Chapter 18

(When I looked in the morning, my heart sank, as they had fallen off both lists. I said I would update three times today, so why is it still so miserable? I beg for your support, comfort, and a spot on the list! Otherwise, I'll jump off the building for you to see!!)

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Hu Liuliu had arranged plainclothes constables at all the key points two days in advance, originally to prevent the Zhao family from fleeing. Who would have thought that six burly men, carrying bundles and looking anxious, would run into them head-on.

The constables were sharp-eyed and knew at a glance that these guys were trying to escape. They moved forward to question them, but after a few questions, the six men fled in panic. The constables, being short-handed, only managed to catch three of them.

Although Hu Liuliu was rough and tough, he was skilled at bluffing. He quickly made He Chang reveal his weakness.

"My master means that the six of them left early, who knows why these three came back," He Chang said, making a slip of the tongue. He Fu quickly tried to cover up, winking at the three men, but they had walnuts stuffed in their mouths and could only make muffled sounds.

"Since the suspects have confessed as such," Hu Liuliu ignored He Chang's words and said to He Chang, "We should still search to clear your name."

"..." He Chang's face darkened, and after a long pause, he nodded reluctantly.

"Do not disturb the family members, and do not damage the property!" Hu Liuliu instructed his subordinates and then turned to He Chang, "Please have the ladies of the house come out to avoid any improper behavior from the constables."

"I only have women in my inner chambers, no men!" He Chang said with a grim face. He had recovered from his shock and realized he was being set up, but he thought it was likely for extortion: "Constable Hu, leave a line for the future! I, He Chang, am known as the 'Second Mengchang,' and everything can be negotiated!"

"Old Hu is giving you face," Hu Liuliu said with a sincere smile. "A thorough search will prove your innocence. If we search the front but not the back, the ruffians will have something to say."

"Heh..." He Chang found himself cornered, with no choice but to let them do as they pleased. He glared at Wang Xian, who was already sitting in a chair, wishing he could devour him alive!

Wang Xian, with his head wrapped like a spindle, grinned at him, making He Chang almost faint from anger.

He Fu hurried to the inner chambers to notify the women. This time, the wait was much longer. It took nearly half an hour for the six wives and their maids, along with some other female servants, totaling over twenty women, to gather in the main hall.

The constables, who had been waiting impatiently, rushed in and began a thorough search.

"Hey, don't break anything in my room!"

"If anything is missing, you'll have to pay for it!"

"Is there no law? You dare to search a family like ours!"

The women chattered like birds, turning the front hall into a market...

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He Chang and the other men went to the back to supervise, leaving only Hu Liuliu and Wang Xian in the flower hall.

Hu Liuliu didn't idle, stepping into the "market" and scanning the women with his eagle-like gaze. However, he was met with a chorus of scolding:

"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen beautiful women before?"

"Where are your lecherous eyes staring?"

"Dig out your lecherous eyes if you keep looking!"

"Get out quickly, or I'll report you for harassing decent women!"

Seeing them scold and surge forward, Hu Liuliu fled, leaving behind a wave of laughter.

Back in the flower hall, Hu Liuliu looked at his two subordinates, who were actually Tian Qi and Lin Qing'er in disguise, tasked with identifying people.

Both shook their heads. Hu Liuliu had braved the storm to give them enough time, but they hadn't seen Zhao's figure, not even a similar one.

"Hmm..." Hu Liuliu glanced at Wang Xian, who was sitting in a chair, and whispered, "Could it be that Zhao is not here?"

Tian Qi and Lin Qing'er also became nervous. All their plans today were based on the assumption that Zhao was here!

Wang Xian, with his palms sweating and his mouth dry, tried to remain calm: "No way, she wouldn't dare show her face. She must be hiding somewhere." Seeing Hu Liuliu's skeptical expression, he quickly explained, "He Chang wouldn't leave her outside. Otherwise, he would always worry about someone seeing her or her being exposed. Besides, he is a lecher and wouldn't let Zhao, such a beauty, go untouched. Meeting her outside would be troublesome, and frequent visits would eventually expose him."

Hu Liuliu nodded, having interrogated the three men outside and knowing that He Chang rarely went out and had no regular schedule. From a safety perspective, hiding her in a secret room was better than meeting in a public place!

"What should we do then?"

"I heard that is He Chang's only son," Wang Xian looked at a cute little boy playing with a cricket, accompanied by a maid.

"I had the same idea," Hu Liuliu nodded, and they exchanged a look of mutual respect.

So, they decided that Hu Liuliu would bring the child back and use a combination of threats and persuasion to get the truth. However, this might stir up a hornet's nest and make it difficult to control the situation.

While they were frowning, Lin Qing'er volunteered, "I'll go!"

"Can you do it?" Hu Liuliu frowned, as time was precious.

"Just watch," Lin Qing'er huffed and strode out.

The maid, Qiuxiang, was idly watching the young master when she saw a handsome young man with rosy lips and clear features walk over. She had never seen anyone wear a constable's uniform so well, though he was too thin, making her feel a pang of sympathy...

However, the young man wasn't interested in her. He squatted down to play with the young master, showing genuine affection... Qiuxiang's heart was flooded with infatuation.

Lin Qing'er quickly became friends with the eight-year-old boy. As they caught crickets, she asked:

"What's your name?"

"Da Bao..."

"Seems like your parents treasure you a lot."

"Of course," the boy said proudly.

"How many mothers do you have?" Seeing they were far enough from the maid, Lin Qing'er asked softly.

"Seven..." the boy answered without hesitation: "First Mother, Second Mother, Third Mother, Fourth Mother, Fifth Mother, Sixth Mother, Seventh Mother."

Lin Qing'er's heart tightened, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Why do I only see six?"

"Seventh Mother is strange and never shows herself to outsiders," the boy pouted. "Third Mother says she's a rat spirit who hides in holes when she sees strangers."

"Nonsense, how can a person hide in a hole?" Lin Qing'er's heart was racing.

"Believe it or not," the boy said, annoyed.

"Is there really a hole?"

"Yes," the boy nodded innocently.

"Where is it?"

"Sixth Mother says it's under my father's bed, but I've never seen it... Hey, where are you going?"

"To the toilet."

"The toilet is at the back..."

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A short while later, Hu Liuliu arrived in the back yard, where the search was almost over, having found only a few human hairs...

Zhang Mazi came up, wiping sweat, "Boss, what now?"

Hu Liuliu ignored him and walked into the north room, where he saw He Chang smirking, "Constable Hu, we need to talk."

"Not yet," Hu Liuliu stepped into the room, which was luxuriously furnished with carpets on the floor, golden vases with plum blossoms, and furniture made of sandalwood with silk cushions. The tableware was fine gold-embossed porcelain, and the chopsticks were made of ivory.

Hu Liuliu's eyes fixed on the wine and dishes on the table, "Who was Justice drinking with?"

"Just now, with my wife."

"Which one?" Hu Liuliu asked, subtly giving a signal.

"Uh..." He Chang's heart skipped a beat.

"Is Justice's memory so poor?" Hu Liuliu didn't give him a chance to think.

He Chang took a deep breath and loudly said, "My Fifth Wife!" He hoped that He Fu and the others would be smart enough to go and collude.

However, when Hu Liuliu asked this question, he had already ordered his men to guard the moon gate, preventing anyone from entering or leaving, and sent Zhang Mazi to the front to verify.

As they waited, Hu Liuliu greedily examined the room's furnishings, cursing the rich landowner's luxurious life. His daughter's wedding dowry wasn't even as good as this...

He Chang, on the other hand, was in agony, having lost his previous arrogance. He walked up to Hu Liuliu and said humbly, "Constable Hu, if you like anything, I'll have it sent to your house."

"I like everything..." Hu Liuliu blurted out, then laughed, "My family is small, and we can't afford such expensive things."

"Not at all..." He Chang wiped his sweat, "I misspoke. You, of course, would buy new ones." He whispered, "A thousand taels of silver, and Constable Hu will let me go." In this era, paper money had depreciated, and the ban on gold and silver transactions made them even more valuable.

Hu Liuliu, who earned about a hundred taels of silver a year, was tempted. This would save him ten years of hard work!

But he swallowed the word 'yes.' No matter how much money, he needed to live to spend it. He wasn't afraid of the county magistrate's blame but feared Wang Xingye, who was drying salt in Shaoxing. Wang's father, a long-time criminal clerk, knew all about his corrupt deeds, enough to send him to his death eight times!

Thinking about it, he realized that as long as he arrested He Chang, he could extract any amount of money. Why rush? Hu Liuliu made up his mind and fell silent.

"I'll add five gold bars!" He Chang gritted his teeth, "Or you name the price, and I'll give it to you, even if it means bankruptcy!"

Hu Liuliu looked at him, thinking he was a formidable opponent, but it was too late. He remained silent.

"Constable Hu, don't push me too far!" He Chang, seeing his pleas were in vain, showed his true colors, "When the time comes, even the county magistrate will suffer!"

"Let's wait for Justice's clever move," Hu Liuliu stood up, seeing Zhang Mazi return.

"It's a mess. They all denied it, but I made them think and finally got them to agree it was the Sixth Wife," Zhang Mazi laughed, "Justice, what do you think?"

He Chang said coolly, "I was having an affair with a maid, and they don't know!"

"Which maid?" Hu Liuliu, seeing his stubbornness, said coldly.

"No need to ask. She won't admit it, or she'll be killed by my wife," He Chang had his story ready.

"Hum, I think it's a hidden beauty!" Hu Liuliu, tearing off the mask, slammed the table, "Tear his bed apart!"

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