Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

Chen Shaorong and the others were stunned for a moment, then asked, "There should have been quite a few teachers who entered the academy with Master Shi back then, right? Did Master Gao also act as a matchmaker for them?"

Sun Qi, Liu Deming and Zeng Yun looked at each other. Apart from Master Shi, they had never heard of Gao Shanchang being a matchmaker for anyone.

Chen Shao knew the answer from their expressions. After another moment of silence, she asked, "Among the scholars who entered the academy with Master Shi, there should be someone better than Master Shi, right? Since she is Madam Gao's niece, why didn't Master Gao match them up, but chose Master Shi?"

Sun Qi and the others opened their mouths, but could not say anything.

After Chen Shao's eyes swept over them one by one, he didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "How tall is Master Shi?"

Among the few people, Liu Deming, who was the most clear about love and hate, blurted out: "My lord, you suspect Master Shi... No, it's impossible!"

Chen Shao looked at him, "Why not?"

"Because..." Liu Deming suddenly thought of the description of the murderer given by the blacksmith shop owner Sun Rende. When he thought about the murderer's physical appearance that had been widely circulated in the streets recently, his face turned pale and he could no longer utter the words of denial.

Sun Qi and his friends were also smart people. Almost at the same time, they all thought of Sun Rende. After a strange silence for a while, Sun Qi said with some difficulty: "Master Shi is about five feet two inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds."

Zeng Yun, Li Shengjie and Guo Zitao wanted to stop it, but when they thought of the people who had been killed, they stopped talking.

"Fu Jiu," Chen Shao said, no longer suppressing his emotions, "You personally take people to the Imperial College to invite Master Shi, Madam Shi, and several other young masters of Shi to the prefectural governor's residence, and then arrange for people to guard Master Shi's house. Before I return, they cannot be allowed to have any mishaps, and no one can be allowed to break into their house again!"

Fu Jiu knew that there was no time to lose, so he selected two Yulin guards and flew to the county town.

The wind blows through the branches, making a rustling sound.

Chen Shao looked at the pale faces of the few people, and although he was cruel, he still asked: "In which year did Master Shi's first wife die of illness?"

Liu Deming said in a daze: "It was at the beginning of the fifteenth year of Yuanhe."

Chen Shao continued: "When did you marry your second wife?"

Seeing the veins on Liu Deming's neck bulge, Sun Qi patted his shoulder and answered for him: "The first mistress was married at the end of January in the fifteenth year of Yuanhe. The second mistress was married at the end of June in the fifteenth year of Yuanhe."

Chen Shao glanced at Liu Deming and continued to ask, "When did Mr. Shi's arm get injured?"

When Sun Qi counted with his fingers, Liu Deming suddenly suppressed his grief and answered firmly, "June 2nd."

That was the day after the mass screening when she asked Ding Lisheng to ask the people of the city to report people with scars on their right thumbs. Chen Shao stood up, took two steps forward, and then turned back and asked, "Where is the house that Master Shi bought for the two wives' families?"

Just as Sun Qi was about to answer, Sun Deming quickly stood up and said, "One is in the second lane of Dong'an Street, and the other is in the second lane of Xizheng Street. I'll take you there!"

Sun Qi, Zeng Yun and others also stood up and said that they could also lead the way.

Chen Shao looked at the few people. Although their faces were still stained with pain after the shock, their eyes revealed determination. Apart from the Yulin Army, there was no one around her who could be used. And now, the murderer was caught, but there was no evidence.

After careful consideration, Chen Shao said, "Don't worry, go and do the other two things for me first."

Sun Qi and his companions immediately bowed and said, "Please give your orders, sir."

"Who among you is a better painter?" Chen Shao asked first. Guo Zitao took the initiative to step forward. Chen Shao looked at him and said, "Draw a portrait of Master Shi, and then draw a few portraits of others. After you are done, take them to Sun Rende in the blacksmith shop for identification."

After Guo Zitao agreed, Chen Shao continued, "Starting from the first case in the sixth year of Yuanhe, up to Tao Amei's case, we must investigate all the villages and towns involved in the case, and all the families involved in the case. Before and after the case, did Master Shi go there, when did he go, which family did he go to, when did he leave, and the details of Master Shi's interactions with the victim, etc. We must investigate every detail clearly."

"Thank you for your hard work. Please move as fast as possible."

"Don't worry, sir!" After packing up a little, the few of them set off.

Chen Shao suppressed his good mood, went into the house to say goodbye to Liu Deming's grandmother, spoke a few words to Wang, and then took a carriage back to the county town.

She did not return to the prefect's mansion, but went straight to the Imperial College.

The Imperial College is located in the northwest of the county town, only three hundred feet away from the west gate.

The Imperial Academy prepared accommodation for every teacher. Not only did Shi Xing's monthly salary not exceed that of other teachers, his residence was also the most desolate.

Under the anguished leadership of Gao Han, the president of the Imperial College, and amid the noisy discussions of the students, Chen Shao stood in front of Shi Xing's old courtyard surrounded by rugged rocks and gave Gao Han a meaningful look.

Gao Han explained guiltily, "Academies are assigned to students according to their ranking in the imperial examination. Mr. Shi was barely able to enter the Imperial College, so he was assigned here. Of course, if his teaching performance was good, he could be transferred to another place. Unfortunately, his performance has been mediocre over the years."

Chen Shao's eyes calmly glanced at the lotus sitting Buddha jade hairpin on his head, and then glanced at the lotus sitting Buddha jade pendant on his waist... They were all green jade. If she was not mistaken, the sitting Buddha's head was dagger-shaped flesh bun. Interesting. Chen Shao calmly curled the corners of his mouth, "Chapter Gao Shan will stay in the academy for a while. Without my order, you are not allowed to go anywhere."

"Your Excellency is innocent," Gao Han knelt on the ground in panic, "I just didn't know people well in my early years, so I acted as a matchmaker for him once. Over the years, I haven't had much contact with him. They, and they can all testify for me."

Chen Shao looked at the person he pointed out.

They are all teachers in the Imperial Academy.

Most of the teachers kept their heads down and said nothing, only one teacher in purple and one teacher in blue stood up to testify for him.

Chen Shao looked at the two of them: "What are your names?"

The purple-robed teacher said respectfully, "I am Luo Zhengxin, the dean of the academy."

The teacher in men's clothing followed and answered, "I am Jiang Zilin, the teacher in charge of teaching classics in the academy."

"Jiang Zilin, one of Mr. Shi's few good friends?" Chen Shao asked as he looked at him.

Jiang Zilin tensed up a little, then replied, "It is you, my humble servant."

Chen Shao nodded, "Then you should stay with Principal Gao. Stay in the academy for the time being and don't go anywhere without my order."

"My lord..." The two of them looked up at her at the same time.

Chen Shao also looked at the two of them and said, "Speak."

The two men lowered their heads and said, "I obey your orders."

"You still have some self-awareness." Chen Shao smiled softly, glanced at the jade pendants on the two men, then turned and entered the courtyard where Shi Xing lived.