jdhmnovel Chapter 550 Prefect Li Seeks Help from the Hanlin Academy
Chapter 550 Prefect Li Seeks Help from the Hanlin Academy
"Mingfei, you've seemed a bit preoccupied these past few days?"
Xiao Ming put his arm around Jiang Xiaoqi's shoulder. Liu Peng couldn't bear to watch. You are her future brother-in-law, that's true, but you can't be so tactless.
This is still within the Hanlin Academy; what kind of decorum would this be if people saw it?
Especially those old scholars, who paid the most attention to these etiquettes, were no less dogmatic and rigid than those in the Ministry of Rites.
"It's nothing serious, but I've heard that quite a few people have gone missing in the capital recently, and I'm a little worried about my own farms."
If they disappear without a trace, my entire harvest this year will be ruined.
Jiang Xiaoqi's statement sounds quite heartless; he's worried that the farmers are disappearing just to ensure his own harvest.
However, Liu Peng and Xiao Ming didn't find anything wrong with what they heard, since they would have thought the same thing if they were in their shoes.
After all, a farmer who has signed a contract of servitude is no longer just a farmer, but also the private property of the master.
It's normal to worry about losing your property and your family's income, isn't it?
Jiang Xiaoqi was certainly aware of the thoughts and ways of thinking of people in this era, so he said it on purpose.
"Oh, isn't that right? My mother also gathered all the able-bodied young men in the family who were working, and had the steward give them detailed instructions."
Do not wander around after dark, do not talk to strangers passing by, and do not go to secluded or deserted places.
This is unbelievable! For the first time, the young adults realized they were like grown women, causing trouble for others when they were out in the world. Haha~
"You're still laughing? Your aunt is right to do this. Even putting aside the loss, these young and strong people are living, breathing human beings. It's heartbreaking to see them disappear like this."
Liu Peng did say something honest: the pampered direct descendants of this big family weren't actually that heartless.
"Yes, yes, that's right. My mother's caution is not without reason, and Mingfei's worries are not without reason either."
But speaking of which, how can this be so strange? So many living people just vanished into thin air?
The Jingzhao Prefecture has been investigating for quite some time now, so why haven't they found a single clue?
"It's not like we have absolutely no clues, is it? Look who that is!"
Liu Peng pointed to the entrance of the Hanlin Academy. While the three of them were chatting, an official sedan chair stopped at the entrance of the Hanlin Academy.
A plump man eagerly stepped forward and lifted the sedan curtain, and Prefect Li, dressed in a red official robe, stepped down from the sedan.
"Lord Li, the Prefect of the Capital? This! Speak of the devil and he appears!"
What brings Lord Li to the Hanlin Academy? Could it be that our Hanlin Academy can find some clues? Xiao Ming asked curiously.
Prefect Li, accompanied by his advisor Zhao, strode into the Hanlin Academy. He passed the three men without stopping and went straight to find some of the most senior Hanlin scholars.
"Ahem, are we being ignored?" The three of them lowered their arms, which were about to bow, feeling somewhat awkward.
"Alright, perhaps Lord Li has something urgent to attend to. Let's go inside. The sun is so bright; what's the point of us standing here in the heat?"
"Come on, come on, let's go to your room. I saw that Li Mo brought you some snacks. Let me have a few to tide me over."
"You didn't eat breakfast again!?" Liu Peng and Jiang Xiaoqi said in unison.
"Haha, I left in a bit of a rush, I didn't have time~"
Jiang Xiaoqi was speechless. He seriously suspected that this was just someone who wanted to freeload on snacks. He didn't believe that Uncle Xiao would allow his son to go out without eating breakfast every day.
The offices of the Attendant Scholar and the Attendant Lecturer were not far from the row of three people including Jiang Xiaoqi. Before they entered, they saw Prefect Li go to the Attendant Scholars' office.
Is it possible that Lord Li has suddenly decided to pursue academic studies instead of investigating cases?
The three put aside their troubles and finished off the snacks Jiang Xiaoqi had brought. Only during their tea break did they return to the topic of the disappearance case.
"Where were we talking about?"
"Speaking of clues, you said there are some clues at all, so what are they?"
Both of them turned their heads toward Liu Peng at the same time, since it was Liu Peng who said those words.
"Brother Liu, do you have some inside information again? Share it with us!"
"Ahem, it's not exactly inside information, but I heard that some special things were found in an abandoned Taoist temple in the suburbs."
I reckon that Lord Li's visit to the Hanlin Academy today is most likely related to what he discovered at the Taoist temple in the suburbs.
As soon as Liu Peng finished speaking, Xiao Ming immediately got up and wanted to leave.
"Hey, hey, hey~ Where are you going?!"
"Of course, I'm going to visit the lecturer, pretending to drop by, cough cough, and also to see what Lord Li brought over."
Since it's been submitted to the Hanlin Academy, it must need the help of the Hanlin scholars to review it. Aren't we also part of the Hanlin Academy?
If we don't lend a hand at this crucial moment, when will we? We can't just sit around drinking tea and eating snacks, can we?
Xiao Ming spoke with righteous indignation, as if his desire to go out was solely for the public good and not driven by mere curiosity.
"But they're looking for seasoned scholars, clearly they don't trust us greenhorns. Otherwise, why would they bypass us, who are closer, and go straight to the back?"
Liu Peng had no intention of getting involved. He had heard the news from the kitchen servants in his own kitchen. The kitchen servants and the servants in the capital were cousins, and it was said that the man had witnessed it with his own eyes that day.
Therefore, my information is very reliable, after all, it was told to my cousin by the person involved, and I mentioned it unintentionally.
"Oh dear, why are you so stubborn? Just because they haven't contacted us doesn't mean we can't go to them on our own initiative?"
There is a sequence to learning, and everyone has their own area of expertise. Who says that being older necessarily means being learned? Brother Liu, are you lacking? Growing up in the Prime Minister's residence, you have been exposed to knowledge that others do not possess.
Brother Jiang is even more well-read, and is now the tutor of the princes appointed by His Majesty. Although I am far inferior to the two of you, I was once the third-ranked scholar in the first class, wasn't I?
If we three were thrown out, who would dare say we're ignorant and clueless? A complete idiot?
"Pfft!"
Xiao Ming's words were so eloquent that Jiang Xiaoqi and Liu Peng couldn't help but ramble on.
Jiang Xiaoqi felt that his friend had a real talent for crosstalk, and that he should be the lead comedian.
"Alright, alright, let's just go along with it. If we don't, he'll still sneak over and peek through people's door cracks, and that will only make things worse."
Jiang Xiaoqi was also very curious. That day, Xiao Hei came back and gestured to her for a long time, and even tried to pick up his calligraphy brush.
Unfortunately, a kitten's paw is still a kitten's paw; let alone writing, it's difficult to even pick up a pen.
In the end, only a few huge ink dots were left on the snow-white Xuan paper, oh right, and a few small footprints shaped like plum blossoms.
Xiao Hei was so anxious that he kept pacing back and forth, while Jiang Xiaoqi thought that if Xiao Hei wanted her to see something, she could just go and see it for herself during her break.
But since we have the opportunity to avoid that trip today, why not take advantage of it?