An Oriental Odyssey

The money tree was destroyed, Sun mama cried and vowed to avenge this daughter. She soon discovered that Xiao Yu, the maid who had been serving Ruyue, had hidden a large amount of gold and silver jewelry. Another servant also reported that she had heard Xiao Yu and her mistress quarrelling before. So Sun mama angrily sent Xiao Yu to Luoyang county's policy bureau, with all this as evidence and - Xiaoyu was sentenced to be executed!

　　"It is this death row prisoner, Xiao Yu, who was kidnapped from the Luoyang County's prison last night." Zhao Lanzhi finished speaking and took a sip of tea.

　　After hearing this, Yuan'an averted her gaze, turned around, facing her back to Zhao Lanzhi and said angrily: "The prisoner on death row was kidnapped, it's because you did not do your job well, what are you doing in my assistant minister's manor? I didn't do anything wrong...I don't know anything..."

　　"Of course, Young master, you don't know anything. I'm looking for a servant in the manor called Shi Tou." Zhao Lanzhi said.

　　The tea bowl in Yuan'an's hand almost fell, her ears perked up and she cautiously asked, "...Looking for Shi Tou, what are you looking for a Shi Tou for?"

　　"The death row prisoner Xiao Yu was originally from out of town, she came to Luoyang to work, her social relations are simple. For someone to risk their life to save her, it has to be someone she was very familiar with. She was rescued, but she won't cut off her relations with familiar people. We did our research and there was only one such person in her life, so we had to come to your residence to ask for the one who comes from the same hometown as Xiao Yu, Shi Tou..." 

　　After Zhao Lanzhi finished speaking, Yuan'an closed her eyes in anger as she thought to herself: Ye Yuan'an, ah Ye Yuan'an, do you think you can avoid this arrest so easily? Hey... this person is really cunning, no wonder he didn't set me on fire the night before, he had long known where to look...

　　Yuan'an was still lamenting, frowning, when Zhao Lanzhi came up to her side: "Young master Ye? Young master Ye, is something wrong?"

　　Yuan'an said: "...Toothache."

　　Zhao Lanzhi smiled secretly: "Toothache, why are you holding your stomach then?"

　　Yuan'an: "...Have you ever had a toothache? Sometimes it hurts so badly that it will cause pain all over your body, it's caused my stomach to hurt." 

　　Zhao Lanzhi helplessly shook his head: "... Young Master Ye, we are all busy, allow Shi Tou to come out and answer!"

　　Yuan'an lowered her head, knowing that she couldn't get out of it this time, so she ordered her servants to call the Shi Tou, intending to play it by ear. 

　　After a while, Shi Tou came over with a basket of hay. He was normally a child who feeds horses, he hadn't seen much of the world, and he asked Yuan'an to rob the prison, so when he saw Zhao Lanzhi wearing an official robe and official boots, he instantly felt guilty and knelt down, shivering on the ground: "Little Master, did you want to see me?"

　　Yuan'an took a few steps forward, supported his shoulder, and secretly winked at him: "Shi Tou, these two are the county police bureau, they suspect that you went to rob the prison last night and are secretly hiding a criminal. Did you do such a thing? Tell the truth! If you dare to lie, I will rip your skin off!"

　　Shi Tou knew how to cooperate, he looked at Yuanan, then looked at Zhao Lanzhi, and smirked: "Sir, Master, how would I have the courage to do such a thing? No, no! The low one would not dare!"

　　Zhao Lanzhi came over and kindly said: "Little brother, you are not lying, are you?

　　"How many heads do I have that I will dare to deceive you?!"

　　Yuan An immediately pushed the Shi Tou aside: "Official Zhao, I'll make a deal with you, this kid is honest, how could he dare to do something as big as robbing the prison? If you don't believe it, it's alright, how about you search my manor to see if you can find the murderer Duan Xiao Yu?"

　　On hearing this, Zhao Lanzhi suddenly turned around, his eyes were like torches, and he stared at Yuan'an: "When did I tell Young master Ye that the person's surname is Duan?"

　　Yuan'an rolled his eyes: "... I know all about the Shi Tou, two days ago, a friend from his hometown,  Duan Xiao Yu was arrested on charges of taking a life..."

　　Zhao Lanzhi scrutinized Yuan'an for a long time, then finally nodded and smiled: "The relationship between master and servant is really good."

　　Yuan'an: "Yes, yes." She turned around and wiped the sweat on her forehead: It's my fault for opening my lousy mouth!

　　Zhao Lanzhi let it go, he clasped his fists and said, "Young Master, I don't have so many heads to dare to search Ye manor. The situation is clear, our official business is finished. I will now disturb  Young Master Ye."

　　Yuan'an's mind relaxed, but Zhao Lanzhi continued: "However, I still have to remind you of a few words. Robbery of death row prisoners is not a trivial matter. If anyone thinks that because they are skilled in their methods or have some high-level official background they can fish in troubled waters and escape by chance, then they are wrong. A wanted order will be issued, and a reward will be offered for the capture of this person. In other words, if a death-row prisoner runs away, it is definitely not just the two of us who will be after her, she will be followed by countless eyes, to report! Those who dare to rob the prison will definitely not escape justice!"

　　Zhao Lanzhi's words were loud, and Yuan'an felt even more guilty after listening to them, her eyes didn't know which way to look, and Shi Tou also had a few beads of sweat rolling from his head, his whole body was trembling.

　　Zhao Lanzhi looked at him and smiled, he was really not good at fake smiling.

　　Yuan'an saw that Shi Tou was about to break, so she hurriedly went over to him and sharply scolded him: "You're having a fever so early in the morning and you haven't taken medicine yet! Why are you shaking so much?! The constable will think that as a Master is unkind to you! Not giving you treatment for your illness..."

　　Zhao Lanzhi cupped his hands: "Young Master Ye, I'm leaving."

　　Yuan'an quickly said, "Uncle Xia see the guests off."

　　Zhao Lanzhi and his subordinate Xiao Hu left just like that, Shi Tou and Yuan'an looked at each other, the master and servant were both in shock. Shi Tou said with a crying voice: "Little master, what's going on? Why did people from Luoyang county policy bureau come here..."

　　"No, no, don't be afraid." Yuan'an grabbed a handful of hay and wiped Shi Tou's forehead stone, "Tonight, I'll send you and Xiao Yu away tonight..."

　　So while the whole city of Luoyang was almost asleep, three people went out of the back door of Lord Ye's manor and rode out into the night. In the depths of the dense forest, near the Grand Canal, several large trees that were damaged by lightning fell had fallen next to the water and formed a natural platform. The three dismounted, it was Yuan An, Shi Shi and Xiao Yu.

　　Yuan An looked at the moon: "It's almost midnight, let's wait here for a while. There will be private boats passing by, if you give them boat fare, they will be able to take you away. Hey, we're in luck today, a boat is already here! Get up, don't stand in my way." Yuan An got up made a fire with the saltpeter in her hand, and the boat leaned towards the shore.

　　There were two men on the bow of the boat, wearing conical straw hats.