novelAbuy Chapter 18 Li 2 learns the truth about Liu Siyuan's embezzlement
Chapter 18 Li 2 learns the truth about Liu Siyuan's embezzlement
Li Shimin slowly walked forward, his expression even more solemn than before.
He looked at the two arrows on the wall, then at the direction where Ye Yuhang had disappeared.
"He didn't miss; he held back."
Li Shimin stretched out his hand and pointed to the angle at which the arrow had entered the wall.
"Given the speed of that arrow and his accuracy..."
If I were to take your lives, you would already be corpses.
Li Shimin's voice carried an unprecedented level of vigilance.
"Jingde, Zhijie, this person... is no ordinary person."
He could sense that the assassin was leaving.
The murderous intent in his eyes wasn't directed at them, but rather a far greater rage.
"Boss, what should we do now?"
Are we just going to let him get away like this?
Yuchi Gong slapped his thigh hard, his face full of resentment.
But he had to admit that the man's martial arts skills were indeed exceptionally high.
"Let's go into the mansion and see if that Magistrate Liu is really as 'deserving to die' as he says."
Li Shimin waved his hand and stepped through the small door that was already in complete chaos.
His ominous premonition grew stronger and stronger.
Instinctively told him,
This assassin is inextricably linked to the name he had heard in River Creek Village.
Fang Xuanling followed closely behind, his wise eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
"Your Majesty, I also feel something is amiss."
This place is too quiet, yet it exudes an aura of death.
He lowered his voice to remind him.
As a strategist for the Tang Dynasty, he sensed a conspiracy.
The four of them quickly walked through the corridor and headed straight for the study in the back garden.
Before even entering the house, a strong smell of blood filled the air.
Inside the study, Wang was weeping bitterly over Liu Siyuan's corpse.
"You damned thief!"
They don't even spare an honest official; Heaven has no eyes!
Her cries echoed through the desolate mansion, disturbing everyone's peace of mind.
"Stop crying!"
How exactly do people die?
Cheng Yaojin roared, startling Wang Shi so much that she immediately fell silent.
He strode into the house and looked at Liu Siyuan lying in a pool of blood.
"Your Majesty, look, that was a really ruthless move."
A single shot to the throat, leaving not even a complete corpse.
Li Shimin ignored Cheng Yaojin and slowly scanned the study.
Soon, he was drawn to the dark, hidden compartment under the floor tiles.
In that hidden compartment, there were still several ingots of gold that hadn't been taken with them.
It gleamed in the candlelight.
Scattered around were unassembled jewels and jade, each piece priceless.
Cheng Yaojin followed Li Shimin's gaze and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"These...these things..."
He stammered as he spoke.
It felt like I had been slapped dozens of times across the face; the pain was intense.
Yuchi Gong also came closer, looking at the treasures scattered on the ground.
He was so angry his eyes almost popped out.
"That corrupt official! He always acts like a beggar."
They wouldn't even let us have a sip of tea!
He turned his head abruptly.
He looked at Wang, who was still trembling, with murderous intent.
"Is this the honest official you were talking about?"
"This wealth, earned through the people's hard-earned money, is enough to buy half of Qingyang City!"
"These... these are all the assets accumulated by my master..."
Wang is still trying to make excuses.
But seeing Li Shimin's cold gaze, her voice grew softer and softer.
She knew that the people in front of her...
She couldn't possibly fool them.
She collapsed to the ground, her previous fierce demeanor vanishing instantly.
Li Shimin squatted down and picked up a gold ingot.
The words "Border Army Pay" were clearly engraved on it.
His anger finally erupted completely at this moment.
"Deducting military pay and plundering the people's wealth,"
They were even able to roam freely on the borders of the Tang Dynasty.
He turned his head and looked at Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong.
"Is this the honest official you all call a 'pity'?"
Li Shimin's voice was deep.
"If it weren't for that 'thief' tonight, how much longer would I have been deceived by this corrupt official?"
He slammed the gold ingot to the ground with a deafening thud.
Cheng Yaojin and his companion were so ashamed they wished they could disappear into the ground.
They led troops in battle during the Tang Dynasty, boasting of having seen countless people.
Yet he was completely outmaneuvered by a mere county magistrate.
"Master, I know I was wrong."
That corrupt official... he deserved to be killed!
Cheng Yaojin spat fiercely at Liu Siyuan's corpse and then kicked him.
"Tell me, why was he packing his things in the middle of the night?"
When Li Shimin walked up to Wang Shi, he released his imperial aura without reservation.
He didn't want to hear about those corrupt and messy accounts; he cared more about the words Ye Yuhang had just said.
What does "we'll find out tomorrow" mean?
Wang was so frightened that she trembled violently and didn't even dare to lift her head.
"Master...Master said that they made contact with the outside world half a month ago..."
She spoke haltingly, tears and snot mingling together.
"He said he would take advantage of the chaos in Qingyang City tomorrow to escape through the north gate with the treasure..."
"Great chaos? Why would there be such great chaos?"
Fang Xuanling keenly grasped the key information and quickly stepped forward to ask further questions.
Qingyang City is a vital border town; if it falls into chaos...
How should the millions of people in the rear cope?
"I really don't know... The master never talks to me about official business..."
Wang kowtowed desperately, and blood quickly seeped from her forehead.
He only said... only said that I should do it before 11 PM tomorrow.
Everything must be loaded into the car…
She cried as she pointed at the already packed bundles, her eyes filled with terror.
Li Shimin walked out of his study and stood in the dilapidated courtyard.
"1-3 PM...that would be tomorrow afternoon."
He looked up at the starry sky in the north.
"Xuanling, I always feel that outside Qingyang City..."
"Thousands upon thousands of hungry wolves are watching us."
"Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance."
We need to notify the city defenses immediately.
Fang Xuanling said with deep concern.
If the soldiers defending the city can't even get enough to eat, how can the city be defended?
Just then, a series of chaotic footsteps came from outside the mansion.
A soldier who appeared to be a commander led dozens of men into the courtyard and surrounded Li Shimin and his three companions without saying a word.
"How dare you commit murder in the county magistrate's residence!"
Take them all!
Li Shimin stood there, far from angry.
Instead, he revealed a cold smile.
"We haven't even gone to them yet, and they've already come to us."
He gestured for Cheng Yaojin to step forward and handle the situation.
This is a trivial matter, not worth his personal attention.
He wanted to see what the soldiers of Qingyang City were like.
How many of them are still sober?
Cheng Yaojin strode forward casually and pulled out the waist token that symbolized his identity as a shadow guard from his pocket.
"Open your dog eyes and see clearly."
"With officials appointed by the imperial court on inspection tours, who dares to act recklessly!"
His roar was thunderous, and he thought he could scare these inexperienced soldiers into kneeling and begging for mercy.
Unexpectedly, the leader merely glanced at him sideways and then let out a cold laugh.
"Who are you trying to fool with this fake piece of metal?"
Brothers, the assassin resisted arrest; kill him without mercy!