Placid Chang'an

Coming out of Zhang He's residence, Su Cen was even more puzzled.

It was Liu Zhen again.

At the beginning, the secret assassin caught in the old man Tian’s case said that Liu Zhen was the murderer. Later, many clues also pointed to Liu Zhen. The hazelnut powder in Tian Pingzhi’s food was made by people around him. Liu Zhen would pay tribute to the courtyard every February. After a trip, now Zhang He told him that Liu Yu handed in a blank paper back then.

It's no wonder that Liu Zhen's test papers from that year were not found in the warehouse of the Ministry of Rites. Liu Zhen did not write a single word on the policy theory of the test, so a blank piece of paper will naturally not be kept on file.

An official from a poor family, who studied hard for twenty years in the cold window, went all the way to the emperor's feet in the college and country examinations, but handed in a blank paper in the last policy.Did he already know that he would be the No. [-] scholar by default, or was it really like what Zhang He said, because he killed someone and couldn't hold the pen anymore.

Then why did he kill Tian Pingzhi?

If he was jealous of Tian Pingzhi's talent and learning, he was afraid that he would take away his champion, but the two of them were equally knowledgeable and cherished each other.Judging from the two lines of Tian Pingzhi's poem, he still has some admiration for Liu Zhen. Could it be that Liu Zhen was overwhelmed by the disturbance, so he poisoned and killed people?

It was only when Su Cen stopped that he realized that he was already standing at the gate of the Gongyuan. When he looked up, the two vermilion lacquered gates were closed tightly, and there were few saddle horses in front of the gate, just like a year ago.

Only a few neatly arranged tables and chairs in front of the door and a faded "Tian" flag were missing.

He suddenly remembered that when he came out early after finishing his answer, he drank a bowl of sugar water at Uncle Tian's place.At that time, the two also talked about Liu Zhen. Old man Tian mentioned that when the young man who handed in the paper a day earlier was now an official in Zhongshuling, he had a peaceful face and no grievances. He also predicted that he would have great success in the future. promising.

Thinking about it now, old man Tian should have known Liu Zhen early in the morning. He is a good friend of his son and also an outstanding young man. He should be really happy that Liu Zhen can achieve today's achievements.

Now it seems that he is a little glad that old man Tian left early. If he knew that his son's death was inseparable from Liu Zhen, he didn't know how he would feel.

I remember that when Old Man Tian was instigated to kill people, he said that Tian Pingzhi was killed because he "offended the people in the court" and "saw something he shouldn't have seen". , so far it seems that it is the only one that explains why Tian Pingzhi was murdered.

So who is this person?What did Tian Pingzhi see?What does this matter have to do with Liu Zhen?

If you can ask Liu Zhen face to face, some problems may be solved easily.It's just that Liu Yu is now the prime minister of a country, an extremely personable minister, and backed by the Queen Mother of Chu. Without solid evidence, he really can't move him.

And what he has now, a set of white bones, guessing alone, the only piece of evidence was burned by Feng Yiming, not to mention Liu Zhen, he couldn't even convince himself.

To restore the truth of this old case, there is a long way to go.

Just as he was in a daze, someone patted his shoulder from behind. Su Cen was startled and turned his head abruptly, only to see that the person who came was an unfamiliar face, with a rich but innocent face. He cupped his hands at Su Cen, " My master invites Mr. Su to come over."

"Do you recognize me?" Su Cen frowned. This person called him Mr. Su. Naturally, he had known him for a long time, so he changed the question: "Who is your master?"

The man didn't answer, he just said: "Master Su will know when he's gone."

This is because he was determined to take him there, Su Cen immediately became vigilant, he had offended Zhang He so much just now, could it be that Zhang He came to his senses and wanted to deal with him now?Or someone had insight into his behavior these past few days and wanted to take him to some remote place to silence him.

Mr. Su's practice makes perfect. He has become a good doctor after a long illness. He has been kidnapped and kidnapped a lot. He has a lively mind and rich experience. He has already figured out a countermeasure in the blink of an eye.Not counting the difference in strength between him and this fat white man, this place is located near the imperial city, with a vast land and few people, and the nearest place to call for help is the guard of the imperial city.

And it was still a mile or two to get to the guarded place from here, so he had to find a way to lure people there.

Su Cen asked, "Where is your master now?"

The man turned around and led the way, "Lord Su, just follow me."

He was walking in the direction Su Cen was going.

Seeing that there were still a hundred steps away from the city gate, Su Cen saw the opportunity to push the person, and ran forward desperately.Looking back while running, the man was pushed by him to eat shit, and now he is getting up and chasing and cursing.Su Cen didn't care to listen to what he was scolding, and looked at Chengmen Lang at the door from a distance, and was overjoyed, and moved forward with all his strength.When he got close, he grabbed Chengmenlang's arm, as if grabbing a life-saving straw.

Just as Su Cen was about to catch his breath, he was about to open his mouth when he saw the tall and straight Chengmen Lang looking behind him suspiciously: "Eunuch Cao, what's going on?"

Su Cen's mind was blank, and he turned around in a daze, only to see that the person before him had also chased him up, and now he was out of breath while running on his knees, an orchid pointed at Su Cen and shook a few times, his voice came again Sharp and thin: "This is the person whom the Empress Dowager is looking for by name. If you don't eat a toast, you won't be fined. Hurry up and arrest him!"

Su Cen stared blankly at the rope that suddenly appeared in Chengmen Lang's hand, then hurriedly let go and took two steps back, "Brother, listen to my explanation..."

In the end, Su Cen was sent to Qingning Palace by two guards. Although he repeatedly said that he would not run away again, the eunuch seemed to be deaf by being pushed, and turned a deaf ear to what Su Cen said with a cold face. The upper nose and the lower first two lines of nosebleeds are especially funny.

It wasn't until Su Cen was released in front of the gate of Qingning Palace that the eunuch finally answered him again: "My master is waiting for you inside, immediately kneel down after entering, don't raise your head, don't look directly at my master's face."

Su Cen responded verbally, but rolled her eyes in her heart, "my master" "my master" even here, who doesn't know who your master is?

After entering, he knelt down on the spot. It was still the floor tile with five bats holding his birthday. Su Cen stared at half a cup of tea, and finally there was a movement inside.

Someone came slowly and sat down in front of Su Cen, a cool and pleasant voice sounded from above Su Cen's head: "Do you know why the Ai family called you here today?"

No matter what happened, he was already here, so he could only say: "Please make it clear, Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager Chu smiled softly, and said, "The Ai family asked you to return the favor."

Su Cen was taken aback, and suddenly remembered that he was young and frivolous during the court examination, and openly contradicted Li Shi in the Hanyuan Hall, and was almost pulled out in court and killed with a stick, and it was the Empress Dowager who relieved him.

Afterwards, the Empress Dowager Chu also admitted that he was the number one scholar hand-picked by her, she saved his life, and he owed her the favor of knowing him.

Empress Dowager Chu said: "I heard that you are investigating an old case?"

Su Cen was startled, no matter how careful he was, he still couldn't hide it from these people's eyes and ears, so he nodded slightly and could only agree.

"Where did you find it?"

The people of the Empress Dowager Chu found him at the gate of the Gongyuan, so they knew his whereabouts well. Su Cen said truthfully: "Tian Pingzhi's asthma was caused by eating food containing hazelnut powder, and Zhang He, the chief examiner of the scientific examination, It was regarded as a sudden death and ordered to be buried alive. In addition, Zhang He also revealed one thing, that during the policy discussion, Liu Xiang’s test paper did not change a single word, and what he handed in was a blank paper.”

The Empress Dowager Chu thought about it, "Do you think it was Liu Zhen who killed Tian Pingzhi?"

"Currently speaking, Liu Xiang is the most suspected," Su Cen pursed his lips lightly, and spoke carefully, "I will never forget the empress dowager's kindness, but if the queen mother wants to exchange this favor for Liu Xiang, I'm afraid Forgive me. This case is not my case alone, and more than one person has died because of this case. Human life is at stake, and I cannot be the master."

"What a Su Cen, how courageous!" The Empress Dowager Chu raised her eyes and slapped the table, she was about to go into a rage, she was silent for a moment, but she raised her lips and smiled again, "The Ai family just wanted to test you, Let's see if you are still the Su Cen who 'will die for the sake of the world', you really did not disappoint Aijia."

Su Cen's doubts gradually arose, before he could figure it out, the Empress Dowager Chu said again: "The Ai family will not exchange this favor for Liu Zhen, but the truth with you. From now on, the Ai family will order you to take full responsibility for this case. Be sure to investigate and get to the bottom of it, you feel free to investigate, if someone obstructs you, you will be punished for not complying with the order."

Finally, he bit hard and said: "This is true for Zhang He, and it is also true for Liu Zhen."

Su Cen frowned, Empress Dowager Chu would not protect Liu Zhen, but let him let go to investigate to the end.He was a little uncertain about the meaning of the Empress Dowager Chu's words, and he froze in place for a while, not knowing how to reply.

"Why?" Empress Dowager Chu chuckled, "Don't dare to investigate?"

Su Cen pursed her lips. This case must be investigated after all. It is better to investigate openly than secretly. Since the Empress Dowager Chu is willing to be his backer, why not?

Su Cen kowtowed: "I accept the decree, thank you."