That night, Qin Mubai asked Liao Lirong to draw a charge on his confession, and then rushed back to Jishan County overnight. The judicial system of the Tang Dynasty can be regarded as perfect, except for the prefecture and county yamen at all levels, the Dali Temple, and the Yushi Taiyi, other institutions and individuals are not allowed to set up public courts to ask cases. But Qin Mubai is a special case, he is a person sent by the emperor, so it is the same as Yu Shiqin. When the Qin sent to the locality, the officials at all levels saw the emperor as if they were in person, and they couldn't admit their guilt if they wanted to.

With a confession and a good look at the witnesses, Qin Mubai still had some doubts in his heart: Even Liao Lirong didn't know where the account book was, so where would it go? The more mysterious it is, the more it shows how valuable it is. Now it seems that this case has actually come to light, and only a piece of imperial decree from the emperor is needed to arrest Zhang Tianci, the Marquis of Shengnan, and Cheng Songnian, the assassin of Jiangzhou.

But Qin Mubai always vaguely felt that this case was not as simple as it seemed on the surface. What is the mystery hidden in a mysteriously missing ledger? Could it be that this account book has already been obtained by Cheng Songnian, or does it not exist at all?

On the way back, Qin Mubai and Chen Yan were still sitting in the carriage, and the others followed on horseback. Qin Mubai thought about the case by herself, while Chen Yan closed her eyes and kept silent. The two barely said a word along the way.

It's almost time to arrive at Jishan County, and it's almost dawn.

"Chen Yan, it's here." Qin Mubai said, "Do you really want to follow me?" The barracks were full of men, and it was inconvenient. ”

"Who do you think would dare to mess with me?" Chen Yan sneered casually, "Besides, I am the righteous sister of your General Qin, who would dare to mess with me?" ”

"You're smart. That's it, it's up to you. In fact, I am also relieved to take you with me, lest you run away to find Sheng Nanhou and others for revenge. Qin Mubai said as he got out of the car.

"I'm willing to follow, you want to bring, that's inconvenient, why bother such nonsense." Chen Yan also got out of the car.

There are more than 5,000 people stationed in the government soldiers and troops of Jiangzhou Prefecture, and the scale is not small. Although it is a temporary marching camp, it is also stretched to a radius of ten miles, the queue is orderly, and the horses and vehicles carrying military resources are endless.

The first time Chen Yan went to this kind of place, she couldn't help but look left and right to take a few more looks. Those big-headed soldiers nested in the barracks all day, and when they saw that almost all the chickens and ducks were female, they suddenly saw a stunning beauty, and their eyes were almost full of green light. If it weren't for the fact that she followed Qin Mubai closely, I am afraid that she would have been swallowed alive by a group of men who were so hungry and thirsty that they went crazy.

"Man, it's not a good thing!" Chen Yan snorted, obviously a little annoyed.

"It's not the woman's fault?" Qin Mubai smiled, "Don't say it, King Wu's royal tent has arrived." ”

In a large banner with the character Li fluttering high, far taller and more gorgeous than ordinary military tents, Li Ke sat upright, listening to the soldiers and officials under his command, reporting on the recent disaster relief and relief of the people. At this time, the doorman came to report that Qin Mubai had come back and asked to see King Wu.

"Oh, Mu Bai is back, let him in." Li Ke said casually.

Qin Mubai walked in with Chen Yan. When everyone saw Chen Yan, they were immediately surprised. One is amazing, and the other is bewildered - this Qin Mubai disappeared for two days, why did he suddenly bring a woman into the barracks?

"I've seen Your Highness." Qin Mubai gave a salute and whispered to Chen Yan, "Still stunned, come and give a salute to His Highness!" ”

Chen Yan glared at Qin Mubai in a low voice, stepped forward, raised her sword and hugged her fist and saluted: "I have seen His Royal Highness King Wu." ”

"Yo, who's this?" Li Ke asked with a deliberate sneer.

"Your Majesty asked for leave yesterday just to pick her up." Qin Mubai said, "This is the righteous sister of your subordinates, Chen Yan." Greetings to all of you! ”

"Don't dare, don't dare!" As soon as they heard that it was Qin Mubai's "righteous sister", the officials and generals present suddenly changed their faces and respected Chen Yan, and hurriedly bowed their hands.

"Righteous sister! …… What a chivalrous sister, not bad. Li Ke's smile became warmer and warmer, and he waved his hand, "Let's stand down first!" ”

The officials withdrew the knowledgeable ones, and only three people were left in the tent.

"Mu Bai, you're good!" Li Ke stood up and walked to Chen Yan's side, walked around her left and right twice, looked carefully, and said with a smile, "It's only been a day or two out, and I came back with a righteous sister." It's growing so fast! ”

"Your Highness, you misunderstood!" Qin Mubai smiled bitterly and shook his head, and was about to argue, when Chen Yan opened his mouth.

"His Royal Highness King Wu is a royal prince and nobleman, doesn't he pretend to be a state affair in his mind, and only have some romantic thoughts?" Chen Yan sneered and said, "I don't know what 'righteousness' is if I don't know what the palace is?" is his righteous sister in the next, but she deserves this righteous word! ”

Li Ke's expression suddenly froze in embarrassment, and he coughed dryly and said, "Mu Bai, you girl...... The lips are sharp and spicy enough! ”

"Her sword is probably more powerful than her tongue." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "So, Your Highness can mess with anyone, but don't mess with her." I won't hide it from you, let me tell you the truth - this one is the widow of Zhu Chengwen, the former county magistrate of Jishan County. ”

"What?" Li Ke was stunned, and hurriedly changed his face and bowed to Chen Yan, "It turned out to be Mrs. Sister-in-law, Xiao Wang didn't know the reason, and his words were light and offensive, please forgive me!" ”

In fact, with Li Ke's dignity, there is probably no need to be polite to the wife of a county order. But the dead are greater, and the undead are respected. Dazhong pays attention to etiquette, and Li Ke is a prince who has molested other people's widows, and it is not so good to hear about the general.

"Your Highness doesn't have to be so polite." Chen Yan said coldly, "I'm just a rough woman who walks the rivers and lakes, I don't know the etiquette, and I don't deserve a big gift from His Royal Highness." ”

Qin Mubai pursed his lips at Li Ke: "The children of the rivers and lakes are not informal, and His Highness should get used to it slowly." ”

"Ahem! ......" Li Ke coughed dryly and diverted the topic: "What did Mu Bai gain from this trip?" ”

"Okay." Qin Mubai showed Liao Lirong's confession to Li Ke and said, "It's just that I don't know where that account book is, and even Liao Lirong doesn't know about it." Your Highness, you say, is there no such book at all? Or is it that Cheng Songnian and others have already looted this important piece of evidence and smuggled it, or has it already been destroyed? ”

"It's hard to say...... Li Ke twisted his brows and said, "I just want to be foolproof." In fact, without this book, their crimes are also conclusive and irrefutable. It's just that these funds allocated by the imperial court, it is necessary to find out the ins and outs of where every penny goes. If such an account book exists, it is very likely that many people will be involved. If it is allowed to fall into the wrong hands, it will be a disaster of endless harm. Rather than this, it is better for us to take it down and take the initiative. ”

"Your Highness is thoughtful and reasonable." Qin Mubai nodded approvingly. If someone with bad intentions holds the important physical evidence of such a huge case and knows the secret, he can use it to blackmail many people. Who knows how many big officials and small officials are involved in this case? Who can predict that this small account book will not set off any more storms in the future?

Li Ke pondered for a moment and said to Chen Yan: "Sister-in-law, did you give you anything important before your husband died?" ”

"You're trying to ask if I've hidden this book, right?" Chen Yan tilted her chin slightly at Qin Mubai, "He has already asked, don't bother His Highness." ”

Li Ke looked at Qin Mubai, and Qin Mubai shook his head.

"Now, then, I wish there was no such book in the world, or that we would find him soon." Li Ke took a slow breath and said leisurely.

It seems that he, like Qin Mubai, also has some ominous premonitions about this account book.

A moment later, when the three of them were sitting in the tent drinking tea and resting, the pawn came to report that the Marquis of Jiangzhou Shengnan had visited.

"He actually came to the door on his own initiative?" Qin Mubai was a little surprised and said, "It's not a small courage. ”

Chen Yan snorted coldly and tightened the sword in her hand.

"Why don't you avoid it?" Qin Mubai said, "I will send someone to assign a military tent to you, and you will rest there." ”

"I'll send two more eunuchs to serve you." Li Ke said.

"No need. I'm used to being alone. Chen Yan got up and left.

"What a woman with personality." Qin Mubai and Li Ke shook their heads together and laughed.

The Marquis of Shengnan entered the king's tent and bowed to Li Ke with a thorough salute. Judging from his appearance, he is only about thirty, of medium height, his appearance is not ugly or annoying, and his expression is also very low-key and humble. After being given a seat by Li Ke, he looked sincerely frightened and frightened, although he knelt down, his body was straight.

"Sheng Nanhou really has a heart." Li Ke said with a smile, "This king has been in Jiangzhou for two months, although it is the first time I have seen you, I have heard of your name of goodness for a long time. This time, Jiangzhou unfortunately suffered from the flood, and you have personally donated countless grains, rice, and winter clothes, and also called on the squires of Benzhou County to assist the imperial court in disaster relief. After this king returns to the dynasty, he will definitely ask for a reward for your deeds in front of his father! ”

"Your Highness has praised it!" Zhang Tianci, Marquis of Shengnan, hurriedly bowed his hand to Li Ke, and said cautiously and softly, "Everything about Xiaohou is all rewarded by the emperor, and now that Jiangzhou has suffered a disaster, it is the emperor's people who have been killed." The fledgling still knows how to reciprocate, and Xiaohou should do such a little thing. ”

"Good. Shengnanhou is indeed a veritable good minister. Li Ke smiled appreciatively, "Come on, see the reward!" ”

A eunuch walked out with a plate of yellow and white things and presented it to Zhang Tianci's table.

"This ...... Xiaohou didn't dare to accept the reward. Zhang Tianci smiled, as if he was still a little honest and embarrassed, and waved his hand again and again, "Xiaohou is not short of money to spend, Your Highness should reward this money to those who have worked hard for disaster relief!" ”

Qin Mubai stood beside Li Ke with a sword, and at this time he couldn't help sneering in his heart: This person is quite good at acting. The trick of deception must have been practiced perfectly. It seems to be loyal, but in fact it is treacherous. If you don't know him well, it's really easy to be deceived by his appearance!