Chapter 450

Jin Ling, Mingze Lane.

In the courtyard, under the reflection of the afternoon sun, the edges of the leaves of the plane tree already showed traces of early autumn.

Leaves that had withered too early often drifted slowly to the ground, already spreading a layer of golden yellow under the tree.

Ling Guan sat under the tree with two wooden basins beside her, diligently washing clothes.

There were only two women in the courtyard, so she had fewer scruples. Washing until her body was hot, she unbuttoned a collar button to breathe, revealing a section of neck skin as moist as jade.

The afternoon sun shone on her dark, shiny hair, and the stray hair flying at her temples shone with a gentle halo.

The embroidered light yellow cross-collar vest she wore was lighter in color than the golden yellow of the fallen leaves, but it looked more tender and fresh.

A smoke-pine green sweat towel tied her waist slender and graceful, paired with a pink-white horse-face skirt, indescribably pretty and cute.

Under the eaves of the courtyard, there was a reclining chair. Zou Min'er lay on it, closing her eyes. The afternoon slanted light shone on her graceful and moving body.

She wore a green cold-plum satin-faced cross-collar jacket, with a white cross-collar chiffon undershirt inside, and the hem of her beige long skirt fluttered slightly in the wind. Although her demeanor looked weak, she was as clear, beautiful, and charming as ever.

After many days of care after being seriously injured, her face was no longer as pale as it was at the beginning, and she already had a faint bloody color, but her cheeks were becoming thinner and thinner, looking a bit pitiful.

She always remembered that Jia Cong told her to go out of the room more and see the light outside, which was conducive to the recovery of the wound.

She wanted to sleep for a while in the afternoon to nourish her spirit, but after closing her eyes for a long time, her full breasts rose and fell unevenly, and she was still agitated and difficult to be stable.

She asked the girl washing clothes under the tree: "What day is it today?"

Ling Guan raised her head and thought for a while before saying: "Today is the seventh day."

The two people's conversation was strange. Others would definitely not understand it. Only they knew what it meant.

Jia Cong hadn't returned for seven days since he left Mingze Lane that day.

When he left, he told Zou Min'er that he couldn't wait for the imperial decree from Shen Jing to be issued and had to go to Gu Su to make arrangements first, so he couldn't come over for a period of time.

Since Jia Cong left, Zou Min'er and Ling Guan had been counting the days. Every day they would continue such a topic, and in the end, it became extremely concise.

"Sister Min'er, I guess the third master might be coming back soon."

Zou Min'er was happy in her heart and asked: "How did you know?"

"I went to buy vegetables this morning and heard people in the market saying that Jin Ling city has been very chaotic these past few days. Your wound hasn't healed yet, so I was afraid of scaring you and didn't say anything."

"My wound is much better, I won't be scared so easily. Does it have anything to do with your third master? Tell me quickly."

"Outside, everyone says that a few days ago, the third master returned to Jin Ling from Gu Su and brought back a wanted criminal. As a result, just after entering the city, he encountered assassins, and several people died."

Zou Min'er was startled and sat up, pulling the wound. She didn't even feel the pain, and her face had already turned slightly pale with fright.

"Is... is he okay?"

Ling Guan hurriedly stepped forward, stroked Zou Min'er's chest and abdomen wound, and said: "I said it would scare you. If the third master was okay, could I be so relaxed?"

"The assassins only killed that wanted criminal, the third master is completely fine."

Zou Min'er blamed: "You girl, you didn't speak clearly in one breath, you scared me to death."

Ling Guan said: "There's more. People in the market said that the government has sealed all the city gates of Jin Ling these past few days. Anyone entering or leaving the city will be searched by the government army, saying that there are many thieves in the city."

Zou Min'er thought for a while and said: "With such a big commotion, maybe his business is really about to be done."

She looked at Ling Guan who was drying clothes and said: "It's so chaotic outside these days, you'd better not go to the market to buy things. It's not safe for a little girl."

Ling Guan smiled and said: "Sister Min'er, don't worry. When the third master left, he rented a courtyard opposite the lane and arranged for five subordinates to live there. I also saw that they had muskets."

"Every time I go out, two people follow me secretly, so I'm not afraid of being bullied."

Zou Min'er smiled: "I know your third master treasures you, look at your proud look."

Ling Guan's little face flushed and said: "I think the third master also cares about Sister Min'er very much. He is worried that you are recovering from your injuries and he is not in Jin Ling. He is not at ease, so he arranged for people nearby."

Zou Min'er smiled slightly: "I think his business in Jin Ling might be finished soon, maybe he will return to Shen Jing soon."

Ling Guan was happy: "Then wouldn't he take me back to Shen Jing? Everyone says Shen Jing is a good place. I have never been there."

Zou Min'er's expression was slightly sad and said: "Shen Jing is the capital of the Da Zhou country, naturally it is a good place..."

Ling Guan's expression was excited and said: "Sister Min'er, you should also go back to Shen Jing with us. If you are willing to go, in my opinion, the third master would be very happy."

Zou Min'er's pretty face flushed, and she seemed a bit moved, but she immediately thought of Du Qingniang in Shen Jing, as well as the Zhongche Office and the Jiaofang Division, and the flush on her face faded away.

She said with a lonely expression: "I can't go back to Shen Jing, it's impossible to go again in the future..."

She smiled and stroked Ling Guan's hair at her temples and said: "If you go to Shen Jing, I will treat it as if I went myself. I told him that you are not suitable to stay in the Jiaofang Division."

"He treasures you so much, he will definitely arrange you properly and will never treat you badly..."

During this time when Jia Cong was away, in the Mingze Lane residence, only they accompanied each other day and night, and their relationship had become very close, and they said all their intimate words together.

Ling Guan saw that Zou Min'er was a bit emotional. Although there was joy on her face, there were tears in the corners of her eyes.

She didn't know Zou Min'er's situation, nor did she know her past entanglements with Jia Cong, but she just felt that Zou Min'er's words made people feel a bit sad.

At this time, there was a knock on the door of the outer courtyard, the sound was light and stable.

Zou Min'er and Ling Guan looked at each other, and joy appeared in their eyes.

This house, except for Jia Cong, only Doctor Zhang would come for a follow-up visit every few days, and no one else would come at all.

And Doctor Zhang came for a follow-up visit yesterday and wouldn't come today.

Ling Guan ran out of the inner courtyard quickly. Before her hand touched the door bolt, she heard Jia Cong's voice: "Ling Guan, I'm back, open the door quickly."

Ling Guan said "Ah", hurriedly pulled the door bolt, and saw Jia Cong standing at the door with a smile.

Her bright eyes flowed with light, looking at Jia Cong full of joy, her little face flushed with moving redness: "Third master, you have been gone for so many days, you are finally back."

Holding his hand, she entered the courtyard full of joy.

The two entered the inner courtyard. Jia Cong saw Zou Min'er sitting on the reclining chair under the eaves. Seeing him come in, she was happy, even more beautiful.

She couldn't help standing up, maybe she got up too fast, pulling the wound on her chest and abdomen, and her steps were soft with pain.

Jia Cong hurriedly stepped forward and held her. Zou Min'er leaned softly in his arms. Although she was a bit shy, she couldn't hide her joy in her heart.

Jia Cong felt a stir in his heart and hugged her in his arms, feeling only the warmth and fragrance, which touched his heart.

He knew he shouldn't be like this, but he did it by mistake, and seemed a bit unable to control himself.

They both felt that it was a bit inappropriate, and even not real enough, but they didn't want to break it.

Until Ling Guan coughed with a red face on the side, Jia Cong let go of Zou Min'er and helped her sit back on the reclining chair.

The flush on Zou Min'er's face was hard to fade, she just found words to ask: "Is the business in Jin Ling done?"

Jia Cong smiled: "It's all done. I caught Luo Xiong from Gu Su and used your deposit ticket to take things. It was indeed the secret account book of the Water Surveillance Division left by your father."

"This is extremely important physical evidence. With this, the legacy of the Water Surveillance Division case can be completely cleared."

Jia Cong took a booklet from his body and said: "I have handed over the original to the Ministry of Justice as physical evidence. I copied a copy. After all, it was left by your father, maybe you would like to take a look."

Zou Min'er's face was slightly pale, she took the booklet from Jia Cong's hand, but didn't open it to look...

This secret account book left by her father, the purpose of its production, was full of sinister intentions.

For Zou Min'er, this secret account book becoming physical evidence of the Water Surveillance Division case was its best ending, and also a kind of relief for herself.

From then on, she could finally make a complete break with those heart-palpitating and painful past events.

Therefore, it didn't matter to her what was written in it.

At this moment, only Jia Cong's bright smile remained in her eyes.

Compared to Jia Cong's ease of success, and the warmth and relief in the Mingze Lane residence.

The whole Jin Ling city seemed unable to recover from the ups and downs...

Jin Ling, Chengxian Street.

The fireworks shop on the street caught fire, and the government runners patrolling the street were alarmed and rushed to disperse the crowd on the street.

They also called the fire brigade of the Water Dragon Bureau nearby, and it didn't take much effort to extinguish the fire in the fireworks shop.

Under the command of the second master of the Xue family, the Xue family's team hurried to drive the team into the backyard of Ziyun Pavilion, clearing the street of Chengxian Street.

The flow of people on the street was smooth again, and everything returned to calm.

The patrolling official of the Ying Tian Prefecture also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the accident was handled in time, and the fire in the fireworks shop was not too severe.

Otherwise, if the fire spread and burned down a large area of houses, and then caused a stampede on the road, it would have been a disaster.

Not only would the official responsible for this street suffer, but even the Ying Tian Prefect would have no good end.

After the street was cleared again, the Embroidered Uniform Guard team escorting Du Hengxin set off again, left Chengxian Street, and went to the Thousand-Household Office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the east of the city.

After walking for a while, a gust of autumn wind blew in the face, mixed with a strange fishy smell.

The leading Embroidered Uniform Guard Platoon Leader suddenly felt something was wrong, his face changed slightly, and he said: "Why is there a bloody smell! Stop!" The Platoon Leader flew off his horse, checked the team, and quickly found a hole half a finger wide on the carriage wall carrying the prisoner, with neat edges, and fresh blood was bubbling out.

He was shocked and hurriedly pulled open the carriage door. The scene inside made his face turn pale instantly.

Du Hengxin in the carriage still had his hands and feet shackled, but he had fallen to the side in the carriage, unconscious, and the clothes on his waist and ribs were soaked with blood.

The Platoon Leader jumped onto the carriage to check and found that Du Hengxin had already stopped breathing.

He had a penetrating wound from his left rib to his right rib, as if it had been caused by a very sharp, long, and thin blade stabbing with great force. The left rib wound was directly opposite the hole in the carriage wall.

The Platoon Leader shouted in panic: "Notify the Thousand-Household Lord immediately, Du Hengxin was assassinated and died on the way..."

The entire Embroidered Uniform Guard escort team was in chaos.

Du Hengxin, as the main culprit of the Jin Ling Water Surveillance Division case, had crimes involving a great deal. He had just been captured by Jia Cong from the river waterway and had not entered the city for an hour before he was assassinated on the way.

The news spread rapidly, like a stone causing a thousand waves.

In the main hall of the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household Office, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household Ge Ge Zhi Cheng looked at Du Hengxin's corpse, his face ashen.

He didn't expect that just an ordinary prisoner transport would cause such a big disaster.

Originally, Jia Cong captured Du Hengxin, which should have been accepted and interrogated by the Ministry of Justice, but the Imperial Envoy Guo Lin passed the emperor's secret decree, letting the Embroidered Uniform Guard detain Du Hengxin and escort him to Shen Jing for special case interrogation.

Ge Ge Zhi Cheng had been immersed in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years and had seen many obscure things in the palace and court. How could he not know that Du Hengxin must have other involvements, and even made the emperor quite taboo.

Escorting him to Shen Jing alone for disposal was not letting this person enter the three judicial offices for interrogation. It was covering up, and it was crystal clear.

In fact, Ge Ge Zhi Cheng, who had been in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years, had seen many such things before and didn't take it too seriously. As long as the person was properly escorted to Shen Jing, it would be a hot potato gone.

But he didn't expect that the person didn't enter the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison and was assassinated silently halfway.

Du Hengxin was not an ordinary wanted criminal, but a person focused on by the emperor's secret decree. Now that the person lost his life in the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had to bear all the emperor's anger.

When the Imperial Envoy Guo Lin arrived at the Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household main hall with a panicked expression and questioned him about the cause of the matter with a unique sharp voice, Ge Ge Zhi Cheng realized that he was in big trouble.

His predecessor, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household Feng Fengnian, was demoted because the Water Surveillance Division garrison eunuch Wang En was assassinated in the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison. He was afraid that he would soon follow in his footsteps.

Du Hengxin's murder was a major matter. The Imperial Envoy Guo Lin had arrived, so the heads of the relevant government offices naturally had to show up.

Ying Tian Prefect Jia Yucun, Ministry of Justice Right Temple Justice Yang Hongbin, and Five Cities Military Commission Commander Liu Ling all rushed over.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard main hall, which used to be gloomy and terrifying and not allowed for idlers to enter, became crowded and very strange. Ge Ge Zhi Cheng only felt that these guys had hateful faces, just like they were here for a funeral.

Jia Cong, who was having a good time with Zou Min'er and Ling Guan in the Mingze Lane residence, also received this shocking news. Guo Lin even named him to come over to discuss matters.

When Jia Cong just arrived at the Embroidered Uniform Guard main hall and saw Du Hengxin's corpse, he was shocked and also felt a sense of relief.

He had exhausted his efforts to capture Du Hengxin from the river waterway. Fortunately, he handed the person over as soon as he arrived at the wharf. Otherwise, the one who was in a mess now would not be Ge Ge Zhi Cheng, but he, Jia Cong.

By that time, he had exhausted his efforts in Jin Ling and investigated a big case clearly, but no matter how great his achievements were, they would inevitably be stained.

When he arrived at the Embroidered Uniform Guard main hall, not only were all the relevant officials present, but there was also a coroner checking Du Hengxin's corpse.

This person was the Ying Tian Prefecture criminal room coroner Zhao An. He was the most famous old coroner in Jin Ling city and had worked in the Ministry of Justice in Shen Jing for many years back then.

It is said that fifteen years ago, a big event happened in Shen Jing, and many officials were implicated. Zhao An was also implicated at that time, so he resigned and returned to his hometown, and was later hired by the Ying Tian Prefecture as a guest coroner.

Zhao An finished examining the corpse and said: "My lords, I examined Du Hengxin's wound and concluded that he was killed by a very sharp Japanese katana."

"Just now I asked the captain who escorted the prisoner. He said that when they passed Chengxian Street, the road was blocked by the Xue family's team, and a fireworks shop on the road suddenly caught fire, and the pedestrians on the street were in chaos."

"The murderer took advantage of the chaos, approached the prisoner carriage, used a very strange and fast method, used the katana to pierce the carriage wall, and stabbed Du Hengxin in the carriage through the ribs to death."

"The murderer's stabbing position was very precise, the method was clean and neat, he was a very high-level Japanese martial artist, and he was also proficient in the strange technique of hiding a knife in his sleeve. In the noisy crowd, he could also do it without a trace."

Jia Cong heard words like katana and Japanese martial artist, and immediately thought of the Water Rakshasa who killed the maid in Tianjing Lane and assassinated Zou Min'er in the inner courtyard of Qinyin Pavilion.

It's just that when Du Hengxin was assassinated, Chengxian Street was very chaotic. The Embroidered Uniform Guard escorting the prisoner didn't notice the appearance of the murderer, and the murderer's appearance and form were completely clueless.

So Jia Cong's subconscious speculation had no basis at the moment.

Moreover, Du Hengxin had just gotten off the ship and was assassinated halfway while being escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. This speed was too fast.

The only possibility was that when Du Hengxin got off the ship and entered the port, he had already been targeted, tracked all the way, and killed when the opportunity arose.

The Xue family's team blocking the road might be a coincidence, but the fireworks shop happened to catch fire, which seemed a bit too coincidental.

Jia Cong suddenly thought that when the merchant ship docked, he counted the sailors on Du Hengxin's ship and found that one person was missing for no reason. No one knew where that person went.

Behind all this, there seemed to be traces to follow.

Guo Lin said coldly: "Lord Ge, Du Hengxin is the main culprit of the Jin Ling big case. Count Weiyuan spent a lot of effort to bring him to justice."

"Now that he has just been handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he was assassinated on the street. How can you let me explain to the emperor? The Embroidered Uniform Guard must have a plan and countermeasure for this matter!"

Ge Ge Zhi Cheng's face was ugly, and he replied in a low voice: "Du Hengxin was assassinated and died. The Embroidered Uniform Guard cannot shirk the responsibility. This subordinate will mobilize the elite manpower of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to capture the murderer with all his strength."

Guo Lin said: "Lord Ge, Du Hengxin's assassination and death is a major matter. I will give you three days to capture the murderer. If there is no clue after three days, I can only report to the emperor to plead guilty!"

Ge Ge Zhi Cheng's heart kept sinking when he heard this. Now he didn't even know if the murderer was a man or a woman, tall, short, fat, or thin. How could three days be enough?

He was about to ask Guo Lin for a few more days, but saw that the dead eunuch had already turned and left, as if he disliked the Embroidered Uniform Guard main hall for being unlucky and didn't want to stay for a moment.

The Imperial Envoy was gone, so others didn't stay to be an eyesore and left one after another.

In short, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had to carry this huge trouble itself, and it had nothing to do with others, so naturally, it was better to leave early to avoid being involved.

Jia Cong looked at Ge Ge Zhi Cheng with some sympathy.

He stepped forward and said: "Lord Ge, Du Hengxin was killed in a hurry. I'm afraid that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was tracked all the way after leaving the wharf."

"The fireworks shop that suddenly caught fire is very suspicious. It might be the murderer's doing, creating chaos and killing people in the chaos. Lord Ge can investigate accordingly, and maybe there will be a harvest."

Ge Ge Zhi Cheng showed gratitude and said: "Thank you, Lord Jia, for the reminder."

Jia Cong gave two kind reminders and then said goodbye.

He had spent too much effort on this matter and really didn't want to be involved anymore.

Moreover, after Du Hengxin was captured, his value was actually limited. Even if he was assassinated now, it had no great impact on the affairs of Jin Ling.

Zhou Zhengyang and Luo Xiong, who were detained by the Ministry of Justice, and the Water Surveillance Division secret account book left by Zou Huaiyi were enough to completely clear the legacy of the Water Surveillance Division case.

Du Hengxin's value now was not in Jin Ling, perhaps it was in the unpredictable Shen Jing. Jia Cong suddenly thought of Guo Lin's secret decree...

Ge Ge Zhi Cheng looked at the empty Embroidered Uniform Guard main hall and the heads of the various government offices who ran faster than rabbits, looking helpless and decadent.

He calmed down slightly and said to the captain of the personal guards beside him: "Let the Platoon Leader Liu Yong come to see me immediately. Regarding Du Hengxin's assassination, I want him to assist in coordinating manpower to capture the murderer!"

In the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household Office, Liu Yong was Ge Ge Zhi Cheng's most trusted confidant. If he faced a major event, he would naturally think of him first to assist.

The captain of the personal guards said: "My lord, Platoon Leader Liu has been in the east of the city for the past few days, investigating the robbery of the Zhen family's Hai Yun Pavilion refined iron. I heard that he has received a report, and the matter has some clues."

Ge Ge Zhi Cheng's originally withered mood was slightly lifted when he heard this news. In an instant, inspiration emerged, and it seemed that he had grasped a glimmer of vitality.

That batch of Ottoman refined iron from the Zhen family's Hai Yun Pavilion could be used to forge musket barrels, and behind it, it was very likely that a big case of privately manufacturing firearms was hidden.

Since Jia Cong first advocated the implementation of firearm techniques, new-style firearms such as muskets, cannons, and porcelain mines have shone brilliantly in the battle against the Jurchens in Liaodong, establishing the merit of expanding the territory.

Now, firearm techniques have become a weapon to protect the country, and the circulation and possession of firearms by the people are prohibited. Privately manufacturing firearms is a major crime equivalent to rebellion.

Not to mention that behind this matter is the Jin Ling famous family, the Zhen family, and behind the Zhen family stands the Zhen Old Empress Dowager in the palace, and the Zhen Old Empress Dowager is the foster mother of the current Retired Emperor.

Fifteen years ago, the Retired Emperor abdicated and gave way to the virtuous, and the current emperor ascended the throne strangely. How many unspeakable things were there?

The court and the public were deeply taboo about these things, and no one dared to discuss them recklessly, but there were some things that everyone didn't say, which didn't mean that everyone didn't know.

Ge Ge Zhi Cheng had been in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for more than ten years and would only know more about these private matters than others.

Although the emperor had long sat on the dragon throne, why did he spare no effort to suppress the power of the four kings and eight dukes after ascending the throne? It was nothing more than being wary of the Retired Emperor's hidden power all along.

The emperor and the Retired Emperor were fatherly and filial on the surface, but under the imperial power, how much bone and blood affection was there? They were ultimately mutually restrictive and vaguely opposed.

If the Zhen family, which was deeply involved with the Retired Emperor, committed a major crime of privately manufacturing muskets, then for the current emperor, this was the most powerful restriction and blow to the Retired Emperor's power.

Now that Du Hengxin, who the emperor was concerned about, lost his life in his, Ge Ge Zhi Cheng's, hands, he had already committed a major crime.

He didn't hold any hope of catching the murderer who assassinated Du Hengxin within three days.

Now if he wanted to save himself, a major crime must be offset by a major achievement.

The Zhen family's involvement in privately manufacturing muskets, once verified by the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard, would be an unquestionable major achievement! Although such a major achievement must hide unpredictable risks and backlash.

But the matter of Du Hengxin that just happened had already put Ge Ge Zhi Cheng in a dangerous situation, and it did not allow him to consider the possible hidden dangers too much...

He said to the captain of the personal guards: "You pass a message to Platoon Leader Liu, he must find time to come back today. I want to hear his report on the matter." (End of chapter)