The bloodstains on the ground had not yet dried, clearly visible under the illumination of lanterns and torches. Not only Prefect Chu had rushed over, but Assistant Prefect Wu and other officials also hurried over upon receiving the news, all with grave expressions.
"My lord, I recall no major criminals being held in the prison during this period," Official Hong said, glancing at the corpse being moved aside by the constables. The person was still wearing a prisoner's uniform; they wouldn't have lost their life if they hadn't attempted to escape.
Assistant Prefect Wu looked at Prefect Chu, whose face was as cold as frost, and then surveyed the surroundings. Many weapons were scattered on the ground, but at a glance, they were clearly the sabers of the constables and jailers. The two groups of enemies who had attacked the prison, their corpses had vanished into thin air, not even a single crossbow bolt was left behind.
Constable Zhao was also injured, but disregarding his wounds, he quickly reported the situation to Prefect Chu. "My lord, your subordinate just inspected the prison cells. Five prisoners held in the jail have died, eight have escaped, and the rest remain in their cells. Six jailers are dead, and two are seriously injured..."
During the melee, the highest number of casualties were among the constables and yamen runners, with twenty dead. Constable Zhao's eyes reddened, suppressing the grief in his heart. "Reporting to my lord, one of the prison cells contained a bamboo bed, a table, and chairs. Your subordinate suspects these people were targeting the prisoner in this cell."
Prefect Chu's heavy and stern expression finally changed. "Lead the way."
"Yes, my lord, be careful of your footing." Constable Zhao picked up a lantern and walked ahead.
If not for the jailers being dead or injured, Constable Zhao would have loved to seize someone and question them about how much silver they had taken, and what kind of person they had imprisoned, that he, the constable, was unaware of! Otherwise, how could so many colleagues have died!
Due to Liu Hefeng's funeral, the entertainment establishments in Huaian Prefecture had closed their doors, and the usual social butterflies had also quieted down. Consequently, public order in Huaian Prefecture was unprecedentedly good.
The prisoners in the jail were those previously incarcerated, aside from a few serious offenders awaiting execution in the autumn, the rest were ordinary criminals. Constable Zhao recalled the cell at the far left end, where the Four Treasures of the Study were placed on the desk. Jailer Ma had actually bypassed him to bring the prisoner in.
As Prefect Chu left, Assistant Prefect Wu and other officials immediately followed, still seeing bloodstains along the way.
"This setup is rather elegant," standing before the cell door, looking at the well-equipped prison cell despite its small size, Prefect Chu's handsome and refined face revealed a cold smile.
Prefect Chu then turned to look at the cell opposite. The straw was covered with a quilt, neatly arranged, meaning these cells at the end were not affected.
It seemed the jailers also knew to avoid attention, deliberately placing the cell in the innermost one, and leaving a few cells empty. Even if someone visited, they wouldn't notice anything here.
"Open the cell door." Prefect Chu's voice was still clear, but anyone could tell this was the prelude to a storm.
With such a major incident in Huaian Prefecture, with dozens dead among constables, jailers, and prisoners, it would certainly be reported to the imperial court. Prefect Chu's evaluation for this year would undoubtedly be low, and he might even be held accountable by the court.
Constable Zhao did not have the key. He drew his saber and chopped through the lock with a clang. "My lord."
"You all stay outside." Leaving his words, Prefect Chu stepped into the cell. Three walls were covered with cloth. On the desk, there was a gilded bronze censer with intricate floral patterns. To the left of the desk were piled seven or eight books.
Prefect Chu picked up a stack of paper and began to read. Although the calligraphy was based on tracing, Prefect Chu immediately recognized that the writer lacked wrist strength. As he flipped through the next few pages, "A Poem on Feeling Imprisoned," this was actually a test poem!
Frowning slightly, Prefect Chu quickly flipped through the following poems, all of which were test poems, with drafts and revised versions. The calligraphy was in the official style of imperial examinations. Even without flipping through the seven or eight books on the desk, Prefect Chu knew they would be classics and histories.
Assistant Prefect Wu and other officials peered inside through the cell door and whispered, "Is the person imprisoned here a scholar?"
For a moment, the officials of Huaian Prefecture collectively became suspicious. Could it be a high-ranking official in disguise? Or a great scholar framed? Or perhaps the heir of a prominent family.
"No matter who is imprisoned here, their background is definitely not small," Official Hong sighed softly. The corpses piled outside were either prisoners or constables and jailers. Such a large operation, daring to attack the prefectural prison, and then disposing of the bodies and taking away all the weapons, their background must be terrifyingly powerful.
Assistant Prefect Wu echoed with emotion, "When the city gates catch fire, the fish in the pond suffer. In the end, Huaian Prefecture is implicated."
In the cell, Prefect Chu put down the essays and poems, glanced at the newly furnished cell, hesitated for a moment, but still opened the wooden chest placed in the corner.
Seeing the neatly folded clothes in the chest, Prefect Chu felt a sense of finality. "Constable Zhao, re-lock the cell, affix a seal, and no one is allowed to step foot inside without my order."
Uh...
Assistant Prefect Wu and others who were about to enter the cell were stunned, but since Prefect Chu had spoken, no one dared to object. However, they were filled with confusion. Did Prefect Chu already know the identity of the person imprisoned in the cell?
Just as Prefect Chu exited the cell, a constable rushed over. "My lord, your subordinate found a crossbow bolt on a prisoner."
It was likely that during the melee, the prisoner had taken the opportunity to pick it up for self-defense. Later, hearing shouts of archers outside, the prisoners who were scared and wanted to escape in the chaos hid back in their cells, thus saving their lives and keeping the crossbow bolt.
Prefect Chu picked up the palm-sized crossbow bolt, made of fine iron, exceptionally sharp. There were no markings on the bolt, making it impossible to track or identify the user.
"Constable Zhao, take your men to clear out the prison," Prefect Chu handed the crossbow bolt to Assistant Prefect Wu beside him and continued, "Assistant Prefect Wu, you will accompany me to discuss follow-up matters."
As Prefect Chu and his entourage just left the prison, they saw two constables bringing a person over quickly.
"Reporting to my lord, a waiter from Xinglong Inn reported that a group of black-clothed thugs went on a killing spree at Xinglong Inn!" The constable quickly relayed the waiter's words to Prefect Chu.
"Reporting to my lord, it was too dark, and I was afraid to look closely. I and the shopkeeper secretly glanced. They first shot fire arrows towards the guest rooms upstairs, and then many people appeared in the courtyard..." The waiter, despite his heavy breathing, managed to explain the situation clearly, assuming the surrounding area was filled with government officials.
Assistant Prefect Wu interjected, "My lord, could it be the same group of people?"
Prefect Chu recalled Deng Zhiwu, who had visited earlier. He and the guards from the general's mansion were staying at Xinglong Inn. His trip to Huaian Prefecture was also to find Zhan Feiyu. However, both Prefect Chu and Deng Zhiwu thought Zhan Feiyu had left Huaian Prefecture. Who would have thought she would be in the prison?
Finally, Prefect Chu left Assistant Prefect Wu to guard the prefectural office, and he himself led over thirty constables and yamen runners straight to Xinglong Inn.
...
As dawn gradually broke, Assistant Prefect Wu yawned and smiled when he saw the two people arriving at the door. "Why has Madam come?"
Madam Wu, dressed in luxurious attire with gilded hair ornaments, cast a glance at Assistant Prefect Wu and said crisply, "My lord has been out all night. I was worried you would go hungry, so I specially went to the kitchen to cook some ginseng soup for you."
After the head maid took out the ginseng soup and breakfast from the food box, Madam Wu waved for the servants to retreat outside. Then, she sat down on a cushion opposite Assistant Prefect Wu. "My lord, we heard that many people died in the prison."
After a night of turmoil, Prefect Chu had taken his men to Xinglong Inn and had not yet returned. Assistant Prefect Wu was also hungry now. He picked up his chopsticks and put them down again, solemnly warning, "This matter is likely serious, Madam, please do not inquire."
Unlike the frail Prefect Chu's wife who rarely received guests, Madam Wu was considered the foremost figure in the back residence of Huaian Prefecture. With such a major incident occurring at the prefectural office, once the news spread, the wives of various families would surely come to pay visits, ostensibly to gather information.
Madam Wu came to deliver food to Assistant Prefect Wu at dawn, primarily to inquire about the situation, and then to reveal some inside information to these ladies.
But seeing Assistant Prefect Wu's expression, Madam Wu understood. "I understand. I will refuse all those invitations then."
"Madam is virtuous," Assistant Prefect Wu praised, then began to eat breakfast. There would be much to do after dawn. A glint flashed in his eyes. If Prefect Chu was implicated, he might be able to replace him!
Suddenly remembering something, Madam Wu couldn't help but ask, "My lord, what about the young girl from the Jin family who was imprisoned? She's not dead, is she?"
Having accepted silver from Jin Baozhen twice, Madam Wu was naturally willing to help. It was just a young girl. If things escalated, it would be the jailers' negligence, not her fault.
However, imprisoning someone for a few days was different from causing a death. The young girl bought things on the second floor of Jin Yuzhai, implying she had some background. If this person died... Madam Wu's willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed. This dead girl was also unlucky.
"Didn't pay attention..." Assistant Prefect Wu replied subconsciously, then his entire body froze. With a *clatter*, the spoon in his hand fell into the porcelain bowl, splashing the warm ginseng soup.
Madam Wu looked at Assistant Prefect Wu, who seemed struck by lightning, in confusion. "My lord, what's wrong?"
"Damn it!" He stood up abruptly, his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot. That cell... yes, even the walls were covered with cloth. Such meticulousness must mean it was a young lady.
But there was also the Four Treasures of the Study on the desk? A young girl with money was not to be feared. Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants! Even the imperial merchant Liu family, as wealthy as the nation, had to respectfully address him as Assistant Prefect Wu.
But a young girl in prison who couldn't read or write, and then thinking of Prefect Chu ordering Constable Zhao to re-lock the cell and affix a seal, Assistant Prefect Wu's expression became even more grim.
"You go back first! Remember, do not associate with the Jin family anymore!" Leaving his words, Assistant Prefect Wu strode towards the door. Seeing the clerk waiting nearby, he asked, "Where are the jailers from the prison?"
The clerk was stunned. "The injured are in the North Courtyard, and the doctor is there."
The courtyard of the North Courtyard was filled with the strong smell of medicine. Several doctors from Huaian Prefecture had been summoned. Some were bandaging wounds, others were brewing medicine, especially for the seriously injured, where doctors were still applying acupuncture.
Assistant Prefect Wu stopped the yamen runners from saluting and got straight to the point, "Are the jailers still conscious?"
"Reporting to my lord, Liao Xiaodong injured his leg and is currently lying in the room." The yamen runner had just delivered medicine to Liao Xiaodong. Compared to the murdered jailers, Liao Xiaodong was lucky. He was stabbed twice in the leg, but the bone was not injured, only flesh and skin.
In the room, Liao Xiaodong leaned on the bed blankly. Every time he closed his eyes, the sound of fighting echoed in his mind, and the room seemed to be filled with the thick smell of blood. Jailer Ma was dead just like that.
Thinking of Jailer Ma, who had his throat slit with a sword, Liao Xiaodong's face turned pale. In his fear and unease, his whole body trembled.
At this moment, the door creaked open, startling Liao Xiaodong. He shouted fiercely, "Who?"
Assistant Prefect Wu closed the door with his backhand and looked at the trembling Liao Xiaodong. "I ask you, who was living in the cell at the far left end?"
"Assistant Prefect Wu?" Liao Xiaodong stared blankly at the stern-faced Assistant Prefect Wu, and after a long pause, he suddenly came to his senses. "My lord, that cell was not holding a madam..."
Liao Xiaodong swallowed the words he hadn't finished under Assistant Prefect Wu's fierce gaze. As Jailer Ma's confidant, Liao Xiaodong naturally knew why Zhan Feiyu was imprisoned. If Madam Wu hadn't sent people, how would they have dared to bypass the constables and imprison a young girl privately? This was breaking the law while knowing the law.
Jailer Ma had indeed intended to report upwards later, but Zhan Feiyu had stopped him. Therefore, Jailer Ma could only accept the silver from Madam Wu on one hand, and cautiously serve Zhan Feiyu on the other. Both were formidable figures, and none of them, the jailers, dared to offend.
Assistant Prefect Wu looked down at Liao Xiaodong and said word by word, "I heard Jailer Ma was killed. It is your good fortune to have escaped. You are young, you should cherish your life."
Although it sounded like comfort at first, Liao Xiaodong felt a chill down his spine. Assistant Prefect Wu was threatening him. If he said something he shouldn't, he would meet the same fate as Jailer Ma.
"Thank you for your guidance, my lord. I understand," Liao Xiaodong lowered his head, not daring to show any dissatisfaction.
Assistant Prefect Wu then restrained his sternness, and his voice softened. "Tell me about that young girl. Whose daughter is she? Why did she come to Huaian Prefecture?"
After Zhan Feiyu was imprisoned, Jailer Ma had assigned Liao Xiaodong to be solely responsible for her. Therefore, if anyone understood the situation, it was indeed Liao Xiaodong. "Reporting to my lord, I had asked Jailer Ma before, but he said not to ask what should not be asked, and to serve her carefully. Whatever the young girl wanted, after giving the silver, I would buy it and secretly send it into the cell..."
Assistant Prefect Wu asked again, but Jailer Ma was too cautious, so what Liao Xiaodong knew were all unimportant matters. He knew nothing more.
After leaving the room, Assistant Prefect Wu went to see other injured constables, yamen runners, and jailers. He also found two conscious jailers and subtly questioned them. They knew even less, only that the young girl who was imprisoned had offended someone, and later Jailer Ma was responsible. They, the jailers, were not clear about it.