There is a god in the sky

Chapter 332 Revenge 1

As dusk settled, Shen Lan had just closed the door of Jifeng Study when a figure darted out from behind her.

Just as the other person's hand was about to touch her shoulder, she quickly turned it around and pressed it against her back.

"Ah...it's me!"

Shen Lan recognized Shen Zhiyuan's voice and quickly let go of his arm.

The two walked into the alley to talk, and Shen Lan learned that Shen Zhiyuan had gone out of the city a few days ago.

“I collected some evidence of Liu Engui’s embezzlement and bribery at the Liu family’s place, but this evidence was not enough to convict Liu Engui of the death penalty if it were presented in court. This time, I went out of the city and found evidence of the Liu family’s seizure of fertile land in Tongzhou. I also brought back a few witnesses.”

Shen Lan also had an account book.

"If we submit the evidence, it won't have much effect. Although official protection is not absolute, it's still too difficult for the two of us to bring down the Vice Minister of Revenue."

"Then you mean..."

"Either hand the evidence over to someone in power and interrogate him from top to bottom, or use the evidence to extract information from him."

There are some things that Liu Engui knows best, and getting him to talk is more useful than searching everywhere.

"Leave this to me, you don't need to worry about it." Shen Lan was willing to take a risk.

Shen Zhiyuan naturally refused, "He is a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Revenue, and he has servants and guards protecting him whenever he goes out. How can you accomplish anything by yourself?"

Shen Lan reached out her hand, "Give me the evidence, I have a way to trick him out."

Liu Engui's career has been going badly lately. He had originally tried to curry favor with Minister Tong and become his right-hand man, but he was rejected by the Tong family because of a concubine.

If Tong Juntao hadn't been killed, that incident might have faded away over time.

But then Tong Juntao died, and the Tong family hated him along with him.

"Sir, someone has delivered a letter to you at the front gate."

"Take it away, take it away! I won't accept anything from strangers!" Liu Engui is very vigilant now, afraid of being retaliated against.

“But sir, that man said if you don’t read this letter, you won’t see the sun rise tomorrow.”

"What? Who is so arrogant?" He threw the letter at the gatekeeper's feet. "Open it and read it to me."

The gatekeeper, who could read a few words, actually opened the book for him and read a few words haltingly. The general meaning was: Meet at the City God Temple at midnight tonight. Go alone to keep the appointment, or you will die!

"This is unbelievable! Who dares to threaten me? Burn it all! Tie up the messenger!"

The doorman answered cautiously, "Sir, the messenger was a little beggar. He gave me the letter and ran away."

"Hmph, hiding your true colors!"

"Something terrible has happened, sir!" A maid rushed in, "Master, Madam has fainted, and she's holding a piece of paper in her hand!"

The handwriting on the note was exactly the same as the letter delivered by the doorman, and even the content was exactly the same.

This thief can come and go freely in and out of Liu's mansion. If I don't do as he says, I'm afraid I'll really have my head chopped off in my sleep.

But as a civil official, it was absolutely impossible for him to go to the appointment alone.

"Go to the Jingzhao Prefecture and ask the prefect to send soldiers to protect me on my way."

"Yes."

As midnight approached, Liu Engui set off in a horse-drawn carriage.

Fortunately, the curfew in the city had been lifted; otherwise, even if he were the Vice Minister of Revenue, he wouldn't dare to go out late at night.

The City God Temple is now abandoned. It is said that the Taoist priests inside were involved in the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince, and they were all arrested by His Highness the Crown Prince.

Now the incense here has stopped burning, and it's even more deserted at night.

Crows and sparrows landed on the eaves, making eerie cries.

Liu Engui stepped forward anxiously and knocked on the door. "Is anyone home?"

Soldiers were hidden in the street behind him; if he shouted, they would rush out and subdue the thief.

The door trembled slightly, opened a crack, and then a piece of paper was pulled out from inside.

Liu Engui instinctively took the paper, then kicked open the door, but saw no one there.

Could this be... a ghost?

He hurriedly opened the paper, which read: "Go east for 500 steps, turn right, and then go another 500 steps. Stop at a house with white lanterns hanging on it. No one is allowed to come with you."

There was a small mark in the corner of the paper, which he recognized at a glance as his personal seal.

Clearly, the thieves realized he wasn't alone and moved their position.

Liu Engui nervously wiped away his sweat.

Chief Constable Cheng from the Jingzhao Prefecture rushed over and asked, "Lord Liu, what has happened?"

"No...it's nothing. You can leave now. I made a mistake. It was just an acquaintance joking with me, hehe..."

Officer Cheng certainly didn't believe it, but since the person in charge had made such a request, they couldn't be more eager to leave.

"Well then, Lord Liu, take care. We'll be right on the street. If anything happens, just send someone to let us know."

As the Vice Minister of Revenue, Chief Constable Cheng dared not truly ignore him.

Liu Engui ignored him and followed the thief's instructions. He finally found a house with white lanterns hanging down, but then he saw a piece of paper hanging under the lanterns, telling him to keep going.

After circling around for a while, just as he was leaning against the wall, panting heavily, a hand covered his mouth and nose from behind.

"Who?..." Liu Engui had barely opened his mouth when his eyes gradually became unfocused and his body went limp.

Shen Lan was sitting in the room writing with the lamp lit when she saw Shen Zhiyuan carrying someone in.

This is the house where Xiaohuzi and the others lived, and it was Shen Zhiyuan who brought her here.

At this point, she also learned that Shen Zhiyuan and Li Ye had made contact.

This place should be one of their strongholds.

"Lan'er, the person has been brought here. The medicine you gave me is really effective."

"Is no one following behind?"

"No."

"Let's go to the cellar." Shen Lan led them to the cellar in the backyard.

The people in Bianjing (Kaifeng) had a habit of storing food for the winter, so many families dug cellars.

If they were wealthy, they would even dig ice cellars in their homes.

Shen Lan scooped up a spoonful of ice water and poured it on Liu Engui's head to wake him up.

Liu Engui shuddered and opened his eyes instantly, seeing two masked men standing in front of him.

"You...who are you?"

Shen Lan took out the account book and flipped through it page by page in front of him, saying in a male voice, "Lord Liu, do you recognize your own things?"

"Did you steal it?" Liu Engui looked around. The place was cramped and smelly, with only an oil lamp and no way to see where the exit was.

"Who are you? What is your purpose? Do you want money or something else?"

"Of course, I want your life." Shen Lan pulled an insect out of the box and let it crawl onto Liu Engui's face. She said in a low voice, "Before killing you, we have some questions to ask."

"What is this? Ah...get away!"

"This is a Gu worm from the southern border. I've heard that it loves to eat people's brains. Once it parasitizes you, it will crawl from your nose into your brain and eat it all away bit by bit, turning you into a living dead."

Liu Engui screamed in terror, "Take it away! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"