Wu Chengsi walked quickly towards the Zichen Palace. The chamberlain leading the way was walking very fast, so he had to speed up his pace.
The squares on both sides were quiet, but there was an undercurrent surging in Wu Chengsi's heart.
There was a look of extreme confusion on his face, why was it suddenly announced that he was entering the palace, and why was he so anxious.
Standing in front of the Zichen Palace, listening to the chamberlain's performance, Wu Chengsi felt an inexplicable gloom in his heart.
"Secretary and Supervisor Wu Chengsi is summoned to appear in court!"
In an instant, Wu Chengsi suppressed all his emotions in his heart, looked solemn, and respectfully walked into the Zichen Hall.
As soon as he entered the hall, Wu Chengsi saw Li Xuan and Ming Chongyan standing on the left side of the hall, and Di Renjie, the prime minister of Dali Temple, standing in the center of the hall.
Di Renjie, the most famous detective in Dali Temple today, is highly appreciated by Duan Baoxuan and Zhang Wenguan.
He has a friendly relationship with the King of Nanchang, and they even have a mutual friend Wang Bo.
Di Renjie was able to solve major cases many times, and he was supported by the King of Nanchang.
Wu Chengsi's sharp eyes glanced over, and a hint of coldness flashed in his heart. Then he looked forward, raised his hands and saluted: "Secretary and Supervisor Wu Chengsi, pay homage to Your Majesty, the Queen of Heaven."
Li Zhi put his hands on the imperial desk, raised his head slightly, glanced at Wu Chengsi, then turned around to look at Empress Wu.
He had no interest in asking questions.
Empress Wu leaned forward slightly, spoke in a gentle tone, and asked calmly: "Chengsi, have you been to Da Ci'en Temple today?"
Wu Chengsi was stunned for a moment, then he raised his hands and said, "Reporting to the Queen of Heaven, I did go to Da Ci'en Temple today."
"When did you go, when did you leave, who did you meet, and what did you do after you left?" Empress Wu asked a series of questions directly.
Wu Chengsi's face suddenly felt a little embarrassed, but he still held up his hands and said: "Reporting to the Queen of Heaven, I arrived at Da Ci'en Temple at the beginning of this year. I stayed at Da Ci'en Temple for about half an hour and then left Da Ci'en Temple."
"Half an hour, isn't it? Remember here, you clearly stayed at Da Ci'en Temple for six quarters of an hour. Why, did you eat all the last two quarters of an hour?" Empress Wu's voice suddenly turned cold. A log-in book was thrown directly to the ground by Empress Wu, her anger clear.
Everyone present was a bright-eyed person, and it was clearly written on it that Zhou Guogong Wu Chengsi arrived at Daci'en Temple at the beginning of the year and left at six o'clock.
Empress Wu stared straight at Wu Chengsi, feeling infinitely angry in her heart.
Wu Chengsi's face was full of injustice, and he immediately raised his hands and said: "Reporting to the Queen of Heaven, I did arrive at Daci'en Temple at the beginning of Si Shi, and left after Si Si Zheng, but in the end it did not exceed Si Si Wu, and definitely did not stay until Si Si Six. carve."
"It seems that there is something wrong with the registration book of Da Ci'en Temple. When your famous Zhou Guogong went in and out of Da Ci'en Temple, they could actually remember the time wrong. It's really shameless." Although Empress Wu spoke calmly, there was suspicion and suspicion in her words. The coldness reached the ears of everyone present in an instant.
Empress Wu didn't believe in Da Ci'en Temple, she didn't believe in Wu Chengsi.
Li Xuan stood on one side, her eyebrows lowered and her eyes lowered, as if she hadn't seen or heard anything.
…
"Queen of Heaven, my memory is absolutely correct. At six o'clock in the morning, I had already arrived at Qujiang Pool and was wandering around. I just returned home not long ago and was summoned by the palace. I came here immediately." Wu Chengsi handed over his hand. , even though there was a look of injustice on his face, he still said calmly and respectfully: "Tianhou, maybe Daci'en Temple really remembered it wrong, it's unknown."
"Then what did you do at Daci Temple?" Empress Wu looked at Wu Chengsi coldly, with deep anger in her eyes.
Li Xuan, Ming Chongyan, Di Renjie and others standing aside were staring at Wu Chengsi with deep eyes, watching his every move.
Today, at Da Ci'en Temple, Li Xuan and Ming Chongyan were only one step behind Wu Chengsi, but they had never seen Wu Chengsi before.
"Reporting to the Queen of Heaven, I went to the Da Ci'en Temple to pray for Your Majesty, the Queen of Heaven, and my grandfather, Erlang, to pray for peace and health." After Wu Chengsi finished speaking, he bowed deeply.
"Did you really do that?" A hint of coldness flashed across Empress Wu's face, but then she asked more directly: "Who did you see there?"
Wu Chengsi paused for a moment, but still raised his hands and said, "I met with the two great masters Huinuma and Shanwuhui from Daci'en Temple."
"You are here specifically to see the good and have no regrets, right?" Empress Wu revealed the secretiveness in Wu Chengsi's words with one word.
Huinuma is responsible for guarding the main hall, and Zhou Guogong Wu Chengsi is a distinguished guest among the distinguished guests. Naturally, Huinuma will accompany him at all times.
But Huinuma was accompanied by Li Xuan and Ming Chongyan in the end, and there was no Wu Chengsi at all, so Wu Chengsi could only leave early.
Even after Wu Chengsi briefly met Huinuma, he turned around and went to see Shan Wuhui, and he spent most of the time at Shan Wuhui's place.
…
Wu Chengsi fell silent, Li Xuan, Ming Chongyan, and Di Renjie all fell silent.
Although Daci'en Temple is a place for praying and worshiping, not all those worshiping may be Buddha.
For example, the entire Da Ci'en Temple was specially expanded by the emperor in memory of his mother's eldest grandson, the empress.
In the temple, there is also the merit monument of Queen Changsun.
In Chang'an City, wealthy families can also send the merit tablets of their deceased elders to Da Ci'en Temple, and then worship them every day.
If there is any inconvenience, you can also ask the monks in the temple to burn incense and worship on your behalf.
This was naturally the case for Wu Chengsi, but what he was looking for was Master Shanwuhui from Tianzhu, not any of the monks in the temple.
Because the people he burned incense to worship were his father Wu Yuanshuang and uncle Wu Yuanqing.
Wu Yuanshuang and Wu Yuanqing were half-brothers and sisters with Empress Wu. However, when Empress Wu was young, these two were very mean to her mother, Yang, and often abused and humiliated her.
Later, Wu became the queen, Wu Yuanshuang became the governor of Haozhou, and Wu Yuanqing became the governor of Longzhou. However, not long after, they both died in Zhenzhou due to official affairs.
Although the two have tombs, they are not in Chang'an.
Wu Chengsi set up a family temple to worship in the Duke of Zhou's mansion, and even Empress Wu found it inconvenient to interfere.
But now, he quietly sent the merit tablets of Wu Yuanshuang and Wu Yuanqing to Da Ci'en Temple for worship, which was very taboo.
Especially the taboo of Empress Wu.
So Wu Chengsi could only go to Tianzhu monk Shan Wuhui to take care of him.
This kind of thing was already clear to Empress Wu when she saw Wu Chengsi coming into contact with Shan Wuhui.
It was clear, but the anger in his heart was rising.
Wu Chengsi lowered his head slightly, but then he raised his head and asked extremely vigilantly: "The Queen, do you know what happened?"
"Di Qing, tell him." Empress Wu waved her sleeves and turned sideways, no longer looking at Wu Chengsi.
Di Renjie immediately turned around, cupped his hands and said, "Duke Zhou, at six o'clock today, Master Shan Wuhui of the Great Ci'en Temple was found dead in the guest house of Ci'en Temple."
"Master Shan Wuhui is dead?" Wu Chengsi suddenly looked horrified and looked at a loss.
Di Renjie looked at Wu Chengsi, raised his hands and asked, "Duke Zhou, are you really not aware of the major events that happened in Da Ci'en Temple today?"
Wu Chengsi finally regained his composure, with a wry smile on his face, and said casually: "After bidding farewell to Master Shanwuhui, I left Daci'en Temple and went to Qujiang Pool. I was confused and wandered around casually. I really never thought that , Master Shan Wuhui was actually harmed by someone, it’s really…”
After a pause, Wu Chengsi continued: "Master Shanwuhui was born in Tianzhu. He has a unique understanding of Buddhism. He can broaden people's minds and bodies and resolve people's doubts. Therefore... No, you called me here because you doubt me... No, why ... Queen of Heaven, this matter was not done by me. Master Shan Wuhui was kind to me, so how could I do such an animal thing?"
Wu Chengsi finally came to his senses now. This time, the emperor and Empress Wu called him here because they suspected that he had killed Master Shan Wuhui.
Wu Chengsi immediately knelt on the ground with a "pop" sound, and then he knelt down deeply, his whole body filled with fear.
A figure suddenly appeared in his mind.
This person is his cousin Helan Minzhi.
"So, you don't know anything about the King of Nanchang?" Empress Wu leaned forward and stared at Wu Chengsi with eager eyes.
Wu Chengsi raised his head in astonishment, looked at Li Xuan, and asked, "Did something happen behind the scenes of King Nanchang?"
Li Xuan looked at Wu Chengsi who looked confused, looked at him deeply, lowered his head and began to think carefully.
Does this really have nothing to do with Wu Chengsi, or is he really good at acting?
Li Zhi spoke at this time, looked at Di Renjie, Li Xuan and Ming Chongyan, and asked with a cold expression: "Di Qing, Ming Qing, King Nanchang, what do you think about this matter?"
Di Renjie took the lead and said: "Your Majesty, from what I can see, this matter has little to do with the secretary prison. If someone like the secretary prison really wants to kill someone, they will not be so clumsy. Before the person has completely left, he is suspected of murder... I have carefully inspected the scene and found that the murderer was calm and did not act out of anger, and his sword skills were accurate and sharp. Although the secretary supervisor has some skills, killing people is probably not his specialty."
Li Zhi nodded, then looked at Li Xuan and asked, "King Nanchang, what do you think?"
Li Xuan turned to look at the emperor, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Queen of Heaven, what Di Si Cheng said is true. Duke Zhou has always been strict and meticulous in his actions, with few omissions. Daci Temple is not an ordinary place. Once something goes wrong, Wannian County and Yongzhou Prefecture , even the Qianniu Guards of Dali Temple and Honglu Temple were alarmed. If you don't pay attention, you will have to go to the palace to confront me. The noise is too big, so I conclude that this matter is not the work of the Secretary Prison."
"Do you really think so?" Empress Wu suddenly interrupted and looked at Li Xuan, her eyes fixed on Li Xuan.
Li Xuan once again interceded for Wu Chengsi, but Empress Wu suddenly became suspicious.
Li Xuan calmly raised her hands and said: "Reporting to the Queen of Heaven, I know Zhou Guogong quite well. He is a well-rounded man, and he is not someone who acts rashly. Moreover, today's incident is too similar... It seems that someone has been keeping an eye on Zhou Guogong. , seems to be keeping an eye on me, if I hadn’t had other things to do at Da Ci’en Temple today, I’m afraid even I would have been involved in it, and please ask Your Majesty and the Queen to investigate this matter carefully.”
Empress Wu nodded slightly, sighed softly, and turned to look at Wu Chengsi, with a trace of hatred in his eyes.
Li Zhi asked at this time: "Mingqing, what do you say?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty and Queen of Heaven, what Di Si Cheng and King Nanchang said are both correct." Ming Chong bowed down and said at the same time: "I followed King Nanchang to Da Ci'en Temple, and later I also visited the guest house. But there are no other traces there except a cut throat. The person who did it was neat and neat, and the scene was very clean... Queen Tian, judging from Zhou Guogong's mood today, he is not the person who can do this. "
Li Zhi gently knocked on the table and said with a stern face: "No matter what, something so serious has happened in Da Ci'en Temple, and it needs to be found out as soon as possible. The king of Nanchang will take the lead in this matter, Ming Qing and Di Please cooperate with me, Qianniuwei and Dali Temple will give you full assistance to investigate this case as soon as possible."
"I obey the decree." Li Xuan, Ming Chongyan, and Di Renjie agreed at the same time.
Li Zhi's eyes fell on Wu Chengsi, and he said in a gentle voice: "Wu Qing, from today on, you will shut yourself up and think about your mistakes. When will the case be found out, you can go out again."
"I accept the decree." Wu Chengsi kowtowed deeply.
(End of chapter)
