I wonder if Prince Annan was fully aware of the hookup between Emperor Yong'an and his princess when he died.
If you don't know the truth even after you die, wouldn't you be a fool?
Princess Annan lay there for a full moment, until everyone outside thought she had fallen asleep and there was no sound anymore, she suddenly opened her eyes, looked around, calmed down and crawled to the end of the kang. The mattress and thin mat were uncovered, revealing the flat and flat surface of the kang.
She pulled out the short knife, inserted the sharp blade into the gap between the edge of the kang and the wall, and gently moved it upward. There was an inaudible sound from where the wall and the edge of the kang met, and a bump appeared on the wall.
She looked around warily, then gently pulled out the bulge, revealing a dark hole.
The hole is the size of a fist, and the depth inside is unfathomable.
Princess Annan did not dare to light the lamp for fear of disturbing the people outside, so she only used the faint moonlight to look into the depths of the hole.
After looking at it several times, she still felt uneasy, so she reached out and touched the hole. She didn't know what she caught. After rubbing it twice, she breathed an obvious sigh of relief, and then she stuffed the bulge back with her hand. After touching the wall a few times, the raised wall quickly returned to normal.
She slowly lay back and closed her eyes slightly, wondering what she was thinking.
Yao Yao hung upside down on the roof, carefully hiding her figure. In such a dangerous situation, she was not only careful to hide her whereabouts, but also distracted to peek at the movements of Princess Annan County.
It's really, really exciting.
It was approaching midnight, when everything should have been quiet and sleep was deep, the front yard of Han Mansion was brightly lit, and the secret guards came out in full force.
Han Changmu was sitting in the front hall, tapping his knees with his fingers, his expression dark and indistinguishable.
The lights illuminated the front hall as bright as day. The shadows of the lights swayed on his face, and his expression became more and more serious.
"Your Majesty, according to the confession, all the hiding places of Third Young Master Xie in the capital have been searched. The people captured and the things copied have been brought back, but Third Young Master Xie, Zhou Wuhen and others have not been found." Jin Yu opened the door curtain and walked in. Before she could catch her breath, she hurriedly replied.
Han Changmu originally did not expect to catch all Xie Liangzhan and his party tonight. He just wanted to use unexpected thunderous means to catch as many people as possible and bring back more physical evidence.
The more people he catches, the more mouths he can pry open, and the closer he is to the truth and Xie Liangzhan's plot.
He said calmly: "Send those people to a secret cell and interrogate them strictly. After daybreak, they will ask for confessions."
Jin Yu said yes, turned around and was about to go out, but Han Changmu's voice came from behind again.
"Send six more secret guards outside the courtyard where Li Sheng lives to protect his safety." Han Changmu said coldly.
Jin Yu said yes with a solemn expression, knowing very well the danger of this matter.
When Li Sheng confessed, Jin Yu was beside him. From the shock when he heard the first secret to the final numbness, he was able to calmly face the secrets one after another that were enough to make him lose his head. .
As for Li Sheng, Li Sheng confided so much today, and every one of them was a betrayal. Although Xie Liangzhan ran away, his lair was ruined. Even if he had no brains, he could still guess that Li Sheng betrayed him.
This kind of betrayal can be regarded as tolerance and magnanimity if cut with a knife, but it has to be cut in pieces to vent the hatred in the heart!
Having destroyed Xie Liangzhan's lair, arrested a lot of people, and found a lot of physical evidence that had not been destroyed in time, it should have been a happy thing, but Han Changmu didn't look relaxed at all.
But he didn't get caught up in thinking hard about the matter of Xie Liang. He was thinking about other things.
The water bandits in Qingyun Village have all been sent to the Internal Security Department for screening in batches, while the four of Zhao Yingrong temporarily stayed in Han Fuzhong, waiting to find a suitable place and livelihood in the capital before moving out, and those from Qingyun Village The surviving girls rescued from the village also had their deeds destroyed, their household registrations re-registered, and their living expenses paid, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Logically speaking, as soon as he entered the Han Mansion, Han Changmu should examine Zhao Yingrong and the others carefully, but he chose to wait and see, just to see when Zhao Yingrong and others would take the initiative to report back to Qingyun Village with him.
Although taking the initiative to speak may not necessarily mean knowing everything and telling everything, he wanted to give these people a chance and also give himself a chance.
Of course, not only did he not interrogate Zhao Yingrong and the others, but he also left Dou Weiqi and Xue Shou in jail. When their minds were on the verge of collapse, he would interrogate them again and it would be more effective with half the effort.
Also staying awake at night were Zhao Yingrong and three others. They had been waiting for Han Changmu's summons, but after today's summons, he only talked about his arrangements for them, but never mentioned anything about Qingyun Village. This made them feel uneasy. Panic.
It's like a knife is hanging on your head, swinging and swinging and never falling down, and you don't know when it will fall down.
Being on tenterhooks all day makes me grow old very quickly.
"Brother, it's not okay for us to wait like this. We can't just pretend we don't know anything without asking. Why not, why don't we go talk to the Commander ourselves? Maybe the Commander will listen. , he wasn’t so angry and just let us go." After being hit by the great changes in the past few days, Li Changming had long been afraid of Han Changmu. Seeing Han Changmu's attitude, he felt that people under the low eaves were still afraid of him. Be as respectful as you can be.
Zhao Yingrong also nodded with lingering fear: "I also think it would be better to take the initiative. Maybe the Commander-in-Chief is just waiting for us to confess." He turned to look at Zhao Fusheng: "Fusheng, what do you think?"
Zhao Fusheng weighed it for a long time and finally made up his mind: "My son also feels that he should take the initiative to confess."
The matter was finalized, and the three of them no longer hesitated. Although the night was already dark, they looked up and saw that the main room in the distance was still brightly lit. Han Changmu had obviously not gone to bed yet, so the three of them politely asked the boy in the yard to lead the way. The main house rushed to the front yard.
There were not many people living in the Han Mansion, and there was only Han Changmu as a master. Qing Qian was considered half a master before, but now she was accused of running away from a concubine. As soon as she entered the Han Mansion, she was detained in a remote courtyard. There are people guarding the place, and they are not allowed to go out or see anyone.
There are not many masters, and there are not many people to serve. The total number of maids, servants, and guards in the house is only fifteen or sixteen. The rest are all secret guards hiding in the dark. The only one who exists among these secret guards is Han Changmu. Jin Yu and Meng Sui Ge knew about it, but no one else knew about it.
Outsiders who don't know the details will only think that Han Changmu lives a simple life, and they will also think that he is too trustworthy and is so confident about the security of Chang'an City that there is not even a nursing home in the mansion.
Zhao Yingrong and the three of them walked along and saw a few servants scattered around, which made the already large mansion feel desolate. He sighed and said, "This envoy came from Prince Han's palace. How noble he is." , but there are so few people waiting in the house."
Li Changming looked around and felt very strange: "It's okay to be simple, but why can't you even see a few guards in the courtyard? How can the envoy be so confident about the Jinwu guards patrolling the streets?"
Zhao Fusheng's eyes flashed, and he lowered his voice and said: "It's not that there are no guards in the courtyard, it's that they are all hiding in the dark. There are auras hidden in the dark in the places I just passed by." He paused slightly, Jiwei said: "I can be sure that if there is even the slightest bit of dishonesty among the three of us, these people will definitely not show mercy."
Hearing this, Zhao Yingrong and Li Changming looked at each other in shock.
The night wind rustled, and the tree crowns rustled softly, as if to confirm Zhao Fusheng's words. The rustling sound was like human speech for a while, and like breathing for a while.
Zhao Yingrong and Li Changming both felt their hearts tremble, and an idea came to their minds at the same time.
The mansion of such a high-ranking person is indeed unfathomable and cannot be pried into by someone like them.
As soon as Zhao Yingrong and the others left the small courtyard where they were temporarily staying, a secret guard reported the whereabouts of Han Changmu and the others early.
When Han Changmu saw Zhao Yingrong and three people walking hand in hand, a faint smile finally appeared on his usually cold face.
This opportunity was finally not wasted.
The empty front hall was particularly cold and solemn. There was only Han Changmu sitting there, and there was no one waiting on him. Under the bright lights, he raised his eyes and looked at the three people who were a little nervous. He raised his lips and smiled, but said nothing.
Seeing this scene, the three of Zhao Yingrong's hearts beat like drums, and they felt a little guilty for no reason. The original thought of hiding something disappeared in an instant.
Zhao Yingrong and the other three bowed cautiously.
Han Changmu raised his hand with an indifferent expression. He was not as warm-hearted as he had been in the afternoon, but rather a little cold.
Zhao Yingrong's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know if his hesitation had offended Han Changmu. He quickly stepped forward and clarified: "Your Majesty, I have something to explain."
Han Changmu raised his eyebrows and said "Oh" softly, with a high-pitched sound at the end, as if he was very surprised: "I don't know what it is, why are you three staying up so late at night?"
As soon as these words came out, Zhao Yingrong and the other three blushed, and they were all a little embarrassed. Han Changmu was really waiting for them to take the initiative to tell them, but it was a little late for them to understand.
Since you have offended someone, regretting it will not help. It is better to do something to make up for it quickly.
Zhao Fusheng hurriedly took a step forward, leaned forward and said respectfully: "It's not that the villain is hiding it intentionally. In fact, there are so many things going on that the villain doesn't know where to start."
Han Changmu glanced at Zhao Fusheng lightly: "Let's start from the beginning."
Zhao Fusheng's sweat suddenly dropped, and he said: "Yes, yes."
Li Changming heard that Han Changmu didn't mean to blame, but if they continued to cover up, they really didn't know what was wrong, so he followed up and poked Zhao Yingrong with his elbow: "Brother, let's talk about it from the beginning, no matter how big or small it is. , as long as it’s related to the village, I’ll talk about it.”
Han Changmu glanced at Li Changming again, it was rare that there was an understanding person in Qingyun Village.
He nodded and softened his attitude: "Sit down and talk."
How could Zhao Yingrong and the other two people really dare to sit down firmly? They all sat on only half of the bed in a restrained manner and looked at each other.
Zhao Yingrong coughed lightly and was the first to speak: "Sir, I think you have already found out the origin of Qingyun Village."
Han Changmu said calmly: "It's whatever you say."
"Qingyun Village has been around for nearly two hundred years. Originally, they only made a living on boats. It was not until a hundred years ago that the second owner of Qingyun Village found the hilltop in Dingyun Mountain and set up camp." Zhao Yingrong left behind the last words. A hint of fantasy, he spoke word for word, but the words were exceptionally high-sounding.
"The Sword Comes"
Han Changmu raised his eyebrows. Water bandits are water bandits. What does it mean to make a living on a boat?
Zhao Yingrong also felt that he was trying to cover up a lot, and said with a smile: "Qingyun Village has become more and more prosperous since it established a gate in Dingyun Mountain. There are more and more people in the village, even the villagers at the foot of the mountain. Many people defected."
Han Changmu nodded when he heard this. When he was on the mountain, he also saw the bustling scene in Qingyun Village.
Zhao Yingrong continued: "The villain is the son-in-law of the third leader of Qingyun Village. After his father-in-law passed away, the villain took over the position of leader."
Han Changmu already knew these details, and that was not what he wanted to hear. However, he knew that Zhao Yingrong might be trying to explain what he said later, so he used these things that could be found out as long as he paid attention.
He raised his eyebrows slightly and listened attentively. He wanted to see where these three people could go around.
Sure enough, seeing that Han Changmu was taking his time and had no intention of asking any questions, Zhao Yingrong panicked and couldn't bear it any longer. He smiled awkwardly and said, "I'm far away from this villain." Han Changmu's face was clearly very peaceful. , but Zhao Yingrong was still inexplicably afraid. Unknowingly, thin cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He raised his hand to wipe it and continued: "Seven years ago, Dingyun Mountain suddenly collapsed. Several mountains collapsed. It collapsed into a cliff, and the villain's father-in-law thought it was unlucky, so he invited a Taoist priest to go up the mountain to perform the ritual."
Han Changmu suddenly realized: "Xue Shou is the Taoist priest. He came to Qingyun Village seven years ago?"
Zhao Yingrong nodded heavily: "That's it. After completing the ritual, Xue Shou won the trust of the villain's father-in-law, and became his special guest. Later, he stayed in Qingyun Village. He was a teacher on the surface, but in the village Many things are indispensable for his advice." He paused slightly and covered up his uneasiness: "The villain has read few books, and sometimes he doesn't think thoroughly about many things. Xue Shou is different. He is a literate person. Yes, and with Taoism at his side, both his father-in-law and the villain relied heavily on him. Five years ago, Xue Shou went down the mountain. After coming back, he suddenly told the villain that someone in the court wanted to negotiate a deal with Qingyun Village. A profitable deal.”
"Oh, what kind of deal?" Han Changmu's heart was frightened, but his face didn't reveal anything and he still asked calmly.
Zhao Yingrong said: "That is, at the end of April every year, Qingyun Village buys a group of girls who are about fifteen or sixteen years old and have not left the court and send them to the capital. They say that in five years, they will be able to find a way to give everyone in Qingyun Village a military household. , this year happens to be the fifth year." As he said that, he swallowed and had a question in his mind. If the girls hadn't suddenly become chaotic that night, if Han Changmu and his party hadn't also sneaked into Qingyun Village, then after the girls were sent out, He had never thought carefully about what would happen to Qingyun Village and the people in the village, but now that he had settled down, he thought about it carefully, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that those Yulin soldiers were here to kill the donkeys.
There are at least eight or nine hundred people in Qingyun Village who are all settled into military households. This is not an easy task!
Han Changmu's heart was shaken when he heard this, and he suddenly became confused and frowned: "Do you know who is doing business with Qingyun Village?"
Zhao Yingrong shook his head: "Xue Shou is organizing these things. I have never seen the so-called people in the court. However," he paused slightly: "Since Qingyun Village agreed to this matter five years ago and sent After the first batch of girls passed by, the officers and soldiers who used to come to attack every now and then withdrew and did not come back for five years."
As he said this, he became more and more convinced that the Yulin soldiers who suddenly appeared around Qingyun Village that night burying saltpeter cylinders were there to unload mills and kill donkeys!
He grinded his teeth secretly, thinking that he would not be able to deal with these officials who had eighty evil intentions in the future. He might end up meeting the King of Hell in a daze.
Hearing Zhao Yingrong say that no officers and soldiers have attacked Qingyun Village within five years, he felt an undercurrent in his heart. Who is he? Not only dares to agree to such a big thing as settling military households in Qingyun Village, but he can also control the movements of officers and soldiers. This person must not be Ordinary courtiers, or in other words, the person who controls Qingyun Village should not be one person, but a group of people.
This group of people bewitched Zhao Yingrong and asked him to collect thousands of girls and send them to Beijing for five consecutive years. The whereabouts, life and death of these girls are unknown. Five years later, Qingyun Village was of no use, and this group of people abandoned them like worn out shoes. , annihilated the entire Qingyun Village, killing people and silencing them.
Such a ruthless and ruthless style also involved the Yulin Army. Han Changmu couldn't help but feel chills in his heart. Even though he had been on the battlefield for many years, he was still fighting with open swords and guns. Such a practice of killing people and bullying the people at will was really... Unheard, unseen.
Thinking of this, Han Changmu's face became more and more unkind, and he asked in a deep voice: "The master has never seen the person in the court, so do you know who the person in the court is?"
Zhao Yingrong shook his head blankly: "The villain doesn't know."
Han Changmu laughed angrily at this confused look. He sarcastically said: "The boss really trusts Xue Shou. You just listen to whatever he says. He puts the lives and fortunes of hundreds of people in Qingyun Village at risk." It’s on him.”
Zhao Yingrong was ashamed by Han Changmu's words and lowered his head.
Zhao Fusheng was also panicked. He knew that his father had always been honest, but he didn't expect that the honest person was so powerful. He was just stupid. It had been five years. This matter had been planned for five years, and his father was even behind the scenes. No one knows the person.
He shouted eagerly: "Dad, every time my son asks you, you always say that you know this matter well. Is this how you know it?"
Zhao Yingrong blushed and remained silent.
It wasn't until this moment that he realized how serious this matter was. It was so serious that it was not surprising that he would be wiped out.
Li Changming waited until Zhao Yingrong was honest, and was afraid that he would blame himself too much for this matter, so he got into trouble and quickly added: "It's okay, aren't the people in Qingyun Village all good? They can enter the Internal Security Department and be a serious official. A good citizen is no better than a military household. Brother, we are just making a mistake, thanks to the blessing of the Commander-in-Chief."
Zhao Yingrong felt a little more at ease, and suddenly remembered something, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said urgently: "Master, villain, villain, I remembered, Xue Shou, when Xue Shou went down the mountain to meet the person in the court, he brought That boy, that boy came back and said that he overheard Xue Shou calling that person Mr. Chang Shi!"
"Lord Changshi!" Han Changmu's heart skipped a beat and he exclaimed. Changshi is not a high-ranking official. There are Changshis in each Dufufu, Dudufu, general and state capital, and in the capital there is a Changshi. The only official office of Chang Shi is the Prince's Mansion!
The saint's descendants were prosperous, and there were eleven princes who grew up safely, and there were five princes who founded their own houses when they were young. Fortunately, not many of the saint's brothers survived, and even fewer were crowned princes. The remaining few princes in Liaoliu County are not qualified to set up long history, so the long history that Xue Shou meets can only come from the houses of these five princes.
He calmed down for a few moments and asked calmly: "Where is that kid? I want to see him!"
Zhao Yingrong felt more and more guilty, and said sarcastically: "He, that is, died once in the river. At that time."
Han Changmu frowned. Robbery on the road is naturally dangerous, and death is common. But how could it be such a coincidence that the water bandit who heard the words "Chang Shi" died.
He was depressed. It seemed that he could only pry open Xue Shou's mouth to find out which prince's official history he was.
Seeing Han Changmu's concentration and silence, Li Changming felt a sudden shock in his heart. He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "Sir, when the eldest brother mentioned this, I also remembered something."
Han Changmu raised his eyebrows: "What's the matter?"
Li Changming thought about it for a moment: "It's about three," his face darkened, and he hurriedly changed his words: "Dou Weiqi, it's about Dou Weiqi." He sighed with regret, mourning their brotherhood that could no longer be recalled: "This In the past two years, Dou Weiqi went down the mountain every other month. The villain thought he was raising someone at the foot of the mountain, and even laughed at him a few times. However, he neither admitted nor denied it, and the villain never saw him buy anything. After delivering some things for women, he became curious and sent someone to follow him all the way. Who knew that he actually entered Chang'an City, and lost him in Yiyangfang the first time, and then he followed him to Daye the second time. The third time he was lost in Guiyi Square, and he followed him a few times later, but he disappeared just after entering the city. At that time, the villain thought that he had made a mistake. Dou Weiqi did not raise someone, but someone. When I went to the city to do something, I didn’t think deeply about it, but now that I think about it, it’s very strange. I was so scared that I didn’t think carefully enough at the time and didn’t go into it deeply.”
Listening to those few squares, Han Changmu felt that they were particularly familiar, as if he had just heard them. After a moment of silence, he quickly took Li Sheng's confession stacked next to him and flipped through the pages.
Finally, these few details were discovered in the confession.
It turns out that there are Xie Liangzhan's manpower in these villages. They used to be the branch of the Four Saints Sect, but now they are the branch of Xie Liangzhan.
According to Li Sheng, Du Feng, who jumped off the cliff with Xie Mengxia in his arms, was Xie Liang's confidant. Although his surname was Du, he was Li Sheng's nephew. He changed his name just to hide his identity. Li Sheng trusted him very much. He was never on guard against him, but he didn't expect that it would be his nephew who would kill him.
