Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 562: Teach you a lesson

The table used for mixing paints had become severely cracked from being wet and dry repeatedly.

Yang Yuan drew out his sword and used the tip of the sword to pry the part of the paint-stained tabletop where he smelled a strange smell. He pried lightly along the crack and pried up a piece.

Yang Yuan took out a handkerchief from his bosom, wrapped the piece of wood with dye on it, and put it back into his bosom.

Liu Shangqiu covered his nose with a handkerchief and watched his strange behavior. When he returned to the door, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "Did you find anything?"

Yang Yuan nodded, walked out of the seal examination room, and said to Liu Shangqiu: "Brother Qingyang, go and ask Envoy Yang for instructions. From now on, no one is allowed to enter the Privy Council but not leave!"

Liu Shangqiu became excited: "What do you mean? You wouldn't... solve the case so quickly, right?"

Yang Yuan said: "You go first, I will explain to you later."

Liu Shangqiu said readily: "Okay!"

He turned around and was about to leave, but then turned back and asked excitedly, "Do you want to call in some soldiers from the archers and horsemen in front of the emperor?"

Yang Yuan said helplessly: "Brother Qingyang, we are catching thieves, not suppressing bandits."

Liu Shangqiu suddenly felt bored and replied, "I know." Then he left quickly.

Yang Yuan then instructed Liu Dazhuang: "Go back and tell my wife that I have official business to attend to tonight and will not be going home."

Da Zhuang agreed and left in a hurry.

Kou Heiyi looked at Yang Yuan's actions in confusion, and couldn't help but come over and ask, "Erlang, have you found anything about this case?"

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "Yes, I found some clues."

Kou Heiyi showed a hint of surprise, then smiled: "Erlang is really amazing, he is worthy of being the Wenqu from heaven who has come down to earth."

He did not ask what Yang Yuan had discovered, but only asked, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Yang Yuan said: "No need, I can still handle this matter."

"it is good!"

Kou Heiyi nodded with a smile: "Then I'll go back to the signing room. If you need me, just let me know."

Kou Heiyi left leisurely.

On the day he went to "Li Qiaoer Bookstore", he secretly delivered a warning letter to the Yang family.

At that time, he sealed the secret letter in a wax ball, threw stones to knock on the window first, and waited for Yang Yuan to come out with his clothes on and a knife in hand. He threw the wax ball at Yang Yuan's feet, watched him pick it up, and then left with peace of mind.

He believed that with Yang Yuan's abilities, and given his vigilance, it would be difficult for the people sent by the prime minister to succeed.

For him, this is something that must be done.

He is an undercover agent, a man whose life will be over if he is exposed.

Therefore, he lived a life of pleasure in Lin'an, earned the title of a fickle playboy, and never dared to really fall in love with any woman.

Because he knows that he cannot give the woman what she wants. He cannot give her the home she wants, nor can he give her the peace she wants.

He blocked his emotions and didn't want to develop any real emotional ties with anyone in Song Dynasty.

Unfortunately, he still failed in his contact with Yang Che.

Yang Che is his only brother in the Song Dynasty where he is undercover, and Yang Yuan is his most beloved brother.

So, no matter what, he didn't want to do nothing even though he knew about it.

Unless doing so is inextricably linked to the fundamental interests of Xixia.

However, he never thought that Yang Yuan could play any irreplaceable role in the dispute between the two countries.

……

Yang Yuan watched Kou Heiyi leave, with a hint of scrutiny and doubt in his eyes.

He had just asked Liu Shangqiu to seal off the Privy Council and asked Dazhuang to go back and report the news, deliberately pretending that he had gained something, with the intention of making a show of force.

When a person has something to hide, no matter how calm he is, he will unconsciously reveal some clues, especially when he thinks he is absolutely not suspected.

However, after a brief conversation with Kou Heiyi, Yang Yuan did not notice anything unusual.

Could it be that the strange ink in the printing room really has nothing to do with him?
Lu Chengze rushed back with a bunch of written seals.

Because he did not have time to go back to the Censorate to ask for the seal, he asked Zheng Yuandong to add the seal and his own handwritten name.

After all, he was the third place in the imperial examination, and the handwriting on each seal was extremely beautiful.

"Your Excellency, I have already written the seal."

Yang Yuan took the seal and said, "Go to each gate and check who was guarding each gate six or seven years ago.

Have they ever seen a woman with a child enter the Council Chamber, who brought them in, or who they were going to see?"

Lu Chengze agreed and left in a hurry.

After a while, Liu Shangqiu obtained Yang Cunzhong's consent, and he led Yuan Chengju and Guo Xuzhi to arrange for the people from the "Quezi Room" to go to the various gates of the Privy Council and issued an order of "allowed to enter but not allowed to leave".

……

At this time, Zhang Mi was visiting retired officials who were living in Lin'an on behalf of Lin'an Prefecture.

This is equivalent to a Spring Festival greeting for the veteran cadres.

So when many people in the city knew that a strange case had occurred in the Privy Council, he still knew nothing about it.

He visited these retired officials in the order of their residence in Lin'an Prefecture from far to near.

After walking around like this, you will be back to the city center.

After he had visited more than a dozen retired high-ranking officials of sufficient rank, he finally heard the news that something had happened in the Privy Council from a retired vice minister.

"This is happening!"

Zhang Mi was surprised and asked, "The bodies of the woman and her child were found in the Xuanzhi Courtyard?

I used to work in the Xuanzhiyuan, I never thought I would be in such a situation right under my nose... It's so scary."

When Zhang Mi talked about this matter with the minister and one of the minister's grandson who came to tell him about it, he was shocked and angry.

The three people commented angrily, and then Zhang Mi said goodbye and left.

Zhang Mi walked calmly and steadily. After he got into the carriage, he smiled and bowed to the son of the minister who had escorted him to the door, and then ordered, "Let's go!"

The carriage started and slowly drove away from the minister's house. As soon as the curtain of the sedan chair was lowered, Zhang Mi's face immediately turned pale and sweat broke out like a pig.

Officials don’t maintain their offices!
The body was buried there, which was the safest place.

How could a house suddenly be built in a place where it would never be discovered unless the house collapsed?
No, there’s no problem with just repairing it, but they actually demolished the house!

This was impossible, but it just happened...

Zhang Mi was gasping for breath. His breathing and heartbeat started to retaliate against his previous attempt to remain calm. For a moment, he felt dizzy and weak all over.

The handkerchief was used to wipe his forehead, cheeks and neck, and in a moment it was soaked.

"Change the route and go to the Privy Council."

Zhang Mi finally struggled to sit up and gave an order to the people outside the car.

The coachman agreed and went to the Privy Council.

Zhang Mi suddenly had an idea and hurriedly ordered, "Return to Lin'an Prefecture."

The driver agreed and the car changed its route again.

Before they reached the end of the street, Zhang Mi changed his mind again: "It's still early, let's go to Dingminfang to visit Minister Wang."

After changing lanes five times like this, the driver realized something was wrong, but he didn't dare to question it at all. He quickly agreed and continued driving towards the original target house.

Zhang Mi suddenly realized that if he behaved inappropriately due to panic, he would be easily exposed.

The body was found in Xuanzhiyuan, so he was already a major suspect. The calmer he was at this time, the less he would arouse suspicion from others.

If it is a blessing, it will not be a disaster. If it is a disaster, it cannot be avoided. Now we can only bite the bullet and bear it.

There may be vitality.

Zhang Mi sat in the car, clasped his hands together, and prayed silently.

The moment his eyes closed, he suddenly saw the gentle and shy little woman in front of him. She was looking at him pitifully, holding a little boy in her hand.

Zhang Mi shuddered violently and then suddenly opened his eyes.

……

Xu Hongcheng, the head of the Printing and Seal Inspection Office of the Xuanzhiyuan, took more than an hour to compile a list of all the people who had worked in the Printing and Seal Inspection Office from ten years ago to the present.

In fact, even with a span of ten years, it does not involve too many people.

The mobility of lower-level clerks and servants is not great, or even very low.

It was very common for clerks and servants to work in one government office or in one position for their entire lives.

The only people who can really move around are officials.

As for officials, the term of office for local officials starts from three years, and the term of office for local officials such as the Privy Council is even longer.

Therefore, unless one's performance during term of office is extremely poor and he is demoted, or his performance is extremely good and he is promoted out of turn, he will not leave until the term of office is complete.

As a result, the seal-checking room of the Xuanzhiyuan was only the job of two or three chief officials in ten years.

However, the personnel files of the Xuanzhiyuan were recorded in the old way, and it was difficult to look through them, so it took more than an hour.

By this time, it was almost dusk.

Because all the gates of the Privy Council had received orders that from that moment on, only entry but no exit was allowed, the guards in front of the gates drew their swords and strung their arrows, ready for battle.

Some officials who were not notified in time wanted to go home after being released from office, but were blocked at the door.

When they heard that it was Yang Yuan who asked the prime minister to seal off the Privy Council, they immediately stopped complaining.

Two bodies were found in the Xuanzhiyuan's seal-checking room, one was a woman and the other was a child.

This kind of murder is so heinous that everyone in the Privy Council is filled with indignation.

Now that Yang Yuan has been appointed as the head of the Privy Council, this is not something that can be done casually. It requires a precise target and the intention to arrest someone.

He found the murderer with just one look?

The murderer is their colleague!
Although it is still the first month of the lunar year and everyone wants to get off work and go home early, who wouldn't want to eat this melon first?

So everyone returned to their signing rooms calmly. They also wanted to know who the murderer was who hid the body in the Privy Council.

Yang Cunzhong has always admired Yang Yuan. When Liu Shangqiu talked to him about the matter, Yang Cunzhong immediately agreed without hesitation.

He sent someone to notify the doorman and asked for "Suohuan" at a nearby restaurant to prepare dinner for everyone who stayed in the Privy Council tonight.

……

Yang Yuan took the form handed to him by Xu Hongcheng, the head of the Printing and Inspection Office of the Xuanzhiyuan, and found that it was indeed much more convenient to search for information this way.

Yang Yuan first looked at the maintenance records for the past ten years on the form.

No!

Not once.

The magical "officials don't repair their offices!"

However, the second wall that was built one foot closer to the gable was built six or seven years ago.

Since there is no maintenance record, how were the sand, stones and bricks transported in?

Yang Yuan suddenly thought of what he had seen when he inspected the three rooms just now.

Could it be that the building materials were hidden in boxes of paper, ink or even printing equipment and shipped in as printing equipment or consumables?

Yang Yuan immediately called Xu Hongcheng over and asked him to make another table to show the time and quantity of various materials such as ink and paper purchased by the printing house in the past ten years.

Afterwards, Yang Yuan found the idle workers gathered in the courtyard and asked, "Your foreman... Mr. Wang?"

Before Yang Yuan finished speaking, he saw Wang Changsheng and asked in surprise, "Mr. Wang, why are you here?"

Wang Changsheng stepped forward and said, "Isn't this because Liu Chengzhi asked you to help him rebuild his official residence?"

Yang Yuan said, "This is just a small job. It shouldn't require a master builder like you to come in for help, right?"

Liu Shangqiu said proudly: "That's naturally because I gave a lot of money."

Wang Changsheng laughed dryly: "Yes, yes, I have a large family and I have to make money to support the family."

After Wang Changsheng said this, Yang Yuan remembered that Wang Changsheng had gone to Japan and brought back more than a dozen concubines.

Yang Yuan looked at him and praised him, "Mr. Wang is in good spirits. It's rare, rare. With so many Japanese concubines, he can still maintain such a good appearance. It's really rare."

After hearing this, Wang Changsheng became very proud and couldn't help bragging about himself and praising Yang Yuan.

You praised me for my vigor and I praised you for your noble bearing. You said I was still as sharp as ever and I said you were masculine and powerful... After a round of business flattery between the two, Liu Shangqiu really couldn't stand their shameless boasting and retreated in a hurry.

Wang Changsheng then whispered to Yang Yuan, "Erlang, you don't know! This government office was built during the Wuyue Kingdom.

The reason I was willing to take this job was because he was willing to let me personally dismantle a 200-year-old official residence, to see the craftsmanship of the craftsmen at that time, and how they ensured that this official residence would remain standing after 200 years of wind and rain. "

Yang Yuan suddenly understood.

Thanks to the tradition that “officials do not repair government offices”, there are not many opportunities to demolish government offices.

With Wang Changsheng's ability in building buildings, he could immediately tell the composition of a piece of mud that acts as a binder for bricks.

This is the main reason that attracted Wang Changsheng to take this job.

Yang Yuan said, "Mr. Wang, I have something to ask you. How long will it take to build this mezzanine wall inside the gable?"

Wang Changsheng said disdainfully: “If the craftsmanship is this crude, it will take at most a day and a half for me to complete it.

But that was back then, and I am old and weak now, and I can’t even build a wall for two days straight.”

Yang Yuandao's mind moved, and he asked, "You mean, with your craftsmanship, you can finish it in two days? How long does it take each day?"

Wang Changsheng said: "About three and a half hours."

"What about people with average skills?"

"That will take three or four days."

"one person?"

"Correct."

"In this case, if one person only builds for one hour a day, it will take half a month."

"Otherwise, at least twenty-four or twenty-five days."

"Why?"

"Even if we only work for one hour a day, the time spent on fetching water and mud won't save much."

"I understand. Thank you, Master Wang!"

After Yang Yuan found out the construction period and workload from Wang Changsheng, he returned to Liu Shangqiu's signature room, picked up a pen, and started to fill in the form.

At this time, Lu Chengze had already visited the doormen of various portals. The turnover rate of these doormen was zero, and they basically worked until they died.

Therefore, at several gates, even if not all of them have been there six or seven years ago, there are elderly people who worked as gatekeepers there at that time.

But after Lu Chengze asked around, no one remembered that a young woman had brought a child here.

When Lu Chengze found Yang Yuan and told him about it, Yang Yuan sneered and said, “I had expected this a long time ago.

If something that happened six or seven years ago is forgotten, it is not too outrageous and no one will punish him for it.

But if you don’t keep your mouth shut, you will become the target of public criticism, so even if someone remembers it, they won’t tell anyone.”

Lu Chengze said angrily: "We can take them back to the Censorate for strict interrogation."

Yang Yuan shook his head and said, "Don't underestimate these lowly gatekeepers. They are all smart people. Intimidation won't scare them."

Yang Yuan said: "They are unwilling to speak, not necessarily because they are involved in the case, but because they don't want to cause trouble for themselves.

Censor Lu, please go again and call all the doormen over.

"Only you and I will stay in the hall and interrogate each of them. As long as others cannot be sure that he said it, then some people will no longer be shy."

Lu Chengze thought to himself, "Is this method reliable? The woman took the child with her, so she must have gone through the side door, and it was most likely the side door of the Xuanzhiyuan.

We will interrogate them and as long as we get the information, others will be able to guess who is behind it."

However, he didn't mind Yang Yuan being too clever and making a fool of himself, so he readily agreed and went to make arrangements.

Soon, all the gatekeepers at the gates of the Privy Council were taken to the Que Room.

Yang Yuan cleared the area and even drove out Liu Shangqiu, the head of the Que room, leaving only him and Lu Chengze in the signing room. He then interrogated the doormen one by one.

Yang Yuan interrogated and Lu Chengze took notes. He questioned the gatekeepers one by one, and the first one to be interrogated was the gatekeeper guarding the side door of Xuanzhiyuan.

But everyone's answers were the same as before.

At this time, Lao Qin, who was guarding the main gate of the Privy Council, was brought in for questioning.

Yang Yuan suddenly smiled at Lu Chengze and said, “No need to remember, come and have some tea.”

Lu Chengze originally thought that this was a futile effort, so he put down his pen, walked over and sat down, imitating Yang Yuan's behavior, leisurely crossed his legs and took a sip of tea.

As soon as the door opened, Old Qin poked his head in. He saw Yang Yuan sitting inside with his legs crossed, with only an official beside him and no one else. He couldn't help but grin, then he slipped in and closed the door.

"Lao Qin, come here, sit down, and chat."

Yang Yuan casually waved to the doorman, Lao Qin, and asked him to sit on the chair opposite.

How could Lao Qin dare to sit down? He refused again and again, and finally sat down with half his buttocks leaning.

Yang Yuan poured him a cup of tea, and Lao Qin quickly stepped forward to take it.

Yang Yuan asked him a few questions about family matters, such as how he was doing and what his children and grandchildren were doing for a living.

After the pleasantries were over, he asked, "Old Qin, I remember that you have been guarding the gate of the Privy Council for ten years, right?"

Old Qin grinned and said, "It's been twelve years and seven months. I came to the Privy Council as a doorman in May of the thirteenth year of Shaoxing. I came on the fourth day after the Dragon Boat Festival that year."

Yang Yuan gave a thumbs up and said, "Old Qin, your memory is really amazing."

Lao Qin said proudly: "You see, although I am just a doorman, I am the first door for people to come and go every day.

You must have a good memory, good eyesight, and a sweet mouth, otherwise, how can you continue to be the gatekeeper."

Yang Yuan nodded and said, "Indeed, the job of concierge may seem insignificant, but it requires a lot of knowledge to do it well."

Lao Qin smiled and said, "I can't say I have great knowledge, but I can't be muddleheaded and live carelessly."

Yang Yuan smiled and took a sip of tea, saying, "Thanks to your good memory, I have something to ask you, please think about it carefully.

Six or seven years ago, there was a period of time when, for a month in a row, someone in the Xuanzhi Courtyard came early and left late every day, and the time was at least half an hour or even more than an hour. "

Old Qin was stunned and looked up. Yang Yuan was looking at him deeply.

The two looked at each other for a moment, and Lao Qin lowered his head to think.

Lu Chengze was slightly surprised and glanced at Yang Yuan. Wasn't he asking about a woman bringing a child to the Privy Council? Why...

After a while, Lao Qin raised his head and said slowly: "He Xiao, who was the storekeeper of the seal-printing room at that time, and Wang Jiayi, the manager of the seal-printing room."

Yang Yuan asked: "Where are they now?"

Lao Qin said: "Manager Wang is now the deputy secretary of the Xuanzhi Court, and Manager He is now the left clerk of the Xuanzhi Court."

Yang Yuan nodded and suddenly asked, "Six or seven years ago, a young woman brought a child to the Privy Council. Do you remember her?"

Lao Qin said, "My Lord, I am the one guarding the main gate. This main gate is where everyone in the Privy Council must go every morning and evening.

However, during normal hours, you can enter through the nearby side doors or corner doors.

That woman and child are not allowed to enter the Privy Council, so even if they come, they must go through the side door or corner door, and be escorted in by someone they know. They won’t be able to find anything at the main entrance.”

Yang Yuan said, "I see. Thank you for your help. Now go back."

"The old man retire."

After Lao Qin left, only Yang Yuan and Lu Chengze were left in the signing room.

Lu Chengze couldn't help but ask, "Secretary, could it be that Wang Jiayi and He Xiao are the murderers?"

Yang Yuan said: "This case is not complicated at all. The murderer is betting that the government office will not be overhauled.

If the government office is not overhauled, then as long as the deceased has no relatives, or the murderer can deal with the relatives' pursuit, the case will never see the light of day.

Fortunately, the case was discovered early. Not only is the murderer still alive, but all the clues left by the murderer are still there. At least someone remembers what happened in those years..."

Lu Chengze nodded and said, “This concierge is a daredevil.”

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "Even if he didn't say it, I could basically determine the target. With this evidence, I am more confident.

Besides, I promised to arrange a good job for his children and grandchildren, so this deal is naturally worthwhile for Lao Qin."

Lu Chengze was surprised when he heard this. When did Yang Yuan discuss the deal with Lao Qin?

I just asked about the current situation of the Qin family’s children and grandchildren?

Are they so in tune with each other?

As he was speaking, the door of the signing room opened and a doorman walked in. Lu Chengze frowned and was about to kick the man out.

The suspects have already been identified, why waste time with them?

But Yang Yuan took the lead and still asked him to record, while he was responsible for the interrogation.

Yang Yuan asked in a serious manner, sent the doorman out, and called in another person.

Since Lao Qin, there were few people at the doorman's post, and the questioning was completed in a short while.

Lu Chengze asked in confusion: "Secretary, since the suspect has been identified, why haven't you arrested him yet? Why are you interrogating the doormen in the back?"

Yang Yuan said, "I'm waiting for Xu Hongcheng's list. Besides, if I don't continue asking, wouldn't it be telling others that I've already gotten what I want to know from Lao Qin?"

After hearing this, Lu Chengze couldn't help but look at Yang Yuan again, and the hostility in his eyes was reduced a lot.

After getting what they want, they are not in a hurry to show off their abilities and seek credit. Although they have given the other party conditions in exchange, they can still take the trouble to consider the other party's future situation...

No one would be unwilling to work with such a person.

At this time, the Privy Council sent a "demand", and Yang Yuan called Lu Chengze and borrowed Liu Shangqiu's signing room, and the two had a simple dinner.

After dinner and two cups of tea, Xu Hongcheng hurried in with the newly compiled purchase list of the Kanyinfang over the past ten years.

"Thank you for your hard work. I left dinner for you. Eat first."

Yang Yuan said a few words of encouragement and pointed to the food box beside him.

When Manager Xu saw this, he felt warm at heart. He thanked Yang Yuan and was about to pick up the lunch box to leave.

Yang Yuan said: "Just eat on the side, don't be restrained."

Yang Yuan walked to the back of Liu Shangqiu's desk and spread out the list of resumes of the people who had worked in the Printing House over the past ten years on the table, and also spread out the purchase list that Xu Hongcheng had just completed there side by side.

He circled the positions where Wang Jiayi and He Xiao performed their duties, and also circled the part of the paper and ink purchase list that corresponded to the time the two men held office.

During the period when the two were in charge of the Kanyin Room's affairs, at some point six years ago, the Kanyin Room's purchase list clearly had a much larger quantity than at other times.

Yang Yuan raised his head and met Lu Chengze's earnest gaze.

Lu Chengze rubbed his hands and said, "Secretary, can we arrest him now?"

Xu Hongcheng, who was eating, immediately raised his head and stretched his neck to look over.

Although he had made two statistical tables in a row according to Yang Yuan's instructions, he was just following orders and knew what to do but not why.

He only knew that since the woman and child died six or seven years ago, the murderer must be related to someone who worked in the seal-printing room at the time, but he didn't know who it was.

Arrest someone?

Just by looking at two watches, you can identify the murderer?

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "No hurry, it just so happens that Director Xu is here, and there are some things that I need to know more about."

Yang Yuan motioned for Lu Chengze to sit down and said to Xu Hongcheng, "Master Xu, you have been working in the Xuanzhiyuan for nine years?"

Xu Hongcheng hurriedly said: "Yes, but I have only been transferred to the printing office for five years..."

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "You don't have to be nervous, this case has nothing to do with you.

However, since you have been working in Xuanzhiyuan, you should be very familiar with the people in Xuanzhiyuan. I am just asking you for information. "

Yang Yuan lowered his eyes, looked at Wang Jiayi's name on the list, and said, "You continue eating, we can talk while we eat."

Yang Yuan pointed at the form and asked, "What is Wang Jiayi's temperament like? Tell me in detail what you know."

There is a detailed list of when Wang Jiayi joined the Privy Council, what positions he held, and when he was promoted.

But it is naturally impossible for a person's character and temperament to have this kind of influence.

When Yang Yuan asked about Wang Jiayi, Xu Hongcheng already had a guess in his mind. He did not dare to be negligent and told him what he knew about Wang Jiayi's temperament and character.

Yang Yuan nodded and said, "What kind of temperament does He Xiao have? Tell me about it."

Xu Hongcheng was secretly shocked. What else? But he did not dare to neglect it and repeated his understanding of He Xiao.

Yang Yuan nodded and said, "Wang Jiayi is very suspicious and skeptical by nature, right?"

He was talking to himself, and did not need Xu Hongcheng to answer. After thinking for a while, he raised his head and said to Lu Chengze, "Bring He Xiao and Wang Jiayi here, and wait outside. Interrogate He Xiao first!"

(End of this chapter)