Yun Beiye scratched his head, somewhat puzzled, and turned to ask Zhao Zhongquan.
"Yes, this servant can't figure it out either. This method is not something an ordinary person could come up with; it's quite peculiar."
"In winter, the flyers flying everywhere are also quite fitting for the season."
"In this way, even if the Tan family wanted to suppress public opinion, they wouldn't be able to."
"Zhao Zhongquan, go take the leaflets and find the people in the palace, and also let the Imperial Censor and his group take a look and see if they can figure out who did it."
"I see that the handwriting is neat and vigorous. There are only a few famous scholars and literati in the capital. Let them guess who it is."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this old servant will take care of it."
Zhao Zhongquan nodded. He was also very curious about who wrote the content on the flyer and who arranged the whole thing.
"Yes, Jinzhi is also very clever in court and has won my favor. As long as Jinzhi goes to the Tan residence to investigate, I believe he will definitely find something out."
Yun Beiye looked into the distance, as if the future was full of hope.
"This Tan Biao, relying on his military power, has never put me in his eyes. He has been committing all sorts of evil deeds in the past. If it weren't for the past contributions of the Tan family, I would have sent him to prison long ago!"
"Your Majesty cares deeply for the people. These leaflets, falling like snowflakes, are surely a sign of divine assistance to Your Majesty."
"In my humble opinion, Nanyang will definitely get better and better in the future, and become prosperous and strong!"
"Your Majesty will surely live as long as Heaven!"
"You're so good with words." Yun Beiye patted Zhao Zhongquan on the head.
"Zhao Zhongquan, go and tell the imperial kitchen to make me a cup of milk tea!"
I'm so happy today!
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will go right away." Zhao Zhongquan was happy to see Yun Beiye so happy.
"Oh, right, Duoduo is still in class. Have the imperial kitchen make a cup of milk tea and send it to her!"
"This happy occasion should be shared with my daughter."
Yun Beiye sat on the soft couch in Zichen Palace, took off his shoes, and called two eunuchs to massage his shoulders and legs, which made him feel very comfortable.
...
Inside the Tan residence, when Tan Biao was "escorted" back to his home by the Imperial Guards, the people of the Prefect of the Capital had already surrounded the Tan residence.
"Hmph, I underestimated Jin Jinzhi. He's quick on his feet!"
"They've surrounded my palace so quickly."
When the crowd that had gathered around the Tan residence saw Tan Biao return, they shouted, "You bastard, is this what you call an official appointed by the imperial court?!"
"Who?!" Tan Biao felt a sharp pain all over his body. When he looked down, he saw that his shoulder was covered in golden egg yolk. Then, rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs were thrown at him.
The officials of the Prefect of the Capital did not stop them from doing anything, but they did block the people from entering the Tan residence.
Ignoring his anger, Tan Biao strode into the Tan residence, suppressing his rage.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, are you alright?" Steward Zhen Quede greeted Tan Biao, who had just entered the mansion, with a worried expression.
He stared blankly at the rotten eggs on Tan Biao's body and the rotten vegetable leaves in his hair. He then hurriedly called the servants to prepare hot water for a bath and a change of clothes.
"What could possibly happen to me?" Tan Biao coldly snorted.
Now is not the time to lose your temper; there are more important things to do.
"Zhen Quede, quickly send someone to investigate who exactly produced these leaflets."
"This leaflet has really gotten me into trouble. If it weren't for this leaflet, His Majesty wouldn't have sent people to surround the Tan residence."
"Yes, Your Highness, but how do we investigate this?" Zhen Quede was very anxious and annoyed about what had happened to his master, but he really didn't know what to do if it came to investigating who wrote these things.
"You've been following me for so long, are you a pig-brain?!" Tan Biao kicked Zhen Quede's butt.
"Just look at the paper and the handwriting on the flyer, then compare it with the information in a bookstore in the capital, wouldn't that solve the problem?"
"Zhen Quede, I think you're really stupid!"
"Yes, yes, Your Highness is right, this servant will go and do it right away!" Zhen Quede hurriedly walked towards the door.
"return!"
"Your Highness, is there anything else you require?"
"Are you so afraid that people won't know what you're going to do?!"
"Don't go through the main gate. The gate is guarded by the Prefect of the Capital. Even if you go out, you'll easily be followed. Go through the secret passage."
"Yes, yes, this servant understands, Your Highness, please rest assured." Zhen Quede turned around and walked towards the secret passage.
...
That evening, Zhen Quede dragged his tired body back to the Tan residence.
The candlelight was still on in Tan Biao's study. After what had happened, he felt very tired, but he couldn't fall asleep at all.
"Your Highness." Zhen Quede knocked on the study door.
"Come in."
"So, has the investigation been completed?"
"Your Highness, judging from the color and thickness of the paper, this leaflet is made of hemp paper, and judging from the depth and extent of the ink, it is made of Shousongtang ink."
"Get to the point." Tan Biao glanced at him impatiently.
"I went to various bookstores and found that only Jixian Bookstore in the west of the city uses this hemp paper and Shousongtang ink. In other words, this batch of leaflets came from Jixian Bookstore in the west of the city."
"Jixian Bookstore? Has the manager been arrested and questioned?"
Tan Biao rubbed his temples. [If these are flyers copied from Jixian Bookstore, we can force the person in the display case to reveal the mastermind.]
[I will skin him alive, suck his blood, and eat his flesh!]
"Well……"
"Spit it out already! Why are you stammering like that?!"
“Your Highness, the manager of Jixian Bookstore is a scholar named Fang Yi.” Zhen Quede said, swaying his body. He had been running around all day and was very tired. His legs were also very sore.
"Fang Yi?"
"Damn it, what do you care what his name is? Arrest him, torture him severely, and find out who's behind this!"
Tan Biao could no longer contain his anger and vented all his frustrations from the day on the housekeeper, Zhen Quede.
His eyes widened, and he raised his large, thick hand, slapping Zhen Quede hard across the face.
Zhen Quede was already weak all over, and this sudden slap was too much for him to bear, causing him to collapse to the ground.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please calm down! Your Highness, this Fang Yi is Grand Secretary Guan, the son-in-law of a Grand Secretary!"
"He's the husband of the deceased daughter of Grand Secretary Guan!"
[Fang Yi...]
[Grand Secretary Guan, it was that old man who was behind it all...]
That old geezer...
Zhen Quede covered his face, which was throbbing from the beating. His hand touched a warm liquid, and when he looked at it, he saw it was blood, blood flowing from behind his ear.
Zhen Quede's heart tightened suddenly, and he was extremely scared and nervous. At this moment, he felt his cheeks and ears hurt even more.
"Blood……"
Zhen Quede's vision went completely black, and he fainted.
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