Chapter 101 Finalization
In early December, a fresh snow fell in Chang'an. After the snow, the weather was good. Ming Huashang's room was warm as spring. She sat in the sun and painted carefully.
Suddenly, Zhaocai rushed in and shouted, "My lady, good news! The murderer who killed people and dug out their bones has been caught!"
Ming Huachang's pen stopped, and a drop of ink fell on the paper, right where the eye was, ruining the whole painting. But Ming Huachang didn't pay attention to the painting, and asked hurriedly, "Who is it?"
"It is said that a monk from Pudu Temple was a thief impersonating him and had been hiding in Chang'an for five years! Jingzhao Prefecture sent people to Qingzhou to inquire about him and brought back a wanted order, which is how we found out!"
"Monk?" Ming Huashang frowned. "Is it Jinghui?"
Zhaocai widened his eyes in surprise: "It seems so. Madam, how did you know?"
It was really him. How could the murderer be caught so easily? Ming Huashang was a little dazed and asked hurriedly, "Where is he now?"
"He's dead." Zhaocai patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Fortunately the murderer is dead. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and there will be the Lantern Festival in two days. I was worried that if the murderer was not caught, I would not be able to watch the lanterns this year. Now it's all right. I don't have to worry about going out anymore."
Ming Huachang's brows knitted even tighter. The murderer was actually dead?
Ming Huashang asked: "Where was he found? Why did he die?"
"I don't know. It seems that he was afraid of being discovered for murder, so he stole the Buddha's treasure and escaped. He accidentally fell down the mountain road and died."
Ming Huashang's heart skipped a beat and she asked, "So, no one heard him admit his guilt?"
Zhao Cai blinked in confusion and said, "My lady, he has killed so many people. Even if he is caught, he will definitely be beheaded. What difference does it make if he dies early or late? Besides, if he is not the murderer, why is he running away?"
Ming Huashang kept silent. She frowned and thought for a while, then asked, "Where did the news that he was the murderer come from?"
"The government." Zhaocai wondered why his wife kept asking nonsense questions today. "Your Majesty requested that the case be closed before the end of the year, but I didn't expect Jingzhao Prefecture to find the case a month in advance. Now the people of Chang'an are praising Jingzhao Prefecture! Erlangjun is the person who handled this case. Although the case has been taken over by Jingzhao Yin, Jingzhao Yin will definitely not forget Erlangjun when the merits are judged and rewards are given!"
Ming Huashang's eyes widened, and she didn't know what to be shocked about: "Now the case is not under the jurisdiction of Second Brother?"
Zhaocai nodded. She glanced at Ming Huashang's face and comforted her, "My lady, it's always like this in the officialdom. When newcomers do something, the superiors take the credit. It has always been like this. Don't worry, the officials in the court have eyes. Jingzhao Yin will definitely remember Erlangjun's contribution."
Ming Huashang bit her lip, suddenly threw down her pen, picked up her skirt and ran out. Zhaocai was startled and hurriedly chased after her: "Second Madam, where are you going? Second Master is in Jingzhao Prefecture now and hasn't come back yet!"
Guangdefang, Jingzhao Prefecture.
All the officials of Jingzhao Prefecture gathered together. Jingzhao Yin sat at the top. He cleared his throat and said, "The serial murder case that has been making a lot of noise these days has finally been found. I have reported it to the Ministry of Justice today. The Minister of Justice is very concerned. In a few days, officials from the Ministry of Justice will come to investigate, and maybe people from the Historian will come too. Do you know what to say and what not to say?"
Ming Huazhang, who was sitting in the Jingzhao Yin's office, couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard this. Has the murderer been found? Has he even reported it to the Ministry of Justice?
Jingzhao Yin waved his hand and asked someone to pass the wanted order sent back from Qingzhou to everyone. Ming Huazhang was the second most important official after Jingzhao Yin, so the wanted order naturally reached him first.
Ming Huazhang looked down at the portrait. The paper looked quite old, the edges had turned yellow and brittle, and the ink had faded a lot. But one could still see that the man in the portrait had a sullen, gloomy and fierce face. If his beard was shaved off, his skin was whiter and his face was thinner, wouldn't he be the monk Jinghui that the people of Chang'an knew?
Ming Huazhang looked next to the wanted order, which read "Cen Hu, the leader of the official bank robbery case in the fifth year of Tianshou."
Jingzhao Yin said at the right time: "The person who went to Qingzhou to inquire about the news yesterday came back with a wanted order and a letter from the Qingzhou governor. Jinghui is indeed a fake. He is actually a bandit named Cen Hu who robs houses. The official silver under his bed is the evidence. The Qingzhou governor said in the letter that Cen Hu is a murderer and a violent person. When he was a bandit in Qingzhou, he often robbed women. Six years ago, they were so bold as to do something so outrageous. The robbery angered the government, and the governor of Qingzhou sent troops to surround the mountains to suppress the bandits. Cen Hu and his men were defeated and fled. The governor of Qingzhou had been hunting for him for a long time but could not find him. He did not expect that he would pretend to be a monk and parade around Chang'an with more resources. From this point of view, Cen Hu's murders were far more than just these girls in Chang'an. The real monk Jinghui might have also been killed by him. "
It turned out that the person Ming Huazhang sent to gather information had returned yesterday, but Jingzhao Yin was a higher-ranking official and intercepted the information in advance. He announced the result to everyone after he had arranged everything. In this way, the credit for finding Cen Hu naturally belonged to Jingzhao Yin.
Everyone in the hall quietly looked at Ming Huazhang. Ming Huazhang sat upright, his posture as firm as a bamboo, staring at the wanted portrait intently, and did not seem to care about his credit being snatched away.
Everyone in Jingzhao Prefecture secretly sighed that Shao Yin was so well-mannered, and he could handle it even when he was confronted with a slap in the face. In fact, everyone in Jingzhao Prefecture misunderstood Ming Huazhang. Ming Huazhang did not react, not because he was magnanimous, but because he was thinking about other things.
The person who went to Qingzhou to question was sent by Ming Huazhang, and the letter from Qingzhou was directly handed over to Jingzhao Yin, without any third party intervening. The identity of the fake Jinghui was confirmed, and there seemed to be no room for doubt. However, Ming Huazhang always felt that something was wrong.
Why did he always feel that there were invisible eyes watching them? Did Jingzhao Prefecture find out Cen Hu's identity by themselves?
After reading the letter from the governor of Qingzhou, Jingzhao Yin was very proud and said, "With the evidence of the governor of Qingzhou, the truth of this case has been revealed. Six years ago, Cen Hu was wanted for robbing government silver. He met Master Jinghui on the road. I don't know how he killed Jinghui and took Jinghui's identity. Five years ago, he hid in Pudu Temple in the southern suburbs of Chang'an. At that time, Pudu Temple was still called Qingshan Temple. The time he came to Chang'an coincided with the time of the first murder. All the murders that occurred afterwards were related to him.
"I guess that he must have been annihilated by the government and felt resentment towards the government, so he deliberately killed the official's daughter. Four years ago, Huang Caiwei, the daughter of Huang Jijiu, often came to Pudu Temple to burn incense. He took advantage of his status to lure Huang Niangzi to a secluded place and killed her, and then used cruel means to dump her body and dig out her bones. On the tenth day of the tenth month of this year, Chu Jun, a woman from Pingkangfang, went to Pudu Temple to listen to a Dharma meeting. After the meeting, he lured Chu Jun away, killed her, and dumped her body on the official road not far away.
"The most solid evidence is the death of Madam Cheng. On October 22, Pudu Temple went to Qingchan Temple to give a lecture. Everyone stayed together, except him. He must have wanted to steal the Buddhist treasures, so he deliberately stayed behind to guard the gate. After he succeeded, he went into the city to kill Cheng Siyue and dumped her body near the city gate. But this year is different from the past. The investigation of Jingzhao Prefecture is very close. He was afraid of being exposed, so he went back to his old ways and stole the Buddhist treasures and escaped on November 19. The monks of Pudu Temple said that On the 19th, the fake Jinghui was found missing at 3 p.m. According to his steps, he reached the pass at about 5 p.m., when the sun was setting and the light was dim. He was in a hurry to escape and accidentally slipped off the cliff, smashing to pieces on the spot. This was confirmed by the coroner, who found identity documents, money and a broken bone flute on the fake Jinghui, that is, Cen Hu, which was consistent with the Pudu Temple's statement. With both witnesses and evidence, the case can be concluded. "
Everyone nodded as they listened. All the explanations were reasonable, and the cause and effect and timeline all matched. It must be said that Jingzhao Yin had some luck in his career. Four years ago, the murderer was not caught, and many officials in Jingzhao Prefecture were questioned for this. In recent years, so many people have been replaced in a hurry. When Jingzhao Yin was just promoted to the supervisor, the case was solved, and the murderer was the fugitive who was not caught by the governor of Qingzhou six years ago. With such political achievements in hand, why worry about not being promoted in the future?
The officials of Jingzhao Prefecture were full of admiration and envy, and they all praised Jingzhao Yin for his keen insight and divine judgment. Jingzhao Yin stroked his beard and smiled proudly. Amid the cheers of the whole room, only one person remained silent, looking out of place.
Ming Huazhang read the letter from the governor of Qingzhou carefully and suddenly interrupted the cheers in the hall: "Since Cen Hu wanted to steal the Buddhist treasure on October 22, why did he leave Pudu Temple and go into the city to kill people?"
The voices of congratulations in the hall paused, and everyone looked at Ming Huazhang. Ming Huazhang, despite the many stares, still had a cool, self-possessed, and calm demeanor, and asked: "Since he was after money, he should have found a place to hide after he succeeded. Why did he make trouble? If he was deliberately murdering the official's daughter, how could he have known in advance that Cheng Siyue would go to the Imperial College that day, and go to the East Market alone?"
Everyone was stumped by the question. Jingzhao Yin thought for a moment and said with certainty, "He must have stolen the Buddhist treasure and wanted to sell it in the city, but he couldn't find a buyer. He was so angry that he ran into Madam Cheng in the East Market. He recognized Madam Cheng's identity, so he became malicious and killed her to vent his anger."
Ming Huazhang raised his eyebrows and asked, "How do you know all this?"
"We can figure it out with a little deduction." Jingzhao Yin frowned and said with great authority, "He is a bandit who kills and robs people. He has a history of robbing women. Only he can do such a cruel thing. Besides, if it's not him, why is he running away?"
“他有前科，不代表之後會殺人；他曾做過殘忍的事，不能推斷出現人命案後，兇手就是他；他在山路上摔死，不能證明當時沒有第三人在場。他可能是兇手，但也可能是受害人。”明華章咬字清晰，語氣堅定，一連串話像銀珠落玉盤，清正冷峻，威嚴不可逼視。他說完後意識到自己太咄咄逼人了，微垂下眼睛，拱手道：“下官覺得還不能确定兇手是岑虎，望京兆尹三思。”
明華章一身緋紅長袍，坐在“明鏡高懸”牌匾下，哪怕是行禮的動作，由他做來堅韌挺拔，色清塵不染，寒雪萦松竹，恩威與豔色并存，凜然不可侵犯。
他像冰雪消融時從山上吹來的風，哪怕在人間已是桃李滿園芳菲喧鬧，他依然帶着清醒和嚴厲，時刻提醒衆生冬日并未遠去。就如此刻，所有人都在歡欣破案了，唯獨他不留情面說着掃興話。
周圍靜了靜，京兆尹拉下臉，不悅道：“明少尹，陛下和百姓還等着結果呢，你勿要在此擾亂軍心。”
“并非我打擊士氣，而是此案還疑點重重。”明華章不依不饒道，“岑虎目的既然是佛寶，十月二十二日為何要進城殺人？退一步講，就算真的是他，那他在哪裏殺人，如何引誘程思月離開，街上那麽多人，為什麽沒人發現？”
這麽多問題，把所有人都問啞了。有人聳聳肩，不在意道：“他是打家劫舍的江洋大盜，肯定有辦法。”
“那到底是什麽辦法？”明華章絲毫不管人情面子，咄咄逼人道，“我們奉命徹查連環殺人案，若是為了盡快定案，随便找人頂罪，若日後兇手再在城中殺人，我們如何對百姓交代，如何對受害人的父母親人交代？”
四下死一般的寂靜，無人接話。明燭高堂上，京兆尹緩緩開口：“明少尹，我知道你為這個案子出力不少，但是，破案不是你一個人的功勞，你不能因為不如你的意，就揪着細枝末節胡攪蠻纏。此案我已禀告刑部，具體如何，交由刑部諸公定奪吧。”
京兆尹起身，拂袖而去：“散會。”
京兆尹頭也不回走了，留下殿中衆人面面相觑。許多人悄悄看向明華章，未曾說話，各自拉着相熟的人走了。
明華章仿佛沒注意到衆人的打量，不慌不忙起身，趙廉落在最後，他欲言又止，最後重重嘆了口氣，對明華章抱拳後就大步而去。
等明華章走回自己的少尹宮殿，發現門已經被推開，一群人進進出出。衙役看到明華章，有些尴尬地叉手：“少尹，京兆尹有令，要将所有卷宗搬去主殿，等候刑部和禦史臺核查。”
明華章清淩淩的眸子掃過衆人，被他看到的人紛紛低頭，無人敢和他對視。明華章沒說什麽，靜靜道：“既是京兆尹的命令，那就搬走吧。”
衙役諾了一聲，示意手下人快搬。京兆府所有人都忙忙碌碌，喜氣洋洋，明華章置身其中，反倒成了唯一的閑人。和案件相關的卷宗全部被京兆尹搬走，明華章安靜坐了沒多久，殿中又有人來。
石大搓手，有些尴尬地站在明華章面前：“少尹，京兆尹說要結案，這些天要招待刑部、大理寺的人，急缺人手，讓我們将平康坊的人都撤回來……”
明華章立即皺了皺眉，平康坊是他誘捕楚君案兇手的重要布置，把平康坊的人撤了，怎麽抓那個模仿犯罪的兇徒？但明華章看着石大凍得通紅的臉，窘迫緊張的眼神，實在說不出讓他們違抗京兆尹的話。
明華章神情沒什麽變化，還是那般淡定從容，說道：“既然京兆尹有命，你們遵從就是。這些日子辛苦你們了，先去膳堂喝點熱湯吧。”
石大聽到明華章的話明顯放松下來。他們和明華章這種出身名門、進士及第的天之驕子不同，他們都是小吏，拿着微薄的俸祿，這輩子升職無望，所求無非能在長安糊口，最怕卷入到上層官員的鬥争中了。明華章有家族做後盾，和京兆尹鬥法失敗不會有什麽，但他們這些小魚小蝦就要遭殃了。他和手下兄弟都拖家帶口，若丢了飯碗，在長安連米都吃不起。
石大松了口氣，他對明華章抱拳，如釋重負走了。出去後，他和京兆府其他人說笑，隔了很遠都能聽到男人們暢想這次能得多少賞賜的聲音，反襯之下，明華章的宮殿顯得尤其冷寂。
明華章環顧殿中，卷宗已被搬走，結案文書也無需他寫，他似乎沒什麽能做的。他在殿中靜坐了一會，索性收拾東西，有生以來第一次提前回府。
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明華裳坐在清輝院內，她本預料要等到天黑，沒想到坐了沒多久，門外傳來動靜。明華裳驚訝地站起身，快步朝門口跑去：“二兄！”
明華章披着大氅從回廊走來，還沒來得及推門，門猛地從裏面拉開，一個人影帶着融融暖意朝他撲來。明華章下意識接住，等看清懷中人後立刻虎了臉：“胡鬧，誰讓你不穿鞋就跑出來的！”
明華裳穿着室內的軟鞋，鞋底只有薄薄一層布，如今可是十二月，這樣站在外面無異于光腳。而且她身上衣服也穿的輕薄，一層單衫襦裙，擋得住什麽？
明華裳輕哼一聲，說：“還不是為了見你。二兄，你怎麽這麽早回來了？我聽說京兆府結案了，這是怎麽回事？”
原來今天的事已經傳到外面了，明華章輕嘆一聲，示意侍從掀開簾子，他俯身輕輕松松将明華裳抱起，道：“進來說。”
明華裳看到後面的侍從，欲要自己走，還沒掙紮就被明華章壓住：“別亂動。”
明華裳不敢動了，明華章把她放回榻上，親自給她腳底塞暖爐、毛毯。明華裳被人握着腳腕，有些不自在，輕微地掙了掙：“二兄，可以了，我不冷的。”
“寒從腳起，不可馬虎。”明華章沒理她，把她的腳結結實實圍好後，才坐在榻邊，道，“這幾日你不是忙着練畫嗎，怎麽跑過來了？”
明華裳看向他，小心翼翼問：“二兄，案子的事……”
明華章嘆道：“如今黃采薇、楚君、程思月等案已由京兆尹全權接管。京兆尹向刑部上奏這一系列兇手乃是岑虎，也就是假淨慧，刑部已派了人來核查，不日結案。”
明華裳心中一緊，她以為只是京兆府內意見不一致，原來事态已到了這種程度？
這個結論可謂錯誤百出，連環殺手要殺的根本不是黃采薇，而是雨燕，這個很難看出來，暫且不說，楚君和另幾案差別那麽大，竟然也能被定為同一人作案？
明華裳皺着眉問：“京兆尹看不出楚君屍體和其他幾案的差別嗎，怎麽敢這樣定案？”
一整日的據理力争和無能為力，此刻仿佛都化成她眼中的關切，手心的溫意。明華章身體不知不覺放松，無奈道：“我提醒過很多次，但京兆尹執意為之，連我布在平康坊的人手也撤了。他們需要一個兇手，他們希望兇手是岑虎這種有份量、有噱頭的惡人逃犯，至于疑點和破綻，現在根本沒人聽得進去。我在京兆府，就如以一杯水，救一車薪之火，實在無能為力。”
明華裳鮮少見明華章露出這麽疲憊的表情，他語氣低沉，帶着淡淡的悲涼，聽得明華裳心都揪了起來。
明華裳緊緊皺着眉，問：“刑部和大理寺呢，他們沒有人質疑嗎？”
“等他們查出疑點，恐怕已經晚了。”明華章臉色十分凝重，說，“馬上就要到年關了，過年會有很多人出門探親覓友，等上元節時，更有許多女子上街看燈。百姓信任朝廷，以為京兆府已經将人抓住了，才敢放心出門的，如果兇手還藏在長安裏，上元節那幾日再對無辜女子開刀，我還有什麽顏面見長安百姓？”
明華裳心越來越沉，岑虎一事疑點重重，京兆尹卻不願意詳查，而是順從他們的偏見定案。上元那幾天有許多官員千金出府，下手時機多得數不勝數，如果兇手再如法炮制，虐殺女子，明華章必然要被問責不說，他自己心裏也沒法原諒自己。
她不能坐視兇手和庸官毀了明華章。她一定要趁過年前，找出兇手。