The night was dark, the snow finally stopped, and the long-lost first quarter moon hung high on the eaves. The nights were so cold that the streets were scarcely crowded except for a few stalwart royal guards.

In the dark secret room of King Ning's Mansion, the lamp on the wall was lit, and five huge figures shook on the wall before sitting around the table. Ning Wang Liu Xun sat next to his son Liu Xingzhi, and sitting opposite was Cui Hao, the secretary of the Criminal Department, and Yang Youxian, the secretary of Dali Temple. And standing in the corner of the wall was the housekeeper Liu San'er, who was holding a fire fold that was still swaying with a faint flame in his hand, and when he saw that the indoor light was on, he quickly extinguished the fire, and then slowly retreated to the mouth to control the wind.

Several people greeted each other, Cui and Yang have been smiling since they entered the secret room, Liu Xun also understood, it seems that these two people have brought the good news they want to know, so they asked: "Lord Cui, Lord Yang, how is the matter?" ”

Yang Youxian said with a smile: "Finally live up to the prince's trust, as soon as the prince said that you have something to ask us to help, the two of us hurried to the archives of the Criminal Department and Dali Temple to check the files of the year." After that, he raised the corners of his mouth proudly, "Lord Wang, guess what the result is?" ”

"How?"

"The file of the Criminal Department records that 'in the autumn of the 11th year of Yuan Heng, on August 18, Liu Chang, the Marquis of Dongping, impeached Wu Qingfeng, the governor of the military and horses, for using his power for personal gain and plotting against him, and all 124 members of Wumen were imprisoned, and they were tried by Li Shizhi, the secretary of Dali Temple, and after it was verified that Wu Qingfeng did have the intention of rebellion, he was beheaded on the 23rd to show the public'!" Yang Youxian said.

Liu Xun was puzzled: "With such a few words, it is really difficult to determine, is there any problem in this?" ”

"The file of the Criminal Department was handed over to the Holy Lord, although there were only a few words, but it was the answer that the emperor wanted! But at the same time, we also checked the files of other cases at that time, but it was extremely strange......" Yang Youxian touched his chin with his left hand and groaned slightly.

"What's the matter?" Liu Xingzhi asked.

Cui Hao said with a serious face: "We have checked a lot of information at that time, among which it is recorded that on the night before August 23, the eleventh year of Yuan Heng, three people disappeared mysteriously, one of them was a widow, and the other two were her sons, who were almost ten years old. The widow Wang was a very restless person, and instructed her two sons to steal the ploughing cattle next door, so she was arrested! ”

"Oh......" Liu Xun lowered his head and exclaimed, "This crime is only over after a few days of detention, how could it be missing?" ”

Yang Youxian smiled, "There must be an article in this!" ”

Liu Xun nodded noncommittally, "Have you gone to check the background of the Wang family?" ”

Cui Hao said: "Checked! Wang's husband was just an ordinary farmer, and he died eight years after marriage, leaving Wang's mother and son with no other relatives. But what is even more strange is that after the incident, the two jailers on duty also disappeared. ”

After hearing this, Liu Xun raised his head and looked at the candlelight swaying on the wall, his eyes were like sparks, "There must be a problem!" Is there a way for you two to find those two jailers again? ”

Cui Hao frowned and lowered his head and muttered slightly: "Since they have disappeared, they have either absconded in fear of crime, or they have been killed, even if they are still alive, more than ten years have passed, and they want to find them......" Cui Hao then shook his head, "I'm afraid it's difficult!" ”

"We want to bring down Li Shizhi, but it is far from enough to impeach him with this matter, this king can be sure that these two jailers must know the truth of the incident, as long as they are found, everything will be done."

Liu Xingzhi took the initiative to ask: "Father, leave this matter to the child!" Unless they both died, there must be a way for the child to find them. ”

Liu Xun glanced at his son noncommittally, smiled slowly, then patted his son's shoulder, and said with a smile: "Since you volunteered, then this matter will be handed over to you." This year is different from the past, yesterday it was reported that the ninth day of the first month of this year is the auspicious day of the zodiac, and the Holy Lord is scheduled to meet on the ninth day of the first month, so this matter must be investigated before the ninth day of the new year. Okay, you might be done? ”

Liu Xingzhi hesitated for a moment and said, "Father, don't worry, the child must find out about this matter before the ninth day of the new year." ”

In the private room of Xinghua Restaurant, there was laughter and laughter at this time, and everyone was drinking happily. Lu Zuo because his brother Lu Renxiang returned to Beijing to take up a post, so it was convenient to have a banquet at Xinghua Restaurant, but he invited all his friends who were very close to him, and there were nearly twenty people during the banquet. Everyone was drinking and feasting, and they began to chant poems and guess the boxing order, all of them were happy, Lu Zuo was also a rare happiness, seeing someone come to toast, he also wanted to drink a glass or two of light wine, but the wine glass was taken away by the quiet Ruo beside him without exception, and the quiet Ruo simply called him a bottle of water, and everyone laughed when they saw this.

Just when everyone was having fun, there was a knock on the door, but the room was extremely noisy, only Jing Jing Ruo and Lu Zuo heard it, the two glanced at each other, this is a private room, all the wine and food have already been served, it is impossible for the shopkeeper to add food, not to mention that Fang Cai has also ordered, unless you go to call the shopkeeper, don't let anyone come to disturb, at this time, there was a hurried knock on the door, it seems that there must be an article. So Lu Zuo stood up, pressed his hands, and made a silent gesture, signaling everyone not to make a sound, everyone saw Lu Zuo's serious face, and they were instantly silent. At this time, the knock on the door outside the house became clearer, accompanied by someone calling softly: "Master, master......"

They looked at each other in the room, as if asking whose servant was calling. Just when everyone was surprised, Gao Yun's face suddenly sank, he stood up suddenly, and then smiled and bowed to everyone present, "It's a servant, you continue to drink, I'll make it convenient first." ”

There was an instant "uproar" in the room and returned to the noise of Fang Cai, "Master Gao, then you should go first......"

Lu Zuo watched Gao Yun go away, and after seeing him close the door, after the figure circled at the door, he left in a hurry, and couldn't help frowning, according to the usual Gao Yun If he left for something, he would definitely turn around and say goodbye to everyone first, why did he leave in a hurry when he heard the call of the servant? Something must have happened? So he softly called Yin Ji, who was sitting on the other side, and asked him to follow and have a look. After a while, Yin Ji went and returned, and said with a deep face: "Master, the second brother asked me to come back first." ”

Lu Zuo asked with concern, "Did he say anything?" ”

"He said that his eldest brother had an accident, and sent people to find him everywhere, and if I asked him carefully, he drove me back!"

Seeing Lu Zuo's eyes slightly closed, Jing Ruo hurriedly asked, "What?" Is something wrong? ”

Lu Zuo nodded slowly, "Gao Han must have had an accident!" ”