The dim back

When Liu Zhongqing heard these words, he knew that this matter could be rewarded with merit, and he said to Zhang Yulu gratefully: "Thank you for your willingness to help."

Zhang Yulu also felt very strange, so she said to the scarred man: "Do you know me?"

The scarred man sighed and said, "When I need you, I will naturally look for you. In addition to this painting, I also found this transaction record. I believe the emperor can believe it. If the emperor doesn't believe it, you can give him this jade pendant."

The scarred man took out a yellow jade pendant from his waist. Everyone knew that yellow was the symbol of the royal family. Liu Zhongqing recognized it immediately: "This was specially made for Concubine Xiao on her birthday last month by the Emperor."

The scarred man nodded: "It seems that the current emperor does favor Concubine Xiao, but judging from her current performance, Concubine Xiao will soon fall out of favor."

As the two of them walked back, Zhang Yulu felt that things were becoming more and more complicated: "Too many things have happened recently. It seems that I need to burn more incense in the temple."

Hearing Zhang Yulu say this, Liu Zhongqing laughed: "Do you know something?"

Zhang Yulu recalled how she had described this part in the novel. She said that while the two were investigating the case, the emperor insisted on arranging a marriage for Liu Zhongqing, and the person he was going to marry was a woman who was a tribute from a foreign tribe. This woman was no ordinary person.

Zhang Yulu asked worriedly, "Are you telling me that the emperor intends to grant you another marriage, and that you will enter the Marquis's Mansion as the first lady?"

Seeing that Zhang Yulu knew everything, Liu Zhongqing had to admit frankly: "I didn't want to hide it from you. I had already explained this matter to the emperor when I entered the palace, but the emperor's opinion was that I must find someone who can strongly support my identity."

Zhang Yulu did feel very sad: "Although I am the eldest daughter of Yiren Villa, and a lonely eldest daughter, Yiren Villa is no longer the same as before. Sometimes I am also afraid that it was the poison that my father just bought and gave it to Concubine Xiao."

Seeing Zhang Yulu so sad, Liu Zhongqing thought of a solution: "Let's not worry about other things for now. Let's go back and ask Master Zhang. What if the poison Master Zhang bought is useless?"

Hearing Liu Zhongqing's words, Zhang Yulu said hurriedly: "What if it was really my father who sold it to Concubine Xiao? What should we do? My father is always trying to curry favor with officials, so it's impossible that he did it."

Hearing Zhang Yulu say this, Liu Zhongqing also became a little worried: "You may not understand yet, this is what the emperor meant. If it was really done by Zhang Manor Master, he would definitely use this matter to threaten me to marry that foreign woman."

Zhang Yulu looked at Liu Zhongqing with some embarrassment: "You have so many secrets. On one side is your childhood sweetheart, on the other side is your childhood sweetheart, and now there is a foreign woman. Why are you so busy every day?"

Liu Zhongqing was also helpless: "It should be that simple. The royal family hopes that we can have many descendants, so they keep placing concubines in our house. Just look at my father. Apart from the second daughter of the Duke's Mansion, there is only my mother. But there were countless others who were sent to us later, but they were all dealt with by my mother."

What Liu Zhongqing meant by saying this was to let Zhang Yulu handle everything.

Zhang Yulu immediately understood a truth: "You are using me, because Qiu Feng is now the youngest woman and he has no say, so you leave this matter to me and let me handle all the things that offend people."

Liu Zhongqing smiled awkwardly: "Then what do you want me to say? This is the only thing I can think of now. I hope you can understand my painstaking efforts."

Zhang Yulu didn't want to waste any more time talking: "We will go to see His Majesty right now. We can talk about other things later after you pass this hurdle."

Hearing Zhang Yulu say this, Liu Zhongqing nodded: "But I'm really afraid that it was Master Zhang who did it. If so, you will also be implicated."

Just as the two were talking, a man riding a tall horse came running towards them.

He blocked the way of Liu Zhongqing and Zhang Yulu and said to them, "You two can't escape from me. If you know what's good for you, quickly go back the way you came and return the things in your hands to me."

Zhang Yulu said that he would never take out the evidence no matter what, but Liu Zhongqing was so quick that he slapped him away with a palm.

Zhang Yulu felt pain all over his body. Liu Zhongqing thought quickly and picked up Zhang Yulu. He then shot a dart into his neck and killed him on the spot.

Zhang Yulu covered her aching chest and said to Liu Zhongqing, "Protect all the evidence."

Liu Zhongqing had no choice but to quickly carry Zhang Yulu back to Yiren Villa. Zhang Shaohua was terrified when he saw what was happening. "What on earth is going on? These two people were fine when they went out in the daytime, how did they become like this now?"

Liu Zhongqing didn't want to explain any more, so he said to Zhang Shaohua: "Master, there are some things I have to tell you slowly. Call a doctor now."

After the doctor's diagnosis and treatment, Zhang Yulu finally calmed down and said to his father sternly: "Father, what did you do with the Miaojiang medicine you bought at the ghost market?"

Hearing this question, Zhang Shaohua felt particularly sad: "So, you know your mother's life experience?"

At this critical moment, Zhang Fengxue ran in from outside. Seeing Zhang Yulu's situation, she immediately lay on Zhang Yulu's body and cried: "Sister, what's wrong? Who beat you like this?"

Seeing his sister here, Zhang Yulu didn't know what to ask. He just kept asking his father: "Where did you put the Miaojiang medicine?"

Before Zhang Shaohua could speak, Zhang Fengxue said cheerfully, "It's because of those mice in our house. I don't know what kind of medicine Dad used, but the mice have all died these days. It must be the drug that killed the mice."

Hearing Zhang Fengxue say this, Zhang Yulu finally felt relieved: "I thought you gave it to Concubine Xiao."

Zhang Shaohua just looked at Zhang Yulu with angry eyes and said, "Don't make trouble anymore. Be a good young lady. After a few months, you can marry in Liuzhou."

Liu Zhongqing looked at everything in front of him and said, "Master Zhang, you seem to really want your daughter to leave you as soon as possible. Why are you doing this?"

Zhang Shaohua started to laugh: "Girls grow up and cannot be kept at home. There are only two girls in the family, so it's better to marry them off as soon as possible."

One thing that can be confirmed at present is that Zhang Shaohua did not give the Miaojiang poison to Concubine Xiao. It seems that only Zhang Laojiu is a suspect.

Without further ado, Zhang Yulu began to urge Liu Zhongqing: "You must be more careful this time and quickly hand the evidence to the emperor. Remember, don't meddle in other people's business on the way."

Zhang Yulu knew clearly that when he was writing this part of the novel, he had set up a plot in which there was a beggar who begged Liu Zhongqing for help on the way. As a result, other beggars also came. When several people gathered around, all the evidence in the hands of the exchange center was destroyed. It seemed that someone did it on purpose.

Most of the plots in the book are the same. There may be some differences in this incident, but someone will definitely come to stop it, after all, the other party is well-informed.

Liu Zhongqing also knew that the matter could be big or small, so he nodded and agreed: "Just lie down here and rest with peace of mind. I will definitely find a way to complete this matter successfully, so don't worry."

Liu Zhongqing then ran out. Sure enough, when he was halfway there, a beggar ran out from the darkness and kept begging Liu Zhongqing.

Liu Zhongqing looked at the beggar's hands and exposed the beggar's plan: "What a bold fellow! How dare you deceive me? Look at your hands, they are so smooth, how could you be a beggar?"

Seeing that he was exposed, the beggar tried to snatch the calligraphy and painting, as well as the transaction slip. During the struggle between the two, the yellow jade pendant in Liu Zhongqing's arms fell out.

Seeing that things were not going well, the beggar hurried to fight for it, but he really underestimated Liu Zhongqing's strength. Liu Zhongqing kicked him, and the beggar felt a stuffy feeling in his chest, a sweet taste in his mouth, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Liu Zhongqing gnashed his teeth and said to the beggar in front of him: "Take away all your conspiracies. Don't treat me as a pushover. I have made it clear. If you continue to talk nonsense in front of me, I will definitely make you pay."

After Liu Zhongqing finished speaking, he hurried to the city gate, which had been lowered. Liu Zhongqing said to the officials guarding the city gate, "I have a token. Let me out quickly. If you delay the disclosure of state secrets, watch out for your heads."

The two officials guarding the city looked at each other, and one of them said, "Didn't Concubine Xiao send the eunuch to pass on a message that the Marquis cannot be allowed in today no matter what? This really puts us in a difficult position."

Seeing that the two officials were silent, Liu Zhongqing used his trump card: "I'm giving you an ultimatum. The emperor sent me to complete a mission. If you delay the battle report from the front line, be careful that the emperor will want your heads."

When the two officials heard the battle report from the front, they were so scared that they quickly opened the car door and said, "My Lord, please forgive me. Everything was arranged by Concubine Xiao. Concubine Xiao said that the emperor was not feeling well today and would not let any officials in."

Liu Zhongqing couldn't help but curse. He didn't expect Concubine Xiao to be so hateful. Knowing that he was about to face a disaster, it seemed that she must be discussing countermeasures now.

When Liu Zhongqing rushed to the palace, the eunuch went into the store to report, and soon, Liu Zhongqing met the emperor.

The emperor also looked at Liu Zhongqing lovingly: "It's so late, what's the matter with you coming here?"

Liu Zhongqing sighed: "Your Majesty, please take a look at these first."

When Liu Zhongqing placed the things on the table, the emperor stared at them for a long time, his jaw dropping in shock: "What on earth is going on? Concubine Xiao is so bold that she let her cousin do so many hateful things. Why did she put a layer of poison in the wine glass? And she even pretended to drink this poisoned wine in front of me."

After the emperor saw this news, he was very clear in his mind that Concubine Xiao must have taken the antidote in advance, otherwise the imperial physician might not be able to cure her.

The emperor thought about this and ordered the eunuch, "Come here, go and get Concubine Xiao here. If she lies that she is not feeling well, you have to carry her here even if you have to carry her."

Seeing that the emperor was really angry, all the eunuchs hurried over in fear.

Not long after, several eunuchs carried Concubine Xiao to the main hall.

When she saw the emperor, Concubine Xiao seemed very calm: "Your Majesty, I also have my own difficulties."

The emperor's eyes widened. "So, you already know what happened? Why did you want to frame the Marquis?"

Concubine Xiao only had a smile on her face. She did not speak to the emperor, but said to Liu Zhongqing: "I advise you to leave Zhang Yulu and Qiu Feng as soon as possible. These two women are the root of trouble. Sooner or later, you will know what I mean by this."

Before the emperor and Liu Zhongqing could figure out the situation, they saw Concubine Xiao bleeding from the corner of her mouth. Seeing the scene in front of him, the emperor immediately panicked: "Hurry up and find the imperial physician."

Concubine Xiao told the truth: "Your Majesty, you don't have to bother with this. I am doomed to die. I can no longer serve Your Majesty, but please let my cousin go."