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

Tian Qi and Tian Liu came to the county government office and were summoned to meet Magistrate Tian.

"Tian Qi (Tian Liu) greets you, sir."

"Get up, aren't you guys at Yu'er's place? Why did you come back suddenly? What's the matter?"

"Your Excellency, we have returned on the orders of the young master. This is what happened..." Tian Qi informed Magistrate Tian of what had happened.

"I understand. You've worked hard. Go down and rest first. You just stay with me for the next few days."

"Thank you, sir." Tian Qi and Tian Liu went downstairs to rest after finishing their report.

"Someone, please bring County Magistrate Huang over here." County Magistrate Tian ordered his men to go down and find County Magistrate Huang.

"Sir, you are looking for me."

"Huang Xianwei, sit here. I have some situations that we need to discuss together."

"Your Excellency, please speak."

"My son came to inform me today that the city was suddenly closed. I thought about it carefully and found this matter quite strange." County Magistrate Tian then recounted the whole story.

"Sir, they are closing the city gates right now. I'm afraid they are targeting our Lake County. I'll send someone to check if there are any suspicious people who have come to our place since midnight last night, and have someone pay attention to any suspicious situations in the next few days."

"Okay, make arrangements first, send more people, and notify the village chiefs to keep an eye out, just in case. Oh, and don't let the news leak out for the time being."

"Yes, sir. I will go down and arrange it right away."

After Huang Xianwei left, County Magistrate Tian ordered his servants to find Tian Fu and ask him to check the recent intelligence in the county to see if there was anything unusual.

In the evening, after County Magistrate Tian returned home, Tian Xing'er came to find him.

"Dad, I heard that you asked Uncle Fu to check all the recent intelligence today. Did something happen? I've never seen such a detailed check before. How come I saw Tian Qi and Tian Liu come back?"

"You came at the right time. Your brother got some news in the prefectural capital. The prefectural governor held a poetry meeting, and most of the students who came to our Hu County went. Then the famous painting was lost on that day, and the prefectural capital was closed to catch the thieves. Your brother sent Tian Qi to follow and found that the theft of the painting was still a play directed and performed by the prefectural governor and his men. Dad was worried that this matter might be suspected of targeting us. I wonder what the prefectural governor and his men are planning."

"The prefect and his men led the students to the city in order to close the city gates. The students were there so that they could have witnesses to prove that there was a reason for the incident. Why did they close the city gates? If they closed the city gates, the surrounding counties would not be able to enter the city, and they would not be able to leave. Dad, have you heard when they will open the city gates?"

"Well, Tian Qi and the others heard about it before they came back, which means the city gates might be opened in three days, but it was not issued by the government, so this is also a suspicious point."

"Someone deliberately spread the word that the city gates will be opened in three days, so Dad, this may happen within three days. I can't think of any doubts for the time being. Let me think about it." Tian Xing'er recalled what happened recently. "Oh, by the way, Dad, a few days ago, the people below reported that someone in the capital secretly contacted the He family. Not long after, the He family went to find the prefect. Two days later, the prefect notified that a lotus poetry meeting would be held. Since then, there has been no movement from the He family, and Sima He did not attend the lotus poetry meeting. I wonder if the problem is related to the capital."

"It is indeed possible. Tell your men to check carefully the people who have come from the capital recently. I will also ask County Magistrate Huang to check carefully again."

"Then dad and daughter will go back first."

"You should go back and study earlier. Your father is in charge of this matter, so you don't need to interfere."

"Yes, Dad." After saying that, Tian Xing'er went back by herself.

Although Magistrate Tian told Tian Xing'er not to worry about it, Tian Xing'er was very curious about it. She asked Uncle Fu to copy the latest intelligence for her, so that she could take a closer look to see if there were any omissions.

On the second day, in a small courtyard in the east of the city.

"Master Xia, this is our newly rented carriage. Shall we set off now?"

"Yes, that river is outside the city, right?"

"It's Master Xia."

"Get in the carriage and go."

After saying that, Master Xia led a few people to Hexi Port, the moat outside the east city gate.

"We're here, Mr. Xia. Please drive slowly. I'll help you down." As soon as they arrived at the place, the carriage stopped and Li Er got off first.

Mr. Xia didn't waste time talking to him and just went downstairs.

"There are usually a lot of people passing by here."

"Yes, because Hu County is holding a midsummer festival recently, so there are many more people coming and going through the city gates than usual. But at night, there are not many people here. Look, Master Xia, the small forest ahead is a hidden place. Generally, no one will notice you if you walk from the small forest to here."

"Let's go over and take a look."

"It's Master Xia."

Li Er took Xia Ye to look around the area for nearly an hour, and finally Xia Ye felt relieved. Then they took a carriage and stopped at several places nearby. When the sun set, they took a detour and came to a small woods on the east side of the city.

"Master Xia, look, from this position you can see the upper reaches of the river, but this small forest blocks the view. People on the Black City Gate cannot see this end clearly at night." Li Er pointed in the direction of the upper reaches of the river and explained to Master Xia.

"Okay, this location is fine, so let's go here. Tomorrow you pack up and leave around 3 p.m. You've worked hard over the past six months, and we'll go back to the capital after we're done."

"It's Master Xia." Li Er and his companions were excited to hear this. After all, they had been sent to Hu County for almost half a year and had long wanted to return to the capital. Moreover, there would be a generous reward if this matter was done.

After the investigation, they drove the carriage back to the city as if nothing had happened. Since the driver was Li Er and his men, they had been in Hu County for half a year, and the city gate guards did not find them unfamiliar. And Master Xia had not shown up during the carriage ride, so their trip was not questioned.

The city had been closed for two days, and Magistrate Tian and his men had become a little anxious as they had not found any suspicious clues until tonight.

"Tomorrow you and I will go together and check out the city gates." County Magistrate Tian said to County Magistrate Huang Wei.

"Yes, sir. Then where shall we start our investigation tomorrow?"

"Go from the South Gate, and then to the North Gate at noon."

"It's an adult."

After the two men finished their discussion, they left the yamen and went back to their respective places.

On the third day, Magistrate Tian took County Magistrate Huang to check the city gates early. They first checked the passers-by at the South Gate, and then went to the West Gate. At noon, they had a meal at a small noodle restaurant in the city.

"Master Xia, Master Li, I saw Magistrate Tian and County Wei Huang checking several city gates. It seems that the city gates are checked more strictly today, and the queues in and out of the city gates are much longer than usual." One of Li Er's men came back to report.

"Humph, they won't find anything even if they investigate." Xia Ye said confidently. "Li Er, come closer, I'll tell you..."

"Yeah, yes, Master Xia, this is a brilliant idea. I'll go find someone to do it right away."

"Don't let anyone catch you. Find someone who doesn't know you. Got it?"

"Yes, Master Xia, don't worry."

"