Although there may be spies lurking in the shadows among the guards and maids present, this will never be revealed.

Just as Tai Hao was thinking about how to deal with this matter, suddenly, several officials rushed into the backyard, and Tai Hao asked them, "Dare to ask what is the important matter for you to come here?" ”

The leading official said: "I received a report from the official that there had been a murder here, and a tenant had been killed, and I came to investigate it on the order of the city lord. ”

Taihao didn't want to make trouble with the government, but when he saw a junior from the inn following behind them, he knew that it was the junior second here who went to report to the official. Tai Hao arched his hand and said: "The deceased is a few guards in our team, we will deal with it ourselves, and we won't bother the government to investigate." ”

"Guards?" The officer said, "Where did you come from and where are you going?" ”

Before Taihao could speak, Mr. Yan Fang, who was standing aside, said, "This official, we are from Thousand Winds City and are going to Jinlan City. ”

The official said, "Are you from the palace?" ”

Mr. Yan Fang bowed slightly, although he did not speak, his eyes and expressions had already conveyed a lot of information.

The official continued, "No matter where you came from, since it was a murder that happened in the territory of Qichuan City, you should come with me. ”

After saying that, they were going to take Taihao, Yanfang, Xuanbao, and all the guards and maids away. Taihao hurriedly stopped and said, "I'll just go with you, this matter has nothing to do with them for the time being." ”

The official said: "Please forgive me, there is a murder here, no one can escape, and when the truth is ascertained, the innocent will naturally be released." ”

Tai Hao looked at Prince Xuanbao and said, "This is ......"

Mr. Enkata hurriedly stopped him, and the afterglow of the moonlight jumped on the tip of the knife, as if telling countless unfinished stories. His voice was low and firm, and he said, "Lord Taihao! Since this official is acting impartially, we will go with him. ”

Taihao lowered his eyes, and the doubts in his heart were like the water surface blown by the night breeze, rippling slightly. It's not that he doesn't trust Yan Fang, but he understands that in this huge city, there are countless complex rules and secret orders that he, an outsider, can easily understand. He could only listen to Mr. Yanfang's advice, and in the darkness of the faint light, he followed the silent servants and embarked on the road to the yamen.

At the beginning of dawn, under the bright sky, a team of officials carrying lanterns led Xiao Er and Tai Hao of Qidong Inn to the yamen of Qichuan City. At this time, on the stone steps in front of the yamen, an official in a red robe and a black gauze hat was already sitting there, waiting for the court. He is the lord of Qichuan Castle.

The first to enter the lobby was the little second of the Qidong Inn, who, as the person who reported the case, wanted to tell the city lord about the cause and effect of the case. Immediately afterwards, Taihao was also taken to the court, he did not choose to kneel, but just stood indifferently, as if all this had nothing to do with him.

According to the rules, the city lord should have been angry at Taihao's rude behavior, but at this moment, he was not angry. He glanced at Tai Hao lightly, and then asked, "The tenant of the Qidong Inn, you killed it?" ”

After hearing this, Taihao didn't answer immediately, he just frowned slightly, staring at the city lord deeply, as if he was trying to figure out his intentions. The entire lobby became unusually quiet at this moment, and the eyes of all those present were focused on Tai Hao, waiting for his answer.

Tai Hao said: "Lord of the city, I was ordered by the emperor to go to Jinlan City to do business, passing by your land, I wanted to stay for a while, and set off again tomorrow, but unexpectedly, there were spies among the guards we brought, and after being discovered, they took their own lives." ”

The lord of the castle looked at them suspiciously, as if groping in the darkness for their origin and purpose. His voice carried a complicated kind of respect and inquiry, and he asked slowly, "You were sent by the emperor?" That official level must be higher than this official. ”

Tai Hao said: "If this matter is not reported to the second shopkeeper, we will handle this matter ourselves, and we will never trouble the city lord." ”

The city lord asked, "Dare to ask Shangguan, what is the official position?" ”

Tai Hao arched his hand and said: "You don't have to report for the official position, you just call me Tai Hao, I don't know if the city lord can take a step to speak." ”

The city lord pondered for a moment and said, "Okay, then come with this official!" ”

After Tai Hao followed the city lord to the screen, he whispered to the city lord: "Lord of the city, there is a Beidou Venerable in our team, and please send them to the inn to rest as soon as possible, just leave it to tell the ins and outs of the matter." ”

As soon as the city lord heard this, he immediately understood, and hurriedly said: "This official understands, please rest assured that Lord Taihao will deal with this matter as soon as possible and put your safety first." It's just about this Beidou Venerable, please elaborate on Lord Taihao. The city lord said solemnly.

Tai Hao said: "It's inconvenient to say more in the next place, in case your identity is leaked." ”

The city lord said: "Okay, this official immediately ordered the official to send them back to the inn first." ”

Tai Hao thought about it, among those guards and maids, it is unknown whether there are still spies hidden, and if they are allowed to leave like this, it seems that it is not safe, because he still has to stay in the yamen. So he said to the city lord, "Lord of the city, don't let them go back for the time being, lest anything happen to them." Can you find a place in this yamen for the Beidou Venerable to rest? ”

The city lord said: "Of course, there are a few rooms in the side hall. ”

Taihao said: "As long as there are two empty rooms, you can do it." ”

The city lord immediately ordered a servant to go to the side hall to clean up the two empty rooms, and Taihao invited Mr. Yanfang and Prince Xuanbao to those two rooms to rest.

When the city lord saw Mr. Enkata, he recognized him at a glance. He hurriedly arched his hand and asked, "Dare to ask if you are Mr. Yanfang, right?" ”

Mr. Yanfang asked rhetorically, "Do you know the old man?" ”

The city lord said: "In Xia Qiu Gui, on the birthday of the Queen Mother last year, I saw Mr. Yan Fang at the banquet. Mr. Yanfang, since you have arrived in Qichuan City, why didn't you say hello earlier, and why did you still live outside the city? ”

Tai Hao, who was standing on the side, said: "I rushed for a day yesterday, and I didn't rest well at night, so let Mr. Yanfang rest first, and I'll tell the city lord about the rest." ”

Immediately, Tai Hao watched Mr. Yan Fang and Prince Xuanbao enter the two rooms to rest. He asked the city lord again, "My lord, is it safe here?" ”

Qiu Gui said: "Of course it's safe, who dares to do anything wrong in the yamen." ”

Tai Hao bowed his head, Qiu Gui immediately stepped forward, and asked suspiciously: "Lord Taihao, is that young man the Beidou Venerable you said?" Last year, on the birthday of the Queen Mother, he also gave a gift to Lord Taihao, and I was fortunate to see his demeanor. ”

Tai Hao said softly: "Adults must not be quiet! ”

Qiu Gui said: "Understand ...... understood"

Back in the court, Qiu Gui announced that the case was clear, and asked the inn's junior to go back. At Taihao's request, Qiu Gui sent more than a dozen officials to the inn to bring their chariots, horses, and bags to the yamen.

Tai Hao paced to Qiu Gui, and his deep voice was like an ancient bronze mirror fished out of the abyss, glowing with a hoarse metallic luster. "Your Excellency," he said, "it is the guards who want to assassinate His Royal Highness the Prince, and I suspect that there will still be spies among the remaining guards and maids, can I ask your Excellency to help find out the spies among them?" ”

Qiu Gui said confidently: "This matter seems complicated, but it is actually simple. Lord Taihao gave the official three days, and the official was confident that he would find out the truth in just three days. ”

After hearing this, Tai Hao showed a trace of doubt on his face, and asked lightly: "We have to hurry up, the three-day period is too long, at most we can only give adults one day, I wonder if we can complete it in this short time?" ”

Qiu Gui lowered his head and meditated silently, pondered for a moment, and then responded: "Yes, it's up to Lord Taihao." Early tomorrow morning, the official will give you a clear answer. ”

With Qiu Gui's order, Tai Hao's guards and maids from Thousand Winds City were taken into a cell one by one and interrogated by Lord Qiu Gui personally. These guards and maids who had been serving by Taihao's side couldn't help but show panic on their faces at this time. They didn't know why Taihao, who was usually kind and fair, suddenly became so serious and cold. However, Qiu Gui has his own calculations in his heart.

Lord Qiu Gui put his hands behind his back, and his eyes roamed between each cell like sharp blades. A sneer tugged at the corners of his mouth, and his mind had already begun to preset the confessions of these guards and maids. He knew that with his previous experience, the assassination of the crown prince would not be just those six, there would be spies hiding between them, and he had the time and means to make them speak.

The interrogation began. Qiu Gui walked through the bars of the cell with steady steps, his gaze like a cunning fox, as if he had seen through the fear and hesitation in the hearts of every guard and maid. He started with the guards, although they were all powerful, but they were powerless in the face of Qiu Gui's questioning. Their lips trembled, their eyes flickering.

And then there were the maids. Although they are usually known for their docility, they are also unable to control themselves in the face of Qiu Gui's pressure. Their hands clung to the iron bar, tears rolling in their eyes, as if as soon as they opened their mouths, they would reveal some great secret.

At the same time, Tai Hao stepped into the carved red sandalwood door, and stepped into the side hall of the yamen, the wing room where Prince Xuanbao temporarily lived. He took a few steps forward, bowed his head, bowed deeply, and said, "Weichen Taihao, see His Royal Highness the Prince." The voice was deep and steady, just like his heart.

Xuan Bao sat on a carved chair, holding a celadon teacup, and the faint fragrance of tea lingered in the room. He raised his eyes to look at Tai Hao, his eyes flashing with anticipation and doubt. He spoke: "Lord Taihao, quickly excuse me. How's the case going? The voice was calm, but it couldn't hide the concern and doubt in his heart.

Tai Hao straightened up, smiled, and said, "It's all handed over to the city lord here to check, His Royal Highness the Prince, please rest assured." Tomorrow the truth will be revealed. His voice is like the sunshine of spring, giving people warmth and confidence, and at the same time, it also shows his thoughtfulness and careful planning of the case.

After hearing this, Xuanbao sighed lightly and said suspiciously: "I really don't know, who wants to kill me." The words were full of confusion and helplessness, which showed his worry. Taihao stared at Xuanbao, but the doubts in his heart became thicker and thicker. This sudden case has tightly entangled their fates. And how will he unravel this layer of fog and find the truth hidden behind it?