Just when Zhan Xiaoxiao took everyone to dissect the corpse, Qin Tai turned around and sorted out the information of the palace maid. It was not long before it became clear that the information here was incomplete, as it appeared to be detailed. Because these palace maids have been in the palace for so many years, they must have served some big people. In order to prevent the secrets of the big shots from being leaked, the key contents were concealed. This could be the reason why the palace maid was really killed, but Qin Tai had no way of knowing. Qin Tai could only rely on his own reasoning, and there were some circumstantial evidence.

When Jiajing Emperor Zhu Houxi was emperor, he went to two extremes. When I was young, the palace was not only chaotic, but also greatly overstaffed. In particular, the number of palace maids exceeded the prescribed number by several times. But in the middle and late years, because of the Jiajing Emperor Zhu Houxi's cultivation, there were almost no palace maids around, and the number of palace maids in the palace fell to the lowest point. Because of this, the clause that the palace maid left the palace at the age of twenty-five was not strictly enforced at that time. After Emperor Longqing became emperor, he did not immediately rectify the harem. It was not until the third year after Emperor Longqing's accession to the throne, that is, from last year, that the number of people and details began to be counted. After the inventory, it was found that there were many situations, first, the number of palace maids was greatly insufficient. Second, the average age of palace maids has almost reached the standard of leaving the palace. Third, many palace maids are idle and either chat or are lazy all day long. It's some heavy work, and I can't be busy. Therefore, Meng Chong asked Emperor Longqing to ask for a group of palace maids to be released from the palace.

Feng Bao gave Qin Tai a document stating that within three years of Longqing, there were about 3,400 palace maids. Among them, there are more than 170 little palace maids under the age of fifteen, most of whom were brought by the palace maiden herself. There are more than 1,700 palace maids under the age of 20, and these people are the main force of the inner palace now, active in various palaces. There are more than 1,500 palace maids over the age of 25, and not only the palace maids who have the authority to manage the palace, but also those who eat and wait to leave the palace. If all the palace maids over the age of twenty-five were sent away, not only would there be a huge shortage of manpower, but it would also cause chaos. Therefore, Meng Chong asked to release 400 palace maids in the first year, and after the new little palace maids were added, after releasing 400 old palace maids, the second year was divided into three batches to send away other old palace maids who were overage. Half of the first batch of four hundred old palace maids have been released, that is to say, two hundred palace maids.

Qin Tai checked the roster in detail and found that among the two hundred palace maids, several were not very old, not even twenty-five years old. And there are a few people who don't have relatives at home, which shouldn't be the most suitable, it seems that these people have a problem. It is very likely that when going through the formalities, he received certain benefits, and then he was sent out of the palace first.

Zhan Xiaoxiao also told her husband Qin Tai a secret, just now when Zhan Xiaoxiao went outside to wash his hands and clean up, he heard two little eunuchs talking in a whisper. It seems to say that an unambitious old eunuch has almost never had a good life in his life, but these days he is trembling. It is said that he took over the registration work for the old palace maid, and only then did he have a large windfall income.

Qin Tai sent someone to find Feng Bao, and Feng Bao immediately rushed over. Qin Tai made several requests to Feng Bao, first, Qin Tai wanted all complete files, including those secret files that had been concealed. Second, Qin Tai needed to enter the palace at any time to verify some things. The cooperation of all eunuchs and palace maids is required. Third, Qin Tai needed to investigate all the people who had come into contact with the affairs of the palace maids. You need their details and talk to them directly. Fourth, Qin Tai asked Feng Bao to give him the power of interrogation and questioning, and those who dared to make trouble or obstruct it should be punished accordingly. These conditions sound harsh, but they are necessary. It is also the basic process and means that Qin Tai needs when investigating the case.

Feng Bao asked Qin Tai to investigate the case, firstly, to drag Qin Tai and his wife, and secondly, to hope that Qin Tai and his wife could really solve the case. Emperor Longqing had already informed Feng Bao in advance and asked Feng Bao to help Qin Tai with all his might. So Feng Bao just hesitated, and immediately agreed after a while. Feng Bao summoned a few "palms" from the Shen Penal Division and the Master of Ceremonies, asking them to unconditionally obey Qin Tai and Zhanxiao's command. The so-called "palm press" is the official position of the inner court, they are like the officials of the criminal department of the imperial court, and they have the right to interrogate and dispose of the eunuchs and palace maids in the inner court. Low-level eunuchs and palace maids are interrogated and dealt with by the Prudential Criminal Division, and eunuchs and palace maids with status are responsible for the person who is the celebrant of ceremonies.

After Qin Tai had these subordinates, it would be much easier to do things. First of all, let Zhan Xiaoxiao take a subordinate of the Punishment Division to find the two little eunuchs who were talking quietly. While asking them to repeat what they had said, he called the old eunuch for questioning. Unexpectedly, the little eunuch didn't say a word in the face of Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao, two outsiders, knowing that the Shen Criminal Division was pressing, so he said some gossip that even they didn't know the truth or falsehood. At this time, the person who sent the old eunuch came back, saying that as soon as the old eunuch heard that Qin Tai was going to call him back, he was immediately frightened and died of a heart attack.

Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao looked at each other, and the old trick was staged again. Whatever they found or was to be interrogated, they were either missing or dead, or their testimony had changed. It seems that the problem here is very big, to the point of not hesitating to kill people.

Qin Tai called Feng Bao again, and Feng Bao was a little unhappy this time. Qin Tai wanted to report to the people of the Criminal Division one by one, and then said to Feng Bao: "Since someone doesn't let me investigate, and I'm not a serious official, I don't care about this case." I still have important things to deal with when I go back, so please ask Gonggong Feng to send our husband and wife out of the palace. ”

Feng Bao's face immediately changed, if Qin Tai went back, it would definitely ruin Emperor Longqing and Zhang Juzheng's plan. As soon as Emperor Longqing was angry, it was possible to kill Feng Bao. Besides, this case was supervised by Feng Bao under the dual orders of Emperor Longqing and Concubine Li, and if he dared to work hard with Qin Tai secretly, he was working against Feng Bao. Feng Bao is not a person who is afraid of things, and there are Emperor Longqing and Concubine Li Guifei behind him to call the shots, so Feng Bao decided to let go.

Feng Bao took out the gold medal given to him by Emperor Longqing and said meaningfully: "Lord Qin." The miscellaneous family has pressed everything down. This is the gold medal given by the Long Live Lord to the miscellaneous family. What is the use of this thing, you should be well aware. However, this gold medal is given to the miscellaneous family by Long Live Lord, and it can't be too ostentatious. Now it's up to you, and within these three days, as long as you are in the capital, anyone who dares to stand up to you can dispose of them with gold medals. Up to the eunuch Meng Chong Meng's father-in-law, including the miscellaneous family, down to any eunuch palace maid, seeing the gold medal is like seeing the long live lord. It's all up to you. ”

Feng Bao was also very single, and after leaving the gold medal, he turned around and left. With the gold medal in hand, Qin Tai has more actual power than Feng Bao, and he doesn't need Feng Bao to serve at any time. Feng Bao needed to go back immediately to report to Emperor Longqing and Concubine Li, and he must not let Qin Tai see the flaws or give up. It seems that this matter is really not simple, and there may be a real big problem. However, this person who opposed Qin Tai would definitely not be Emperor Longqing, Li Guifei, Meng Chong, or Feng Bao himself. Because everyone knows the severity of the matter, using the case to drag Qin Tai is the ultimate goal, and there will never be anyone who is stupid enough not to let Qin Tai investigate. As long as it wasn't for these people, Feng Bao didn't have to worry.

With the gold medal in hand, the eunuchs on the side looked at Qin Tai differently. They are like dogs who see their masters, not only obedient but also flattering. Qin Tai directly ordered that all the eunuchs who handled the old palace maid's departure from the palace were called, and Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao had to question them one by one. Those who dare not come, and those who are in the way, will be arrested and questioned together.

After only a while, after the chickens and dogs jumped for a while, the thirteen eunuchs came to Qin Tai. A steward of the Prudential Punishment Division who led the team told Qin Tai that there were a total of fifteen eunuchs who handled the departure of the old palace maids. One of the eunuchs had just died and could not come here, but the body had already arrived. There is also a eunuch who is Feng Bao Feng Gonggong, Feng Bao said that he would find time to come over and explain in person. The other thirteen eunuchs, none of them were waiting outside for questioning.

When Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao walked out, the thirteen eunuchs had two completely different expressions. One is a serious look of disdain, and the other is an expression of imminent adversity. Regarding the disdainful expression, Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao expressed their understanding, these eunuchs are used to being powerful inside, and of course they look down on the ordinary people or officials outside. As for the eunuchs with solemn expressions, Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao also knew a little, these people must have recognized Qin Tai and his wife as the people who broke into Xiyuan back then. They knew the abilities and means of Qin Tai and his wife, so they didn't dare to underestimate Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao.

Qin Tai was too lazy to talk, and took out the gold medal to show everyone. Then he said to everyone, "Tell me what you know." Especially after this errand. Remember, I took the emperor to ask you. Those who dare to conceal or lie are guilty of deception. You should know what the consequences will be, and don't blame me for not reminding you. In half an hour, I will see your own confessions. If you can't answer, and if you are not honest, you don't need to see the sun tomorrow. Come, give each of them a set of pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and supervise them to write it down. If someone colludes with each other, they will be beaten to death on the spot. Now start the timer. ”

The eunuch is the eunuch, and he immediately grabbed the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and lay down on the place to write his confession. It is estimated that they will not only write this matter clearly, but also write about the previous events. They are all people who are afraid of death, and they know that as long as they don't die, they always have a chance to turn over, but if they die, even if there is a mountain of gold, it is useless. They all chose to live, preferring to confess everything and spit out all their illegal income. This opened the eyes of the people in the Shen Criminal Division on the side, Qin Tai deserved to be a detective, and his methods were really extraordinary.