DONG CHANG'S INVESTIGATION

As secret agents, Dong Chang and Xi Chang were as terrifying as Jinyiwei. Or even worse, since Zhu Di wanted Dong Chang and Xi Chang to watch over Jinyiwei, since he suspected that some of its members were still loyal to the former emperor. Its network reached even the most remote areas. Even in Yu Xi Village, whose population was only fifty people at most, they also had extensions of eyes and ears.

Handing the finest cakes and tea from the capital, Xiang Yugong smiled warmly at his friend - who was actually not his friend since they got acquainted from friend to friend, but they could become close because Xiang Yugong was a very sociable person. "Delicious tea is suitable to accompany us in cold weather like this, A Zhou. You know, the temperature in the mountain is always chilly. You need to warm yourself up."

A Zhou sipped his tea excitedly. "My friend Yugong, you always bring delicious food for me. I am so lucky to have a friend like you!" He quickly devoured the cake greedily.

Xiang Yu Gong smirked. I am also very happy to have a friend like you... at this moment, you are indispensable. "But Yu Xi is very, very quiet! Nothing bombastic will happen here. Your life must be tedious and boring!"

"Yeah, that's how the peasants live. Get up early, go to the farm, go home in the evening, and go to sleep." A Zhou folded his arms and placed them on the back of his head as a support.

Xiang Yugong looked closely at A Zhou. Actually, he expected A Zhou to be provoked and told him what he wanted to find out. It was beyond his estimation. "You really never experience anything here? Really never experience anything at all?"

"Eh... that..." A Zhou stuttered. "N... never..."

"Really? Really never?"

A Zhou blinked. Xiang Yugong's glare made him uneasy. "No, really... never..."

"Really? Nothing happens?..." Xiang Yugong reached into his pocket, took out several gold coins, and placed them on the table. "I heard that your daughter falls sick? She is delirious and gets insomnia and thus her body energy is drained, so she must be cured immediately, is that correct? Maybe I can help?"

Xiang Yugong looked at A Zhou, gave a sincere look. A Zhou blinked again. To emphasize his sincerity to help, Xiang Yugong nodded firmly.

"I'll help with your daughter's medical expenses, or if needed, I'll bring physicians from the big city here... for you..."

Xiang Yugong nodded again. A Zhou's forehead was getting wet with sweat.

Then, A Zhou looked away. "N... no!... Nothing happens... I know nothing!... And my daughter, she doesn't fall sick... she's okay..."

"But I heard that your daughter is in critical ill due to the trauma of a big incident that happened in Yu Xi recently?"

"She is my own daughter, of course, I know about her very well! My daughter... yeah... she is a little unwell... but it's only a common cold, and Master Shao has treated her! So no need for her to see a physician!" A Zhou shifted the gold coins back to Xiang Yugong.

Xiang Yugong raised his eyebrows. This result was contrary to his expectations and it made his tension rise. He knew it clearly that an inciting incident had occurred here in Yu Xi, an incident that was closely related to Zhu Su. As Zhu Di told him, "Yi's words were suspicious. He said that Su can travel to Luoyang at will... he did not blatantly accuse, but I can feel that he was trying to say that Su has ever left Kaifeng. Yet it seems that Yi is unwilling to reveal this case. In this way, I want you to investigate this case thoroughly, and get evidence of Su's guilt. So I can uncover his evil intention to rebel!" It was not easy for him to follow the intermittent chain of clues to finally get here. And now, this was the final result he should get?! "You really don't need this money, A Zhou?" Xiang Yugong asked, very seriously. "This money can make you end your boring farming life, right at this moment... and I can give more..."

He took out several gold coins again and piled them with the previous coins. A Zhou's eyes went round.

Well, you'll never see so much money, won't you? You can't get money in such a large amount even if you work hard for ten years! Therefore... tell me... just tell me...

"If nothing happens with me then why should I say something has happened? Such a taboo action, I'll never do it! My life is really boring!"

A Zhou's entire face was flushed and covered in sweat. His hand shook violently. His breath was slightly gasping. But, he gritted his teeth tightly. He looked away, unwilling to stare at Xiang Yugong.

A Zhou stood up. His head lowered as he said, "Thank you so much for your treat, really delicious and enjoyable... but sorry, I have to go right now..."

A moment later, Xiang Yugong was standing alone outside A Zhou's house. A Zhou had left him, he was now inside his house, never came out again.

Xiang Yugong's hands clenched tightly. He gritted his teeth, rage nearly consumed him. But he forced his angry mind to calm down. Anger would not provide a good solution for him, while he needed a solution to get an eye witness who could prove Zhu Su's violation of the law.

A rush of footsteps approached him. Xiang Yugong looked around. His five men stood in front of him, faces were stressful.

"How is it?" But Xiang Yugong could guess the result from their facial expressions. "You have failed?"

They lowered their eyes, appeared apologetic. "We really apologize, Sir. But none of the residents intend to be witnesses!"

"I have lured them with a lot of money. But A Chen keeps his mouth shut." One of his men said.

"It's the same with me." Another subordinate chimed in. "The reason, no inciting incident they have experienced, so nothing they can say."

"Me too! Even though Grandsire Zhang's granddaughter, who is known to be the most beautiful girl in this village, now looks haggard and dull like the traumatized one, but they still insist that nothing happens!"

Xiang Yugong could not master his anger anymore. He stomped the ground hard. "How come all residents in Yu Xi are shut their mouths so compactly! Damnit! Then how will we report to the Emperor?!"

But he knew, anger would never solve his problems. Nothing he could do with this, other than to report to Zhu Di that, "Nothing happened in Yu Xi Village, no evidence that Zhu Su ever left Kaifeng and provoked a big case, for that reason Zhu Su was cleared of all charges."