The First Criminal Judge of the Zhenguan Era

Chapter 102 A Guess, A Question! Du Ying: Do you need some medicine from the brothel?
Having clarified what to do next, Liu Shuyi said to everyone, "I apologize for disturbing your rest. You may all return to your rooms to rest now. We will meet with you one by one to learn about Wan Langzhong's affairs. I hope you will cooperate at that time."

There were too many people present, and it was too chaotic to ask detailed questions.

Moreover, the person who obtained the secret in Wanrong was most likely hiding within the patrol team, and he didn't want to alert them.

Asking questions one by one, peeling back the layers bit by bit, is the safest approach.

Ding Feng and Ren Cheng were both officials in the criminal justice system. They knew that Liu Shuyi's actions were in accordance with normal investigation procedures, so they didn't say anything more and led the inspection team back to their respective rooms.

Liu Shuyi looked at Cheng Chumo and said, "General Cheng, send men to guard outside their rooms. From this moment on, no one is allowed to leave the rooms without my order."

Cheng Chumo understood Liu Shuyi's intention and immediately nodded: "Don't worry, I guarantee not even a fly will get out."

Seeing this, Zhang Xu couldn't help but say, "Liu Yuanwailang, are you... suspecting that Wan Langzhong's death is related to Imperial Censor Ding and his group?"

Liu Shuyi said with a smile, "It's not that we doubt him, but they were the last people to have contact with Wan Langzhong. We still don't know why Wan Langzhong would leave alone in secret. Perhaps Wan Langzhong's strange behavior is related to them, so it's better to be careful."

Zhang Xu nodded in understanding: "That's true. But in that case, I was the last person to have contact with Master Wan. Why don't you ask me first?"

Liu Shuyi didn't expect Zhang Xu to be in such a hurry to ask him questions.

He smiled and said, "Prefect Zhang is different from Censor Ding and the others, but I really want to know what happened the night before Wan Langzhong left."

"The night before you left?"

"It was roughly from the evening of the previous day until four quarters past the hour of Mao the next day, which is when Wan Langzhong saw you," Liu Shuyi said. "Does Governor Zhang know what Wan Langzhong did during this time, or who he contacted?"

Zhang Xu frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "Because Dr. Wan said that he would be leaving the next day, I specially hosted a banquet for them to see them off."

"The banquet began around 4:45 PM and lasted for an hour and a half."

"Since everyone had a good time and drank quite a bit, they were all feeling drowsy. After the banquet, they went back to their rooms to rest, and I don't know what happened after that."

As he spoke, he became somewhat embarrassed: "When I drink too much, I fall into a deep sleep and snore loudly. So every time I drink, I dare not sleep with my wife, for fear of disturbing her sleep all night."

"And that night I was the host, and I drank the most, so I slept even more soundly than usual, so..."

Liu Shuyi understood Zhang Xu. After all, when he got drunk for the first time a few days ago, he also slept soundly and didn't even know that Wan'er had taken care of him all night.

He thought for a moment and said, "When Master Wan attended the banquet, what was his expression like? Was there anything unusual?"

Zhang Xu shook his head: "I didn't find anything wrong with him. He was just like usual throughout the banquet. Although he was very dignified, he didn't keep a straight face all the time. He would also joke when he was supposed to."

The secret Wanrong obtained could overturn the entire Tang Dynasty. If he had received this information at that time, he probably wouldn't have been able to laugh...

He looked at Zhang Xu and asked, "When you saw Dr. Wan the next morning, was he acting normally?"

"This……"

Zhang Xu frowned and pondered for a moment, then said, "Now that you mention what Master Liu said, he really does seem to be in low spirits. His brows have been furrowed the whole time. But at the time, I thought it was because he wasn't feeling well. But he's not sick, so could it be..."

Zhang Xu couldn't help but speculate, "What accident happened to him? Was it because of this accident that he secretly left alone?"

Liu Shuyi's eyes flickered slightly. Sure enough, Wan Rong would find it hard to maintain a smile after obtaining such a secret, which was enough to show that he probably knew nothing at the time of the banquet.

So, what did Wan Rong do after returning to his room from the banquet to learn the secret?

A flood of thoughts rushed through Liu Shuyi's mind. As he pondered, he said, "There's another matter: how did Wan Langzhong leave the governor's mansion without alerting anyone?"

“Even at night, there are guards outside the governor’s office. If he leaves, the guards at the gate can’t possibly not notice, right?”

Zhang Xu said, "We should have gone through the back door."

"The back door?" Liu Shuyi looked at him.

Zhang Xu nodded and said, "My family members usually enter and exit the governor's mansion through the back door. After all, the government office represents the imperial court and handles official business. If my family members frequently enter and exit through the main gate, it would be improper."

Is anyone guarding the back door?

"No, but the back door is always locked. It is only unlocked when someone goes in or out."

Who has the key?

Zhang Xu said, "It's just the three of us: me, my wife, and the housekeeper."

"Was the back door opened on the morning Wan Langzhong left?" Liu Shuyi asked again.

Zhang Xu thought for a moment and said, "It has been opened. The banquet the day before used up all the meat and vegetables in the manor, so the steward ordered the kitchen to buy more meat and vegetables the next morning."

"We need to catch the train to buy meat and vegetables, right?"

"Yes."

Liu Shuyi pondered, "It seems that Wan Langzhong must have hidden in the meat and vegetable purchasing cart and secretly left the governor's mansion."

Zhang Xu couldn't help but say, "This is not an easy task."

It was indeed not easy, but compared to the intense journey that followed and the resolute act of breaking his finger before his death, it was nothing.

Liu Shuyi turned his gaze to Wan Rong's room, where he saw that apart from Wan Rong pretending to be asleep and spreading the quilt out on the bed, the whole room was very clean and tidy.

He went to the cabinet and opened it.

Inside was Wanrong's bundle.

Upon taking out the bundle, one would find neatly folded clothes and some books and documents inside.

Opening the book, Liu Shuyi discovered that it contained Wan Rong's records of his inspections in various prefectures. Wan Rong had only sent Du Ruhui the results from each prefecture; the specific details and corresponding evidence were all here.

Liu Shuyi's eyes flickered. For Wan Rong, these books and files were the most important things he had brought on this trip, but when he returned to Chang'an, he not only didn't bring any clothes with him, but he also abandoned these important books and files...

It was clear that Wanrong was in a great hurry to leave, and in order to get there as quickly as possible, he left behind everything that might be a burden.

Liu Shuyi looked away, carefully closed the book, and put it back into his bundle.

Although Wan Rong is dead, we must still protect the hard work he put in over the past month.

Liu Shuyi put the bundle back in the cabinet, looked at Zhang Xu again, and said, "Prefect Zhang, do you know where in Shangzhou City one can rent or buy horses?"

"Rent or buy horses?"

Zhang Xu said, "What Liu Yuanwailang means is... that after Wan Langzhong left the governor's mansion, he went to buy horses?"

Liu Shuyi nodded: "He wants to get to Cuihua Mountain outside Chang'an City within eight hours, so he needs horses. But he left the governor's mansion secretly and deliberately kept it from you, so he can't use his original horses and has to get them from elsewhere."

Zhang Xu suddenly realized: "There are two places in Shangzhou City where horses are rented and sold."

Liu Shuyi looked at Zhao Feng and said, "Master Zhao, go find the yamen runners in the prefectural government to help you. Have them take you to those two places where horses are rented and sold. Ask the manager, Wan Langzhong, if he has been there, and whether he went alone or with someone."

Zhao Feng replied without hesitation, "This subordinate will go immediately."

After saying that, he turned and walked away quickly.

Liu Shuyi thought for a moment, then asked Zhang Xu, "Prefect Zhang, I wonder if General Wan left the Prefect's residence that night?"

"should not."

Zhang Xu said, "I did not hear the guards at the main gate of the yamen mention this matter. If anyone left that night, they should have reported it to me."

Liu Shuyi frowned in thought. Wan Rong had not left the governor's office that night, so how did he meet the murderer and agree to leave together?
Did the murderer sneak past the guards of the governor's office, climb over the wall into the governor's mansion, and meet Wan Rong?

Isn't this too difficult? Wan Rong probably wouldn't easily trust someone who can bypass the Great Firewall.

Or……

Liu Shuyi narrowed his eyes. The murderer was someone from the governor's mansion!

If so...

He said, "Prefect Zhang, I wonder if anyone stayed in the Prefect's residence the night before Wan Langzhong left, but has not been seen for the next two days?"

If the murderer was indeed from the governor's mansion, then he must have left with Wan Rong. After killing Wan Rong, even if he was fast, it would still take him eight hours to return.

The round trip would take sixteen hours, and even at the fastest pace, it would have taken until late afternoon yesterday to return to Shangzhou.

"This……"

Zhang Xu thought for a long time before saying, "If the people in our governor's office are on duty at night, they will rest for a whole day the next day, and then come to report for duty on the third day."

"So most people can be ruled out, but there are also some who happen to be on their day off on the third day, or who can't come because of other things..."

"Who are they?" Liu Shuyi stepped forward.

Seeing Liu Shuyi's expression, Zhang Xu couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that Assistant Minister Liu suspects they have some kind of problem?"

Liu Shuyi smiled and said, "Prefect Zhang, there's no need to overthink it. I just have a few things I'd like to know."

Zhang Xu glanced at Liu Shuyi, seemingly understanding something, and said, "I need to ask the others. Once I've confirmed it, I'll personally write a list and send it to you. If you need it, I can also write their detailed information on the list."

"In that case, I thank Governor Zhang very much." Liu Shuyi cupped his hands in thanks, knowing that Zhang Xu's actions would undoubtedly improve his efficiency.

Zhang Xu waved his hand: "We are all colleagues, just helping each other. Besides, I have gotten along well with Dr. Wan these past few days. Now that he has been brutally murdered, I also want to find the murderer as soon as possible."

Liu Shuyi nodded.

Zhang Xu said, "Is there anything else you want to ask me? If not, I'll go and confirm the list for you right away."

Liu Shuyi thought for a moment. He already knew most of the information the governor's office needed, so he said, "Governor Zhang, please go and prepare the list for me first. If I have any further questions, I will come to you again."

"it is good."

Zhang Xu was not one to dawdle; seeing that Liu Shuyi had no further questions, he turned and left immediately.

Soon, only Liu Shuyi, Du Gou, and others remained in the room.

Seeing that Du Gou and the others were looking at him, Liu Shuyi hesitated for a moment, glanced at the open door, and without him saying a word, Cheng Chumo understood what Liu Shuyi meant: "I'll go close the door."

With that, he walked directly to the door and said to the Imperial Guards standing outside, "No one is allowed to approach. If anyone comes, inform me in advance."

Then he closed the door.

Liu Shuyi nodded to Cheng Chumo, then looked at everyone and said, "I have a guess and a question now."

"The guess is that the person who obtained the secret of the Prince of Xi's illegitimate son is hiding in the inspection team! At the same time, the murderer who killed Wan Langzhong hid in the governor's mansion that night and left with Wan Langzhong."

He then explained to everyone why he had made that guess.

After thinking carefully for a moment, Du Gou nodded: "As you said, the possibility is indeed very high."

Cui Lin frowned and said, "The murderer killed Wan Langzhong most likely because Wan Langzhong obtained the secret of the Prince of Xi's illegitimate son. Does that mean that the murderer and the person hidden in the patrol team whose secret Wan Langzhong obtained are in cahoots?"

"This is the question I'm going to address next."

Liu Shuyi looked thoughtful and said, "If Langzhong believes in the murderer, we can be certain that the murderer and the thief hiding in the patrol team are not the same person. Otherwise, Langzhong would never have left with him, let alone trust him so much."

"But the murderer killed Wan Langzhong because of this matter..."

"Judging from the motive, the murderer and the thief hiding in the patrol team should be in cahoots. He killed Wan Langzhong to ensure that the secret was not leaked."

"But that raises another question."

He looked at Cui Lin and the others, and said in a deep voice, "Did the murderer really have to do it at Cuihua Mountain?"

Cui Lin and the others suddenly raised their heads, their pupils constricting.

“This…” Cui Lin’s eyes flickered violently: “I actually overlooked this point.”

Du Gou's expression also changed slightly: "I almost forgot about these things too."

Cheng Chumo glanced at Cui Lin, whose expression was solemn, and then at Du Gou, whose brows were tightly furrowed. His mind went blank, and he scratched his head in confusion, asking, "What did I overlook?"

"No need!"

"No need?" Cheng Chumo still didn't understand. He missed the days when Lu Yangyuan was with him, so that he wouldn't seem like he was the slowest to react.

Cui Lin said, "If the murderer killed to cover up the secret, then he had no reason to travel for eight hours with Wan Langzhong to Cuihua Mountain, more than two hundred miles away, to carry out the crime!" "Even if he didn't want to do it in Shangzhou, where there are many people and eyes, in order to avoid suspicion... he could have done it at any time as long as they left Shangzhou and came to a sparsely populated mountain road."

“This…” Cheng Chumo finally realized, his eyes widened, and he clapped his hands: “That’s right! He could have made his move after leaving Shangzhou, and no one would have noticed.”

Liu Shuyi said, "Based on our previous speculation about the motive, it would be unnecessary and extremely dangerous for the murderer to go to Cuihua Mountain with Wan Langzhong and then take action there!"

"Because the murderer is very likely in the governor's mansion that night, his range is certain, so the longer he disappears, the easier it will be for us to find him... Therefore, the best option is to lure Wan Langzhong out of Shangzhou, kill him immediately to silence him, and then rush back to Shangzhou."

"But instead of choosing the optimal solution, he chose the most dangerous and easiest path to expose himself. Why?"

Everyone frowned deeply, their faces full of confusion.

Cui Lin tapped his forehead lightly with his fingers, a habit he often used when thinking, as if this tapping would make his brain work faster.

In the past, when investigating cases, he would quickly find a breakthrough by doing this, but at this moment, even though his forehead was almost red from being knocked, he still couldn't figure out why the murderer did that.

Du Gou's brow remained furrowed for a long time.

Liu Shuyi took in their expressions and said, "I have two guesses."

Upon hearing this, Cui Lin and Du Gou immediately looked at Liu Shuyi.

Liu Shuyi said, "The first possibility is that the murderer did not want to kill and silence the witnesses after leaving Shangzhou, but rather that he could not do it. It is possible that Wan Langzhong was riding his horse and traveling, and he could not find an opportunity to make a move. It is also possible that he had an opportunity to make a move, but there were other people around. In short... due to a series of coincidences, he was unable to kill, and in the end, he dragged it out until he reached Cuihua Mountain."

Cui Lin and Du Gou exchanged a glance. Although the coincidence was too great, it was undeniable that such a possibility did exist.

"The second kind..."

Liu Shuyi looked at the two men, his tone changing: "We guessed the murderer's motive wrong!"

"You guessed the wrong motive!?" Cui Lin and Du Gou were taken aback.

Liu Shuyi said, "The murderer killed Wan Langzhong not necessarily because Wan Langzhong knew the secret of the Prince of Xi's illegitimate son, but for other reasons. It just so happened that Wan Langzhong learned the secret of the Prince of Xi's illegitimate son before he left."

Cui Lin frowned and said, "If it wasn't to secretly kill someone to cover it up, what else could it be?"

Liu Shuyi shook his head: "There are too few clues to confirm anything further."

Du Gou thought for a moment and said, "But if that's the case, wouldn't that mean the murderer and the thieves hiding in the patrol team aren't working together?"

Liu Shuyi frowned as well; at this moment, he too was somewhat confused about the logic behind it.

According to his second theory, the murderer did not kill Wanrong for the secret of the illegitimate son of the Prince of Xi. However, the murderer was in cahoots with the person who created miracles in the shrine, spread prophecies from heaven, and paved the way for the illegitimate son of the Prince of Xi. Otherwise, he would not have hidden Wanrong inside the statue of Shen Tu.

From this perspective, he must be in cahoots with the patrol team of thieves.

Could it be that... the act of creating a miracle must be done by the murderer himself?
But that's a bit of a stretch...

If the murderer really had to do this himself, then shouldn't he have gone to Cuihua Mountain in advance to make preparations?
However, he set off with Wanrong, arriving at Cuihua Mountain at the last minute. If any problems arose along the way, he would not have been able to reach them in time...

No, there's something wrong with how you look at it.

Is there something I didn't understand, or... was I wrong from the very beginning?

Is it possible that the murderer... has always been in Cuihua Mountain?

Wan Rong left alone, and when he returned to Chang'an, he shouldn't have taken the road to Cuihua Mountain, but he did. Is it possible that... Wan Rong went up Cuihua Mountain to see the murderer?
If that's the case, it could explain the current problem.

But... is that really the case?
Liu Shuyi's eyes flickered. He needed clues to determine whether the murderer was in Cuihua Mountain or Shangzhou, which was of utmost importance.

If he gets this wrong, all his subsequent efforts will be in vain.

But how do we determine that?

Liu Shuyi's mind raced as he paced back and forth in the room. Suddenly, he stopped.

He looked at Du Gou and the others and said, "Next, we will split into two groups."

"Which two routes?" Du Gou asked.

Liu Shuyi said, "Follow me all the way and continue to question Chen Wu, Imperial Censor Ding and others to find out what Wan Langzhong did that night after the banquet, and whether anyone in their inspection team behaved abnormally."

Du Gou nodded: "I will ask the questions with you."

"it is good."

Liu Shuyi then looked at Cui Lin and said, "Then, Military Advisor Cui, you will be in charge of the other route. After Governor Zhang compiles the list, you will immediately lead your men to find these people and confirm what they have done in the past two days. Is there anyone who can testify to this? In any case, you must confirm whether they have left Shangzhou City!"

He had already figured out a way to confirm whether the murderer was in Shangzhou or Cuihua Mountain, and the method was very simple—

All that's needed is to confirm whether there are any suspects.

If everyone on the list can confirm that they have not left Shangzhou City and have not disappeared in the past two days, then it means there are no suspects.

The absence of suspects indirectly proves that the murderer is not in Shangzhou City.

I need to rethink my approach.

However, if any person on the list does not have an alibi, then whether it is one or several, the murderer is very likely among them, and it can be confirmed that the murderer is in Shangzhou City.

In that case, we can continue the investigation following the current line of thought.

Cui Lin was unaware of the many thoughts flashing through Liu Shuyi's mind. He simply assumed that Liu Shuyi wanted to narrow down the range of suspects and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely find out the range of suspects for you!"

Liu Shuyi did not explain his intentions, but nodded and said, "Cheng Zhonglang will cooperate with you."

dong dong dong.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

The guard at the gate said, "Liu Yuanwailang, the steward of the governor's mansion, requests an audience. He says he has brought a list of names."

So fast?
Liu Shuyi was somewhat surprised; Zhao Feng's efficiency was even faster than he had expected.

He said directly, "Let the butler in."

Soon, a slightly overweight man in his forties walked in.

He bowed to Liu Shuyi and the others, then held the book in both hands and said, "Master Liu, this is the list that Master just finished writing. Master instructed me to hand it over to you immediately without any delay."

Liu Shuyi took the book and quickly opened it.

There were only five names on the book, and behind each of them were detailed information about their identity, home address, etc.

Liu Shuyi nodded slightly. With this list, the investigation could begin.

He said to the steward, "Please thank Governor Zhang on my behalf; he has been of great help to me."

The steward hurriedly said, "Master said that being able to help the young master is the greatest fortune. Is there anything else the young master needs you to do?"

Liu Shuyi shook his head: "Not for now."

He glanced at the sky and said, "It's still dark. Governor Zhang will be busy with state affairs tomorrow. Let Governor Zhang get some rest."

"Yes."

The steward was perceptive and knew that Liu Shuyi was pressed for time, so he didn't linger and respectfully withdrew.

Liu Shuyi watched the steward leave, then handed the books to Cui Lin, saying, "Military Advisor Cui, these are yours now."

Cui Lin opened the book and glanced at it, saying, "Only five people... It won't be long, wait for my news."

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

Upon seeing this, Cheng Chumo ordered the Imperial Guards to protect Liu Shuyi and Du Gou, and then hurriedly chased after them.

The gears of the investigation have finally begun to turn.

Liu Shuyi slowly exhaled, and the weight on his heart seemed to lighten a little.

He exchanged a glance with Du Gou and said, "Let's begin."

Du Gou asked, "Who should we look for first?"

"Chen Wu".

Without a second thought, Liu Shuyi said, "Chen Wu is Wan Langzhong's most trusted follower. After the banquet, Chen Wu will definitely take care of Wan Langzhong who is drinking, so he must know the most information."

Du Gou thought for a moment and agreed, "Then let's find him first."

As he spoke, he ordered the Imperial Guards standing outside the door to bring Chen Wu to the gate.

While waiting, Du Gou saw Liu Shuyi sitting there, rubbing his forehead, looking exhausted. He asked with concern, "Do you want to rest? You've been either traveling or thinking about cases all day. All the burdens are on your shoulders. You're working too hard."

Liu Shuyi shook his head: "I can rest, but the thieves won't. The matter of the stone tablet can't be kept secret for long. The thieves may have already started spreading rumors. I must solve this case as soon as possible, otherwise, if they fan the flames and stir up public opinion, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Du Gou sighed; how could he not understand these things?

They are racing against time with the enemy, and no one dares to let their guard down.

"I can't rest, but can I have a glass of water?"

At that moment, a clear voice, tinged with concern, rang out.

Liu Shuyi looked up and saw that Du Ying, who had been silent all along, had poured him a glass of water and handed it to him.

He took the water glass, drank it down in one gulp, and then smiled and said, "I don't know if it's just my imagination, but Miss Du's water tastes exceptionally sweet."

Du Gou's eyelid twitched violently.

He felt that Liu Shuyi was still not tired enough, as he still had the energy to flirt with his sister.

Du Ying raised an eyebrow, took out a porcelain bottle from her bosom, poured out a black pill, and asked, "Want to take this?"

"What is this?" Liu Shuyi asked curiously.

“An essential item for men visiting brothels,” Du Ying said.

Liu Shuyi and Du Gou: "..."

Seeing the two of them staring wide-eyed in disbelief, Du Ying chuckled.

That smile, like a pure and aloof snow lotus from a high mountain, instantly transforms into a sweet-smelling rose beside you, ready to be touched at any moment.

"Just kidding! This is just a simple energy booster. Take some. It won't make you instantly energetic, but at least it will prevent you from feeling sluggish or overly tired."

Red Bull and coffee?
Liu Shuyi's eyes lit up; he needed something to refresh and invigorate him.

It was truly a stroke of luck to encounter such a skilled coroner.

Liu Shuyi took the pill and swallowed it directly.

Du Ying poured Liu Shuyi another glass of water and said, "After you finish investigating the case, you still need to rest well and replenish your energy, otherwise you may really need the brothel's essential items in the future."

Liu Shuyi almost choked, nodding repeatedly: "Don't worry, I definitely won't let you down."

Don't let me down?
Du Ying felt that Liu Shuyi's words were strange, but Chen Wu had already been taken away by the Imperial Guards, so she retreated behind Liu Shuyi without thinking too much about it.

"This humble servant greets the esteemed official."

Chen Wu still looked nervous, and when he saw Liu Shuyi, he quickly bowed.

After taking Du Ying's pills, Liu Shuyi felt that his mind was much clearer than before, and his previously sluggish thoughts instantly became clear.

"As expected of the disciple of the Medicine King."

Liu Shuyi put down his teacup and, taking advantage of his mental recovery, asked directly, "Tell me, what did your master do after the banquet that night?"

　This case is already in its second half, with only a few chapters left. Once the clues are all gathered, it will be over soon.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)