Zheng Yishun's tea shop had been sealed, and Su Huangzhe and An Ying entered the courtyard through the back door. An Ying found the batch of copper-coin tea cakes that he had seen at that time, pointed at them and said: "I came to Master Zheng to inquire about the news. He was worried that these copper-coin tea cakes would be thrown into his hands. These tribute teas cannot be sold privately. , I have to wait until the case is settled before it can be dealt with, so I am stuck in his shop all my life.”
Su Huangzhe nodded and said: "I checked the files and it turns out that all Zheng Ping made were tribute teas in the shape of copper coins. The first batch of tea cakes he tried to make were all given to Lord Zhizhou. Logically, he shouldn't have Xiaofeng Tuan on his hands. , but you said that you saw his wife drinking Xiaofeng Tuan that day, which is also suspicious. I heard that his wife has returned to her natal home, and I have sent people to her natal home to arrest her. "
An Ying thought to himself, Mr. Su is really impeccable. He originally wanted to talk about it, but everyone has already made arrangements.
The two went to the second floor of the tea shop. The elegant room was still the same as before. There was a tea room on the side of the house. An Ying noticed it when he came last time. The tea preparation room is not big. There is a table. On the table are tea grinders, sieving shilla and other tea utensils. On the other side is a well-made black lacquered tea cabinet inlaid with mother-of-pearl. One drawer is opened, and inside There are tea cakes and ground tea powder. An Ying opened drawer after drawer and finally found half-cake and small phoenix dumplings in a corner.
Xiao Yi also went upstairs to report: "My lord, I have searched the shop inside and outside, but there is nothing special. After Zheng Ping was arrested that day, the shop was immediately sealed. I lined up ten brothers to guard the shop. There, no one had a chance to take anything away. However, I checked with the helpers in the shop, and they all saw it when the shopkeeper Niu placed the molds. Indeed, they packed the molds for the little phoenix dumplings separately and put them there specially. They were also puzzled as to why it suddenly appeared in the box on the shelf. Someone must have secretly put the mold in behind the back of the shopkeeper. The subordinates separately recorded the more than 20 people in the shop including helpers, handymen, maids, and maids. Got a confession."
"Well, did Mrs. Zheng Ping bring it back?" Su Huangzhe picked up the half-cake and phoenix dumpling, looked at it, and then looked around the shop.
Xiao Yi returned: "Zheng Ping's wife, Luo Shi, has been taken to the government prison. The six members of her natal family are all under control at home and can be summoned at any time."
An Ying thought to himself, Mr. Su's men are indeed very powerful. They have done all the unexplained things properly. It seems that they are a team with a high level of professionalism.
Su Huangzhe opened the window of the private room on the second floor and asked, "Have you ever asked whether Luo Shi is in the private room on weekdays?"
"Exactly". An Ying and Xiao Yi arrived at the same time. The two couldn't help but glance at each other. An Ying couldn't help but take a half step back and said with a smile: "Brother Xiao Yi, tell me."
Xiao Yi grinned and said: "The tea shop opened by Zheng Ping is usually managed by Luo Shi. Zheng Ping himself is mainly responsible for making tea. For example, tribute tea and the large quantities of tea cakes purchased by northern merchants are all taken care of by Zheng Ping. On weekdays, Zheng Ping takes care of the tea shop. Mr. Liluo stayed in this private room. In the evening, Zheng Ping came back and had dinner in the shop, and then the two of them went back to the Zheng family's mansion together. The house is at the back of the street, just outside the door. "
Several people walked to the Zheng family's mansion again. The house is not small, with three entrances from the front and back, and wing rooms on both sides. Xiao Yi led the way and said, "Zheng Ping and this lady got married eight years ago. I heard that Zheng Ping dotes on this lady Luo very much."
Su Huangzhe said: "Mr. Zheng is almost forty years old, right? If he and Madam Luo got married eight years ago, there should be another lady in front of him, right?"
Xiao Yi said: "There is indeed a lady in front of me. She died of illness eight years ago and then married Madam Luo. The lady in front of me left a girl named Zheng Ying. I heard from my servant that Zheng Ying and Madam Luo didn't get along, so she even married someone else. I also married from my uncle’s family, and I heard that they are also a tea-making family, but they can’t compare with the Zheng family, and they live in a cheap place in the north of the city.”
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Xiao Yi shook his head and said, "When this man marries a bride, he treats the children of his predecessors like this."
Zheng Ping's home was well furnished. Su Huangzhe walked around Zheng Ping's study and asked, "What can be found in this study?"
"My lord, I have searched this study several times. They are all account books and letters from the shop. If there is anything important, there is a list of gifts given by Zheng Ping to the transfer envoy, He Zhizhou, and the governor. But I see The value is not high, it can only be said to be the merchant’s contribution.”
"Then Zheng Ping can be regarded as a serious businessman. He has taken the position of manager of Huzhou Tea Company. It is impossible not to take care of the top."
An Ying picked up a crystal mountain-shaped pen holder on the Bogu shelf and looked at it carefully. Su Huangzhe looked back and said, "Miss An, what's the problem?"
An Ying said: "Mr. Zheng, as Mr. Su said, is an authentic businessman. This crystal penholder seems to be incompatible with his status. How should I put it? It seems to be incompatible with the layout here."
"How could it be? Mr. Zheng is considered a rich man, so it is normal for him to buy a crystal pen holder for decoration. Look, there is a rose-red kiln bottle here, and the seven incense burners over there are also very elegant." Yi said, thinking that this was a little girl from the countryside who didn't quite understand this ornamental object.
Su Huangzhe nodded and said, "You observe very carefully."
Xiao Yi chuckled, scratched his head and said: "No, no, it's just years of experience in handling cases."
Su Huangzhe patted Xiao Yi on the shoulder and said, "I'm talking about Miss An." He then said, "If Miss An has any questions, please tell me."
Looking at Xiao Yi, whose face was red, An Ying smiled and said, "Brother Xiao Yi is actually right. Wealthy merchants will always buy some elegant objects to decorate their facades. This brother's kiln bottles and incense burners are all merchants. We like to buy, firstly, it is festive, and secondly, it can be seen at a glance that it is expensive. This crystal pen stand is exquisite and elegant, usually played by the owner himself, and is not suitable for decoration, and the price is extremely high. Merchants like Zheng Ping, not I would buy such expensive ornaments just for my own enjoyment. At this price, I can buy a dozen bottles from the top Ge Kiln or Guan Kiln, and put them in the study or living room so that guests who come in and out can see them. "
Xiao Yi suddenly understood, nodded and said: "I understood when Miss An said this. I was thinking too little. I will go and find out the origin of this crystal pen holder."
After looking at Zheng Ping's study, he went to Luo Shi's boudoir. Xiao Yi said as he walked: "This Luo family's boudoir is full of good things. I'm afraid that people will take advantage of troubled waters, so I specially arranged for more people to guard it."
"How is this Luo family?" Su Huangzhe asked.
"This Luo family is a rich farmer outside the city of Huzhou. They have hundreds of acres of fertile land and a tofu shop, but they are far behind the Zheng family. But this Luo family is beautiful, and it is common for her to marry Mr. Zheng." Xiao Yi replied.
An Ying was looking at Luo's dowry on the dressing table. While looking at it, he said: "I have dealt with this Luo before, and he is very shrewd. If Luo's natal family is just an ordinary wealthy family, then the objects in Luo's house should be all wedding items. Zheng Ping came here to spend money to buy something, and it was obvious that he spent a lot of money. Not to mention the carved canopy bed, even the curtain was made of new materials from Suzhou, and each curtain cost dozens of taels of silver. . There are a lot of valuable jewelry in this dowry box. It seems that Luo left in a hurry and didn't even take away the dowry that is most easily carried."
"In this way, this Luo Shi is a bit strange. Zheng Ping was arrested by us at Wuzhanglou last night. We did not spread the news. At that time, we asked the brothers from the Criminal Department to wear regular clothes and take the people out from the banquet. This Luo Shi There is no reason to know about Zheng Ping's arrest. I didn't think much about it at first. When I brought people to the Zheng family's residence this morning, I heard from the Zheng family's servants that the eldest wife returned to her parents' home with her personal mother-in-law at dawn. I heard that my natal mother was ill. I immediately sent someone to Luo's natal house to bring him back. By the way, Ermao, it was you who took him to the Luo family." Xiao Yi said to a guard at the door.
The Ermao guard came in and saluted, and then replied: "My subordinate Yin Shi came over to guard the Zheng family's residence. At that time, I counted people according to the book. After counting, I realized that the eldest lady of the Zheng family had left before we came in. The ones left behind The eldest maid said that the lady had returned to her parents' home outside the city, so I immediately took my three brothers and rode out of the city. It was almost midnight when we arrived at Zheng's house. Madam Luo must have just arrived, and her luggage and baggage had not been removed from the carriage. Unload it. We will take the person back to the government prison immediately."
"She also brought baggage? Have you collected all her things? Can you let me take a look?" An Ying said.
After a while, Luo Shi's things were spread out on the table, and Xiao Yi said, "Luo Shi's clothes have all been taken apart, and they are all here."
An Ying and Su Huangzhe looked at each other carefully and looked at each other. Su Huangzhe said: "Xiao Yi, bring the servant's confession and we'll watch it here. Have someone wait by the side while I wait." Let’s ask questions.”
