Chapter 205 Investigation
To find out how the prince obtained the Five-Color Powder, we naturally have to start with the people around him.
Everyone in the palace knew that after Wang Gui's death, Wang Fu was the most popular person in front of the prince. After checking, they found that Wang Fu was missing.
The chief eunuch Liu Chuan was in charge of the palace, while Cheng Maoming, the commander of the Jinlin Guard, was in charge of the area outside the palace and they investigated Wang Fu's whereabouts.
"Go to Xiyuan." After learning that Wang Fu was accompanying the prince when he boarded the dragon boat today, Cheng Maoming decisively led his men to Xiyuan.
Xiyuan covers a vast area, and the sparkling lake seems to have no end in sight, like a vast ocean.
There are more than a dozen dragon boats parked by the lake. The red and colorful decorations are still there, but the majestic dragon heads look inexplicably listless.
Cheng Maoming ordered: "Check all the dragon boats..."
He personally led people to inspect the dragon boat that Emperor Tai'an boarded.
In addition to the extremely spacious hall, the interior of the dragon boat also had more than ten rooms with different uses, as well as a cabin used for storage. After a careful inspection, more than an hour had passed.
Cheng Maoming gained nothing and stood with his hands behind his back watching his subordinates coming in and out of other dragon boats.
"General, nothing was found." A subordinate came running to report.
"Search other places in Xiyuan."
It was dark, but nothing was found. Cheng Maoming left a team of people to guard the West Garden and returned to the government office.
"No movement in the palace?" Cheng Maoming rubbed his brows after asking his subordinates who stayed in the yamen.
It is unlikely that a eunuch could hide anywhere other than the palace and the Western Garden.
Did we overlook something?
This doubt lasted until dawn, and finally there was an answer.
Cheng Maoming hurried to Xiyuan and looked at the corpse lying by the lake with a solemn expression.
The most worried result finally happened. The person they wanted to investigate turned out to be a cold corpse, leaving no evidence.
"Come into the palace."
Cheng Maoming went to the palace to meet Liu Chuan and informed him of Wang Fu's death.
Liu Chuan also found out some information.
"This Wang Fu entered the palace when he was young. He has extensive connections and even took a eunuch from the purchasing department as his godfather. For two years now, he's been asking the eunuch in charge of purchasing to bring him medicine from outside the palace every month, claiming it's for treating a cough..."
"Where can I get the medicine from outside the palace?"
"A pharmacy called Renyitang." Liu Chuan bowed. "We just found out about it, and haven't had time to send anyone there yet. The Grand Commander is more familiar with the outside world, so I'd like to ask him to check this pharmacy."
As soon as Cheng Maoming heard this, he knew that Liu Chuan wanted to pass the buck, but the emperor had originally assigned this matter to the two of them to investigate together, and it would not be good for him if he shirked responsibility.
He went to the pharmacy called Renyitang in person, and the purchasing eunuch went with him.
The gate of Renyi Hall was open, and people were coming in and out from time to time. When they saw a group of tall and strong men coming towards them aggressively, they hurriedly avoided them.
"Who is it—" Hearing the loud commotion, the pharmacist, who was busy sorting out the goods, frowned and looked up, his expression suddenly changing, "Who are you?"
Cheng Maoming stepped forward and flashed his badge: "Jinlin Guard is investigating a case. You have a man named Hu Di here. Where is he now?"
"Are you looking for Hu Di? He took leave yesterday and didn't come today."
Cheng Maoming would not listen to one side of the story. He waved his hand to his subordinates and said, "Search!"
A team of Jinlin Guards immediately searched the place inside and out.
The pharmacist and his assistant were trembling with fear and hid in the corner, not daring to say a word.
If it were someone else, they would have dared to stop them, but this was the Jinlin Guard, they could even arrest those officials, so how could they dare to say a word?
"Grand Commander, we found someone." A Jinlin Guard came back from behind, carrying a young man.
The pharmacist mustered up his courage and said, "This is the fire-watching medicine boy, not Hu Di..."
Cheng Maoming looked at the eunuch who followed him.
The eunuch shook his head.
"Where does Hu Di live?"
The pharmacist gave an address.
"You guys, take them back for trial." After giving the order, Cheng Maoming walked out with his subordinates.
The remaining Jinlin Guards immediately took the pharmacist and his two companions under control.
The pharmacist was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he trembled as he shouted at Cheng Maoming's back: "Sir, sir, I don't know anything——"
Cheng Maoming rushed to Hu Di's residence, but found nothing.
"Are you asking about the people who live here?" The woman next door, clutching her handkerchief, looked at the tall and strong men with a mixture of nervousness and curiosity. "He left yesterday carrying a bundle."
"Going out?" Cheng Maoming frowned.
The woman said firmly, "He's on a long journey. I casually asked him where he was going, and he said he was going to buy medicinal herbs in another place. What does your Excellency want to see him about? Has he committed any crime?"
Facing the woman's curious eyes, Cheng Maoming felt a little bad.
He ran away yesterday. The roads outside the capital are interconnected, and finding him is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
"How long has Hu Di lived here?"
"It's been a few years. He's a tenant, and he's alone. He doesn't usually interact with the neighbors."
"So no one knows his origins?"
"A neighbor asked curiously, and he said he came from the south. His hometown was hit by a disaster, and his parents and relatives were all gone. He came to the capital alone to make a living." The woman curled her lips. "Hearing his miserable words, no one was embarrassed to ask more questions."
"Have you ever seen him interact with anyone?"
The woman shook her head: "I haven't seen it."
"Think about it carefully, sister."
The woman frowned in thought, then her eyes lit up. "Oh, right. A few years ago, a young woman came to see him. She didn't look like she was from a respectable place, so I paid her special attention. I heard Hu Di call her Little Jinling."
"Sister-in-law, do you still remember what this woman looks like?"
The woman perked up immediately: "Of course I remember him. He was about an inch shorter than me, with a small nose and small eyes. He looked pretty pretty when you put them together. Look, there's a small mole here..."
Listening to the woman's endless description of the woman's appearance, Cheng Maoming suddenly fell into suspicion: Is there something wrong with the composition of Jinlin Guard? Perhaps they should recruit some non-staff personnel like the eldest sister.
After questioning everyone in the area, Cheng Maoming called in more people and started the investigation from the nearest Yanzhi Lane.
Fortunately, a woman named Xiao Jinling was found in a brothel in Yanzhi Lane.
"He is a benefactor of mine. Two months ago, he said he would redeem me." Upon hearing that Hu Di had run away, Xiao Jinling looked angry.
"You believe what he says, a pharmacy clerk?"
Xiao Jinling glanced around subconsciously and whispered, "He said there's a way to make money."
"What way?" Cheng Maoming asked.
"Selling goods. He didn't tell me what he was selling, but he once came here and met a man. He casually mentioned that he got the goods from that man."
"Who is that person?"
Xiao Jinling fell silent.
Cheng Maoming's face darkened. "Miss Jinling, are you trying to delay the Jinlin Guards' investigation?"
Xiao Jinling shuddered and whispered, "It's a gentleman named Dou. You can go ask the courtesan. That man is her patron."
Last name Dou?
Cheng Maoming had a bad feeling and called the courtesan to question her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
