Han Jin Dynasty, the capital of Chaoyang City.

After several days of spring rain, the streets are quiet and peaceful, lively and orderly.

Two young people walked on the side of the street one after the other, one of them always had a straight face, only when the other young man spoke, he would pull the corners of his mouth to give a face-like smile, and the rest of the time, it seemed that the whole person was outside the excitement, untouched by the world. And his companion was always smiling, and his crescent eyes swept past the street stalls and the girls who walked by from time to time.

The man who loves to laugh stopped in front of a stall from time to time, picked up a hairpin shaped like a moire and tried it on the top of the cold-faced man's head, squinted his eyes and looked at it, nodded with satisfaction, and said while stuffing the hairpin into the man's hand, "No, give you a gift for the top student in high school." ”

The cold man with the hairpin in his hand who didn't know whether to sigh or thank was this year's champion of the imperial examination, Gu Changqing, who is now a man of the hour in Chaoyang City.

Although this gift was given by the companion with a sense of righteousness, this hairpin can be seen by any discerning person, this is the outside is coated with a layer of gold dust, and the inside is actually carved from wood, which is already the usual method of street vendors, and it is still the kind of method that disdains the slightest deception, and is specially given to those who have no money but still want to fill the scene!

"Then your gift is really cheaper." Gu Changqing stared at the hairpin for a long time, and then said something that was not salty.

The smiling man hurriedly threw the silver to the vendor and pasted it, "Don't you know, I've lost all my money." After the man cried poorly, he couldn't help but look at Changqing mysteriously, "But I really didn't buy this gift to you because I ran out of money, I just talked to the vendor in detail, do you know what is different about this hairpin?" ”

Changqing walked forward indifferently, as if he didn't care about the questions asked by his companion, until his companion couldn't help but catch up with him and said mysteriously, "Oh, let me tell you, this hairpin is not ordinary wood, but peach wood, which can drive away evil spirit......s."

"Yanmu ......," Gu Changqing said angrily!

"I know you hate this ghost's rhetoric the most, but now that this rumor is spreading so much, who in the entire Chaoyang City doesn't know that there is a cannibal ghost living in this palace? If I let you enter the palace like this, I can't rest assured! Yan Mu's words were filled with some firmness and some grievances, "You also know that in a place like the palace, anything strange can come out......"

Gu Changqing took the hairpin in Yan Mu's hand, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "People's hearts are open, and they are naturally not afraid of ghosts and gods!" What's more, I was just ordered to investigate the case! ”

"Everyone said that the five people who died were eaten by the emperor's painting, and their souls were imprisoned in the painting! Or is it just an investigation? Do you want to investigate the case of the ghosts and gods?! Yan Mu said eagerly, but it is not a joke, in recent days, those strange things that happened in the palace have already become people's leisure after dinner, if you ask anyone who has not heard, I am afraid that children will shake their heads.

Rumors, like fear, have already spread from Miyagi.

"Since ancient times, ghosts and monsters are all just gimmicks of people with ulterior motives, if you believe it, I'm afraid you're a fool!"

"If it's not a ghost, how do you explain the dead man in the painting! If it's a coincidence, but can a coincidence be a coincidence for all five people? If it's a coincidence, the places where you can look like you are dead are all the same as in the painting?! ”

Gu Changqing turned his head, "I think, this should be a coincidence, an intentional coincidence from man, not a ghost!" ”

After Gu Changqing said it casually, he turned around and left, leaving only Yan Mu to sigh at him one by one, only to pity the hearts of friends in the world!

And the source of this matter can be traced back to a few days ago, after the new branch was released.

The triennial imperial examination is the ultimate wish of scholars all over the world, even if it is not for the sake of becoming an official, even if they want to prove their talents, most scholars will participate.

Will test, township test, palace test, layer by layer of exams, the selected people are always not bad, even if some of them are ordinary, their talents are also fascinating.

And Gu Changqing, who is the new champion of this year, is secondary, just with his clean and angular appearance, it has already made the big and small women in Chaoyang City unable to take their eyes off.

With the addition of talent and appearance, he has already been like a celestial in people's hearts, and directly compared Luan Chuan, the sacrificial official who has occupied people's hearts for a long time.

Although there were rumors, Gu Changqing's talent and ability were not a joke, not only was he valued by Lord Yun as a friend, but he was also summoned by the emperor many times to show his favor.

It was the emperor's Qionglin banquet specially set up for the new top three, the place of the banquet was in the Qionglin Garden in the palace, the location was a little remote, but it was elegant and quiet, and there were many princes and ministers who were invited to the banquet that day, talking and laughing with each other, and promising each other, although the two of them were not adaptable, but they could also bear it.

No one remembers who brought up the topic first, in short, at the palace banquet, it was finally occupied by the rumors, and for a while the ministers argued with each other, on the one hand, the sacrificial officials were the first to say that the ghosts were doing something, and it was necessary to ask the gods to exorcise the ghosts to appease the people's hearts to calm the matter, and on the other hand, the criminal department led to say that someone took the opportunity to make trouble, disturbed the law and order of the palace, and was willing to find evidence to find out the real culprit.

The two sides insist on their own words and do not give in to each other, but they each have their own footholds, and unrelated people have to watch it as a lively one.

"Alright, you're arguing like a bee." The emperor slapped the table vigorously, frowned and said unhappily, "I know that you all have good intentions, but when will you be able to make a decision!" ”

Those ministers who were better than monkeys didn't care if it was their own fault or not, they knelt on the ground one after another, asking the emperor for forgiveness.

Seeing this, the emperor was angry again, sighed, and then turned his gaze to the cloud prince who was sitting below, who had not spoken as if his energy was on the food in front of him, and said, "Changyun, tell me, what do you think about this?" ”

Yun Wang Ye put down the chopsticks in his hand, quickly got up and saluted, and said with some hesitation, "Brother Yun is only afraid that he will offend people if he says it, so he doesn't dare to say it!" ”

The emperor waved his hand and said, "I let you speak!" ”

Yun Wang Ye nodded, got up and said, "Since the emperor asked the courtiers to say it, then the courtiers will talk about it, in fact, neither the criminal department nor the sacrificial officials should interfere in this matter!" ”

The faces of the criminal department secretary and the sacrificial officer quickly stiffened, or the criminal department secretary was a step faster, and quickly asked, "How can Lord Yun say this, the criminal department is in charge of the affairs of the world's criminal prisons, why can't they interfere?!" ”

Yun Wang Ye rubbed his hands, glanced at the angry face of Shangshu of the Criminal Department, turned his head to look at the emperor, and continued, "This matter is simple to say, but it is actually very simple, it is just a homicide case in the palace, as long as the murderer is caught. But this matter is complicated and complicated, what is the matter of the palace, it is the family matter of the imperial brother, since it is a family matter, how to let your criminal department and sacrificial officials do it, wouldn't it put the imperial brother and the imperial sister-in-law in the laughing stock of the world. Do you want to do that? ”

As soon as Yun Wangye's voice fell, Shangshu of the Criminal Department and the sacrificial official were already frightened into a cold sweat, they just wanted to solve the problem as soon as possible, but they ignored the emperor's face, so they knelt down again and pleaded guilty.

"Changyun is right, this matter is indeed not suitable for delegating the Ministry of Punishment and the sacrificial officials, and it will make the city stormy. But we can't let this go on like this, it's always bad for people to be uncertain! The emperor looked at Yun Wang Ye and knew the ability of his younger brother, so he continued, "This matter is a matter of the court, and it should have been tried by the palace criminal department, but they are not as good as a year, and they are always sloppy with me. So I think about it, Changyun, only you can take on this heavy responsibility! ”

Who is Lord Yun, that is the emperor's own brother, and he is also a very smart person, he knows that this matter is very important, and if he is not careful, he will offend Tianyan or offend which mother, so he simply shook his head directly, and said with an extremely weak appearance, "Brother Huang also knows, I only like to play in the mountains and rivers at ease, I really can't do such a bloody case?" It's the courtier's brother who doesn't have that blessing, and he can't share the worries of the royal brother! ”

The emperor is accustomed to being subservient to him, although King Yun is his own brother, but he brushes his face in public, and he is still a little angry, so he said coldly, "What, do you think this matter is embarrassing?" ”

The Shangshu of the Criminal Department has always been at odds with Prince Yun, and seeing this at this time, he couldn't help but add fuel to the fire, and said, "Your Majesty, this matter involves the court, if Lord Yun feels embarrassed, it is understandable!" ”

It's okay if the criminal department Shangshu didn't say this, but when he said it, he saw that the emperor's face was two points colder.

Lord Yun didn't care about the emperor's face, his eyes fell on the body of Shangshu of the Criminal Department, and said sarcastically, "Lord Shangshu is really thinking about this king?" ”

"Don't dare, don't dare!"

Yun Wang Ye glanced at the Shangshu of the Criminal Department nonchalantly, and then turned around and explained to the emperor, "Your Majesty, the courtier's brother's refusal of this errand is definitely not that the courtier's brother feels embarrassed, but that the courtier's brother wants to recommend a more suitable person for the emperor's brother?!" ”

"Would you like to nominate someone?" The emperor leaned forward slightly, "Who is it?" Could it be that he can be better than you! ”

Yun Wangye's eyes drifted over everyone, some people were eager to try, some people were clueless but nervous, only Gu Changqing shook the cup in his hand indifferently!

Yun Wangye's voice was loud, and everyone present listened to it sincerely, "If you go back to Brother Huang, that person is this year's new champion, Gu Changqing!" ”

Before the words fell, they once again caused ripples in the crowd.

"Nonsense, how can a newcomer who doesn't even have an official position do it?" Shangshu of the Criminal Department stood up excitedly again and grabbed Bai Dao!

Luan Chuan, a sacrificial official who was different from this criminal department Shangshu, smiled slightly at this time, "But the minister wants to know that this Gu Changqing has the ability to take on this heavy responsibility!" ”

Gu Changqing didn't say anything, he only listened to Lord Yun look at the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, "Just because Changqing has no official position, it is the most suitable for investigating the case in this palace." The affairs of the palace will inevitably involve the ladies of the palace, and a newcomer who no one knows will come to investigate, wouldn't it be fairer! Some people in the province want to frame up, no! Lord Yun ignored the anger on the face of Shangshu of the Criminal Department, and then looked at the sacrificial officer Luan Chuan and said, "However, Changqing's ability to sacrifice the official naturally don't have to worry!" Three years ago, Liang Xin, the prefect of Xuzhou, was killed by a traitor and couldn't even save himself. ”

If you talk about this matter, it was also a sensation three years ago, Liang Xinna, the prefect of Xuzhou, was also an old man who had been through a hundred battles in the case, but that time he was set up and couldn't extricate himself, and later heard that a young man stood up and peeled off the cocoon, and removed his suspicion layer by layer, and finally was returned to his innocence, and the person behind the blade couldn't bear to sigh when he heard Yun Wangye mention this matter.

And the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, who was sitting on the side, looked vigilant at this time, put down the cup in his hand, and said a little indifferently, "Lord Yun, don't you want to say that the young man back then was our champion?" ”

"Lord Shangshu really has the ability to foresee!" Yun Wang Ye smiled, then turned to the emperor, and said quite seriously, "Brother Huang, the younger brother of the minister was fortunate to be able to see it with his own eyes, since Gu Changqing three years ago could wash away Liang Xin's grievances, then today he can definitely take on this important task and find out the affairs of the palace clearly!" ”

Shangshu of the Criminal Department snorted coldly, "A fledgling boy, what happened back then may have been just crooked, but now that such a big case is handed over to him, I am the first to disagree!" ”

Everyone's eyes fell on Gu Changqing's body, and the entire banquet hall was also filled with the sound of whispered discussions, and the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, who had been swept away by King Yun, was even more angry, and his eyes stabbed towards Gu Changqing like a sharp sword!

"Lord Shangshu is so decent!" Yun Wang Ye smiled.

"How's the demeanor?" Lord Shang Shu said conclusively, "This case where human life is at stake, where do you need grace to maintain!" What a joke! ”

Yun Wang Ye didn't care, glanced at Gu Changqing, and then returned to his seat and looked at the two handfuls of beards of the Criminal Department Shangshu and was stunned!

The scene was already like this, Gu Changqing also got up and saluted the emperor and then said, "Your Majesty, it was the prince who loved him, and what happened back then was just my luck." The court case has also heard about it, if the emperor trusts me, I am willing to do my best to find out the truth, and I will be clear! ”

After saying to the emperor, Gu Changqing turned his head to look at Shangshu of the Criminal Department again, and said, "What Lord Shangshu said just now is good, what happened back then was indeed my crooked attack. But to investigate a case, sometimes it takes a little bit of luck, isn't it the same with Lord Shangshu? Sometimes, no matter how clear the organization is, no matter how clever the mind is, it can't compare to the luck of the willow and the flower when you are cornered! Isn't it? ”

Gu Changqing's words seemed unclear, but the criminal department Shangshu who was in it was the most clear, it was a case that happened about a month ago, the deceased was one of the people who entered Beijing to participate in the palace examination at that time, it happened suddenly, all the people who participated in the palace examination were suspicious, but the criminal department investigated for many days and did not find tangible evidence to prove who had the problem, until one day, a child stopped him on the street, and kept saying who the murderer might be, why he did it, what clues and so on.

At first, he didn't believe the child's words, but he really couldn't help it, he had to follow that train of thought to investigate, and the murderer was really found, the murderer was also one of the palace examination personnel at that time, and he had mental problems after being suppressed by the imperial examination for many years, so he started to kill, and after being arrested, he did not resist, and directly confessed!

It's just that only the kid, himself and the entourage who followed at the time knew about this matter, but just now Gu Changqing's words, he clearly knew.

But why would he know such a thing?

Could it be that the little child was instructed by him?

Shangshu of the Criminal Department sat back in his seat in a daze, speechless for a while, just eating the ginger slices he had just picked out in the bowl over and over again!

Gu Changqing glanced at it indifferently, unmoved, turned his head to look at the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the investigation of the case is based on the ability to peel off the cocoon, and it has nothing to do with the official position. ”

The emperor flicked the wrench in his hand back and forth, and did not say anything directly, but asked rhetorically, "Then I ask you, what do you think about this case?" ”

"I think that the murder was not the murderer's intention?!"

Gu Changqing's words were like a stone stirring up a thousand waves, five people died in the palace court one after another, and one was the emperor's beauty, but he said that the murderer's original intention was not to kill, which couldn't help but make everyone present a little surprised!

"You said the killer didn't mean to kill, but these five people are dead? How not to kill? The priest, who had been silent, smiled meaningfully.

Gu Changqing also replied with a polite smile, "I heard that the five people who died in the palace court died of different reasons, and there were abnormalities around the corpse at that time, let me ask, if this murderer really killed for the sake of killing, why didn't he choose an extremely simple method?" For example, wouldn't it be easier to poison a well! Therefore, the minister's idea is that the murderer must not just kill for the sake of killing, but what does he want to gain by killing? This thing he wants is the motive and the clue to solve all the mysteries! Gu Changqing continued.

"Changqing is right, there is obviously an easier way, but the murderer has to choose such a complicated behavior to kill, which is a suspicious thing in itself!" Yun Wang Ye said.

"Then how do you explain the cannibalism of the palace night banquet!" The priest's quiet way.

"The painting will eat people, and the sacrificial officer can see it?" Gu Changqing squinted and asked rhetorically.

If it is said that the most curious person in the world must be the sacrificial official around the emperor, the sacrificial official is in charge of the world's sacrificial affairs, he can go up to the gods, and look down at everything, but it is just a ghost thing, whether he can see it or not, is also one of the curiosity of people.

"This official hasn't even seen a painting, how can I see him eating people?" The priest was dissatisfied.

"Since even the priest has never seen it, how can others see it, so in the end, it is nothing more than a rumor!" Gu Changqing said calmly.

"Good...... It's a good ......" The sacrificial officer clapped his hands on each other, looked at Yun Wang Ye and sneered, "Lord Wang, you are really a good helper who can speak well!" ”

"The priest praises it!" Lord Yun said casually.

"Okay, I can't say a word and start arguing again!" With a helpless face, the emperor looked at Gu Changqing and said, "Then you have found out what the murderer's motive is for killing?" ”

"What the motive is, it still needs to be inferred from the murderer's methods and signs of murder, the minister has not seen the scene at the time, nor has he seen the details of the case file, so please forgive the emperor for the crime that the minister does not know!" Gu Changqing knelt down and pleaded guilty.

"I'm afraid you won't be able to see this corpse, but you can go directly to the palace punishment department to ask for the file." The emperor seemed to be tired on his face, "Now that the spring drought in the south is serious, the people are already panicked and the people's hearts are scattered, and there is such a thing in this palace, don't investigate!" Now that Gu Qing already has an idea, then I will leave this case to you! ”

"But this palace has the rules of the palace, I can allow you to go in and out to find evidence, just don't distract me!" After the emperor finished speaking, without waiting for the people below to have any rebuttal opinions, he got up and waved his hand and said, "Okay, this matter is settled, you all go back, I am also tired!" ”