Criminal investigation in ancient times

Zhang Rui: "Hey, isn't this the way back to the inn?"

Zhou Yin nodded and said: "Go back and ask Zhanqing to help us find Fengxuan. He is familiar with the boss of Tianxianglou. With his help, we can get twice the result with half the effort." He hurried back to the inn and called Zhanqing and Duan Xiaobai over. Let the two of them go to find Fengxuan.

Zhan Qing was surprised and said: "Young Master Feng is also in Jiangzhou, didn't he go to Yangzhou?"

Zhou Yin nodded: "It's a long story, you go to him first, he visited the inn yesterday, he must be staying at the Jiangzhou inn now, you two go to find out." Zhan Qing and Duan Xiao Bai nodded and before the two of them walked out of the inn, Feng Xuan came unexpectedly.

Feng Xuan came in hurriedly, sat down at the table, poured a cup of tea and drank it and said, "Zhou Yin, I have something to ask you for help."

Zhou Yin smiled and said: "Coincidentally, I also want to ask you for help." The two looked at each other as if there was something in the words.

Zhang Rui always felt that there was something between the two that he didn't know, coughed twice and said, "Then let's talk as we go." Zhou Yin nodded, Feng Xuan raised his eyebrows and walked out of the inn first.

Zhan Qing said: "My lord, do I want to go with you?"

Feng Xuan said from the outside: "What do you think will happen if the prince walks with me?"

Zhan Qing was speechless and could only nod and retreat.

Zhang Rui: "You... and Xiao Bai secretly investigated the matter of private salt. I suspect that some of the salt merchants may be reselling private salt." Zhan Qing arched his hands and left the inn with Duan Xiaobai.

The three of them left the inn, Feng Xuan walked in front with his arms folded, Zhou Yin and Zhang Rui followed behind him.

Feng Xuan said: "You are looking for me to investigate the matter of the salt merchant."

Zhang Rui nodded and said, "It is indeed for this matter."

Feng Xuan: "Does the lord think he can be richer than a salt merchant?"

Zhou Yin frowned: "What do you mean by that?"

Feng Xuan smiled and said: "Literally, you also know that it costs money to ask for news in Tianxiang Building, but it costs more money to keep the news, and the secrets of the salt merchants cost a lot of money." of."

Zhang Ruidao: "Is there no other way?"

Feng Xuan stretched out his hand and waved it: "Isn't it because of me? Tianjiao and I are old friends. Even if she won't sell you the news, she will still give me a three-pointer."

Zhou Yin snorted and said, "Then what is your condition?"

Feng Xuan turned around and looked at Zhou Yin and said, "I want my lord to do me a favour, help me spread the news that Du's family has Qi Yuheng."

Zhou Yin was stunned and said: "That thing is in Du's house?!"

Feng Xuan: "That's right! I've secretly gone to Du's house to inquire several times, but I couldn't find him. But... everyone in the world knows that the Twelve Princes are not in good health. If you come to ask for Yuheng, you will definitely attract many people." No matter whether the news is true or not, he will show up."

Zhou Yin said: "This is indeed a good way, so that he has to reveal his identity, but what if someone else gets this thing first?"

Feng Xuan: "Then you don't have to worry about it, you just need to spread the news, and I will do the rest."

Zhang Rui listened to the words of the two in a daze and said, "What Qi Yuheng, the Du family, why can't I understand at all?"

Zhou Yin explained to him the origin and role of Yuheng, and even told him about the Du family.

Zhang Ruidao: "The Du family, the Du family of Yuzhou. Speaking of which, a person I know is also from the Du family. I just met on the way to Kyoto. That person was almost extorted from my mother's belongings. By the way, this Yuheng really has So powerful? I wonder if it can cure the poison on your body!"

Zhou Yin coughed dryly and said, "I'm afraid it won't work. The role of this Yuheng has also been exaggerated by people in the Jianghu. I'm afraid only those who have used it know what it can do."

Feng Xuan saw that he didn't speak, but nodded thoughtfully.

After a while, the three of them came to Tianxiang Tower, and it was completely dark.It was quiet outside, but it was the bustling time in the building. The benefactors who came and went, the beautiful women in the world held round fans, and pulled a few people in.

Zhang Rui stared dumbfounded at the couples of men and women in the building and swallowed his saliva. The ancient brothel was really unusual, and he had been fascinated for a long time. Today he finally saw it, and it was even more open than what was shown on TV.

Zhou Yin coughed, with a bad expression on his face, and whispered in his ear, "Why, have you seen a demonic obstacle?"

Zhang Rui raised his eyebrows and said: "You underestimate me too much, they are not as good as the prince together."

Zhou Yin reached out and squeezed his waist: "Dare to compare me with these prostitutes, I am getting more and more courageous." Zhang Rui yelled "Ah..." and turned to the prostitute who was laughing next to him. Their faces flushed with embarrassment.

Seeing Feng Xuan approaching, the old bustard hurriedly stepped on the broken steps, and drove the surrounding Yingying Yanyan aside: "Go, go, call the people over there. Mr. Feng is looking for our boss?" Feng Xuan nodded.

The old bustard: "Come with me." He said and led the three of them into the compartment and retreated.

The soundproofing of the cubicle is good, the sound outside suddenly quieted down when the door was closed, and it was so buzzing that I couldn't hear what was said.

"Hehehe, Feng Xuan, why are you here again?" Before the person arrived, there was a sweet smile, and the voice was melodious and pleasant.

Feng Xuan sat at the table drinking tea and said, "I'll introduce you to a big business, will you give me a dividend?"

Tianjiao looked at Zhang Rui and Zhou Yin, and Zhang Rui and Zhou Yin also looked at her at the same time.I saw that the owner of Tianxianglou was a woman about thirty years old, with a mask on her face, she couldn't see her face, only a pair of soul-stirring eyes, Zhang Rui took a look, then closed her eyes and dared not be presumptuous.Zhou Yin raised the corner of his mouth slightly and said in his heart: This woman is not simple.

In terms of temperament alone, it is also different from those women outside.Neither the kitsch of women outside the door, nor the plainness of women from good families, what a stunner.

"If my guess is correct, the two of you are here for the salt merchant."

Zhang Rui nodded and said, "Can this young lady clear up the confusion for the two of us?"

Tianjiao covered her face with a smile and walked over, "Don't call me Miss, just call me Mrs. You are the imperial envoy Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Rui was taken aback and said, "You know me?"

Tianjiao: "I don't know what happened to Tianxianglou. And I also know that the person next to you is the Twelve Princes. The two of you... have an unusual relationship."

Zhang Ruiqian said with a smile: "madam, do you know about the salt merchants in Jiangzhou?"

Tianjiao nodded and said, "Of course I've heard about it."

Zhou Yin said: "I'm afraid it's not just a little bit."

Tianjiao circled around the two of them and said: "Tianxiang Building has always had rules, but if it is bought with money, it will not be sold to other people. The salt merchant has already been bought by someone. You ask I won't tell you that I can't break the rules of Tianxianglou, otherwise I'm afraid I won't be able to do this business in the future."

Zhang Rui nodded: "Okay, let's ask, you can choose to answer, or not to answer."

Tianjiao looked at him for a while and nodded, "Well, since it was brought by Feng Xuan, I won't ask for more. One thousand taels of silver is a question, and I will tell you what I can say."

Zhang Rui twitched his lips, looked at Tianjiao and Fengxuan and said in his heart: The two of them are really virtuous, 1000 taels... how dare you open your mouth like a lion!

Zhou Yin took out a jade token from his sleeve pocket and handed it to her, "You can use this to get money, Zhang Rui, you can ask her."

Looking at the jade card, Zhang Rui was heartbroken, and thought carefully in his heart, he couldn't waste this money.

"Madam, does the prefect of Jiangzhou know if he has contacts with salt merchants?"

Tianjiao said: "Naturally there are contacts, not to mention the collusion between the government and businessmen, this salt merchant is an imperial merchant, and the tax revenue has to go through the hands of the prefect of Jiangzhou every year."

Zhang Rui: "Ma'am, don't change the subject, I'm talking about that kind of relationship."

Tianjiao paused, then smiled slightly and said, "Of course there is also a relationship."

Sure enough, it was so, but Wu Zefeng concealed it so well that no one could notice it.

Zhang Rui: "Second question, Madam, do you know who is responsible for the extra money this salt merchant makes every day?"

Tianjiao thought for a while and glanced at Zhou Yin and said, "This is really too much, let me think about it."

Zhang Rui nodded and said, "Madam, think slowly, don't worry."

Tianjiao's heart skipped a beat and said: "Most of them are in the hands of the eldest prince, and a small part fell into the pocket of Youcheng Li Qian. Of course, the second prince also took a share of it, and the Huns also extended their hand."

Zhang Rui was secretly startled, there were indeed many twists and turns in this salt merchant, and now the two giant Buddhas above were involved in it, no wonder these people dared not investigate with their hands tied. "Last question, Madam, do you know where the sea keel is?"

Zhou Yin froze for a moment, his face moved, his hands trembled slightly, looking at Zhang Rui speechless.

Tianjiao said: "Although the sea keel bone is rare, it is not impossible to find it. If you want it, I can try to find it for you."

Zhang Rui: "Thank you ma'am for explaining our confusion today." After saying that, he got up to leave.

Tianjiao said: "Wait a minute, since Mr. Zhang is destined to come to Tianxianglou, I will send you a message for free. If you want to check the salt merchants, you might as well start with private salt, otherwise you will not be able to shake the foundation. "

Zhang Rui's heart skipped a beat, Tianjiao was really unusual this day, she hit the point, thanked her from private salt as he had planned before, and the two left.

Feng Xuan said: "You guys go back to the inn first, since the lord came with a secret guard, there is no need for me to see you off, be careful on the way." Zhou Yin nodded with gloomy eyes and pulled Zhang Rui out of Tianxiang Tower.

Zhang Rui: "How credible is Tianjiao's words?"

Zhou Yin: "Tianxianglou never smashes its own signboards."

Zhang Rui sighed: "Then the next case may be difficult."

***

Du family.

Du Yuan knelt in the ancestral hall, boredly looking at a little bird outside the window, and flew away, ah, he was not as happy as a bird.He has been locked up all night, and no one came to see him. He is so hungry that his chest is pressed against his back.

"Hey~" Du Yuan sighed, when will this day be so bad, if I had known that I wouldn't have escaped from the inn back then, and followed Feng Xuan with a cheeky face, maybe there wouldn't be so many troubles.

"Tata..." There was a sound of footsteps, and Du Yuan was overjoyed. Could it be that Erniang sent someone to bring him food?But after waiting for a long time, no one opened the door, so he hurriedly got up and pushed the door open: "Is there anyone outside? Open the door."

It was eerily quiet outside, Du Yuan continued to push: "Open the door quickly! Master is going to pee." Still no one opened the door for him.

Du Yuan was a little puzzled, no one was guarding him outside?After thinking for a long time, he raised his foot and kicked open the door, only to see that the outside was empty, not even a single person.Du Yuan was overjoyed, since no one was watching him, why not sneak out!

Thinking this way, he walked towards the back door, but he still didn't see anyone when he reached the back door, which was strange.In the past, the mansion was full of people coming and going at this time, why is there not a single person today?Could it be that they haven't woken up yet? It's impossible. Looking up at the huge sun, he didn't feel dizzy. After hesitating for a while, he still walked towards Master Du's study.

Finally seeing the figure, the two servants standing outside saw Du Yuan approaching and hurriedly shouted: "Master, go in and have a look."

Du Yuan was puzzled: "What's wrong?"

The two servants hesitated to speak, Du Yuan stepped into the room.There were three men sitting in the room, all three were members of the Du clan, cousins ​​who had a particularly good relationship with Du Ruoheng during his lifetime.

Mrs. Song stood aside, her eyes were red, but she was much haggard after just one night.

As soon as Du Yuan came in, he said hello to a few people: "I don't know why these uncles are free today."

The three of them looked at each other, and then at Song Shi, who wiped his eyes with a handkerchief and said, "Yuan'er, your father...he's missing!"