Ordinary people might not notice such details, but what were the constables of the Kaifeng Prefecture for?
These men were as cunning as foxes. If there was the slightest clue, they would likely be knocking on the door soon.
If they were to target him, then trying to do anything else in Bianliang City would truly be a thousand times more difficult.
Many times, especially before bad things happened, people would have a vague premonition.
Just as now, when he was still several hundred paces from his doorstep, Qian Zhuo immediately noticed something was wrong.
His heart pounded erratically, and his legs trembled as if sifting through a sieve.
After taking several deep breaths, he managed to temporarily steady his emotions.
"Open..."
"Creeeak—"
Just as Qian Zhuo was about to call out to open the door, his hand had barely touched the door panel when the courtyard gate suddenly creaked open.
Immediately, what appeared before him was a group of Kaifeng Prefecture constables dressed in dark official robes.
"Where are you constables from? Don't you know this is my residence, an official's residence?"
Qian Zhuo shivered all over and shouted loudly.
"Sir? We are truly sorry. We are also acting under orders. This is an official document from the Kaifeng Prefecture! Someone trespassed into our Lord Yang's residence last night and made off with gold, silver, and jewels worth thousands of guan. According to the confession of that foolish thief, he hid the goods in the residence last night. If you see any packages or anything, please hand them over now!"
The constables of the Kaifeng Prefecture interacted most with these low-ranking officials on a daily basis.
Although the dynasty favored scholar-officials, scholar-officials were divided into ranks.
For an imperial censor like Qian Zhuo, who had no backing and was not wealthy or powerful himself, and whose patron could not be revealed, his treatment might only be slightly better than that of ordinary commoners.
His green official robe alone was not enough to scare these men away.
What's more, at this moment, they held an official document from the Kaifeng Prefecture.
"How dare you! Do you think I, an official, am easy to bully? I am Imperial Censor Qian Zhuo. You run to my place to investigate after Lord Yang lost something. Do you think I, a dignified official appointed by the court, would be a thief?"
The matter had already escalated to this point, and Qian Zhuo had no other option but to resist forcefully. After all, if stolen goods were truly found in his home, how could he ever be a person again?
"So you are an imperial censor. We are truly sorry, sir. Please don't make things difficult for us. If you have any grievances, you can discuss them at the Kaifeng Prefecture. For now, please do not disturb us from our investigation!"
After the leading constable waved his hand, the rest of the men immediately began to search again.
"Outrageous, outrageous! I will submit a memorial to impeach you! Go back and tell your lord that I will not let this matter rest!"
Seeing that the constables paid him no mind, Qian Zhuo trembled with anger.
Of course, only he knew how much fear, how much grievance, and how much anger was mixed in that trembling.
"Sir, the color of this soil seems a bit off. This doesn't look like the cultivated soil dug from the ground. It looks more like rammed earth..."
As soon as Qian Zhuo finished speaking, a constable immediately noticed the layer of yellow earth in the flowerbed, which was visibly darker in color.
"Lord Qian, would you care to explain where this came from?"
As soon as the constable finished speaking, Qian Zhuo's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
After all, he had never done such a thing before, and the follow-up handling was too hasty.
"I don't know what you are talking about!"
Although he said this, Qian Zhuo's expression was already a little unnatural.
"Master, why are you... what are they doing..."
As soon as Qian Zhuo finished speaking, his concubine, carrying a basket, walked in from outside the door.
"Lord Qian is truly generous. Nowadays, so many people in the city are starving, and even some clerks in our yamen have to find some writing work to do after their shifts. Yet you still have the money to buy this top-grade Jade Maiden Peach Blossom Powder for your wife? Lord Qian, you are truly capable!"
The constable's expression immediately turned strange after just one glance at the contents of the basket.
This Jade Maiden Peach Blossom Powder was similar to modern women's loose powder, and judging by the markings on the bottle, it was from an ancient rouge shop.
This small bottle alone cost eighteen guan!
Let alone ordinary households, even ordinary official families could not afford this item.
"I am an imperial censor. Do I need you to question me for buying something for my wife?"
After swallowing hard with difficulty, Qian Zhuo spoke again.
"I was just making a casual remark. Why are you getting so angry, Lord Qian? Come, no need to search the courtyard. Thoroughly search the ground in this room. Tap every single bluestone carefully, especially the corners, under the cabinets, by the doorway, and anywhere where the grout color seems a bit off. Search carefully!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Boss, something seems a bit off here!"
As soon as the constable finished speaking, a subordinate immediately discovered where Qian Zhuo had hidden the items by the doorway.
"Could it be that coincidental? Lord Qian, haven't you been to the teahouse to listen to storytellers in a long time? In those storybooks, there's always someone talking about hiding things right under your nose, like under the first brick by the door..."
Looking at the mocking expression on the constable's face, Qian Zhuo felt his vision go black.
It wasn't that he hadn't listened to storybooks; it was clearly because he had listened to too many!
At this moment, he truly wished he could bash his head against a wall. He, a dignified imperial censor, was considered well-read. How could he have believed the fabricated nonsense of those down-on-their-luck scholars at such a critical moment?
"Found it!"
"Come, let's go, and take the goods with us!"
"You can't take the things, they're all mine, all mine!"
Seeing the items the constables had unearthed, Qian Zhuo's greedy concubine, driven by greed, lunged at them desperately!
"Yours? How could a pauper like you have such good things? Take a good look, these are ornaments that only a noble lady is entitled to!"
Shoving her away impatiently, the leading constable immediately approached Qian Zhuo.
"Please, Lord Qian, save yourself some dignity!"