Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 197 Murder

"At that time, Crown Prince Renxian was in deep trouble. Seeing the bad situation, those who originally surrounded him either left or defected. Xie Tanyu was one of them. After betraying Crown Prince Renxian, he joined the most powerful Second Prince Li Mingguang. In order to express his sincerity to Li Mingguang, he carefully wrote a memorial of more than a thousand words. The memorial was used to impeach Crown Prince Renxian for crimes such as plotting against the law, forming a clique for personal gain, and seeking power to usurp the throne. This incident caused a big stir and was even written into the book by the historian."

Yan Ciwan couldn't help but speak up when he heard this: "I saw a passage in history books before. That memorial was very well written."

If she were Emperor Wen, after seeing such a well-reasoned and emotional memorial, she would most likely be persuaded by it and further deepen her suspicion of Prince Renxian.

Xiao Wang glanced at her. Ordinary families would not have history books. The history books she read should have come from the Xizhou Palace. But could a guard like her read the books in the palace at will?

He continued, "Later, the second prince Li Mingguang failed in his uprising and hanged himself in prison. Prince Renxian was also killed by the rebels. It is rumored that when Prince Renxian died, only Xie Tanyu was by his side, so many people believed that Xie Tanyu murdered Prince Renxian. Emperor Wen thoroughly investigated the murder of Prince Renxian, and Xie Tanyu was imprisoned in the Dali Temple for interrogation. However, until Emperor Wen died of illness, no conclusive evidence was found to prove that Xie Tanyu was the murderer. When the current saint ascended to the throne, he hired people regardless of their background, only based on their talents. Although Xie Tanyu had a bad reputation, he was quite talented. The saint ordered his release and allowed him to enter the Hanlin Academy. He spent ten years in charge of compiling the "Kaiyuan Ritual". Later, he was exiled to Yizhou and became the governor here."

Yan Ciwan frowned and asked, "Why was Xie Tanyu the only one by Prince Renxian's side before he died?"

Xiao Wang said he was not clear about this. He said: "This is just a rumor. It may not be true."

Yan Ciwan showed a thoughtful look: "I remember Chao Yuanzhi also followed Prince Renxian. Chao Yuanzhi and Xie Tanyu should be old acquaintances, right?"

"They both served under the Crown Prince Renxian, so they must know each other. As for how close they are, only they themselves know."

When Xiao Wang said this, there was a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Why are you suddenly so interested in Xie Tanyu's affairs?"

Yan Ciwan had already thought of an excuse for this. She said, "I will inevitably have to deal with Xie Tanyu next. Only by knowing myself and the enemy can I better deal with him."

There was a sudden noise outside, as if something big had happened.

Xiao Wang immediately put away the silver hairpin and said, "I'll go out and take a look."

Yan Ciwan nodded: "Yeah."

She watched Xiao Wang hurriedly open the door and walk out.

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night. Yan Ciwan was completely sleepless. She pulled the clothes hanging on the rack, put them on quickly, and tied her hair into a simple bun.

Soon Xiao Wang came back. He frowned and said in a deep voice, "Xie Fashi sent someone to deliver a message saying that Governor Xie was killed."

Yan Ciwan had expected this, but she still showed an extremely surprised expression.

"Really? Has the murderer been caught?"

Xiao Wang said slowly: "The murderer is missing. Xie Zhifa suspects that the murderer is still hiding in the mansion. He asked us to go to the Judicial Hall immediately."

Yan Ciwan was surprised and asked, "Is he suspicious of us?"

"It seems to be the case now, otherwise he wouldn't have sent someone to summon us."

Yan Ciwan suddenly stretched out his hand: "Give me your Buddha amulet."

Xiao Wang took out a brocade bag from his sleeve pocket and handed it to her. Yan Ciwan opened the brocade bag and saw the white jade Buddha amulet lying quietly inside.

She looked around, trying to find a place to hide the amulet, but she couldn't find a suitable place. She suddenly looked up at the beam of the house, and immediately used her lightness skills to jump and fly onto the beam.

She stretched out her arm and touched the roof, found a little space in the gap between the tiles and the beams, then carefully stuffed the sachet in. After making sure that the sachet would not fall, she jumped back to the ground.

Xiao Wang didn't understand what he meant: "What are you doing?"

Yan Ciwan brushed off the dust on his hands and explained, "Didn't I tell you before? I suspect my amulet was taken by Governor Xie. Now that he's been murdered, the amulet may become evidence pointing to you and me. Now that Judge Xie wants to investigate us, for the sake of safety you should hide your amulet first."

Xiao Wang remembered his grandfather's instructions that the Buddha amulet must never be shown to anyone. Hiding it now would also prevent it from being seen by others.

So he didn't say anything more, but picked up the cloak and put it on Yan Ciwan.

"It's cold at night, wear more clothes and don't get cold."

Yan Ciwan tied the belt of his cloak and walked out of the east wing with Xiao Wang.

There was a young palace soldier standing in the courtyard. When he saw Xiao Wang and Yan Ci Wan walking out of the same room, he couldn't help but have some fantasies.

His eyes quickly swept between the two of them, and then he spoke politely.

"You two, please come with me."

Xiao Wang held a lantern in his hand, and Yan Ciwan walked side by side with him. The two followed the palace soldiers and left Yongchunyuan.

It was the middle of the night, which should have been the quietest time of the day, but at this moment the governor's mansion was as bright as day. Everyone in the mansion was awakened, and soldiers could be seen running everywhere, searching for any traces left by the murderer.

The doors of the Hall of Justice were open and the lights were on.

When Yan Ciwan and Xiao Wang walked in, they saw a stretcher in the middle of the room. Xie Tanyu's body was lying flat on the stretcher. An elderly coroner was squatting beside it, carefully examining the cause of death.

Xie Li was standing nearby watching. When he heard someone report that Yan Ci Wan and Xiao Wang had arrived, he immediately turned his head to look at the door, and his sharp eyes swept over Yan Ci Wan and Xiao Wang from head to toe.

Yan Ci Wan and Xiao Wang first saluted Xie Li with their arms crossed, and then looked at the corpse on the ground. Xie Tanyu's face was blue, with a wound on his heart, and his crimson official robe was stained with blood. It seemed that he had been dead for some time.

Both of his hands were empty, with nothing in them.

Yan Ciwan thought that the white jade Buddha amulet should have been taken away as a thank-you gift.

She cried out in disbelief: "The envoy was really killed?!"

Xiao Wang's face showed a sorrowful expression: "When we said goodbye to the envoy in the evening, he was still fine. How could he be killed suddenly? Who on earth is so cruel and crazy that he dared to kill people in the governor's mansion?!"

Xie Li stared at the two of them for a while, and from their expressions, there seemed to be nothing wrong with them.

"It was Afeng who first discovered that the envoy had been murdered. Afeng was so shocked that he shouted and screamed, which alarmed the guards on duty. The guards reported the incident to me. I have already asked the guards at the gates, and no one went out of the gates tonight, which means that the murderer of the envoy is likely still hiding in the palace."