiously sized him up, amazed at how someone could escape from the East Palace Black Cavalry; truly an impressive feat.
The martial artist smiled bitterly; in such a situation, anyone would struggle as fiercely as he did, if they wished to live.
Everyone then followed the proceedings.
The Qi Family opened the gates, and the crowd surged into the courtyard; all were familiar faces from the evening banquet at Qin Yao’s home.
The workshop owner hadn’t attended the banquet in the afternoon but had sent someone to convey congratulations. However, he had met Qin Yao when she purchased the house earlier, and everyone was curious seeing her in the Qi Family courtyard.
Imperial Censor Qi raised his hand to signal for silence and explained: "This thief stole some possessions and was attempting to escape over the wall but accidentally fell into our back alley. Miss Qin, being highly skilled in martial arts, apprehended the thief in no time."
The workshop owner found this explanation odd. Moreover, the martial artist, held by the guards, didn’t appear panic-stricken like a thief caught red-handed, nor did he beg for mercy, arousing the owner’s suspicion.
But now was not the time to investigate closely. After exchanging a glance with Imperial Censor Qi and seeing him nod without further explanation, he had no choice but to suppress his doubts.
The others, however, were less scrutinizing. Wealth easily sways the heart; even those who knew they hadn’t lost anything wanted to join the excitement, eager to see how much treasure could be seized, hoping perhaps for a share of the loot.
Amidst the scrutiny, the workshop owner personally led the search, "rattling" out over a dozen copper coins.
Liu Ji, mingling with the crowd, winced at the sight; this was a small portion of his scarce private stash!
"Is this all there is?"
"Weren’t we told there’d be much more treasure?"
"Who said that just now?"
"Seems like... huh? Who spread the word?"
Attributing it to an unfamiliar face in the dark night, the crowd couldn’t immediately recall the appearance of the informant who raised the alarm.
Amidst the murmurs of dissatisfaction, Liu Ji retreated quietly, preserving his anonymity.
After Qin Yao explained the capture process to the workshop owner, she waited for Imperial Censor Qi to take charge and have the workshop owner deliver the thief to the government office the next day before she departed.
After all, catching a thief was still an achievement, and those keen on watching the drama willingly volunteered to assist in escorting the thief to the government.
Once one person volunteered, others followed suit, and before long, over ten people had signed up to join.
Normally, for such affairs, fewer people meant fewer troubles; one or two people escorting the thief would suffice. The workshop owner intended to refuse, but Imperial Censor Qi secretly prevented him.
Already harboring suspicions, the workshop owner could no longer hold back and pulled Qi aside to quietly inquire:
"Lord Qi, what’s really going on? Is that thief truly a thief?"
Imperial Censor Qi knew he couldn’t conceal the truth from him but dared not reveal the whole story either, cryptically saying:
"Don’t worry about whether he is a thief or not, just deliver him to the government office, and it won’t concern you anymore."
The workshop owner wished to probe further, but Imperial Censor Qi sternly shook his head, "Don’t ask anymore. Knowing too much won’t be good for you."
The workshop owner was taken aback. Imperial Censor Qi seldom interacted with their neighbors, so receiving even this reminder from him suggested that matters were indeed complicated.
Not daring to inquire further, he planned to take along over ten people and deliver the martial artist to the government office as soon as the curfew lifted the next day.
The martial artist was taken away by the workshop owner, initially confined in the woodshed at his home before summoning a man from Zhang Guizhi’s family, who worked at the government office, to keep watch. With this, the matter reached a temporary conclusion.
However, just as Qin Yao’s family thought they could retire for the night, having settled the affair...
The curfew forbade moving about, yet on the main street outside the square, a troop of guards suddenly entered Kuanzheng Square.
The commotion from the thief-catching wasn’t small, and the noise reached neighboring markets, catching the attention of those pursuing the martial artist, who would notice if they paid even slight attention.
The sound of hooves echoed on the silent street, stirring the half-asleep residents of Kuanzheng Square, who’d just gathered for the excitement of catching the thief.
Ah Wang jumped down from his wall and knocked on Qin Yao’s door, his expression grave: "Madam, it’s the Crown Prince Mansion’s Black Cavalry."
The study door next door gently opened, and Liu Ji, draped in a cloak, stealthily approached, anxiously glancing at the direction of the main gate:
"How did they come so quickly? If the martial artist gets discovered, won’t our efforts tonight be in vain?"
Qin Yao gestured, "Not entirely in vain. At least we won’t be silenced."
Liu Ji thought about it; indeed, now that the entire Kuanzheng Square had seen the martial artist, he doubted the Black Cavalry dared massacre innocent townsfolk right under the Imperial City’s nose.
The door of the neighboring house was knocked by the Black Cavalry, soon followed by knockings on several households nearby, both near and far.
Liu Ji’s heart tightened, "Are they searching each house one by one?"
Just as he spoke, he heard a team stop at his own door.
The three exchanged a knowing look, reaching an understanding.
Liu Ji briskly moved towards the courtyard where the children slept, Ah Wang hid in the shadows, and Qin Yao took a deep breath, standing behind the main door.
