Officer Zhao quickly entered the master bedroom. Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao saw his grim expression and immediately asked, "What happened?"
Officer Zhao glanced at Xie Yunjin and then at Lu Jiao before he spoke in a somber tone, "Last night, Assistant Magistrate Yang and Administrator Peng committed suicide."
Xie Yunjin frowned deeply. Lu Jiao was the first to speak, "They committed suicide to protect their families, right?"
Assistant Magistrate Yang and Administrator Peng were involved with influential merchants from Qinghe County. Although merchants had low social statuses, they were wealthy, and money could make the impossible happen.
Moreover, even if Peng and Yang exposed these merchants, the merchants would likely only sacrifice one or two individuals from their families to take the blame. Then, the merchants might retaliate against Peng and Yang's wives, children, and relatives. So, their only option was to take their own lives.
