The first work of the imperial prison

Ye Baiting and Ye Baishao sat in front of the window. At first, one listened to the writing, and the other recalled the narration. Later, the discussion gradually increased, and the tea was changed several times. The expressions of the two of them changed from time to time. It's like clearing the clouds and seeing the fog, looking at each other with a slight smile, and the bottom of the eyes is clear.

Unknowingly, the sky gradually darkened, and the candles were lit, swaying with the gentle summer wind, and the night in the capital seemed to have a temperature.

When the twins came back from school, they didn't chatter like they used to. They ran around with thumping noises, as if they knew they were busy. They were very well-behaved for the first time. I took out my homework and started doing it.

It wasn't until Ye Baiting and Ye Baishao finished chatting and got up to leave that the two children ran over, one on each side, and expertly hugged his leg——

"Uncle, don't go—"

"Uncle will eat with us!"

"Uncle hasn't told us a story for a long time!"

"If you do this again, you will be disqualified from wearing a small skirt!"

Ye Baiting: ...

The previous words are okay, speaking from the mouth of a child, it makes him feel a little bit missed. What does it mean to ban the qualification to wear small skirts?

His heart moved: "Are you naughty again?"

"no!"

The two uttered their voices in unison, their small hands were turned behind their backs, their eyes rolled slightly, and their expressions were exactly the same.

"My brother did his homework today!"

"My brother is also very good today!"

"Can't you give me a reward!"

"We just want to have a meal with uncle..."

"Is it really not possible? We really miss uncle..."

The two children began to tilt their heads and pretend to be pitiful. Their faces were tender, their lips were red and white, and their eyes seemed to be watery. When they were not bears, they were still very cute.

Ye Baiting: ...

"I really can't do anything about you, so why don't uncle come back today and have dinner with you?"

"Uncle is the best!"

"I like my uncle the most!"

Ye Baiting looked at the child's innocent and clean eyes, her heart was soft. Although the twins are sometimes, no, most of the time they are bears, sometimes they are very cute. Who can refuse such a cute invitation?

He also figured it out, why his sister said that as long as his father saw him back then, as long as he ran over happily, opened his arms to hug him, and said he missed him, his father would be very happy...

Because this is a kind of healing, it is the child's wholehearted trust and joy, and it is full of power.

But the power of the twins only lasted until after dinner.

Ye Baiting said, why the two children are so good today, they know how to do their homework without being stared at, and they are so sweet. It turned out that it was because they bragged and made a bet with their friends, wearing a small skirt as a bet, saying that their uncle grew It’s the best looking, you will definitely be unable to take your eyes off when you meet for the first time, try it if you don’t believe me——

As soon as the little boy who went to class together every day came over, he was overwhelmed by Ye Baiting's face, gave up, was forced to change into a small skirt, lost himself, cried like a little cat, and Ye Baiting made him laugh.

After sending the people away, Ye Baiting looked at the twins standing in front of him, with his hands behind his back, his head down, his eyes daring not to look at the people, as if he knew that he had done something wrong, and for a moment he didn't know how to criticize them, so he laughed angrily: "What if you come back and I'm not here?"

"Of course I went to Beizhen Fusi to find my uncle!"

"There are dogs!"

"And uncle who can fly!"

“Super fun!”

Ye Baiting: ...

Has it become your playground?Beizhen Fusi has a fierce reputation, can stop children from crying at night, you are so courageous, do your friends around you know?

He sighed, and patted their heads one by one: "You're all men now, don't be so naughty next time, my friends are teased a lot, and I'll hate you."

"Know it!"

"Don't worry, uncle—"

"We have a sense of proportion!"

"Daddy said something before, at most it made them cry, he won't be beaten so hard he can't get out of bed!"

Ye Baiting: ...

What did the brother-in-law teach them!

"Your father is not at home, take good care of your mother."

"Ok!"

"With me watching—"

"Look who dares to bully my mother!"

Ye Baiting closed her eyes, breathed calmly, handed the two children to Ye Baishao, and asked her to discipline them: "I'll go back first."

"Okay, don't worry about it, I'm the one who has a sense of proportion, and I won't make them trouble," Ye Baishao carried the two brats to his side, "Say goodbye to uncle."

"Goodbye, uncle—"

"Remember to miss us—"

……

The night is shrouded, and the moon is sent back to the people.

There is no hatred tonight, Qingxun came, Ye Baiting walked slowly along the long road.It's not so lonely, because he knows that although he is too busy to be with him all the time, the wind at this moment, the moon at this moment, and the scenery in their eyes are all the same.

As long as this case is solved, as long as it is solved...

Everything has an answer.

The following days are still very busy, just like countless daily routines in the past, there are new work content every day, and there are things that need to be analyzed and confirmed. Both sides of a case are being investigated, which happened many years ago. The details and clues are either not found, or they are very trivial, requiring a lot of energy to sort out and analyze.

Of course, he still has the support of the young master, who is the most reliable in this way, and can always give him more accurate directions and feedback in a timely manner.

I just didn’t expect that, I was looking into what happened 13 years ago, where did the so-called third prince come from, and how many things happened that winter night. People are closely connected...

There is no way, he still has to hold the palace card, and has to run into the imperial city for interviews from time to time.

It's just that he was more cautious this time, and reminded himself not to reveal himself from time to time. Even if he didn't ask about some things, he couldn't let others know what he was looking for. In just a few days, two pairs of shoes were worn out.

"Yo, Shen Qianhu, are you busy?"

While walking through the palace walls, Shen Jiang ran into Xichangchang Gongban and An.This is normal, other people are on errands in the palace, don't you just have the chance to meet them from time to time?It has been several times in succession. He had met Fu Lixing, female official Yin Mengqiu, and even Concubine You himself.

Ban and An were the same as R&F that day, carrying a bunch of things to Ningshou Palace, sweating slightly from the heat, the only difference was that R&F carried their own things that day, while Ban and An didn’t carry them by themselves. , followed by a row of little eunuchs, who should move what should be carried, and the little eunuchs will help.

He also greeted Shen Jiang with a smile: "What's the matter, do you need our help?"

Shen Jiang's response this time was even more perfect than last time, and he smiled impeccably: "Hey, I'm all busy, everything related to the case has to run away, and it won't be long, the Empress Dowager's health is the big deal, I have a little work in my hand Son, I dare not tire you out."

"You're still being polite to our family. It's hot these days, no matter who it is, go out for a walk, sweat can soak through your clothes, it's not easy to do things this day, our family is serious, just come and find anything," Ban and An took two steps forward and lowered her voice, "No matter what happened inside or outside the palace, or how many years ago, no one else knows as well as our family."

He patted Shen Jiang's shoulder, with a half-smile, which was quite meaningful: "Shen Qianhu, remember, our family is the one who is closest to the young master."

Shen Jiang also laughed, but he was sincere: "That is, what is your identity and what is your opinion? The young master and the commander have always trusted you, so it's settled, I will come to you for help later, you are not allowed to hide it." , I have something to say."

"Then our family will wait for Shen Qianhu."

"Don't worry, I will come to you later!"

Of course, Shen Jiang would not trust anyone casually. The nature of the case this time is different. Anyone may deliberately lead him to trick him, but he just thought it over clearly. It may not be a good thing to reject all of them and be vigilant. How about using them?

As the young master said, these people in the palace have many eyes and think too much, and they will exaggerate or lie about some things for their own benefit, but some things are not afraid of lying, they are afraid of comparison...

You can pretend to believe everyone!For the same matter, quietly and sincerely ask the east side, and then ask the west side, and see how they all answer. After comparing the two sides, isn’t there something?It doesn't matter if he can't analyze it by himself, write it down well and pass it back to the young master, won't the young master figure it out?

But don't ask too obvious, let others guess what he is looking for, it's better to ask out of marginal details, see what they give...

Furthermore, the previous commander also reminded that there are not only old foxes on the east and west sides of the palace, but also other smart old people, such as Eunuch Gao who is next to the emperor, who has been loyal to the emperor all the way, how could there be no goods in his stomach?

This man with the most discerning eyes has chosen to be with the emperor since he was a teenager. Years of experience and tests have proven his ability and loyalty. Now that the emperor's status is stable and his interests are related, he can no longer choose any Others followed, although he seemed to have been hiding in the palace all the time and had nothing to do with the forces of all parties, but did he really not know?

The commander and the emperor are on good terms, and I don't believe that Mr. Gao will not cooperate with the case handled by Jin Yiwei...

Knowing that Shen Jiang was busy, Qiu Yiqing reassigned him to help him with a lot of work, especially some difficult ones, such as determining whether the female officer Yin Mengqiu had evidence of pregnancy, for example, the behavior of Concubine You Taigui was just to fight for favor. , or did some accidents happen to me...

But it is still difficult to find out. There are too many dead people. If you get a little bit involved, you will find no such person. If you want to know the truth, you have to put in more effort.

However, there are still some unexpected gains.This matter has not yet had a definite result, and he found another clue. The female officer Yin Mengqiu had an affair with Xing Mingda, the first deceased in this case, 24 years ago.

Because there were too many things at hand, he couldn't make arrangements for a while, so he asked someone to pass the news to Ye Baiting, saying that if he was free, he could go to Xing's house to have a look.

When Ye Baiting received the news, he realized that something was wrong. This time is too sensitive, there is an affair, 24 years ago...wasn't it the year when the third prince was born?If you have an affair, you will meet in private, and you may be pregnant!

It's not that he thinks too much, if there are too many coincidences, it is no longer a coincidence, but deliberate.

If there was ever a child between the two, where is the child now and what would have made a difference to the incident?

Mrs. Han Ninghou's Mrs. Shan died in the palace. Behind her was the power of the Empress Dowager. Did she die because she knew something, or because she didn't know something?

Both Shen Jiang and Qiu Yiqing were busy. At this time, he was the only one who had a little leisure time, so he took someone to Xing's house and prepared to question the important people involved in this case. , Xing Mingda's wife, Tong's.

Now that the case has been investigated, he has met and questioned basically all the people involved, because these people are all in the palace, only Xing Mingda's wife Tong, if there is no summons from the palace, she will stay at home and watch her husband's funeral. Stay behind closed doors.

After the case happened, Shen Jiang came to ask for the first time, but because the time of the case was too short, Jin Yiwei didn't have enough clues, and the information he got was limited. Later, Shen Jiang also asked if he should ask Tong again. Both Qiu Yiqing and Qiu Yiqing felt that there were too many things at hand, and they were too busy for the time being. If they had more information and had a specific direction, they might learn more when they came back.

Ye Baiting had read the confession files already in hand, and Shen Jiang confirmed what the female officer Yin Mengqiu said, saying that the relationship between the couple was not close, and the distance was a bit far. Tong knew that her husband was promiscuous, but she didn't seem to mind. Death, she must have been panicked and sad at the time, but she didn't seem to be very sad afterwards...

Soon after arriving at Xing's house, Jin Yiwei went to knock on the door to deliver a message. Ye Baiting waited in front of the door. Not long after, the door was opened, and a porter came out to salute: "Young master, please come in. Our wife said that the main hall has been set up as a sacrificial hall for the master. It is convenient to meet guests, please go to the flower hall."

"it is good."

Ye Baiting walked through the gate, the screen wall, and the verandah, and saw white hangings everywhere in the mansion, the atmosphere was gloomy, and when he turned to the flower hall, he saw Tong Shi who was dressed in plain white, waiting for him with his hands down.

"Madam's condolences."

"Thank you for your comfort," Tong's fingers pointed to the side, "Please sit down, young master."

How to talk when you come here, what to talk about, what to test first, and what to confirm later, Ye Baiting had already rehearsed it in his mind on the way here, and said immediately: "To be honest, it's too late for me to come to the door today, I should have gone earlier. Come to pay respects and burn a stick of incense in the mourning hall."

Tong's eyebrows were slightly sideways, not quite understanding this sentence.

Ye Baiting looked at her face carefully, and said: "My father and Lord Xing are old friends."

"Old friend?" There was obvious surprise on Tong's face, perhaps aware of her loss of composure, she smiled lightly, trying to downplay the embarrassment, "I'm sorry, I have never heard the deceased husband mention it, and I lost my composure for a while, making the young master a joke."

Ye Baiting also smiled: "Ma'am, you don't need to be like this. I'm young, and I don't know how to speak smoothly. In fact, I'm not particularly close. It's just that many years ago, I was a classmate in the academy. At that time, my father and Mr. Xing were still very young. It’s normal for Madam not to know that there is no marriage, but Mr. Xing has close old servants around him? I’m afraid only such people can remember the year one or two.”

"It was so."

Tong's burden was relieved, and she said with a smile: "There is an old servant named Uncle Ji in the mansion. He has taken care of his deceased husband since he was a child, and he knows everything about him. I am really not familiar with the early things, so only he knows."

Ye Baiting's eyes moved slightly: "This Uncle Ji is in good health, is he still in the mansion?"

"He seems to be in good health, but after all, he is getting old. He was sent home to take care of him in the past two years. It should be in the east of the city..." Mrs. Tong held the tea, "Young master asked about this matter, but do you need to ask? If so, concubine I can-"

Ye Baiting shook his head: "I was just chatting just now, and it was also when I was leaving the house. Thinking of the past, I felt a little bit lost. Let's talk about the case. At the palace banquet that day, you had a quarrel with Mrs. Han Ninghou. What kind of person do you think she is?"

Tong's eyes drooped: "... poor man."

Pitiful?

Ye Baiting looked at her: "With Madam Hou's status, property and power, it seems that no matter where you put it, no one will be called 'poor'?"

"Why not pitiful?" The corners of Tong's mouth were slightly raised, as if ironic, "A dead man is at the mercy of others. There are rules for what he says and does, and he is not allowed to be free. Even before his death, his husband was never taken seriously. However, how much property and power can she use and rely on?"

Ye Baiting immediately understood that Tong's pitiful words were not only sighed by Shan, and it was not only Shan who was ironic, as if something hurt his own kind, it was alluding to himself.

He pondered for a moment, then asked again: "Master Xing... but he is not considerate enough to you?"

"It's not a matter of being considerate or inconsiderate. Being a husband and wife is just a way of living together," Tong's eyelashes drooped slightly, and he was very quiet. "It's boring to think too much. It's all hurt by yourself. Everyone comes here like this." Yes, everyone is the same."

Ye Baiting: "You know he has friends outside."

Tong's eyes twitched slightly: "That's quite a lot, they come and go, one is fresh today, and the other is seen tomorrow. Noisy, there is no way to tidy up the backyard in a majestic way, and tell the outsiders to see my skills... It's very boring."

"He's always been like this?"

"always like this."

"Since getting married?"

"It's been since we got married. But I was naive at that time, and I didn't know so much. Later, my heart slowly grew cold."

"24 years ago, you followed him as an official in the south of the Yangtze River. When the late emperor came to the south of the Yangtze River, he undertook many things. He was almost the most popular person in front of the late emperor."

"Yes."

"Madam, do you know that Mr. Xing has an affair with Yin Mengqiu, the maid at that time?"

Tong's fingertips trembled: "I am not..."

Ye Baiting had already seen her reaction: "Madam, don't say that you don't know, there are some things that cannot withstand investigation."

After a long time, Mrs. Tong sighed: "I know that you Jinyiwei are capable... But so what if you know, so many years have passed, and my husband died. Yin Mengqiu probably forgot about it long ago, and I don't want to remember it. It will only increase troubles." , What's the use of saying anything else?"

"I'm not familiar with Madam, but just from this conversation, I know that Madam has a clear mind and is a sensible person—do you really not know that this clue is very important to the case?"

Ye Baiting stared at Tong Shi: "No, you understand, you didn't say anything on purpose, probably not to help Yin Mengqiu reduce the suspicion, she had an affair with your husband, but you don't hate her, but you want to protect her?"

"How is it possible? She thinks beautifully! I just think this matter..."

Tong's slightly fast speech suddenly stopped, glanced at Ye Baiting, and stopped talking.

Ye Baiting knew that this was a sensitive issue for her. She didn't expect to gain something like this when she came this time, but it doesn't matter, if you don't talk about it, you always have something to say.

"Let's talk about what happened to the two of them back then."

Tong's pause just now was no longer giving Jin Yiwei any face, and if the other party asked other questions, even though she didn't like this topic very much, she didn't mind talking about it.

"You know how strict the rules are in the palace. My husband met Yin Mengqiu in the imperial palace earlier, but no matter whether he thought about it or not, he couldn't reach him. It was also after he went to the Jiangnan Palace, because he was running around in and out. Take care, contact more, then..."

Maybe a month or two later?

Ye Baiting quickly calculated the woman's pregnancy cycle in his mind, and asked, "Did the two of them ever have an affair with Duke Zhou?"

Tong almost couldn't help sneering: "Since we are good friends, this kind of thing will happen naturally. Could it be that the tryst is just talking?"

Ye Baiting stared at her expression, and asked again: "Then did they ever have a dark knot?"

With a move of Tong's hand, she accidentally knocked over the teacup. Fortunately, she had drunk the tea to the bottom just now, and it didn't cause too much dirt, so she quickly helped it up...

"This, how is such a thing possible! Is he crazy or is Yin Mengqiu crazy? This is a disaster for the palace. The emperor knows that he wants to confiscate the family and exterminate the family!"

……

Inner bank of Qingzhou, dock.

The lights are brightly lit all around, and people from one boat to the other, shirtless, are shouting, unloading boxes, and moving the ship. Some boxes are tightly sealed, and some boxes need to be opened for random inspection. The sharp and cold things, and the cold light under the moonlight, are all murderous weapons.

There were people who couldn't figure out the way all the time and asked the little leader in black in front of the team for directions. Everyone was very busy and the transfer speed was very fast.

The third prince moved a chair and sat on the highest part of the boat building, looking down at the lights below, he seemed very satisfied, he was holding a jug of wine in his hand, only half of the jug was left, and when he wanted to drink again, his hand was held down .

"Your health is critical, you can't drink anymore."

It was Jiang Jihong.

This time, the third prince didn't give him face, he didn't let go of the jug in his hand, and narrowed his eyes: "Don't think that you can control me because you have been with me the longest."

Jiang Jihong looked into his eyes and let go of his hand: "I dare not."

The atmosphere between the two was silent for a moment, and Jiang Jihong also looked at the lights below. The sound made by the rubbing of the boxes and weapons was not very pleasant, and it hurt the eardrums: "Although Jin Yiwei has some skills, we don't have to be so anxious... we need to wait a long time. opportunity."

The third prince: "This is the best time."

Jin Yiwei is a wolf, and if he smells something and bites, he will not move his mouth. Since he is investigating him, he will definitely find a result, and he will not let him go. This time, either they will die or he will die.

The third prince suddenly threw the jug on the ground, his eyes darkened: "It's time to decide the outcome, I'm lazy to play with them!"

After a moment of silence, Jiang Jihong asked, "Then when do you plan to do it? Before they finish the case, or after?"

"Of course later."

The third prince's scarlet tongue licked his lips: "Even I have to admit that Qiu Yiqing and Ye Baiting are quite talented in this field. I am also curious about the truth of the matter. Why...abandon me, why don't you want me?"

"The situation back then was complicated, it wasn't..."

The third prince ignored Jiang Jihong's words, his eyes were sullen and stubborn: "If I move first, what should I do if this pair of dogs and men don't want to solve the case? Wouldn't it be that I will never know the truth? That's a pity, why don't we participate in this event as much as we want?" A great event to make this ending even more beautiful!"

While talking, he seemed to think of something funny, suddenly smiled, hooked his fingers together, and let Jiang Jihong approach him, and whispered something in his ear.

Jiang Jihong's eyes widened: "No! This is absolutely not possible!"

The third prince changed his face in an instant: "Find out your identity, Jiang Jihong, who are you, and who am I? If I say yes, I will."

He straightened his clothes, stood still with the most standard and elegant gentleman's stance, looked into the distance, with a flame of refusal to admit defeat burning in his eyes: "I am the real dragon emperor, and I should be the final winner!"

The same night, the same moonlight, some people are tirelessly busy, some people are only busy going crazy, and some people hide in the dark, creating murderous events that others cannot see.

On the edge of the imperial city, under the cover of the high palace wall, another person died.