Chapter 216: Chapter 216

"My lord! What has happened?" Vice Magistrate Wang also stepped forward to inquire.

Prefect Jiang’s expression was solemn as he handed the letter in his hand to Vice Magistrate Wang and several others, "See for yourselves!"

"What? None of the people we sent came back? These mountain bandits are so formidable? Even Prefect Qin’s men only had one survivor return?" Vice Magistrate Wang was also extremely surprised after reading the letter. He was too shocked, knowing that the people they sent were skilled, not to mention there were Prefect Qin’s subordinates accompanying them.

"So you’re saying this survivor was released to bring back a message?" Liu Donghai analyzed.

Why didn’t they kill everyone if they had the ability? Leaving a survivor surely meant there was a message to be brought back.

"Did the mountain bandit leader send any message?" The content of the letter was very brief, and many things were not mentioned, only that one survivor remained.

"Lord Jiang! This is of utmost importance! Our lord did not elaborate in the letter, only instructed me verbally to prevent the letter from falling into the wrong hands!"

Seeing Wang Hui’s solemn expression, Prefect Jiang felt this mountain bandit situation was extremely tricky. He and Prefect Qin had known each other for many years and were close friends. Since these matters weren’t detailed in the letter, Prefect Qin surely had important words to convey through Wang Hui.

"What message did your lord instruct you to bring?"

"The mountain bandit leader wanted me to convey that they are not someone we can provoke. Our lord thought long and hard and decided it was best not to involve ourselves in this matter. He also advised Lord Jiang to stop investigating, stating that the survivor mentioned these bandits were well-trained and skillful, resembling soldiers in a military camp rather than bandits. This undeniably involves people we cannot afford to offend. Why else would these bandits be so rampant?"

Wang Hui lowered his voice and relayed Prefect Qin’s original words.

Prefect Jiang was astonished upon hearing this, finding it hard to believe.

"Do your lord deduce military personnel based solely on fighting techniques? Isn’t that a bit rash?"

"My lord may not know, but our lord certainly did not conclude this solely based on the survivor’s words. The survivor brought back something else as well!" Our lord knew Prefect Jiang wouldn’t easily believe, so he was prepared.

"What thing?" Prefect Jiang was very puzzled.

Wang Hui took a paper from his tied trousers and handed it to Prefect Jiang.

Prefect Jiang hesitated not, his intuition telling him the item was important. Opening the paper, he found not words but a drawing.

Upon seeing the drawing, Prefect Jiang was furious, pounding the table, sweeping the teacup to the ground, "Unbelievable! These people kill recklessly for riches? Such reprehensible actions!"

He truly didn’t expect those people to mercilessly murder innocent civilians for money. Such people deserve death!

"Lord Jiang! Our lord has made it clear that we should not further interfere in this matter, and he won’t involve himself any longer! He hopes Lord Jiang will refrain as well, as there’s nothing he can do!"

Prefect Jiang leaned powerlessly against his chair. What good was anger, what use was unwillingness? In the end, must he not obediently withdraw? Such people couldn’t be provoked, and it’s pitiful for those civilians and merchants whose lives were unjustly lost! The Dayan Dynasty’s interior is already rotten beyond repair; if not properly rectified, Dayan faces peril!

Vice Magistrate Wang and several others glanced at the drawing, clearly depicting a token. Their faces showed shock, but moments later, they all bowed their heads in silence.

"My lord! Terrible news! The six people detained in the prison have all died!" Just then, someone hastily announced from the outside.

Prefect Jiang was momentarily stunned before summoning the person in.

"My lord! They were fine during the day when I checked on them, but at night, they all died! Every one was killed with a swift blow to the throat, even the prison chief wasn’t spared!"

"What? Dead?" Prefect Jiang was a bit surprised, how could they die?

"Wang Hui! You must have been fatigued these days, go rest first! I will draft a letter tonight, and you shall depart tomorrow morning to deliver it to your lord!"

"Yes! I shall take my leave!"

"Come! Let’s go see the prison!"

Prefect Jiang furrowed his brows. These six were unlikely to have known much; even if captured, they couldn’t reveal any useful information. But why did these people want them silenced? Unless? These six hadn’t told the truth; they knew something else but refused to reveal, hence were silenced.

What puzzled him was why they hadn’t been silenced when first captured but waited until today?

Suddenly, Prefect Jiang recalled the bandits mentioned they were waiting for someone in the inn for many days, but the person never showed up. He speculated the person had been delayed by something, and upon arriving, realized the six were caught, hence risking sneaking into the prison to kill them!

Prefect Jiang felt a bit annoyed, though he had decided not to pursue the matter further, these six could have been useful; being killed was truly a waste! Those people dared to boldly infiltrate the prison to commit murder, so brazen, it was lawless!

Prefect Jiang and his group entered the prison, and the corpses were untouched!

"My lord!" It was a forensic doctor; though the deaths were evident sword kills, a detailed examination was still required.

"These people’s neck wounds are slender, definitively caused by a sword, and the perpetrator acted swiftly and accurately, extremely skillful!"

Prefect Jiang glanced at the corpses and waved dismissively for the forensic doctor to take them away. The dead spoke no more. Initially, these people were held with the other prisoners, but later, due to suspicion about their leader, they were isolated, fortunately not affecting the other inmates!

"My lord! We cannot further intervene in this matter!" The group returned to the study, Liu Donghai suggested.

"Alas! I know, we shall drop it!" He initially thought it was a larger bandit lair, but it turned out to be people covertly executing sinister deeds, truly insane. Such means of gaining wealth, who knows which faction’s handiwork this is!

"My lord! We are too far from the Capital, our news arrives too slowly, we know very little of the Capital’s movements!" Vice Magistrate Wang lamented as well, finding it hard to be an official without court connections. Any developments in the Capital were unknown to them, by the time news arrived, it was too late, they were too passive!

"I am well aware? Although distant from the Capital, receiving less impact, the news being blocked means we are blind if something involving us occurs!"

Prefect Jiang also wished for a transfer to the Capital. He was not of noble birth, with court relations somewhat close to him but still distant; although the Yue Family resided in the Capital, due to the Yu Family, they were discontent with him. The Yu Family favored staying here, preventing the Yue Family from making plans for him, leaving him voiceless!

This time he could only pin hopes on that memorial, hoping it would reach the Holy Emperor!