The group from Jiulong Mansion followed Xuan Ye to the Imperial Garden and took their seats on the emperor's upper right.
In the past, only important officials or favorites of the imperial court were eligible to sit here, but today it is occupied by a group of martial arts figures.
But the civil and military officials present did not say much.
After all, the protagonists of this banquet are the Jiulong Mansion who have returned from the Barbarian Kingdom, and the achievements announced in the palace are enough for them to sit in that position.
Soon, the people sent to Jiulong Mansion came back with Tang Fengling and Lin Dao. Lin Dao also brought his son Lin Tao and Han Leng's daughter Han Tong, while Tang Fengling brought her master Thief Saint, followed by Ice King Yanzun, Sword Master Longzun Yun Sheng and a large group of martial arts saints, Yun Zun also brought his young apprentice Yun Sigh.
Xing Enming at the table was suddenly speechless.
This is really a drag on the family.
Of course, Xuan Ye welcomed these saints with all his heart, and quickly ordered the servants to add seats for everyone. The civil and military officials in the court saw those martial arts saints who were about a hundred years old but looked like they were still in their thirties sitting there. Beside their respective apprentices, they began to feast, completely ignoring the emperor in the palace.
Of course, except for Long Zun, who is the emperor's master.
but
"It can be seen that the little emperor is in a bad mood." At the banquet, King Bing raised his head and glanced at the emperor Sima Xuanye who was sitting at the top, and frowned.
"A murder occurred at the emperor's feet. It's strange to be in a good mood." Yan Zun glanced at Bing Wang.
After hearing the case, Tang Fengling glanced at the people in Jiulong Mansion and said, "Speaking of which, do you know what case the emperor urgently called us back to investigate?"
Everyone shook their heads.
I have never heard the emperor mention this.
Xue Tianhan glanced at Tang Fengling, "You know?"
Tang Fengling smiled and said: "I just returned to Jiulong Mansion to ask Mr. Chen. It seems that a fire broke out outside the city a few days ago and burned an abandoned thatched hut. However, after the Gyeonggi Mansion sent people to put out the fire, A charred body was found inside.”
Everyone frowned.
Is this arson and burning corpses?
"Where is the identity of the corpse?" At this time, Chen Yutian suddenly asked.
Tang Fengling shook his head, "I haven't found out yet. But Mr. Chen also told me something that may be related to it."
Everyone pricked up their ears to listen to her.
"It is said that three days before the fire, Jingchengguanyi lost an official who came back from the local area to report on his duties."
Hearing this, Chen Yutian and Xue Tianhan frowned at the same time.
The expressions of others also changed slightly.
This means...the deceased could be this official?
If so, things are serious.
The imperial official was brutally murdered, which insulted the majesty of the imperial court. Due to both emotion and reason, the emperor should catch the murderer as quickly as possible and bring him to justice.
This would also explain why he was so anxious to have them come back.
Chen Yutian pondered, and then looked at Xing Enming at the table.
As expected, the governor of Gyeonggi Prefecture had an expression on his face that showed some obvious anxiety.
Xing Enming is indeed a little anxious.
Not long ago, the spy sent to Min Lin's hometown sent back a secret letter. The letter clearly stated that Min Lin and the charred corpse found in the fire had many similarities.
Now it has been basically determined that the charred corpse found in the fire was Min Lin, who had resigned from Bozhou and returned to Beijing to report on his duties.
But Min Lin's family didn't know he had any enemies outside.
The clues to the case have been broken again...
Xing Enming picked up his glass and drank.
Judging from the way Min Lin died, the murderer undoubtedly hated him, otherwise he would not have adopted such a cruel killing method.
But his family doesn't know if he has any enemies.
How to check this? How can we solve the case in half a month?
Xing Enming couldn't help but feel a little worried.
However, not many people at the banquet noticed his sorrow. Although a few familiar officials saw it, they all expressed understanding when they recalled what happened in the capital recently. More people were immersed in the joy of establishing an alliance with the barbarian country for generations. They enjoyed themselves until the end of the banquet and returned home enjoying the party.
After the banquet, the emperor summoned Chen Yutian, Gongsun and Xing Enming to meet in the imperial study.
After the three people arrived, Xuan Ye got straight to the point and said: "Yutian, the imperial edict I gave you should have said that a major case has occurred in the capital, right?"
Chen Yutian nodded lightly, "Your Majesty, are you talking about the case of a burnt corpse found in a fire outside the city?"
Xuan Ye smiled and said: "Your information is quite good."
After speaking, he glanced at Xing Enming.
Xing Enming quickly told the whole story of the discovery of the charred corpse.
When he heard that the deceased had most likely had his limbs broken and was locked in a room and starved to death, even though Chen Yutian was well-informed, he couldn't help but frown.
This method is really cruel.
Gongsun was a little eager to try.
He wanted to go see the charred corpse immediately and diagnose whether he was choked to death by the smoke from the fire or whether he was really starved to death.
"Uncle Xing, I heard that the deceased was an official who resigned from the local government and came to Beijing to report on his duties, right?" Chen Yutian asked again.
Xing Enming nodded, "Yes, the deceased Min Lin was the outgoing magistrate of Lianping County, Bozhou. He disappeared from Guanyi three days before we found the body in the fire."
Chen Yutian's eyes flashed slightly, three days ago?
"In addition, when we went to verify the identity of the deceased, we also asked his family, but they couldn't tell whether the deceased had any enemies outside."
Xing Enming added.
Chen Yutian nodded slightly. The murderer's methods were extremely cruel, and it was most likely a revenge killing. He had also considered this.
However, since Xing Enming said that the deceased's family did not know whether he had any enemies outside, it means that there should be no gains from starting with his family.
"Have you asked his colleagues?"
Chen Yutian pondered for a moment and asked.
Xing Enming shook his head, "Min Lin's colleagues are all in Bozhou, and we haven't had time to send people there to investigate yet."
At this time, Xuan Ye suddenly spoke.
"About this, I have made some discoveries here."
The three of them looked at him at the same time.
Xuan Ye raised his eyebrows and immediately glanced at the steward next to him. The steward immediately handed a file to Chen Yutian.
Chen Yutian took it and saw that it was a resume of an official from the Ministry of Personnel.
Opening the resume, Chen Yutian's eyes suddenly flashed.
According to this resume record, Min Lin did not enter the officialdom through a serious scientific examination. Instead, he was promoted to a local official through personal recommendation and inspection by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The person who recommended him to the official department was Liu Kong, who was the magistrate of Boling County, Bozhou at that time.
Chen Yutian frowned slightly.
The official recommendation system was a system for selecting officials when the late emperor was still alive. After Xuan Ye ascended the throne three years ago, he believed that this system might lead to nepotism, so it was abandoned.
"Who is this Liu Kong?" Chen Yutian asked by the way after reading the file and giving it to Xing Enming.
Li Lin, the chief chamberlain, replied: "He is now the governor of Bozhou Prefecture. He took office three years ago, and his term should be completed this year."
Hearing this, Chen Yutian's eyes flashed.
"After his term is over, that means he will also return to Beijing to report on his duties?"
Xuan Ye nodded lightly, and at this moment, his personal bodyguard Lin Guanyu walked in and reported: "Your Majesty, there is a report from Guanyi that this morning there is indeed a person who claims to be the retired Governor of Bozhou. A man named Liu Kong moves in."
Hearing this, Chen Yutian and Xing Enming looked at each other.
…
Jingchengguanyi.
"Master Liu, Mr. Xing of Gyeonggi Prefecture and Marquis Wu of Kowloon Prefecture are here to visit. They said they want to meet with you."
A report from Guanyi Yichen came outside the door.
Liu Kong was surprised. He naturally knew about Xing Enming of Gyeonggi Prefecture, but what was the situation of Marquis Wu of Kowloon Prefecture?
He had heard of the Jiulong Mansion. The government office established last year after the emperor offered sacrifices to heaven was mainly to investigate old cases. Except for the son of Dingguo Gong Chen Gong, the entire government office was almost a group of people from the world. Marquis Wu is here?
He didn't know that Chen Yu Tiancai had just been named Wuhou this morning.
"I know, I'll be there right away."
Although he had some doubts in his heart, Liu Kong still agreed, adjusted his clothes, then opened the door and walked out.
When he arrived at Guanyi's reception room, he saw Xing Enming and Chen Yutian sitting there waiting for him.
Liu Kong pushed the door open and walked in. After greeting the two of them, he sat down separately and looked at Chen Yutian.
Is this Duke Chen’s only son?
Liu Kong has naturally heard of the name of Duke Chen of Dingguo. This veteran of two dynasties has a very high prestige in the court. Liu Kong plans to pay a visit in a few days. After all, he will also be an official in Beijing in the future. Naturally, I need to spend more time with some important officials in the capital.
Chen Yutian was also looking at Liu Kong at this time.
Liu Kong is not young anymore, about forty-five or sixty-six, but the beard on his face is indeed clean-shaven, which is somewhat contrary to the Central Plains custom that encourages men to grow beards after they stand tall.
"Master Liu, let's not beat around the bush. I came to visit you this time because I want to ask you about Master Min Linmin."
Xing Enming looked at Liu Kong and said straight to the point.
Liu Kong was slightly stunned when he heard this, as if he did not expect to hear the name Min Lin from Xing Enming's mouth.
