The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 623 - 612: The City Gate Opens

Chapter 623: Chapter 612: The City Gate Opens

Daji didn’t go to track down the situation, and Manbao and Bai Shanbao also kept the matter to themselves, simply peering out the window into the courtyard at night, to check. When the treats didn’t decrease again, they knew that person wouldn’t be coming back.

It seemed like good news, but for reasons they couldn’t quite pinpoint, Manbao and Bai Shanbao felt a certain discomfort in their hearts, and their spirits were dampened for two consecutive days.

Because the situation outside was unstable, Zhou SiLang and Zhou Lijun couldn’t go out to take care of business, and each day they stayed in the yard seemed listless and sullen.

Four days had passed, and the authorities still hadn’t caught the assassin. Just yesterday, another official came to inspect; they were much more lackadaisical, but they conducted another search, and there were always those who clumsily broke things, which led to significant dissatisfaction among everyone.

Zhou SiLang would occasionally squat in the alley and complain with the neighbors about the rudeness of those soldiers.

However, this time they seemed to have sensed the people’s discontent, or perhaps it was due to orders from above, but no one dared to pocket anything.

Despite that, the complaining was still considerable, "The shops have been closed for several days now, how much money must be lost in a single day?"

"Now the prices of vegetables have gone up, if the city gates don’t open soon, we won’t even be able to afford vegetables."

"Don’t even mention vegetables. Now on the main streets, there’s a checkpoint every twenty steps, and every passing man must be inspected. Haven’t you seen that old Zheng, who sells water at the alley entrance, hasn’t shown up? I heard that yesterday, while pushing a cart of water here, he was searched five times, and all the money on him was taken..."

"That’s why we must now carry water ourselves, and when going out, we cannot bring money or valuable belongings, or they’ll surely be confiscated."

"Why doesn’t County Magistrate Tang do something about it and let the prince’s soldiers conduct the inspections?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Since the Dragon Boat Festival, who dares speak ill of the Prince of Yizhou is like harboring ill intent akin to that of the assassins. Be careful or you’ll end up like Yan San from Yan’s Alley, who was taken away."

The discussion halted, and after a quiet moment, other topics were broached, "Do you still have pickles at home? I think mixing pickles with steamed buns isn’t a bad idea since we can’t buy vegetables."

"I do have some, but not much left. However, I think the tender cucumbers planted in your yard are pretty good, cut and pickled, they’re also very tasty..."

Zhou SiLang had heard enough gossip and after greeting the people, he headed home. Mr. Zhuang learned of the outside discussions and with downcast eyes, he reflected before saying, "The city gates can’t be sealed for much longer now. If the assassin is still not caught, the Prince of Yizhou’s residence might intensify searches. You all should try to stay indoors as much as possible these next couple of days."

Zhou SiLang agreed, and it was just in time, as he had bought plenty of vegetables and could minimize going out.

The city gates opened even earlier than Mr. Zhuang had predicted, later that very evening. County Magistrate Tang deployed heavy troops to guard the gates, then finally opened them.

All those who were still detained in the city were allowed to leave after being searched, provided they could find three or more peers who could vouch for each other.

Most of those who remained in the city were adults of working age.

During the four days prior, County Magistrate Tang had kept the smaller city gates open, allowing women, children, the elderly, and any not carrying luggage big enough to hide a person to leave after being inspected.

The Counsellor Chang of the Prince of Yizhou’s residence watched with a somber expression. Seeing the tense atmosphere easing, he turned to County Magistrate Tang and asked, "Can you ensure that the assassin is caught?"

"It’s been four days. Have you turned Yizhou City upside down three times and found anyone?" County Magistrate Tang replied, "If we can’t find the person, what’s the point of keeping the gates closed? Better to open the gates and draw them out."

"So many people, mostly young and strong, can you recognize the assassin?"

"No," County Magistrate Tang said as a matter of course: "Didn’t you say they were seriously wounded? Four days without treatment, as long as they dare to come, a soldier’s search will naturally reveal them."

"What if they’ve been treated and their wounds have healed?"

County Magistrate Tang then said with veiled sarcasm, "All the medical clinics and pharmacies in the city have been taken over by you. Where else could they get medicine? Didn’t Guard Qin assert with conviction that they were too grievously injured to get far?"

Counsellor Chang said nothing more.

The inspection made progress slow, but even at a sluggish pace, with the city gates wide open and letting people out one by one, the crowd within the city was slowly dwindling.

Before it got dark, everyone who wanted to leave the city had gone, and there was still no sign of the assassin.

Counsellor Chang’s expression turned even colder, "Could it be they escaped through the small city gates in the past few days?"

"Impossible," County Magistrate Tang slowly said: "The small city gates only allowed children under the age of twelve, elderly above fifty, and women to leave. At that time, Guard Qin was also overseeing it, so there won’t be any issues with the people who left."

Counsellor Chang couldn’t help but mutter, "Then where on earth could they be hiding?"

County Magistrate Tang remained silent.

Regaining his composure swiftly, Counsellor Chang turned to County Magistrate Tang, squinting his eyes he said, "Lord Tang is famously adept in criminal investigation, and you can’t find their whereabouts?"

County Magistrate Tang lowered his gaze, lamenting, "These assassins are very shrewd, Tang has not a single clue so far."

Counsellor Chang furrowed his brows.

County Magistrate Tang then asked, "Have you found anything based on their origins?"

Counsellor Chang immediately stiffened his back and shook his head gravely, "No."

County Magistrate Tang did not inquire further. He glanced at the emptied city gate below, turned around and said, "Let’s go. You can conduct one last search tonight, but by tomorrow the gates will have to allow passage."

Counsellor Chang’s face turned sour as he followed County Magistrate Tang down from the city wall.

Counsellor Chang returned to the Prince of Yizhou’s residence. County Magistrate Tang didn’t know if he could rest, but he himself surely couldn’t.

He rode straight to Governor Ming’s office. Governor Ming had just sent away some colleagues and settled down with a cup of tea when County Magistrate Tang arrived.

The sight of him brought a slight headache to Governor Ming, who waved his hand for the attendants to leave and took County Magistrate Tang to the study in the back.

"Everyone has left?"

"Yes, at least those who were gathered at the city gates are gone." He wasn’t responsible for any other areas.

Governor Ming gestured for him to sit down and looked him in the eye, "Are you really unable to catch the assassin?"

County Magistrate Tang looked up at him, "My lord, I am but a humble county magistrate. With so many able and extraordinary people in the Prince of Yizhou’s residence unable to catch him, how could I?"

He scoffed, "You say conduct a city-wide search, but we haven’t actually checked each and every household. Since the Prince of Yizhou’s residence is handling the investigation into the origins of the assassins, I’m no deity; I can’t possibly divine their whereabouts out of thin air, can I?"

Indeed, Governor Ming sighed, "There are serious internal conflicts within the residence. Originally, I wanted to take over the case, for if the assassin can’t be found, we are all implicated. But as soon as I got involved, I realized how murky the waters were and decided to drop the matter. I’d rather face impeachment here than get entangled with the Prince’s internal strife."

County Magistrate Tang nodded emphatically, hence his reluctance to deal with the Prince of Yizhou’s residence.

"Anyway, tonight is the last time; after tonight, no one is allowed to disturb the people anymore," County Magistrate Tang said. "It’s almost five days now. The people of Yizhou City have only just calmed down. I don’t want to cause more trouble because of this."

Governor Ming nodded, "Lord Zhang shares the same view."

Otherwise, he would not have insisted on opening the city gates today.