Chapter 153 - A Strange Case

The two returned to their room.

Cai Lian was still intoxicated.

“Lian’er, how do you feel about the music?” He Chuan asked.

“Ah! What did the Young Master say?” Cai Lian was pulled back to reality, she didn’t hear what he said at all.

He Chuan repeated what he said again.

“It is indeed very nice as if it can resonate with people, but I keep feeling that something is not right.” Cai Lian pursed her cherry lips, feeling a little strange.

“The zither player just now was not simple. She injected her true energy into the zither and used the Heavenly Demon Note to bring all of you into it.”

Heavenly Demon Note?

Cai Lian had never heard of it.

“It is the cultivation technique of the White Lotus Saint Cult. It seems that the martial arts world of the Central Plains is not going to be peaceful anymore.” He Chuan did not have the intention of meddling in other people’s business.

He had always liked to be quiet nature and did not want to interfere with the troubles in the martial arts world.

However, if the other party had carelessly bumped into his hands, then don’t blame him for being merciless.

He did not expect the people of the White Lotus Saint sect to be so bold. They dared to come to the vicinity of the capital and even used the Heavenly Demon Note in front of everyone. He just did not know what their purpose was.

…

The Imperial Palace.

The throne room.

“Your Majesty, recently, there have been reports from various provinces and counties that a large number of children have gone missing, but there have been no clues,” Fang Yuanqing stepped forward and reported.

Zhou Shimin’s brows were tightly furrowed.

One had to know that successive dynasties placed great importance on population.

Especially children, they represented whether the dynasty was prosperous or not.

As a result, the punishment for human trafficking in the Great Zhou laws was very severe.

Those who trafficked their beloved into slavery would be hanged. Those who trafficked people into slavery would be exiled for three thousand miles. Those who trafficked their beloved to be sold as wives, concubines, children, grandchildren, brothers, and nephews will have to do hard labor for three years. In the process of trafficking, those who killed or injured the victims because of the resistance of the victims would be subject to the same law as the law of bandits (the law of bandits would kill those who injured others, that is, beheading them). In the face of such a strict law, the traffickers would be cautious and discreet, they did not dare to rashly wake the sleeping tiger of the Imperial Court.

Now, there was actually a large-scale trafficking situation.

“Tell me the specific situation,” Zhou Shimin said with a cold face.

“According to the reports from various places, the Ministry of Justice has done a case integration and found that there are the most cases in Yangzhou. Because it is close to the coast and foreign countries, it is somewhat difficult to investigate. There are also a few experts who are being pursued. After they left, they did not send back any news. They may have already been killed,” Fang Yuanqing said in detail.

“This is too arrogant! This group of human traffickers actually dared to kill our great Zhou constables!”

“That’s right, we should kill the human traffickers’ Families!”

When the ministers heard that the human traffickers were so arrogant, they could not sit still. The other party clearly did not care about the Imperial Court.

To be so arrogant and even dare to kill the Imperial Court’s constables was an additional crime.

Moreover, from what Fang Yuanqing said, it was not only Yangzhou that had similar incidents, but the people in Yangzhou were more arrogant.

“Reporting to your Majesty, the Lantian County Magistrate is waiting outside the Imperial Palace. He says that he has something urgent to report!” The Imperial Guards reported.

Lantian County wasn’t far from the capital. It only took an hour to ride over.

“Announce!” A bad feeling rose in Zhou Shimin’s heart. If the Lantian County Magistrate had something to report, he would write a memorial to report it. Why did he come personally this time?

He even specially came to the morning court.

Something big must have happened in Lantian County.

At this moment, Lantian County Magistrate rushed in and knelt on the ground. “Your Majesty, Lantian County has received 18 cases today. All of them are missing-person cases. I really have no choice.”

Lantian County was too close to the capital. This Lantian County Magistrate did not dare to hide anything. Otherwise, if someone went to the capital, it would be a small matter if he could not keep his job. Even his head would be in danger.

He might as well come to the courtroom and complain. He could even ask the Imperial Court for help.

“Someone, drag him out and beat him up forty times. beat him up!” Zhou Shimin was extremely angry.

How did Lantian County manage public security?

Eighteen people went missing in one night.

It was already a blessing that he did not ask and kill him directly.

“This minister doesn’t blame Lantian County Magistrate. The human traffickers this time are obviously different. They should be made up of experts. The specific goal is unknown.” Fang Yuanqing secretly sighed at Lantian County Magistrate’s bad luck. They were still discussing this case just now, however, he directly hit the gun.

Zhou Shimin recovered from his thoughts and pondered for a moment.

“I will send an experts to help the Ministry of Justice investigate this case thoroughly. We must investigate to the end!”

The group behind the scenes was really too arrogant. Lantian County was so close to the capital, yet they dared to commit a crime.

Not only were they bold and reckless, but they were also provoking the Imperial Court.

…

Old friend bids farewell to me at Yellow Crane Tower. In scenic third month, he heads down to Yangzhou. The lone sail vanishes at the end of faraway blue sky. Only surging Yangtze merging with horizon is seen.1

Yangzhou City could be said to be one of the more famous cities of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It was bordered by the surging Yangtze River in the south and the Grand Canal between the capital and Hangzhou in the east. It had always been a scenic city with beautiful scenery.

He Chuan brought his little palace maid, Cai Lian, and slowly continued to tour the Great Zhou River and mountains.

On the way, he would occasionally give Cai Lian some pointers on her cultivation.

Although Cai Lian had a kind heart, she was very intelligent. Recently, her progress in cultivation was very fast.

With the help of He Chuan’s system’s medicinal pills, she had already become an expert in Xiantian’s fifth stage.

In addition, her progress in the Sunflower Bible was also very fast. She could easily condense energy into needles.

“Who are you? Show your identity!” The soldiers in Yangzhou City were very strict. No matter if you were an ordinary person or an aristocrat, you had to show your identity. Otherwise, you could not enter the city.

He Chuan showed the gold medal with a five-clawed golden dragon carved on it.

This was given to him by Zhou Shiming.

If he knew it was so troublesome, He Chuan would have simply taken Cai Lian to avoid the interrogation.

The soldier obviously didn’t recognize the gold medal, so he asked the sergeant to check it.

Soon, the sergeant trotted over and respectfully returned the medal to He Chuan.

“I didn’t know the Lord was here. Please forgive me!”

“Those who do not know are not guilty. The matter of me coming to Yangzhou must be kept a secret.” He Chuan would not argue with the other party. Moreover, he did not want others to know his whereabouts.

If the matter was not sudden, he would not have chosen to show the gold medal.

The commander respectfully sent the two of them into the city.

“Boss, why is the Lord of the capital coming to Yangzhou? Are you really not going to tell our Magistrate?” A soldier asked in a low voice.

“What do you know? Can’t you see that the entire Yangzhou City is under martial law? This Lord from the capital might be secretly visiting. If we dare to make a ruckus everywhere, no one will be able to keep their heads. So keep your mouths shut.” The Sergeant kicked the soldier in a bad mood.

How could Yangzhou Magistrate be as powerful as the officials of the capital? Moreover, He Chuan had a gold medal. He was obviously a person by the Emperor’s side. He could clearly distinguish who was more important.

“Boss, what exactly is the matter? The martial law has already been in effect for so long. When will it end?” The soldier said somewhat helplessly.

“Lower your voice. I heard that it’s about the disappearance of people. The Imperial Court attaches great importance to it.” The Sergent shook his head. Of course, he also wanted to end it as soon as possible.

Who would be willing to stand outside in the cold to investigate.

However, the Magistrate had already ordered that everyone must be thoroughly investigated. Not even a fly could be spared.

Otherwise, the worst-case scenario would be imprisonment, and the worst-case scenario would be losing one’s head.

It could be seen that the matter was really very serious. No one dared to have any other thoughts.

Cai Lian was already a Xiantian expert, so she could naturally hear what the sergent said.

“Young Master! Along the way, it seems that many places are very strict.”

“The Imperial Court will naturally send people to deal with it. We don’t need to worry,” He Chuan said.