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. He was not surprised to see Ming Huazhang, but he did raise his eyebrows in surprise when he saw Ming Huashang standing beside him.

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, indirectly 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.

被提醒了，明華裳趕緊收起精神，耐着性子聽京兆尹和太子說話。看得出來他們這位儲君是真沒什麽治國天賦，說了這麽多連重點都抓不住，還要京兆尹反複解釋。

到了最新一樁回春堂的案子，京兆尹實在沒有現成的功勞可占，便道：“回春堂之事，臣正派屬下查，尚未定論，不敢拿來誤導殿下。”

太子有些不滿他們的進度，皺眉問：“案發這麽久了，你們怎麽什麽進展都沒有？接下來，你們有何打算？”

一到背鍋擔責的時候，剛才踴躍拍馬屁的人就不見了，明華章主動接過話道：“殿下教訓的是，臣等辦事不力，深感愧怍。臣私以為，無論兇手為何要殺錢益和楚骥，火藥才是他作案的關鍵。所以臣計劃從硝石、火藥入手，調查近期大量購置硝火的人。只是前段時間是上元節，豪富之家積屯大量煙花爆竹，他們的火藥來路去路不明，且不肯配合官府調查，極大拖累了辦案進度。臣鬥膽向殿下請一道旨意，望殿下給臣分撥人手，必要時允許臣入府搜查。”

太子聽後皺眉，長安豪富之家背後關系盤根錯節，他如今才剛坐穩東宮之位，正當求穩，若明華章帶着太子的手谕搜查官宅，豈不是得罪人？

太子搖頭道：“不妥，此舉不妥。還有沒有其他辦法？”

明華章聞言深深抿唇，很不滿太子的優柔寡斷。他還想據理力争，謝濟川在對面看出了明華章的心思，搶先一步開口道：“殿下，臣覺得可以從柳氏查起。”

太子看向謝濟川：“謝卿此言何意？”

謝濟川道：“錢益和楚骥的死太巧合了，一個酒樓掌櫃，一個醫館郎中，一個在城北，一個在城南，生活軌跡根本沒有交集，除了柳氏。現在臣有兩個猜測，其一，柳氏欲殺死馮掌櫃和情人厮守，但她一介漁女如何知道藥理，是楚骥指點了她。她和錢益聯手害死了馮掌櫃卻沒有任何懲罰，有人欲替馮掌櫃複仇，就殺了奸夫錢益和助纣為虐的楚骥。其二，柳氏怨恨錢益得到錦繡樓後不珍惜她，反而另養外室，所以因愛生恨殺了錢益，後來招來官府，她怕事情暴露，就又殺了楚骥。”

謝濟川語氣冷淡散漫，但話語一針見血，條理分明，三言兩語就梳理好了人物因果。剛才京兆尹說了那麽多，太子都沒分明白這些人的關系，經謝濟川一說，太子霎間理解了。

謝濟川乃是東宮詹事府太子舍人，太子當然更信任自己人，他問道：“依謝卿之見，接下來該如何查？”

謝濟川不慌不忙道：“如果是情況一，那就該查馮掌櫃的親人、朋友、忠仆，明少尹已經尋到目擊人，只需讓對方指認就可；如果是情況二那就簡單多了，柳氏是主使者，調查她的行蹤便是。”

“不行。”明華章立刻說道，“目擊者是位上年紀的老婦人，本身意志就不堅定，如果她知道在指認兇手，哪怕不像她也會覺得像。僅憑她一面之詞，萬一認錯了怎麽辦？我們是來尋找兇手的，不是來炮制冤案的，若冤枉了人，我們難辭其咎。”

謝濟川道：“指認時可以不告訴她。”

“前腳官府找她問話，後腳又讓她認人，她怎麽會猜不到在做什麽？”明華章說道，“這樣查是先默認嫌疑人是兇手，然後在他們身上尋找破綻，辦案的捕快先入為主，很容易誤判。不如從源頭查起，無論兇手為什麽要殺人，他能制出威力強大的火藥，才是他最致命的破綻。而且他要改進火藥，一定需要大量嘗試，家裏必然留有痕跡。查硝石去向看似複雜，但這條路才是最準确的。”

謝濟川和明華章視線相對，剎那間宛如交鋒，誰都沒有讓。謝濟川緊緊抿唇，眼中壓抑着怒，明華章怎麽就不懂呢，這條路如果成功了是很準，然而萬一沒有呢？得罪的人要記在誰頭上？

明明有更快、更省事的法子，他為何非要自尋麻煩？

江陵默默看着明華章和謝濟川吵架，人太聰明就這點不好，誰都覺得自己的想法是對的，誰都不肯放棄自己的主張，像他，就沒有這種困擾。

江陵毫不避諱打了個哈欠，有點困了。他正打到一半，忽然聽到一個女子小心翼翼說：“那個……其實我覺得，還有一種思路。”

江陵一噎，下巴差點脫臼。他扶着桌子坐好，詫異地看向明華裳。

明華裳頂着衆多視線，說實話不怵是假的，她盡量鎮定道：“我覺得，或許可以從楚骥身上查。我們認為楚骥之死和柳氏有關，其實并沒有明确的證據，一切都只是我們猜測不是嗎？”

明華章看向她，雙眸漆黑澄澈，等着她繼續說。謝濟川挑眉，不解問：“為何是他？”

明華章的思路他能理解，但明華裳的話，時常讓謝濟川無法預料。

“因為我從錦繡樓、回春堂爆炸現場，感受到深深的仇恨。”明華裳說起案件，心緒很快平靜下來，滔滔不絕道，“兇手想要殺死錢益其實有很多機會，但他故意讓錢益登上高樓，等他說完給兒子的祝詞，幾乎算得上錢益人生最得意的時候，突然讓他當着衆人的面被炸成碎片。這絕不是普通的為了情或財，更像是因為恨。兇手要的遠不只是錢益死，他更想當衆審判錢益，來宣洩他入骨的恨意和憤怒。”

大殿衆人交換視線，毫不掩飾對明華裳的審視。顯然，并沒有人把明華章剛才那番話當真。哪怕如今世道不一樣了，女人也能做官，但像上官婉兒一樣寫寫文章、做做詩也就罷了，女人哪能破案呢？這樣辛苦、勞累、需要腦力和體力的活，從來只有男人可以勝任。

明華章帶着妹妹進議事廳就夠贻笑大方了，這個女子還真打算對公門事務指手畫腳？

任遙隔着人群，看到明華裳在太子、京兆尹、詹事府等一衆王侯卿相面前侃侃而談，頗為揚眉吐氣。她回頭看到江陵一邊抖腿一邊發呆，沒好氣抽了他一下。

江陵被打懵了，捂着胳膊，詫異地看向她。任遙狠狠剜了他一眼，威脅道：“好好聽着。”

明華裳沒在意他人的審量，越說思路越清明，道：“楚骥也是如此。一個少年成名、名利雙收的醫者，卻死在自家藥鋪裏，他引以為豪的秘藥灑落一地，像草一樣任人踐踏。我看到面目全非的回春堂時，第一感覺就是惡意，震耳欲聾、居高臨下的惡意。若只是為了求財或自保，何至于生出這麽強的情感傾向呢？所以我覺得可以查楚骥的仇家，再和錢益的關系對照，重合的人就是重點嫌疑對象。”

京兆尹皺着眉，斥道：“荒謬！破案要講證據，而不是信口開河編故事。女人就是女人，心裏總惦記着情情愛愛，什麽都能扯到情上。什麽惡意，什麽審判，公堂可不是說書攤子，不容你胡攪蠻纏！”

明華裳知道肯定有人不接受自己的思路，心裏早有準備，聽到京兆尹的話并不覺得受到傷害，她身邊的明華章卻霎間冷臉了。

任遙聽到京兆尹竟然這樣羞辱明華裳，氣得臉都紅了，拍案而起：“你放……”

得虧江陵眼疾手快，才避免了任遙在太子殿下面前說出不雅之言。任遙憤怒地掙紮，江陵用力制住任遙，露出标準的纨绔笑：“我們在商量放衙後去哪裏吃飯呢。小事，小事，諸位大人繼續。”

明華章一眼都沒往後面看，身姿清冷筆直，聲音帶着凜然正氣，輕易壓過任遙的嗚嗚聲：“京兆尹，今日彙聚這麽多人就是為了集思廣益，廣開言路，你不聽她的分析有沒有道理，先罵她是女人，這是何意？莫非你覺得，女人不配進官場，對朝政發表看法？”

殿中官員想到宮中那位幾乎屠了半個大唐的女皇，後背霎間涼了。謝濟川嗔怒地瞪了明華章一眼，道：“大膽，太子殿下在此，是非曲直自有殿下定奪，哪輪得到你發話？陛下還在病中，太子殿下主動請纓，為陛下分憂，乃是一片拳拳孝心。若耽誤了破案進程，豈不是離間太子和陛下的母子之情？你們誰擔當的起？”

太子聽到這話也悚然一驚，是啊，魏王正等着給他挑刺呢，若耽擱了時間，魏王不知要如何編排他。母親當着相王、魏王、梁王的面将此事交給他，就是承認他的太子地位，若他辦砸了……

太子都不敢想象後果。只要能破案，用男人用女人又有什麽區別？太子揮揮手，說：“孤求賢若渴，不拘一格。你們有什麽想法，暢所欲言就是，無須顧忌。”

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. Xie Jichuan had been in the Chancellery for almost half a year, and the prince had witnessed Xie Jichuan's cleverness and cunningness, and he became more and more convinced of the aristocratic family. The prince believed that the heir taught by a century-old family was the most promising genius of the Xie family in Chen County, and his judgment must be correct.

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."