It wasn't until late afternoon that Zi Li and Mei Shu returned to the Adjutant General's Mansion together. When Tai Hao saw them returning, he didn't blame him, because he was concerned about Ling Cui's safety and looked forward to her return. However, until dusk fell, Ling Cui had not yet appeared. So, Tai Hao summoned Zi Li, Mei Shu and Tang Ming to the front hall and asked in a deep voice, "Have you seen Ling Cui today?" When did she leave the Adjutant General's Mansion? ”

"In the early hours of this morning, I saw her leave shortly after she got up. ”

Taihao chased after him: "Did she mention where she went?" ”

Zili replied, "She didn't tell me, and I didn't ask, I think Y must have gone home." ”

Taihao frowned: "The four of you are going home today, why don't you tell me?" ”

Zi Li explained: "Recently, I saw that you were busy with official business, and often did not return until late at night, so we did not have time to inform you. Mei Shu and Tang Ming nodded in agreement, agreeing with Zi Li's statement.

Taihao's heart was also full of suspicions, Ling Cui was still in the mansion in the early morning, but Bao Xian, the shopkeeper of Dongdian Shop, was poisoned last night. If it was really Ling Cui who leaked the conversation with Ah Chou, then when and how did she get the news out?

At this moment, the judicial army Kui Xuan once again stepped into the adjutant general's mansion, and Taihao introduced him into his room in order to ensure that the conversation was not overheard by the maids. Kui Xuan said with a solemn face: "Vice General Taihao, Ah Chou is no longer at home. His parents said he went out again shortly after returning last night and never returned. ”

Taihao frowned: "Could it be that something happened to him?" ”

Kui Xuan said in a deep voice: "I have asked a few of his close friends and learned that in addition to visiting the mansions of several scholars in his family yesterday, he also went to Dongshi in the evening. ”

Taihao was suspicious: "Did he go to a bookstore?" ”

Kui Xuan shook his head and said, "I just went to the Dongdian Shop in Dongshi, and according to the guy in the shop next door to the Dongdian Shop, the Dongdian Shop was closed yesterday evening. Therefore, Ah Chou went to the East Market in the evening, not for the sake of the bookstore. As for what happened to him, I don't know for the time being. The Dongdian has now been seized by the government, and even I, a judicial soldier, cannot enter it. ”

Tai Hao sighed lightly: "I still have something unclear in my heart. Since Ah Chou has already informed the scholars about the exam, if he really has the intention of framing me, what is his purpose? ”

Kui Xuan shook his head slightly: "I came to Jiutu City this time and brought four of my subordinates, and they are now doing their best to search for the traces of Ah Chou. When you find Ugly, everything will fall into place. ”

Taihao approvingly: "Brother Kui Xuan is really thoughtful! ”

Kui Xuan smiled indifferently: "This is Mr. Yanfang's resourcefulness. ”

Tai Hao said: "At the moment, there is something in the deputy general's mansion that I am puzzled by. Originally, there were four maids in the mansion, and they were all specially arranged by the Yuhong City Lord. At first, I suspected that they were assigned by Yu Hong to spy on me. However, today all four of them have temporarily left the house due to family affairs, and only three have returned so far, and the other has not returned. And yesterday, when I was talking with Ugly in the front hall, the maid who had not yet returned was right next to me. I have to wonder if she has something to do with the bizarre death of Bao Xian's shopkeeper. But as far as I can remember, I didn't reveal my name 'Twelve' in the house yesterday. ”

Kui Xuan analyzed: "If anyone knows that you pretended to be a candidate to go to the bookstore yesterday, then it is not difficult to know your name. Considering that there is a substitute examination organization in the city, these substitute examinees must know each other well. They are unlikely to have a complete stranger take the exam. Since you have paid the money to find someone to take the exam for you, you will naturally find someone who is knowledgeable. Are today's substitutes all familiar with each other? Are you the only strange face in their eyes? ”

Tai Hao said: "They do know each other. ”

Kui Xuan asserted: "In this way, the maid in your house is quite suspicious. He pondered for a moment, then asked, "Where is the maid's room?" Has a search been conducted? ”

Tai Hao replied, "It has not been searched yet." I thought she would come back on her own. ”

Kui Xuan suggested: "Let's go to her room first." ”

Taihao and Kui Xuan were about to go to Ling Cui's room to investigate, when Qian Zhi suddenly broke in and said in a panic: "Brother Taihao, something happened, and a group of officers and soldiers suddenly came to the house. ”

At this time, the sky was getting dark, Taihao and Kui Xuan hurried to the courtyard, only to see that the leader was the lord of Yuhong City. Tai Hao arched his hand and said: "Yuhong City Lord, I don't know what you are doing here?" ”

Yu Hong said coldly: "This official received a report that the deputy general's mansion had a life case, and he came to investigate. ”

"Homicide?" Tai Hao was puzzled, "How could there be a murder in my house?" Who reported the case to you? ”

Yu Hong said: "It's the maid in your house." ”

At this time, Zi Li walked out from the side and said to Yu Hong: "Report to the city lord, I will take you over." ”

Taihao hurriedly asked: "Zi Li, is it the case you reported?" Where did the murder happen in the house? Why didn't you tell me first, but just go to the police? ”

Zi Li did not respond, and Yu Hong ordered: "Go, take this official to the scene of the crime." ”

I saw Zi Li leading the officers and soldiers forward, Tai Hao and Kui Xuan followed, and they came to a maid's room. This room is the residence of Ling Cui and Zi Li, and has two beds. Zi Li pointed to one of the beds and said to Yu Hong, "City Lord, the corpse is under the bed." ”

Yu Hong commanded the two soldiers in a deep voice, and they immediately moved to drag out a female corpse from under the bed. Taihao looked at it, and it was the maid Lingcui. She was disheveled, she died miserably, and her eyes were wide open, as if she had witnessed some terrible scene in the last moments of her life. Her face was pale and frightened, and now she had turned into a cold corpse, silent forever.

Yu Hong said coldly: "Is it coming?" ”

An old man walked out slowly and replied respectfully, "Yes." ”

Yu Hong ordered: "Soldiers, you stay outside the door, and all the idlers and others will rush to the door, and only let the servants investigate the corpses here." ”

Tai Hao said resolutely: "Since the murder happened in the Deputy General's Mansion, Xia Guan is willing to investigate the case together with the Yuhong City Lord." ”

Yu Hong glanced at Tai Hao, and his tone was cold and hard: "Vice General Tai Hao, you are quite suspicious in this deputy general's mansion, please don't interfere with this official's case." ”

Kui Xuan took a step forward: "As a judicial member of the army, I should be involved in this matter. I investigated the case with the city lord, shouldn't it be a disturbance? ”

Yu Hong frowned slightly: "Kui Xuan joined the army, your appearance this time was quite sudden, I haven't told you the details, you have appeared in the deputy general's mansion, it's too much of a coincidence." You are also suspicious, so you don't have to worry about it. ”

Taihao and Kuixuan reluctantly walked out of the room, leaving the door to Yuhong and Yuzuo. Zi Li was summoned to her side by Yu Hong and asked about the discovery of the body.

Tai Hao and Kui Xuan sat opposite each other in the front hall, worried. Tai Hao muttered, "Who would do this to a maid?" ”

Kui Xuan pondered for a moment and analyzed: "Bao Xian's shopkeeper and this maid were suddenly killed, obviously someone acted against you. It seems that you have touched the interests of certain people who are trying to keep you out of the way in this way. ”

Tai Hao's face was solemn: "Could it be that Ah Chou has also encountered an accident?" ”

Kui Xuan nodded: "Very likely." ”

Tai Hao sighed bitterly: "I understand that the investigation of the imperial examination case will touch many stakeholders. I didn't expect them to be so vicious that they would kill Bao Xian and Ling Cui. ”

Kui Xuan's face was solemn: "Vice Admiral Taihao, according to the current situation, you are already in danger. ”

At this time, Qian Zhi hurriedly entered the front hall and asked Tai Hao with a worried face: "Brother Tai Hao, I heard that the officers and soldiers came to the mansion to investigate the case, what happened?" ”

Tai Hao said gloomily: "Ling Cui was killed. ”

Coriander Zhi was stunned: "Ling Cui? Who did it? ”

Tai Hao frowned: "The Yuhong City Lord is investigating. Coriander, have you noticed anything unusual about the four of them? ”

Coriander pondered for a moment: "They have always given me a mysterious feeling. Except for today, when they all went home, they used to go out once a night. I thought they were looking for their sweethearts, so I didn't ask too much. ”

Tai Hao asked, "How long do they go out every night?" ”

Coriander replied, "About the time of a stick of incense." ”

Kui Xuan muttered, "Do they usually tell you when they go out? ”

Coriander shook her head slightly: "Never." Their whereabouts are never revealed to us, and I thought they had reported it to you. ”

Taihao frowned: "As maids, it is indeed unusual for them to move so freely. Brother Kui Xuan, what do you think about this? ”

Kui Xuan's tone was firm: "This matter is full of suspicions, maybe as Vice Admiral Taihao said, they are the meticulous work that the Yuhong City Lord has placed beside you, but Vice Admiral Taihao, please rest assured, I will find out the truth." ”

At this time, four soldiers broke into the front hall in a menacing manner, followed by the Yuhong City Lord. As soon as he entered the house, he did not hesitate to gesticulate, and the four soldiers immediately surrounded Tai Hao and firmly held his hands. Tai Hao asked in astonishment, "Yuhong City Lord, what does this mean?" ”

Yu Hong said coldly: "Vice General Taihao, I'm offended." Two murders in a row, I had to take you into custody temporarily. ”

Tai Hao hurriedly defended: "Yuhong City Lord, are you suspicious of me? I've got a lot of clues. ”

Yu Hong said indifferently: "In Bao Xian's hand, I found a note with your name written on it. And this maid Ling Cui, the cause of death was suffocation, and she was sexually assaulted before her death. In this vice-general's mansion, you are the only man. Vice Adjutant Taihao, stop quibbling, go to the prison and talk slowly! ”

Kui Xuan took a step forward and said in a deep voice: "Yuhong City Lord, the case has not yet been clarified, and it is not in line with the case handling process to arrest Vice General Taihao like this. I think it's better to find out the facts of the case first, and if it is confirmed that it was Vice General Taihao's doing, it will not be too late to arrest him. ”

Yu Hong said coldly: "Kui Xuan joined the army, how can you dictate the handling of this case." Vice Admiral Tai Hao is seriously suspected, and I must take action. Vice Admiral Taihao, please come with me. ”

Taihao knew that their fundamental purpose was to put him in prison, and no matter how much he struggled to resist, it would be in vain. The enemy had already laid a net, and he was now half a foot in the trap.