Chapter 593 - 386: Investigation 2

However, Duan Rong still released his divine sense to confirm that there were no idle people in or outside the villa.

Ximen Kankan had already taken up some pastries and tea, eating and drinking. After hurried travel, everyone was thirsty and hungry, so they all had some pastries.

Shen Mizi, however, sat there in a daze. Xiao Yu handed her a piece of mung bean cake, knowing that Shen Mizi usually liked the fresh scent of green beans.

Shen Mizi shook her head sadly and did not take it.

Xiao Yu shoved it into her hand, saying, "Even if you can’t eat, you must! How do you expect to have the strength and mental clarity to save your father if you don’t eat properly?"

Shen Mizi glanced at Xiao Yu and slowly began to eat.

After everyone had eaten somewhat, Duan Rong looked at Shen Mizi and asked, "What do you plan to do about your father?"

Shen Mizi’s gaze sharpened instantly, and she said, "I’ve already seen the dungeon; the entrance is too small, and there are bastions everywhere inside. I’m not familiar with the path and environment inside, so a prison break is almost impossible. We’ll have to rob the execution grounds!"

Duan Rong glanced at Shen Mizi, thinking to himself: This girl really speaks lightly. How easy it is to rob an execution ground? This is the Prefecture City. At that time, there will definitely be True Qi Realm experts lying in ambush near the execution ground.

After all, what has been killed is the Inspector General, the third highest official in Ruyang Prefecture!

Besides the Mansion Master and the Governor, who is in charge of the finances, the Inspector General, who is in charge of the legal titles, ranks third in the Prefecture City.

Such a high-ranking official was killed, how could the defenses of the execution ground be lax?

Duan Rong said, "Is it so easy to rob the execution grounds?"

Shen Mizi said, "If I can’t rob it, I’ll die there at the execution ground to send my father off!"

Duan Rong’s expression changed. What a filial and fierce daughter!

Seeing Shen Mizi speak so resolutely, Xiao Yu felt a strong sense of empathy, having lost her father not long ago. She immediately reached out to grab Shen Mizi’s hand, saying, "Mizi sister, don’t worry! When the time comes, I’ll go with you!"

Shen Mizi, hearing this, felt her eyes redden slightly, staring blankly at Xiao Yu. She would never let Xiao Yu join her in robbing the execution ground, but Xiao Yu saying this greatly comforted her. This sisterhood was not in vain!

Hearing this, Duan Rong glanced at Xiao Yu, wanting to remind her that robbing the execution grounds is a crime of exterminating a whole family. Doesn’t she know she has a husband?

Duan Rong said, "Even if, taking a step back, you succeed in robbing the execution grounds, there’s no doubt it will be traced back to you. The government will surely issue a warrant for you and your father throughout Qingzhou. This case involves a sect, and their power will also take action. How would you escape the net?"

Duan Rong’s words were partly aimed at Shen Mizi and partly at Xiao Yu, making her consider the aftermath of getting involved in this matter.

Xiao Yu immediately grasped the meaning in Duan Rong’s words, hesitation flashing across her eyes. Although she was very sympathetic to Shen Mizi, she and Duan Rong had just gotten married. She couldn’t sacrifice her entire life to help Shen Mizi save her father, especially since it was a hopeless rescue.

But she also couldn’t just sit idly by and abandon Shen Mizi.

She looked at Duan Rong and suddenly asked, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Duan Rong was taken aback by Xiao Yu’s question. How did the responsibility fall back on him?

This situation was unsolvable, how could he know what to do?

Moreover, he didn’t want to save Shen Yanliu at all. Shen Yanliu was already gravely culpable and poorly regarded; killing him would indeed be doing a favor for the people of Qingzhou.

However, as Xiao Yu pointed this out, not only did Liu Shushan and others look expectantly at him, but even Shen Mizi did too.

After all, in the past three months, no matter what tricky cases they encountered, as long as Duan Rong went, they were always solved swiftly.

Their confidence in Duan Rong’s strategizing was already well established.

Duan Rong looked at the expectant glances from the group, suddenly feeling an embarrassing sense of being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

At that moment, he didn’t have a good plan, but he couldn’t directly list Shen Yanliu’s faults to Shen Mizi and tell her he didn’t want to be involved.

Duan Rong thought for a moment and decided to use a delaying tactic. He coughed lightly, looked at Liu Shushan, and said, "Shushan, you’ve been in the Prefecture City for a long time, and should be familiar with the process of such cases. How long does it generally take for a case like the Shen family’s, from confiscation of property, imprisonment, to execution?"

Liu Shushan replied, "Such major cases are to be reported to the Ministry of Justice in Divine Cloud Prefecture for review. Only after the Ministry of Justice’s review can execution take place in Ruyang Prefecture. After all, the one being executed is the Inspector General, who oversees the law affairs of a whole prefecture. Ruyang Prefecture has no right to carry out the execution alone."

Duan Rong asked, "How long does the Ministry of Justice usually take to review?"

Liu Shushan said, "It depends on whether the evidence chain is complete. If there are any doubts, the Ministry of Justice will conduct further investigation. If the evidence chain is complete, it generally takes about a month for the Ministry of Justice’s documentation to reach Ruyang Prefecture."

Duan Rong’s expression changed slightly and said, "So there’s at least a month."

Liu Shushan said, "As a rule, that’s the case."

Duan Rong estimated that Shen Yanliu’s case probably had quite a complete evidence chain already. The evidence was probably right in front of Tang Wanhong, what evidence could still be lacking?

Duan Rong said, "Since there is still time, we should spend it investigating thoroughly. Shushan, you are familiar with Ruyang Prefecture and have some connections. Investigate the ins and outs of the case in detail. I’ll do some investigating myself, and then we’ll compile our findings to see if there’s any worthwhile breakthrough for a rescue."

In truth, Duan Rong didn’t believe they could find any breakthrough, but with everyone looking at him expectantly, he could only do his best to appease them.

Both Xiao Yu and Shen Mizi found Duan Rong’s words reasonable, ensuring a detailed investigation before deciding on a solution. Additionally, according to Liu Shushan, Shen Mizi’s father’s case had at least a month, so a thorough investigation was necessary before making any decisions.

Xiao Yu said, "What are you going to investigate? We’ll come with you."

Upon hearing this, Ximen Kankan and Shen Mizi both looked at Duan Rong.

Duan Rong said, "You don’t need to come."

"Why not?" Xiao Yu and Ximen Kankan clearly wanted to go.

Duan Rong ignored them and first looked at Shen Mizi, saying, "You shouldn’t go out. Even if your appearance is altered, there’s still a risk of exposure."

Then he looked at Xiao Yu and said, "You stay here and accompany her."

Xiao Yu’s eyes moved as she instantly understood Duan Rong’s intention. He was still worried that Shen Mizi might rashly do something unexpected.

"Kankan, why don’t you accompany Shushan and assist him?"

Ximen Kankan looked at Liu Shushan and said, "Assist him? I’m there to guide him."

Liu Shushan laughed and said, "Sure, your expertise is much appreciated!"

Ximen Kankan said, "Alright. Since you’re inviting me to lend a hand, I’ll help you reluctantly."

After making these arrangements, Liu Shushan and Ximen Kankan changed into a fresh set of clothes, Liu Shushan wrote a few visitation notes and prepared some gifts, and the two headed out.

Duan Rong, on the other hand, changed into a servant’s clothes in the Liu Mansion and also left. He first had a bowl of beef soup at a street stall, then strolled leisurely back to the dungeon area.

Even though he had spoken, a basic investigation was still necessary. Since Shen Yanliu was imprisoned in the Prefecture City dungeon, he decided to investigate thoroughly to at least understand Shen Yanliu’s current situation, including any injuries or restraints.

Pretending to be idle, Duan Rong strolled to the tea stall on the street side, bent over to enter the tea shed, sat in a corner seat, and ordered a pot of strong tea and two sticks of fried dough.

The tea stall owner, a middle-aged man with a slight limp, looked at Duan Rong gently as he brought the items.

Duan Rong’s heart stirred; that sharp momentary glance was far more than a common street vendor should have.

He focused his thoughts and sent out his divine sense, which instantly penetrated the tea stall owner’s dantian.

Inner Breath Realm Fourth Level!

A master of the Inner Breath Realm Fourth Level was running a shabby tea stall; this ramshackle stall likely barely earned enough to scrape by.

This was very unusual!

A master of this level could easily find some guard work, which would pay better and be more leisurely than this.

"Unless..." Sitting there, Duan Rong glanced at the nearby dungeon.

He took a subtle bite of the fried dough in his hand, having already guessed the identity of the tea stall owner. This man was likely a secret agent for the dungeon, setting up this tea stall to monitor any suspicious individuals.

Fortunately, Shen Mizi and Xiao Yu were not embracing and crying in this spot that morning, otherwise their group might have already been under surveillance.

Thinking this, Duan Rong finished the two pieces of fried dough and two bowls of strong tea, paid, and left. He didn’t want to stay any longer to avoid catching the attention of the lame man.