The case of Ban Huai's assassination spread throughout the capital in just one day. Compared with Zhao Jia, who had no sense of existence, Ban Huai's status as a top dude was extremely precious. Regardless of whether he has real power or not, the news of the assassination at this time is enough to cause panic among many nobles.
There are not many people in the world who are not afraid of death, especially the nobles who live extravagant lives.
Some nobles who had a good relationship with the Ban family came to visit them with gifts. When they saw Ban Huai lying on the bed, they couldn't help but say a few words of encouragement. Most of them were taking good care of their bodies. If you don't die, you will be blessed.
Some people really had nothing to say, so they praised Banhuai for finding a good son-in-law. For his assassination, he ran and worked so hard that he even drew a portrait of the criminal. It was only now that everyone realized that Cheng Amber was not bad at drawing figures, but that he didn't like drawing. But in order to help his future father-in-law find the criminal, he made an exception.
A principled gentleman is admirable, but a junior who puts down his principles for the sake of the elders is equally moving. Originally, many people were laughing at Ban Huai behind his back for the possibility of finding a son-in-law who looked down on the Ban family. How could he know that this son-in-law not only did not disrespect the Ban family at all, but was respectful to Ban Huai in every way, and he had not married a Ban family girl yet. He has already taken the family's affairs as his own to worry about.
Now everyone is envious of Ban Huai again. What kind of shit luck did he have to find a future son-in-law who is good everywhere, and who respects and cares for the wife's parents
No wonder someone wanted to assassinate him, maybe it was because he was so lucky that it made people jealous.
The sage issued two imperial decrees to let Dali Temple investigate the case as soon as possible, and even asked the Ministry of Punishment to assist in the investigation. The entire capital was panicked by this great battle, which also allowed everyone to once again see how much the Ban family was valued by the emperor. .
Because the character in Rong Xia's painting was too close to the criminal himself, even though the criminal's appearance was very ordinary, someone still confessed his identity for fifty taels of silver.
It turned out that this person was a steward of Prince Hui's mansion, but since Prince Hui and his wife were killed in the fire, and Prince Hui's heir and the county master were brought into the palace, many servants of Prince Hui's mansion were dismissed. As for the steward who was confessed, the household registration had already been cancelled, and the reason for the cancellation was that he died in a fire.
A person who was originally killed in the fire, but helped others to kill, and the one who killed was Jing Ting Gong. If there was no conspiracy in this, no one would believe it.
I only have pity on Jiang Yuchen and Jiang Kangning, who were raised in the palace. After this incident, the life in the palace became even more difficult.
There have long been rumors in the capital that in the case of the assassination of the eldest princess, the master behind the scene was King Hui. It's just that King Hui has already died in the sea of fire, and His Majesty has never mentioned this matter, so even if many people have doubts in this regard, they do not dare to speak out with great fanfare.
But now the old department of Prince Hui's mansion wants to assassinate Duke Jingting. What is the reason
There can only be one reason, that is, the old department of King Hui hated the eldest princess for ruining their plan to assassinate the emperor, but the eldest princess was already dead, and the only object they could take revenge on was the eldest princess' son, Jing Tinggong.
Many people began to sympathize with Ban's family. The biggest supporter died because of the rescue, and now the master behind the scenes still hates them. What kind of unfortunate fate is this
A day later, the yamen found the corpse of the old man of King Hui in a dilapidated temple. After an inspection, the steward had been dead for at least ten hours.
This is obviously the exposed minions, and the master behind him jumped over the wall, so the manager was silenced.
Afterwards, Zuzuo found a pearl in the steward's mouth. The pearl was of excellent color, like something a female family would embroider on her clothes or shoes.
This pearl is hidden in the wormhole of his teeth. If he doesn't look carefully, no one will know that there is this thing in his mouth. Could it be that he felt unwilling before he died, so he deliberately left something on the murderer's body
The officials of Dali Temple suddenly had a headache. How could this involve women again
However, with this pearl, they had a clue to investigate the case, so the channels for providing pearls in the whole capital were strictly investigated by Dali Temple, especially the channels for providing pearl supplies to nobles.
There is a saying that the master is always among the people. There is an old craftsman who recognized this pearl as a kind of mussel pearl from the sea. It is very rare. The nobles bought it, and this fine quality was only sold to three families this year.
Jingting Gongfu, Zhongpingbofu and Shixiangfu.
The people from Dali Temple were the first to find Zhongping Bofu, and finally found out that these pearls were all used as the dowry of the second prince and concubine.
As for Jingting Gongfu, Dali Temple went to the victim's house to ask, but the family couldn't even remember whether they bought the pearl or not. In the end, they found this box of pearls from the storage list. , it has not been opened.
The reason is that the queen sent a box of better pearls, and they forgot the defective ones.
Dali Temple officials finally saw the luxury of the Ban family members. If they forget such good things, they don't even hesitate to bring them. It can be seen that they are used to using good things.
"Sir, this Jingting Gongfu is really rich and enviable," an official of Dali Temple walked out of the Ban's gate and followed behind Liu Banshan, sighing, "The potted plants in their house are all inlaid with precious stones. I've never seen anything so gorgeous."
It's a pity that he doesn't have a daughter in his family, otherwise it would be nice to be able to climb the marriage at work.
"I've seen it before." Liu Banshan seemed to have thought of something, he smiled, "The Ban family is also a rich family for hundreds of years, so it's not surprising that there are good things at home."
"But aren't there rumors outside that when the Ban family followed the ancestors to conquer the world, because of bad luck, they didn't get many good things?" the official said, "There are still Mr. Storytellers who talk about the story more than two hundred years ago with relish. The thing, the ancestors of the Ban family fought this way," he compared his thumbs, "but luck is this."
Liu Banshan looked at his colleague's little finger and sighed, "Master Wang, how do you think we should visit the Shi family?"
Mr. Shi, who was talking eloquently just now, suddenly fell silent. Mr. Shi is now in power, and the Crown Princess is still his eldest daughter. How dare these little officials dare to offend this? When they went to the Xie family just now, they were still confident, but facing the Shi family...
"Let's go, since I am waiting to investigate the case by the emperor's order, I want to come here because of Shi Xiangye's loyalty to His Majesty, I will not embarrass us," Liu Banshan adjusted his clothes and said to the people behind him, "If Shi Xiangye can't understand I waited so hard, then we can only report to the emperor."
All Dali Temple staff: Please don't make the complaint so euphemistically.
Shi Chonghai was talking to his eldest son about the assassination of Ban Huai, when he heard the servants say that the Shaoqing of Dali Temple asked to see him.
"Why did Liu Banshan come to our house at this time?" Shi Chonghai frowned, and said to the eldest son, "If you go to the reception, just say that I have fallen asleep."
"Yes." Shi Jin had a bad feeling in his heart, but he didn't say it in front of Shi Chonghai. He exited his father's yard, and when he left the second door, he met Shi Feixian who was returning from outside.
"Feixian, have you been out?"
Because of the rumors outside these days, Shi Feixian has not gone out for a few days.
Shi Feixian smiled reluctantly: "Yesterday, I made an appointment with a few little sisters to meet at the Poetry Club. I didn't know that they had something to do, so I moved the date to today."
Shi Jin was worried that she would be bored at home all day, and it would be good if she could go out for a walk, so she nodded and said, "There has been some chaos in Beijing recently, you have to be more careful yourself."
Shi Feixian nodded silently. Today, she was talking to the little sisters who played with her on weekdays, and found that they didn't seem to be as close to her as they used to be, but she couldn't tell anything wrong on the face. She was angry and sad, but she couldn't attack.
She hated both Ban Huan and those playful children spreading rumors, and also hated that the second prince didn't stand up and say a word to her. Men all over the world are like this. In their spare time, they think you are good-looking and talented, and they say things like admiration and love, but when something goes wrong, they disappear faster than each other.
The second prince was like this, and so was Xie Qilin.
man…
Ah.
Liu Banshan and several officials of Dali Temple waited for two sticks of incense in the main hall, and finally waited for the Shi family, but it was not Shi Chonghai but Shi Jin who showed up.
"Lord Liu, all the lords of Dali Temple, what kind of auspicious wind blows all the lords here today?"
"Master Shi is very polite, we take the liberty to disturb Master Shi, and please forgive me."
After seeing each other, Shi Jin invited everyone to sit down. When he saw that the officials of Dali Temple had an unnatural expression, and Liu Banshan's expression was not quite right, he said lightly: "There is nothing to do without going to the Three Treasures Hall, you adults have something to say."
"Xiaguan really has something to ask for. I wonder if your lord has ever seen this kind of pearl on a female family member at home?" Liu Banshan opened a box and placed a pearl in it.
Shi Jin frowned, "Pearls and other things are very common. As a man, why would I stare at things on women's bodies? What does Master Liu mean?"
"Master Shi misunderstood, this object was found in the mouth of the main messenger in the assassination of Duke Jingting," Liu Banshan seemed to not care that the object was picked from the mouth of a dead man, "We found that this pearl is a This year, a new type of mussel bead has been bought by only three families in the entire capital."
Shi Jin sank his face when he heard the words: "Master Liu means that our Shi family is also one of the three households?"
"Indeed." Facing Shi Jin's ugly face, Liu Banshan didn't step back, "Apart from your house, there are also Zhongping Uncle's Mansion and Jingting Gong's Mansion who bought this thing."
Hearing the name of Jingting Gongfu, Shi Jin lowered his eyelids and took a sip of tea: "Since Master Liu wants to know the whereabouts of the pearls, I will ask someone to check."
Every big family has a general manager and a sub-manager, and they have their own records of what they bought and who used them. After Shi Jin made the message, someone came to report in less than two quarters of an hour. The government did buy this kind of pearl, but although this kind of pearl was rare, the lady and the lady thought it was too small, so they didn't use it as a hairpin. , Only the lady took some embroidered shoes a few days ago.
Hearing the word "embroidered shoes", the eyes of everyone in Dali Temple lit up, and one rash official couldn't help but say, "Master Shi, I don't know how to let the lower officials take a look at these embroidered shoes."
"Presumptuous!" Shi Jin put down the tea cup heavily, "Are you here to humiliate my Shi family, or are you here to investigate the case?"
How could the embroidered shoes that my daughter wears be taken out and let these men see
"All of you adults are full of poetry and books, how can you make such a ridiculous request?"
"Master Shi, please calm your anger, the colleagues of the lower officials are in a hurry, and they have offended you. Please forgive me," Liu Banshan stood up and bowed his hands to Shi Jin, "Please rest assured, Master Shi, I have a woman in Dali Temple. How dare you offend Miss Shi."
Only then did the reprimanded official react, and he hurriedly stood up and pleaded guilty: "Xiaguan was quick to speak, but he didn't make it clear, please forgive me."
Without waiting for Shi Jin to speak, Liu Banshan asked a woman in a Dali Temple uniform behind him to come out, and said to Shi Jin, "Master Shi, ask your servants to lead the way."
Shi Jin looked at Liu Banshan coldly and did not speak.
Liu Banshan smiled and met Shi Jin's eyes without saying a word.
"It seems that Mr. Liu has already come prepared." Shi Jin said coldly, "Why doesn't this official know that there are still women in Dali Temple?"
"Sir Shi worked in other places a few years ago, so I'm afraid I don't know much about some things in the capital," Liu Banshan said with a smile, "Because some of my Dali Temple cases involve female dependents, after careful discussion by the adults, and after much consideration by Your Majesty, I decided to Select some innocent women who are well-educated in poetry and books to work in some departments. Although their grades are not high, they have helped a lot in many things."
Shi Jin glanced at the woman who was wearing Dali Temple clothes. She was in her early thirties. Her hair was only combed in a simple bun. .
He didn't want these people to enter the second sister's yard, because he didn't know whether the second sister really had nothing to do with the matter.
My sister knows that she looks fine on the inside on weekdays, but she is very stubborn and can easily get into a dead end. Even if someone told him that the second sister hired someone to kill Duke Jingting in order to let Ban Hua keep his filial piety for another three years and prevent Ban Hua from marrying Rong Xia, he would still believe it was possible.
The more he thought about it, the more he could not let people from Dali Temple enter the door, at least not at this time.
But his unwillingness does not mean that Liu Banshan will give up. This case is not a trivial matter. If they can't find out within five days, then they won't have to offend the Shi family, and they will be unlucky first. What's more, this case also involves Cheng Amber's future father-in-law, and he will find out anyway.
"Master Shi, I'm waiting for an order to investigate the case, please don't make us embarrassed."
"It's a bit ridiculous to say that, is Master Liu on an order to search our Shi family?"
Master Liu asked back: "Since your house has a clear conscience, why should you be afraid of me?"
"This is really ridiculous," Shi Jin said with a sullen face, "Could it be that when you went to Xie's and Ban's houses to investigate the case, you had the same attitude?"
"Master Shi, you have thought about it too much," Liu Banshan said with a smirk, "Uncle Zhongping and Duke Jingting did not refuse the request of Xiaguan and others, and they explained the origin of pearls clearly, and they did not make a difference. hide."
The people of Dali Temple broke into a cold sweat for Liu Banshan. Are they going to directly fight with the Shi family
"Master, Master, the Princess of Fule is here!" A young servant hurried in, with an undisturbed panic on his face.
Shi Jin stood up from his chair: "Who are you talking about?"
"Fu, Fule County Master." When the little servant thought of the guards brought by Fule County Lord, he felt terrified. Where did he come to visit, he came to smash the place.
Before Shi Jin could speak, he heard a commotion from outside, and a woman in a blue skirt walked in quickly, with unresolved anger on her face, "Master Shi, this uninvited guest of mine came to visit, You won't be unwelcome."
She walked like the wind, with a whip in hand, and a guard with a saber behind her. She didn't seem to be visiting, but more like asking for trouble.
Just when the people at Dali Temple thought that the two sides would fight, they knew that Shi Jin did not get angry, but said in a gentle tone: "The county master has something to say, sit down and talk slowly, you can come to the palace, I am very welcome."
Ban Hua sat down on the chair, "People in the capital always like to say that I am arrogant and unreasonable. Since I am a person who is used to being arrogant, Master Shi doesn't have to tell me these hypocritical manners. I heard that your house bought a batch of pearls. , but I don't want people from Dali Temple to check, why is this?"
"The county lord, the lower officials think there is a misunderstanding in this matter," Shi Jin advised. "Shemei is a weak woman. If it is reported that her clothes have been checked by the Dali Temple, it will always be bad for her. The county lord is also a woman. It's not easy to understand women."
"Master Shi is afraid that she has forgotten what Lingmei has done. Since she is a woman and shouldn't embarrass a woman, why did she embarrass me in the first place?" Ban Huaying looked into Shi Jin's eyes, "Since Master Shi is unwilling to let Let’s go check it out, that’s fine, as long as Master Shi makes an oath, stating that this matter has absolutely nothing to do with Lingmei, then I will leave your residence without saying a word.”
Shi Jin looked at Ban Huayou's angry eyes and closed his eyes.
Four years ago, he fell in love with a fresh young girl, but this woman already had a fiancé, and he asked to go to the border gate himself when he was disappointed. He didn't come back from the border until last year.
And the woman he imagined should be married to a married woman is still single, but she is more vivid and beautiful than four years ago, so dazzling that he dare not take a second glance. Now this woman who is about to marry someone else is looking at him seriously for the first time, but there is no affection in her eyes, only anger and hatred.
He thought that the thoughts of four years ago had already become the past, but as long as he saw her, he would be reminded again and again of the thoughts he once had.
"The county master...why be so aggressive?" Shi Jin sighed, "This matter has nothing to do with the Shi family. You came here so rashly, if you can't find the slightest evidence, how will you deal with it in the future?"
"It's okay to be rash for the sake of my family. If I'm wrong, I'm willing to apologize to the Shi family in front of everyone in the capital," Ban Hua sneered, "I'm not afraid of being embarrassed, but I'm afraid that my family will be hurt but I can't find the culprit. The culprit."
Shi Jin stared blankly at Ban Hua, and didn't say anything for a while.
"You are so..."
So absurd, so unruly, how could there be such a woman in the world
Shi Jin's heart was oppressed by complicated and unspeakable emotions. He looked at Ban Hua and asked something he shouldn't have asked.
"Have you thought about what Cheng Amber thinks of you when you do this?"
How many men in the world can accept such a woman
The worldly vision and the words of others are all bloody knives that destroy the relationship between husband and wife.
Ban Hua actually laughed when she heard the words: "I chose to come to disturb your house today, but I didn't think about what other people think of me. I have a father and a mother in this life. They treat me like a jewel and a treasure, and they love me like blood in their hearts. , If I measure how others view me before repaying them, then what face am I to be their child?"
When these words came out, the faces of the people in Dali Temple, who originally thought Ban Hua was absurd and rude, were slightly moved. A woman can break through the secular etiquette for the sake of her family, and she is not even afraid of how others see her, such a sincere heart...
Seeing Shi Jin standing there without speaking, Ban Hua said, "Sir Shi, I'm sorry."
She made a gesture, and the female guards behind her walked directly towards the inner courtyard with the women from Dali Temple. If the Shi family refused to let them go, she would lead them to force their way.
Everyone in Dali Temple looked at Shi Jin nervously, worried that he would suddenly have a violent attack. Will they help the Fule County Master or not
However, Shi Jin didn't even move. He didn't even ask the servants to stop Ban Hua's people, just kept a calm face and didn't speak.
The officials of Dali Temple looked at Liu Banshan, his superior, who knew that Liu Banshan did not say a word, but just lowered his head and drank the tea, as if the tea in his hand was made from Lingshan tea leaves. Like a hundred years.
"What kind of tea does the county lord like to drink?" Shi Jin sat back in his seat and looked at Ban Hua, "It is said that the county lord is very fond of Dahongpao. Although there are no such good things in the palace, there are still some snow drifting in Bitan. If you don't dislike it, please try it."
Ban Hua's eyelashes trembled slightly: "No, thank you."
Shi Jin forced a smile, raised his hand to the servant, and soon someone came in with a cup of tea, which was the best Bitan Piaoxue tea.
Liu Banshan put down the Maojian tea in his hand, glanced at Shi Jin and Ban Hua, frowned slightly, turned his head to look outside the door, and let the awkward atmosphere continue.
As time passed, most people's tea cups bottomed out, but their hearts became even more uneasy. People have been in for so long and haven't come out yet, I'm afraid this is really not easy. But if it is really related to the Shi family, what are they planning
The Shi family is now in power, and their daughter is a prince concubine. The Ban family is just an idle clan, and they do not compete with the Shi family for power and profit. What benefits can their family gain by assassinating Ban Huai? And the dignified Xiangye Mansion, can't even hire a killer who can do it, and have to find a few unreliable gangsters
It can't be said that the second Miss Shi wanted to kill Ban Hua's father because she was jealous
Wouldn't it be more useful to kill Ban Hua, but to kill a rival's father for a penny
"Master Liu!" A guard with a sword from Dali Temple hurried in and glanced at Shi Jin with a subtle look, "Someone came to report, yesterday evening, a young woman took her maid to destroy the temple. My subordinates wait. After inspection, it was found that the young woman was the Second Miss Shifu."
Shi Jin's hand holding the tea cup trembled, and the tea in the cup splashed on the back of his hand, instantly scalding his skin.
"You guys are spraying people with blood!" Shi Feixian walked in from the outside, pointed at Ban Hua and said, "Ban Hua, don't deceive people too much, what's the use of killing your father? If I really want someone to die, that's not the case. Lord Jingting."
"It's me, right?" Ban Hua sneered and stared back at Shi Feixian, "I've been thinking for a long time, since you hate me in your heart, why do you keep smiling at me all day long, pointing at my nose and arguing with me? Wouldn't it be more relieved?"
"I won't tell you this nonsense," Shi Feixian was already very angry, she didn't expect Ban Hua to let the guards force her way into her yard. What exactly do you want to do?"
"I want to know who is the mastermind behind the scenes." Ban Hua's tone was cold, "If Miss Shi has nothing to do with this matter, you don't need to be so angry."
Shi Feixian's chest heaved violently, she turned to look at Shi Jin: "Brother, kick her out, this is the Shi family, not the Ban family who let her do whatever she wants!"
"Miss Shi, I'm afraid this won't do as you wish," Liu Banshan held his hands and looked at Shi Feixian with a half-smile, "My subordinate found a pair of embroidered shoes with missing pearls in your house, and these embroidered shoes are still stained with Dust and hay in the temple, why do you, a boudoir girl, go to such places?"
Shi Feixian was stunned, she looked at Liu Banshan blankly, "What do you mean by that?"
"Miss Shi," the smile on Liu Banshan's face disappeared little by little, "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm going to invite you to Dali Temple to be a guest for a few days."
"Why did you take me to Dali Temple," Shi Feixian sneered, "what are you?"
She is the daughter of a dignified prime minister. These people would condemn her and take her to Dali Temple with just one mouth and a pair of embroidered shoes.
Ban Hua sneered, "Why doesn't Miss Shi go?"