The dishes at Zuixianlou are as delicious as ever, but Li Qing's appetite is not very good.
After today, Zuixian Tower will no longer exist!
Li Qing took a sip of wine and secretly thought about how to arrange Wanling, Lianxiang, and Hongxiu.
Husband and wife love each other for a hundred days. Although Li Qing and they are not husband and wife,... after a while, he is not a heartless and unjust person. He can't keep Zuixian Tower, but he also wants to find a good place for them.
Even though Wan Ling and the others were enjoying their time in Zuixian Tower, it would be difficult for them to leave here.
In this era where men are respected, no matter how talented a woman is, it is difficult for her to achieve anything, especially a woman from a brothel.
After the inspection of Zuixian Tower, they had only two fates:
One, being sold to dignitaries as a means of venting their anger,
Second, resell to other brothels and continue working in the same business.
In contrast, Li Qing still thinks it is better to let them continue their old profession. At least they still have some human rights in the brothel Wanling. If they are sold to a wealthy family, they will really have no choice but to do it themselves.
In this era, even concubines can be given away, let alone prostitutes bought back from brothels. If the owner is a pervert... the ending will be even worse.
After eating and paying, Li Qing got up and went to the palace. He had to ask Lao Zhu about this first.
Royal study room.
Zhu Yuanzhang was still very busy, perhaps out of anger from exhaustion. He was vomiting fragrance while processing the memorials. Zhu Biao had long been used to it. The few Huangmen on the side were trembling and did not dare to breathe.
"Weak minister Li Qing, long live my emperor."
"Well, get back on your feet!" Zhu Yuanzhang put down the memorial, "What's the matter?"
Li Qing cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the Zuixian Tower is related to Mr....Ouyang Lun. If it is found out, what should be done?"
"Zui Xian Tower?" A trace of surprise flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, and he said angrily, "Damn it, that beast even does this business, it really embarrasses the royal family."
"Father, calm down." Zhu Biao quickly advised, "Since it is stolen property, it can be confiscated. Why do you need to be angry over a dying person?"
"Your Highness is wise." Li Qingqian smiled and said: "It's just... property is easy to handle, what should we do with those prostitutes?"
Zhu Biao thought for a while, but couldn't think of a proper solution for a while, so he looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Father, look..."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "Those who are willing to be good will be good, and those who are not willing to be good... go to the Jiaofang Division."
After a pause, "Li Qing, you take care of it and try to...maximize the benefits."
After hearing what Zhu Yuanzhang meant, Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief, "Weichen understands."
"Well, go ahead."
~
In the afternoon, Zhenfu Division.
Zhang Jing gathered all his brothers here, a total of 650 people, excluding those who captured the palm seal official.
"Master Li, you are the case handler appointed by the Emperor. It's up to you to do what you want!"
Li Qing nodded, "First check the addresses of Ouyang Lun's direct and collateral lines, and all his relatives. Be sure to find out before noon tomorrow. Once Ouyang Lun is beheaded, start searching his home immediately."
"Is there any more?" Zhang Jing asked.
"Leave two hundred people behind and follow me to the Prince Consort's Mansion to copy money. There are big bosses there."
Zhang Jing nodded and immediately divided the work among his subordinates. He also generously handed over his subordinates to Liu Qiang and asked him to take the lead in the investigation.
Although the household registration is not as simple as that of later generations, it is not too difficult. The Ministry of Household Affairs has backups, especially Ouyang Lun. As the consort, his identity and background have naturally been checked by the court.
Liu Qiang led hundreds of people out of the Zhenfu Division in a hurry and went to the Ministry of Household Affairs to check the files.
Li Qing and Zhang Jing led the Jin Yiwei straight to the Prince Consort's Mansion.
…
"What are you going to do?
Do you know this is the Prince Consort’s Mansion?
Who came in with you? "The steward of the Prince Consort's Mansion came up and asked him three questions in a row, his attitude reaching the extreme of arrogance, "Not even the Jinyi Guards can do it. "
"Fuck you, who do you think you are?"
Zhang Jing slapped the butler upwards, spinning him around three times, causing two of his back molars to fall out.
Ouyang Lun was about to be beheaded, so he didn't have any scruples. He slapped him in the face and punched him again.
The housekeeper sat down on the ground and howled: "Jin Yiwei broke into the Prince Consort's house without permission and started beating people. Go and report it to the princess..."
"boom!"
"What the hell?" Zhang Jing kicked him unconscious and spat, "Brothers, I have surrounded the Prince Consort's Mansion, and you are not allowed to let out even a fly."
Having said that, he suddenly felt that he was stealing the limelight and quickly said to Li Qing, "Master Li, look..."
Li Qingdao, "100 people surrounded the Prince Consort's Mansion, and 100 people searched for stolen goods."
As he spoke, he squatted down and tapped the housekeeper a few times. The housekeeper's fat body shook, and after a while, Youyou woke up.
"Bring me the account books from the house."
The butler was still arrogant and said in a hateful voice, "Even you, the royal guards, will not be able to bear the responsibility for offending your consort."
Li Qing was too lazy to talk nonsense and stretched out his hand to poke him a few times. The butler immediately rolled on the floor and was in agony.
"What did you do? Untie me quickly."
"Where is the ledger?"
"I'll get it, please untie it for me."
Li Qing clicked on him a few more times. The butler relaxed, panted heavily, took a break, struggled to get up from the ground, turned around and walked towards the lobby.
"Master Li, what a skill." Zhang Jing praised: "Is that acupuncture just now?"
Li Qing nodded and said in surprise: "Zhang Qianhu also knows acupuncture?"
Zhang Jing chuckled and said, "Of course, but acupuncture is all internal skills, there is no learning without a master."
"Internal martial arts?" Li Qing became interested, "Does any of our Jinyi guards know internal martial arts?"
"Well, Mr. Liu Ming practices internal martial arts. He is the best among our Jinyi Guards. He once set a precedent of beating someone to death with three sticks, but there were no scars on the criminal." Zhang Jing said with envy, "Internal martial arts is very good. !”
Li Qing nodded slightly and said to himself: I don't know which is stronger or weaker between internal energy and zhenqi. I have to find out when I have time.
After a while, the steward of the Prince Consort's Mansion came over with a thick account book, handed it over respectfully, and said timidly: "Sir, has my Prince Consort violated the king's law?"
"Well, I'll be beheaded tomorrow." Li Qing turned over the account book, "If you tell the truth, you may be exempted from guilt."
"The emperor wants to kill the consort?"
The housekeeper's eyes almost popped out, his body softened, and he knelt down, "Sir, please forgive me. I came to the Prince Consort's Mansion to be the housekeeper in the spring this year. I really don't know what the Prince Consort has done!"
"You didn't come until spring this year?" Li Qing asked in surprise.
"Yes..." The butler nodded like a fool.
Zhang Jing explained, "Master Li, Ouyang Lun and the princess got married at the end of last year, but Ouyang Lun lived in this house before.
After the Prince Consort was sealed, some expansions were made on the original basis and became the Prince Consort's Mansion. "
"Yes, sir, I am Zhou Bao's brother-in-law." The housekeeper kowtowed repeatedly, "He used to be the housekeeper of the house, but then he asked me to come when he went to Bashu."
At this time, Jin Yiwei No. 10 came over one after another and copied out a total of 800 treasure notes, 300 taels of silver, 5 shi of yellow rice, 10 shi of white rice, and some not-so-precious antique calligraphy and paintings.
Li Qing and Zhang Jing were shocked. They really didn't believe that such a huge palace could copy such a thing.
Even if it is hundreds of times more, it is not in line with the net worth of a consort selling private tea.
Where did the money go?
Zhang Jing frowned and said, "Master Li, this is not in line with common sense!"
Li Qing thought for a while and said, "Could it be that he put the money elsewhere, such as...his immediate family members?"
"Probably not." Zhang Jing shook his head, "I have handled a lot of corruption cases, but without exception, the stolen money was copied from the criminal's home. Who would put the stolen money at the risk of losing their head?" Outside, even close relatives can't do it.
The account is probably in the Prince Consort's Mansion, but we just didn't find it in the right place. He said to his subordinates: "Check again to see if there are any cellars, secret passages or anything like that." "
After saying that, he looked at the housekeeper and said solemnly: "If you don't tell me the truth, I will take you to the execution platform tomorrow."
"Sir, please forgive me." The butler was so frightened that the fat on his face was trembling, "I really don't know!"
Li Qing waved his hand. He could see that the fat butler was really unaware.
As he flipped through the pages of the account book, he was suddenly attracted by a page of vermilion records.
[In the summer of the thirteenth year of Hongwu, ten shi of yellow rice and thirty shi of white rice were purchased. 】
[In the autumn of the thirteenth year of Hongwu, I bought twelve stones of yellow rice and fifty-seven stones of white rice. 】
[In the winter of the thirteenth year of Hongwu, I bought thirty-five shi of yellow rice and 289 shi of white rice. 】
…
[In the summer of the fifteenth year of Hongwu, eighty-seven shi of yellow rice and 675 shi of white rice were purchased. 】
Li Qing frowned and asked, "How many people are there in the house?"
"My lord, the consort doesn't come back often. There are more than 20 servants in the house." The housekeeper replied honestly.
"Can more than twenty servants eat so much food in one season?"
"Ah? This..." the housekeeper said with a sad face, "These accounts are kept by Zhou Bao. In fact, there are not so many. He must have been embezzled by him."
After a pause, "Every time he goes to transport rice to the house, he kicks us out and only allows us to come back after everything is done. He must be greedy."
Zhang Jing glanced at Li Qing doubtfully, wondering why he was holding on to this little rice.
Li Qing said, "Zhang Qianhu, don't you think this is unreasonable?
Zhou Bao was Ouyang Lun's confidant. He was the one who beat the tax collector to death, and he was the one who helped smuggle him. As the leader in practical affairs, would he be interested in this little food?
Even if he is really greedy for petty gains, will it be recorded in the account books? "
"That makes sense!" Zhang Jing nodded.
It made sense, but he still didn't understand what Li Qing wanted to express.
At this moment, Li Qing was convinced that the stolen money was in the Prince Consort's Mansion.
He asked the steward: "Did those people do anything unusual after they finished transporting the rice?"
"Abnormal?" The housekeeper thought for a while and suddenly said, "It's true. Every time after transporting rice, there are always a few people who are wet and dirty."
"Wet?" Li Qing's heart moved, "Where is the well in the house?"
"In the backyard."
Li Qing nodded, "Zhang Qianhu, let's go over and take a look. If what I predict is correct, the stolen money should be hidden in the well."
"Ah?" Zhang Jing said in surprise, "Isn't this... not possible?"
Then, he suddenly exclaimed: "Master Li, what do you mean, that yellow rice and white rice...?"
Li Qing nodded slightly and said word by word: "Gold and silver!"
