Chapter 130 Portrait

The atmosphere in Jingzhao Prefecture was very solemn. Jiang Ling quietly approached Ren Yao and asked, "Why haven't those two come back yet?"

Ren Yao shook his head: "I don't know. Stop talking, the people above are looking over here."

Ming Huashang and Xie Jichuan suddenly ran out this afternoon and have not returned yet. Jiang Ling and Ren Yao waited for a long time at Yan's residence. When the agreed time came, Ming Huashang and Xie Jichuan were nowhere to be seen. They had no choice but to return to Jingzhao Prefecture first.

The situation in Jingzhao Prefecture now is comparable to a joint trial of the three courts. The crown prince sits in the main seat with a sullen face, the Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court sit on his left and right, and the people from the Historic Platform sit on the side, their eyes scanning everyone present like hawks, their pens ready to go.

Jiang Ling was already discouraged by the battle, so Ming Huazhang could not help but sit still and said, "Another explosion happened in Chang'an. It is our fault, but Jingzhao Prefecture has been investigating for a long time, and the detectives have accumulated many familiar faces. Maybe the murderer is one of them. At this time, if we transfer the case to the Dali Temple, wouldn't it be a waste of time? I am here to ask for your permission. I am willing to continue to be in charge of this case until the real murderer is found. I hope you will help me."

The Minister of Justice said slowly, "Ming Shaoyin, you promised to solve the case within ten days. Now there has been a third explosion in Chang'an, and you can't even find a suspect. If we continue to hand the case over to you, it will delay the case."

Jingzhao Yin covered his mouth and coughed softly, then cupped his hands and said, "It is my fault for not disciplining him. Please punish him, Shangshu."

Ming Huazhang's eyebrows were slightly frowned, but he was a little unconvinced. He showed his sharp edge and said aggressively: "The deadline given by the saint is ten days. Now there are still nine days. How does the minister know that I can't solve the case?"

The Minister of Justice frowned and said, "How dare you! You are just a newcomer to the government, how dare you be so arrogant? Don't think that you can do whatever you want just because you passed the imperial examination. You can't have the final say on the affairs of the court."

"As a minister, Ming Huazhang naturally obeys the court's arrangements, but as the Shaoyin of Jingzhao Prefecture, he has to live for the people and seek justice for the dead. He does not seek fame or fortune, but only to have a clear conscience." Ming Huazhang was very tough and did not back down. He said, "This case is not only about the explosion, but also involves at least three old cases. I am following up on these details. If it is handed over to another person at this time, it will take time for the other party to familiarize themselves with the case and to re-arrange it. What if the murderer commits another crime during this period and kills innocent people?"

The Minister of Justice kept silent with a sullen face, while the Minister of Justice slowly rubbed his finger ring, not wanting to take on this hot potato. He caught a glimpse of the people at the Yushitai talking in low voices, and asked, "What do you think, Yushitai?"

Su Xingzhi sat behind his superior, glanced at Ming Huazhang who was arguing across from him, and said, "I am a humble person, so I dare not speak nonsense. But based on this sentence alone, I think what Ming Shaoyin said is reasonable."

The Dali Temple Minister took the opportunity to say to the Minister of Justice: "Minister, Ming Shaoyin solved the human bone case last year, which shows that he is quite capable. Perhaps, we can give the young people a chance this time."

The Minister of Justice looked unhappy. After thinking for a while, he said, "Then I'll trust you again. You said you would solve the case. What do you rely on?"

Jiang Ling and Ren Yao both breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. Ming Huazhang remained calm and composed, saying neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Based on the investigation of the scene, I think the person who asked Yan Jingcheng to go out is very suspicious. If we find out why Yan Jingcheng left the city this morning, we can find the murderer."

Ren Yao received Ming Huazhang's gaze and continued, "Reporting to the Shangshu, today we went to Yan Jingcheng's house to investigate. We asked everyone and unexpectedly learned from the shop assistant that Yan Jingcheng had been to the shop yesterday at twilight. When he was about to enter the door, a beggar ran over and stuffed a note into Yan Jingcheng's hand, saying that someone asked him to pass this note to Yan Jingcheng, and then Yan the shopkeeper would pay him a reward. After reading it, Yan Jingcheng really gave the beggar two copper coins, and did not come in to check the goods. He turned around and left. In the past, no matter how busy Yan Jingcheng was, he would personally check the shop. Yesterday, he left without entering the door, so the assistant was very impressed."

Jiang Ling added: "We asked the housekeeper, and he said that Yan Jingcheng did not have any dinner or social events today. Even Yan Jingcheng's concubine thought he was going out for a normal time and did not know that he went out of the city. If it was a normal social event, why would he hide it? In my opinion, there must be something fishy about the note that the beggar stuffed in his pocket! The person who asked the beggar to pass the note to Yan Jingcheng might be the murderer."

The Minister of Justice asked, "Where is the beggar?"

Speaking of this, Jiang Ling rubbed his chin, a little embarrassed: "I have asked people to look for him according to the portrait. But there are too many beggars in Chang'an, so we haven't found him yet."

The prince sighed: "Finding a homeless beggar in Chang'an is as difficult as finding a drop of water in the ocean. So the clues are broken again."

Ming Huazhang said: "The murderer's crime intervals are getting shorter and shorter, which shows that he is getting more and more crazy. We can't put all our hopes on luck, we must take the initiative. I suggest changing the direction of investigation. One team continues to look for the beggar, and the other team goes to find people who have recently purchased a large amount of gunpowder raw materials. If the beggar is not found, we can still find the murderer from another way."

Jingzhao Yin frowned and said, "No. The time for investigating the case is so tight, and we don't have enough manpower. Starting a new path will only distract our attention and make it harder to find the truth."

Ming Huazhang argued: "But we may not be able to find the beggar. Even if we find him, there is no guarantee that he knows the murderer's appearance. However, no matter how many disguises the murderer makes, it is an indisputable fact that he needs a large amount of sulfur and saltpeter to make explosives."

Jingzhao Yin still shook his head: "There are only nine days left to solve the case. You are still changing your mind at this time. It's simply child's play! We are solving a case, not playing house. Put all our manpower into looking for beggars and finding the murderer safely and securely. This is the most important thing now!"

The prince listened and agreed, saying, "Jingzhao Yin is right. The most important thing now is to find the murderer as soon as possible and ensure that my mother can leave the palace safely during the Flower Festival. Let's do as Jingzhao Yin says."

Ming Huazhang wanted to argue, but the prince didn't listen at all. He just wanted to be stable. What else could he do? Ming Huazhang sighed and raised his hand and said, "Yes."

After discussing for such a long time, it was already dark outside. The Crown Prince, the Minister of Justice and others were in high positions and rarely stayed in the official residence so late. Jingzhao Yin did not dare to delay the adults any longer and respectfully escorted the Crown Prince, the Minister and others out.

Jiang Ling and Ren Yao, two seventh-rank lieutenants, were only fit to follow at the back. Jiang Ling was quite dissatisfied, tilting his head and muttering to Ren Yao: "Xie Jichuan is not here, and there is no one to help us talk to the prince. Otherwise, I should go back and talk to my father?"

Ren Yao glared at him and said, "Don't mess around. Ming Huazhang will definitely have a way."

Now, besides praying for luck, what else can she do? Ren Yao didn't know. But she knew that since she met Hua Zhang, he had never failed to keep his promise.

She believed in Ming Huazhang. If it really came to the point where she had to use her family connections, as long as he said so, Ren Yao would be willing to lose face and go back to ask her grandmother for help. But as long as Ming Huazhang didn't say so, Ren Yao would choose to trust him.

Jiang Ling shrugged and said no more. The Crown Prince, the Minister of Justice, Jingzhao Yin and others were talking at the door, and Jiang Ling was bored and stayed outside to listen. Jingzhao Yin was almost done talking when suddenly, a clear and pleasant girl's voice came from afar: "Wait, Your Highness, please stay!"

Ren Yao and Jiang Ling looked up and were surprised and delighted to see two familiar figures running towards them against the twilight at the end of the long street.

Ming Huashang rushed forward with her skirt lifted, while Xie Jichuan led the horse with a plaque on its back, which he tied behind him calmly. The guards saw Ming Huashang rushing forward like a firecracker with an unknown object in her hand, and instinctively protected the prince.

The prince raised his hand to stop her, and said casually, "It's okay, let her talk."

Ming Huashang stopped in front of the crowd, trying to calm her breath while bowing to the Crown Prince, and said, "Your Highness, I have something important to report. We have found the secret of the murderer!"

The prince lost hope when he heard the latter part. Ming Huashang knew they didn't believe her when she saw their expressions. She said without hesitation, "The murderer didn't just pick his victims randomly. When he killed someone, he would leave the name of the next victim at the scene."

Everyone was stunned. Ming Huazhang's face changed slightly and he said, "Second Mother, are you serious?"

"Really." Ming Huashang raised the longevity lock in her hand and said, "This is the longevity lock I just took from Liu's son. This year is not the Year of the Horse, and Liu's son is not born in the Year of the Horse, but he inexplicably received the Horse's longevity lock a few days before the Lantern Festival. The deceased in the second case was named Chu Ji. I also found an unknown gift in Chu Ji's pharmacy, which was a plaque with the words 'Great Doctor's Sincerity'. The deceased in the third case was named Yan Jingcheng."

Ming Huashang turned around to show the evidence, but saw Xie Jichuan still strolling along the road. She couldn't help but said, "Brother Xie, please walk faster! We have brought the plaque with the words 'Great Doctor's Sincerity' over here. Please have a look, Prince and Sir."

The Minister of Justice and the Supreme Court Minister looked at each other and both felt something was unusual. The Minister of Justice winked and the attendant immediately ran to the side of Xie Jichuan's horse and held the plaque in front of the prince.

When the prince saw the words above, he didn't know whether to be happy or worried. He was happy that he had found a huge breakthrough and finally didn't have to worry all day long. He was worried that the murderer was so cunning that it might be difficult to find him.

The prince suddenly realized something: "Then today's murder scene..."

"We suspect the murderer also left a warning, so we went back to the scene again this afternoon, but unfortunately we couldn't find where the murderer hid his name." Ming Huashang said, "So I would like to ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to send more people to thoroughly investigate Liangting and find the next person the murderer wants to kill as soon as possible. No more deaths in Chang'an."

Ming Huazhang really didn't expect Ming Huachang to make such great progress in just one day. He also said, "Your Highness, what Second Lady said makes sense. Now, in addition to looking for the beggar, we have two more clues. Track down the person who sent the longevity lock to Jinxiu Tower and the plaque to Chu Ji. We will definitely find the murderer by following the clues. I also ask the Crown Prince to mobilize the Northern Yamen Imperial Guards to catch the real murderer as soon as possible and return peace to Chang'an."

The prince was hesitant. Of course, he wanted to solve the case as soon as possible, but the problem was that he had no say over the Northern Court’s Imperial Guards. The Imperial Guards were the most important military force in Chang’an. What would the empress think if a prince wanted to move against them?

The prince still didn't dare to take the risk, and frowned, saying, "The murderer is still unknown, and mobilizing the imperial guards would be too much of a fuss. It would be better for me to send a few people from the Eastern Palace to you."

Ming Huazhang looked at the most unfamiliar yet most familiar person in front of him, pursed his lips, and was speechless for a moment. In the current situation, who doesn't know who? The prince had just been recalled to the capital, and the East Palace didn't even have a decent staff. Where could he transfer people?

Because the prince is in an awkward situation, he needs to establish his authority quickly. This case is a risk, but also an opportunity. As long as the case is solved, the prince will win great prestige in Chang'an. The people are already on the side of the former Tang Li family. If the prince establishes his authority, he will have the support of the old ministers at home and the support of the people outside. What else can the King of Wei and the King of Liang use to compete with the prince?

Moreover, military power can always be used, but it must be possessed. Now, by investigating the case, I can legitimately control the imperial guards. If I don't fight for it now, when will I fight for it?

Such a simple truth, but the prince was hesitant and indecisive, wasting time. A prince like him doesn't even have this much courage, really...

Ming Huashang quickly glanced at Ming Huazhang and vaguely understood his intention. She gritted her teeth and said with determination: "Your Highness, the murderer is not completely clueless. I can try to draw a portrait of the murderer."

The prince's pupils trembled, and he looked at her in surprise: "Portrait?"

"It's not a portrait in the usual sense." Ming Huashang sighed, not knowing whether what she did was right or wrong, and said in one go, "I can try. If Your Highness is interested, please move to the inner room."

The meeting hall had just seen off the distinguished guests, and soon it was reopened. The yamen runners poured hot tea for the gentlemen, lit the lights, and quietly left.

Ming Huashang asked the yamen runners to help her hang up a piece of white paper. She held a pen and gestured while saying, "The murderer in this case is different from ordinary murderers. He did not kill for love, money, or revenge, but for a higher purpose, or even an ideal. Combined with the testimony of eyewitnesses, we can know that he is a man, not tall, thin and weak."

The Dali Temple Minister thought that he had some magical power to draw the murderer's appearance at a glance, but he didn't expect Ming Huashang to only say this. He was quite disappointed and said, "The murderer is a man, this is obvious. Is this your portrait?"

"That's not the same." Ming Huashang retorted seriously, "The gender and age of the murderer are of great importance and are the key to the success of the portrait. If the murderer is determined to be a man, a lot of information can be obtained. For example, if the murderer is a man, why would he use such a complicated and roundabout method as setting off a bomb? It would be difficult to kill Qian Yi, a strong man, but Chu Ji is just an old and weak doctor. Couldn't they just lure him into an alley and hack or strangle him to death? But he didn't. Instead, he used a method that was hundreds of times more troublesome. There was a time when I also suspected that the murderer was a woman. , but more and more signs later denied this. A man using this method to kill people can explain two things. First, he has poor physical strength and no help, so he can't subdue an adult man alone, and can only use gunpowder. Second, he is knowledgeable, well-informed, and has a high opinion of himself. The knowledge here does not mean that he is proficient in classics, history, and collections like Dr. Lu last year, but that he can get in touch with very obscure knowledge such as alchemy and medicinal stones, and learn it very well, and can integrate it and create his own formula. Brother Xie, do you have books on alchemy and Qimen Dunjia in your house? "

Xie Jichuan leaned against the pillar with his arms folded. He remained calm even when he was suddenly called. He nodded lazily, "Yes."

Ming Huashang looked at Jiang Ling again: "Prince Jiang, do you have this kind of book at home?"

Jiang Ling didn't expect that he would be involved. He was stunned for a moment, and finally said, "We don't have any at home."

But he had learned it in Xuan Xiaowei, although he didn't learn it.

Ming Huashang did not continue to explain, but she believed that everyone present was smart and could understand the meaning of the two examples she cited. Sure enough, the Minister of Justice and the Supreme Court Minister both looked thoughtful. Ming Huashang continued, "Satisfying these two points at the same time means that this man is not very young. So in terms of age, the image I drew is that he is a man between 40 and 50 years old, living alone, with a solitary personality, who likes to study unconventional knowledge, has not been in good health in recent years, and has no children around him."

The hall was silent, the Supreme Court Minister and the Minister of Justice were silent. Ming Huashang's words were not a picture, but better than a picture. After her description, they almost had a clear idea of ​​who this person was.

Even the prince, who was not good at politics, understood what he said and nodded, "Go on."

Ming Huashang moved to another place and continued writing and drawing: "I just drew his appearance, and now I will draw his psychology. Thank you all for running around outside and asking for a lot of useful information. I was able to find the common points between Qian Yi, Chu Ji, and Yan Jingcheng. They are all role models of fame and fortune and happy families in the eyes of the world, but in fact they are villains who climbed up on the corpses of others. But they are also very smart and concealed their evil deeds very well. Even if the government suspects, they cannot convict them. The murderer is selected Choosing these three people to kill reflects his inner heart. He is not a bad person. On the contrary, he is a person who hates evil and has a strong sense of justice. But his justice has not been enforced for a long time, and the evil people he hates are getting better and better. The kindness in his heart has turned into hatred and gradually into bigotry. Therefore, he chose to judge those who should be killed, so that they would be blown to pieces at the most glorious moment of their lives. Fame, wealth, reputation and praise, everything that does not belong to them, all collapsed in an instant and turned into ashes. "

After Ming Huashang finished speaking, she looked at the scribbles in front of her, which were so ugly that she couldn't bear to look at them. Ming Huashang regretted that she didn't learn calligraphy well when the Duke of Zheng asked her to practice, and said awkwardly: "My handwriting is a bit ugly, I'm sorry to make you laugh. I'll find someone to re-transcribe it..."

Ming Huachang was about to put the paper away, but the bosses below waved their hands, indicating that it was okay. Not to mention the shrewd people like the Minister of Justice and the Supreme Court, even the ordinary police chief who was listening in knew what kind of person they were looking for. Ming Huazhang bowed to the prince and said, "Your Highness, with this portrait, the people below will know who to focus on during the search. Please persuade the emperor to send out the Northern Yamen Forbidden Army to search the city and bring the murderer to justice as soon as possible."

Seeing that the prince was still hesitating, Xie Jichuan secretly sighed and said, "Your Highness, the murderer sent a longevity lock to Jinxiu Tower and a plaque to Huichun Hall. Both of these items must be custom-made at a special store. As long as we find the store and conduct a vigorous search of the past customers, we will definitely be able to find this person. The Flower Festival is approaching, and it is better to catch the murderer sooner rather than later. I hope Your Highness will make a decision soon."

The people around him kept persuading him, and the prince was tempted. He thought of the King of Wei who was eyeing him covetously, and the King of Liang who seemed to be indulging in pleasure and not fighting for anything. He gritted his teeth and made up his mind: "Okay, I will go to the palace and ask my mother for permission."