Chapter 1788 - 1726: Cold Case
Chapter 1788: Chapter 1726: Cold Case
Leaving the Tea House, Ah Jiu’s group headed towards Gu County. On the way, they passed through two villages, both showing signs of being ravaged by the heavy snow. Some villagers were busy repairing, wearing clothes full of patches.
The guards inquired, and there was nothing but resounding grievances—cursing Heaven, the emperor, the high officials, and some even cursing Prefect He, though a few believed he was wronged.
Upon entering Gu County and settling down at the inn, after washing up, Ah Jiu listened to the reports from Yuan Ye and others, detailing organized information.
"...The officials who escorted the Official Silver personally handed it over to He Quanchang, with ink on white paper and signatures verifying everything was accounted for. However, the county magistrates have yet to receive the disaster relief silver. Upon inquiry, Prefect He hadn’t received it, and someone first spread rumors accusing Prefect He of embezzling this silver. In less than a day, Prefect He was reported to Great Marshal Gao Zhengfang in Northern Shaanxi."
Prefect He was accused of embezzlement, an affair seemingly unrelated to the Great Marshal as a Military Officer. Yet, part of that disaster relief silver was meant as military provisions to appease the Northern Shaanxi Army.
If Prefect He even embezzled the Northern Shaanxi Army’s military provisions, isn’t that courting death? Great Marshal Gao immediately dispatched troops to surround the prefectural office, and within two days, Prefect He bit his tongue and committed suicide. The same day, his wife and children were found dead by hanging.
Everyone was dead, but the Silver was nowhere to be found. Great Marshal Gao was furious, digging through the entire prefectural office without uncovering a single coin. Although all evidence pointed to Prefect He embezzling the disaster relief silver, the absence of the silver turned the case into a mystery.
"What about his youngest daughter?" Liang Bang asked. "How come she’s missing? Why isn’t she at home?"
Everyone had died, leaving only this one behind, hmm, very suspicious.
"Prefect He’s youngest daughter, He Mingya, is thirteen this year. At the age of eight, she was reportedly possessed by a ghost. A Taoist Nun came to the He family to perform exorcisms, claiming Miss He’s physique is yin, prone to attracting evil spirits, and should be raised under the protection of a Bodhisattva or Buddha. Hence, the He family sent her to the temple, outwardly stating she has a severe illness and is resting quietly at the estate. She hasn’t appeared for a long time, and over time, people have forgotten about Second Miss He."
"She’s not at the temple either?" Ah Jiu asked.
"According to the Taoist Nun at the temple, someone from the He family visited Second Miss He after the incident. That night, she vanished," Yuan Ye replied. "Currently, even Great Marshal Gao’s people are searching for the Second Miss."
"This Second Miss He either knows the whereabouts of the disaster relief silver or understands the truth of what happened." Ah Jiu mused, "We need to find this girl quickly, before Great Marshal Gao’s people do, and beware of anyone trying to silence her."
"You suspect Great Marshal Gao?" Liang Bang asked.
Ah Jiu lowered his eyes and said, "I suspect everyone, including Prefect He. Since the truth hasn’t been uncovered, anyone is capable of pocketing that disaster relief silver."
Nearly five hundred thousand taels of Silver isn’t a small amount.
"Two things: Find that disaster relief silver, and locate Miss He." Ah Jiu instructed, "Also investigate whether the disaster relief silver was truly handed over to Prefect He."
"Yes." Yuan Ye accepted the order and left.
"Then what shall we do?" Liang Bang asked.
Ah Jiu glanced at him sideways and said, "We came here to conduct business, naturally we should seek opportunities to make some trades, earn some Silver to buy flowers for wives and daughters."
Liang Bang raised his eyebrows.