Xiaocui sat on the stool and looked around in a panic. This is a palace room in the palace. Xiao Cui doesn't know what this palace is for. Two eunuchs are waiting outside the door, talking quietly. Xiao Cui can't hear what they say and has no intention to listen. I didn’t know whether it was right or wrong to escape after listening to Aunt Zhang’s words this time.
If the emperor doesn't believe what he said and tells the master that he sneaked into the palace, then he...
While Xiao Cui was thinking wildly, the two eunuchs outside suddenly stopped talking and stood respectfully.
"The Emperor has arrived~" a thin voice shouted loudly.
"Slave...slave Xiaocui, no, civilian girl Xiaocui pays homage to Your Majesty." Xiaocui quickly stood up, then knelt down and fell to the ground.
When no one responded, Xiaocui glanced up secretly. It turned out that the emperor had not arrived yet, but the serving eunuch had just called in advance to remind people around him to be respectful.
Xiaocui still didn't dare to get up, because she knew that the emperor was coming soon, and she thought that if the emperor saw her kneeling on the ground as soon as he entered the room, he might be happy and believe what he said.
"Are you Xiaocui from Taishi Li's house? Do you have anything to say to me alone in the palace?" A gentle young voice sounded, interrupting Xiaocui's thoughts.
"Yes, civilian daughter Xiaocui pays homage to His Majesty." Xiaocui knew that the emperor was coming and did not dare to raise her head, so she responded quickly.
Wang Zhenliang was waiting outside the door. Zhao Yizhi walked to her and sat down next to her: "Stand up and speak. Now that I am in front of you, what do you want to say?"
Xiao Cui got up nervously, lowered her head and said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, the daughter of the people... the daughter of the people is going to make a debut... Taishi Li's housekeeper... Liu Tai. Butler Liu conspired to assassinate your majesty..."
Zhao Yizhi's eyes flashed, he glanced at the trembling Xiaocui, and asked in a deep voice: "Is there any evidence?"
Xiaocui nodded quickly: "Yes, Uncle Tang, the accountant of the Grand Master's Mansion... No, Lao Tang... there is a ledger there with monthly... money expenditures... No matter what they do... wherever the money is needed... they will be there... Write it down in the ledger."
"How could you, a maid from the Grand Master's Mansion, know so much?" Zhao Yizhi was already happy, as long as there was evidence, it would be easier, but his face remained expressionless as he continued to stare at Xiao Cui, Let's see if we can find out more.
When Xiao Cui heard Zhao Yizhi's question, she couldn't help but feel sore in her nose and cried: "Guard Liu has a beastly heart. One night he drank two more drinks and took over the daughter of the people. Later, the women of the people were not allowed to be fired. When I returned home from an errand, I threatened the girl with her parents, saying that if she didn't obey him, he would take back all the land rented by my parents and send people to beat all my brothers and sisters to death. The girl had no choice but to do so. He kept aggrieved and begged for perfection... Later, he drank two more drinks and seemed very happy. The girl asked her, and he told her..."
When talking about Butler Liu occupying her, Xiaocui said angrily, but she was not afraid of stuttering at all.
"Then you have known about this for a long time, why did you wait until today to come to the palace to appoint Butler Liu?" Zhao Yizhi asked.
"Folk girl...folk girl speaks softly, fearing that the officials will not believe her if she becomes a leader, which will anger Butler Liu...Last night, while the girl was sleeping, Aunt Zhang came to tell the girl that it was Liu Sanhe, the son of Butler Liu. A servant prepared a rope sack, and when she heard it, she realized that she was planning to harm me. The girl told Aunt Zhang about it, and Aunt Zhang asked me to come to the palace to find His Majesty... You must not say these words to others. You can only say it when you see Your Majesty. …”
Zhao Yizhi nodded and tested Xiaocui and said, "I will send someone to check. If the situation is true, the court will reward you! But if it is a false accusation... you will also be punished and imprisoned!"
When Xiaocui heard that Zhao Yizhi was going to send someone to check, she breathed a sigh of relief and prostrated herself on the ground again: "The daughter of the people bows to thank you, your majesty, long live your majesty..."
"Okay, get up. During this time...I will ask Manager Wang to arrange an errand for you later. You will stay in the palace for now until the matter is found out." After Zhao Yizhi gave the instructions, he got up and left with Wang Zhenliang. , leaving Xiaocui alone in the house crying with joy.
"Mr. Wang, are you worried about something today? Why didn't you say a word along the way?" Zhao Yizhi turned around, looked at Wang Zhenliang and asked curiously.
"The old slave saw that His Majesty had his own opinions, so he didn't dare to say anything." Wang Zhenliang bowed and followed behind him, and said quickly.
"Oh? Then tell me, what do I stand for?" Zhao Yizhi asked.
Wang Zhenliang replied: "Your Majesty comes here to interrogate maid Xiaocui first, that's what he wants."
"how do I say this?"
"If Your Majesty had brought up the assassin for interrogation first, the culprits who could not protect Qi would have received wind of the news and had to deal with it. Your Majesty interrogated Xiao Cui first to avoid disturbing the situation and causing Taishi Li to be unable to respond. This is your Majesty's brilliance." Wang Zhenliang said. own understanding.
"I heard that it is taboo for ministers to test the emperor's heart. Have you ever heard of it, Mr. Wang?" Zhao Yizhi asked with a smile.
Wang Zhenliang leaned forward and replied: "I have never heard of it. I only know that if your majesty asks a question, I will answer it. Other slaves don't know or think about it."
Zhao Yizhi was in a good mood and said to Wang Zhenliang: "Hahahaha, Manager Wang, why don't you send someone to the Grand Master's Mansion to retrieve the account book?"
"Old slave, let's do it now!" Wang Zhenliang agreed and turned around to make arrangements.
At this time, Shan Shan emerged from nowhere and said, "Your Majesty, what should we do with Hu Lishan in prison?"
Zhao Yizhi asked: "But the assassin who drove the mouse last night?"
"Exactly! He claimed to be a prince and sent Mr. Wu and the Fourth Young Master to rob the prison. The purpose was to disrupt the capital. If he could... assassinate the emperor, it would be a great achievement. Now Mr. Wu and the Fourth Young Master are still I didn't find it...I don't know who the prince is," Shan Shan replied.
Zhao Yizhi nodded: "You go ahead and handle this matter. If he can find Mr. Wu and the Fourth Young Master, I don't have to pursue him for the crime of assassination. By the way, I didn't see him last night. How did you catch him?"
Shanshan couldn't help laughing when he thought of what happened last night: "I was patrolling around the prison last night and saw him chasing Yi Xiaodao. The two of them were running towards the prison from a distance, so I showed up and prepared to capture him. Then Hu Tateyama pretended to plead guilty, but suddenly he made the rats explode, and he turned around and ran for his life. Later, Yi Xiaodao fought with him, and subdued him with a set of rogue punches. "
Zhao Yizhi raised his eyebrows and asked, "Yi Xiaodao? But that Yi Xiaodao who captured Kong Bao?"
Shanshan replied: "It's that Yi Xiaodao. I saw him on the tower yesterday."
Zhao Yizhi made some calculations in his mind and ordered: "He is indeed a talented person. I will reward you with another five hundred taels. Please pay more attention."
Shan Shan bowed his hands in agreement, turned around and left.
"Yi Xiaodao, that's a good name. I wonder if it can become one of my swords." Zhao Yizhi shook his head and smiled, walking towards the palace gate.
In prison, Hu Lishan and Yi Xiaodao chatted all night through the cell door, and the more they chatted, the more they became more and more speculative.
"Brother, what happened yesterday was my fault. That 'Monkey Stealing the Tower' move didn't hurt you, right?" Yi Xiaodao apologized with his hand.
Hu Lishan waved his hand casually and said calmly: "My dear brother, don't worry about that little thing. Hu and I met you late! What is the top ice cream in Wancheng you just mentioned? Something? Talk to Brother Yu in detail!"
As soon as Yi Xiaodao heard "Ding ice cream", he immediately gushed: "Ding ice cream! It is a specialty of Wancheng. It is as white as the snow on the top of the mountain and gets its name. It is even in thickness, rolled like a brand, curled like paper, and ignites instantly! Try it! One bite, it's so sweet! Your teeth are so sweet!" Yi Xiaodao gestured with joy.
When Hu Lishan heard this, his mouth almost watered.
"Brother, don't worry. When you come to Wancheng, I will definitely take you to try the ice cream! Eat well! Stay strong!" Yi Xiaodao quickly comforted the restless Hu Lishan and made a promise.
While the two were having a good chat, Shanshan came to the cell with a knife in his hand.
"What are you talking about? Such speculation." Seeing the two chatting happily, Shan Shan asked aloud.
"Brother Shanshan is here, let's talk about ice cream! Brother Shanshan, please try it later!" Yi Xiaodao replied with a smile.
Shan Shan shook his head: "I don't like sweets, but Tui Lin does like sweets. You can talk to him about ice cream."
When Hu Lishan saw Shan Shan coming, he understood that he must have come with the emperor's will. He quickly knelt down for a few steps and came to Shan Shan: "May I ask, sir... what did your majesty say?"
Shan Shan smiled and said: "You are lucky. His Majesty has said that as long as you can find Mr. Wu and the Fourth Young Master, it will be considered a great achievement of yours! You can save your life."
Hu Lishan was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly: "Thank you! Thank you Master Shanshan! I can't thank you enough! I'll look for it, I'll look for it now!"
Hu Lishan quickly sat down by the wall, closed his eyes and crossed his legs, and began to drive the mice to search for the whereabouts of Mr. Wu and the Fourth Young Master.
When Yi Xiaodao and Hanshan saw Hu Lishan starting to search, they didn't bother them. Yi Xiaodao stretched out and planned to go back when he saw that he had nothing to do.
"What? Are you leaving now? Don't want the silver reward?" Shan Shan called to Yi Xiaodao.
Yi Xiaodao turned his head and was pleasantly surprised: "Is there really a silver reward?"
Shan Shan took out a banknote from his arms and handed it to Yi Xiaodao: "You've been waiting all night, isn't this what you're waiting for?"
Yi Xiaodao blushed and said with a smile: "I was... too late. When I went back, I met the watchman and the official and it was hard to explain. I didn't really have any hope. Thank you, Brother Shanshan!"
"Go find the jailer and change your clothes. You won't be able to go out like this at dawn. Remember to come back!" Shanshan warned, then turned and left.
In the inn, Xiang Lian'er woke up early in the morning, went to the next door and knocked on Yi Xiaodao's door: "Xiaodao, it's time to get up and eat! The sun is going to scorch your butt. The person giving the silver reward will be here soon!"
There was no response from the room, so Xianglianer knocked on the door again: "Knife? Is it inside?"
There was still no movement in the room. Xiang Lian'er pushed gently and the door opened with a creak. There was no one in the room. The quilts were folded neatly and it looked like no one had touched them.
Xiang Lian'er walked to the bed and touched the bed, but there was no warmth: "Xiao Dao didn't come back all night, something will happen, right?"
Xiang Lian'er hurriedly ran out of the room and was about to go back to the room to tell He Yue'er. Unfortunately, she bumped into two people at the corner. Xiang Lian'er rubbed her painful shoulder and looked up, seeing two men, one thin and the other strong. The thin man even had a plaster on his face, and the strong man supported him and walked slowly. It was Mr. Wu and the Fourth Young Master!
When Mr. Wu saw that he bumped into Xiang Lian'er, he complained, and the two lowered their heads and wanted to leave.
When Xianglianer saw the other party taking the initiative to apologize, she didn't care. When she was about to leave, she overheard the conversation between the two.
"That kid should have been killed last night!" the Fourth Young Master said bitterly.
"The matter is over, don't mention it again, it's important to get out of the city quickly." Mr. Wu whispered.
"Kill that boy!"
Xiang Lian'er was half-obedient, but Yi Xiaodao didn't come back all night. Xiang Lian'er naturally combined the two: "Yi Xiaodao is dead?"
Xiang Lian'er hurried back to the room: "Sister Yue'er, it's bad, Yi Xiaodao is dead!"
