Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 67

Chapter 67 
I Have No Money Left
 
As soon as Luo Shan said this, the atmosphere inside and outside the courtyard seemed to be silent for a moment. He seemed to have traveled thousands of miles back to the northern border, holding the silver spear again and standing guard outside the general’s tent with determination and vigilance. 
  
Luo Shan brought up the old things again for the first time in many years. His expression could not hide his excitement and sadness: “At that time, the north was in chaos, the general was in charge of the army, the Sixth Prince was supervising the army, and the enemy was about to cross the Qishi Valley. The Sixth Prince had offered a plan to the general, saying that he had transferred 10,000 elite soldiers to occupy the high ground of the Qishi Valley. If the general led the troops to face the enemy in the Qishi Valley and cooperate with them, he could annihilate the enemy’s army …” 
  
When Luo Shan said this, his voice gradually lowered. Ten years ago, the outcome of the war had been decided, and in the end, Li Yunqi failed to annihilate the enemy and passed away in the Qishi Valley. This plan was a military secret and could not be told to outsiders. Almost all those who knew about this matter had died on the battlefield with Li Yunqi, and their bodies turned into ashes. Only Luo Shan escaped because of a sudden cough and turned to the rear, and he kept the secret in his heart for many years. 
  
The princes fought openly and secretly. Li Yunqi was the Second Prince’s party and had 100,000 soldiers. It was reasonable for the Sixth Prince to want to eliminate him on the battlefield, but it was too absurd for a prince the people fed to use war as a chess piece. Therefore, although some doubted why the brave general died suddenly in battle, no one doubted the Sixth Prince. 
  
At this moment, Li Heming heard Luo Shan mention the suspicious cause of his father’s death, but his expression was calm, and he didn’t even move his eyebrows. He seemed indifferent to it and was so quiet that he appeared to have known it for a long time. 
  
Li Heming held the sword’s hilt loosely with his left hand and said to Luo Shan, “It is a capital crime to make irresponsible remarks about the royal family. Since this matter is groundless, I will pretend that I didn’t hear it today, and please don’t mention it again.” 
  
Luo Shan finally decided to invite Li Heming to come and tell him about the past. He never expected Li Heming to react like this. He stammered a few times, “How can we let the general die in such an unclear way?” 
  
Li Heming looked at the man before him, who was nearly fifty years old and should have enjoyed his old age. He didn’t answer this question but said lightly: “Your family only has a wife, a daughter, and a young child whose parents died. There is no general. You are confused.” 
  
After Li Heming said this, the b*by that Luo Shan had picked up from the disaster victims seemed to respond to his words and began to cry again. His young daughter said, “Aiya,” and sang a nursery rhyme softly. 
  
The vague and gentle singing voice entered the house through the door and window. Luo Shan was stunned for a moment and turned his head to look at the closed door, and there seemed to be tears in his eyes. Seeing this, Li Heming did not say anything more, raised his hand, and saluted: “I never come today. I have something to do. I will go first.” 
  
After saying that, without waiting for Luo Shan to say anything else, he turned around and pushed the door open. 
  
In the courtyard, Luo Shan’s daughter hugged the crying b*by and coaxed him. Seeing Li Heming coming out of the room, she curiously glanced at his handsome face but was afraid that he would find out, so she turned around with a red face after only two glances. 
  
Li Heming pretended not to notice and walked out of the courtyard, taking a stack of bills from his arms. He glanced at it, took out a 100 taels bill, and put it back in his bosom. He stuffed the remaining 1,800 into the gap between the courtyard door. 
  
His movements were natural, and Luo Shan’s wife and daughter did not see it. Li Heming did not say anything, closed the door, and led the Imperial Guards outside to leave quietly. 
  
Luo Shan’s wife heard the footsteps of several people going away, hurriedly put down the half-washed clothes, shook off the water on her hands, and walked into the room quickly. She saw Luo Shan standing in the room motionless. Worried, she said: “Why did that gentleman come to you? What happened?” 
  
She covered Luo Shan’s hand with her slightly w*t hands, making him return to his senses. He looked at his wife’s frightened expression, held her hand, and comforted her: “Nothing, he just asked a few questions about the case.” 

The woman wiped her tears and said with lingering fear: “You scared me to death. That man looked young, and his aura was so scary. I thought you would be arrested!” 
  
Luo Shan held her hand tightly and pulled her out: “It’s okay. Don’t worry; he shouldn’t come. Let’s go and see the noisy kid. I don’t think Nannan can coax him alone.” 
  
After leaving Luo Shan’s house, Li Heming went to the prison where Luo Daozhang was. He was so busy. When He San heard that he was here, he brought the undried confession to him with worry. 
  
The light in the prison was dim. Li Heming took the confession and squinted under the candlelight, then asked He San: “Did he confess?” 
  
“He did. He opened his mouth after two whips.” He San frowned: “But the person he confessed to is not right.” 
  
Li Heming asked: “Who?” 
  
He San raised his hand and quietly made a “six” before him. He was so scared when he made the “six” gesture that he always felt that his official position was not secure: “I remember that this gentleman was also involved in the last case of Wang Changzhong.” 
  
Li Heming laughed. 
  
He San was confused by his sudden laughter and implored Li Heming: “Leader, are we still going to try this?” 
  
“Why not? Try it the way it should be.” Li Heming returned the statement to He San, patted his shoulder heavily, and said gravely: “Keep an eye on it. Don’t get muddleheaded.” 
  
He San straightened his back and said earnestly: “Yes.” 
  
In the past, Li Heming would personally take charge of such a big case with far-reaching implications, but this time, he wanted to leave immediately after giving instructions. He San subconsciously called him: “Then you…?” 
  
Li Heming said a few words out of respect when he heard him yelling. His good temper was gone. He said without turning his head: “You have been a police officer for so many years, and you can’t judge people, or you are a three-year-old child who has lost his mother and can’t drink milk? Make your own decision!” 
  
He San shrank his head back after being scolded by his few words and hissed with a grin, thinking: Which bastard is making me get scolded here? 
  
Although annoyed, he still responded quickly, raising his voice and saying to Li Heming’s back: “I obey the order!” 
  
Li Heming ignored it and reached out to touch the 100 bill and a few pieces of broken silver in his arms. He was happy when he took the money, but now he realized the 100 taels might not be enough. 
  
After leaving the prison, he found a table and wrote a letter to Lin Yu. Unlike the previous few letters, which were full of long and chaotic writing, this time, he didn’t mention anything else, just five words: Qiqi, I have no money left.