Hearing that Wu Xu was back, Yi Xulu hurried back to the Yamen.
When they arrived at the yamen gate, they met Zhong Shen, the commander of the Imperial City Department, and Yi Xulou quickly got off his horse and saluted.
"Old red lantern, please get up," Zhong Shen helped Yi Xulou up, "I heard something happened to the lantern holder, so I came here to have a look."
Even though I was careful, I still alerted the commander.
Forget it, this matter can't be hidden after all, let's see how Wu Qianhu handles it.
Full of anxiety, Yi Xulu followed Zhong Shen into the front hall of the Yamen, only to see that a mourning hall had been set up in the front hall, and Wang Shijie's body had been put in the coffin.
Wu Xu stood silently in front of the coffin, tears falling from his eye sockets one by one.
All the lantern bearers were all dressed in black and stood in front of the mourning hall weeping. The sound of sobs could not be heard. Among them, Meng Shizhen cried the most sadly. He held the coffin and cried hoarsely: "Shijie, Shijie, why are you like this?"
Are you leaving? Shijie! My brother can’t bear to leave you!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Meng Shizhen cried so sadly that she kept beating the coffin board, and no one could hold her back.
Before Yi Xulu could understand what he meant, Wu Xu raised his head and said, "You guys go change your clothes. Everyone in the yamen is wearing black today to keep vigil for Shijie."
Yi Xulu went to the small room separately. Qiao Shun had just changed his clothes when he heard someone knocking on the door outside.
"Qiao Baihu, it's me."
"Zhi Qiong, come in."
Xu Zhiqiong opened the door and walked in, holding a head of garlic in his hand.
Qiao Shungang frowned and said, "What are you doing?"
Xu Zhiqiong said: "Qianhu ordered us to go out for a wake-up call later. We will all cry."
Qiao Shungang snorted and said, "I can't cry because of that killer."
"This is Qianhu's order."
"So what if Qianhu gave orders? I don't know how to act!" Qiao Shungang is an upright person, "I can't cry, I just can't cry!"
Xu Zhiqiong sniffed and said, "Qianhu said, if you don't cry, you'll be beaten to death. Meng Qingdeng was almost beaten to death by Qianhu just now."
…
Zhong Shen came to Wu Xu and asked, "What on earth is going on?"
Wu Xu sighed, but before he could answer, he saw Qiao Shungang rushing to the mourning hall and crying loudly: "Shijie, Shijie, you really left like this, my brother feels so sad!"
Meng Shizhen cried: "It hurts!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two patted the coffin together.
Zhong Shen comforted the two of them and said: "Take care of yourself, take care of yourself, Bo Feng, please tell me what's going on first."
Wu Xu let out a long sigh and said: "Wang Shijie, the white lantern man in charge of the yamen, was on patrol last night. He encountered a strong man, fought with him to the death, and died in the line of duty."
"Strong man?" Zhong Shen asked in astonishment, "Where did the strong man come from?"
Wu Xu looked at Dong Qingshan. Dong Qingshan wiped his tears and said: "Last night by the Wang'an River, I was patrolling the night. Suddenly I saw a man looking hasty and suspicious. I asked Wang Shijie to go over and ask. Unexpectedly, the man turned around when he saw Shijie.
Go, then, then..."
Dong Qingshan suddenly swallowed harder, turned to the coffin and cried: "Shijie~"
Wu Xu glanced at Yang Wu. If Dong Qingshan forgot his lyrics, Yang Wu must follow him.
Yang Wudao: "Wang Denglang chased after him, and we also chased after him. There were many people that night, so we lost him. We didn't see Wang Denglang until we arrived at Jinzhi Bay. At that time, Wang Denglang was already..."
Speaking of this, Yang Wu also choked up: "Wang Denglang, it will be miserable for you to go!"
Wang Zhennan comforted him and said, "Shijie is an easy-going person. Just call him Brother Shijie."
Zhong Shen probably understood what he was saying: "Who is that villain?"
Wu Xu shook his head and said, "We don't know yet."
"Are there any clues left?"
"There are no clues."
"Were there any other witnesses on the night of the incident?"
Dong Qingshan even swallowed: "Except for us, there is no one else to prove it."
"This..." Zhong Shen's face looked a little ugly, and he muttered for a while, "You have to deal with the funeral first, and I will ask Wuwei Camp and Qingyi Pavilion to investigate separately."
Zhong Shen put incense sticks on Wang Shijie and turned to leave. Wu Xu made a gesture, and an old woman and two men rushed into the main hall, crying loudly:
"Husband, you died so miserably!"
"Father, you died unjustly!"
"Husband, you risked your life for the imperial court and left us orphans and widows. How can we live like this?"
"Father, you are unjust. You are an honest official and have a clean life. You have not left us any property. We will not be able to live in the future."
Zhong Shen looked at these three people. The woman should be in her fifties, and the two men were in their thirties. He asked Wu Xu: "They are..."
Wu Xu introduced that the woman was Wang Shijie's wife, and the two men were his two sons.
Wang Shijie doesn't look that old. That's because he has a ninth-level cultivation and his life span is three points longer than normal people. He was originally a government servant in a county outside the capital, but he became a murderer at the age of thirty-six.
After graduating from the ninth grade, he worked his way up and down and entered Zhang Deng Yamen. He worked as a Bai Denglang in the Yamen for nineteen years and is now fifty-five years old.
His wife is only one year younger than him, and because she has no cultivation, she looks much older than him. One of his two sons is thirty-five and the other is thirty-one.
These two sons have already married, so can they still be considered orphans and widowers?
It doesn't matter how you calculate it. The important thing is that Wu Xu made this scene just to get money.
There was a lot of crying in the mourning hall. If Zhong Shen didn't show his attitude, things would be embarrassing.
"Wang Shijie died in the line of duty for his country. I will report this to Your Majesty and ask for compensation."
This means that I will ask for money for you.
Before Zhong Shen left, he said again: "Wu Qianhu, come to the main hall to have a talk in the evening."
…
After Zhong Shen left, Wu Xu put away her tears and asked people to settle Wang Shijie's family first, and then called the two red lantern men to the Ming Deng Pavilion in the main courtyard.
Mingdengxuan is Wu Xu's office, a study with everlasting lights. The study is not big, but its sound insulation is so good that ordinary people cannot hear the sounds inside even if they are close to the wall.
Wu Xu was sitting and the two red lights were standing, which proved that Wu Xu was about to lose his temper.
"Tell me honestly, you two, who did this to Wang Shijie?"
Yi Xulu said quickly: "I have never humbled myself before!"
Chen Yuanzhong also said: "Wang Shijie is not under the jurisdiction of Beizhi, and Beizhi has not touched the family law."
Hearing this, Yi Xulu glanced at Chen Yuanzhong and had some speculations in his mind:
Since Wu Qianhu said that he had tampered with the family law, it proves that he has found clues. Chen Yuanzhong must have done it secretly, but he wanted to put the blame on me.
This guy has a kind face and a cruel heart, but at this age, he still uses this secret method. Yi Xulu secretly feels resentful.
Wu Xu added: "Wang Shijie has done many evil deeds, and it is appropriate for him to take action against the family, but you should inform me in advance."
The two red lantern men denied it again and again, and Wu Xu waved his hand: "Let's drop this matter. Just remember, take care of your subordinates, be careful of your measures, and don't let them talk nonsense again, especially your subordinate Shi Chuan! Wang Shijie is on duty.
He died in the line of duty, and he said it was fratricide, but it dragged the entire yamen into troubled waters!"
Shi Chuan was Chen Yuanzhong's subordinate. Chen Yuanzhong said: "This matter is about to be discussed with Qianhu. Shi Chuan is the younger brother of General Wuwei and is used to being arrogant. This time, my subordinate really wants to take action."
Yi Xulu said from the side: "You want to kill him?"
That's General Wuwei's brother, you can weigh it.
Chen Yuanzhong shook his head: "Killing him is not a big deal, but in times of crisis, this guy kept talking and almost made us make a big mistake. We must be punished for this crime!"
When Yi Xuluo heard this, he felt even more annoyed. What do you mean by "almost making me make a big mistake"? You were not here at the time, and I was the only red light in the yamen. You could just tell me my name! Doesn't this mean that I am biased?
Do you believe it?
Wu Xu nodded and said: "It's time to punish him. Be harsh and leave a memory for him. If he feels dissatisfied, let him go to the Wuwei Camp to find his brother! In addition, everyone must not slack off in the night patrol tonight!"
"
…
That night, Wu Xu went to the Sizheng Hall of the Imperial City. Zhong Shen prepared some wine and food, and the two of them had a few drinks.
After saying polite words, Zhong Shen got to the point: "Bo Feng, please tell me the truth, how did Wang Shijie die?"
Wu Xu said: "Have you not told the truth? I met a thief while patrolling at night and died in the line of duty."
Zhong Shen sneered and said: "If it were anyone else, I would believe it. Who is Wang Shijie? Do you think I don't know him? How much has the reputation of the Imperial City Division been ruined by him? If you had violated the family law, I would not pursue this matter."
, I will ask for it for you, two hundred taels of silver! But you have to tell me the truth!"
Wu Xu said: "As long as you can ask for a reward, you can treat it as if I have violated the family law."
Zhong Shen frowned and said, "What do you mean I think you have done something wrong with your family?"
Wu Xu put down his glass and said, "What are you worried about?"
"I'm worried that this matter is related to today's evil incident. Since the incident, more than 70 women have disappeared, and the criminal department is being burned. I don't want to be involved in this matter."
Wu Xu was somewhat interested when he heard this: "Has the Criminal Department found any clues?"
Zhong Shen took a sip of wine: "There are some clues. It is said that a group of Yazi came to the capital and collaborated in committing crimes. The Criminal Department is conducting a private search."
Renyazi is a human trafficker.
Wu Xu picked up the wine glass and took a sip: "Do you believe it?"
Zhong Shen laughed and said: "You can't believe it! Why are you crazy? You came to the capital to do such a big case? Are the women in the capital more valuable? Are they worthy of risking their lives? This is an excuse made by the Ministry of Punishments!"
Wu Xu poured a glass of wine for Zhong Shen: "If you count on those losers from the Criminal Department, this case will definitely not be solved. Just wait, it will fall on you in the end."
Zhong Shen put down his wine glass and said: "Let me make it clear to you. No matter Wuwei Camp, Qingyi Pavilion or your office, no one has anything to do with this case, otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Wu Xu smiled and said: "What's the use of falling out with us? The one who got you involved must be His Majesty. The emperor's order cannot be violated. Can you escape?"
Zhong Shen sighed and said: "Every day you escape is a day. There is a big reason behind this case, but I don't know how many lives will be lost. I tell your men, be careful these days. If you encounter something, you can withstand it if you can."
If you can't stand it, retreat, but don't be reckless."
Wu Xu shrugged his eyebrows: "You don't want to do your duty anymore?"
Zhong Shendao knocked on the table and said: "My duty is as important as my life! You know my temperament. I don't care about the dead. I only care about the living. Wang Shijie will let this matter go. I will ask someone to give you the reward some other day."
, you have taken good care of the lantern man, no more lives will be lost!"
…
That night, Xu Zhiqiong followed Meng Shizhen on a night patrol and walked to the street, where he saw many flower sellers.
"Why are there so many flower sellers tonight?" Xu Zhiqiong was very surprised. Does Daxuan also have Valentine's Day?
Meng Shizhen said with a smile: "Silly boy, today is the Flower Festival on the 15th of February. I just received my salary. Buy a nice flower and give it to the little lady you love."