Chapter 121 Rectification

Jingzhao Prefecture.

The sunlight was like golden powder, illuminating the entire palace. Jingzhao Prefecture was rarely so lively, and all the officials gathered together, holding their breath, as if facing a powerful enemy.

Ming Huazhang brought Ming Huashang in. Jingzhao Yin saw them and frowned, saying, "Ming Shaoyin, this is an important place for discussion. No one without connections is allowed to enter."

Ming Huashang followed behind Ming Huazhang, her eyes quickly scanning the expressions of everyone, and quietly tugged at Ming Huazhang's sleeve.

She usually relies on her status as Shao Yin's sister to mingle in Jingzhao Prefecture. Others are willing to turn a blind eye to her because she doesn't cause trouble and her words are meaningful. But if she walks into the meeting room openly and brings this matter to light, it would be too outrageous.

She thought about forgetting it. Ming Huazhang had just entered the officialdom and there was no need to make a target of him because of her. After they finished discussing it, it would be the same if Ming Huazhang told her again.

Ming Huazhang squeezed her hand soothingly under his sleeve, then raised his hand to salute Jingzhao Yin. He was as upright as a pine tree, neither humble nor overbearing, and performed the most correct and standard etiquette, but his words were not at all polite: "Jingzhao Yin, I was just about to report that my sister is not an unrelated person, but a helper I invited."

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room was shocked and whispered to each other. Jingzhao Yin's face became even uglier and he angrily scolded: "Nonsense! The Jingzhao Prefecture does not need outsiders to tell us how to solve the case? Moreover, she is just a woman. Letting her enter the court to discuss matters is a blasphemy to the authority of the official and a laughing stock!"

Ming Huashang's eyes were wide and clear like a deer. People around her couldn't bear to see her like that and advised, "Jingzhao Yin, calm down. The little girl is curious and wants to hear how the government handles the case. It's understandable. Don't scare her. Ming Shaoyin, you too, no matter how much you love your sister, you shouldn't bring her to this important meeting place..."

Ming Huazhang raised his voice, his voice was clear and loud, suppressing the many voices of support, instigation, and compromise: "I brought her here today, not as a brother, but as the Junior Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture. It's my fault that I didn't make it clear before. The Jingzhao Yin may have had some misunderstandings yesterday and drove her away from Huichun Hall. Now I will make it clear in front of everyone that her talent in solving cases far exceeds mine. Now that the murderer of the bombing case is still at large, if we want to solve the case as soon as possible, we must accept talents in an unconventional way. She is the talent that Jingzhao Prefecture should recruit. I brought her to Jingzhao Prefecture because I wanted to use her help to solve the case as soon as possible, not because she is my so-called favorite sister."

Everyone in the hall was even more shocked and talked about it. Now that the empress was in power, no one dared to say that women were not capable of doing this. However, she was just a lady from a noble family, and it was enough for her to do nothing but embroider. How could she solve the case?

Ming Huashang raised her eyes and looked at Ming Huazhang with disbelief and flattery.

When she was chased away from Huichun Hall by Jingzhao Yin yesterday, she was actually a little depressed. She didn't want to cause trouble for Ming Huazhang, so she didn't say anything to him and continued to be lively and laughing. Ming Huazhang didn't ask, and she thought the matter was over. Unexpectedly, Ming Huazhang didn't comfort her at the time, but supported her so strongly in front of all his colleagues the next day.

She is not anyone's sister. When she stood at the crime scene, she was Ming Huashang.

There are some things he never says, he always keeps silent

Do it well. He didn't care whether she knew it or was grateful.

Jingzhao Yin was very angry at being confronted. He pointed at Ming Huazhang and wanted to speak, but suddenly he covered his chest and started coughing violently.

The guards around him rushed forward to support him. He saw the red marks on Jingzhao Yin's handkerchief and was shocked: "Jingzhao Yin..."

At this time, a voice of greeting came from outside: "The Crown Prince has arrived." Jingzhao Yin put away his handkerchief with a cold face and said hoarsely: "I have nothing to do. Go and welcome the Crown Prince."

The prince was here, so Ming Huazhang could not say anything more and calmly withdrew his hand. He lowered his eyes to look at Ming Huashang and said softly, "It's okay. I'll handle Jingzhao Prefecture. Don't worry about what others say about you."

Ming Huashang looked into his gentle and tolerant eyes, smiled, and took the initiative to hold his hand: "Okay."

The two of them walked to the door and bowed with the crowd: "We are meeting the prince."

The prince was dressed in a red robe, followed by the staff of the Chancellery, and at the end were the Yulin Army. Xie Jichuan, dressed in a light green robe, followed the prince's side, looking as cold as a knife.

The prince was now extremely upset, so he had no mood to put on airs. He waved his hand casually and said, "No need to be polite. Everyone, get up."

The ministers thanked him and stood up one after another. The prince walked into the meeting hall with a sullen face, followed closely by Jingzhao Yin. The others bowed to each other and greeted each other in a friendly manner: "Please."

Ming Huazhang stood in a position just below Jingzhao Yin, while Xie Jichuan stood in the prince's team. The two sides were a host and a guest. When Xie Jichuan walked by with the prince, their eyes flashed past each other and they each looked away as if nothing had happened.

The officials exchanged pleasantries, and no one paid attention to Ming Huashang. Jiang Ling approached and bumped into Ming Huashang: "Why are you here?"

Ming Huashang rolled her eyes at him unhappily: "If you can be here, why can't I?"

Ren Yao came over from behind and said in a low voice, "Alright, we're outside now, don't let anyone see us."

Ming Huashang shrugged secretly. At this time, Ming Huazhang turned back from the crowd and looked for her. Ming Huashang immediately ran over and said, "Second brother, I'm here."

Ming Huazhang glanced at Ren Yao and Jiang Ling behind him, without showing any familiarity, and said calmly: "Let's go."

The prince took the main seat first, and the others sat down in order of their official rank. The prince didn't even bother to say a few words, and asked directly, "Do you have any idea of ​​​​the murderer?"

Everyone in Jingzhao Prefecture was silent. If they knew who the culprit was, why would they still be sitting here?

Jingzhao Yin diligently explained the general situation of the case to the crown prince and the Yulin Army, and reported their speculations and progress to the crown prince without reservation.

However, Jingzhao Yin had hardly ever been to the scene. The information was actually found out by Ming Huazhang. Now, with just a few words, it all became Jingzhao Yin's credit.

The people who appeared on the scene glanced at Ming Huazhang silently, and no one spoke. Ming Huazhang looked indifferent, as cold and calm as a jade sculpture, without emotion or desire. Ming Huashang was afraid that she could not control the expression on her face, so she quietly lowered her head and could not help but let her mind go blank.

After the second explosion, Ming Huashang knew that this incident would definitely alarm the palace, and the Queen would definitely send the Xuanxiao Guards to investigate secretly. It is better to take the initiative than to wait passively, so Ming Huashang took the initiative to ask for permission to take over the matter.

In order to facilitate the spread of false information in the future, she specifically stated that she needed assistance. Unexpectedly, the palace was so generous that they directly transferred their group over.

In order to allow them to appear together with justification, the empress even combined the Eastern Palace, the Zuo Yulin Army, and the Jingzhao Prefecture together, so that Xie Jichuan, Jiangling, and Ren Yao could naturally participate in the investigation without doing anything extra.

It can be seen that the Queen really thinks highly of Ming Hua Zhang. It is estimated that the Queen thought that the note was sent by Ming Hua Zhang, so she granted his request. It is no wonder that someone wanted to kill him since he was so favored by the Queen.

Ming Huachang thought to himself that at least it could be proved that the person who exposed the identities of the two sisters was not the empress. Ming Huachang was relieved that the empress trusted Ming Huazhang so much. As long as nothing unexpected happened, he would have no problem rising to a high position in the future. However, he could not help but worry.

Emperors and their ministers have been fighting since ancient times. If the emperor's power is too strong, the emperor will be exhausted to death; if the emperor's power is too weak, the emperor will be sidelined. The situation of the empress is even more special. The civil and military officials of the Manchu court are the ministers she must rely on, and they are also the remnants of the previous dynasty.

So, she came up with a unique way to control the entire court, that is, Xuanxiaowei.

It is useless for the Queen to have a group of spies hidden among the people who have no political power. Rather than training spies, it is better to say that she is selecting people who can be used by her through the Xuanxiao Guard, and then placing them in key positions in the court through operations such as imperial examinations and recommendations, controlling the huge state machinery.

As far as Ming Huachang knew, there were spies of the empress in Jingzhao Prefecture, the Eastern Palace, the Yushitai, and the Yulin Army. There was no telling how many more were hidden in places she had not touched. By relying on these people to inform on her, or to monitor her, the empress could control the thoughts of her subjects at any time and hold power firmly in her hands.

When the Queen was alive, these spies were naturally fearless. It was easy to tell that the Queen would definitely prefer to promote her own people, so in reality, the officials of the Xuan Xiaowei were promoted faster and received better treatment. However, what would happen after the Queen's reign ended?

When the next emperor takes the throne, how will he deal with this huge group of intelligence spies? Kill them to vent his anger, settle accounts with them later, or recruit them for his own use?

Ming Huashang sighed deeply, and once again felt the helplessness of being caught in the torrent of fate. At that point, Ming Huashang wanted to change the fate of inexplicable death in her dream, so she could only grab the straw passed by Han Jie. After grabbing it, she found that this straw might not save her life, and perhaps it would pull her into a deeper abyss.

If the new emperor chooses the first two options, Ming Huashang can wash himself and prepare to enter the coffin. If the new emperor continues to use Xuanxiaowei, it means that the politics of cruel officials is still continuing in the dark. Is it a blessing or a curse to live in such an environment?

But Ming Huachang thought again that the death crisis predicted in the dream would happen this year, and she felt that her current worry about whether the new emperor would settle accounts with them after ascending the throne was unnecessary. She should be thankful that she could live to the end of the year.

Ming Huashang was in a daze when she accidentally bumped into a probing gaze. Xie Jichuan, who was sitting opposite her, was looking at her meaningfully. Noticing her looking at him, Xie Jichuan smiled, his eyes became more foxy, and he asked her with his mouth: "What are you thinking about, second sister?"

Ming Huashang quickly put away the expression on her face and smiled at the other side, looking innocent and puzzled. Ming Huazhang noticed the eye contact between them, looked at Xie Jichuan quietly, and held Ming Huashang's hand.

After being reminded, Ming Huashang quickly gathered his spirits and patiently listened to what Jingzhao Yin and the Crown Prince said. It was obvious that their crown prince really had no talent for governing a country. After saying so much, he couldn't even grasp the main point and had to ask Jingzhao Yin to explain it over and over again.

When it came to the latest Huichuntang case, Jingzhao Yin had no ready-made credit to claim, so he said, "I have sent my subordinates to investigate the Huichuntang case, but it has not yet been concluded. I dare not use it to mislead Your Highness."

The prince was somewhat dissatisfied with their progress and frowned as he asked, "It's been so long since the incident, why haven't you made any progress? What are your plans next?"

When it came time to take the blame, the person who had just been flattering disappeared, and Ming Huazhang took the initiative to take over the conversation and said, "Your Highness is teaching me that we have not done our job well, and we feel deeply ashamed. I personally think that no matter why the murderer wanted to kill Qian Yi and Chu Ji, gunpowder was the key to his crime. So I plan to start with saltpeter and gunpowder, and investigate those who have recently purchased a large amount of saltpeter. It's just that it was the Lantern Festival some time ago, and the rich and powerful have accumulated a large amount of fireworks and firecrackers. The source and destination of their gunpowder are unknown, and they are unwilling to cooperate with the government investigation, which has greatly delayed the progress of the case. I have the courage to ask Your Highness for an order, hoping that Your Highness will assign me some people and allow me to search the mansion when necessary."

The prince frowned after hearing this. The relationships behind the wealthy families in Chang'an were complicated. He had just secured the throne of the Eastern Palace and should seek stability. If Ming Huazhang brought the prince's handwritten order to search the official residence, wouldn't that offend people?

The prince shook his head and said, "No, this is not right. Is there any other way?"

Ming Huazhang pursed his lips when he heard this, and was very dissatisfied with the prince's indecisiveness. He wanted to argue, but Xie Jichuan saw what Ming Huazhang was thinking and spoke first: "Your Highness, I think we can start with Liu."

The prince looked at Xie Jichuan and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Xie Jichuan said: "The deaths of Qian Yi and Chu Ji are too coincidental. One is a wine shop owner, the other is a doctor in a clinic. One lives in the north of the city, and the other lives in the south of the city. Their life paths do not intersect at all, except for Liu. Now I have two guesses. First, Liu wanted to kill Feng the shop owner and be with her lover, but how could she, a fisherwoman, know about pharmacology? It was Chu Ji who taught her. . She and Qian Yi teamed up to kill Feng the shopkeeper, but there was no punishment. Someone wanted to avenge Feng the shopkeeper, so they killed the adulterer Qian Yi and Chu Ji who helped him commit atrocities. Secondly, Liu resented that Qian Yi did not cherish her after getting Jinxiu Tower, but instead kept another concubine, so she killed Qian Yi out of love and hatred. Later, the government was involved, and she was afraid that the matter would be exposed, so she killed Chu Ji. "

Xie Jichuan's tone was cold and casual, but his words were sharp and clear, and he sorted out the cause and effect of the characters in just a few words. Jingzhao Yin had just said so much, but the prince didn't understand the relationship between these people. After Xie Jichuan's explanation, the prince understood it immediately.

Xie Jichuan was the Prince's attendant in the Imperial Household Department of the Eastern Palace. The Prince naturally trusted his own people more. He asked, "According to Mr. Xie's opinion, how should we investigate next?"

Xie Jichuan said calmly: "If it is the first case, then we should investigate the relatives, friends, and loyal servants of Manager Feng. Shao Yin Ming has already found a witness, so we just need to ask him to identify her. If it is the second case, then it is much simpler. Liu is the main messenger, so we just need to investigate her whereabouts."

"No." Ming Huazhang said immediately, "The witness is an elderly woman with a weak will. If she knew she was identifying the murderer, she would think he looked like her even if he didn't look like her. What if she made the wrong confession based on her one-sided statement? We are here to find the murderer, not to frame someone. If we wrongly accuse someone, we will be blamed."

Xie Jichuan said: "You don't have to tell her when you identify her."

"The authorities first questioned her, and then asked her to identify someone. How could she not guess what they were doing?" Ming Huazhang said, "This way of investigation means that the suspect is the murderer by default, and then they look for flaws in them. The detectives handling the case have preconceived ideas and are prone to misjudgment. It is better to investigate from the source. No matter why the murderer wants to kill people, his ability to make powerful gunpowder is his most fatal flaw. Moreover, if he wants to improve the gunpowder, he must have tried a lot, and there must be traces left in his home. It seems complicated to investigate the whereabouts of saltpeter, but this way is the most accurate."

Xie Jichuan and Ming Huazhang looked at each other, and it was like a confrontation for a moment, neither of them gave in. Xie Jichuan pursed his lips tightly, his eyes suppressing anger. Why didn't Ming Huazhang understand? If this path succeeded, it would be very accurate, but what if it didn't? Who should be held responsible for the offended person?

There is obviously a faster and easier way, why does he have to go through so much trouble?

Jiang Ling silently watched Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan quarreling. This is the bad thing about being too smart. Everyone thinks that his or her idea is right, and no one is willing to give up his or her own opinion. People like him don't have this kind of trouble.

Jiang Ling yawned without hesitation, feeling a little sleepy. He was halfway through yawning when he suddenly heard a woman say cautiously, "Well... Actually, I think there is another idea."

Jiang Ling choked and his jaw almost dislocated. He sat down on the table and looked at Ming Huashang in surprise.

Ming Huashang was under the gaze of many people. She tried to calm down and said, "I think we can investigate Chu Ji. We think that Chu Ji's death is related to Liu, but there is no clear evidence. Isn't it all just our guess?"

Ming Huazhang looked at her, his eyes dark and clear, waiting for her to continue. Xie Jichuan raised his eyebrows and asked in confusion: "Why him?"

He could understand Ming Huazhang's thinking, but Ming Huachang's words often left Xie Jichuan unpredictable.

"Because I felt deep hatred from the explosions at Jinxiu Tower and Huichun Hall." Ming Huashang quickly calmed down when talking about the case, and she talked nonstop, "The murderer actually had many opportunities to kill Qian Yi, but he deliberately let Qian Yi go up to the high building, and when he finished his speech to his son, which was almost the proudest moment of Qian Yi's life, he was suddenly blown to pieces in front of everyone. This was definitely not for love or money, but more like hatred. The murderer wanted more than just Qian Yi's death, he wanted to be the judge of Qian Yi to vent his deep hatred and anger."

Everyone in the hall exchanged glances, not disguising their scrutiny of Ming Huachang. Obviously, no one took Ming Huachang's words seriously. Even if the world is different now, women can be officials, but they can only write articles and poems like Shangguan Wan'er, but how can women solve cases? Such hard, tiring work that requires both mental and physical strength has always been done by men.

It was laughable enough that Ming Huazhang brought his sister into the council chamber. Did this woman really intend to interfere in public affairs?

Ren Yao saw Ming Huashang speaking freely in front of the Crown Prince, Jingzhao Yin, Zhanshifu and other nobles through the crowd, and she was quite proud of it. She turned around and saw Jiang Ling shaking his legs and in a daze, so she slapped him in anger.

Jiang Ling was stunned, covering his arm and looking at her in surprise. Ren Yao glared at him fiercely and threatened: "Listen carefully."

Ming Huashang didn't care about other people's judgment. The more he spoke, the clearer his thoughts became. He said, "It was the same with Chu Ji. A doctor who became famous at a young age and gained both fame and fortune, died in his own pharmacy. The secret medicine he was proud of was scattered all over the floor, trampled like grass. When I saw the unrecognizable Huichuntang, my first feeling was malice, deafening, condescending malice. If it was just for money or self-protection, why would he have such a strong emotional inclination? So I think we can check Chu Ji's enemies and compare them with Qian Yi's relationship. Those who overlap are the key suspects."

Jingzhao Yin frowned and scolded, "Nonsense! To solve a case, you need evidence, not make up stories. Women are women, they always think about love and affection, and can relate everything to love. What malice, what trial, the court is not a storytelling stand, you will not be allowed to mess around!"

Ming Huashang knew that there would definitely be people who would not accept her ideas, and she was prepared in her heart. She did not feel hurt when she heard what Jingzhao Yin said. However, Ming Huazhang beside her suddenly turned cold.

When Ren Yao heard that Jingzhao Yin had humiliated Ming Huashang in this way, he was so angry that his face turned red, and he slammed the table and stood up: "Let go..."

Thanks to Jiang Ling's quick eyes and hands, Ren Yao was prevented from saying something indecent in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Ren Yao struggled angrily, Jiang Ling restrained Ren Yao with force, and showed a standard dandy smile: "We are discussing where to eat after the court is dismissed. It's a small matter, a small matter, everyone, please continue."

Ming Huazhang didn't even look back. His posture was cool and straight, and his voice was full of righteousness, easily drowning out Ren Yao's whining voice: "Jingzhao Yin, today we have gathered so many people to gather ideas and open up the channels for discussion. You didn't listen to her analysis and scolded her for being a woman. What's the meaning of this? Do you think that women are not worthy of entering the officialdom and expressing their opinions on government affairs?"

The officials in the palace thought of the empress who almost slaughtered half of the Tang Dynasty, and their backs suddenly went cold. Xie Jichuan glared at Ming Huazhang angrily and said, "How dare you! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here, and he will decide the right and wrong. How can you have a say? His Majesty is still ill, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the initiative to ask for respite to relieve His Majesty's worries. This is a sincere filial piety. If you delay the progress of solving the case, wouldn't it alienate the relationship between the Crown Prince and His Majesty? Who of you can bear the responsibility?"

The prince was also shocked when he heard this. Yes, the King of Wei was waiting to find fault with him. If he delayed, he didn't know how the King of Wei would frame him. His mother handed this matter to him in front of the King of Xiang, the King of Wei, and the King of Liang, which was to acknowledge his status as the crown prince. If he messed up...

The prince didn't dare to imagine the consequences. As long as the case could be solved, what difference would it make whether it was a man or a woman? The prince waved his hand and said, "I am eager to seek talents, and I don't stick to any rules. Whatever you think, just speak freely, don't be shy."

The prince said this, which meant that he acknowledged Ming Huashang's involvement in the case. Even Jingzhao Yin could not accuse her in the future, otherwise it would be a disgrace to the prince. Ren Yao was reluctantly satisfied when he heard this. Jiang Ling noticed that her struggle was slackening, and slowly let her go. He was about to take credit, but Ren Yao grabbed his fingers fiercely and twisted them in the opposite direction.

Jiang Ling's eyes widened instantly, tears almost bursting out. Fortunately, he bit his lips in time to avoid losing his composure in front of everyone.

No one paid attention to what was happening in the back of the hall. After listening to the analysis of Ming Huazhang, Xie Jichuan and Ming Huashang, the prince's already heavy head hurt even more.

The three ideas represent three completely different investigation directions. Theoretically, they can advance simultaneously, which is the safest way. However, in reality, even if the Yulin Army is dispatched, manpower is still a scarce resource. If you want to solve the case in time, you have to concentrate on one thing.

The prince made a choice for a long time, but in the end he still preferred his own people.

The prince said, "I think Mr. Xie's speculation is very reasonable. From now on, the decision will be made by the prince's attendant Xie Jichuan. His words are like my own presence."