Zuo Gongming quickly scanned it back and forth in his mind. He couldn't forget the name Liu Qian. When he was looking through the files in the past two days, this name appeared several times. This man was the most "famous" thief in Chang'an. It was not an exaggeration to call him the "King of Thieves". According to records, this man was thin and agile, and he was often 'patronized' by wealthy merchants in the west of the city. However, because of his agility, he was rarely caught. However, he was let go only a few times because the dirt was incomplete. Logically speaking, how could such a bold, careful and good climber fall off a cliff and die? Zuo Gongming also felt a little strange.
Seeing the confusion on Zuo Gongming's face, Wang Shaojing continued: "Master Zuo must also be surprised. How could Liu Qian, a habitual thief, fall off a cliff and die? After the official learned the news, he secretly sent someone to find out. Do you know what the official found?"
"What did you find?"
Although there was no one around, Wang Shaojing still lowered his voice and said: "Liu Qian's body... there are traces of torture!"
"What!?"
Zuo Gongming suddenly felt that this clue was not trivial. The theft of the Chang Mansion, the sudden death of Liu Qian after his disappearance, the traces of torture on the body, and the low-key funeral of the Liu family all gave people a vague feeling that there was a secret behind the whole thing. An invisible hand is controlling it... But if Liu Qian was tortured to death by the school affairs office, then why did Tie Ge come to ask for help? This shows that...the real 'master' is someone else! In other words, there is still a thief that has not been caught!
After catching this clue, Zuo Gongming suddenly became serious. He quickly asked: "Who did Liu Qian meet a few days ago?"
"Liu Qian's family members said that he has been alone these days and has not met anyone."
"Oh? Seriously?"
"At first, I thought this was true, because no matter how much the school administration tried to cross-examine, I couldn't get even the slightest bit of information out of it."
After all, Liu Qian had just died. Even though the school affairs office was a pawn, it was better not to go too far. The widow of the Liu family insisted that her husband had not seen anyone before his death, so there was nothing anyone could do to continue the interrogation. They could not arrest the orphans and widows. Interrogation? Everyone in the school administration is troubled by this matter. Moreover, in Wang Shaojing's view, Liu Qian's death was a bit strange. The clues he finally obtained were cut off. Did the school affairs office torture him to death or Liu Qian couldn't bear the torture and ended it on his own? Now this matter is also can not say it clearly. However, according to Wang Shaojing's analysis, it is unlikely that Liu Qian will commit suicide. After all, his hands and feet are tied. Moreover, even if there is a glimmer of hope for such a villain, he will firmly grasp it and will not commit suicide so easily. If it was the school affairs office that killed him, it must have been because they could no longer find any useful information from Liu Qian, so they would kill him completely. Otherwise, if he fell into the hands of others, something might be revealed. The wind is not good for me -
Since you can't find out anything by yourself, then don't expect other government offices to find out one or two of them!
This is what Wang Shaojing originally guessed, but just when everyone was confused, a clue happened to let him know - Liu Qian had been to 'Fengming Residence'!
Why did Wang Shaojing smell something strange here? Fengming Ju is the best building in Chang'an. Even the merchants in the West City are willing to come all the way to the east just to have a meal in this restaurant. Why? The east side of Chang'an is mostly home to famous families and officials. Although the merchants are rich, their status is low, so most of them live in the west city. In order to improve their status, and also to see if they could have good luck and meet some powerful people, these businessmen traveled thousands of miles to Fengmingju in Dongcheng. As for Liu Qian, his ancestors have lived in Nancheng for generations. Nancheng is where ordinary people live, and there are many poor people. Liu Qian is one of the relatively poor and lower-class people. Not to mention Dongshi, even Nancheng rarely goes out. , let alone a high-end restaurant like Fengmingju. Therefore, Wang Shaojing felt a little inappropriate about Liu Qian's behavior. So, he continued to follow this clue, and his hard work paid off. When he arrived at Fengming Residence, he unexpectedly learned that Liu Qian had only seen one person a few days ago! And that person is none other than his master! This makes sense. In order to cover up people's eyes, the two of them went to Fengming Residence in the east city to discuss matters. As for why the two low-level untouchables suddenly came to Fengming Residence with money, the cause and effect is self-evident.
Thinking of this, Wang Shaojing stopped hiding anything and continued: "But later the official learned that Liu Qian had only seen one person before his incident... and that was his master!"
Zuo Gongming frowned and said, "Master? Then where is his master now?"
"Haha, what a coincidence, Liu Qian's master...has also disappeared."
"Missing? Who caught him?"
"No, Master Liu Qian's family said that he lost money in gambling a few days ago and ran away to seek refuge."
"Then this line is broken again?"
"Yes, but the official was more cautious and asked his family. His family said that several people had looked for him in the past few days..."
"who?"
"The others are just gangsters in the gambling houses, but there is only one person who is the most suspicious...that person is Master Liu Qian's former partner!"
"Former partner..."
"The two were originally partners, but that person once committed a case and was caught by your government. When he was arrested, the person did not confess Liu Qian's master. Liu Qian's master owed him a favor. I don't know why later. , that person was bailed out, and then found a serious job, and then washed his hands in a golden basin, so..."
Zuo Gongming held his chin and took two steps. He quickly sorted out all the clues provided by Wang Shaojing and merged them into one line. In this way, this person became the key to everything! He turned around, stared at Wang Shaojing and asked, "Where is this person now?"
Wang Shaojing whispered an address into Zuo Gongming's ear. Zuo Gongming remembered the address firmly. Before Wang Shaojing could take his head away, Zuo Gongming shouted outside -
"Whoever is coming - follow me to the south of the city to get people!"
Then, Zuo Gongming turned around, bowed his head, and said eagerly and piously: "Thank you, Mr. Wang!"
Seeing Zuo Gongming hurriedly walking out of the hall, Wang Shaojing also bowed his head and said politely: "Master Wang is out."
Just when Zuo Gongming was about to walk out, he suddenly stopped his hurried pace. He turned around again with an intriguing smile and asked: "Since Mr. Wang knows the whereabouts of the thief, why don't you go and get him yourself?"
Wang Shaojing was startled for a moment, then he laughed and said, "Oh, catching thieves is a matter for Jingzhao Mansion. What does it have to do with our school affairs office? How can a low-ranking official take over his duties?"
"Oh? Really? Hahahaha——"
"Ha ha ha ha--"
Then, the two of them laughed in perfect harmony at the same time.
...
After walking out of Jingzhao Mansion, Wang Shao was surprised and his smile was reduced. At this time, his expression was serious, and there was still a trace of doubt in his heart - he was drinking at Fengming Ju that day, and as soon as he sat down that day, the waiter kept saying that there were two People in shabby clothes appeared in Fengming Residence. They even wanted a private room, but their appearance and temperament were not as good as those of servants in noble houses. The two ordered a lot of dishes and devoured them without any sign of eating. The waiter said that while serving them, he heard one person calling the other "master" and after finishing the meal, he asked the waiter to pack up all the leftover dishes. . Fengmingju is full of dignitaries, who would be so frugal? This kind of behavior naturally seemed strange and despicable to the waiter, so when entertaining Wang Shaojing, he told him this as an anecdote.
After hearing this, Mr. Wang was surprised and somehow managed to connect these two people with the man caught in the school affairs office. In fact, Tie Ge did it secretly and did not inform others. If Wang Shaojing hadn't been keeping an eye on all the goings-on in the house, he might have even hidden it from him. After he heard the waiter tell this story, he took out a portrait from his arms and let the waiter take a look. Unexpectedly, the waiter took a closer look at the portrait and slapped his thigh and said, "That's exactly the person!" Immediately, Wang Shaojing got up and left Fengmingju to look for the 'master' Liu Qian said. Only then did everything happen.
But when things developed to this point, Wang Shaojing always felt that something was wrong. Why would such a coincidence happen to him? But everything that happened was so natural that he couldn't find any flaws when he recalled everything that happened these days.
Wang Shaojing raised his head and found that he had walked to Fengming Residence again without knowing it. He looked up at the gorgeous building and thought for a moment before walking in.
When the shopkeeper saw the distinguished guest coming, he walked forward enthusiastically, nodded and bowed and said: "Master Wang...oh no! Why does Mr. Wang have the leisure to come downstairs today? Please come upstairs -"
Wang Shaojing raised his head and looked around, then asked: "How many waiters are there in your family?"
The shopkeeper was a little confused. He didn't know why Wang Shaojing suddenly asked this question, but he still replied politely: "Six, you have seen all six of them."
"Six?" Wang Shaojing was a little confused. He recalled it, and then asked: "That... that... there are two mustaches in the middle, and the body is a little fat... that one is the new one." What?"
"Mustache? Fat?"
The shopkeeper couldn't help but wonder, his waiters were all thin and small, and they didn't even have mustaches. He didn't recruit any workers, so where were the newcomers coming from? Thinking of this, the shopkeeper shook his head.
Wang Shaojing stared at the shopkeeper as if he was scrutinizing him, which made him feel a little frightened. Then he clapped his hands and said bitterly: "That's him!"
After saying that, Wang Shao turned around in surprise and strode out of the store, leaving the shopkeeper who didn't know what was going on, stunned in place.
OK! He actually treated me as a gunman! If it weren’t for my extra savvy, I would still be kept in the dark!
Wang Shaojing suddenly felt furious. After all, he was too young. He never expected that he would become someone else's pawn! His expression was stern and extremely ugly, and his steps were extremely fast, as if he was trying to settle a score with someone. Suddenly, he stopped and another doubt arose in his mind.
Who is this person who is taking advantage of him? Thinking of this, Wang Shao couldn't help but slow down in shock.
It seems that the teachings of my aunt and uncle are correct. The water in the imperial court is... very deep!
