Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

"Yes," Cui Shu clenched his fists and said indignantly, "What do you mean by studying to become a good official in the future? Even if you try to fool ghosts, ghosts will not believe it! We are all ordinary people, and we don't have any outstanding talents in studying. We can only pass the examination to become a scholar. Jinshi must go through the selection before they can become officials. If a scholar wants to become an official, who knows when he will have to wait, how can he become a good official?"

Geng Dingli said calmly: "There is no conflict between being unable to be an official and being able to be a good official."

Cui Shu sneered: "If you can't be an official, how can you be a good official? Just rely on your imagination?"

He added, "When Lord Li was investigating the serial murder case, he was just as dedicated and sincere in his treatment of the people, but what was the result? He was still constrained by the Zhu and Gu families at every turn, and was eventually pushed out to Lingnan by them! Tell me, if you were Lord Li, how would you be a good official?"

Chang Si smiled and said, "According to what you said, we can't be officials, so we shouldn't dream of being a good official, right?"

"Of course you can think about it, but don't just say that studying is for the purpose of getting ahead and becoming a good official." Cui Shu's merciless words made Chang Si's smile fade, but he was still unaware and continued, "Like me, whether it was before or now, the purpose of my studying is to get ahead. At first, I wanted to get ahead to bring honor to my ancestors, but later, after seeing what the Zhu family, the Gu family, the Fan family, and Lord Zhang and Lord Ding did, I wanted to get ahead and defeat them. Now I want to get ahead in order to do more things within my ability!"

As he spoke, he looked towards Chen Shao with a firm gaze: "If I am lucky enough to be an official in the future, I will definitely be a good official like you who is fearless and fearless!"

It is a good thing to have dreams, especially for young people. Although they should be encouraged at this time, Chen Shao still couldn't help but remind him: "A big part of the reason why I am fearless is because of my identity as the Sixth Young Master of the Duke of Chen's Mansion and the trust that the Emperor has in me."

Cui Shu obviously didn't expect her to say that. After a long pause, he continued, "Your Excellency has the support of Duke Chen's Mansion and the Emperor, but we also have your Excellency to rely on, right?"

Chen Shao had not expected him to answer like this. Seeing the trust in his bright and clear eyes, he nodded and said, "You're right."

After he finished speaking, he curled his lips in amusement and continued what he had just said: "What you mean by being a good official is to have specific goals, not just empty talk, right?"

Cui Shu's eyes lit up and he said, "That's exactly what I mean!"

"So," Chen Shao took the opportunity to ask, "If I let you take over Hongyuan County now, what would you do?"

Cui Shu didn't even think about it and said, "I can't take it. I don't have the ability yet."

Chen Shao couldn't help but laugh again. He spoke without thinking, but he had a clear self-awareness.

Zhang Ruyuan had already brewed tea and returned to the study, and naturally gave the first cup to Chen Shao.

After taking two sips, Chen Shaoqian did not put down the cup and continued to ask: "Then tell me, with your current ability, which position is most suitable for you to take over?"

"Neither position is suitable," Cui Shu said again without hesitation, "but if I have to choose, I want to go to the Law Department."

This coincided with Quan Shuyu's arrangement for him. Chen Shao said, "Tell me the reason."

Cui Shu did not tell the reason, but looked at Zhang Ruyuan, "He can go to the Fa Cao with me. He has a good temper and treats people kindly, so he can play the good cop. I have a quick temper and speak loudly, so I can play the bad cop. If we cooperate with each other, we should be able to succeed."

Although Zhang Ruyuan did not hear the previous conversation, he heard Chen Shao's question about which position would be the best to take over, guessed that he was testing them, and said generously: "I can help Miss Quan, but I have never done solving cases before, so I am afraid it will be difficult."

Cui Shu said as a matter of course: "If you have never done it before, what's the big deal? You will be able to do it in three to five months if you follow the adults."

He added, "We didn't know how to check the accounts at first, didn't we learn it from Miss Quan?"

Zhang Ruyuan smiled and didn't say anything. Obviously, he was willing to go to the Law Office or learn to solve cases from Chen Shao. The reason why he said it was difficult was that he wanted to use Cui Shu's mouth to express his desire to learn from Chen Shao first.

Chen Shao did not express his opinion, but instead turned his gaze to Geng Dingli, Kang Zhengzong and Chang Si, "What about you? Tell me, with your current abilities, which position would be more suitable for you to take over?"

Geng Dingli recalled what Quan Shuyu had said when he asked them to go to Chengfeng Court to wait for Chen Shao, "Answer the adults' questions well. The adults are asking you questions today, which may very likely affect your future." When thinking about Chen Shao's questions, he had already had this guess in his mind. After exchanging a glance with Kang Zhengzong, Geng Dingli suppressed his excitement and hesitation, and tentatively said, "Zhengzong and I can go to Hucao to try."

Chang Si couldn't help but sigh when he heard his answer. They had all abandoned him. Meeting Chen Shao's gaze, he thought for a moment before saying, "I'll learn to solve cases from you, just like them."

Chen Shao nodded, but did not correct their choice: "Let's do this for now. Zhang Ruyuan, Chang Si, and Cui Shu will learn to solve cases from me starting today. Geng Dingli and Kang Zhengzong... There is no one in the Household Department right now, so you two may have to work harder. You can go to the Household Department's public room to look at the old files. If you don't understand, you can also go to the prison to find the former assistants and historians of the Household Department and ask them to teach you."

Geng Dingli and Kang Zhengzong immediately responded excitedly.

"Study hard," Chen Shao also put down his teacup and stood up at the right time, "Go."

Geng Dingli and Kang Zhengzong said "OK" again, then quickly left the study and went towards the public housing.

After watching them walk a little further away, Chen Shao turned around and looked at Zhang Ruyuan and the others and said, "You can also go to the Fa Cao Gong Fang to look through the previous case files and see how they solved the cases in the past. You can also try to discuss how you would solve similar cases if you encounter them."

When the three men saw that Geng Dingli and Kang Zhengzong had disappeared, they responded impatiently and hurried towards the public housing.

As they walked away, Chen Shao ordered the Imperial Guards: "Go and bring Bao Chengle here!"

Bao Chengle arrived very quickly.

After a night's rest, Bao Chengle looked much better than yesterday. After letting him sit down, Chen Shao did not exchange pleasantries with him. He simply told him that the weapons in Uncle Fang's cellar had been moved away last night, and then asked directly, "Who moved these weapons?"

Bao Chengle replied: "It should be Han Zihou."

Chen Shao asked: "Who is he?"

Bao Chengle shook his head: "He is not a nobody, he is a bandit leader in Jianwei County. A few years ago, after Liu Zizhuang and Wang Cong defected to the Zhu family, Gu family, Fan family, and Qi family, he also defected to Lord Luo. Lord Luo arranged him in Jianwei County to supervise the spies and thugs in Jianwei County and Hongyuan County."

Chen Shao then asked: "Where are they staying in Hongyuan County?"

She arrested Ma San and others yesterday, and they moved all the weapons away last night. It was obvious that they had been lurking in Hongyuan County for a long time.

Unfortunately, she knew very little about the princelings of the previous dynasty and could only grope her way forward one step at a time. Although the result was that there were more and more clues, she was often passive.

Chen Shao was unhappy, but helpless.

"I don't know." Bao Chengle said, "I only know that they are in a mountain cave in Qianwei County. That's all I learned about it because Lord Luo let it slip when he was drunk."

Chen Shao said calmly, "You and Luo Wanyou grew up together. After he became an official, you followed him for many years. You should know him better than others. You have been in Hongyuan County for many years and should be familiar with Hongyuan County. Based on your understanding of these two aspects, where will they end up? Please tell me. It doesn't matter if you are wrong."

Bao Chengle stood up subconsciously, walked back and forth in the room for a few times, and when he turned around to speak, he realized that the situation was different now. He quickly apologized and sat down again.

Chen Shao indicated that it was okay and let him continue.

Bao Chengle then said tremblingly: "I can only think of two places. One is the Shipailou, because there are many alleys and people, it is easy to hide; the other is Shiweibei, there are many rocks, hooligans and refugees, it is a good place to hide."

Chen Shao immediately asked, "What does this Han Zihou look like?"

Bao Chengle forced a smile and said, "I haven't seen him."

Chen Shao paused in his action of preparing to paint the portrait.

Bao Chengle said quickly: "I have indeed never seen him, but Liu Zizhuang should know him. Before he joined the Fan family and the Qi family, his hideout was also in Qianwei County."

Chen Shao immediately called in three Yulin guards and said to one of them, "Invite Liu Dangjia back to the prefect's mansion immediately and tell him that I have something important to ask you."

After he left, Chen Shao said to another person, "Go to Shipailou immediately and tell your general. When investigating the crisis, also arrange for someone to check if there are any strangers or relatives from the alley living in Shipailou recently. If there are any, bring them back to the prefect's mansion immediately!"

After he left, Chen Shao said to the last person, "Immediately take people to guard Shiweibi. No one is allowed to leave for any reason without my order. At the same time, send people to search to see if there are any strangers living there recently, or if any strangers left today."

After he left, Chen Shao thought about it and still felt a little uneasy, so he asked someone to call Wang Cong back as well.

Liu Zizhuang was following the students to deal with the village. According to their speed, they might have already reached the county town under the jurisdiction of Hongyuan County. It would be difficult for them to rush back in a short time. Wang Cong might not know Han Zihou, but since they were both from the mountain bandits, he should be able to recognize them in the crowd.

Sure enough, Wang Cong had never dealt with Han Zihou, but after listening to her brief account, he assured her that as long as Han Zihou or his people were still in Shipailou, he would be able to find them.

Chen Shao did not waste any time and immediately took him and Bao Chengle to the Shipailou.