Taihao was full of grievances and anger, and dragged his heavy steps back to the deputy general's mansion. He stepped through the door, and even the usually enthusiastic maid did not notice his return. He silently walked into his room, took a deep breath, and took out the letter that Mr. Enkata had written to him.

The letter paper trembled slightly in his hand, and he read softly: "Taihao, since the past, I don't realize that it has been a few months. I regard you as a person of great talent, ability and political integrity, who will be able to work for the well-being of the local people and contribute to the country's social welfare. However, I am a divination for you, and it is difficult for you to deal with things, and there are many places where you need help. Kui Xuan is my right-hand man, loyal and reliable, and full of intelligence. Today, I will be sent to your office to help you in your affairs. I hope you make good use of it, and don't miss the opportunity. I know what you can do, and I know what you need. However, the court was busy with affairs and could not go there in person. I hope that the help of the election can solve your urgent needs. I hope you take care of your body and praise Shiqi. Yan Fang paused! ”

Every word moistened Taihao's heart like spring rain, and he deeply felt Mr. Yanfang's care and support, that deep and sincere friendship.

After reading the letter, Tai Hao couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion, he understood that Kui Xuan was originally specially sent by Mr. Yanfang to assist him. At this moment, the grievances and doubts in his heart seemed to be alleviated a little.

At this moment, there was a light knock on the door, breaking the silence. Tai Hao stepped forward slowly, opened the door, and saw the maid Tang Ming standing respectfully outside the door and reported to him: "There is a man outside the door, who claims to be a judicial candidate for joining the army, and has come to see Deputy General Tai Hao." ”

When Taihao heard this, he was overjoyed. He immediately responded, "Hurry up, please sit in the front hall for a while, and you will prepare a fine tea for me." ”

Tang Ming retreated, Taihao tidied up his clothes, his heart surged with anticipation and gratitude, and strode to the front hall to welcome the arrival of Kui Xuan.

After a while, Kui Xuan walked into the front hall under the guidance of Tang Ming. Taihao hurriedly got up to greet him and personally poured him a cup of hot tea. He said with emotion: "I have already read Mr. Yanfang's letter, Mr. Yanfang is really insightful, and knows that I need help at this moment, so he sent you to help." ”

Kui Xuan smiled slightly, but did not speak, but glanced at Taihao. Taihao comprehended, and then said to Tang Ming on the side: "Tang Ming, there are no other matters here, you can step back first." ”

Tang Ming replied respectfully, "Yes." Then he walked out of the antechamber.

Taihao and Kuixuan sat opposite each other, the tea was fragrant, but the atmosphere was a little dignified. Kui Xuan slowly spoke: "Vice General Taihao, what is the current situation of Jiutu City?" ”

Tai Hao replied solemnly: "Corruption of officials and collusion between officials and businessmen have reached a rampant state. ”

Kui Xuan nodded in agreement: "I heard that there was a murder case here, but I didn't hear that I, a judicial soldier, was called to deal with it, which shows that the rules of Jiutu City are chaotic." ”

Tai Hao said: "I just returned from the scene of the murder, the deceased's name is Bao Xian, and he is the shopkeeper of the East Dian Shop. Yesterday I witnessed him organizing the imperial examination and was killed today, and I speculate that this matter is related to the imperial examination case. ”

Kui Xuan asked: "Is there an investigation into the case of the imperial examination substitute examination?" ”

Tai Hao replied, "I have reported to the Lord of Yuhong City, and I am waiting to start the investigation." When I went to Dongdian today, I found Bao Xian's body. What's even more amazing is that he is holding a ball of paper with my name written on it. That paper ball was the same one I used to draw lots yesterday when I was pretending to be a substitute. Bao Xian clung to the piece of paper before he died, apparently to blame me. After a pause, he continued, "However, the name I wrote is my breast name, and I have only mentioned this matter to the substitute Ugly. Could it be that Ah Chou informed Bao Xian of this? ”

Kui Xuan pondered for a moment and slowly spoke: "It seems that we need to find a breakthrough from Ugly. ”

Tai Hao thought about it and said: "Ah Chou is indeed very suspicious, he not only knows my name, but also has contact with Bao Xian. However, Chou is an extremely intelligent man, and if he really wants to blame me, it seems too clumsy. Moreover, I only admonished him not to take the test for the exam, so as not to make mistakes, and did not pose any threat to him. There was no reason for him to commit a murder because of this. ”

Kui Xuan pondered for a moment and asked: "Maybe Ah Chou is not the mastermind, but is being used." Otherwise, who would know the name of Vice Admiral Taihao? ”

Taihao nodded in agreement: "That's true." Except for Ah Chou, there should be no one in Jiutu City who knows my name. ”

Kui Xuan frowned and asked, "Then how do you find the ugly?" ”

Tai Hao shook his head helplessly: "I don't know where Ah Ugly lives. ”

At this time, the maid Tang Ming walked into the front hall and respectfully reported: "Vice General Taihao, there are a few scholars outside the door who ask to see you, do you want to let them in?" ”

Tai Hao asked suspiciously, "Scholar? What are they looking for me? ”

Tang Ming replied: "They said that they came to sign up for the imperial examination to Vice General Taihao. ”

Taihao suddenly realized: "I see. Let them in! ”

Tang Ming took the order and led the scholars into the deputy general's mansion.

Tai Hao explained to Kui Xuan: "Yesterday I ordered Ah Chou to notify those candidates who are interested in participating in the imperial examination to register with me. It seems that he really conveyed the message to them. ”

Kui Xuan asked curiously, "Why do candidates choose to register with you?" ”

Tai Hao replied helplessly: "The city lord of Jiutu City, Yu Hong, is greedy and charges each candidate an application fee of one hundred taels of silver. This place is a barren place, how can these candidates have so many silver taels? ”

When Kui Xuan heard this, he frowned and said, "I need to pay an application fee of one hundred taels of silver to sign up for the imperial examination?" This is a violation of imperial law. ”

Tai Hao smiled bitterly: "They won't care about this." ”

At this time, Tang Ming led several scholars into the front hall. One of the scholars, who was standing next to Tai Hao in the East Dian Shop yesterday, exclaimed in surprise when he saw Tai Hao: "Twelve? How did you end up here? ”

Tai Hao responded with a smile: "This official's name is Tai Hao, and he is the deputy general of Jiutu City. Yesterday I went to the bookstore pretending to be a scholar. Are you here to sign up? ”

The scholar asked curiously, "The little one's name is Ah Xi, and we are all here to sign up." Are you the Admiral? But the scholars in the whole city knew that it was Bao Xian, who killed the shopkeeper of the East Dian Shop for the twelve. Since you are a lieutenant general, why did you kill Bao Xian's shopkeeper? ”

Tai Hao explained: "I suspect that the gangsters killed Bao Xian's shopkeeper in order to blame me. However, the Yuhong City Lord has already launched an investigation, and it is believed that the truth will soon be revealed. ”

Ah Xi was suspicious and asked: "In this case, dare to ask Vice General Taihao, is what you said to Ah Chou true?" As long as you sign up for the exam, you can get a bounty of five taels of silver? ”

Taihao replied affirmatively: "It's true, and if you sign up with me, you won't take a penny." ”

When several candidates heard this, they discussed: "It turned out to be true, there is such a good thing." ”

Kui Xuan sat upright, with a hint of exploration in his eyes, and said softly: "Everyone, do you know where that ugly house is?" ”

With a hint of honesty on his face, Ah Xi replied: "I know that I know, you also came here to sign up?" I look at you like this, I haven't seen you before. ”

Kui Xuan smiled slightly and said, "I'm a new judicial member of the army, and I have something to ask about Ugly." ”

Ah Xi was stunned for a moment, and then showed an apologetic smile: "It turned out that it was a judicial officer who joined the army, which is really disrespectful." The small home is not far from the ugly's house, and the small one will take you to the ugly's house later. ”

Kui Xuan nodded: "Then there is Brother Lao." ”

Tai Hao instructed Tang Ming to take the four treasures of the study, and asked the scholars to splash ink one by one, write down their names, and indicate whether the literary test was the martial arts test. Then, he said solemnly: "You go back and wait for the exam in a month, remember to inform the other scholars that they will all go to the Deputy General's Mansion to register." ”

After Ah Xi and several candidates saluted together, Kui Xuan also said goodbye to Tai Hao, preparing to go with Ah Xi to find Ah Cho.

When they left, Tai Hao turned to Tang Ming and said in a deep voice, "Keep the paper with your name written on it." Then he turned and walked to his room, a wave of doubt in his heart. He began to ponder: Since Ah Chou has conveyed my orders in place, and has not revealed my name to the gangsters, and even ordered him to kill Bao Xian and blame me, what is the purpose of his series of actions?

At this moment, Qian Zhi walked into the room, she frowned slightly, and asked with concern: "Brother Taihao, you seem to be preoccupied today, what is it that makes you so worried?" ”

Tai Hao sighed lightly: "It's just a trivial trouble, and it doesn't hurt." ”

Coriander said softly: "As long as it's okay, I'm still worried about what big trouble you've encountered." Brother Taihao, there is something I want to discuss with you, I think a few maids in the family are a little weird. ”

Tai Hao raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's weird?" ”

"I was going to take one of them to the street to shop today, but I found that they were missing. After a long time, Tang Ming came back, and she said that she went home last night. But why didn't they tell me when they came home? Did they mention it to you? ”

Taihao shook his head and said, "They didn't tell me either." You're saying all four of them went home? ”

Coriander nodded and said, "Yes, only Tang Ming has come back until now." ”

Taihao also had a trace of doubt in his heart, the food and accommodation of the maid were all in the house, why did they all go home all of a sudden? This is indeed somewhat unusual.

Taihao thought for a moment and said, "Maybe there is something going on at the same time in their family." Still, he was puzzled and decided to find out. He stepped out of the room, came to the front hall, called Tang Ming, and asked in a deep voice, "I heard that you went home last night?" ”

Tang Ming lowered his head and responded: "Yes, there was something important at home last night, so I went back." ”

Taihao asked, "Then did the three of them go back too?" ”

Tang Ming hesitated for a moment and replied, "I don't know much about this. ”

Taihao frowned slightly: "I didn't see them in the mansion today, do you know where they went?" ”

Tang Ming shook her head slightly, and said softly: "Back to Vice General Taihao, the little girl doesn't know. ”

Tai Hao raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked, "Tang Ming, where is your home in Jiutu City?" ”

Tang Ming replied respectfully: "Located in Beicheng, it's not very far from here. ”

Taihao groaned: "Beicheng? Originally, this place belonged to the northern region of Jiutu City. No need to be polite, Tang Ming, you can go and get busy. ”

After Tang Ming retreated, Taihao's mind raced, recalling the scene of drinking tea and talking with Ah Chou in the front hall yesterday. At that time, in addition to himself and Ah Chou, there was also a maid Ling Cui on the side. However, the name of "Twelve" was not mentioned in the conversation between himself and Ah Chou, and even if Ling Cui was present, he should not know that he was "Twelve". What is this Ling Cui's identity? Who planted her beside him? Many questions lingered in Taihao's heart, making him feel more and more that this matter was not trivial.