Criminal investigation in ancient times

After the evaluation of several subordinate counties, Zhang Rui made evaluations one by one based on the tax revenue, people's living standards, and business development of each county.

Among them, the best one is Qiuhe County.Since the replacement of Qiuhe county magistrate, the trusted county magistrate timidly organized Qiuhe County in a very orderly manner. After Tongzhou suppressed the bandits, Qiuhe County was the first county to benefit, and many businessmen came and went. Trading, and occasionally seeing many traders from foreign countries, has driven the economic development of Qiuhe County, and the people have many ways to make a living.

After Zhang Rui and his party arrived in Qiuhe County, the most intuitive feeling is that whether they are farmers or merchants, they are neatly dressed, the streets are clean, and there are many shops of all sizes on both sides. When they look at the bustling people, prosperity pops into their minds. Prosperity four words.

The new county magistrate of Qiuhe was named Gao, who was originally the magistrate of Qiuhe County. After Zhang Rui dealt with Feng Bao, the former magistrate of Qiuhe County, he promoted him to be the county magistrate.Looking at it now, this person is also a talent.

County magistrate Gao had already known that Zhang Rui and the others were coming, and after waiting for several days, they finally arrived. He personally went to the gate of the city to welcome them back to the mansion, and booked a nice banquet.

This Qiuhe county government office was resplendent and resplendent when Feng Bao was alive, and it looked like a palace.Later, Gao Liang sent people to take a few rests to tidy up unnecessary things, and it looked much more simple and looked like a government office.

After Zhang Rui arrived at the government office and finished his meal, Gao Liang arranged him in the best inn in the county, and specially ordered the inn to be considerate.The innkeeper learned that it was a big man who came, so he worked hard to serve them in every way.It's the most comfortable and peaceful day I've ever had.

It’s already mid-August, and the weather is getting hotter and hotter. The temperature difference between day and night in Tongzhou is huge. It’s too hot to go out during the day, and it’s a bit cold at night under the quilt.

After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms. Zhang Rui and Zhou Yin were still in the same room. The two of them seemed to be used to sleeping in each other's arms.Occasionally, Zhou Yin's hands and feet were dishonest, and the two touched each other and did not do anything out of the ordinary.

Upstairs, Xiaoer filled the bathtub with warm water and retreated.Sweating all over during the day, it is refreshing to wash at night.

Zhou Yin lit the candlestick, picked up a book and read it.

Zhang Rui took off his clothes and put on only a pair of obscene pants, and stepped into the bathtub.The obscene pants are white, and they become transparent when soaked in water, and the spring is endless when you look around.

Although Zhou Yin said he was looking at the book, his gaze had already drifted to Zhang Rui.Because you can only see the smooth shoulders through the wooden barrel, the more you can't see it, the more itchy and unbearable, your head is full of his naked appearance, suddenly you feel a little unsteady, your heart is beating like it is beating in your ears, and your face is red. .

Zhou Yin felt hot all over, and couldn't help moving his body. When he got up, he accidentally moved the stool under him, rubbing against the ground and making a harsh "squeak" sound.

Zhang Rui turned his head, and the two looked at each other. Zhou Yin felt his nose was warm, so he hurriedly reached out to touch it and saw that there was no nosebleed, so he was relieved.With a steady mind, he walked towards him. "When will you wash it?" His voice was hoarse.

Zhang Rui raised his eyebrows and said, "Immediately, if you want to wash..."

Zhou Yin reached out and hooked his neck, brought him to the bucket, and kissed him.The wet lips are soft and delicious, the tongues are pried open and the teeth are intertwined and swimming in each other's mouths. Zhou Yin licks his palate lightly, Zhang Rui can't help but hum, his hands tightly clutching his waist, he can only feel the water in the bucket The water is getting colder and the body is getting hotter.

"Clattering" accompanied by the sound of water, Zhang Rui hugged his shoulders and stood up. The water on his body soaked Zhou Yin's clothes, and he tore Zhou Yin's clothes impatiently, revealing his pale body inside.

Zhou Yin's eyes dimmed, and he hugged him out of the barrel with all his strength, hanging his legs on his sides, supporting his buttocks against the wall, and the two of them kissed blindly...

The sky thunder hits the ground, and it is about to explode.At the last moment, Zhou Yin stopped panting and said, "No...you...you haven't grown up yet, if I want you now, it will be bad for you in the future."

Zhang Rui leaned on him and laughed, flicked the little brother under him and said, "Then how do you solve this?"

Zhou Yin smiled wryly: "What else can I do, just bear with it."

Zhang Rui stretched his hand in, squeezed it, and Zhou Yin gasped in shock, and the job became rough again.

Zhou Yin said in a hoarse voice, "Don't move around, do you think this king wants you?"

Zhang Rui leaned to his ear: "How about I get it out for you with my hands."

Zhou Yin paused for breath and nodded slightly.

Zhang Rui secretly said in his heart: I think my brother came here in the same way at the beginning, the fifth girl's life is definitely good.

***

It has been more than two months since I left Qiuhe County and returned to Tongzhou Prefecture. I left in June and didn’t come back until nearly September.The summer in Tongzhou is short, the weather has gradually cooled down, the sky is high and the clouds are light, the people watching are refreshing.

The official road from Qiuhe County to Tongzhou has been bustling since it was rested, and there are three or four caravans along the way, most of which pass through Tongzhou to the west.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Rui and Zhou Yin suddenly talked about the salt merchants in the south of the Yangtze River.

Zhou Yin: "A while ago there was news in Beijing that An Yunsheng, who was sent to investigate the taxation of salt merchants, was murdered by his wife."

Zhang Rui frowned and said: "If I remember correctly, the previous Sun Zhan who went to Jiangzhou to investigate the salt merchants also resigned. Could it be that the salt merchants can't be touched?"

Zhou Yin: "I'm afraid it has something to do with the First Prince."

Zhang Rui: "Prince? Jiangzhou salt merchants tax tens of millions of taels of silver every year, accounting for one-third of the national treasury's tax revenue. If it is not handled properly, it may shake the foundation of the country."

Zhou Yin said with dark eyes: "That's true, the eldest prince is getting more and more uncontrollable now, and has killed two officials sent by the emperor to Jiangzhou in a row. If he is so stubborn, the emperor will soon lose patience with him. "

Zhang Rui frowned and said: "I always feel that this matter is strange. It is said that the emperor is not strong anymore, and the eldest prince is in his prime. The second prince is nearly ten years younger than him. Once the emperor... the eldest prince will definitely be embraced." As the emperor, there is no need to make unnecessary moves and start seizing power now."

Zhou Yin wanted to shake his head: "You don't understand. If you have met the eldest prince, you will know that he is suspicious by nature and will take revenge. I am about the same age as him. We grew up together when we were young. We used to pay tribute to the Northwest. He still remembers the dispute over a horse he owns. Last year, after the emperor’s birthday, he told me that he had transported [-] horses from the northwest and asked me to choose one. It's satirizing my fight with him when I was young."

Zhang Rui sighed: "I didn't expect him to have such a temperament, what about the second prince?"

Speaking of the second prince, Zhou Yin showed admiration and said, "Yongzheng is close to me. Although he is young, he is scheming and courageous. He is experienced and tactful. Of the two princes, I prefer the second one."

Zhang Rui: "Where are the other princes? Speaking of which, why don't these princes go to their fiefs? Don't you also have fiefs?"

Zhou Yin: "I was unable to get out of the capital because of poisoning on my body, and I was able to leave the capital smoothly this time when I met Dr. He. As for the other princes, the third prince has stayed in the capital for so many years and has never responded. I am afraid that he is planning to stay in the capital." He has been retired for retirement, but his two sons were sent out of the capital early and stayed in the fief for education. They return to Beijing once a year. As for the fifth prince, the emperor thinks highly of him, and he manages many major affairs in the court. He should not leave the capital. Myna Ninth brother... I can't say well about the two of them, but I always feel that there may be some purpose for the two of them not to leave Beijing..."

Zhang Ruidao: "Neither the Eighth Prince nor the Ninth Prince has ever married, have they?"

Zhou Yin nodded: "Myna's liking for male sex is already known to everyone in Beijing, and the daughter of a good man will definitely not be sent to mess with him. As for Brother Ninth, he loves painting like an idiot and rarely goes out."

Zhang Rui: "In this way, the prince who stayed in the capital was not deliberately stayed in the capital by the emperor, but he really didn't want to go to the fiefdom, right?"

Zhou Yin: "It should be like this..."

Now the emperor's health fluctuates from good to bad, and when he is bad, he can't get down on the bed, and he is alive and kicking again in a few days, and the imperial doctors in the palace are almost scared out of their hearts by him.

But overall, the emperor's health is indeed getting worse year after year.It may be that the worse a person's health is, the more he is afraid of death. These days, he has become obsessed with cultivating immortals again. He got back the alchemy robe that had been cleared out, and re-invited the Sanqing offering statue.He also invited the old man named Yuanbao Tianzun down from the mountain, and spent a lot of money to build a Taoist temple in Kyoto.

Since the Taoist temple was built, the emperor didn't even go to court. He only burned incense and made alchemy every day, and meditated to cultivate immortality.Seeing that the ministers below were very worried, they were turned back even after submitting several papers, and only the Fifth Prince went to the palace to persuade him a few times.The emperor humbly agreed, and he really did what he should do afterwards, and he didn't listen to persuasion at all.

***

Zhang Rui and his party finally rushed back to Tongzhou at the end of August. When they were about to reach the city of Tongzhou, there was a sudden strong wind, which made people unable to open their eyes.The horse neighed and refused to move forward, so Zhan Qing had to get out of the carriage and lead the horse forward.

"Hula!" A gust of wind lifted the curtain of the carriage, and the clothes of Zhou Yin and Zhang Rui in the carriage were blown into mess.

Duan Xiaobai, who was walking behind on a horse, was also unable to move forward. He covered his face with his wide sleeves, squinted his eyes, jumped off the horse and stepped forward, saying: "My lord, the wind is too strong, so I can't walk."

Zhang Rui said loudly: "Why don't we find a place sheltered from the wind to rest and wait for the wind to subside before moving forward."

Zhan Qing nodded, and pulled the carriage towards an earth temple in the distance.

When the carriage arrived in front of the temple, it was discovered that the temple was dilapidated, half of the roof had collapsed, and half of the wall had collapsed on the side.But at least they could still shelter from the wind, so a few people got out of the carriage and walked to the leeward side of the Earth Temple to take shelter.

Zhou Yin patted the dust on his body and said, "Why is there such a strong wind suddenly?"

Zhang Rui: "This Tongzhou has always been like this. The Kyushu Chronicle also said that Tongzhou will be windy every autumn, and it will be fine after this season."

Zhou Yin saw that his hair was blown messy, with a few grass clippings on the tip of his hair, couldn't help laughing, and hooked his fingers to let him come over.

Zhang Rui walked to Zhou Yin in doubt.

Zhou Yin took his head and picked off the grass clippings and said, "I don't know when the wind will stop. If it doesn't stop at night, we will sleep in the open in this temple."

Zhang Rui: "Why not, anyway, I will always go to Tongzhou tomorrow..."

"Ah!!!!!!" A sudden ear-piercing scream startled the two of them, and hurried over to have a look.

It turned out that Lin Xiaoze entered the temple at some unknown time, and he was pale and trembling, pointing inside and said, "Then...there is a corpse!!!!"

corpse? !How could there be a corpse all of a sudden?Zhang Rui went in and took a look, and sure enough there was a dead body sitting in the corner. The dead body had been dead for a long time but hadn't decomposed, because the ventilation in the temple made the person look like a mummy.

Zhang Rui reached out to grope around the corpse, and found a bag of silver from the corpse, with a jade pendant hanging around his waist. It looked like this person was definitely not dressed like an ordinary person.

Duan Xiaobai looked at the side and said: "My lord, this person should know martial arts."

Zhang Rui: "Oh? Where did you see it?"

Duan Xiaobai pointed to his hands and said: "There are calluses on the palm and fingertips of the right hand, but there are no calluses on the other hand because it was honed with a sword for a long time, and my hand is also like this."

Zhang Rui took a closer look and nodded, "Indeed, why did this person die here? And there are no obvious injuries on this person. He Ming, come and take a look."

He Ming came over, looked up and down, and suddenly found that there was a small wound on the man's neck, which would not have been found without careful inspection, and the dirt around the wound seemed to be a sign of poisoning. "Judging from the dehydration of the body, this person should have been dead for more than a month, my lord, there is a wound here, which may be fatal."

Zhang Rui squatted down and looked, and sure enough, there was a thin wound on the neck of the deceased. The wound was too small to be noticed by everyone. "Xiao Bai Zhanqing, see if you can identify what kind of weapon it was injured by?"

Duan Xiaobai shook his head and said: "It looks like a hidden weapon, but I don't know what kind of hidden weapon it is."

Zhan Qing also looked at it silently for a while and said, "I don't think it's a hidden weapon, but was scratched by a sharp weapon..."

He Ming: "This person died here due to poisonous hair. You can see that his wound is black and purple, and his fingernails are black, and his skin is dull."

Lin Xiaoze suddenly said: "Rui'er, what do you see in his arms?"

Zhang Rui was stunned to see an abrupt corner in the inner shirt of the corpse. He stretched out his hand and lifted the clothes, and took out a sealed letter from his arms. Nothing was written on the envelope, and the mouth of the letter was sealed with wax!After thinking for a while, Zhang Rui put the letter up and looked outside. The wind outside had stopped at some point, "Take the body back to Tongzhou City."

On the way back, Zhang Rui, Zhou Yin, He Ming and the others crowded into one carriage, and the other carried the corpse. Because they were afraid of another wind blowing on the road, they rushed back to Tongzhou City in less than an hour.

After entering the city, Zhang Rui let out a sigh of relief. After these two months, he felt extremely tired, not physically, but mentally.It is difficult to be an official, and it is even more difficult to be an official who serves the people!Now I can't say that I am a good official, but I can say that I have done my duty!

Uncle Han waited at the door early, and when he saw the carriage came back, he hurried over and said, "Master, you are back! This house is about to be demolished by those two children!" He opened the curtain and was stunned, swallowing his saliva He said to Zhan Qing who was next to him: "Guard Zhan... Where is our young master?"

Zhan Qing smiled and pointed to the carriage behind.Lao Han hurriedly ran over and opened the curtain to see that Zhang Rui was sitting in the car safe and sound, he was relieved and said, "Why is there still a dead body on the car?! This old slave is scared to death!"

Zhang Rui said helplessly: "I met them on the road, so I brought them back."

Old Han muttered: "Young Master, why dare to pick up everything back..."

Everyone got out of the car, Hu Zi and Qing Luo ran out, Hu Zi bared his teeth and said with a grin: "Your Excellency, you can come back, I miss you so much!"

Zhang Rui raised his eyebrows and said, "What do you miss me? Miss my money?"

Huzi stuck out his tongue with a smile and said, "How dare you, the little one is still counting on the promotion of the adults."

Zhang Ruidao: "That's just right, now we want to check the identity of a person, if you find out the identity of this person, I will promote you to be an employee, and you will get a salary of one or two per month."

Huzi was taken aback and said, "Are you serious about what your lord said?!"

Zhang Ruidao: "Of course it's true, when did this officer deceive you?"

Huzi: "I don't know who your lord wants me to investigate?"

Zhang Rui pointed to the carriage in front of him, and Hu Zi happily ran over, lifted the curtain and sat down on the ground with a thump in fright, and said with a mournful face, "Master, sir, do you want me to investigate this dead man?" Zhang Rui nodded head.

Huzi wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and nodded heavily: "Okay! I will definitely find out for the adults! You just wait to fulfill your promise." Qing Luo covered his eyes and looked at the people in the car through his fingers, frightened With a pale face, he hurriedly followed everyone into the mansion.