#153: Found

Though Magistrate Qin had executed many criminals, this was the first time he had witnessed one die so close to him. His robe was splattered with blood, and he struggled to compose himself before tremblingly asking, “Second Young Master, what should we do now?”

Li Shimin remained silent, his gaze fixed on Feng Cheng. Though Feng Cheng claimed to fear nothing, a flicker of fear still lingered in his heart. He hastily said, “You don’t need to look at me. That ledger has always been kept by him alone. No one else knows where he hid it!”

After ordering someone to remove Li Feng’s body, Magistrate Qin asked, “Second Young Master, shall we torture them?”

Li Shimin thought for a moment and replied, “First, detain them. I want to search Li Feng’s home.”

Following his instructions, Feng Cheng and the others were arrested, and Yunyi accompanied Li Shimin to Li Feng’s residence. Li Feng lived in a modest house with two tiled rooms. Upon learning of his death, his wife clung to their young child, crying inconsolably.

Duan Zhiming quickly led a search of the house inside and out but found no trace of the household registry. Li Feng’s wife knew nothing about it either. She explained that after being dismissed from the county office, Li Feng had become despondent, drinking heavily every day and neglecting his family. However, about a month ago, he suddenly stopped drinking, appeared more energetic, and brought home several strings of coins without explanation.

Yunyi stepped forward and asked, “Second Young Master, could he have buried the ledger in the ground?”

Li Shimin shook his head. “I’ve already checked. Neither inside nor outside shows signs of recent digging. Even if he did bury it, it wouldn’t be here.” Turning to Li Feng’s wife, he asked, “Do you know where Li Feng has been recently?”

Wiping her tears, she replied, “I don’t know much about his affairs, but I did see him bring home a ledger once. I’m illiterate, so I don’t know if it’s the household registry you’re looking for.”

Yunyi perked up and quickly pressed, “Where did he hide the ledger?”

The woman shook her head. “I don’t know. I only saw it that one time. The next day, after he went out, it disappeared.”

Her words left Yunyi disheartened. Just when they thought they had a lead, it turned out to be another dead end. Li Shimin asked, “Do you know where he went?”

After some thought, she recalled, “Ah, when he left, he took a string of coins. I asked him what he was doing, and he said he was buying wine to pay respects to his late father-in-law. He likely went to his father’s grave.”

Li Shimin immediately asked the woman to lead them to Li Feng’s father’s grave. After circling the grave, he pointed to a patch of freshly disturbed yellow soil. “Zhiming, dig here.”

Duan Zhiming complied, squatting down to dig. At about a foot deep, he uncovered an oil-paper-wrapped package. Opening it, he exclaimed excitedly, “Second Young Master, it’s really here!”

Hearing this, everyone knew it had to be the household registry. Sure enough, after flipping through it, Li Shimin declared with satisfaction, “Yes, this is the household registry!”

Magistrate Qin exhaled deeply. “Finally found it. I never expected him to bury the registry in his father’s grave—how cunning.”

“He thought his death would forever conceal the registry’s location, not realizing he’d inadvertently revealed its hiding place.”

“This is called ‘a hundred precautions, one slip’!” After reviewing the registry, Magistrate Qin turned to Wu Laosan. “According to this, you are indeed over fifty. When we return to the office, I’ll remove your name from the conscription list. Rest assured.”

Overcome with emotion, Wu Laosan knelt, tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, my lord, for your keen discernment and restoring justice to this humble servant. Thank you!”

Magistrate Qin helped him up. “You should thank Second Young Master. It was he who uncovered all of this.”

Wu Laosan nodded repeatedly, pulling Yunyi forward to stand before Li Shimin. With deep gratitude, he said, “Second Young Master, your kindness to our family can never be repaid, even if we were to die ten thousand times!” As he prepared to kneel again, Li Shimin quickly supported him. “Uncle Wu, there’s no need for such words. In fact, I should thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t have discovered Lu Sheng and Li Feng’s collusion in falsifying the registry.”

“Regardless, Second Young Master is our family’s great benefactor. Please allow me to express my gratitude with a bow!” Wu Laosan insisted, and Li Shimin, unable to refuse, awkwardly accepted a partial bow before hurriedly helping them up.

At this moment, Magistrate Qin approached, his expression filled with shame. “Thank you, Second Young Master, for uncovering Lu Sheng’s case on my behalf. This humble servant… feels deeply ashamed.”

Li Shimin reassured him gently. “This past month, Magistrate Qin has been tirelessly handling the conscription. Some oversight was inevitable. I understand.”

Magistrate Qin expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, Second Young Master, for your understanding!”

“As for Lu Sheng, the Feng Cheng family, and those who bribed Lu Sheng to alter their ages to avoid conscription, please handle them according to the law, Magistrate Qin. I won’t interfere further.”

Naturally, Magistrate Qin readily agreed. After bidding farewell to Li Shimin, he departed with his men. Once they were gone, Li Shimin approached Yunyi, who seemed greatly relieved, and smiled. “Are you at ease now?”

Yunyi curtsied with a smile. “If not for Second Young Master, Father would surely have been conscripted into the war. Your kindness, Second Young Master, will never be forgotten.”

Li Shimin chuckled. “Uncle Wu gifted me such delicious pheasant meat—I couldn’t possibly not repay him.”

His words made Yunyi and Wu Laosan laugh. Wu Laosan then suggested, “Second Young Master, if you’re not in a hurry, why not come to my home for a simple meal?”

Li Shimin smiled warmly. “Then I thank Uncle Wu for the invitation.”

“It’s I who should thank Second Young Master for accepting,” Wu Laosan replied humbly. Turning to Yunyi, he added, “Girl, accompany Second Young Master back while I go ahead to buy some groceries. All we have at home are cured meats and radishes—nothing fancy.”

“Understood, Father. Walk slowly.” After Wu Laosan left, Yunyi gazed at Li Shimin’s handsome profile and said softly, “For aiding my family, you endured the humiliation of being spat upon. I truly feel unworthy, Second Young Master.”

Li Shimin brushed it off casually. “I’ve already forgotten about that. You needn’t dwell on it either.”

Yunyi nodded silently. After walking a few steps, she suddenly stopped, her expression complex. “Second Young Master, why do you help me so much?” Whether it was the Wang Wei incident, Feng Chunxiu’s murder, or today’s events, it was always Li Shimin protecting her. Without him, she wouldn’t be standing here safely.

A flicker of warmth passed through Li Shimin’s eyes, quickly concealed as he lightly chuckled. “That day, I wrongfully accused you of being an assassin. Now… consider this compensation.”