The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 102 The world is like a cage, you and I are both trapped beasts

"My lord? My lord?"

In the Tie family courtyard, Zhao Duan was seen staring at the note in a daze for a long time, and two police officers called him softly.

Only then did Zhao Duan come to his senses.

Zheng Laojiu was very perceptive and said:
"Sir, have you remembered anything? If this note is true, I'm afraid your whereabouts have been monitored by the rebels."

Zhao Duan was silent for a moment, then held the note in his palm and said:

"You are here to 'protect the scene'. I need to verify something."

After saying that, he strode out of the yard, mounted his horse, and galloped towards the Baima Prison.

The strong wind blew up his messy hair, Zhao Duan pursed his lips and asked, "Is it you?"
……

There are many ways to leave the city from Baima Prison.

One of them is to go out from the side door and go to the nearest river.

You can take a boat to cross the river, follow a narrow, busy area with buildings and shops on both sides of the river, turn a corner, and you will enter the Hunhe River and go to the ferry.

Zhu Kui hurriedly arrived at the river bank, and a boatman who was waiting for passengers immediately lowered the brim of his hat and pretended not to see it - ordinary people hated doing business with officials and would not pay them at all.

"That boatman!"

Zhu Kui strode forward, raised his sword, and without unsheathing it, he slapped the opponent's back and said sternly:

"I need to borrow your boat for an important matter. You don't need to operate the boat. Just go ashore and wait. I will give you a reward when I come back!"

The boatman made a bitter face and wanted to refuse.

But with Zhu Kui's tiger skin on and his fleshy face, how could anyone dare to say no?

He nodded in agreement and handed over the broken boat that could only accommodate three or five people.

Zhu Kui jumped onto the deck and picked up the boat pole skillfully.

With a poke of the slender wooden stick towards the bottom of the water, the small boat under his feet nimbly sailed away from the river bank like an arrow.

After walking a distance, he shook out the bag he was carrying, put on his own clothes to conceal his identity as an official, and stuffed the knife into the bag.

Putting on the bamboo hat taken from the boatman's head, he looked like a sturdy boatman.

"Wow... Wow..."

The small boat cut through the water and soon entered the bustling and lively section of the river.

There are stone bridges every few steps ahead, with shops lining both sides and a constant stream of pedestrians.

Zhu Kui rowed the boat alertly, keeping the speed slightly faster than normal.

The hawkers' cries, the storytellers' gavels in the teahouses, the cheers of the jugglers on the overpass...

Zhu Kui rowed the boat silently and passed the busiest section of the river safely. Just as he was breathing a sigh of relief, he suddenly saw officials from the government office running hurriedly past on the side of the shore.

Zhu Kui immediately turned sideways, fearing that he would be recognized by his former colleagues, and the boat slowed down.

Finally, the group of officials went away, and Zhu Kui breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to speed up, but he felt the stern of the boat suddenly sink.

Then, a familiar and indifferent voice came over:

"Old Zhu, where are you going?"

Zhu Kui's body suddenly stiffened, his hand holding the oar shook violently, and he forgot about rowing the boat, just letting the boat drift downstream.

He turned his neck inch by inch and saw Zhao Duan standing at the stern of the boat with his hands behind his back, looking at him calmly with an ambiguous look in his eyes.

"Sir...sir..."

Zhu Kui's voice was out of tune. He was stunned for a few breaths before he realized what was going on and forced himself to smile ingratiatingly:
"How did you..."

"After finishing my work, I went back to the yamen to rest. I happened to glance at the shore and saw a familiar figure. I didn't expect it was you. Hey, at this time of year, how could there be a boatman crossing the river with an empty boat?" Zhao Duan said lightly.

Yes, what kind of boatman is there who doesn’t carry passengers?
Zhu Kui smiled bitterly and said:

"It's almost noon, so I want to go home."

Zhao Duan said:
"This isn't the direction to your house. It's more like the direction to leave the city and go back to your hometown."

Zhu Kui was silent.

Zhao Duan looked down at the boatman, a shrewd and capable old official, and said:
"Tie Chi Guan was a rebel and was arrested this morning. Li Hua Tang found a piece of intelligence written last night on his desk.

It's about me. I thought about it and realized that very few people knew about this, and you happen to be the most suspicious one."

Zhu Kui was silent.

As the boat drifted downstream, the scenery on both sides became more and more pleasant. The weeping willows were reflected on the water, and the river surface was as green as emerald green.

Zhao Duan sighed:
"In fact, I should have thought of it earlier. There are so many envoys from the White Horse Prison. How come a 'fool' like me can recruit a shrewd and capable old official like you?

Why, when I suddenly went to arrest Zhuang Xiaocheng that day, the people in the imperial court didn't react, but Zhuang Xiaocheng still escaped early? "

"I previously thought that the other party had already planned this, so they were alert enough. But there is another possibility, that is, there are also spies from the Kuangfu Society around me."

"This can also explain why Zhuang Xiaocheng and Yunxi, one old and one young, were able to escape safely all the way to the Southern Suburbs Bamboo Forest and the Earth God Temple while being hunted by a whole team of imperial guards, because at that time, it was you who led the hunt."

Zhu Kui remained silent.

Zhao Duan laughed at himself:

"How ridiculous! At that time, I thought you were sensible and knew not to be greedy for credit, so you surrounded but did not capture.

But later, I was knocked unconscious by the warlock and nearly died. The concern you showed at that time should not have been entirely false. After all, if I died, you would also be to blame.

You, like Yunxi, are chess pieces that Zhuang Xiaocheng casually discarded without any sympathy or consideration for your life or death."

He suddenly felt a little disappointed:

"But Yunxi is young and inexperienced. She was deceived by Zhuang Xiaocheng and became confused. She thinks she is righteous and stupid, which is understandable. But you are not like that, Old Zhu. With your experience, you should know all this very well. Why do you still work for them?"

Zhu Kui remained silent!
Zhao Duan shouted, "Speak! Are you dumb?!"

The weather-beaten old official finally spoke and sighed:

"Since you have seen through everything, what else can I say? Should I beg for mercy?"

Zhao Duan said:
"When Ma Yan captured Tie Chi Guan, he was willing to give him a chance to explain, but he didn't cherish it. I can give you one, too."

Zhu Kui shook his head, as if accepting his fate, and suddenly laughed softly:
"In fact, I had anticipated this day. It was just a matter of a few days earlier or later. In fact, in just over a month, I have been on the brink of death three times."

“The sorcerer from the Kuangfu Society almost killed you once.

That was something I didn't expect, and it was an accident. At the time, I thought that if you died, I would be implicated, and if you didn't wake up, I would just run away. But you woke up."

"My Lord, this is the second time you have entered the palace to be questioned by the Saint. That time I even prepared for my death, but you turned the tables."

"Then, it was this time. The rebels still lost, but I used up all my luck for the rest of my life, and finally fell into the hands of the adults.

In fact, after seeing your methods in recent days, I know that you will see through me sooner or later. I should be content that I have been able to extend my life for this long. "

The boat drifted downstream, surrounded by the sound of birds singing, which sounded like mournful music.

Zhao Duan said:
"What's the reason? What benefits did the rebels promise? Don't you consider your family? Oh, yes, your two children were sent away a long time ago, but your wife is still here, right?"

Zhu Kui said:
"When I was escaping just now, I had already sent someone to send a letter home. My old wife must have packed up her belongings and tried to find a way out of the city. I originally thought that even if she was exposed, I could attract the pursuers and she could escape, but now it seems that she can't escape."

Why do you all use the same tricks... Tiechiguan did it this way, and you are also doing it this way, playing pure love with me? Zhao Duan felt a nameless anger rising in his heart, and asked again:

"What's the reason?"

Zhu Kui finally managed a helpless smile on his ugly face:
"I can't help it, my lord. I can't help it."

Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows:
"You were coerced? Because of the two children in your hometown?"

Zhu Kui nodded and said:
"But what's the point of saying all this? I've been in the government office for more than 20 years, and I've seen too many prisoners who had no choice but to do so. But few of them were innocent, so my heart has long been hardened.

Today it is finally my turn, I can only say that it is fate that brings good luck."

After a pause, he dropped the oar and gave up resisting: "Master, please take me back. Maybe this will be a relief."

Zhao Duan did not move, and suddenly said:

"If you are captured, your identity as a traitor will be confirmed. Your children are far away and can escape, but they will have to hide their identities and live in fear for the rest of their lives. Perhaps you won't even be able to continue the surname 'Zhu'.

Your first wife was even more miserable. She couldn't escape the city at all. She was already a slave."

After a pause, he said in a cold voice:
"Of course, these have nothing to do with me. The most important thing is that if you are proven to be a traitor, it will also affect my reputation."

Zhu Kui was stunned and didn't understand what he meant.

An absurd thought arises:
"My Lord, will you let me go?"

"I can't let it go." Zhao Duan ruthlessly shattered his fantasy.

Not to mention that the two had only known each other for more than a month, it was impossible for him to bear the crime of letting the rebels go for a subordinate who only had work interactions with him.

What's more, the other party has betrayed me!

Even if we take a step back, a case of this magnitude will inevitably attract investigations from all parties and will not be able to be covered up.

Zhu Kui was not too disappointed. With his experience, he no longer had any illusions about these things.

But Zhao Duan said calmly:

"But...I can find you later."

Zhu Kui was stunned: "What your Excellency means is..."

Zhao Duan did not explain:
"With your intelligence, you should be able to understand. Remember, don't try to escape. Even if you jump into the river, my flying knife will be there in an instant."

After he finished speaking, the boat swayed slightly, Zhao Duan jumped off, and flew ashore.

Only Zhu Kui was left standing on the boat in a daze, silent for a long time.

At this time, the boat going downstream was about to pass a stone bridge.

Zhu Kui took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the boat, reached out, and drew his sword from his bag.

The sharp edge of a knife can reveal a person's true self.

The old official, who had been in the capital for decades, held the knife handle in a strange posture. He then stared quietly at the boat as it slowly sailed into the shade under the stone bridge, adjusting the angle of his knife grip.

When the boat was about to sink, he turned his head for the last time, looking towards his hometown outside the city with a hint of nostalgia, and then a trace of determination emerged in his eyes, and he murmured:

"Thank you, sir."

Swing the knife violently!

"clang!"

The steel knife hit the bridge pier at a strange angle, rebounded and slashed towards itself.

"puff!"

There was a hint of red under the stone bridge, which was then washed away by the river water.

……

ashore.

Zhao Duan stood quietly in the shade with his hands behind his back, watching the small boat slowly sail out from under the bridge.

On the boat, Zhu Kui had fallen on his back, blood gushing from his neck, his eyes wide open, and he was already dead.

The knife had fallen into the river. Even the most experienced coroner in the government office would have thought that the victim was murdered rather than committed suicide based on the knife edge if he had not examined the body carefully.

On both sides.

The people discovered the body in the river and let out a series of exclamations, creating a noisy scene.

Zhao Duan closed his eyes gently.

As long as Zhu Kui died first, there would be no evidence to prove his guilt, making it difficult to determine his identity as a rebel.

One explanation is that he committed suicide out of fear of punishment for being a traitor.

But another explanation is that he committed suicide because he was deceived by the rebels and was afraid of punishment.

The nature of the two is completely different.

As the chief officer of this case, Zhao Duan could have explained Zhu Kui's death in other possible ways in a legal and impeccable way.

Zhu Kui understood, and he went a step further by disguising his death as one of homicide.

This leaves more room for interpretation.

Even if Zhao Duannu tried hard, his death might be explained as "dying in the line of duty."

As long as Zhu Kui is not labeled as a "rebel" in the end, his wife and children will not be implicated, and after losing their value, the Kuangfu Society will not have any trouble.

Including Zhao Duan himself, he can also avoid a series of troubles caused by his subordinates being rebels.

Zhu Kui used his own life to exchange for a better outcome for everyone.

He was just a low-level clerk, not even an official, and no big shot would pay attention to him and dwell on the cause of his death.

Everything seems fine.

but……

“Why do you feel a little sad?”

Zhao Duan didn't understand. It was obvious that there was no relationship between the two of them, and the other party had even indirectly harmed him.

Madonna overflowing?
Zhao Duan didn't think so, it was more like some kind of rabbit dying and fox mourning.

The world is like a cage, and he and Zhu Kui are both trapped beasts in the cage. Without enough strength, their fate will be controlled by others.

"We still have to go to the card table." Zhao Duan sighed.

I really want to take out my little notebook and add a few more strokes to the three words "Zhuang Xiaocheng".

At this time, officials from the government office in the distance heard the noise and swarmed over. They were also shocked when they saw the corpse in the river.

Zhao Duan calmed down, walked forward, took out his police badge, and shook it:
"I have been investigating the case and found that the key person is dead. Can you see where the murderer has gone?"

A group of government officials trembled with fear, bowed their hands and stammered:
"Your humble servant greets you, Lord Jisi. We just came here after hearing the noise, and we have not seen the murderer."

Zhao Duan said with a gloomy face:

"Send a team of people to fish out the body from the river and send it to the Lihua Hall of the Imperial Court.

Another team of people searched along the river. There was a murder on the boat. We were afraid that the murderer had escaped into the water."

The officials from the government office did not dare to disobey the order and immediately responded.

……

Not long after, Zhao Duan returned to the Tie family and saw everyone in Lihua Hall gathered together, looking anxiously waiting.

Seeing him coming back, the marquis stood up to greet him:

"Sir, the governor came just now, and seeing that you were not here, he went back to the yamen first, and told us to tell you that the two detectives from the Pomegranate Hall and the Peach Blossom Hall have been arrested and will be taken to the imperial prison. The governor himself will be in charge of the custody."

Caught? Zhao Duan was not surprised.

"Sir, shall we go back to the government office next?" Qian Kerou asked:
"All the suspicious items of the Tie family have been sealed up, and the people have been arrested. We are going to take them back together and investigate them slowly."

Zhao Duan looked up at the sky and it was almost noon.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said:
"You guys go back, just leave me a horse."

The four people were puzzled: "Sir, are you going to..."

Zhao Duan exhaled, raised his eyebrows and said:
"The governor has said that he will stay here and not leave. The rest of the police will arrest or put under house arrest. As for going to the palace to report the case to His Majesty, I will have to take on the responsibility reluctantly."

(End of this chapter)