"This is not a big deal. What is there to hide?"
Yang Huaimin sneered and continued what Gu Qingjue said: "That's right, it's not a big deal, I didn't think of talking about it."
"Then tell me what kind of pastry you bought, where you bought it from, and how much money it cost. We will send someone to verify it. After you know it, Deputy Yang can go back to Renming Hall and continue his errand."
Just now I said I was going to buy snacks, which was just nonsense.
He had brought snacks back that day, just to hide them from others. The man had prepared them for him in advance. Because it was too late, he had no time to go to the pastry shop to show his face.
Yang Huaimin could not provide conclusive evidence, but he still insisted that Concubine Zhang missed her former home and now that she could not leave the palace, she asked him to go back and visit on her behalf.
Isn't this nonsense?
Although the house in Guanyin Bridge was not sold, Concubine Zhang lived there for only a few days. She entered the palace when she was eight years old.
What's there to think about?
Just at this time, Zhang Wanqing came to the side hall where they were temporarily hearing the case with her pregnant belly, insisting that Bao Zheng let him go.
After the two of them saluted Concubine Zhang, they did not back down: "Concubine Zhang, we are investigating this assassination case under the orders of the officials. Even if Concubine Zhang acts as guarantee, we cannot let anyone else."
"Master Bao, please think clearly, Yang Huaimin is mine."
"He is very suspicious. Even if he is the empress, I can't just let him go. Even if the officials come, I can't!"
This sentence directly blocked Zhang Wanqing's path.
"He left the palace that day under my order, and reported to me when he returned late. How could he become a suspect for assassinating the official family? Mr. Bao, you can't do it indiscriminately just because you hate my uncle. Splash this sewage on the people around me.”
"Your Majesty, be careful what you say."
Zhang Wanqing was so angry that her chest hurt.
So what if she made her a noble concubine? People who should look down on her still look down on her, and people who want to protect can still not protect her.
Like her three children who died, she could keep none of them.
Zhang Wanqing held her belly, glanced at Yang Huaimin, and could only go back to Renming Hall for the time being.
Yang Huaimin was imprisoned.
Bao Zheng and Gu Qingjue continued to investigate who was in contact with Yang Huaimin that day.
This investigation led directly to the Li Mansion.
Li Mansion.
The natal family of the official’s mother-in-law.
Li Wei's brother Li Ju was deeply involved in this matter.
Li Wei is the cousin of the official family and the sixth son of his uncle Li Yonghe. The official family has always preferred him as their son-in-law. They originally wanted to directly engage Princess Fukang several times, but Princess Fukang was very repulsive to Li Wei. Zhang The imperial concubine also said casually that she didn't like what was the point of marrying her.
Zhao Zhen just kept delaying the decree of marriage.
It is recorded in the history books that Princess Fukang was engaged to Li Wei when she was nine years old. Now that Princess Fukang is ten years old, there is no decree of engagement yet, and it is unknown whether she will marry Li Wei in the future.
Anyone else would definitely have concerns.
Bao Zheng found out about the Li family and asked Dong Ping to bring Li Ju into the palace for interrogation without hesitation.
Li Ju is twenty years old and serves in the inner palace.
When the incident occurred, he had already returned home from duty. It seemed that the incident had nothing to do with him, but after the interrogation of the two people, Li Ju confessed to a very key matter.
Two days before the assassination, Li Ju drank in Mingyue Tower. Because he drank too much, he slept in Mingyue Tower that day.
However, he woke up once and found that the key he was carrying was missing.
At that time, he was sober from drinking.
It was easy to find it in the room, and finally I found the key near the window against the wall.
"Mr. Bao, Mr. Gu, I just forgot to put the key in the place where I was on duty and took it directly out of the palace gate. But this assassination really has nothing to do with me. I am a cousin of the official family. There is no reason to do it. This time it comes out!”
As soon as Li Ju finished speaking, he saw a key in Gu Qingjue's hand.
Take a closer look, why does it look so familiar?
"Take a closer look to see if it's the same key you usually guard."
Gu Qingjue's words made Li Ju instantly nervous.
I don’t know whether Gu Qingjue took this key from the place where he was on duty, or...
no, I can not.
Li Ju took the key and looked at the pattern of the key carefully. The pattern and gear shaft were the same. The only difference was that this key looked newer than the one they usually got.
"This key was found in the grass near the palace wall. I sent someone to check. The key in the inner hall has always been in the hands of the watchman."
Gu Qingjue looked at Li Ju: "So, the only possibility of losing the key and having it copied by a thief is when you took it out of the palace privately and stayed overnight."
Li Ju was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.
The inner hall is a place where officials summon ministers and handle state affairs. It is very important.
If someone enters this place, the consequences...
"Well, then you didn't go to the Qingshou Palace to assassinate His Majesty right now. You shouldn't go to the inner palace, right?"
Gu Qingjue sneered: "Are you sure there were only three assassins that night?"
cannot.
Li Ju burst into tears instantly.
"I really didn't mean it. It was just once. I have never left the palace with a key before."
Bao Zheng was also a little confused.
Aren't you looking for assassins?
No matter how much I searched, the direction changed, and the key to the inner palace was lost, which is as serious as the assassination of an official.
"Master Bao, I think that by finding out who entered and exited Mingyue Tower that day, we might be able to find out who took the key and made a copy of it."
Bao Zheng nodded.
In this way, they can further find out whether the real purpose of this assassination is to deceive others and lead all the guards to the Qingshou Palace. The real purpose is to rush to the inner hall...
Cao Yuyan from Qingshou Palace stroked her belly with a gentle expression.
This is her first time becoming a mother.
I didn’t expect pregnancy to feel like this.
Her belly was getting bigger and bigger, and she could feel the little guy moving slightly in her belly.
"Madam, I went to Renming Hall to find Master Bao and Master Gu in the morning. I guess I wanted to intercede for Deputy Yang Duzhi, but Master Bao didn't give that person face. Deputy Yang Duzhi is still being detained in the side hall."
Cao Yuyan nodded and continued to touch her belly.
"Empress, why don't you care about this matter at all? I heard Mr. Zhang say that there are two voices in the court now, and one of them is very unfavorable to you."
Cao Yuyan finally raised her head and looked at Rong's mother.
"Let's talk and listen to what was discussed. What does this matter have to do with me?"
"My mother-in-law also heard from Mr. Zhang that Wang Zhi, deputy chief of the Admonition Court and Tongzhi of the Admonition Court, reported that this matter was instigated by the empress. Otherwise, the officials would rest in Renming Hall on weekdays. Why would the officials stay there that night? While resting in the Qingshou Palace, the assassin can go straight to the Qingshou Palace without any mistakes." (End of this chapter)
