Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The waiting time felt exceptionally long.

From afternoon to dusk, the government office was quiet, but Lin Feng could sense a tense atmosphere that seemed to be brewing.

Feng Zhen's study light remained on, clearly indicating that he was anxiously awaiting the results of the search.

As night deepened, just past 7 PM, the sound of hurried hooves and clamor finally came from outside the prefectural government office.

coming!

Lin Feng walked to the window and listened intently. The sounds of footsteps, shouts, and the clashing of armor grew louder as they approached, seemingly mixed with a woman's weeping and rebuking. It seemed the search of Ciyun Nunnery hadn't gone smoothly, or perhaps… they had made a "find"?

Soon, commotion was also heard outside the west courtyard.

A group of soldiers escorted several people and hurriedly passed by outside the moon gate.

By the light of the lanterns under the eaves, Lin Feng saw that those being escorted were several nuns dressed in gray robes. One of them was quite tall, and although she kept her head down, her steps were steady, unlike the frailty of ordinary women. Another person being escorted was a young man dressed in ordinary cloth clothes, looking like a shop assistant. He also kept his head down, so his face was not visible.

Was it Zhou An? Or that "Ghost Hand Poison Doctor" Mo Sangeng? Lin Feng's heart pounded. Unfortunately, the distance was too far and the lighting was dim, so he couldn't see clearly.

Those people were taken directly towards the Second Hall.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Feng heard Yang Dingbian's rough voice ring out in the second hall. Although he couldn't make out the exact words, his tone was filled with barely suppressed excitement and anger.

"We've made a discovery! A huge one!" Lin Feng was almost certain. Feng Zhen's overnight court session clearly indicated that he had apprehended a key figure or found crucial evidence!

He suppressed the urge to go out and find out what was going on, forced himself to sit back down at the table, and waited patiently.

He knew that it wouldn't be long before Feng Zhen summoned him again.

Sure enough, less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the door was opened again.

It was Yang Dingbian again, but this time, his expression was unusually solemn, even showing a hint of lingering fear.

"Master Lin, the Imperial Envoy requests your presence for questioning in the Second Hall." Yang Dingbian's tone was more serious than ever before.

Lin Feng stood up.

Will he find a turning point or an even greater crisis this time?

The second hall was brightly lit, as bright as day.

Feng Zhen sat upright behind the desk, his face ashen, his eyes burning with fury.

Two people were kneeling below the hall.

The tall nun had removed her cap, revealing short hair. Although she was dressed in women's clothing, her Adam's apple was prominent, clearly indicating that she was a man in disguise! It was none other than Zhou An, who had been missing for many days! At this moment, his face was deathly pale, and he was trembling all over. He no longer had any of the shrewdness of a steward.

The young man had his head down, obscuring his face, but his body was hunched over, and he seemed terrified.

Besides these two, several open chests were placed below. One chest contained some gold and silver valuables, and several sets of men's clothes, clearly belonging to Zhou An. Another chest contained bottles and jars, as well as some dried herbs and minerals, emitting a strange smell. Beside it were several handwritten booklets, filled with bizarre drawings and writing. Most striking was the third chest, which contained several sets of Di Rong clothing, several short knives with distinct Di Rong style, and… several letters sealed with sealing wax. The envelopes were blank, but the wax pattern was a ferocious eagle symbol!

The symbol of the "Shadow Falcon"!

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat! As expected! Ciyun Nunnery was indeed one of the "Falcon's" nests!

"Lin San, come forward." Feng Zhen's voice interrupted Lin Feng's thoughts, cold and devoid of any emotion.

Lin Feng took a few steps forward and walked into the hall.

Feng Zhen pointed at the two kneeling figures on the ground and said coldly, "Lin San, do you recognize them?"

Lin Feng carefully examined Zhou An and shook his head: "Your Excellency, I recognize this man; he is Zhou An, the steward of Prefect Zhou's residence. As for this one, I do not know him."

"Zhou An!" Feng Zhen slammed his gavel and roared, "What else do you have to say?! Hiding in a nunnery, disguising yourself, and colluding with Di Rong spies—the evidence is irrefutable! These Di Rong clothes, weapons, and these secret letters were all found in the secret room where you were hiding! What excuses do you have left?!"

Zhou An trembled violently, kowtowing repeatedly: "My lord, spare me! My lord, spare me! I... I was forced! It was Prince Qi... His Highness Prince Qi who forced me to do this! I was just following orders!"

"The Prince of Qi?" Feng Zhen's eyes flashed with cold light. "You say the Prince of Qi instructed you to collude with the Di Rong? What evidence do you have?!"

"Yes! I have evidence!" Zhou An cried out urgently, as if grasping at a straw. "Those secret letters! Those secret letters are correspondence between Lord 'Falcon' and His Highness Prince Qi! And...and account books! I secretly copied the account books of the Qi Prince's mansion's transactions with the Di Rong, and...and the token His Highness Prince Qi gave to Lord 'Falcon,' a jade pendant with an eagle on it, hidden...hidden in a hidden compartment!"

"Search!" Feng Zhen shouted.

Immediately, soldiers stepped forward and, under Zhou An's guidance, produced an account book wrapped in oilcloth and a jade pendant with an eagle and falcon carved in exquisite black.

Feng Zhen took the account book, quickly flipped through it, and his expression grew increasingly grim.

The document details the transactions between the businesses under the Qi Prince's residence and several Di Rong merchant caravans (actually "Shadow Hawks" in disguise). Besides the usual furs and medicinal herbs, the traded goods included a large quantity of iron, tung oil, sulfur, saltpeter, and other materials strictly controlled by the imperial court. There were even several shipments labeled "special equipment," followed by staggering sums! The financial transactions were incredibly large! This was no ordinary border trade; it was clearly aiding the enemy and committing treason!

Looking at those secret letters again, although they used coded language, their meaning was self-evident when combined with the account books. The "Falcon" in the letter referred to himself as "servant" and addressed King Qi as "my lord," reporting on the movements of the northern defense line, the routes for transporting military equipment, intelligence on the secret stronghold of Black Wind Valley, and requesting instructions on the next steps.

"Good! Good for you, Prince Qi! Good for you, 'Falcon'!" Feng Zhen laughed in fury, slamming the account books and secret letters onto the table. "Colluding with the Di and Rong tribes, aiding the enemy and betraying the country, framing loyal officials, and murdering court officials! You truly have the ambition of a wolf, your crimes are unforgivable!"

He suddenly looked at the young man: "And who are you?!"

The young man was terrified, kowtowing repeatedly: "My lord, spare my life! I... I'm a waiter at 'Qingxin Teahouse,' my name is A-Gui... Steward Zhou made me disguise myself as a nun to guard the gate and deliver messages at Ciyun Nunnery... I... I was forced!"

Feng Zhen stopped looking at him, his gaze sharp as a knife as he shot towards Zhou An: "Zhou An, I'll ask you again! Who exactly is 'Falcon'? Where is he now? How did the Prince of Qi collude with him? And where is 'Ghost Hand Poison Doctor' Mo Sangeng? Tell the truth, and I might spare your family's lives! If you utter even the slightest lie, you will be executed on the spot!"

Zhou An had already broken down, tears streaming down his face. To save his life and for his family, he confessed everything, pouring out his heart: "My lord! 'Falcon'... 'Falcon' is a mysterious figure. I... I've only seen him twice. Each time he wore a mask, his voice was hoarse, and I didn't know his true face... He... he's extremely skilled in martial arts, and has many capable and extraordinary subordinates. Mo Sangeng was one of the poison experts he recruited, specifically to silence witnesses... I don't know exactly where Mo Sangeng is hiding. I only know from 'Falcon'..." "My lord mentioned that he has a secret medicine-making shop in the western city... His Highness Prince Qi's contact with 'Falcon' was all through me, and... and a concubine of the Prince's mansion, who seems to be involved as well, though I don't know the specifics... By the way, this framing of Lin San and the robbery of weapons were all planned by 'Falcon' on Prince Qi's orders! Those Di Rong assassins were also sent by 'Falcon,' firstly to silence them, and secondly to create chaos and cover the shipment's exit from the border..."

Zhou An's confession resounded like thunderclaps in the second hall!

Although the true identity of "Falcon" has not yet been revealed, the crimes of King Qi in colluding with the Di and Rong tribes, aiding the enemy and betraying the country, and plotting rebellion have been exposed! And the general direction of Mo Sangeng's hiding place has also been determined!

Feng Zhen's face was cold and stern, but his heart was in turmoil.

He never imagined that the King of Qi's ambition and crimes would reach such a level! This was no longer a simple power struggle within the bureaucracy, but a heinous crime of treason!

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Zhou An's confession, account books, secret letters, and jade pendant—these were irrefutable evidence! Enough to nail Prince Qi to the pillar of shame for treason! But Prince Qi was a prince; without an imperial edict, he could not act rashly. Moreover, "Falcon" and Mo Sangeng had not yet been apprehended, and the traitor within the northern border had not yet been uncovered…

"Put Zhou An and A Gui in the death row and keep them under strict guard! No one is allowed to approach them without my order!" Feng Zhen ordered in a deep voice.

"Wang, the clerk, immediately compile Zhou An's confession, along with account books, secret letters, jade pendants, and other physical evidence, into a detailed case file. Send it to His Majesty via the fastest courier service! Please make your decision!"

"Yes!" Wang, the clerk, replied excitedly, knowing that if the case were confirmed, it would be a major case that would shake the court and the public!

"Captain Yang!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Immediately muster your troops and seal off the western part of the city, especially the slums near the city walls! Search the area thoroughly! Dig three feet into the ground, find that 'Ghost Hand Poison Doctor' Mo Sangeng! Dead or alive! At the same time, maintain martial law throughout the city; entry is permitted, but exit is not! Triple the manpower around the Qi Prince's residence for close surveillance; not even a fly is allowed to escape! Arrest him as soon as the Emperor's decree arrives!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yang Dingbian accepted the order and turned to leave with a murderous aura.

Feng Zhen finally turned his gaze to Lin Feng, who had been standing quietly listening to everything, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

This seemingly ordinary freight forwarding company owner went from being a "suspect" to providing crucial clues, and now, almost single-handedly, he has uncovered a corner of this shocking conspiracy! Although he is still shrouded in mystery, his contribution at this moment is undeniable.

"Lin San," Feng Zhen began slowly, his tone much gentler than before, "you provided clues about Ciyun Temple, helping me solve this case, capture the wanted criminal, and obtain irrefutable evidence, which is a meritorious service to the court. The suspicion against you can be temporarily set aside. However, your identity remains a mystery, and your connection to Black Wind Valley is not yet clear, so you cannot be released. Until the case of Prince Qi is resolved and the situation in the Northern Border is clarified, you will need to remain in the prefectural office. However, you can move to the guest courtyard in the east wing; your movements will still be restricted, but it will be slightly more free than here. Do you have any objections?"

Although being moved from the west wing to the east wing was still house arrest, the treatment and freedom would undoubtedly be much better.

This means that Feng Zhen's trust in him has increased, but he is not completely at ease.

Lin Feng felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, knowing he was safe for the time being.

He bowed deeply and said, "This humble subject thanks Your Excellency for your wise investigation. This humble subject has no other request but that Your Excellency investigate the truth as soon as possible, clear my name, and restore peace to the northern border."

"You should rest well. Once His Majesty's decree arrives, Prince Qi will be brought to justice, and 'Falcon' and Mo Sangeng will be brought to justice, I will give you an explanation." Feng Zhen waved his hand, looking slightly tired.

Lin Feng was taken away, this time to the East Wing Guest Courtyard.

He knew that the world in Qingzhou was truly about to change!

The night was deep, but Qingzhou City remained sleepless.