Chapter 160 Farewell
Li Jifeng turned around and saw Xie Tingzhou standing not far behind him. He didn't know if he heard what he just said.
Xie Tingzhou stood with his backlight, his face hidden in the gloom, and Li Jifeng felt as if those eyes had seen through him.
"When did you come?"
"Just arrived." Xie Tingzhou said, "It's getting late, I'm going back too."
Perhaps because of the episode just now, Li Jifeng didn't leave him alone. He watched the carriage disappear at the end of the long street before returning to Zuiyun Tower.
Xie Tingzhou returned to the palace.
Xi Feng stayed at the door for a moment and then followed him, "The concierge at the east gate said that a man named Sanfu came to see Shigure. After waiting at the east gate for a while, he said he would wait at the main gate, but he said he didn't see anyone at the main gate. "
"Go find it." Xie Tingzhou said.
Xi Feng said: "I have sent people to look along the road, but there is no one there. Maybe that guy is too lazy to wait to go back. I will send people to the inn and his home to ask."
Not long after, the people who were sent had already gone back and forth. Sanfu's family said that he had not returned home since he left in the morning, and they thought he was still at the inn.
The waiter at the inn said that he left before dark, thinking that he had gone home, but neither party saw anyone.
It must be important for Sanfu to come to Shiyu, and the only important things he can come into contact with are related to the ghost family members of Qi Changlai who stayed at the inn before.
In the early morning of the next day, Xi Feng returned home covered with frost and dew.
He took people out to search for Sanfu all night last night but failed to find Sanfu. There was no news until this morning.
"Have you found someone?" Xie Tingzhou drank some wine last night and got up a little late today.
"Found it." Xifeng said solemnly: "Dead."
Xie Tingzhou waved his hand, and the two maids who were changing clothes withdrew.
Xi Feng said: "The boatman on the boat on the Taiyi River got up in the morning and found a corpse. He reported it to the official. Sixi has already gone to identify the body. It is Sanfu, and the cause of death was drowning."
"The Taiyi River is so far away from the palace, so Sanfu would go all the way to drown himself in the river?" ”
"What should we do?"
Xie Tingzhou said calmly: "It's no longer safe for Sixi's family. Send someone to send his family to another village."
Xi Feng agreed. In the past, His Highness would never have cared about their life or death in such a matter. The old prince once said that the prince is good in everything, but he is a little cold-hearted.
"Shigure has a soft heart." Xifeng said.
The corner of Xie Tingzhou's lips curled up, and he was slightly proud, "She has seen all the hardships in the world, but she can't see the suffering in the world."
He changed the subject and said, "She should be back in three days."
Of course Xifeng knew who it was and said, "Your Highness, are you going to pick someone up?"
"No." Xie Tingzhou walked around the screen, "She is escorting the prisoner back to Beijing this time. The Ministry of Punishment will contact her and will send someone out of the city to pick up the prisoner."
As if to convince himself, he added: "It's not convenient for me to go."
…
Shen Yu escorted a total of 14 key criminals on her trip back to Beijing, all of whom were bandits involved in transporting food for corrupt officials in Sandie Mountain.
The night is as thick as ink, and it is still sixty miles away from Beijing. Tomorrow, people from the Ministry of Punishment will greet them at the first post house thirty miles outside Shengjing.
"It's the last night, so cheer up!"
Xiao Chuan arranged the night watch, sat down by the fire, and stepped back in panic because he felt too hot.
It's May and it's not cold at night.
"I didn't expect this trip to go so smoothly." Xiao Chuan said.
The firelight made Shen Yu's pupils turn red. The journey was so smooth that she actually felt there was something wrong.
"Don't you think it's a little too smooth?"
Xiao Chuan said: "Isn't this your credit? By pretending to surrender, they will think that we are on their side, and naturally they will relax their vigilance."
"Something's wrong." Shen Yu shook her head and said, "It's just tonight. Let's see if they will take action tonight."
Shen Yu stood up from the fire, walked to the prison car, and said to Qi Shan, "I will go to Beijing tomorrow and you will leave early tomorrow morning."
Qi Shan stood guard next to Gui Xiong's prison car. He left home early and was not involved in the grain transportation case, so he did not need to accompany him to Beijing.
But he couldn't let go of his old father. This case was too big, and maybe this meeting would mean goodbye forever.
"I want to stay in Beijing for a few more days." Qishan said.
"You won't make any difference if you stay in the capital." Shen Yu knew what Qi Shan wanted to do. She just wanted to wait and see how the verdict would be decided.
"Let's go." Gui Xiong suddenly said, "It's best to leave tonight. Don't be an eyesore in front of me. You just left when you were a teenager. What are you doing here now?"
Qi Shan leaned against the prison car and his eyes turned red, "Father, please don't provoke me. I know you are afraid that I will be implicated. Your son is unfilial. He left home early and was not around to respect him. It's okay to follow you on the road to respect him."
"That's nonsense!" Gui Xiong scolded: "I didn't expect that you have lived for more than thirty years and still do whatever you want. What will happen to your eldest daughter and Huba if you die?"
Qishan was stunned, his eyes moved a few times, and he suddenly laughed with relief, "You don't accept the things I send every year, nor the letters I send, because you are afraid of hurting me."
Gui Xiong said: "I don't like him."
Qi Shan choked up and said, "Then how do you know the nicknames of Daniu and Huwa?"
Guixiong didn't answer and looked away.
"Last year last year during the Chinese New Year, the girl said that she met a grandpa outside the yard. Grandpa asked her how her family was doing, chatted with her for a long time, and even gave her candy. Is that you?"
"I should have guessed it." Qi Shan burst into tears and said to himself: "What are you doing outside during the New Year? Who will accompany you to eat New Year's Eve dinner?"
Shen Yu thought of Shen Zhongan, and her eyes were sore.
She stepped back silently, leaving time for them father and son.
Gui Xiong finally spoke: "I'm passing by to transport grain, isn't it okay?"
"Dad!" Qi Shan turned and knelt on the ground, holding the prison car tightly with both hands, "Son... son is unfilial."
Gui Xiong stared at Qi Shan, as if he wanted to remember the appearance of this son in his heart, but his eyes blurred as he looked.
He raised his head and looked up at the night sky, choking and said: "Shan'er, you left well, if you didn't leave, our family would be extinct, Hu Wa is three years old, when he grows up, you can teach him the three unique legs."
Qi Shan stretched out his hand, wanting to hold his old father's hand, but he couldn't reach it.
The hands stretched out stubbornly, and finally, the shackles clanged, and Gui Xiong held his hand.
"Don't mention me as your grandfather to Big Girl and Tiger Boy. Grandpa took the wrong road and can't go back. The rest of the road is what I should take."
It was a peaceful night. The morning breeze swept over the hills, and the army continued on the road.
Qishan watched the team go away. Although he couldn't even tell where the prison car was, he seemed to be able to see his father's eyes, looking at him from afar and reluctant to move away, as if he wanted to see his appearance clearly.