Zuo Xiang, that is, Shangshu Zuo Servant, is the highest official in charge of civil affairs and finance in the Holy Tang Dynasty, in addition to Shangshu Ling or Daxingtai Shangshu Ling, and is the same as the prime minister.

And the current Shangshu Zuo Servant is Wei Zixuan.

Li Xi couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart when he heard Wen Zan say the word "Zuo Xiang", and at the same time thought of her husband Murong Xue's previous situation in the court.

After Wei Zixuan defected to Luoyi from Yizhou, he won Li Bing's favor, and in three years, he was promoted to five levels in a row, from a small Taifu Shaoqing, to a left-hand minister who became a very popular minister.

During this period, he and a group of henchmen did not find trouble with Murong Xue, and the contradictions between the two sides were already known to the government and the opposition.

Li Xi pondered for a moment and asked, "As a mere six-rank army, you are 108,000 miles away from Xiangguo's honorable position, how do you get acquainted?" ”

"I met Lord Wei through Gong Chengze," Wen Zan explained, "When I was in Luoyi, the last general served in the Qing Suppression Battalion, and occasionally followed General Gong to drink and have fun with Wei Xiang, and I became acquainted with each other after coming and going. ”

Li Xi nodded: "So, did Wei Zixuan personally give you the order to assassinate Xiaoting?" ”

Wen Zan hesitated for a moment and said bitterly, "No." Looking for me is Wei Peng, the butler of the Prime Minister's Mansion. He gave me a hundred taels of silver, and promised me that after the deed was completed, he would help me find a fat shortage in Zhuozhou, so that I could go back to serve my wife. ”

Shi Feng, who was standing behind him, frowned when he heard this, and glanced at Li Xi.

Li Xi understood what Shi Feng meant, there was a Wei Peng in the middle, and it was difficult to identify Wei Zixuan as the mastermind behind the scenes, and there were too many variables in between.

However, for Li Xi, she is not the government to decide the case, there is no need to pay attention to any complete chain of evidence, as long as the general direction is asked, she can continue to investigate.

Li Xi continued to ask, "Did Wei Peng tell you why he wanted to kill someone?" ”

"I also asked him this question," Wen Zan said, "After all, the target of the assassination is the maid of the princess's mansion, and if you don't do it well, it will be a great crime of rebellion." However, Wei Peng didn't explain anything to me, only said that this was a major matter related to the court, and let me know as little as possible. ”

Li Xi felt that Wen Zan was not lying, so he bowed his head slightly and said, "In addition, what else do you know, and explain it all to this palace honestly." If you behave well, you may be able to spare the lives of your family. ”

Wen Zan thought about it carefully, suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly said, "Wei Peng, that guy is wrong!" ”

"What's wrong?" Shi Feng asked.

"I took this unfortunate errand, and I always felt unsteady in my heart, and Wei Peng was extremely strict-mouthed, so I ......" Wen Zan muttered: "So, after he left, I asked my subordinates to quietly follow him, wanting to see what kind of medicine was sold in that guy's gourd." ”

Wen Zan swallowed his saliva and said a little nervously: "After about two or three days of work, my subordinates told me that in addition to going in and out of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Wei Peng often goes to a brothel called Red Sleeve Zhai......"

Li Xi scolded "shameless", and then reprimanded: "It's nothing more than a prodigal son, what's wrong?" ”

Wen Zan glanced at Princess Fenyang cautiously, and whispered: "The princess doesn't know, as Wei Peng, she shouldn't go to that kind of pickled place." ”

Shi Feng reacted and asked, "You mean, Red Sleeves Zhai is a secret prostitution shop?" ”

Wen Zan nodded: "Yes." Although the name of the red sleeve Zhai is elegant, but in fact there is no red sign issued by the official city department and the teaching workshop, it belongs to the wild prostitute who is not of the grade, once it is taken by the Jingzhao Yin Mansion, people will be arrested and the store will be closed immediately. In a sneaky place like this, it is impossible for any girl with a good look, with Wei Peng's identity and financial resources, to disdain to patronize it at all. ”

The last general originally thought that Wei Peng might be so cheap, he didn't need to put good goods, and he liked to find wild prostitutes to steal fish, so he didn't care too much. Now that the princess asked about them, I felt that something was somewhat wrong, and I told them the truth. ”

Shi Feng rolled his eyes, nodded silently at Li Xi, and said that he would definitely investigate this clue in detail when he went back.

Li Xi understands, and at the same time, he also knows that a small character like Wen Zan is at most used by others, and it is impossible to grasp too many secrets. Since he has confessed to Zuo Xiang Wei Zixuan and his housekeeper Wei Peng, he has gained a lot today.

Thinking of this, Li Xi said in a deep voice: "Wen Zan, do you want to live or die?" ”

Wen Zan was stunned when he heard this, and then calmly responded: "Princess, the last general has Xiaoting's blood on his hands, and he has his own responsibility, I just ask you to be kind and let my family go." It's not easy for my mother to raise me......"

"Say no more!" Li Xi raised his hand to stop the other party: "As long as you cooperate obediently, this palace will not only not hurt Ling Tang, but will also give you a greater wealth, understand?" The palace is the dignified princess of Fenyang, and the concubine is the former general and the commander of the Blue Dragon Army. My commitment is far greater than Wei Zixuan's. ”

Wen Zan was surprised and said, "You...... What are you going me to do? ”

Li Xi smiled: "You don't have to do anything." You just act as if what happened today has never happened at all, and you have never mentioned anyone to this palace, you just need to live your life as usual, you know? ”

Wen Zan instantly understood, and nodded again and again: "I understand, I understand, the last general has been on duty in Shangyang Palace today, and he has not done anything except come in to inspect a circle." ”

Li Xi nodded in satisfaction, waved his hand to let Shi Feng loosen his grip on Wen Zan, and then instructed: "In addition, you yourself should also be more careful to prevent being killed by Wei Peng." Compared with Zhuozhou's Zhichong Lieutenant, he found someone to kill you, and the cost was smaller. ”

Wen Zan hurriedly bowed his hand: "The last general understands, thank the princess for her advice." ”

Li Xi didn't say anything more, and asked the little chamberlain outside the door to accompany Wen Zan back the way he came, and then asked Shi Feng who stayed in the house, "How do you feel?" ”

"Judging from the humble position, Wen Zan is not lying." Shi Feng replied: "Among the several targets that our Intelligence Department has always suspected, there is Wei Zixuan. He may be the traitor that Lao Jianhua planted in the court, the Wasp. ”

Li Xi nodded in agreement: "This matter should be reported to your Dadu Hu as soon as possible." In addition, Wei Peng's line should be kept close to and strive for any important gains. ”

Shi Feng smiled: "The lowly position also thinks so. As Wen Zan said, there are seven officials in front of the prime minister. The housekeeper of the Prime Minister's Mansion, regardless of his identity or financial resources, is a guest at the most upscale brothel in the imperial capital, how can he run away to the secret prostitute again and again? That kind of dirty place is a good place for spies to connect. ”

Li Xi bowed slightly: "This palace suspects that the Red Sleeve Zhai itself is the enemy's secret stronghold, you should investigate carefully, don't startle the snake." ”

-

"Lord Tian, I dare to be 100% sure that the captain Shi Feng next to the Seventh Princess is the person from the Intelligence Department of the Zhenjiang Army! When the imperial capital was still in the hands of the Turks, I dealt with him. ”

Tian Mu frowned, and said in a deep voice: "Shi Feng's external identity is that he is the personal soldier of the chief general of the Qinglong Army, that is, Murong Xue's person. You say, does that Li Xi know his details? ”

Zhu Junjie, the new flag leader of the third section of the Reverse Scale Division, sneered: "Most of you know! Li Xi has often taken Shi Feng with him recently, and he is also mysterious. Before contacting, Li Jiangyao had lived in the Horse Mansion for a period of time, and Li Xi had already gotten involved with him and cuckolded Murong Xue. ”

Tian Mu laughed a few times, and then asked, "What unusual behavior has Shi Feng had recently?" ”

Zhu Junjie responded: "They are secretly monitoring a place called Red Sleeve Zhai. ”

"Red-sleeved?" Tian Mu was slightly stunned: "It sounds like a place for fireworks and willow alleys, right?" ”

"Your Excellency is right." Zhu Junjie said with a smile: "That's a secret prostitute, just in Anle Fang in the south of the city." ”

Tian Mu couldn't help but be curious: "The Intelligence Department of the Zhenjiang Army, who has been lurking in various key places in the imperial capital for a long time, closely monitoring every move of the court, they suddenly became interested in that kind of dirty place, why is it?" ”

Zhu Junjie flattered: "Humble guess, the red sleeves must be hiding some ulterior secrets......

"That's not right!" Tian Mu's eyes rolled, and he said with a cruel smile: "Li Jiangyao has two great enemies, one is the imperial court and the other is the rebels. If even the official didn't know what was in that secret prostitution brothel, it was probably not a secret from the imperial court, but Lao Jianhua's subordinates! ”

Zhu Junjie hurriedly agreed: "My lord is wise! I think so, too! ”

"Then what are you doing in a daze?" Tian Mu glared at him: "Hurry up and bring the red sleeves to the official!" It doesn't matter what the hell is in there, just get ahead of the Intelligence Department and grab everyone! Bring it back and slowly review it one by one. ”

Hearing this, Zhu Junjie immediately agreed, turned around and strode out of the signing room, beckoned the spies of the three departments, and roared away.

More than 20 spies wearing soap clothes and black robes on their shoulders, plus 150 Beiya flying horses, came out of the side gate of the imperial city, galloped through the streets, and went straight to Anle Fang in the south of the city.

At present, when I first entered the bid, it was the most lively time of the day in the imperial capital. People call their friends, linger among the wine shops, restaurants, and brothels, and get ready to have a good time. Although the red sleeves of Anle Fang are not secret prostitutes, because they do not have to pay taxes to the government, the price is much cheaper, which attracts many ordinary people and rangers to indulge here.

Who knows, everyone was drinking and playing with the grease-smeared girls, and Zhu Junjie suddenly led someone to kill, and surrounded the entire brothel without saying anything.

"Whether it's an old bustard prostitute or a guest turtle slave here, there are suspicions!" Zhu Junjie shouted angrily: "None of them are missed, all of them will be escorted back to Beiya for questioning!" ”

With his order, the people of the Reverse Scale Division couldn't help but say, and immediately took action to arrest people, and the entire Red Sleeve Zhai suddenly screamed one after another, and there was a big chaos.

In the midst of the chaos, a figure silently got up and felt towards the backyard wall.