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Chapter 384 I was given advice instead

The military officer was named Lu Renxing, and the one in charge of law came from Hue City and was named Jia Luojing.

When An Chengyuan ordered someone to go to Shiyang Village again to "urge" Xu Yuan to return to the team as soon as possible, he originally only sent Lu Renxing and Jia Luojing.

Zhu Zhanmei volunteered and persuaded An Chengyuan to allow her to join the team.

As soon as Xu Yuan said this, Lu Renxing and Jia Luojing both turned to look at Zhu Zhanmei.

No wonder you insisted on coming along; it turns out you were protecting this person.

Zhu Zhanmei knew the relationship between the Zhu family and Xu Yuan, and she couldn't hide it at all, nor did she intend to.

So they readily admitted, "Okay, we absolutely won't go in."

She squeezed the horse's belly with her two long legs, and the horse obediently backed away.

Zhu Zhanmei only brought two subordinates with her, and the three of them retreated to the side.

He deliberately made way for them, indicating that he would not stop Lu Renxing and Jia Luojing.

Are you in a hurry? Please go ahead.

Lu Renxing and Jia Luojing really didn't dare to go in at this moment.

That's how ridiculous it is often.

You're trying to help them and don't want them to go in, but they won't listen and insist on going in!

When you're tired and don't want to deal with it anymore, just tell them to come in—but they become suspicious and dare not enter.

Lu Renxing and Jia Luojing looked at each other, and in the end Jia Luojing, who was more thick-skinned, coughed and said, "It's good that Lord Xu has come. We are here on Lord An's orders to urge Lord Xu to return as soon as possible."

Xu Yuan spread his hands: "You come in and take me back? This place has become a ghost village, and I can't get out at all."

Jia Luojing's eyes darted around, and he said, "What exactly happened here? Lord Xu, why don't you tell us, and we can discuss it together?"

Xu Yuan had nothing to hide, so he recounted the situation in the village from yesterday to today.

Of course, he concealed his whereabouts from the previous night, as well as the deaths of Zhao Xianze and the other four.

Xu Yuan thought Jia Luojing was just asking about the situation casually.

But after listening, Jia Luojing stroked his chin and pondered, "A hundred years ago, a terrible tragedy occurred in this village due to gold panning..."

Jia Luojing clenched his fist and said decisively, "Lord Xu, immediately go back and investigate the tree where that young man and his family were hanged. The evil spirit in Guimen Village must be directly related to that tree!"

Jia Luojing felt that his analysis was absolutely correct. The strange cases in this village were not complicated, and he didn't know why Xu Yuan had made no progress in two days.

How did they manage to build such a great reputation in the past?

Xu Yuan, in the village, simply nodded calmly and said, "I've checked, there's nothing suspicious."

Jia Luojing was taken aback: "You really checked?"

"They really investigated; they practically turned that little hill upside down."

Jia Luojing was extremely confident in his deduction, believing it to be the key to solving the case, and therefore stubbornly insisted, "Lord Xu, why don't you investigate again..."

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes: "Since Lord Jia thinks I am not capable enough, why don't you come in and investigate yourself?"

“This…” Jia Luojing hesitated.

Xu Yuan laughed and said, "If Lord Jia is confident that he can solve the strange case in this village, then it is indeed the Ghost Gate Village. What's wrong with walking in?"

"With the case solved, the restrictions on Guimen Village will naturally be lifted, and Lord Jia will be in no danger."

This sentence cornered Jia Luojing.

If you don't believe me, come in and check it yourself.

If you don't dare to come in, it means you're not entirely confident in your own deductions.

If you're not even sure, why are you urging me to check something else?
Jia Luojing wanted to demonstrate his investigative abilities, but he faltered here. Xu Yuan secretly shook his head; this Jia Luojing was too arrogant, treating everyone else as useless.

Xu Yuan also knew that, regardless of whether it was the Three Offices of Strange Affairs or the county and prefectural offices of the Ming Dynasty, people who could actually investigate cases were extremely rare.

That's why stories about "upright and just officials" circulate in various places.

Because once a case occurs within the territory, the constables and yamen runners simply ask who had a grudge against the deceased, who had an affair with the deceased's wife, and so on. Then they arrest the people, torture them severely, and they all confess.

That's the overall standard of case handling.

There was no detailed analysis or meticulous dissection.

Perhaps there are some skilled investigators in the Dali Temple and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but such talent is absolutely scarce in local areas.

Jia Luojing thus became "the general among the cripples," and he thought Xu Yuan was also "crippled."

Jia Luojing dared not go in. After thinking carefully for a while, he asked, "Then... have you checked the home of the young man from back then?"

Xu Yuan shook his head: "It can't be found. It happened a hundred years ago, and the old people in the village can't remember it."

Xu Yuan was certainly not making excuses.

When searching that small hill, Xu Yuan had already asked the old village head.

The old man clearly stated that it could not be found long ago.

The house should have been demolished long ago.

Jia Luojing frowned again, at a loss for what to do.

That's about all I can think of regarding his abilities.

Xu Yuan gently shook his head and said, "Lord Jia, when handling cases in the future, you must pay more attention to details. For example, the strange case in this village seems to be related to the tragedy that happened a hundred years ago."

But why did the young man who appeared by the river yesterday choose old man Chen Baonian?

Jia Luojing subconsciously said, "Coincidence..."

“Hehehe,” Xu Yuan laughed: “How many coincidences are there in this world? For example, as I just mentioned, the young man by the river—only Chen Baonian saw him, and we know this from the account of Chen Baonian’s two grandsons.”

But...did this young man really appear by the river yesterday?

Jia Luojing subconsciously added, "Yes, this should be the boy who was murdered a hundred years ago..."

"Hahaha!" Xu Yuan burst into laughter this time: "Lord Jia, this is what you yourself have decided in your heart."

As an official investigating a case, if you form your own conclusions about many things without personally verifying their truth, you're likely to cause many wrongful convictions.

Jia Luojing's face was as red as a pig's liver.

However, he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

He did have some ability to solve cases, so after Xu Yuan's few words, he realized that he was indeed wrong.

This made Jia Luojing very frustrated.

I originally intended to give Xu Yuan some pointers on how to investigate cases, but I ended up being the one being pointed out!
And yet, the advice they gave was so insightful that I even felt like I had "learned something."

Xu Yuan didn't want to say any more and waved his hand, saying, "You two can make your own decision. My men have just calmed down Chen Baonian's two grandsons. I was just about to ask them about yesterday's events in detail, so please excuse me."

Xu Yuan gave a slight bow, then turned and left.

But then he remembered something, turned back and said, "The evil spirits in this village use your eyes to corrupt your hearts. If any of you see the golden statue in the village, remember to immediately look away and restrain your greed, or you will surely be corrupted!"

"Do you need to remind me?" Jia Luojing muttered under his breath, clearly annoyed.

He was clearly not as spirited as he had been before...

Behind Jia Luojing and Lu Renxing, Zhu Zhanmei's face showed an expression that she couldn't help but chuckle.

(End of this chapter)