Upon hearing Su Shi's conclusion, both Zhou Jin and Su Zhou couldn't help but feel a hint of disappointment on their faces.
Although they came to the same conclusion, they still held a glimmer of hope in their hearts, thinking that Su Shi might find some clues that could overturn their conclusion.
But now Su Shi's conclusion is the same as theirs, which means that Cui Peng died in an accident with certainty, and there is no longer any doubt.
More importantly, Cui Peng was their most important clue. Now that Cui Peng died, the clue they finally found was cut off.
When they were disappointed, Su Shi suddenly asked: "Why did Cui Peng leave the Secret Guard?"
Zhou Jin had obviously found out these things, so he immediately said: "Seven years ago, Cui Peng met a man named Tao Qun. The two had similar temperaments and quickly became friends. But later, when Du Ziqi was investigating a case , this Tao group is involved."
Su Shi couldn't help but interrupt Zhou Jin and asked, "What case?"
"Du Ziqi was investigating the case of Hu spies at that time."
Su Shi smiled bitterly and said, "It's the Hu people's spies again. The Hu people sent many spies to lurk in the capital?"
At this time, a trace of worry flashed across Su Zhou's face, and he couldn't help but sigh: "In the past ten years, the Hu people have been causing trouble at the border and sending spies to lurk in the capital. My father cannot tell that in five years, the Hu people will definitely Will invade Daqian."
Su Shi frowned and said, "Are the Hu people very strong? How dare they invade Daqian?"
"In terms of strength, the Hu people are naturally far from being Dagan's opponents."
"If that's the case, why are you worried?"
However, Su Zhou just shook his head and remained silent.
Seeing that his elder brother had stopped talking, Su Shi asked Zhou Jin, "What next?"
"The Hu spies finally confessed Tao Qun, but when the secret guards arrested him, Tao Qun had already fled."
"Is it Cui Peng who tipped off the news?"
Zhou Jin sighed: "Tao Qun was not caught at that time, so naturally some people would doubt him. But Cui Peng always denied it, and the secret guard had no evidence to prove that he was the one who tipped off the information, so in the end it was decided to let Cui Peng leave the secret guard."
"Cui Peng saw that everyone did not believe him, so he resigned from the official position in anger. However, two years later, the secret guards captured Tao Qun, and after interrogation, they found out that Cui Peng had indeed been wronged. Tao Qun left the capital at that time, not knowing that he was His identity has been exposed and he has absconded, but he has been instructed to lurk in a border town."
Su Shi couldn't help but rub his temples with both hands. His head still hurt a little because of the hangover.
"Later, Du Ziqi also looked for Cui Peng, hoping that he would come back, but Cui Peng did not return to the Secret Guard in the end."
Su Shi thought for a while and asked, "Cui Peng has always lived in Pingningfang?"
"Yes. He has been living in Pingningfang for the past seven years."
Su Shi pondered: "Pingningfang is also a prosperous place in the capital. It's probably not easy to live in Pingningfang."
Zhou Jin understood what he meant and said: "Cui Peng doesn't have many hobbies, and he is also very frugal. Apart from liking fish and going to Kumho Spring to eat fish every once in a while, he basically cooks it at home. Eat.”
"The house he lives in was also left to him by his deceased wife. His wife's natal family is also in business. Although it has declined in recent years, it was still prosperous ten years ago, and that house is his Wife’s dowry.”
"Of course you also checked Cui Peng's house."
"Checked."
Su Shi sighed: "Nothing was found?"
Su Zhou shook his head slightly: "No, his home is no different from an ordinary person's home. We checked for an hour and found nothing."
Hearing this, Su Shi sighed and said slowly: "Cui Peng is dead, what about Tang Ci?"
Zhou Jin sighed slightly: "Tang Ci is also dead. He died three years ago."
Su Shi was taken aback and asked, "Is it also an accident?"
"No, he died on the battlefield." Zhou Jin said quietly: "Tang Ci's hometown is in the southwest. Four years ago, the Yi people in the southwest rebelled and massacred a small town. Tang Ci's parents died in that massacre. Among them, he left the secret guard and joined the army to suppress the chaos. Three years ago, he was surrounded while exploring the enemy's situation and eventually died on the battlefield."
Su Shi couldn't help being stunned. He didn't expect that when he woke up, everyone he wanted to investigate was already dead.
"Where are those palace maids and eunuchs?"
At this time, Zhou Jin showed a trace of hesitation, and finally said slowly: "We are still investigating, but I'm afraid we can't have too much hope."
Su Shi asked puzzledly: "Why?"
Zhou Jin smiled bitterly and said: "The affairs of the harem are under the control of the queen. If they are ordinary eunuchs and maids, I can naturally investigate at will. But nine years have passed, six of the eight eunuchs and maids have obtained the help of the queen, the concubine and others. They are favored, so it is not easy to investigate them. What's more, we are only guessing at the moment and there is no actual evidence. It will be even more difficult to verify. "
Su Shi said: "Why not report it to the Emperor and let him issue an order for a thorough investigation, so that you can act honestly and in accordance with the order."
"It's not impossible to ask Father for his will, but it's just that it's been so long and we don't have any real evidence. As long as these people deny it, there's nothing we can do against them."
Su Shi couldn't help but sigh: "That's true. If you don't have definite evidence and ask questions rashly, I'm afraid it will scare the snake." At this point, he asked again: "Where are the other two?"
Zhou Jin shook his head and said: "The other two were just eunuchs guarding the door at the time, and they were already nearly fifty. They didn't even have a chance to contact Hui Niang. It can be said that their suspicions are the least."
"I have also asked them about it, but these two are now too old and confused, and they can't remember many things. I asked them for half an hour, but I couldn't provide any clues."
At this time, no one in the room spoke anymore, and it fell into silence.
Zhou Jin thought that she was full of confidence yesterday, but one night passed, and she didn't expect that the whole thing had returned to the starting point.
Su Zhou's expression was no better than Zhou Jin's. He seemed to feel an invisible force preventing them from investigating the matter.
Su Shi was the calmest one among the three of them. He thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Where is the report about the haunting of the Red Plum Pavilion submitted by the secret guard?"
Zhou Jin was slightly startled and said, "In my bedroom."
"I want to see the report."
Zhou Jin said: "What do you want to know?"
Su Shi said slowly: "I want to verify something."
Seeing that Zhou Jin wanted to ask more questions, Su Shi shook his head and said, "Don't rush to ask questions now. I can only answer some questions after reading the report, so it's not too late to ask questions later."
