Chapter 31 - 31: Commander’s Seal and Constable
Chapter 31: Commander’s Seal and Constable
Translator: 549690339
Zhao Huai slept straight through to noon the next day.
If there wasn’t anything urgent, he wouldn’t get up early, sleep as much as he could, and the daily business of the pawnshop was just average, so he was not in a hurry.
Seeing that Madam was already busy in the kitchen, Zhao Huai smiled slightly.
He was about to open the door of the pawnshop habitually and flip the “open” sign.
However, when he opened the door, he saw a blood-stained storage ring on the carpet by the doorway.
Zhao Huai stepped out of the door, scanned the street from left to right, and saw nothing unusual.
“Whose ring is this?”
So he curiously examined it.
But the contents inside surprised him somewhat.
Stacks of spiritual stones and banknotes, which looked quite numerous, along with a large number of antiques, and finally, a seal and a blank piece of paper.
“Aren’t these banknotes the ones I gave out yesterday?”
“And these antique playthings were left over from yesterday’s pick.”
Zhao Huai immediately knew the origin of these things, weren’t they all from that treacherous merchant yesterday?
In almost an instant, Zhao Huai realized something.
Rushing to take out the last seal and blank paper.
This is a small seal, with dried blood smeared on it, only as big as a thumb, made of amber jade, carved in the shape of a tiger body, with small seal script engraved on the bottom.
“Is this…a military seal?”
Zhao Huai recognized the object before him at once.
It was indeed the tiger-shaped military seal, also known as the Commander’s Seal, used in ancient times to mobilize the army for war.
He quickly opened the white paper to see what was written on it.
“Shopkeeper, your words yesterday inspired me greatly, I’ll leave these things to you…”
Zhao Huai only read the beginning and had already guessed who the author of this letter might be. It must be that sword-carrying guard, so he continued reading.
After a while, Zhao Huai finished reading the letter and, after looking at the signature “Yan Country Old People,” was even more certain that the letter had been left by the guard.
At this point, Zhao Huai finally figured out the events of last night and the origins of those treasures.
This letter was left by an old soldier of Yan Country who had once been a servant in the capital. When Yan City fell, he took away many treasures, but later felt extremely guilty and, after seeing the treacherous merchant’s cruel acts, finally decided to kill him.
Recollecting the divination result of that day, Zhao Huai now understood why, whether they bought from the treacherous merchant or not, the result was always “Misfortune.”
Because he didn’t rely on these cultural relics to make money; he relied on secretly usurping others.
If it weren’t for this old soldier, the treacherous merchant would have sent someone to deal with him. In this case, the death of the treacherous merchant indeed solved one of his troubles.
“I never expected that he was also a member of the Yan Army.”
Zhao Huai still had a bit of admiration for this old soldier deep in his heart.
Although he failed on the battlefield, he managed to repay his loyalty and gratitude for the past, which was rare and commendable.
Of course, he might also be overthinking it. The treacherous merchant might have deserved it, and if he hadn’t provoked it, the guard might not have killed him so quickly.
Zhao Huai tightly held the tiger-shaped seal in his hand, tidied up the antique banknotes in front of him, and put them back into the storage ring.
Anyway, what happened has already happened, and people should look forward.
“Clear the way for the police station!”
A yell came, and several blue-robed constables appeared on the street.
Armed with iron rulers and a solemn expression, they strode towards Huai’s pawnshop and directly surrounded the entrance.
Seeing this situation, Zhao Huai remained composed.
Last night, he thought the police station would come early in the morning, but he didn’t expect them to arrive only at noon. It seemed that he and Yan Jing had overestimated the efficiency of the police station.
“Officers, what case has brought you to my shop? I am a law-abiding citizen, and I do not engage in illegal activities.”
Zhao Huai pretended to be puzzled, speaking innocently.
The leading constable did not reply but first sized up Zhao Huai’s appearance.
This was their professionalism, gauging some basic information through observation.
However, the person in front of them had fair skin, sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and was quite handsome.
At first glance, he appeared to be a gentle, well-kept young man with no connection to a vicious criminal.
“Here’s the thing, shopkeeper, last night at the hour of the Rabbit, a businessman was killed on the outskirts of town. I investigated his itinerary, and he only came to your place on that day, and he stayed here the longest, so you are highly suspicious.”
The constable leader spoke while staring intently at Zhao Huai, trying to find any subtle changes in his expression.
“That businessman…is dead?!”
Zhao Huai’s face was filled with surprise, as if he had just heard the news.
“How did you suspect me? I have no reason to kill him!”
Zhao Huai’s tone was quite aggrieved.
“You do have a motive. Perhaps the deal didn’t go through, or the price was not right, all of which are possible.” Another constable standing nearby said. Zhao Huai said with a bitter smile, “What deal? What price? I was completely deceived.”
“Explain briefly.”
Zhao Huai complained directly, “That businessman was clearly a treacherous merchant! That day, I kindly discussed the price with him, but he deceived me with a fake night-luminous pearl. My wife can testify to this.”
“A fake night-luminous pearl? Was it because you were deceived that you killed him in a fit of anger?” “That’s impossible. It’s just a pearl, not worth it.”
Zhao Huai shook his head.
The head constable always tried to lead Zhao Huai towards the direction of murder, but Zhao Huai was not affected at all.
The head constable exchanged glances quickly with several constables behind him.
They watched Zhao Huai’s reactions closely but found nothing unusual.
“Tell us the details at the police station. We’ll also file a report.” The head constable turned to Zhao Huai and said.
“Go to the police station?”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huai naturally objected.
“Can’t we just talk here?”
“There are officials at the police station who will record the situation, and we will take note of everything you say.” The head constable explained.
Zhao Huai understood that they wanted him to go to the police station to give a statement.
But who would want to go to that cold prison? He still didn’t know what these constables were thinking.
It was not so much about recording a statement as it was about using the threat of prison to see if they could expose any faults in him.
“Get out of the way! Don’t block your master’s way!”
Just as Zhao Huai wanted to take out a copper coin to divine good and bad luck, a domineering voice came from the side of the road.
He and the surrounding constables all looked over.
A wealthy young master dressed in fine clothes and wearing three rings on one
hand strode towards them.
“Li Yanqing?”
Zhao Huai couldn’t help but smile when he saw the newcomer.
Striding towards the pawnshop, the pompous Li Yanqing saw the constables blocking the entrance and Zhao Huai in the middle. His expression suddenly turned ugly, and he roared directly: “Damn it, you all want to die!”
“You dare to surround the life-saving teacher of this young master!”