Love Lock

Chapter 89 Because of the Love Lock

Today, before dawn, he set off with his attendants to stake out the location. Then, he boldly followed the caravan to the edge of a mountain.

In the distance, a high wall stood guard, with officials standing watch at intervals outside. Farmers had to queue outside the gate to have their identities verified before they could enter one by one.

The security was tight; I wonder what's inside that wall? And what are those farmers up to?
He became even more curious, but dared not approach in broad daylight. His large body lay motionless in the grass all day, his limbs stiffening.

After waiting until dark, the farmers finished their work and returned to the county town in their horse-drawn carriages. Only then did two servants drag him up from the grass.

Under the moonlight, they cautiously approached the wall, wanting to go inside and investigate. Unexpectedly, as soon as they peeked out from the gate, a dog suddenly barked from inside.

Then, they were caught.

He had already identified himself as Wei Dabao from Qingshui County. But those people didn't care who he was and immediately started beating him up. Then he only heard two "sizzle" sounds and knew nothing more.

Just out of curiosity?

Want to go take a look?
Luo Hai's brow twitched.

As the head of a county, he regularly interacted with the wealthy and prominent figures of Qingshui County. For the sake of his career, he would never want to offend these people unless there were exceptional circumstances.

Especially Wei Dabao, the head of the Dajing family and a branch of the Wei family, was considered wealthy and powerful in the entire Qingshui County. However, the wasteland project was related to his political achievements and his promotion.

That's different.

Moreover, Zhao Zun wrote that he had been enfeoffed as the King of Cangzhou and was already on his way to Cangzhou to assume his post.

This project belongs to Zhao Zun and Han Lei. If this project, which is meant to benefit the people, is leaked, Zhao Zun will be suspected of trying to win over the people, which could very well lead to his death.

Therefore, this makes it even more different.

Thinking of this, Luo Hai's face hardened, and he said coldly, "Wei Dabao, why aren't you sleeping at home at night? What are you doing out there?"

"Uh..." Wei Dabao was taken aback, his mind racing. "Uh, Magistrate. I didn't go there on purpose. I was just passing by when I saw a wall suddenly appear, and not knowing whose it was, I decided to go and take a look."

After saying that, Wei Dabao shrank his neck and winked at Luo Hai, as if to say: Look carefully who I am, it's me, I'm Wei Dabao!

The oil lamp in Luo Hai's hand shone on Wei Dabao's face, and he naturally understood the meaning behind Wei Dabao's winking and gesturing.

If Wei Dabao had committed other offenses, it would be easier to let him go; he could simply turn a blind eye and release him. But the wasteland project wasn't just about his political achievements; it also involved Zhao Zun's life. He couldn't let a word of it leak out until Han Lei gave her her approval.

So Luo Hai pretended not to see it.

He also looked up and winked at the freshman captain, "In the dead of night, you brought him to the county government office, what are you accusing him of?"

The freshman team leader understood immediately.

"Reporting to you, sir, this man broke into a house to steal, and we caught him."

"Oh? So what did you all lose?"

Luo Hai raised an eyebrow, rubbed his nose, and hid the smile that was showing at the corner of his mouth.

"Your Honor, many valuables have been lost. We need to take stock of them to determine the exact contents," the first-year captain replied solemnly and professionally. "Your Honor, I'm innocent! Look at me! I'm Wei Dabao! I didn't steal anything. You know I'm incredibly wealthy. Why would I break into a house to steal?" Wei Dabao cried out repeatedly.

He sat on the ground, staring wide-eyed in terror at the two men spouting nonsense with an air of utter seriousness. If he weren't bound like a mummy, he would have jumped up right then and there and slapped them a few times.

They could spout nonsense to his face, and arbitrarily convict him to his face. He felt as if the sky had fallen.

The county magistrate has gone astray, and is now secretly colluding with those lowly peasants and even with people he doesn't know.

Luo Hai ignored him, instead offering a bright smile. That smile, though undeniably radiant, sent a chill down Wei Dabao's spine.

“Hmm! Since the lost items haven’t been inventoried yet,” Luo Hai said, glancing at the constables holding disciplinary batons beside him. “Then you shall detain the suspect until the lost items have been inventoried before proceeding. Remember! During this time, no one is allowed to visit him, to prevent the suspect from colluding with others.”

"Yes!"

The constables loudly accepted the order and came forward, grabbing Wei Dabao from both sides and trying to drag him out.

Wei Dabao was so frightened that his legs went weak. He never expected that Luo Hai, with whom he usually kept in touch, would suddenly turn his back on him.

"Magistrate, Luo Hai! Let me go! It's me, Wei Dabao! What's wrong with you? Are you possessed? Let me go! If you dare arrest me, do you still want to be the magistrate?"

Wei Dabao roared and struggled. His eyes, narrowed by obesity, glared angrily at Luo Hai, as if he wanted to pierce a hole in Luo Hai's face.

As soon as Luo Hai vented his morning grumpiness, he instantly felt much more relaxed.

He rolled his eyes at Wei Dabao, waved his hand, and two constables dragged the still shouting Wei Dabao out.

The burly captain of the first-year class, carrying a servant in each hand, followed closely behind...

On the afternoon of the second day, Zhao Zun's entourage finally arrived in Qingshui County, Cangzhou, accompanied by Madam Luo and Luo Yuanyuan.

The mother and daughter were on their way to the capital to attend Zhao Zun and Han Lei's wedding before the second day of the second lunar month. However, when they were almost in Taoyuan County, their carriages met Zhao Zun's caravan on the official road.

Hearing that Zhao Zun had gone to Cangzhou to serve as a recluse, Madam Luo didn't say much and returned with their caravan.

The Luo and Zhao families were old friends in the capital. However, since Madam Luo accompanied Luo Hai to Qingshui County to take up the post of county magistrate, Madam Luo and the old lady had not seen each other for many years.

When the two old friends met, they naturally had endless stories to tell about their separation. They chatted happily along the way, but Zhao Zun was absent-minded and taciturn the whole time.

The normal journey from the capital to Cangzhou usually takes a maximum of twenty days. However, Zhao Zun's search for his beloved slowed down the journey, and he arrived in Qingshui County on the tenth day of the second lunar month, missing the wedding date originally scheduled for the second day of the second lunar month.

Along the way, thinking about his wedding date and the missing Han Lei, the usually wise and composed Zhao Zun was in turmoil.

He often felt guilty for not being able to protect the people he loved.

Luo Hai had gone to the wasteland with the farmers' caravan early in the morning, unaware that Zhao Zun was arriving today. When Zhao Zun and his party's carriage arrived at the government office, only a few yamen runners who had stayed behind to keep watch and guards standing guard at the gate rushed out to greet them.

As soon as Zhao Zun dismounted, he saw the gate guards who had been taught a lesson by him and Pingchuan in Qingshui County last time.

The reason for this is the love lock!
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(End of this chapter)