Running around looking for his daughter in the afternoon and into the evening, Shen Zhonglei asked someone to take the unfinished official business home in the afternoon. He planned to finish it on the same day, but sitting at the table, he couldn't concentrate, and in the end he even started to stay in a daze.
"Master, the eldest girl wants to see you."
"Let her in." Shen Zhonglei came to his senses and straightened his sitting posture.
"father."
"Shu'er, it's such a cold day and it's so dark. Why are you here? Is there something urgent that we can't wait until tomorrow?"
"My daughter doesn't want to bother her father so late. She's just worried that something will happen tomorrow and she won't be able to explain it clearly."
Shen Zhonglei frowned and asked, "Shu'er, what do you mean?"
"My daughter begs her father to interrogate the two criminals overnight to avoid a long night and excessive dreams, which may lead to unnecessary complications."
"Shu'er, what are you implying by these words?"
"Dad, don't you think what happened today is very strange?" Shen Tianshu said, "First, Mr. Cheng suddenly fell ill in the garden. When I left, I told my two sisters to leave Mingyu to take care of them, but when I help Fan After the young master took care of Mr. Cheng's affairs and came back, the two sisters disappeared. After asking the servants of the garden, they found out that the second sister said she wanted to go home, but instead took everyone to the most remote northwest gate of the garden. Does Dad think it’s reasonable to get into a stranger’s car outside?”
Shen Zhonglei didn't know these details before. Now when he heard Shen Tianshu coming one by one, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
"What do you mean? Could it be that Yunyao was sent to the door by herself and was kidnapped by the criminal?"
There was a hint of displeasure in Shen Zhonglei's tone, and he frowned at Shen Tianshu.
Shen Tianshu understood people like Shen Zhonglei. He was a typical paternalistic person who had little success in his career. He knew nothing about how to deal with family relationships. He was very confident and felt that he taught well. Everyone in his family was kind and beautiful, and he could not tolerate any objections.
If she said that she doubted Shen Yunyao at this time, Shen Zhonglei would not only not believe it, but would also try his best to protect Shen Yunyao.
Of course she wouldn't make such a stupid mistake.
"Dad, think about it, who is the strangest person who appeared in this matter today?" Shen Tianshu slowly guided him, and after making sure that Shen Zhonglei followed his own train of thought and fell into deep thought again, he reminded, "You said before that you are How did you get the handkerchiefs and letters from the two sisters?"
"It was Yihao who hurriedly came over to hand it over..." Shen Zhonglei was not stupid at first. Today, he was just worried and confused. In addition, he did not doubt his family, so he did not think of the problem. At this time, when Shen Tianshu reminded him, he immediately felt that Xu Yihao was very suspicious.
"Yes, Dad, if you think about it, if the criminal really kidnapped the two sisters on purpose, he must have known in advance which family they were from, not to mention how brave they must be to send a letter to the Yamen asking for money. Yamen People come and go every day, so he leaves things on the roadside at the door. What if someone picks them up? What if a child treats them as toys and kicks them away? There are too many variables."
"Yi Hao said at the time that he saw a man sneaking around at the door. The man might have dropped his things when he saw him nervous..." Shen Zhonglei's words became weaker and weaker as he spoke, and even he himself was confused. I feel like it doesn't make sense.
Although Xu Yihao is Xu's nephew, his family is not in Yongzhou Mansion at all. He has lived in the Shen family for less than two months. Few people in Yongzhou Mansion know him, let alone know that he is the young cousin of the Shen family. .
Since that person was here to make money, how could he throw away something so important?
And he still clearly remembered that when Xu Yihao came over with the things, the outer layer of paper was very dirty.
Based on his understanding of Xu Yihao, let alone such a dirty paper bag being thrown on the ground, even if it was a silver coin on the ground, he would not bend down to pick it up with dignity.
Shen Zhonglei's expression finally became serious,
"Shu'er, are you saying that this matter has something to do with Xu Yihao?"
"I'm just guessing." Shen Tianshu said, "Whether it is true or not, my father should interrogate the criminal as soon as possible. I always have an ominous feeling that something will happen after tonight."
Shen Zhonglei was very tired today and did not want to stay up late to interrogate the prisoners in the prison. Hearing this, he said: "The prison is heavily guarded. Even if Xu Yihao is related to this matter, he has no ability to enter the dungeon and do anything."
"Xu Yihao may not have this ability, but what if someone in the family helps him?" Shen Tianshu said cautiously, "My mother usually loves my cousin Yihao so much. If my cousin begs my mother, my mother is eager to protect her nephew. If she doesn't Let’s see what happens…”
Shen Tianshu saw the resistance in Shen Zhonglei's eyes and said deliberately: "It's all my fault for being too anxious. In fact, it doesn't matter even if there is a problem with the two prisoners. Mr. Fan has been involved in this matter from beginning to end. You can also use him as a circumstantial witness... …”
As soon as Shen Zhonglei heard about Mr. Fan, he immediately woke up.
For such a shameful thing to be known to Young Master Fan is equivalent to being known to Prince Rui's Mansion.
This afternoon in the northwest corner, Mr. Fan also said that he would wait a few days before visiting.
Hao Duanchuan came to visit, obviously to inquire about the progress of things.
If his investigation is not active enough and Mr. Fan is asked to testify in the end, it will be too embarrassing for him as the prefect of Yongzhou. If word spreads, how can he still have the dignity to serve as an official in Huguang?
Thinking of this, Shen Zhonglei finally stood up and said: "Shu'er is right. I will go to the cell to inquire first tonight."
Shen Zhonglei felt very unhappy when he thought that the matter might be related to Xu Yihao.
Even if what he said was true, if he could have caught the person who sent the message, he might have been able to find some clues, but in the end he let the person go in vain.
"You go back, I'll go to the Yamen Prison to have a look." Shen Zhonglei stood up and put on his cloak. When he got closer, he saw something yellow hanging in the hair of Shen Tianshu's temples.
"What's going on here?"
Shen Zhonglei just wanted to get closer, but Shen Tianshu quickly moved away, even lowering his head to avoid his sight and said: "Dad, it's nothing important."
Shen Zhonglei immediately said: "Speak quickly, otherwise I won't go to the prison."
Shen Tianshu lowered his head and looked at his toes and said, "I don't know who my mother heard about what happened today. She felt that I didn't take good care of my sister and almost killed my second sister, so she went to my room and scolded me..."
"Reprimand? What kind of reprimand can lead to this?" Shen Zhonglei asked angrily.
"Mom just feels sorry for the second sister, it's just impulsive. Dad, don't be angry about this."
"Yun Yao is her daughter, aren't you?" Shen Zhonglei said angrily, "Unless something happens, it's hard to see why she's so unfavorable to one!"