Chapter 112 A truck loaded with medicinal herbs hides a living person; Lin Chen discovers the Qingyunling line on the street.

The wind in the back alley slithered along the base of the wall, and an old medicinal herb cart was parked at the alley entrance.

The cart curtain was blown against the cart board in rhythmic flutters.

That cough from beneath made everyone stop what they were doing.

Zhao Gang pressed his hand onto his sword hilt, his eyes locked on the driver.

"You said it was an empty cart just now?"

The driver knelt in the mud, sweat already visible on his forehead.

"My lord, I truly didn't know there was someone inside."

Zhao Gang stepped forward half a pace, the tip of his boot pressing down on the cart shaft.

"An empty cart coughs? Do you think our ears are buried in the dirt?"

The driver kowtowed, his forehead slamming into the wet mud.

"I am just a driver. This is an old cart from Lis Pharmacy; I only handle the driving."

Steward Wang Dehou squeezed out from the back alley door.

Two Wang family guards followed behind him, their expressions even uglier than they were behind the door just moments ago.

"Lin Chen, it is true the cart is in the back alley of the outer residence, but this cart bears the old plaque of Lis Pharmacy; it is not private property of the Wang family's outer residence."

Zhao Gang sneered.

"You were keeping your doors closed just now, but now that the cart is in trouble, you've come out quite quickly."

Steward Wang Dehou looked toward Commander Liu Chong and cupped his hands.

"Commander Liu, the Governor's sealing order applies to the Wang family's east city outer residence. Since this is a cart from the pharmacy, the Patrol Division has no right to search it privately."

Commander Liu Chong frowned and looked at Lin Chen.

"Lin Chen, he is trying to use the 'private property' excuse."

Zhao Gang's temper flared.

"It's already hiding a person, and you still call it private property?"

Steward Wang Dehou immediately interjected.

"Head Zhao, watch your words. It hasn't been verified who is under the cart. If it is a runaway slave hidden by the driver, the Wang family will also report it to the authorities."

The commoners gathered at the alley entrance were held back by the City Defense Battalion.

Hearing the words "runaway slave," the murmurs started up again.

"A runaway slave?"

"The person under the cart shouted just now that Wang Gang is still alive."

"The Wang family is speaking too quickly."

Lin Chen raised his hand, and Zhao Gang swallowed his words.

Lin Chen looked at Commander Liu Chong.

"Commander Liu, can the Criminal Division verify if the cart bottom contains a corpse or injuries?"

Commander Liu Chong's eyes shifted.

"Concealing corpses or injuries falls under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Division."

Steward Wang Dehou's expression changed.

"Commander Liu, this is a medicinal cart. If there is residual medicinal powder under the cart, and you open the board rashly, who will take responsibility if someone is harmed?"

Shen Yue circled to the side of the cart, her fingers hovering near the wooden gap. She didn't touch it, only pausing at the edge of the gap for a breath.

She looked up at Lin Chen.

"It's not the smell of medicine."

Lin Chen asked.

"What is the smell?"

Shen Yue looked at the wooden gap under the cart.

"The smell of blood, sweat, and the scent of a person who has been stifled for too long."

Zhao Gang stared at the driver.

"Did you hear that? The scent of a person."

The driver's body shook even more violently.

"I really don't know. I just took the cart and was told to take it out from the back alley."

Sun Qi squatted by the cart wheel and touched the mud beside the wheel ruts.

"The wheel ruts are deep; it has just unloaded a heavy object."

Steward Wang Dehou immediately said.

"Medicinal herbs are also heavy."

Sun Qi looked up at him.

"Medicinal herbs don't cough under the cart."

Steward Wang Dehou pressed his lips together.

"Head Sun, if you want to search the cart, there must be proper procedures."

Commander Liu Chong unfolded the inspection order and handed it to the Criminal Division officer behind him.

"The procedure is right here."

Steward Wang Dehou wanted to speak again.

Commander Liu Chong looked at him.

"The Criminal Division is verifying injuries and corpses. Steward Wang, if you obstruct us again, I will record you for obstructing an investigation."

Steward Wang Dehou's expression sank.

"Commander Liu, the Wang family is cooperating, but the medicinal powder inside the cart might be poisonous. If the person opening the board gets poisoned, the Wang family cannot bear that responsibility."

Zhao Gang laughed.

"You can't bear that, but you can bear the responsibility of a human life."

Commander Liu Chong turned back.

"The Coroner."

A coroner in grey clothes stepped forward carrying a wooden box, taking out a wet cloth, a medicinal powder bag, and a thin iron hook.

"Commander Liu, if it is just opening the bottom board to check for a person, I can do it."

Commander Liu Chong nodded.

"Wear the cloth mask, open the ventilation gap first."

The Coroner tied the wet cloth over his mouth and nose, knelt by the bottom of the cart, and used the thin iron hook to pry open a wooden joint.

The driver suddenly looked up.

"You can't open it!"

Zhao Gang stepped on his shoulder, pressing him back into the mud.

"If you shout again, I'll make sure you can't open your mouth at all."

The guard behind Steward Wang Dehou moved forward a step.

Zhou Tie's iron spear blocked the alley, the spear tip pressing an inch from the guard's chest.

"Stand back."

The guard looked at the spear tip, the muscles on his face tightening, but he eventually stepped back half a pace.

The wooden board under the cart was pried open bit by bit, and a stifling hot air wafted out from the gap.

Shen Yue furrowed her brows.

"Someone inside is severely injured."

The Coroner said in a low voice.

"There is a secret compartment under the bottom board, blocked by a cloth bundle."

Commander Liu Chong said in a deep voice.

"Open it."

The wooden board was lifted half a foot, revealing a curled-up figure inside.

It was a boy of thirteen or fourteen.

His hands were tied in front of him with hemp rope, and his wrists were chafed with bloodstains.

A cloth soaked in medicinal juice was stuffed in his mouth.

He was wearing an ill-fitting coarse cloth winter garment, and the fabric at his spine was torn, revealing a brand mark.

The alley entrance was silent for a breath.

Then, the murmurs surged uncontrollably.

"There really is someone!"

"It's just a child."

"The Wang family hides a child in their cart?"

Steward Wang Dehou immediately shouted.

"Everyone, don't speak nonsense. This is a cart from the pharmacy; it has nothing to do with the Wang family's outer residence."

Zhao Gang turned to look at him.

"The cart came out of your back alley, and the person was found under the cart—you say it has nothing to do with you just because you say so?"

Steward Wang Dehou gritted his teeth.

"It could be that the driver hid a runaway slave and wanted to use the Wang family's back alley to escape."

Hearing this, the driver's face turned deathly pale on the spot.

"Steward Wang, you can't say that."

Steward Wang Dehou's gaze pressed down on him.

"Whose driver are you? I don't recognize you."

The driver's lips trembled.

"I… I was arranged by Steward Feng Sanxing."

Steward Wang Dehou immediately barked.

"Feng Sanxing fled last night; you still dare to drag the Wang family into this?"

Lin Chen ignored them and just squatted by the cart, looking at the boy dragged out by The Coroner.

After the medicinal cloth was removed from the boy's mouth, his throat was so dry he couldn't utter a complete sentence. He could only huddle by the cart board, his eyes fixed on the guards behind Steward Wang Dehou.

Lin Chen tucked the corner of his outer robe back, leaving a clear space for him.

"What is your name?"

The boy's lips moved, but there was no sound.

Lin Chen asked again.

"Where are you from?"

The boy was shivering all over, his eyes still watching the two guards.

Steward Wang Dehou immediately said.

"Lin Chen, the child is frightened and cannot speak. It would be fine to hand him over to the Wang family for questioning."

Zhao Gang turned around on the spot.

"Say that again?"

Steward Wang Dehou stepped back half a pace.

"I am only saying that if it is a runaway slave, the master must acknowledge it."

Shen Yue walked to the boy's side, blocking the view from Steward Wang Dehou's side.

"Don't look at them."

The boy looked up at her, his lips trembling even more.

Shen Yue handed over a water skin.

"Drink a little."

The boy's hands were injured from the binding, and he couldn't lift them.

Shen Yue didn't touch his wounds, only letting The Coroner support the edge of the water skin to feed him a few sips to moisten his throat.

Sun Qi took out the small bill retrieved from the Meng Estate from his pocket.

The corner of the paper was burnt black, but the words "Yiyang Foster Home, 300 sets of winter clothes" were still visible.

He squatted down and placed the paper where the boy could see it.

"Do you recognize these words?"

The boy's unfocused gaze landed on the paper, and his whole body shrank backward.

His back hit the cart wheel, and the pain forced a hoarse sound from his throat.

Sun Qi pointed to the three characters for Yiyang Foster Home.

"Here."

The boy looked at the three characters, and tears rolled out instantly.

"Don't send me back."

Zhao Gang's face sank.

"Yiyang Foster Home?"

The boy shook his head frantically, his voice severely damaged.

"Don't go back to the Yiyang Foster Home."

Lin Chen asked.

"What do they do in the Yiyang Foster Home?"

The boy hugged his knees, only repeating in his mouth.

"Don't go back."

Steward Wang Dehou said coldly.

"Lin Chen, a frightened child's rambling cannot be used as testimony."

Lin Chen looked at the boy.

"If you speak, no one will take you back today."

The boy looked at him, then at the iron spear in Zhou Tie's hand, and then at the City Defense Battalion surrounding the alley.

His voice broke into fragments.

"The winter clothes… are not for living people to wear."

The murmurs at the alley entrance quieted down significantly.

Commander Liu Chong's expression sank.

"Explain clearly."

The boy's teeth chattered, and his fingers gripped his tattered clothing.

"They lock the new children in a wooden house. Those who can run, endure hunger, and withstand beatings get to change into winter clothes."

Zhao Gang's voice tightened.

"And after changing into winter clothes?"

The boy's tears fell more and more.

"After changing into winter clothes, they are taken away."

Shen Yue asked.

"Taken where?"

The boy shook his head.

"I don't know."

Sun Qi looked at the brand mark on his back.

"What about those who didn't change?"

The boy's lips trembled, his throat seemed injured by the medicinal cloth, and every word carried the scent of blood.

"Buried on the back slope."

The inspection order in Commander Liu Chong's hand was crumpled by his grip.

"How many are on the back slope?"

The boy buried his face in his knees.

"Too many to count."

Zhao Gang turned to look at Steward Wang Dehou.

"Is this also called a runaway slave?"

Steward Wang Dehou's face turned green.

"His words have not been verified; the Wang family does not acknowledge them."

A Wang family guard suddenly lunged forward, drawing his short sword, aiming straight for the boy's chest.

"Spreading malicious lies!"

Zhou Tie had been watching him, and he swept his iron spear horizontally from the side.

The spear shaft pressed against the guard's ribs, knocking him to the ground and sending him rolling.

His chest hit the cart wheel, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhao Gang drew his sword and stepped forward.

"Attempting to silence someone in front of the Criminal Division—the Wang family really knows how to follow the rules!"

The other guard also wanted to move, but Shen Yue's short sword was already pressed against his wrist.

"Try it."

The guard's face turned pale; his hand stopped on the sword hilt, not daring to draw it.

The guard on the ground gritted his teeth, his cheeks bulging.

Sun Qi had lunged at him the moment he fell, pressing his knee onto his chest, hooking his jaw with two fingers, and dislocating it.

With a click.

The guard's chin dislocated, and a black wax pellet rolled out from beside his teeth, which Sun Qi wrapped in cloth.

Sun Qi looked at the poison sac, his eyes filled with the lingering bloodlust from last night.

"The same set of teeth."

Zhao Gang felt satisfied watching this.

"Can't swallow it this time, can you?"

Sun Qi handed the poison sac to Liu Buyu.

"Seal it."

Liu Buyu immediately took out a small porcelain box, his fingers much steadier than last night.

"Newly sealed item: one poison sac from a Wang family guard's teeth, discovered in the back alley of the east city outer residence."

Steward Wang Dehou's expression was ugly.

"That guard is one of Feng Sanxing's men."

Lin Chen looked at him.

"Feng Sanxing is not here, but the guard is."

Steward Wang Dehou gritted his teeth.

"He drew his sword without authorization; the Wang family does not acknowledge it."

Zhao Gang sneered.

"The dead don't acknowledge it, the living don't acknowledge it—the Wang family's mouth is better at sticking labels than the official seals."

Commander Liu Chong looked at the City Defense Battalion lieutenant.

"Upgrade the control of the back alley; no carts or horses are allowed to move."

The lieutenant immediately raised his hand.

"Add two teams, and seal the drainage outlets as well."

Lin Chen looked at Liu Buyu.

"Register it."

Liu Buyu raised his brush.

"One medicinal herb cart, old Lis Pharmacy plaque, found with a secret compartment hiding one boy. The boy has a Yiyang Foster Home brand on his back, rope injuries on his wrists, and medicinal cloth in his mouth."

Lin Chen said.

"Driver, guards, and the cart, all handed over to the Criminal Division."

Commander Liu Chong nodded.

"The Criminal Division accepts."

Steward Wang Dehou said urgently.

"Commander Liu, the medicinal cart involves the east city medicine route. Detaining it rashly will affect the commoners' access to medicine."

Outside the alley entrance, a clerk wearing the green robes of the Provincial Administration Commission hurried over, holding a document in his hand.

"Commander Liu, Vice Minister Chen has a message."

Seeing those green robes, Zhao Gang's face immediately sank.

"Arrived faster than the smell of medicine."

The clerk walked to Commander Liu Chong and cupped his hands.

"Vice Minister Chen heard that a medicinal cart was detained in the back alley and specifically ordered me to ask: if there are no prohibited drugs on the cart, the medicine route should not be cut off for long."

Commander Liu Chong looked at him.

"Hiding a person under the cart, guards attempting to silence witnesses—you call this 'no prohibited drugs'?"

The clerk's forehead broke out in sweat, but he still bit the bullet and spoke.

"I am only delivering a message. The east city pharmacy supplies medicine to half the city. If the Patrol Division detains the cart for too long, commoners will be without medicine when sick, and I fear it will cause public resentment."

Zhao Gang stepped forward.

"You weren't afraid of public resentment when a child was hidden under the cart, but you're afraid now that the cart is detained for a while?"

The clerk avoided Zhao Gang and only looked at Lin Chen.

"Lin Chen, Vice Minister Chen says the case must be investigated, but the medicine route must also be considered."

Lin Chen looked at Liu Buyu.

"Get a statement of liability."

Liu Buyu immediately spread the paper, the tip of his brush hovering over it.

The clerk was stunned.

"What statement of liability?"

Lin Chen said.

"Write that the Provincial Administration Commission is willing to assume responsibility for verifying the person hidden in the cart, the secret compartment, the guards' attempt to silence witnesses, and the source of the medicinal cloth."

The clerk's expression changed.

"This… I am only delivering a message."

Lin Chen looked at him.

"If you won't take responsibility, don't ask for the cart to be released."

Zhao Gang grinned.

"Come, sign your name, and the medicine route will be cleared."

The clerk stepped back half a pace.

"Lin Chen, I cannot make decisions on this matter."

Lin Chen said.

"Then go back and ask the person who can make the decision."

Liu Buyu looked up.

"Should I record this?"

Lin Chen said.

"Record it."

Liu Buyu put the brush to paper.

"A clerk from the Provincial Administration Commission arrived, requesting not to detain the medicinal cart for long on the grounds of medicine routes and public livelihood. After Lin Chen asked him to sign a statement of liability, the clerk claimed he could not make the decision."

The clerk's face turned various shades of pale.

"Lin Chen, why go this far?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"If the message can be delivered, the responsibility must also be delivered back."

The clerk gritted his teeth and could only cup his hands and retreat.

The commoners at the alley entrance watched him leave, and someone whispered.

"Hiding a child in the cart and still want it released?"

"Even the official clerk didn't dare to sign."

"It seems there is a major issue."

When the boy was lifted onto a stretcher by The Coroner and the Criminal Division officer, he suddenly reached out his chafed hand and grabbed Lin Chen's sleeve.

That hand was thin and cold. The grip wasn't heavy, yet it felt like he was grasping the last piece of wood to keep him afloat.

Lin Chen looked down at him.

"Do you have more to say?"

The boy's lips pressed against cracked, bloody sores, his voice so hoarse it was barely a breath.

"In the Yiyang Foster Home, there is someone else who knows how to write."

Lin Chen asked.

"What is his name?"

The boy's eyes were full of fear, his fingers gripping Lin Chen's sleeve tightly.

"They call him Mr. Zhou."

Sun Qi's expression changed on the spot.

Zhao Gang also turned to look at Lin Chen.

"Zhou Pingan?"

The boy's tears slid into his temples, and he squeezed out the last sentence intermittently.

"Mr. Zhou is still alive; he is locked under the well in the back courtyard."