"There are thousands of palace ladies in the palace, and there are dozens of concubines, and the old ministers have never asked much about the ladies in the palace."

Han Sheng's answer was very concise and clear, there were not many other women in the inner court, and as a non-eunuch man, even the emperor's close ministers who were in charge of investigating intelligence could not ask too much about the affairs of the inner court, so Han Sheng didn't know who Xiao Qi'er and the woman who looked very similar to Xiao Qi'er were.

It seems that this question can only be buried in the heart. Liu Yu sighed and said in his heart.

Han Sheng said again: "Little Brother Liu, I advise you, you often go in and out of the inner court now, and you must avoid associating with the ladies in the palace." ”

Liu Yu nodded knowingly, in fact, he was only curious about the woman and Xiao Qi'er. The matter will be revealed for the time being.

"Brother Han, the booklet you asked me to read yesterday has been roughly flipped over, there are many people and miscellaneous, and it is really difficult to find out the clue. If I were to talk about that booklet alone, I would probably not have much to offer. Liu Yu said bluntly, "Is it true that there are no clues at all in the investigation of this case?" ”

Han Sheng said with a smile: "It's not a secret, there is still a clue, I didn't tell you yesterday that I want you to check the hundred official books with the mentality of an outsider, don't have prejudices before looking at people." Even if it's the only clue, it's ...... It is also difficult to investigate. ”

"Oh?" Liu Yuxin said that it was very difficult, and it must be related to the magnates of the imperial court, "I don't know if the clue is a person or a thing?" ”

Han Sheng explained: "This matter is related to the robbery of Brother Liu, at that time, there was a secret talk inside and outside the city to intercept the secret letter of the messenger of the King of Huai, and the secret letter was vague and unclear, but it can be verified that it is related to Xu Rong, the waiter of the Ministry of Industry of the DPRK and the Central People's Republic of China. ”

"Xu Rong?" Liu Yu didn't expect Han Sheng to recognize him when he said a name, and he couldn't recognize a few people in the court, "If I'm not mistaken, he ...... It should be the eldest son of Xu Han, the right man. ”

"It is precisely because Xu Rong is the son of Xu Han, and he has a close relationship with the four princes recently, and the court is full of attention, once a person disappears, he will be startled, so it is not good to continue to investigate. In addition, there are some scattered clues, which seem to be related to the undergraduate jinshi......"

After Han Sheng's explanation, Liu Yu learned that in addition to intercepting the secret protection of the secret protection to discover the connection between Xu Rong and King Huai, and some students in this imperial examination were specially inserted into the eyes of the imperial court by King Huai, using some scholars who were already talented and learned to pretend to be the title of the candidate's gold list, enter Chang'an to win over officials, and establish themselves in the court through bribery to achieve the effect of internal response.

Liu Yuxin said that this latent work is really ubiquitous. There is lurking over there, and this side will start counter-reconnaissance, and I believe that there are also secret talks lurking around King Huai to spy on intelligence. A contest of espionage.

"To say that a few days ago, I really saw Xu Rong walking very close to a new class of Jinshi, but unfortunately I don't recognize them, even if I see them again, I'm afraid I won't be right." Liu Yu recalled carefully, at that time, he only cared about stopping the god-like shooting of the firewood gourd, and he didn't have the leisure to pay attention to those new science and technology scholars.

Han Sheng said: "Then Little Brother Liu should be intentionally careful, now Xu Rong can't move, starting with those new science and technology scholars or a way, knowing who is in the Dao, imprisoned in the prison for the first trial, and there are few people who do not confess under the big punishment." ”

"The dungeon?" Although Liu Yu had heard of such a place before, he couldn't think of what it was for. As we all know, officials who commit crimes are served in the prison cells of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and civil crimes are served in the cells of various counties and counties, and serious crimes are only entered in Dali Temple. The prison is a well-known cell with no clear purpose.

Han Sheng pointed to He Mao, who was dressed in black beside him, and said: "The Heavenly Prison is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Forest Army, and only those who commit crimes of great rebellion or crimes committed by royal relatives will enter the Heavenly Prison. I will let Commander He take Brother Liu to take you to have a look and familiarize yourself with the environment. ”

"Brother Han is not going?"

Han Sheng smiled and said, "This is going to report the daily progress to the emperor, even if the progress is slow, you still have to take advantage of the darkness to go there." Let Commander He take Brother Liu with you. ”

Liu Yu will realize that although the current emperor is not a Ming monarch, at least he will take care of court affairs during the day, and after the lights are turned on and the night is darkened, he will definitely hide in the gentle township of the inner court and find no one.

…………

As dusk wore on, the sky darkened. Liu Yu was guided by He Mao, and the two went in the direction of the prison.

Liu Yu didn't think that Han Sheng would go to the chess building to find him at dusk, and now he was about to go to the heavenly prison to investigate at night. He also agreed to go to the banquet of the four princesses with Xu Xuanzhu.

The prison is located in the southeast side of the palace, which is a royal secret place, all the way along the red wall of the palace, the palace wall is almost five steps, one post, ten steps and one sentry, and the guard is extremely tight.

On the way, He Mao was talking to Liu Yu about the prison and the personnel structure of the Imperial Forest Army, which was a supplement to what he said yesterday. Liu Yu was nominally a subordinate, but he respected him in this matter, He Mao always had to follow him, Liu Yu was very uncomfortable, and insisted on walking side by side with He Mao.

"Who else was in the prison that day?" Liu Yu asked.

"There are a few prisoners, all of whom are officials involved in Li Zhongchun's rebellion a few years ago, and the three divisions will approve the beheading decision, and the emperor has promised to behead the prisoner, but the emperor has not hooked up the autumn decision for several years, so they are all still imprisoned."

"Li Zhongchun?" Liu Yu frowned, it seems that he has heard this name somewhere. It's not too impressive.

Li Zhongchun was accused of colluding with the Turks four years ago, and Li Zhongchun hanged himself at the time of the case.

After He Mao's explanation, Liu Yu suddenly woke up, isn't this Li Zhongchun the grandfather of Li Sha'er, the top brand of Zangyunfang? Liu Yu suddenly remembered the last time she saw Li Sha'er that day, she wanted to talk and stopped, could it be that she wanted to ask him to help overturn the case?

Liu Yu's crow brain has always been good, just remembered Li Sha'er, and saw from a distance under the lantern that had just been raised, a woman in plain clothes carrying a small bamboo basket, was arguing with the guards in front of the prison door, and when she got closer, it was Li Sha'er.

"What's going on?" Liu Yu looked at He Mao and asked.

"Brother Liu recognizes her? She is Li Zhongchun's eldest granddaughter, although Li Zhongchun died, but her father and several uncles were imprisoned in the prison, and she often came to visit in the past, but in recent months, the prison guards have been strengthened, and the emperor seems to have intended to execute this criminal this autumn, so she is no longer allowed to visit. ”

Liu Yu nodded and sighed: "This is a little too inhumane." ”

A bold idea suddenly rose in Liu Yu's mind, didn't he say that there was no way to detain Xu Rong so as not to startle the snake? If Li Shaer is willing to help, and play a little fancy in the middle, saying that Xu Rong was jealous and kidnapped in the brothel, Xu Rong will be arrested without knowing it. Liu Yue was unhappy with Xu Rong's kid early on, and he dared to collude with King Huai and was investigated, no matter who he was, he was unlucky this time.

Li Sha'er at the prison gate couldn't compete with the guards, wiped a handful of tears, turned around and was about to leave, when he saw Liu Yu and a burly man wearing a black hooded cloak walking over.

"Miss Li, is it so a coincidence?" Liu Yu looked at the sky with a smile and said, "This is as dark as today, why is Miss Li not in Zangyunfang?" ”

Li Sha'er lowered her head in shame and said, "The little woman is in poor health today and can't receive guests. Liu Gongzi, you ...... Why are you here? ”

Liu Yuxin said that this Li Sha'er should not know yet, and he was promoted to the right commander of the Imperial Forest Army.

"Come out and do something, just passing by. Why did Miss Li snatch it? ”

Li Sha'er couldn't hide her sadness and said: "Someone in the Criminal Department said that the culprit in the family ancestor case will be beheaded this autumn, and the little woman is about to become a wife." The little girl wanted to send something to her father and uncle, but she begged to see her several times, and even the guards refused to accept the money. ”

"Fall into ...... Women? Liu Yue couldn't understand who wanted to support her.

Li Sha'er said with a sad face: "The little woman is suffering from wind and dust, and now she can keep her innocence, she wants to see the last side of her relatives, and if she is not innocent in the future, she will have no shame to see again." That Xu Shilang came to the door several times to ask for a meeting, saying that he was willing to redeem the little woman and accept her as a concubine, but ...... The Xu family has always been at odds with the Li family, where is he a little woman, it is clear that he wants to take revenge on the ancestor who participated in his father in front of the emperor and ridiculed the little woman. ”

Liu Yuxin said that Li Sha'er has seen things thoroughly, a woman who has fallen into the dust can be regarded as backbone, even if Zhilu Dao can't stop the support of high-ranking officials like Xu Rong with her current ability, she still doesn't want to be ashamed of the family.

"Miss Li, this friend has some friendship with the prison guards, and there is a proposal below, if Miss Li is willing to run for the Oiran in two days, this friend is willing to go in and meet your father for you." Liu Yu said and turned to look at He Maodao, "Brother He, it's no problem, right?" ”

Liu Yu deliberately refused to reveal the identities and purposes of him and He Mao.

He Mao thought carefully and said, "If Miss Li agrees, I can help make sense." ”

Li Sha'er was puzzled: "Running for the Oiran? ”

Running for the Oiran means putting yourself on the auction table, whoever bids high can get her first three nights, and the Oiran's bidding has always been the most attractive to the guests in the Qinglou, even if it is an official prostitute is not exempt from vulgarity, at most the "bidding" will be more elegant, and slightly linked to the literary style. There are also many customers who are willing to spend a lot of money to have a good time.

Liu Yue was afraid that Li Sha'er would not agree, so he smiled and said: "Actually, I also intend to go to the show, so I ...... it."

Li Sha'er's face turned red, and she said shyly: "Since this is the case, it is clear to have the help of Gongzi Liu and this benevolent brother." The little girl misses her family very much. ”

He Mao went up to stand, and those guards were about to salute, but He Mao waved his hand to stop him, and with a wave of his hand, the guards stood neatly in front of the door to make way.

"Miss Li, it's already been said, half an hour at most." He Mao walked back and said.

Li Sha'er nodded gratefully, and walked into the prison with a bamboo basket, followed by Liu Yu and He Mao.

This was the first time Liu Yu had walked into the prison, and there was a musty smell mixed with the stench of garbage and decay, and the further he went, the stronger the smell became. There were only dim tung oil lamps hanging on the walls every other corner, barely enough to illuminate a small space, and the intermittent fluorescence stretched down the walls into the dungeon.

In the deepest part of the cell, there were several cages where a dozen prisoners were held, and only a small window above their heads could see a small piece of sky the size of a palm. The floor was covered with hay mats, some unwashed dishes and chopsticks were placed in front of the cage door, and a few rats were gnawing on them. The prisoners were listless, apparently hopeless about their fate.

When he saw Li Sha'er coming accompanied by the cell boss and two men who did not look like jailers, the eyes of several people in one of the cages suddenly lit up.

"Sha'er ......"

A middle-aged man with an unkempt face and a gray prison uniform pounced on the prison door, and the cell head opened the cell door at He Mao's signal, and the father and daughter finally saw each other again.

People are reunited with father and daughter, Liu Yue is here to "observe the environment", to be honest, the environment here is really poor, thinking of "working" in this kind of place in the future, Liu Yue's hair stands on end. In order not to hinder Li Sha'er, Liu Yu and He Mao walked out of the cell. He Mao asked, "Brother Liu, what do you think of here?" ”

"Not so good." Liu Yu said honestly, "The environment here is not good on the one hand, and on the other hand, since Li Sha'er knows that this is a prison, it is impossible for those vassal kings not to know, if someone disappears, they will definitely find someone to pay attention to this place, and maybe they will bribe the guards to spy on the news." ”

He Mao was shocked: "What Brother Liu said is extremely true, it is indeed inappropriate to interrogate the criminal here, but ...... The rest of the cell is mixed with people, and it is even more inappropriate. ”

"It's better to find a house, preferably with a mix of people but has nothing to do with the cell, and it is even less likely to be detected if people of all religions and nine streams are involved. Let's find another reason, let's say prepare a men's military dance for the festival, and then prepare some entertainment, such as knocking away or polo, to disguise the guards, so that no one will doubt it. ”

He Mao couldn't keep up with Liu Yu's rhythm, and said, "Brother Liu's proposal is very good, I don't know where this place should be located?" ”

Liu Yu smiled and said: "The singing and dancing workshop in Jinchangfang, I think it's good." ”