"Do you think this is related to the case in Shanyin County?" Zheng Cao stretched out his hand and patted the piece of paper.

  "Hmm." Mr. Yuan nodded, "I just can't think of what hidden situation is in between and how they are connected. Has there been any news from Shanyin County?"

  "Not yet, we're only realizing now. If there's really something hidden, the person who knows might have already been caught by the authorities and is now in their grasp. It's too late to investigate now..." Zheng Fu's face was full of worry.

  Shan Yin County's case, if it were just the abbot privately consorting with the xiucai's wife and killing a young monk without friends or relatives, could it have reached the attention of the provincial governor?

  Lin Mingsheng is not the kind of person who shirks responsibility, even in normal times, according to his temperament, he wouldn't have bothered to report such a small case to the Commander's Mansion, let alone now when the whole city of Hangzhou is busy celebrating the New Year, and all that can be delayed or slowed down in the Waterworks Office has been, the same must be true for the Commander's Mansion and the Prefectural Office...

  What's behind this case?

  Zheng Cuo and Mr. Yuan were sitting opposite each other, looking worried and frowning, when suddenly there was a rapid footsteps outside, a servant loudly reported, a guard rushed in, sweating all over, kneeling on one knee, "Reporting to Zheng Cuo, at dawn, in the Creek Mouth Town of Hengshan County, a female corpse was found, it was discovered by a charcoal delivery footman, and someone recognized her as Zhao Zhengshi, the wife of Zhao Hongqing from Creek Mouth Town, who had been missing for one day and two nights."

  Zheng Cuo and Mr. Yuan jumped up together. They both looked at the small piece of paper on the table with Zhao Hongqing's name written on it.

  Yuan's face gradually darkened as he stepped back and motioned for the guard to withdraw, "Dong Gong, tell me again, what did the Magistrate say about that case?"

  "Luosai said that a case of injuring the wind and customs, only sandwiched with human life in between." Zhengsaosi repeated what Luosai had originally said.

  Mr. Yuan furrowed his brow, pondering for a moment, and slightly bowed his head to look at Zheng Zuo, "Sir Dong, my intention is to wait and see, and ignore it!"

  Zheng Cuo was taken aback.

  "Dong Weng, this case, I've thought it over and over again. First, it's definitely not that the abbot had an affair with a woman and killed a young monk, it's not that simple. Lin Xian Si is a responsible person, but he reported it to the Provincial Governor's office, which means he can't handle this case himself."

  Zheng Cuo nodded ceaselessly, he also felt this way.

  "This case must be extremely serious, we'd better not get involved, not only can't we intervene, but also need to retreat and avoid suspicion. Secondly, since the news has reached the Commander's Mansion, Master Dong doesn't have to worry too much, General Luo is always fair, besides, there's still the Mingtao Mountain Villa behind, no one will dare to make a move."

  Zheng Cuo hummed, took a deep breath, raised his eyes and saw the paper again, slightly furrowed his brow, pushed the paper away, looked at Mr. Yuan, who picked up the paper, glanced at it for a moment, "Dong Gong, this matter is quite interesting. In Hengshan County, there is a fifth brother, very close to the prince's son and others. This case, my intention is that just looking at it will do."

  "Good!" Zheng Cao thought for a moment, lightly patted the table and responded with relish.

  Mr. Yuan picked up the already cooled strong tea and slowly drank a few mouthfuls, looking at Zheng Cuo who was standing up to leave, "This matter, after all, we know about it, but not handling it is also not good... Cuo, I think this way, let's have someone send that Hou Qi who came knocking on the door, and this piece of paper, to General Lu. The matter involves Wu Tong, Wu Tong is Li Wenshan's long-time follower, Li Wenshan is Prince Wang's study companion, it should be handed over to General Lu."

  "Alright." Zheng Cao stopped and thought for a moment, also feeling that this was a very reasonable thing to do. He agreed with a nod, called Ma San in, and gave the order.

  ………………

  Lu Yi took the paper from Ma San's hand, his face stern, and ordered that Hou Qi be taken away and locked up for a few days. He himself carried the paper into the small study, where he met the gaze of Qin Wang and Jin Qianyan, feeling extremely embarrassed. "It was the Grain Transport Office, they sent someone with a note saying they saw Wutong trading with someone..."

  Jin Zheyan took a step forward, snatched the small piece of paper with Zhao Hongqing's name on it, Qin Wang was stunned, pointing at Lu Yi, staring with his eyes but couldn't say a word, Lu Yi spread out his hands, "The bait that was thrown out has been sent back in its original form."

  Three people looked at each other in dismay, Jin Zuo spoke first with a burst of laughter, "General Lu, the family's traditional craftsmanship hasn't been learned well."

  "It's not that Zheng Yuanzhi is unskilled, he's a clever person, or rather, he has clever people around him." Qin Wang sighed and narrowed his eyes, still fond of clever people.

  ………………

  Kuo Sheng rushed back to Hengshan County overnight. The next day, before dawn, the discovery of a female corpse outside Xikou Town was reported to the Hengshan County government.

  Wu County Wei heard that the female corpse was found outside a brothel in Xiguan Town, and he was quite surprised. That brothel is a den of thieves, this person must have been killed by them. This case has come out, Li Xueming's crime will be even greater.

  Magistrate Li listened to the report, still quite calm. Although murder cases were not common, they couldn't be said to never happen either. Thinking about investigating and pursuing the killer, Magistrate Li felt a thrill of excitement. He had read many stories about amazing detectives, and after savoring the flavor of those stories, he thought he could also solve cases pretty well. Now was his chance to show off his skills.

  Magistrate Li dressed neatly, hastily came out, stepped into the front hall, and hurriedly shouted to Chen Shiye, "Mr. Chen! Let's go! We must hurry over and take a look."

  Magistrate Chen was talking to Guo Sheng when he heard the county magistrate's summons. He smiled wryly at Guo Sheng and said in a low voice, "The county magistrate probably thinks you haven't returned yet. This murder case, I'm afraid I won't be able to go. My nerves are weak, and if I see a corpse, I'll be sleepless for one or two months."

  Guo Sheng nodded and came out to greet County Magistrate Li, bowing his hands: "County Master, I'm back. I'll accompany you there. Mr. Chen still has some matters to attend to regarding the grain taxes, so he may not be able to go with us."

  Magistrate Li hesitated for a moment and smiled: "Or else, regarding the money and grain..."

  "In the past year and in the future, matters of money and grain are even more important, not a single mistake can be made." Guo Sheng understood the implied meaning behind County Magistrate Li's words and blocked it with one sentence.

  "It's settled then, let's go! The coroner? Wu County Magistrate? Everyone's here, hurry up!" Li County Magistrate gave a spirited glance around, and led Guo Sheng, Wu County Magistrate, the coroner, and a group of yamen runners to mount their horses, rushing straight for Xiguan Town.

  We must hurry to investigate the scene, the famous minister will make a judgment based on the clues left behind. The earlier we arrive at the scene, the better.

  Guo Sheng and Wu County Magistrate each had their own thoughts, closely following the fearless and ignorant, only behind the excited and agitated Li County Magistrate, soon arrived at the outside of that temple in Xiguan Town.

  Still far away, I saw a large crowd of people crowded together, bustling and noisy, like a temple fair, with several vendors in the middle shouting to sell cakes, fruits and peanuts.

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