After Lin Ji left the Zheng family, he did not return to the government office, but went back to his own mansion.
Sitting in the backyard, Lin Ji casually threw the spirit creature in front of him.
"Speak." Lin Ji's expression was indifferent.
"My lord..." The spirit creature looked fearful.
"Speak whatever you know, starting from how you appeared at the Zheng family." Lin Ji looked down at it with scrutiny. "Don't think I can't see that there are still restrictions on you!"
After Tian Jiufeng mentioned this matter earlier, Lin Ji secretly probed this spirit creature with his divine sense.
Sure enough, there were traces of restrictions on its body, but the restrictions had already been broken.
Although this small spirit creature had reached the third realm, such plant spirits like it did not understand any profound methods.
It wanted to break the restrictions?
Impossible.
"Was it the people from the Tian family who instructed you..."
"What do you mean?" Lin Ji pressed.
"They told me to wait at the Zheng family, just to disturb the Zheng family members. When the officials arrive to handle the matter, I was to deal with them." The spirit creature looked at Lin Ji cautiously.
"Just that? Do you think you can handle anyone?" Lin Ji raised an eyebrow.
Before the spirit creature could respond, Lin Ji suddenly realized.
Tian Jiufeng was the first to arrive. Perhaps upon hearing the news, he hurried over.
From the beginning, the Tian family never intended to rely on this spirit creature. They probably just wanted to see Lin Ji embarrassed.
"Indeed, I have no foundation in Liang City. Suddenly taking the position of Chief Catcher and dealing with Tian Wenliang, someone is bound to take offense."
Lin Ji suddenly understood most of it.
As the Chief Catcher of the Monitoring Bureau, even though the Tian family had deep roots in Liang City, they would never dare to harm the Chief Catcher secretly.
This matter would definitely be investigated thoroughly, and in great detail.
But not daring to harm Lin Ji's life would still allow them to lose face.
A new Chief Catcher, being toyed with by a small spirit creature right from the start.
If this incident really happened, Lin Ji believed that it wouldn't take long for the news to spread throughout Liang City.
By then, not only would his reputation as Chief Catcher be tarnished, but his position might not be secure either.
Having figured out these connections, Lin Ji became more dissatisfied.
He detested these inexplicable schemes that couldn't kill but only disgusted people.
But this was a minor issue.
"You not only disturbed the Zheng family, but also caused the deaths of the two elders of the Zheng family. This matter cannot be false, right? Was it also instructed by the Tian family?"
Upon hearing this, the spirit creature quickly shook its head.
"My lord! I have nothing to do with this matter!"
"How so?"
"I stayed in the backyard of the Zheng family, just on that tree without moving. Disturbing them was just a small trick, at most causing them to have nightmares. The deaths in their family have nothing to do with me."
"How did the two elders of the Zheng family die then?"
"I don't know." The spirit creature's two small hands kept moving. "I only saw those two elders staying in the house next to the garden, never going out. I don't know anything else."
"They never went out? Are you saying they didn't die, and Zheng Yunxuan lied to me?"
"They are dead," the spirit creature said.
"Then why did you say you didn't know?"
The spirit creature hurriedly explained, "My lord, those two elders indeed died after I arrived, but I really didn't do anything to them."
"This is indeed strange." Lin Ji rubbed his newly grown stubble on his chin, looking puzzled.
This spirit creature didn't seem to be lying. Judging by its timid appearance, it probably didn't have the courage to do such a thing.
But the fact remained that the two elders of the Zheng family had died.
"Could there be other evil forces at play?"
For a moment, Lin Ji was puzzled.
When he asked the spirit creature about other things, it just kept shaking its head, pretending to know nothing.
Seeing this, Lin Ji threw it into his own garden, letting it help take care of the flowers, plants, and trees there.
He wasn't worried about the spirit creature running away.
The restrictions on this little thing were still there, although they had been broken. However, it wouldn't be difficult to find it if it dared to escape.
If it dared to run, it would definitely fall back into the hands of the Tian family.
Lin Ji thought that the reason the Tian family dared to actively break the restrictions and send it to the Zheng family to cause trouble was because of this.
Anyway, as long as this little thing disappeared, Lin Ji would go cause trouble for the Tian family, that was for sure.
As evening approached, Lin Ji was preparing to have dinner under the service of the maids, but Lao Li led a group of people passing by the front of the dining hall.
"Hold on!" Lin Ji called out to Lao Li.
"Master."
At this moment, the servants behind Lao Li, carrying many large boxes, also stopped in their tracks.
Approaching, Lin Ji casually opened one of the boxes.
It was filled with gold ingots.
Opening another one.
"Wow, the spiritual energy is overwhelming. These are all medicinal herbs over a hundred years old, many of which can be used for alchemy."
Lin Ji closed the box and looked at Lao Li.
"Where did these things come from?"
"They were sent by the Tian Mansion."
"You accepted them without asking me?" Lin Ji's tone became more severe.
Lao Li was stunned, quickly bowed, and said, "I'm sorry, Master. The previous Master never inquired about these things. It was always my duty to receive them."
"So, when your predecessor died, the entire family was sent to Yunzhou to grow potatoes, do you understand?" Lin Ji said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Lao Li immediately knelt down.
"I know I was wrong."
The maids behind him also knelt down.
Lin Ji was speechless, the rules were indeed too strict.
"Alright, get up." He couldn't bear to see the old man kneeling in front of him.
After pulling Lao Li up, Lin Ji said, "Return these things to where they came from. From now on, no matter who comes to deliver things, you are not allowed to accept them, understand?"
"Yes, I will take care of it right away." Lao Li nodded quickly and led the Tian Mansion's servants away.
Lin Ji then looked at the maids kneeling behind him.
"I said, my rules are not that strict. Get up, don't kneel down so easily in the future."
"Yes, Master." The maids all responded.
Lin Ji sighed lightly.
Looking at the delicious dishes on the table, he suddenly lost his appetite.
"I haven't touched these dishes yet, you all eat them. I'll go out for a walk."
The maids didn't move.
"Eat! Eat here, eat everything cleanly!" Lin Ji scolded fiercely. "When I come back, if there's even a drop of oil left in this plate, you'll see!"
With that, Lin Ji had no intention of arguing with these obedient maids, and quickly left his mansion.
Walking on the streets of Liang City, Lin Ji pondered that he had to correct the faults of his servants.
He just couldn't get used to this.
Unconsciously, Lin Ji arrived at the west side of the city.
He casually found a noodle stall by the roadside, ordered half a catty of noodle soup, and sat down.
While waiting, Lin Ji was suddenly attracted by the conversation at the next table.
(End of this chapter)