For Yangzhong, the last thing he can do for his grandson is to give him a decent funeral. Taihao personally purchased a high-quality coffin for Yangshun, hoping that this would give Yangshun some comfort in another world.

In the afternoon of the same day, Taihao and Yangzhong held a simple and solemn funeral for Yangshun. There are no complicated ceremonies, no flowery words, only deep nostalgia and endless tears of loved ones.

Yang Zhong's eyes were red and swollen, but he still stood strong, and together with a few hired strong men, he put the coffin into the pre-dug tomb. Taihao also stood silently aside, his heart full of self-blame and remorse. He knew that if he hadn't been arranged to go to Jiang Bao's house to steal the brocade box, this would not have happened. But now, all he can do is try to make up for it and give Yang Zhong some practical help.

When the coffin was covered with soil, Yang Zhong finally couldn't help crying loudly. His cries echoed in the empty cemetery, making people feel extremely desolate and heart-wrenching. Tai Hao gently patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to mourn and change. After all, life has to go on, and he has done everything he can for Yangshun.

Yang Shun was buried next to his father's grave, and the three graves stood side by side, as if telling the joys and sorrows of a family. Tai Hao silently swore in his heart that he must govern Jiutu City well, so that these poor people will no longer be oppressed. This is not only his commitment to Yangzhong, but also his redemption for himself.

After comforting Yangzhong, Taihao planned to return to the inn, but the moment he stepped out of Yangzhong's house, he realized that it was already time. The night covered the land like a huge black velvet cloth, plunging the whole world into darkness. The night sky is dotted with stars, and they shine brightly, as if they are all competing to reflect the snow-covered earth below. The cold temperature seemed to freeze every sound, and the whole world fell into endless silence.

Taihao looked around and found himself in a fairy tale world covered in ice and snow. Jiutu City at night is so beautiful that it is shocking. He walked slowly down the road, creaking with a creaking sound with the thick snow under his feet. The sound became clearer in the silence of the night, as if telling the story of the land.

The cold wind of the night whistled and blew, rolling up showers of snow. Taihao tightened his robe, feeling the biting cold. He knew that this kind of weather was already commonplace for the people of Nine Earth City, but for him, an outsider, it was a completely new experience.

Back at the inn, Taihao felt exhausted and in urgent need of a good rest. He walked over to the cabinet, gently opened the door, and took out an empty brocade box. Then, he carefully put the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" that he had been holding tightly in his arms into the brocade box, as if he was placing an incomparably precious treasure. Then, he put the brocade box back in its place and gently closed the cabinet door, as if to say goodnight to it.

This night, Taihao seemed to be very tired, fell headlong on the bed, and instantly fell into a deep sleep. The world was silent at night, and there was not a single sound disturbing his sweet dreams. Time is like water, fleeting, and when the first rays of sunlight shine on his face through the crack in the window, Taihao slowly wakes up from his sweet dream.

However, when he opened his eyes, he found that the door of the cabinet was open, and the clothes had been visibly turned over. He was shocked, and hurriedly checked the items in the cabinet, and found that the three brocade boxes that were originally placed were missing! Taihao had mixed feelings in his heart, he hurriedly climbed up to the beam of the house, and saw that the two cheats were still hidden there unharmed, and he was a little relieved.

But who stole the three brocade boxes? Taihao frowned, his heart full of doubts. Could it be that the halberd is back? He pondered all the possibilities, but he couldn't find a plausible answer.

Tai Hao walked down the stairs slowly, looked around, but didn't find the familiar figure of the shopkeeper. So, he randomly found a shopkeeper who was busy and asked softly: "Where is the little brother who has been in contact with me before?" ”

Hearing this, the shopkeeper looked up at Tai Hao and replied respectfully: "Vice General Tai Hao, you live in room A upstairs, and it was Ah Lu who was originally in charge of your room. However, he was kicked out by the shopkeeper this morning. Now the one in charge of your room is the little one, and the little one is called Ah Muntjac. What do you need, just ask. ”

Taihao frowned slightly, and asked, "Why did the shopkeeper drive him away?" ”

Ah Lu's eyes flashed with ingenuity, as if thoughtful, and after a while, he said: "Ah Lu's hands and feet are not clean, and he was caught stealing the silver of the guest officer, so the shopkeeper drove him away." ”

Taihao nodded, and asked again, "Did you see anyone enter my room last night?" ”

Ah Ji shook his head and said, "Vice Admiral Taihao, the little one was not in charge of your room last night, so I didn't see it." ”

Taihao pondered for a moment and spoke again: "Where is your shopkeeper here?" I want to see him. ”

Ah Ji pointed in the direction of the backyard and said, "He should be in the backyard now, do you need a little one to help you report?" ”

Tai Hao said lightly: "Then trouble you, go and call him, the official has something to ask him face-to-face." ”

Ah Mu responded obediently and quickly turned to leave. It didn't take long for him to come back and report to Tai Haoyu: "The little one looked around the backyard just now, but he didn't see any trace of the shopkeeper, so he must have gone out." ”

Tai Hao nodded slightly, indicating understanding, but did not speak further. At this moment, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the gate of the Snow Lotus Inn. Four uniformed officials rushed in and surrounded Tai Hao. One of the officials hugged his fist at Tai Hao and said: "Vice General Tai Hao, I have offended a lot, please cooperate with us and go to the yamen with us." ”

Tai Hao frowned and asked puzzledly, "What the hell is going on?" What happened? ”

The official explained, "Because you are involved in the theft of treasures from Jiang Bao's house. ”

Hearing this, Taihao's heart suddenly understood. It seems that the brocade box containing the mysterious stone has fallen into the hands of the government. But who stole it in his room? Could it be that Jiang Bao came last night while he was asleep? One question after another flashed quickly in Tai Hao's mind, making him feel a little caught off guard.

Tai Hao came to the yamen with the pace of the four officials, and the lord of Yuhong City was already sitting in the court, ready to be promoted to the court to handle the case. Taihao was brought into the court, and he knelt respectfully according to etiquette and waited for the verdict.

Yuhong City Lord said in a deep voice: "Vice General Taihao, I didn't want to do this, but the people have reported the case, and as the city lord, I have to investigate." Did you steal the treasures of Jiang Bao's house? ”

Tai Hao looked directly at Yu Hong, and his voice was firm: "How can the city lord conclude that I stole the treasures of the Jiang Bao family?" Is there any real evidence? ”

With a wave of Yu Hong's hand, a servant walked up to Tai Hao with a brocade box and opened it to show the stones inside.

Yu Hong pointed to the brocade box and asked, "Do you recognize this brocade box?" ”

Taihao was shocked when he saw the brocade box, but on the surface, he was silent, shook his head and said, "This is not an item below. ”

Yu Hong smiled faintly: "Oh? This is a treasure stolen from Jiang Bao's house, but it was found in your room. What is your explanation for this? ”

Tai Hao's eyes flashed with wisdom, as if thoughtful, and asked rhetorically: "Dare to ask the city lord, who found this brocade box in my room?" ”

When Yu Hong heard this, he ordered the official next to him: "Bring the eunuch up!" ”

Immediately, the official led a young man into the public court, and this young man was Eun Qiang.

Yu Hong looked at him and asked calmly, "Eun Qiang, where did you find this brocade box?" ”

Eun Qiang swallowed nervously and replied, "Back to the city lord, the small one was found in Vice Admiral Taihao's room. ”

Tai Hao's eyes were sharp, and from the young man's dress and demeanor, he could already tell that this was a well-planned conspiracy. This young man has a similar outfit to Yangshun, and he is undoubtedly a subordinate of the Mu family brothers. Taihao knew that this young man must have been instructed by someone to sneak into his room to steal. Otherwise, in this inn, how could he know so accurately which room belonged to Taihao? All of this is too coincidental and obviously carefully arranged.

Tai Hao's sharp eyes looked directly at Huan Qiang, and asked in a deep voice, "Can you describe in detail how you found this brocade box in my room?" ”

Huan Qiang's eyes flickered, as if he was thinking, and he said, "Small...... The little one went to Snow Lotus House last night to hang out, and when he walked to Deputy Taihao's room, he found that the door was not closed, so he went in to take a look, and then ...... Then I found this brocade box. ”

Taihao continued to ask, "Why did you want to enter my room?" Are you the second shopkeeper of Snow Lotus Inn? Or a thief? ”

Huan Qiang's face was pale, and he stammered: "The small one, the small one is just ......"

Tai Hao interrupted him coldly: "Who instructed you?" Telling who instructed you to do this may also reduce your culpability. ”

Eun Qiang trembled, his eyes were full of fear, but he still gritted his teeth, unwilling to confess the instigator behind the scenes.

Seeing this, Tai Hao said again: "You are still young, I advise you to tell the truth." In our Eastern Empire, the minimum penalty for stealing is flogging. More serious consequences, you must have also seen it, Yangshun's corpse was just put down from the city gate yesterday and buried, do you want to learn from him? ”

When Eun Qiang heard this, his whole body trembled even more, and he kowtowed again and again: "The little one should be damned, the little one should be damned, but this is all ......" His voice was full of despair and fear.

Seeing this, Yu Hong hurriedly interrupted him and said, "Eun Qiang, for the sake of you handing over this brocade box to the government in time, this official will consider treating you lightly." Vice Admiral Taihao, now it's your turn to explain, why is this brocade box in your room? ”

Tai Hao frowned and asked suspiciously, "City Lord, why are you so sure that this brocade box is the treasure of Jiang Bao's family?" ”

The Yuhong City Lord frowned, and ordered to one of the officials beside him: "Pass Jiang Bao to the court!" ”

Jiang Bao hurried to the court, his face still a little panicked. The Yuhong City Lord pointed to the brocade box and asked, "Jiang Bao, do you recognize this brocade box?" ”

Jiang Bao only glanced at the opened brocade box in a hurry, and immediately nodded: "Back to the city lord, this is the heirloom of the small family." The stones in the brocade box, each piece is priceless, and the small ones have been familiar with it since childhood. ”

Taihao still didn't give up, and continued to ask: "Jiang Bao, you dare to assert that this is your family's brocade box just by the stones in this brocade box?" There are countless similar brocade boxes in this world, how can you be sure that this is the one in your family? ”

Jiang Bao looked at Taihao with wide eyes, as if he had been asked. And the Yuhong City Lord interjected: "Vice Admiral Taihao, you don't need to be forceful anymore. Although there are many similar brocade boxes in the world, there is only one that can have the exact same stone. Since Jiang Bao knew these stones, this brocade box was undoubtedly his. ”