Dad, we are so stable, should we do something?

In the evening, the prefect hosted a banquet for all the students. Unexpectedly, Mr. Su Lingyun took out his treasured "Night Banquet of Han Xi" for everyone to see. Everyone was extremely shocked when they saw the painting.

The paintings were carefully carried one by one by several servants to the seats of the students for display, and everyone who saw them exclaimed in amazement.

"This is a very precious collection, and I am lucky enough to see it today."

"It is a great honor for us poor students to be invited by the prefect today and to see such a precious collection of paintings." He Jinhua said excitedly and bowed to the prefect and offered a toast.

"Dear students, please don't be too polite. It is thanks to you that I can invite Mr. Su and Mr. Song here today. Otherwise, I would not be able to see this famous painting. Let's drink a toast to Mr. Su and Mr. Song."

"Cheers." Everyone present raised their glasses and drank.

After the painting was passed to all the seats, it was held by the servants and brought to Mr. Su and his group.

At this moment, a row of lights near the display of paintings in the banquet hall were blown out by a gust of wind, and it suddenly became dark. Suddenly, there was a "thump" and the servants holding the paintings on both sides fell to the ground. When the servants lit the lights and came over, they found that the painting was gone.

"Sir, sir, something bad has happened. The painting is missing." The servant was so scared that he knelt down and said, his voice full of fear.

"What." Mr. Su stood up in shock and walked over quickly. The prefect also followed and found that the painting was really gone.

The prefect immediately made a decisive decision and ordered: "Come and seal the gate immediately, and don't let anyone escape."

Soon the servants blocked all the entrances and exits and began to check one by one to see if there were any suspicious people. But they couldn't find anyone after searching around.

"Your Excellency, no suspicious persons were found." The servant who was searching came back to report.

"How can there be no one here? It's such a small place."

At this moment, someone among the students suddenly said, "Maybe someone present here stole it."

"Don't talk nonsense. We have no evidence. How can you make such accusations? It really disgraces our students. Which student would do such a dirty thing?"

"Brother Liu is absolutely right. I am sorry for my words."

"I think it's possible. Who knows what kind of people they are?" Another student said, "Why don't we check each other out?

At this time, there was some commotion in the crowd, and the students had different opinions. Some felt that it was necessary to check on each other, while others felt that doing so was an insult to their reputation.

"Everyone, please be calm. I believe there must be something behind this matter, and you students will never do such a thing." The prefect was afraid that this matter would affect his reputation, so he spoke, while looking at the crowd.

Suddenly, a flying knife hit the pillar of the banquet hall. Someone shouted, "Ah!" Everyone was attracted and saw the flying knife and the white paper on it.

"Look, there's a note on the flying knife."

"Sir." The servant took the paper down and presented it to the prefect.

The prefect took it and read it carefully. He suddenly became extremely angry and said, "Damn thief, how dare you be so bold and play tricks on me."

Everyone present was confused for a moment, not knowing what was written on the paper that could have made the prefect so angry.

Suddenly, a man in black flew up from the outer wall. "Hahaha, sir, don't be angry. I just want to borrow Mr. Su's painting for a few days, and I will return it intact in a few days."

"How dare this daring villain play tricks on me like this? Someone, come and catch him." Upon hearing this, the prefect became furious and ordered his subordinates.

"Goodbye my lord, you can't catch me."

"Come here, notify everyone to close all the city gates. No one is allowed to enter or leave tonight. We must catch this man even if it means risking everything." The prefect quickly told his men, then turned around and apologized to the two gentlemen beside him, "Please forgive me, gentlemen. This time it's all my fault that I didn't take proper security measures, and let the thief steal your paintings in such a public place. I will do my best to catch this thief and get your paintings back."

"We two believe that the prefect will make the decision for us." Mr. Su said gratefully.

Everything happened too fast and too suddenly. Tian Yuyu always felt that something was wrong. The thief had no need to show up. No one noticed him, but he showed up on his own initiative to let people see him and catch him. In addition, the appearance of Mr. Su and Mr. Song was also problematic. So Tian Yuyu carefully stepped back and ordered one of his guards to follow the thief.

At this time, the crowd had begun to get a little agitated because the prefect had actually closed the city gates. They were worried that if the thief was not caught tomorrow, the city gates would not be opened again tomorrow.

"Don't worry, everyone. This matter is my fault to you two gentlemen. This painting is precious and of great significance to you two gentlemen. I will catch the thief within three days. I hope you can understand. You have worked hard today. The poetry reunion will continue tomorrow. This matter will not affect you at all. If there is any inconvenience, please tell me." The prefect began to comfort everyone.

Thinking that the painting belonged to the two gentlemen, the students present began to feel sorry for them. "We understand you, sir. We believe you will be able to find the thief. We will cooperate with everyone's arrangements."

Soon today's poetry gathering came to an end, and the students began to disperse and return to their respective inns.

"This thief today is so bold that he even dared to directly provoke the prefect. Look, the prefect's face is red with anger tonight." He Jinhua spoke up for the prefect.

Li Shuyou felt the same way, "Yes, but I don't know if the prefect can catch this thief."

Tian Yuyu felt that the matter was not that simple, but he did not plan to say anything for the time being, so he just pointed out, "I'm afraid it's a bit difficult. Seeing that the thief was so rampant, he was not afraid of being caught. At that time, we couldn't find him, and we didn't know where he ran away from."

"Alas, I feel sorry for the two gentlemen. They had good intentions to help the prefect hold this poetry gathering, and they also took out their own collections for students like you and me to appreciate, but someone stole it like this." He Jinhua felt really sorry for the two gentlemen.

Li Shuyou agreed, "Yes, this thief is really abominable."

On the way back, the students began to condemn the thief, hoping that the prefect would catch him.

Not long after Tian Yuyu returned to his own courtyard, the guard Tian Qi he had sent out also returned.

"Sir, I followed the thief and found that after he left, he went directly to the study in Mr. Su's house. Not long after, when he came out, the painting was gone. I think he must have put the painting into Mr. Su's study. Then I followed him back to a remote courtyard where the poetry meeting took place. He climbed over the wall from one side and hid in a house in the courtyard. After your poetry meeting ended, I saw the prefect also entered the courtyard. Later, I overheard that man reporting to the prefect that he had completed the mission. This thief should have been directed and acted by the prefect and his men." Tian Qi reported to Tian Yuyu about what happened tonight.

Tian Yuyu listened to Tian Qi's report and lowered his head to think.

"I have a bad feeling. The prefect and his men staged this drama to reasonably close the city gates and not let anyone in or out for three days. This matter is a bit strange. A few days ago, there was news that the He family secretly met with the prefect. Not long after, the prefect held this poetry meeting and invited Mr. Su and Mr. Song. Then, tonight, by chance, the painting was stolen. The drama of stealing the painting was to close the city gates. This must be related to the He family.