251 Investigation
“Hurry up. You, go get a bucket of hot water and let them wash their faces.”
Shang touched his face with a bad feeling.
He had been blown by the ice-cold wind for a few hours. His lips were dry and his face was bruised. He felt as if he had been pricked by needles when he touched his skin. He immediately retracted his hand and looked around for a mirror.
After the others had put on their clothes, County Magistrate Zheng turned around and put down his hand that was holding his forehead. “Ask them to leave.”
Shang sighed and immediately waved his hand to his guards. “Go. Wait outside.”
“Take a good look at your face.” County Magistrate Zheng took a mirror from behind the screen and threw it to the other party. “Who on earth have you offended? How were they able to sneak into your residence and turn you into this state?”
“You were hanging on the gate of West Street. This is perfect for you. Huai County will probably be talking about your incident for a long time to come.”
“Those common people don’t know who I am.” Halfway through his words, Shang saw his face in the mirror and gasped. Then he took off his clothes and revealed his chest.
“That wretched villain! How dare he treat me like this?! If I find him! I’ll definitely kill him!”
“What are you going to do about it?” County Magistrate Zheng interrupted him with an unhappy expression.
“I will have my men investigate today’s matter carefully. You will cooperate with me and tell me the ins and outs of what happened last night. When we find the person who committed this crime, I will make the decision for you! However, I would not allow it if you abused your power to deal with him!”
“County Magistrate Zheng! This is a great humiliation to me! After today, how am I going to do business in Huai County?”
Shang thought of his own image and the bruised chest that he had just seen in the mirror. He gripped the mirror and threw it to the side.
That, someone, had written his name with a brush. The handwriting was clean, big, and thick.
He would ensure that everyone who saw him would know who he was at first glance!
The methods of the person who had done this were so vicious that it made one’s hair stand on end. In the end, Shang had become the laughingstock of Huai County!
“That’s why I said I’ll make the decision for you!” County Magistrate Zheng looked at Shang with a serious expression, his hand behind his back.
“Tell me, what exactly happened in your residence last night? I heard from my officers that there was a fire in your house yesterday, am I right?
“The room in your backyard has always been empty, so how did it suddenly catch fire? Could it also be the doing of the person who hung you up?
“There’s one thing I haven’t figured out. You’ve only been in Huai County for a few days all year round, so how did you make such a fierce enemy? Is this matter related to the big business that you mentioned to me last time?”
Shang’s heart skipped a beat when he was exposed by County Magistrate Zheng’s sharp senses, but he still calmly picked up the cup next to him and drank the cup of hot tea.
“Others might not know what kind of person I am, but listen, don’t you know who I am? I’ve been a merchant all my life and have never taken anything by force. Even most of the silver we earn is used to fund poor scholars. We will never hurt others for a business deal.” Shang wrapped his robe tightly and said righteously, “But if you really want to talk about suspicious people, I do have a person in mind.”
County Magistrate Zheng nodded. It was not known whether he believed it or not, but when he heard Shang deliberately mention the financial aid in the past, a trace of displeasure quickly crossed his heart.