Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 36 Doubts
"Brother Ming?"

Di Renjie stared in amazement at Li Ming who was wolfing down his food in his home.

Why does Ning come to eat my rice?

"Disrespectful! Call him Your Highness!"

The father, Di Zhixun, gave his son a slap on the head and fawningly picked up some food for Li Ming:
"Your Highness's presence in person brings honor to our humble home..."

Oh my god, this guy is the emperor’s biological son, and he’s alive!
"It's alright, I am merciful and will pardon you."

Li Ming finished his dinner as fast as a whirlwind and patted his round belly:

"I will be visiting the people tonight, please let Renjie serve me. Will General Di not let me go?"

Di Zhixun took the chopsticks from Di Renjie's hand attentively:
"We must release it, we must release it!"

…………

"I haven't finished my meal yet, and I don't want to go out at night..."

Di Renjie walked sadly on the road of Longqingfang.

Li Ming kicked him in the ass:

"Stop talking nonsense. Curfew has begun. If you don't want to spend the night in the funeral home, then quickly investigate the case!"

There was a curfew in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty from 9pm to 3am, and the gates were closed. Anyone who violated the curfew and was caught by the Wuhou Guards (later the Jinwu Guards) would be spanked.

Li Ming finally understood why Fang Xuanling was so anxious to throw him in front of Di Renjie's house.

Time is indeed running out!

If they want to make a big deal out of the Li Xiaogong case, words alone are not enough; they must at least get some evidence of the crime first.

Li Xiaogong was considered to have died of "natural causes" and his body was usually kept for three days before being buried.

Once a person is in the coffin, it becomes difficult to check.

During these three days, it was difficult for Li Ming to find an opportunity to sneak out of the palace.

That is to say, the time he and Di Renjie have to investigate.

There is only a little over an hour before the curfew starts at 11:00 p.m.!

"Won't there be any problem..." Di Renjie was worried.

"There are so many people in the palace, are you still afraid of ghosts? It would be even better if a ghost comes, just ask him directly!" Li Ming glanced at him.

If this case fails to make any waves, I will be in the same boat with the ghosts... Li Ming added in his heart.

The two children walked all the way to the Prince's Mansion.

The magnificent gate was hung with white banners and lit with white candles. Guests paying their respects and servants preparing for the funeral came in and out.

"Look, it's very lively here, what do you have to be afraid of?" Li Ming poked Di Renjie in the waist with his elbow.

"Ah!" Di Renjie's body trembled.

"I...I didn't do anything to you, don't blackmail me!"

"Mingming...Brother Ming, do you hear anyone crying?"

cry?
Li Ming pricked up his little ears.

It’s true, there seemed to be mournful cries coming from the dark streets along with the sound of the wind.

"Don't...don't be nervous. Isn't it normal to cry when someone in the family dies?"

"Keke...but the crying sound came from the street..."

At this moment, a carriage passed by and the driver's torch illuminated the corner.

The two men finally saw clearly that it was some people with strange clothes and dark skin, who were kneeling on the side of the road and crying in the direction of the Prince's Mansion.

"they are?"

"A native from Bashu who came to Chang'an to do business." Di Renjie was a little depressed.

"The prince persuaded the people of Bashu to surrender, saved the people from war, and governed the country well. The people miss his kindness."

His father was an official in Kuizhou, which was in Bashu. He had heard about the great reputation of the famous generals of the royal family since he was a child.

If the hero of my childhood died in such an unclear way...

Di Renjie pursed his lips, suppressed the fear that was rising and falling in his heart, and walked towards the gate of the Prince's Mansion with determination.

"It's curfew soon, hurry up!"

…………

Li Xiaogong had a generous personality during his lifetime and made friends with many heroes.

So even at night, there were many guests invited to see him off.

Of course, since the two children of high status insisted on coming to see him off, the guard did not dare to stop them.

Li Ming followed Di Renjie around the mansion, but couldn't figure out what was going on.

"Renjie, what do you think?" After turning around for a long time, he couldn't help but ask.

"It's a bit troublesome." Di Renjie looked solemn.

"Where's the trouble?"

"The wine utensils were poured out and washed, and the scene was also cleaned up, so it is difficult to find clues." Li Ming smacked his lips.

No wonder the mastermind was so eager to announce his death.

This is to give everyone the preconceived impression that it was a "natural death" and make it easier for them to destroy the evidence.

How to do?
"No, the clue is still there."

Li Ming has a new idea.

As a modern man, he holds ideas that are quite unfamiliar to the Tang people.

That is "everything leaves a trace".

Whatever you do, it will leave traces.

For example, the scene was cleaned up.

Then conversely, the person who ordered the scene to be cleaned up becomes a suspect.

“If you can’t find physical evidence, then look for witnesses,” Li Ming suggested.

Di Renjie smiled bitterly: "There are more than a hundred singers and dancers in the Prince of Hejian's mansion. Who should I ask?"

"Such an obvious clue, and you, Di Renjie, didn't even think of it?" Li Ming couldn't help but show off his skills in front of the king:
"Whoever ordered the destruction of evidence will be held responsible."

Di Renjie's eyes lit up and he slapped his forehead:
"Yes!"

Di Renjie might be good at reasoning, but when it comes to playing tricks on others, it has to be Brother Ming!
The two of them questioned the servants and soon found the aunt.

Li Xiaogong's first wife had passed away, so the most senior of the seven concubines was in charge of the Prince's Mansion. She was the biggest star among the seven.

In every sense.

"There are many distinguished guests coming to pay their respects. I cannot bear to bring shame to the prince, so I have ordered the servants to clean the house thoroughly."

The aunt explained while wiping her tears.

Little Li Ming raised his head with great effort, but the two mountains blocked his eyes and prevented him from observing his aunt's expression.

How despicable!

"Madam, would you mind telling me what happened at the time of the incident?" Di Renjie asked in a businesslike manner.

The aunt didn't understand what these two naughty kids were doing, but due to the identity of the prince in front of her, she still explained everything:
"This afternoon, the master went home and had a little wine. He suddenly became seriously ill and will soon die..."

As my aunt spoke, she began to sob.

Listening to your words is like listening to your words... Li Ming complained in his heart and asked:

"What did the doctor say?"

The aunt cried even more sadly:
"Before I could even call a doctor, the master had already..."

In other words, no doctor was called?
Such a retired cadre is treated like a treasure by his family, but why wouldn’t they try to rescue him when something happens to him?
Di Renjie and Li Ming looked at each other and asked:
"Madam, before the prince passed away, did he feel dizzy, nauseous, or vomit..."

"I still have to entertain guests and add oil to the eternal lamp. Your Highness, young master, please excuse me while I take my leave."

The aunt hurried away, shaking her two huge breasts.

"Renjie, what do you think?"

"She has a big problem."

Li Ming deeply agreed: "It is indeed big."

Even her face was blocked, all she had was the screen.

"Do you want to continue asking the other concubines?"

Di Renjie shook his head slowly:
"No need. It's a waste of time. At best you'll get an ambiguous answer, not solid evidence."

Li Ming was a little anxious: "How should we check it?"

As soon as daybreak came, he had to return to the palace.

If we can't find conclusive evidence tonight, we'll have to wait until the next time he gets the chance to go out for some fresh air.

Li Xiaogong has been buried and the grass on his grave is three feet high.

This way, this case would not cause any waves in the court.

If this is true, then the mastermind behind the scenes can deal with him calmly in a corner where no one is paying attention...

Di Renjie lowered his head and said softly:
"In fact, there is another way to obtain physical evidence."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Li Ming complained.

Brother and you are connected heart to heart, but you are playing tricks with your brother?
"This evil method is quite...evil." Di Renjie's face turned pale.

“If it wasn’t for giving an explanation to those Bashu people kneeling at the door, and if that lady was indeed suspicious, I really didn’t want to and didn’t dare to do this.

"Especially to a prince from the royal family."

Li Ming realized something and swallowed hard:
"At this late hour, do you want to..."

Two little kids, their ideas collided with each other:

"Autopsy!"

(End of this chapter)