The two of them were relatively speechless for a while, and finally Shen Tu sighed softly: "I have something to say today. ”

Wu Qi knelt on the ground, lowered his eyes, and asked lightly, "Brother Huang is ready to punish me, right?" ”

In the tone of my voice, I didn't seem to care where he was going. Shen Tu was still a little embarrassed about his decision, but judging by my attitude, no matter what the outcome is, he will probably accept it safely. So Shen Tu did not hesitate to speak: "I will send you to the frontier, and you must guard the border for at least three years. It's a bitter cold place, and I don't want you to go, but the courtiers have forced me to have no other way. At least this will save you from the death penalty, and the ministers who persecuted me should have nothing to say. But don't worry, when the rumors are over, I will find some reason to transfer you back, and I will not watch you suffer there. You know, I feel sorry for you the most. Although I am very angry that you have disobeyed my will this time, I will never punish you. ”

Shen Tu said a lot of things, and the meaning of the words was obvious, it was not his intention to do this, and I hope I don't blame him. He actually wanted to forgive his sins, and grounding was already the greatest punishment in his eyes. But those people refused to let go, and with his former nature as the king of Hades, no one could influence his decision, and no one was allowed to question him. But since he became this mortal emperor, he has been constrained everywhere, and he can't do whatever he wants, doesn't he say that the emperor's power is supreme? It seems that folk legends cannot be fully trusted. It really irritated him.

This decision is really within the scope of my acceptance, and he is vaguely a little happy, as long as he is not forced to marry anyone, it is good to give him any punishment. He kowtowed and thanked him: "Thank you for the grace of the imperial brother not to kill, the imperial brother's intentions and the younger brother understand." I wonder when my brother will be able to leave? ”

Shen Tu closed his eyes a little sadly, he would not be able to see me for a few years, and this was not what he thought. He said faintly: "Leave immediately in three days, you can take advantage of these few days to arrange the affairs of the palace." In addition, the queen mother is very worried about you, so you should go to see her and say goodbye to her when you are leaving. ”

Wu Qi smiled: "Yes, the younger brother respectfully obeys the teachings of the imperial brother. Is that brother free now? ”

Shen Tu looked at him, and the smile on his face didn't look like he had been assigned at all, and seemed to be happier than what reward had been given to him. Shen Tu was unhappy in his heart, and he said coldly: "You are looking forward to freedom like this, don't you want to go to Bai Yingning?" I tell you, I don't allow it. ”

This is really wronged, and he still wants to investigate the case of missing persons. After all, he was somewhat puzzled by such a bizarreness. As for Yingning, he really wanted to go to her. It's just that he, a mortal, wants to go to the underworld, and it's not a simple matter. Last time, it was also with the help of Red Aya that he was able to reach the underworld smoothly. If he wants to set foot again, he will need the help of Red Aya.

Forget it today, it's in a hurry, it's not good for him to disturb Hong Aya. Second, he was ready to investigate the case. He said directly: "The younger brother was entrusted by the prefect Hu to go to the city to investigate the case of missing people, so I am going to go and take a look." ”

Shen Tu paused slightly, there was a subtle emotion on his face that was fleeting, and he said lightly: "I have also heard about this matter, there seem to be few clues, and it is extremely difficult to investigate, you only have three days, can you find anything?" I advise you not to get involved in this matter, I have already sent a detective to investigate. ”

Wu Qi nodded and said softly: "That's right, my brother wants to take a look." If people don't know what they can't do unless they do, there will always be some clues left. Although three days is a little less, the younger brother feels that it is enough. ”

Shen Tu got up from his chair and walked to his side with his hands behind his back, with a smile in his eyes: "Then I hope that you can find out something, and you may take this opportunity to make meritorious contributions, and I may be able to reduce the time you spent guarding the border by one year." ”

After saying that, Shen Tu left briskly, and I felt that there was something wrong with him, but I couldn't say it. He didn't have as many thoughts, and now that the confinement had been lifted, he could go out openly. This just saves a lot of trouble, and I would have to sneak out over the wall.

He went to the study to call Mo Yan, and the two went out together. He hadn't gone out for a long time, and he still felt a little fresh for a while. The Imperial Guards at the gate have retreated, and the gate has returned to its previous state.

On the way, Mo Yan carefully asked the emperor about the purpose of this trip, and I briefly said it. Mo Yan has the same attitude as Wu Qi, as long as the prince's life is not hindered, it is good everywhere. In the past, they fought in the frontier, and they stayed for at least half a year, and they did not suffer any hardships or crimes. It's only been three years, and the effort has passed in the blink of an eye. is not above the court, there is still some intrigue, and he is living comfortably.

When Hu Wansheng received the news, he waited at the door of the government office, and soon waited for my period. He stepped forward to salute, and I hurriedly stretched out his hand to support his arm, and said, "At the critical moment, Governor Hu doesn't need to be polite." ”

Governor Hu said with a smile: "Thank you Lord Wang, presumably the Lord already understands the case." The lower officials are stupid, they are really beyond their power, otherwise they would not have bothered the prince when they knew that the prince was still in trouble. The lower officials are really ashamed, and they hope that the prince will forgive his sins. ”

I waved my hand and said lightly: "If Governor Hu can think of this king, it should be out of trust in this king, and this king will help you solve the mystery." ”

Hu Wansheng said: "Then Xiaguan took the prince to take a look at a few peasant families where the incident occurred, it is really strange, Xiaguan and General Moyan have investigated many times, but they still have no clue." ”

They made it all the way to the first farmer's family, which was also the first man to go missing. Located on the outskirts of Luoyang, when they arrived, the house was still lit with oil lamps, and there were only peasant women and a little girl of four or five years old.

The three of them entered the room at the same time, and the little girl stared at them curiously with her big round eyes. The peasant woman's name was Qiaoyu, she was dressed in coarse cloth, and her face looked very haggard, after all, her head had been missing for nearly half a month, and she had not been heard from. The government asked her many questions of one kind and one after countless times, but in the end it did not give her a satisfactory answer. It's been so long, and the person still hasn't come back, she hasn't had any hope lately, and she can't do anything as a woman, just as her man is dead.

Qiaoyu was no longer surprised by the people coming from the government, she only glanced up at them, and ignored them, so she continued to be busy with the work in hand.

Hu Wansheng said to Qiaoyu: "This lady, my side is His Royal Highness King Jing, he came in person today and came specially for you." There are some things that I want to ask you, and you have to answer them truthfully. ”

Qiaoyu raised her head and looked at Wu Qi again, dressed luxuriously and with extraordinary instruments, but she looked different from the usual officials. But so what? She snorted and lowered her head again.

Hu Wansheng was a little embarrassed, and looked at me and smiled apologetically. I didn't care, he took a few steps forward, touched the little girl's head, and asked casually, "Was your husband missing at night?" ”

Qiaoyu snorted, and I asked again: "Can the door be locked?" ”

Qiaoyu paused for a moment and sighed slightly, it seemed that this was not the first time such a question had been answered, she said impatiently: "The doors and windows are locked well, and when I wake up in the morning, it is also fine, but the person is gone." As for how he disappeared, I don't know at all. ”

I groaned for a moment, and then asked, "Did you notice anything unusual at night?" ”

Qiaoyu shook her head, and after a while, she hesitated and said, "There seems to be a gust of wind in the middle of the night, cold, gloomy, and a little gloomy. It was just a moment, and I thought it was my own dream, so I didn't pay much attention to it. ”

I took a look at the latch of the door, and it was intact, and there was nothing wrong with the window. There were really no useful clues, so they decided to go to the next house. Before leaving, I saw that the family was surrounded by walls, and the child was wearing a rag with pudding, which was very thin. It was late autumn, the weather was cold, and the little girl's hands were curled up in her short sleeves, and her body couldn't help but tremble. And Qiaoyu has been sewing clothes under the dim oil lamp since they entered the door, as if she was mending up for the family. I felt that they were hard, so I asked Mo Yan to leave some money.

After they left, Qiaoyu held the silver ingots in her hands, and tears flowed from her eyes. No matter how sad she was these days, she never shed a single tear. Now that this noble prince has left her so much money, she suddenly feels warm. The emotions that have been holding on for a long time have finally collapsed. She hugged her well-behaved and sensible daughter and murmured, "Mother, I'll cut a new set of clothes for you tomorrow, and you will never be cold again." ”

Hu Wansheng was touched for a while, and his tone was a little low: "It's really pitiful, orphans and widows, if something happens to their husbands, I'm afraid their future life will be extremely difficult." ”

I frowned, not only did he pity the mother and daughter, but he was also distressed by the strangeness of the case. Although he looked at it on the spot, he found nothing.

Hu Zhifu hesitated for a moment, and suddenly said: "Looking at that little girl, Xia Guan can't help but think of his daughter......" Hu Zhifu stopped slightly, looked at Wu Qi's face, and saw that Wu Qi did not have any bad reaction, and seemed to be listening to him carefully. Only then did he continue: "Lord Wang, the lower officials have the courage to ask for something. ”

Wu Qi smiled: "This king understands what you mean, do you want to take Qingchun home?" ”

Hu Zhifu fell to his knees with a thud, and said with tears in his eyes: "The little girl's sin is unforgivable, the prince was willing to let her go, which is already extraordinarily gracious, and the lower officials should not have begged the prince." It's just that Xia Guan heard that the little girl was crazy in Qingchan Temple, and no one took care of her crazy every day, so Xia Guan really couldn't bear it. Xia Guan only has this daughter, he can't ignore her, and I hope that the prince can fulfill it. ”

I helped Hu Zhifu up, sighed and said: "Pity the hearts of parents in the world, this king didn't expect Qingchun to become what it is now." I knew that today, this king should not have sent her to Qingchan Temple. She has become like this, and this king has to bear some responsibility. You will bring her back in a few days, and the king will arrange for the imperial doctor in the palace to take a look at her illness. Don't worry, she'll be fine. ”

Governor Hu was grateful to Dai De for being able to take Qingchun home, and finally settled a matter on his mind.

They continued to visit several families, and the situation was very similar to Qiaoyu's family, all of which disappeared out of thin air with the doors and windows locked. The common denominator is that the missing ones are all the pillars of the family, and several of them have mentioned the inexplicable strange wind.

It is unbelievable that a gust of wind blows in the dark night, and people disappear for no apparent reason. There is not a trace in the room, which is really difficult to verify.

Rumors had begun to circulate in the city that they had encountered man-eating demons and monsters, and in order to avoid causing panic, the government ordered that it was forbidden to talk about it in the city. If I wouldn't have believed this in the past, but he knew that Yingning and the world she was in, and he inexplicably felt that this matter didn't seem man-made, so could it be associated with the Netherworld?

He suddenly smiled, Mo Yan and Hu Zhifu both looked at him with puzzled expressions, and Hu Zhifu opened his mouth and asked, "What are the eyebrows of the prince?" ”

I exhaled a long breath and said softly: "Governor Hu, you go back first." The king did have something in mind, but it still needs to be verified. When things turn around, this king will tell you again. ”

Hu Zhifu has no him, since the prince said so, he has no choice but to go back first.

I hope to order Mo Yan to go to Shilipu and invite Hong Aya to the palace, he has something important to discuss with her. Mo Yan was full of questions: "What does this matter have to do with Miss Hongyan, how could the prince want to discuss with her?" ”

I smiled: "You just have to go, you will naturally understand in the future." ”

Mo Yan went immediately, and soon after, he returned to the palace, but Hong Aya did not follow. Mo Yan took out a white hosta from his arms and said, "The red silk girl said that this hairpin can take the prince to where he wants to go." It's just that the last general doesn't know, where does the prince want to go? ”

I took the hosta, held it in the palm of my hand, and said mysteriously: "It's a good place, this king is going to go there, maybe he can solve the missing case in the city." ”

I originally wanted to go alone, but Mo Yan was not at ease, so I had to follow. Anyway, Mo Yan doesn't have to worry about it if he knows.

The hosta was really useful, the whole body was glowing with clear light, and the front end of the hairpin was like a compass, guiding him in the direction he wanted to go.