Testimony

The man lying on the ground was chilled to the bone. Daiji crouched down to meet his gaze. "Moreover, can you endure?" Can the two individuals beside you keep quiet?

Liu Shi turned away. "Let us depart for another room."

"You…" His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible, yet Liu Shi heard it. She halted, inclining her head slightly towards him.

He swallowed, easing his parched throat. "Would you dare to end my life?" Can you bear the consequences?

Liu Shi resumed her seat, stating, "Not ending your lives is a cost I cannot afford. Releasing you, only for you to return with more to strike at my family?"

The man remained silent.

Liu Shi inquired, "What is your name?"

He offered no reply.

Liu Shi did not press further, simply remarking, "To dissuade me from ending your life, you must present ample leverage."

"Your queries..."

"Answering my inquiries merely grants you the choice of a less burdensome demise—peaceful, dignified, or agonizing," Liu Shi declared. "What do you fear?" After all, in your master's eyes, you are akin to the deceased. "I shall not release you, and if I were to spread word that you divulged information in my presence, do you reckon they would refrain from harming your kin?"

The man widened his eyes, showing a mix of resentment and fear directed at Liu Shi.

"I am not a malevolent individual, but for the sake of my grandson and the remnants of my family, I am willing to embrace villainy." "Therefore, do not push me."

Nonsense, clearly it's you who has been pressuring me all along!

But he dared not utter these words, as provoking Liu Shi would yield no benefit.

Liu Shi remained patient, accompanying him in silence.

After a while, he croaked, "I would like a sip of water."

Liu Shi nodded slightly at Daiji, who then picked up the water jug and offered him a drink.

He greedily drank several mouthfuls, relieved as he lay on the ground. "My master is Yan, the Inspector of Yizhou."

Liu Shi narrowed her eyes. "Not the Prince of Yizhou?"

He sneered, "If it were the Prince of Yizhou's men, you would have perished long ago."

With this statement, silence enveloped the room.

Liu Shi retreated two steps, settled back into her chair, and silently observed him.

Once the conversation began, there was nothing left unsaid.

"The Prince of Yizhou's men ventured to Longzhou and learned about your relocation to Mianzhou." Hence, the three of us were dispatched to investigate. Our primary objective remains the identification of the couple from six years ago.

Liu Shi asked bluntly, "Why was there no investigation back then?"

This question revealed to the other party that Liu Shi had long been aware of the existence of a couple, indicating that there had indeed been a security breach.

The items may well have been in Liu Shi's possession all along.

He sighed bitterly. "Back then, our losses were substantial." The young man from that couple had martial skills; one of our pursuers died, and another was severely injured. The survivor was immediately interrogated, but they possessed nothing we sought, nor any form of identification.

"He was injured, barely managing to drag his comrade's body back." "Understandably, he had no time to investigate his identity on the spot," he continued. "Our reinforcements arrived the following day." By then, the body had disappeared, and the scene was chaotic because the rain had washed away the evidence. We could only inquire in various villages at the foot of the mountain.

Their current mission involved a comprehensive investigation into the identity of the couple from the past. Consequently, if Liu Shi were to inquire about other matters, he might be clueless. Yet, concerning the couple, apart from those present at the time, he was probably the most informed.

"In fact, we had little suspicion of Qili Village, as it was impoverished," he remarked. "Though the couple had no possessions, their clothing was of decent quality." While the man had calloused hands, his wife appeared unaccustomed to manual labor, indicating a comfortable upbringing.

"If they did come from a nearby village, the most probable options would be Dali Village or the inhabitants of Baima Pass Town."

Consequently, their primary focus was on Dali Village and Baima Pass Town.

Especially Baima Pass Town, a bustling hub with significant traffic. Qili Village only witnessed the couple's visit once, with no further communication thereafter.

Upon learning about the Bai family's move to Qili Village, suspicions were raised.

Their visit was not only to uncover the couple's identity but also to keep an eye on the Bai family. If suspicions were confirmed, their superiors would not hesitate to increase the number of casualties on Jian Nan Road.

After all, haven't there been far too many casualties this time?

Having witnessed life and death countless times, he no longer held human life in such high regard. Yet, faced with his own impending demise, he couldn't help but feel fear.

He wished to live!

Liu Shi asked, "You mentioned that they had no belongings." "Did the lady not have any adornments?"

"None."

Liu Shi refrained from further questioning and left the room.

Daiji followed, and shortly after, a servant brought water for him.

Liu Shi proceeded to the adjacent room to obtain a testimony similar to the previous one before leaving the premises.

Daiji trailed behind. "Madam?"

Liu Shi paused. "This contradicts what Erji described."

Erji mentioned that the couple appeared affluent at first glance. The lady wore a hairpin and a jade bracelet. How could they possess no belongings?

"Could the lone survivor be lying?"

Upon further consideration, Liu Shi nodded, but then she shook her head. "Not necessarily." "If they had hidden the items themselves?"

"Once the young master is at school, I shall lead a search party to the mountains."

Despite the slim likelihood of success, they had to try.

Wei Zhi and his party were currently staying in Luojiang County. The situation in Qili Village was not dire enough to warrant County Magistrate Fu bringing Wei Zhi there. Instead, they focused on the areas in Luojiang County that were most severely affected by the disaster.

Wei Zhi sighed softly. "I am aware of this matter." Upon my return to the capital, I will petition His Majesty to include Mianzhou in the areas exempt from taxation.

The local gentry and wealthy landowners who had accompanied them expressed their gratitude, praising the benevolence of the sage and Mr. Wei's compassion towards the people.

However, the Inspector of Mianzhou keenly discerned another layer of meaning. "Are you returning to the capital, sir?"

Wei Zhi nodded. "Relief efforts have been completed, and I have surveyed the disaster areas." It is time to return to the capital.