The princess is so powerful that the fish pond is full of people

Chapter 1157 The House Dogs Fighting for Food at the Door

The sob was soft and gentle, as if the person was enduring something extremely difficult to bear.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaosi noticed that Uncle Jiu's back, which was tidying up the documents, paused, and he knew that Uncle Jiu had also heard it.

Logically speaking, an elderly person of this age should have experienced a decline in hearing.

Moreover, he had already tested him and found that Uncle Nine did not possess any martial arts skills.

It's uncertain whether he might be hiding his true abilities, but the possibility is too small.

The sobbing was as soft as a breeze, only those who were touched by it could feel it.

No one else can feel it.

So there's another possibility that Uncle Nine was able to hear such a faint sound so acutely.

That is because he listens to it every day and has gotten used to it.

Just like farmers who rely on their annual harvest for food, they are concerned about the weather and the growth of their crops.

Just by looking at it twice, you can tell whether this year will be a bumper harvest.

"Young master, you've finished reading the documents. If there's nothing else, you should head back now; it's cold tonight."

After saying goodbye, Qin Xiaosi left the courtyard.

Uncle Jiu escorted him all the way to the gate of the courtyard and even called over Chang Da, who was drinking in the neighboring courtyard.

"Take this young master back. It's too dark at night; don't let him get lost."

Seeing that Uncle Jiu was alright, Chang Da didn't delay and quickly agreed, then led the way for Qin Xiao Si.

"This way, young master."

Qin Xiaosi didn't refuse and, led by Chang Da, returned to their courtyard.

Chang Da saw the smoke coming out of the chimney in the dark and rubbed his hands together in front of him.

"Young master, please go inside quickly and don't come out again tonight."

Qin Xiaosi smelled the strong smell of alcohol on Chang Da, but when Chang Da opened his mouth, he did not smell alcohol coming from his breath.

He hadn't been drinking at all; the strong smell of alcohol was coming from him.

He probably spilled the alcohol on himself and pretended he had been drinking.

"What's so shameful about your village? Why aren't people allowed to go out at night?"

Chang Da rubbed his hands together, chuckled twice, and moved closer to Qin Xiaosi, smelling the scent of expensive perfume on him.

He couldn't help but move a little closer, imagining the scene of such spices on his own body.

Qin Xiaosi silently increased the distance between them.

Chang Da rubbed his nose somewhat awkwardly, raised the lantern in his hand, and stretched it out to a spot not far away.

Then, Qin Xiaosi saw several pairs of eyes appear in the darkness.

“Every household in the village keeps dogs to guard their homes. The young masters and ladies are all strangers. If they go out at night and get hurt by these blind beasts, even if we had a hundred lives, it wouldn’t be enough to compensate them.”

When Chang Da said this, he even flinched slightly.

He seems genuinely frightened by this matter.

"Therefore, please lock the courtyard gate at night and do not come out."

After Chang Da escorted the person inside, he heard the sound of the courtyard gate being locked before leaving, turning back every few steps.

Before leaving, he took out two handfuls of minced meat from his pocket and scattered them at the gate of the courtyard.

As soon as he left, the dogs that had been looking around nearby swarmed around him and surrounded the gate.

The moment after locking the door, Qin Xiaosi climbed over the wall onto the courtyard wall.

I saw everything Chang Da had done by the faint moonlight.

Only after Chang Da left did they climb down from the courtyard wall.

Turning around, I saw His Highness sitting in the courtyard, warming himself by a small stove and brewing tea.

“It’s a document from the Marquis of Jinxiang; the seals match.”

Minglang stuffed a piece of wood into the makeshift stove he had just set up, and picked up a piece of roasted jerky from the stove and handed it to Qin Xiaosi.

"Xiang Keren and Qu Fu followed you quietly to the manor's courtyard. They should be back soon. Wait a while, and have something to eat first."

I probably won't be able to sleep tonight.

Minglang also heard the barking of the dog at the gate of the courtyard, and it was clear that this was not the first time these people had done such a thing.

"These people have been trying to do this kind of business for years. What are you planning to do, Miss?"

Minglang stirred the burning charcoal at the bottom of the stove with a twig.

"Li Xianqing has already led his guards to the rear to mobilize troops. This matter is significant. These people, including the Marquis of Jinxiang, are involved. It seems there is a group of people behind the Marquis of Jinxiang. It would be best to arrest all of them."

Qin Xiaosi had guessed that His Highness would say that.

Previously, it was just corrupt officials forcibly taking women from the people. His Highness stayed there for almost a month, dismissing seven or eight local officials in a row before leaving.

These days, so many hidden talents are lurking in this small village; just look at the traps and mind-altering drugs everywhere in this house.

The business behind this is definitely not small.

Once the tea in the small stove has boiled.

Qin Xiaosi carried the stove and followed His Highness into the main house.

A blueprint was spread out on the table in the main room. Jiang Jiaoyun stood next to the blueprint, adding a few strokes as she pondered.

"It's good that you're back. Go and check this map to see if there's anything that needs to be added. Mark the house where the headman lives."

Qin Xiaosi put down the small stove, went over to take a look, and immediately understood.

While he went out to check the documents at the Marquis of Jinxiang's residence, Jiang Jiaoyun was also busy.

She went to scout the way.

After a brief exploration, I came back and drew this diagram.

Qin Xiaosi drew everything he saw.

He even took another piece of paper and drew out the layout of the manor's courtyard.

"Chang Da calls the head of the village 'Ninth Uncle.' After I finished reading the documents in Ninth Uncle's main room, I heard a sound that sounded like a woman sobbing."

After Qin Xiaosi finished drawing, he stopped and saw His Highness frowning as he looked at the drawing he had just finished.

"Where is Uncle Jiu's cellar located?"

In a normal farming household, it's impossible for a family not to have a cellar.

Not to mention that their entire estate was involved in shady business, so they needed a cellar even more.

"I didn't see the cellar, but there was a lot of clutter piled up in Uncle Jiu's yard, which should have covered the cellar."

The room still smelled strongly of medicine, the kind of herbs used to nourish the body.

Minglang took the pen from Qin Xiaosi: "Where did he pile all the clutter in his yard?"

Qin Xiaosi pointed to several locations, and Minglang marked those locations.

“The cellar of the courtyard we’re living in now is here.” Minglang pointed to the same spot a few times.

"The layouts of the courtyards in this estate are all similar. Logically speaking, since they are in this kind of business and have someone above them to look after them, the estate manager should have enough money to build a better house and courtyard."

When I went to investigate, I didn't even recognize it as his yard.

Jiang Jiaoyun was very perceptive, and as soon as she said that, everyone in the room realized what was going on.

"There must be someone in his family who needs medicine to stay alive. When we first met the head of the village this evening, the collar of his undergarment wasn't even as good as the one Chang Da was wearing."

Even if one wants to maintain this facade of incorruptibility in such a village, a mere pretense is enough.