Chapter 66: Finding out the truth
Shen Changhe went to the restaurant and found the waiter mentioned by Mo Xiang. He asked the waiter to lead the way to the intersection where the accident happened and investigate.
"That's it," the waiter still had some lingering fear on his face, "I was quite far away at the time, I only saw Master Zhang being held up by two people and pulled into the carriage, I didn't see the rest clearly."
There was only a vague shadow at the time. The reason why I knew it was Zhang Yeyang in front was because the two of them were going home from work together.
Shen Changhe looked around the location for a few times, frowning slightly, “Are you sure it’s a carriage?”
The waiter nodded, "I'm not mistaken. The carriage was still glowing in the moonlight. It was definitely not an ordinary carriage. I've seen a bit of the world in the restaurant. If someone could afford that kind of carriage, he must be a mid-level official at least."
When he said this, his throat paused noticeably and he lowered his head in embarrassment.
"Sir, please don't tell others that I said that. I am just a handyman and cannot afford to offend you."
Shen Changhe glanced at the waiter and said, "Don't worry, this matter will not implicate you."
The waiter then breathed a sigh of relief.
If it weren't for the fact that Shen Changhe was dressed in an unusual way and his aura showed that he was not a small official, he would never have said these words.
"My Lord, I have said all I can say..."
Shen Changhe gave a look to the servant behind him, who immediately stepped forward and took out a silver ingot and gave it to the waiter, "There's nothing for you to do now, you can leave."
"Okay." The waiter quickly stuffed the silver into his sleeves and left with a smile.
The waiter was very happy that he earned half a year's salary with just a few words, but suddenly he remembered something and looked back.
"Oh, by the way, I heard something in the restaurant this afternoon. It was said that a lady from a certain family went out to buy jewelry today and also disappeared. I don't know if they were a group of people. You can check it out, maybe it will be useful."
After saying that, he went home happily.
Shen Changhe frowned tightly.
Is anyone else missing? Could it be that the other party had planned this for a long time? Although it makes sense to kidnap the lady, what's the point of him kidnapping a poor scholar?
Combining the waiter's description, Shen Changhe roughly concluded that those people were not bandits seeking money. If they were not seeking money, then they must have offended someone.
"Do you know which type of coach has satin that glows in the moonlight?"
The servant shook his head, "I have never heard of this servant."
Shen Changhe narrowed his eyes, "Go ask the most famous silk shop in the capital to see what kind of materials glow at night, and then select them one by one."
There are only a few dozen families in Beijing who can afford such luxurious things. As long as we have the general clues, it won't be difficult to investigate further.
The servant agreed and took a few people to the top silk shop in the city.
Shen Changhe walked forward a few steps along the wheel marks on the ground, his brows slightly furrowed.
The carriage did not leave the city, which means that the people are most likely still in the city. If someone disappeared at the same time, the government office and the Dali Temple would surely have received the news.
Shen Changhe remembered the missing noble lady that the waiter had just mentioned, and immediately turned around, got on his horse, and headed for the nearest government office.
The government office was not far from that street and could be reached in about fifteen minutes.
When the soldiers guarding the yamen gate saw the commander of the imperial guards' horse stop at the gate, their faces changed. One of them trotted in, while another quickly came forward.
"Master Shen, what brings you here today?"
Shen Changhe threw the reins to the soldier, strode up the steps, and asked, "Where is Lord Liu?"
The soldier put his horse down and immediately followed quickly, saying with a flattering smile, "My master has a distinguished guest at the moment, Master Shen, if you have anything to say, please tell me. I will go and report it."
Shen Changhe paused, turned his head with cold eyes, and looked at the soldier.
The man broke out in a cold sweat instantly, his face looked bitter, and he shed tears secretly. He didn't know what happened today, why did he suddenly attract so many great gods!
"Lead the way." Shen Changhe said briefly and his tone was cold.
"Master Shen." The soldier began to tremble, "It's not that I'm lazy, it's just that there are guests in your room right now."
Shen Changhe narrowed his eyes, not seeing any signs of lying on the soldier's face, and strode directly towards the front hall.
The soldier's face turned pale with fear. "Sir Shen, Sir Shen, you really can't come in now."
Shen Changhe ignored him. At this time, he had already crossed the corridor and reached the front hall.
The bright moonlight can barely illuminate the road under our feet.
A familiar voice suddenly sounded in the silent night. With suppressed anger, Shen Changhe paused slightly and looked towards the front hall where the voice came from.
"You said you didn't know? My beloved concubine was lost in public, and you told me you didn't know?"
"Your humble servant...Your humble servant has already sent someone to investigate. Second Prince, please calm down."
Lord Liu spoke with difficulty in his trembling voice.
The soldiers' faces began to turn pale. If the news of the Second Prince's concubine's disappearance were to spread, it would be a disgrace to the Second Prince and the royal family. If he were to be charged with dereliction of duty, ten of them would be enough to die.
He looked up at Shen Changhe, who had no intention of leaving, and said with a tearful tone, "Lord Shen, please be kind and stay away for a while."
Shen Changhe frowned. The missing noble lady mentioned by the waiter turned out to be the favorite concubine of the second prince.
His thoughts were a little complicated for a moment, as if he had overlooked some important point.
"Which concubine of the Second Prince is missing?" He tilted his head and asked the soldier beside him.
The riot in the hall continued, and the soldiers' scalps were numb. "It seems to be the daughter of Lord Wang from the Ministry of Personnel. It is said that she is pregnant."
Otherwise, the second prince wouldn't be so anxious and angry.
Shen Changhe's eyes flashed, and he stood in the yard for a moment, then suddenly turned around and left the government office. The soldiers only felt as if the clouds and mist had parted to reveal the bright moon, and their heads were connected again, so they hurriedly followed him out.
"Master Shen, if you have any urgent business, I will report to you later."
Shen Changhe said nothing, strode out of the government office and mounted his horse.
At this moment, a fast horse galloped over and stopped beside him. "Sir, there is news. According to the owner of the silk shop, the glowing forging is not sold among the people. Only the flowing brocade woven with special techniques in the Western Regions matches the description."
"It's just that Liuguangjin is hard to come by. Many noble ladies have asked about it before, but unfortunately Daliang can't copy it."
Flowing brocade!
Shen Changhe frowned. If he remembered correctly, his aunt seemed to have given his mother a piece of brocade tribute from the Western Regions, which was called Liuguangjin.
There are only a few carriages in the capital that can be made of such precious brocade as Liuguangjin.
The second prince can be ruled out first.
"Sir, do you think it could be the imperial concubine?" the servant said in a low voice.
Shen Changhe was silent for a moment and shook his head slowly.
My aunt has the ability, but it is not easy for her to extend her hands outside the palace. There is also the second prince's concubine. She has no children, and she and the second prince have never interfered with each other. There is no reason for her to do this.
Putting aside these people, and considering those who have had a grudge against Zhang Yeyang, the only ones left are...
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