The first work of the imperial prison

The re-investigation of the Ministry of Finance's corruption case, the common people did not pay much attention to it, but everyone in the court knew about it, how many eyes were staring at it, Jin Yiwei kept his mouth shut, and couldn't find out more inside information, but Zhao Xingde died. , how could it be possible to cover it?

The news flew all over the capital as if it had grown legs.

In the Criminal Department, when He Yiming heard the news, he stood up abruptly: "Dead? Dead? Zhao Xingde?"

The underwriters clasped their hands together: "The news is correct. It said that he committed suicide in fear of crime. He left a suicide note and hanged himself in his own study. He covered all the crimes of Guan Xiuzhu last year. He said that he killed people and he was greedy for money. Everything was done by him. He forged evidence, ledgers, and even physical witnesses. He even admitted to the personal entourage who betrayed Guan Xiuzhu back then, saying that he gave him money to betray Guan Xiuzhu, accusing him of being corrupt. He took the money, but later he was worried, so he went to kill everyone... Everyone in the case last year was deceived by him, including the officials of the Criminal Ministry and Dali Temple. In addition to this, he also claimed another life. The doctor in Cangbu, Meng Nanxing, was also killed, saying that this man would turn back after taking advantage of it, he couldn't bear it..."

"Meng Nanxing? Who is Meng Nanxing?"

He Yiming had long forgotten about the people in the household department, but it didn't matter, he waved his hand: "Where's the embezzled money? The biggest doubtful point why Qiu Xunqing dared to reverse the case on the emperor's premise is that the money was not found back then. "

The document: "Zhao Xingde also said in the suicide note that he hid it himself, and the location was also written out. Jin Yiwei has already left the city with a team, so he probably went looking for it... If he finds it, the matter this time will be gone." It's all over, it has nothing to do with us, the law does not blame the public, there are too many officials involved, the adults are at most deceived by others, the emperor is not good at punishing, fine some money, cold life, no matter how serious, but There won't be any."

"very good……"

He Yiming controlled his emotions, clenched his fingers tightly, and the cold look in his eyes did not go away: "Still don't take it lightly, Qiu Yiqing is a difficult person, Ye Baiting..." He sighed, "After all, he is the official's righteous brother. If you misunderstand me, if you have a petty temper, you will inevitably target me, but I am not afraid, but I am afraid that he will be deceived by someone because he is young and foolish."

The clerk refilled his cup of tea: "My lord means..."

He Yiming glanced at him lightly: "Continue to be stared at, Jin Yiwei will be polite to any visits, and there is no need to cooperate with the basic officials of the Ministry of Punishment."

"Yes."

It took a long time after the secretary left, He Yiming's stern face gradually calmed down, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his lips, dead... well dead.

……

Imperial City, Changle Palace.

Inside the hall, the beaded curtains are golden, the light gauze is red, the dark fragrance is warm and floating, and the outside of the hall is cool and windy, and people who are cold have no temper.

The mistress was resting inside, and R&F was standing at the entrance of the hall, unable to walk in the cold wind, lowered her voice: "You said someone died?"

"Yes……"

The little eunuch leaned forward and whispered the news he had heard.

After listening to R&F, he was smack, smack, this time things are a bit difficult to handle.

Hubu Shangshu Wan Cheng calculates that he is half of his own person. He has a lot of things in the past, and he is not clear about this side. The year can be traced back to more than ten years ago. There are many contacts in private, can you help each other with some things, and the interests are together, can you still run away?Do you still dare to betray?

This is nothing at all, but Qiu Suiqing's actions are too big, and it seems that he is a bit unstoppable. The emperor has not stated his position. The murderer is not important. As the minister of the household department, he participated in the corruption of Kuyin. It is a certainty that he will be unlucky in the end.

The Dongchang can't be busy, and the concubine can't be busy. In the past few years, they have shrunk again and again, and there is almost no place to stand. In the end, this status and face must be preserved, otherwise... do you really want to see the imperial tomb?

How to turn around and deal with this matter with ease is a problem.

However, the majestic Dongchang Changgong is not afraid of being bullied. It's not that he is boasting. He has been a character who walked sideways in the palace since he served his master more than ten years ago. This small matter really can't trouble him. Shit, who hasn't done something dirty?If others insist on dragging him to death, then everyone will die together. Your family members, young and old, and your illegitimate child, don’t try to escape. If you are obedient, you will know that you have fallen into it this time, and you can’t hide it. Be a man Stay on the front line, don't talk nonsense, won't your family be well preserved?

People in the officialdom don't understand why, they have to understand this, otherwise why go so far?Stand so high?Understand that "when the water is clear, there will be no fish", and when you start to stretch out your hand, you should understand that if you are unlucky, this day will come sooner or later.

As for no one in hand, R&F is not worried, if this one is gone, there will be another one?Jinshi from the imperial examination came in one after another, and the waves washed the sand. Standing in this position, he was afraid that he would not find someone to be loyal to?

Tiao Tiao thought through everything, and looked down, the little eunuch in front of him still looked scared, shrinking like a quail, as if he was about to be killed.

"Look at your courage, you are not as big as a sesame seed. What are you afraid of? Your grandfather survived such a chaotic situation after the death of the late emperor. I'm afraid of such a small scene."

If you want to die, it's someone else's death, and you won't be able to touch him.

……

On Ye Baiting's side, Zhao Xingde's preliminary autopsy has been completed, and he is more certain in his heart: "Whether Zhao Xingde committed homicide, the cause of death may be doubtful, but the first two, Guan Xiuzhu and Meng Nanxing, must not be homicides."

"Ah?" Shen Jiang had already spotted Zhao Xingde's suicide note from the commander, "But he admitted it!"

Qiu Yiqing questioned, "Why do you have long eyes?": "The so-called suicide note only stated the result, admitting that he did it, but did not describe any details of the process, and did not provide physical witnesses."

Do you believe such perfunctory things?

Shen Jiang: ...

Ye Baiting had already talked to Jin Yiwei at the door: "Can I invite the deceased's wife, Mrs. Qian, to come over and ask?"

Jin Yiwei went to spread the word quickly, and Qian came here not too late. She has already removed her makeup and put on sackcloth. The corners of her eyes are slightly red, and her expression doesn't look particularly sad. In other words, compared to sadness, her sadness and anxiety are more a bit more.

Ye Baiting thought for a while, and said: "Every time I see Mr. Zhao, he seems to be wearing this kind of clothes. The color is darker and darker. Mr. Zhao doesn't usually wear bright clothes?"

Qian Shifu turned his body: "my husband doesn't like light colors, light colors, even plain clothes. He said that after he got older, his skin became darker, and the clothes on his body were brighter and lighter, which made him look even more ugly. Don’t wear it, and don’t allow it to be done.”

Ye Baiting: "You don't wear clothes like light blue and light blue?"

Qian shook her head: "No."

When she was replying, Ye Baiting had been observing her, and gradually came to an idea: "I have a very important question here, which will be of great help to the case, please think it over carefully before answering, madam."

"Sir, please speak."

"Last year's Chinese Valentine's Day and December 22, what kind of clothes did Zhao Xingde wear?"

"Qixi Festival... coincides with the busy business of the household department. My husband is in the official office all day, and he is naturally wearing an official robe. It was very late that day, and the concubine was going out with the child. I met him halfway. It was originally an appointment to accompany him The child, but he didn't have time to change his clothes, so he was called back... If the concubine remembers well, my husband wears official robes all day long. As for the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month..."

Mrs. Qian thought for a while: "Isn't it the day before Xiaonian? Xiaonian's family was busy. Not only was my concubine, as a clan wife, taking care of things inside and out, but my husband also had to go out to visit Shangguan, because he had to go to several places and the time in between was short. , I don’t have time to come back and change clothes. It’s best to choose a set of clothes that are suitable no matter where you go, and won’t be picked on. The concubine wants to celebrate the New Year soon. I suggest him to wear something festive. It’s too heavy for others to look at. My husband After picking and choosing, I finally chose the deep crimson round neck brocade robe..."

Ye Baiting: "Ma'am, do you remember correctly?"

Qian Shi: "Those two days are big days, I will definitely not remember them wrong."

Ye Baiting asked again: "On this young year, when did Zhao Xingde leave the house and when did he return home?"

"I went out early in the morning, and the entourage followed me at all times. The clothes I kept on the carriage were not changed, and I didn't return until late."

"Then?"

"I've been at home all the time, and I haven't gone out." Qian also pointed to Shen Jiang, "When investigating the corruption case of Treasury Bank in the Ministry of Households, this adult also came to ask questions. As a testimony, I will never lie."

Ye Baiting looked at her: "Zhao Xingde has someone outside, do you know?"

Qian was stunned for a moment, then quickly lowered her eyes, and stirred the handkerchief in her hand slightly: "Men are outside...It's inevitable to mess around, as long as you don't bring people home, there is nothing to be afraid of, the concubine's sons will grow up Well, there's nothing to worry about."

That is, she knows.

Ye Baiting: "maybe tell me a location, or... a name?"

Qian Shi hesitated for a moment this time, but did not speak.

Ye Baiting reminded her: "Your husband committed suicide in fear of crime, and he confessed to a lot of embezzlement. Such a serious crime will surely implicate your family. You just said that your son has grown up, so have you ever thought about his future? ? If your husband didn't make such a big mistake, but you have to be convicted like this, wouldn't you feel wronged or regretful?"

Qian's lips trembled slightly.

"If Madam trusts Jin Yiwei, feel free to speak up if you have any doubts. The words here will not be known to others. We will also verify Madam's words, and will definitely not cause trouble to Madam," Ye Baiting finished. , looking at Qiu Yiqing, "Is that right, Commander?"

Qiu Yiqing stood beside him, majestic and dignified, with a solemn expression, and looked very credible at first glance: "That's right."

Mrs. Qian bit her lips: "My husband should be punished according to the law for committing a crime. Everyone in the family recognizes it, but he shouldn't be punished by us, and we shouldn't bear it. Those big principles, as a woman, I don't understand, and I don't understand. I don't want to understand, I just want to ask the commander to report to the public to handle the case, I really want to help solve the case, I don't ask for merit, but I just ask... but I don't want to implicate the children."

Her eyes were earnest, and there was a hint of pleading, Qiu Yiqing only said: "Jin Yiwei handles the case according to the law, the law does not allow private interests, the case has not yet been clarified, what you ask, I can't agree to it."

If he agreed casually, Qian would still hesitate for a while, wondering if he was coaxing her, but he said that everything should be done according to the law, and she would have a certainty in her heart. The entanglement of the family will definitely be alleviated!

"I know husbands and men..." Qian lowered her eyes slightly, and bit her lips with white marks, "There is more than one, because sometimes when he comes back, the smell on his body is different, but I don't know who these people are. , I don’t bother to ask these dirty things. I only know that he has no children outside, no concubine, no illegitimate children, and a private house that he occasionally uses, and the servants of the house will come home to collect flowers. Lists are things that men can use..."

Ye Baiting: "Do you know the address?"

"I know, it's on East Street..." Qian said a location, and Shen Jiang quickly remembered it.

Ye Baiting: "Zhao Xingde came back yesterday, is there anything wrong? Will there be outsiders visiting after returning home?"

"No," Mrs. Qian shook her head. "The commander also asked this question. My husband returned home yesterday as usual. He didn't return until it was getting dark. He didn't eat much for dinner. He didn't have much expression on his face. It's the same at home, with a straight face, he doesn't like to smile at us, he goes to the study after dinner, he often rests there, and no one came to look for him last night..."

"What about today? After Zhao Xingde's death, did the wife and family members receive reminders from outside, such as 'speak well'?"

"This, there are..."

After asking Mrs. Qian, Shen Jiang looked at the small notebook he had written, and couldn't help admiring: "Young master is amazing! You can ask any secrets! But why are you sure that Zhao Xingde didn't kill Guan Xiuzhu and Meng Nanxing?" , just by clothes?"

Calling Mrs. Qian over and asking about the color of the clothes, she must have an answer in her heart!

Ye Baiting nodded slightly: "I met Zhao Xingde twice before and after, and brought the corpse with me. This is the third time. I already have an impression of him in my heart, and I have gone through all the clues and information you have checked before. If I can prove If he doesn't like bright and light-colored clothes, he must not be a murderer."

Shen Jiang: "Why?"

"You and the commander have been busy outside these few days, and I have not been idle," Ye Baiting said, "I knew there would be no second chance when the coffin was opened for an autopsy that day. I will pay special attention to it, I have collected some physical evidence from Guan Xiuzhu's body, and Meng Nanxing, although the flesh and blood are not there, but the hair is there, I have looked through it carefully to see if I can find anything."

"Really?"

"Yes." Ye Baiting raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes bright, "The clothes on Guan Xiuzhu are the shrouds that his family changed during the funeral. They are not worth much, but there are some silk fibers left between the nails on his left hand, not many. , but the color is very obvious, it is very bright light yellow, and a little bit of light blue, do you have any impression of these two colors?"

Shen Jiang scratched his head, unable to remember.

Qiu Yiqing said: "One heart wins."

The evidence and clues he found had already been shared with Ye Baiting and Shen Jiang. Shen Jiang's visit records, the booklets collected and compiled, including the concentric Fang Sheng lost by Meng Nanxing, he had naturally read it.

"That's right, concentricity wins!" Shen Jiang patted his thigh, he and the young master found this thing together!The style is simple and elegant, but the color is not dull. It is mainly yellow-green, with very little light blue color matching. There are two balls made of red thread that are not as big as the little fingernail. Light yellow and light green, isn't it just Fang Sheng wins the color of the hanging silk sash!

Ye Baiting: "Before I couldn't figure out where this color came from. I saw that Meng Nanxing had lost his concentric Fang Sheng, and I understood. Guan Xiuzhu must have seen Meng Nanxing before his death. The secret room on the day of the crime was definitely not empty. Pass."

Shen Jiang: "Anything else?"

Ye Baiting: "Except for the two tiny pieces of silk fiber between the fingers, there are some silvery white debris in Guan Xiuzhu's hair, the color is very bright, I didn't see it at first, and then I discussed and compared it with Phytophthora , confirmed that it is a craft of making clothes, bronzing, you should know?"

"I know!" Shen Jiang nodded, "It's just that there are some special patterns, or cuffs or shoulder collars. The embroidery is not as good-looking as the bronzing technique. This kind of clothes will be more expensive, and not many people can usually afford them. , Most people just use a little craftsmanship to make it, it looks good, and it's not so expensive... bronzing, silver, so it's something on the clothes?"

Ye Baiting nodded lightly: "That's right, if it's gold, it doesn't go against the harmony when it collides with dark colors, and it looks better, but silver, most of them are matched with light-colored clothes, such as the clothes Zhao Xingde is wearing today, it's good to match them with." Not pretty."

Shen Jiang murmured: "That's why you asked Zhao Xingde what color he usually likes to wear..."

"As for Meng Nanxing," Ye Baiting lowered his eyebrows slightly, "the experience was even more painful. All we can find are the remaining bones and a small amount of hair left on the skull. The hair has been washed by water, and there are almost no traces. Conveniently, to prevent the dead man’s head from coming out of the water, he tied the ax used for the murder to his hair, and after this tie, some things were not washed away—the same silver debris was found in his hair.”

So the facts are obvious, when the murderer committed the crime, he must have been wearing light-colored clothes with silver stamping technology, and Zhao Xingde didn't like to wear this kind of clothes, he didn't have any at home, so he couldn't be the murderer.

Shen Jiang was speechless, silent and silent, asking was just one word, absolute, absolute!Why is the young master so powerful!This is all they have. Guan Xiuzhu's grave has already been dug and can't be dug again. The body cannot be reexamined. Meng Nanxing's... except the bones are bones. Evidence can be found here. The young master is meticulous and meticulous. There is really no one who is responsible for the love of work and work!

Ye Baiting turned his head and asked him: "The household stall, Lin Bin's, have you asked?"

"I asked before," Shen Jiang glanced at Qiu Xingqing, "but I was the one who came, and the other party was very dissatisfied and didn't cooperate. It seemed that I asked and answered, but in fact there was no truth..."

Ye Baiting also watched Qiu Xunqing.

"This person is cunning, but he has something to ask for, so he has to get something in return. Do you think I will give it to you?" Qiu Xingqing raised his eyebrows slightly, and said in a cold voice, "He is only mediocre, has a lot of scheming, and doesn't have much in his body. Meat, it falls down when the wind blows, not capable of selling it, and looks ugly, Beizhen Fusi doesn't need this kind of person."

Is it ugly?

Ye Baiting paused for a moment before turning serious: "The commander is upright."

Qiu Yiqing glanced at the little thing on his wrist, and snorted: "It's just looking for one or two evidences, it's not enough to sell yourself."

This is.

Ye Baiting lightly clenched his fist and made a gesture: "Then commander, come on?"

Qiu Suiqing: ...

The commander's face was dark and dark, comparable to the long black clouds before the rainstorm in June.

Young master, please don't try to kill yourself!

Shen Jiang hurriedly played a role and shifted the focus: "In short, we can figure out what the little boy knows. The key question now is, if Guan Xiuzhu met Meng Nanxing not long before his death, what would they do? Guan Xiuzhu Was the injury on your body caused at that time? Why doesn’t everyone in the household department say they don’t know?”

Ye Baiting looked at Shen Jiang like a fool: "Think about what day it was, he went there with Concentric Fang Sheng, what else could he do?"

Shen Jiang was taken aback: "Excuse me, confession?"

Ye Baiting: "Meng Nanxing's personality is relatively introverted. He is not an outgoing person. He must have mustered up the courage to confess, and he will not force it if it is unpredictable. Guan Xiuzhu is open-minded. He may be surprised or unexpected at the time, but not because of the other party. He's a man, he overreacts, at most he doesn't take things from the other party, he doesn't accept affection, why is there Fang Sheng silk between his fingers?"

Shen Jiang: "That is... accepted?"

Ye Baiting looked more like a fool: "If he accepts, why is Fang Sheng still in Meng Nanxing's hands, and why did you and I find Fang Sheng at the doctor's house?"

Guan Xiuzhu died on the night of Qixi Festival. If he had accepted Meng Nanxing's love and token, his death scene, Tongxin Fang Sheng would have been sealed as evidence.

"I didn't accept this confession, but there are traces of silk between my fingers. The two must have given way, had physical contact, or even had an argument. That's why—" Ye Baiting thought, "Meng Nanxing will not be reluctant. Why are other people's characters so persistent that day? Was his behavior really just to express his love, or was it something else?"

Qiu Yiqing also pondered: "Meng Nanxing is shorter than Guan Xiuzhu."

Shen Jiang understood what his boss was saying this time, and punched his palm: "That's right! Didn't the young master say that the knife wound on Guan Xiuzhu's lower abdomen was not fatal, and the direction of the knife edge was from bottom to top, and it was definitely not caused by himself. Why, the one who does it will be shorter than him, so is it because Meng Nanxing did it?"

After thinking about it, he felt something was wrong again: "It's not right, Meng Nanxing has a crush on Guan Xiuzhu, why did he attack him with a knife? It's not enough to die..."

Ye Baiting's eyes flickered slightly: "So the knife is intentional, and the injury is not fatal, it is also intentional."

Chou Yiqing: "Guan Xiuzhu suffered a bruise on the back of his arm and took poison. There may be more than one person who did it that night."

One is just to help him, and the other is the real murderer.

"And that secret room—how did the murderer manage to get out after killing someone?" Ye Baiting narrowed his eyes, "Zhao Xingde is not dead, we may need to do more work, he is dead, I have some doubts about the direction, but it is more clear .”

While the two were talking, their eyes were facing each other, and there was similar emotion flowing in their eyes. Ye Baiting's eyes became brighter and brighter, acting like a summer sun, obviously thinking of something: "A few more questions, we will be able to locate the murderer. Already!"

Hatred with green jaws: "That's right."

Shen Jiang: ...

Not bad what ah not bad!Tell me about it!I have no idea!

This is still outside, the wall has ears, Ye Baiting hooked his finger from Shen Jiang: "Come here with the ears."

Shen Jiang went over and listened to the young master's orders, his eyes became like copper bells, and the expression on his face became more and more excited.

The murderer may be the person with the highest power, or he may be a sensible person. He does not need to be instructed by his superiors to do things by himself. It is also possible that he thinks that he can be a 'scavenger', and he can accumulate credit and benefit others by the way. , so that he can climb up... Of course, it is also possible that he was ordered.

But no matter what, this case will be solved soon!