Criminal investigation in ancient times

Since the Ge family was taken over, the remaining two have been in a state of healthy competition. The salt price has not risen but has fallen, and the private salt has been cut off from the source.

When Zhang Rui and Zhou Yin walked past the salt business again, they saw many people buying salt, and suddenly someone stopped them.

"Hey? Is the young man here to inquire about the price of salt again?"

Zhang Rui was startled, it turned out to be the old lady who asked about the salt price last time.He smiled and said, "Did the price of salt drop?"

The old lady was holding the basket and said happily: "It's lowered, it's lowered to six yuan, it's cheaper than before."

Zhang Rui nodded with a smile: "It's fine if you surrender."

The two left the salt shop, Zhou Yin saw that he was in a good mood and said: "Now the salt merchant's matter is almost settled, and the brochure of private salt has also been submitted, when will we return to Beijing?"

Zhang Ruidao: "The emperor hasn't issued an order yet, is it appropriate to go back now?"

Zhou Yin looked in the direction of the capital and said, "The rain is about to come, and the wind will fill the building, and the sky in Kyoto will change."

Zhang Rui knew what he meant. The eldest prince had held power for so many years, so it was impossible to be defeated so easily. Although the second prince came from behind, he didn't have much power in his hands. It might be difficult for him to ascend to the throne.

Zhou Yin: "If I don't go back and help him, I'm afraid Yongzheng won't be able to handle it by himself."

Zhang Rui: "If the First Prince gains power, then you will be unable to escape... Besides, there is no transfer order between Beijing and China, so the two of us cannot leave Jiangzhou without authorization."

Zhou Yin smiled and said: "There is always a way. I was close to Yongzheng before. Even if I don't help him now, the eldest prince will not let me go easily after he ascends the throne. Instead of neither of them having a good end, it is better to help Yongzheng." Right, at least he succeeded, and he won't turn around and stab me."

Zhang Rui pondered: "If that's the case, I'll go back to Beijing with you!"

After the fifteenth day, Zhou Yin transferred all the remaining secret guards in Beijing to Jiangzhou to take them back to Beijing.This road must be difficult and dangerous, and the eldest prince will definitely try every means to prevent Zhou Yin from returning to the capital.

On February [-]th, the old emperor issued the transfer order, and Zhou Yin and Zhang Rui were officially transferred back to Beijing.

Zhang Rui couldn't figure out why the emperor sent the two of them back at this time. Could it be that he is really old and confused?Now that he transferred Zhou Yin back to the capital, it was obvious that he was helping the second prince to ascend to the throne.But if the emperor really wanted the second prince to succeed him, the salt merchant's matter would not be so innocuous and just imprison the first prince in Dali Temple without punishing him.

So the emperor wants to see his two sons fight to the death?Zhang Rui couldn't understand, did the emperor have a bag in his head, or did he not have enough brains?

Forget it, since Zhou Yin has already embarked on this road, he is obliged to follow along, even if the end of the road is a cliff or a fire pit, as long as he jumps, he will jump down too.

After saluting, packed up and set off on another day, bid farewell to the prefect of Jiangzhou, several people got on the carriage and hurriedly set off for Kyoto.Wu Zefeng still sits firmly in his prefect position, but before leaving, he said an inexplicable reasoning sentence in Zhang Rui's ear: Master Zhang will be prosperous in the future, don't forget to promote the younger ones.

Zhang Rui nodded with a stiff smile, but said from the bottom of his heart: Although the matter of salt merchants found out the private salt, it also involved the eldest prince. The emperor must have classified himself as the second prince. Whether he can be promoted or not is a matter of two words. Where did he come from? Prosperous official career?Could it be that he is satirizing himself, or is there something in his words?

On the way back, Zhou Yin's heart was like an arrow, if his body didn't allow it, he might have to go day and night.

Seeing him, Zhang Rui said: "Don't be so anxious, even if you hurry up, you won't be able to reach the capital right away."

Zhou Yin pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at the scenery outside the car and said, "I'm afraid it will be too late..." While talking, the carriage suddenly moved, and there was a sound outside. "Hiss~~coax~" Ma snorted uncomfortably and walked on the spot.

The two looked at each other, and slightly opened the curtain of the car, only to see more than a dozen masked men in armor surrounded outside. These men were armed with long knives and well-trained, surrounding the carriage.One of the leaders stretched out his hand and waved, and the group suddenly rose up and attacked.The hidden guards rushed out from the shadows and started fighting with this group of people.

Zhan Qing and Duan Xiaobai took the opportunity to drive the carriage out of the encirclement, leaving the group of people far away.

Zhang Rui clasped the car window tightly with both hands, dizzy from the bumps, and almost vomited out.

Zhou Yin wrapped his arms around his waist and said, "Hold on, and rest in the front."

Zhang Rui shook his head and said, "I'm fine, let's go on, these are all sent by the First Prince?"

Zhou Yin nodded silently, but tightened his hands around his waist and said, "Don't worry, we will definitely arrive in Kyoto safely."

The carriage was speeding, and Uncle Han and He Lao led the two and a half-year-old children to follow behind, who were also bumped heavily. He Xiangru took out a purse from the medicine box, took out a few small black pills, and handed them to the three of them: "Put this in your mouth to relieve dizziness temporarily."

Several people took the pills and put them in their mouths, and a feeling of coolness rushed to the bottom of their heads.The originally drowsy head suddenly woke up a lot.

Uncle Han looked at the carriageway in front of him: "I don't know what happened to the young master and the prince, both of them are not in good health." He Xiangru looked at him and hesitated to speak, so he had to lower his head and put the pills into the medicine box.

I thought I would get rid of this group of pursuers, but I didn't expect that more than a dozen horsemen sprang out from behind. These people bent over their horses, with bows and arrows on their backs. go.

Immediately, the arrows were nailed to the car like a dense rain, binding the car like a hedgehog!

Zhou Yin held Zong Rui's hand tightly, and his heart quickly raised his voice. "Whoosh!" A feathered arrow flew into the car, and penetrated the wooden board for more than half an inch.

Zhang Rui lost his voice in fright: "Be careful!"

Zhou Yin hurriedly protected him in his arms, and said to the outside: "Have the dark guards caught up?"

Zhan Qing: "I haven't seen it, maybe I have to wait a while."

Zhou Yin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, looked at the people around him and said, "It's okay, someone will come soon, don't worry." I don't know if he is comforting Zhang Rui or himself.

The pursuers behind shot their arrows and moved forward again, holding long knives. Zhan Qing and Duan Xiaobai had no choice but to stand up and fight. The carriage lost control and ran forward desperately. Zhang Rui hurried forward to hold the reins, and looked back Zhan Qing and Duan Xiaobai were wrestling with people, their hearts sank slowly, they met these people just after they left Jiangzhou, and they didn't know what was waiting for them, could they arrive safely this way?

After running fast for three hours in a row, the horse was too tired to walk in the end, no matter how people whipped the whip, it would not go.Those chasing soldiers were also left far behind.

Zhou Yin: "It's been such a long journey, let's take a rest first."

Zhang Rui let out a breath and nodded, let go of the rein, his hands were as stiff as chicken claws, and he couldn't stretch them out.The two got off the carriage, and the carriage behind also stopped. Lao Han hurriedly jumped out of the carriage and said, "How is the young master?"

Zhang Rui rubbed his head and said, "I'm a little dizzy."

Uncle Han patted his chest and said: "Those people scared me to death just now, why did I encounter such a thing on the road back and forth. Zhan Qing and Xiao Bai don't know what happened to them!"

Zhang Rui's face was pale and he comforted him, "Both of them are strong in martial arts, so nothing will happen."

Uncle Han: "By the way, just now Doctor He gave us a brain-clearing pill, and we didn't feel bad after being bumped all the way."

Zhang Rui: "Oh? Then I have to eat one too." As he spoke, he found He Xiangru, and happened to see Zhou Yin was with him.Counting these few days, I'm afraid it will be the day when Zhou Yin's poison will be released again.

When He Xiangru heard footsteps, he turned his head and said, "Master Zhang, why are you here?"

Zhang Rui smiled and said, "I heard from Uncle Han that you gave them a brain-clearing pill, and I want one too. I'm a little dizzy due to the bumpy journey."

He Xiangru: "Then wait for me, I'll fetch it for you." He said and walked towards the carriage.

Zhou Yin said: "The closer you are to the capital, the more dangerous it is. I'm afraid that the hidden guards won't care about such people and may hurt them."

Zhang Rui looked at him closely and said, "Do you want to leave?"

Zhou Yin nodded: "You and I take Dr. He and Uncle Han and go together."

Zhang Rui's eyes flickered: "What about Hu Zi and Qing Luo?"

Zhou Yin: "I will send secret guards to escort them back to Jiangzhou, and bring them back after the limelight passes."

Zhang Rui thought for a while and felt that what he said made sense. It was uncertain what would happen for them to go back this trip. If the two children were really in danger with them, they would die for no reason.It's better to leave the two of them in Jiangzhou and send someone to look after them. "Then who is going to take them back?"

Zhou Yin: "Let's talk about it when they come back, I don't worry about others."

Zhang Rui nodded: "That's the decision, I'll tell them about it."

After discussing with everyone, there is no opinion. Although Qing Luo and Hu Zi are a little bit reluctant to part with everyone, but I also feel that if I keep following them, I am afraid it will drag them down.Not long after, Zhan Qing and Duan Xiaobai caught up, both of them were exhausted, and Duan Xiaobai's arm was injured.

Zhan Qing said: "Thanks to the timely arrival of the hidden guards, otherwise, although the two of us can deal with them, we will definitely be seriously injured."

Zhou Yin pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Did the identities of those people be found out?"

Zhan Qing: "These people don't have anything to prove their identities, but... it should be as the prince expected."

Zhou Yin nodded and said, "Today you bring Qing Luo and Hu Zi back to Jiangzhou, and you don't have to follow me back to Beijing."

Zhan Qing was surprised: "My lord, this..."

Zhou Yin waved his hand, Zhan Qing had no choice but to nod in response.

After resting overnight, Zhanqing led the two children into a carriage early the next morning and headed back to Jiangzhou.

The hidden guards had rushed over one after another, and Kang Qi came to report, and the group had already dealt with them. Three hidden guards were injured and stayed in Jiangzhou, just in time to protect the two children with Zhan Qing.

The rest of the people continued to set off. Uncle Han and He Xiangru got into Zhang Rui's carriage. This time, they didn't drive as fast as before, but they hurried to a town before sunset.

For some reason, this town is a bit gloomy. There are no people on the street. Occasionally, a few pedestrians leave in a hurry.

Duan Xiaobai searched for a long time before finding an old man, this old man was over seventy years old, wearing a worn-out coat and gown, his beard was tangled up in one place and looked a bit sloppy.

The old man looked up at them with squinted eyes and said, "Young man, are you here from other places?"

Zhang Rui nodded, walked forward and said: "Old man, we are businessmen in the past. We passed by here and wanted to find an inn to rest, but we saw that there were no pedestrians on this street?"

The old man laughed fiercely, showing some sparse yellow teeth, and said: "I advise you to leave quickly, there are man-eating monsters in this town, and many people have been arrested." The stick trembled away.

Zhang Rui murmured: "Human-eating monster..."

Zhou Yin raised his eyebrows: "It's nonsense."

Zhang Rui smiled: "Let's find an inn to take a rest first." After going around half of the town, I finally found an inn in an extremely remote area. This inn may not have been visited for a long time, and the door was tightly closed.

Duan Xiaobai knocked for a long time but no one opened the door, so he couldn't help kicking the door open, and the dust immediately flew up.

Several people fanned the dust with their sleeves, coughed and walked in.

Zhang Rui: "Is anyone there?"

There were a few tables in a mess in the lobby, and a few stools with broken legs were placed upside down on the tables.The inn probably lost its owner, and the business might not be able to continue. The shopkeeper abandoned the inn.

Duan Xiaobai stepped forward, took the stool off the table, swept the dust off it, and handed it to Zhang Rui and the others. "I'll go and see the guest room at the back. If I can stay there, it's only for one night. If I can't, we'll find another place."

Zhang Rui nodded: "Hurry up and come back." Looking at this dilapidated inn, I always feel a little panic. I don't know if it's my own illusion or there are "human-eating monsters" as the old man said.

After a while, Duan Xiaobai came back from the backyard, and said with an ugly expression: "My lord, let's go, I'm afraid this inn can't accommodate people."

Zhang Rui was surprised: "Why?"

Duan Xiaobai: "The guest room in the backyard may have been in disrepair for a long time, not to mention the roof collapsed, and the bedding in the room is also rotten into a ball, it is impossible to live in."

Several people discussed it, instead of going outside to continue searching, it is better to spend the night in this lobby first and make plans for tomorrow.At any rate, the kitchen in the backyard was still usable. Uncle Han washed the pot several times and boiled some hot water. Everyone washed up and rested in the lobby.

There was a wind at night, and the broken windows jingled and rattled.Uncle Han got up and tied the window with a rope, but he didn't want to poke outside, so he yelled "Ah!" in fright.

Everyone was awakened, got up and said: "What happened!"

Uncle Han said with trembling hands, "I just saw a lot of will-o'-the-wisps floating outside!"

Zhang Rui frowned and walked to the window to see that there were indeed many fires outside, probably because many people died in this place before.He comforted Old Han and said, "Uncle Han, don't be afraid, this thing can't hurt anyone."

Uncle Han wiped the sweat from his brow and said, "Master...this place is very evil, I think we'd better leave as soon as possible."

Zhang Rui: "It's not easy to leave at night. Let's leave early tomorrow morning."

Uncle Han nodded and said: "Hey, why is our journey always full of disasters." The middle-aged man was getting older, his eyes were not as bright as before, and wrinkles appeared on his face at some point.

Zhang Rui took a look and turned his head away, feeling a little sour.I thought silently in my heart, I will return to Beijing immediately, once this matter is over, I can find a job, and I don't have to live in this worrying life anymore.Or go back to his hometown in Xuzhou, Uncle Han will definitely be happy.

Just thinking about "Bang!" There was a loud noise, and the dilapidated windows suddenly shattered, and many people jumped out of nowhere in all directions!

The few people who had been sleeping very lightly were awakened, and hurriedly got up, looking at the men in black coming around by the moonlight outside the window.

Zhang Rui is angry, these people are endless... Chasing and intercepting them, they will not stop if they don't see if they are killed!

The men in black gradually approached, and the long knife in their hand flashed a cold light, and they slashed at them with the knife.Zhou Yin pulled Zhang Rui back, took out a whistle from his waist and blew, and the dark guards rushed in.

Looking at these people, Zhang Rui was secretly startled. These men in black were actually on par with the dark guards!Did the eldest prince send all the talented people around him to deal with Zhou Yin?wrong!Now the situation in Beijing is critical, the first task of the first prince is to bring down the second prince, why bother to go to Jiangzhou to kill Zhou Yin, if it is not the first prince, then who sent this group of people... Turning to look at the side people.

Seeing him looking at herself, Zhou Yin asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Rui: "These people are not sent by the First Prince, right?"

Zhou Yin's face changed slightly and he said: "Now is not the time to talk about this, get out of here quickly!" He grabbed Zhang Rui's hand and ran out in a hurry.

Behind him was the faint "bang bang" sound of weapons intersecting, but Zhang Rui's mind was full of confusion. What was going on, what was Zhou Yin hiding from himself?