Zhen Zangzhu, the general magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture, had been idle for more than half a month. Everyone from the prefect Yin to the yamen regarded him as an idle man who only knew how to flatter Mr. Bao. On this day, someone came from outside the prefect's yamen to report the case.
But by chance Zhen Zangzhu wandered over to click Mao and joined his colleagues to watch the fun. It turned out that someone found a corpse in the Qinhuai River this morning. He didn't know how many days it had been dead, and it had been soaked beyond recognition. The prefect's master sent the police to arrest him and wait.
People went to take a look. Zhen Zangzhu was so curious that he stayed in the Yamen to wait for the result. At that time, the police came back with the body and said that the man was so gorgeously dressed that he was probably a son of an official. Master Fang hurried to check it out in person. Zhen Zangzhu was among the Yamen servants.
Follow to the mortuary.
After checking for half a day, he came back and said: "This man died of drowning and drank alcohol before his death." Everyone thought that he was a playboy who fell into the water while playing. Although there were letters on this man's body, the ink marks had been soaked to the point where he couldn't see anything, and his appearance was not visible.
He couldn't recognize him, and he was wearing clothes belonging to an ordinary wealthy family, so he couldn't guess his identity for a while.
Zhen Zangzhu watched quietly for a long time and said: "This person must be Mr. Huang who is next to the prince."
Lord Fang was startled and turned to ask him: "Why do you see it?"
Zhen Zangzhu pointed to a piece of jade pendant taken off the man's body and said: "I was wandering around with Bao Xiandi a few days ago and saw this Pei in a shop. Ordinary jade pendants are carved into patterns of wealth, but this one is a sheep.
Moreover, the carver was not very good, and the quality of the topaz was not very good, so it could not be sold for a long time. I casually said, since it is carving a sheep, why not make it fatter and more auspicious. How can there be such a thin sheep? Or maybe it is so.
The white jade carving is also good. Brother Bao Xian said with a smile, there is a young man in front of the prince, Master Huangyang, who happens to be a thin man. Why not buy this pei and give it to him. "
Master Fang was so frightened that he broke out in cold sweat and said in a trembling voice: "This...is this...Master Huang?" Huang Yang is the Crown Prince's confidant, and he has done many shameful things for the Crown Prince secretly.
Zhen Zangzhu said: "Anyway, the jade pendant belongs to him. Brother Bao Xian gave it to him just for a joke. It's not a good thing. You wouldn't give it away casually if you think about it?" Mr. Fang also felt that it made sense and hurriedly ordered.
Go to Mr. Huang's house and tell him.
Not long after, people from the Huang Mansion and the Shizi Mansion came. Although the face was difficult to distinguish, based on the body size, clothes and other items, both houses recognized the corpse as Huang Yang. Seven days ago, Huang Yang went to work elsewhere on the order of the Prince.
Now he died in the Qinhuai River for no reason. The prince was furious and ordered Mr. Fang to solve the case within ten days.
The case immediately spread throughout Jinling City, and Mr. Bao immediately came to find Zhen Zangzhu to inquire. Zhen Zangzhu told him in detail what happened today. Mr. Bao asked with great interest: "Brother Zhen, how do you think he died?"
?”
Zhen Zangzhu said: "Where should I guess? Wu Zuo said he drowned while drunk."
Mr. Bao San said: "This person is usually well-rounded, but he would get drunk when doing important things. I never thought of it."
Zhen Zangzhu said: "Most people who practice martial arts like to drink."
"He is a skinny scholar, how can he compare with your martial arts practitioners."
Zhen Zangzhu's eyes moved: "Scholar? Master Huang is a scholar? He has never practiced martial arts?"
Mr. Bao waved his hand: "Tell Brother Zhen, Huangyang is commonly known as a polite scum. He talks so much, but in fact he is 'benevolent, righteous, polite, wise, trustworthy, loyal, filial, honest and courageous, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, ninety'. Shameless, forgetful
eight!"
He wanted to make a joke, but Zhen Zangzhu didn't smile at all: "In that case, the deceased is not a yellow sheep."
"ah?"
"There are calluses on the hands of the corpse. I saw them." Zhen Zangzhu said, "They were sharpened by holding a weapon. You can't grind out calluses like that by holding a pen."
Mr. Bao was stunned: "Don't you all admit it?"
Zhen Zangzhu said: "In this spring weather, if the corpse is soaked in water for three to seven days, it will definitely become a 'giant view'."
"What view?"
"It is so swollen and rotten that the original appearance cannot be seen. In forensic medicine, it is called Giant Viewing." Zhen Zangzhu said, "The people who came to identify the body were Lord Huang's servants and colleagues. They all identified it from the clothes and objects."
Mr. Bao was stunned for a long time: "Then...how did Huang Yang's clothes and belongings end up on the dead man?"
Zhen Zangzhu thought for a moment and said, "Is the prince your nephew?"
"yes."
Zhen Zangzhu said: "In that case, tell the prince about this, just say that you heard it in the tavern, and don't mention me."
Mr. Bao said: "Why don't you tell me? I'm just trying to earn face for you, Brother Zhen!"
Zhen Zangzhu said: "Huang Yang is not a good person, so I can't bear to get involved in his affairs. If the Crown Prince orders me to investigate, I may not find out many things that confuse right and wrong. I know but can't control it, so I can't hold it back." Death is worse than being out of sight."
Mr. Bao Sanye was stunned for a long time after hearing this, and sighed: "It doesn't matter, I know that my brother is upright."
After the two had finished the food and wine, Mr. Bao rode his horse to the Crown Prince's Mansion. After waiting outside for a long time, he didn't want the prince to say that he was not feeling well and it was inconvenient to meet him. Mr. Bao was annoyed, and the boy who had been delivering the message hummed: "It's just Zuo.
It’s just that I won’t go to his third uncle. I’m a dandy, and I just want to make trouble and watch the excitement, right? You tell him, it’s not the yellow sheep who died.” He turned around and left.
The boy quickly grabbed him with one hand: "Third Master! You must have made it clear! Our prince didn't sleep all night because of Mr. Huang's incident! He only drank two mouthfuls of porridge from last night to this moment, and he is really not feeling well.
Great. Our prince is always the best with the third master, how can we not look down on the third master!"
Third Master Bao was the son of Master Bao in his later years. He was about the same age as his eldest nephew, and the two of them had a good friendship. Hearing that the prince had not eaten or slept, he hurriedly said: "This is impossible! He has to eat no matter what."
"
Seeing that Third Master Bao's face had softened, the boy asked cautiously, "What does Third Master know?"
Mr. Bao Sanye sighed: "The corpse has calluses on its hands. It is a martial arts practitioner, not a yellow sheep. For some reason, it wore the clothes of a yellow sheep and drowned in the Qinhuai River. Your Majesty, please order someone to investigate." After that, he continued.
I want to leave, but I can't keep you.
Two hours later, the Crown Prince came to the Bao Mansion to look for Mr. Bao. Mr. Bao originally wanted to show off, but when he saw that his nephew's eyes were all bloodshot and as red as a rabbit, he was startled. He had been so angry earlier in the morning.
Throwing it out of the sky: "What's going on? Has the prince really not slept all night?"
The prince smiled bitterly: "Huang Yang has hidden a lot of money in my hands. If he dies, I don't know how to get it back. If he lives..."
Third Master Bao understood. If he were alive, he wouldn't know what he would tell anyone. He hurriedly said a few words of comfort. The prince then asked him where he knew there were calluses on the hands of dead bodies. Third Master Bao said: "Anyway, someone told me
That one is a clean man and doesn’t want to know about Yellow Sheep.” The prince looked at him eagerly. Mr. Bao couldn’t bear it and said, “If there is anything unclear, prince, I will ask him for you.”
The prince nodded and said: "This matter is obviously a golden cicada played by Huang Yang. He has been gone for seven days, and I am not sure where he has fled to. I am at a loss what to do. Could you please help me ask the great talent and remove it?"
The whole country is searching, but there is nothing we can do."
Third Master Bao responded with a loud voice, patted his chest and said, "Put it on me!" The prince thanked him with red eyes.
As soon as the prince left, Third Master Bao immediately changed his clothes and went out and went straight to Zhen Zangzhu's house. Zhen Zangzhu was boxing in the courtyard. When he saw him coming, he hurriedly asked why. Third Master Bao hurriedly told him. Zhen Zangzhu
Zangzhu suddenly smiled bitterly: "Brother Bao Xian, you have been fooled."
"ah?"
"The Crown Prince is surrounded by capable people. Why should you ask someone you have never met for a simple matter like searching for someone? Besides, doesn't Huangyang still have his family in Jinling?" Zhen Zangzhu pointed outside and said, "He will definitely send someone.
Someone followed you here, do you believe it or not?"
Third Master Bao jumped up and ran out, rushing straight out the door - when he saw an important henchman next to the prince looking at the door. Third Master Bao looked at him for a long time. The man was startled, and came forward to fight Qian'er.
The third master turned around and went back, slamming the door of Zhen Zangzhu's house hard.
Zhen Zangzhu looked at his face as dark as the bottom of a pot and laughed loudly: "What do I guess?"
Third Master Bao looked disgraced: "You brat! He even plotted against his uncle!" Zhen Zangzhu laughed even louder.
That night, the prince went to the Bao family in person to apologize to his third uncle with a playful smile. He brought a few gifts, three jars of good wine, and asked Mr. Bao to accompany him. Mr. Bao was so angry that he kept getting angry for a long time, but the prince was actually nice.
He apologized softly and toasted him with wine. After all, he was a close nephew. It was inconvenient for Third Master Bao to take Qiao too seriously, so he gave up.
The prince asked about Zhen Zangzhu. Mr. Bao said proudly: "I told you that my brother Zhen is a genius! But you don't believe it. Do you think I can only recognize people who eat wine and go to the theater?" Nai glanced at it.
His second brother glanced at him.
Mr. Bao said curiously: "It's really surprising that you recognized a serious person. You can't blame us. How could you have recognized such a person in the past? Now you are surprised to see him with new eyes."
How long had Mr. Bao wanted to hear such words? But when he finally heard it, he was so happy that he even said, "Back then, my second brother said he was a ruffian!"
Second Master Bao hurriedly poured wine for him and said: "That's all, it's the second brother who has no eyesight and doesn't know Mount Tai. Please drink this cup to the fullest, please, and treat your second brother for once?" Third Master Bao smiled as brightly as a flower.
I took the cup and drank it all in one gulp. I had never felt so happy in my chest.
The three of them exchanged cups, and the three jars of wine were all clean, with not a drop left. The matter of Zhen Zangzhu was just like the wine, and the third master Bao Huli Mengden had listened to everything.
The next day, the Crown Prince and Mr. Bao paid a visit to Zhen Cangzhu's home in person. Zhen Cangzhu had no servants, so she went to open the door in person. When they saw him, they looked at him for a few times, bowed and saluted the Crown Prince: "Meet the Crown Prince."
He saluted Mr. Bao again and said, "Hello, Mr. Bao."
The Crown Prince and Er Ye Bao looked at each other. They were just dressing up as ordinary people. The Crown Prince smiled and asked, "How did you know it was the two of us?"
Zhen Zangzhu said: "Brother Bao Xian is outspoken and a bit naive. If a smart person wants to trick him, there is nothing he can't do. This man looks very similar to Brother Bao Xian, and he is older.
He must be one of his two elder brothers. The prince is young, and Mr. Bao is walking behind you. It is impossible for the men of the Bao family to accompany the Second Highness here."
The prince nodded and praised: "It's really good."
Zhen Zangzhu then let them into the house, invited the prince to sit down, and went to the kitchen to boil water. Mr. Bao said: "My third brother came to recommend Mr. Zhen that day, but I didn't take him seriously and treated him badly.
"
Zhen Zangzhu waved her hand gently and said: "What did the second master say? I am just a commoner, but it is a big deal to become an official in one step. Um..." He thought for a moment, "But Brother Bao Xian... I am afraid that the second master and the uncle are both.
I have a deep prejudice against Bao Xiandi. Bao Xiandi is indeed a bit of a dandy, but he is just lazy. He is not a foolish person who only knows how to drink and make money."
The second master Bao laughed and said: "I recognize Mr. Zhen, he is very proud!" Then he praised the third master Bao a few words. Zhen Zangzhu followed suit, and the prince also praised. The three of them praised for a long time, and Bao San
I'm afraid I won't get as much praise in this life as I did today.
After he finished boasting, Mr. Bao asked him why he looked at Huangyang. Zhen Zangzhu said: "Maybe he ran away on his own, and there is no way he could have been caught by someone."
Mr. Bao nodded and said, "We are worried about this too. His whole family is in Jinling. If he runs away on his own and there is a flaw, wouldn't it put the whole family in danger?"
Zhen Zangzhu asked: "Who is there in his family?"
"I have four concubines and two daughters."
Zhen Zangzhu frowned slightly: "No parents and son?"
Mr. Bao said: "His parents are in his hometown. His wife has a rough appearance and stays at home to serve our aunt and educate her son."
"Where is his hometown?"
"Qi State Tengzhou."
Zhen Zangzhu said: "My concubine and my daughter are worthless things. If Huang Yang ran away on his own... Even if they were cut into pieces, would Huang Yang know? Even if he knew, he might not take it seriously.
Therefore, we can only assume that Jinling has nothing to do with him."
Mr. Bao nodded and said, "I've thought about this too."
The prince hurriedly said: "I will send someone to Tengzhou right away."
Zhen Zangzhu said: "Why don't we inquire first? I'm afraid his concubine won't be able to find out anything. Fantou and others know more about his relationship outside. Besides, the body was also deliberately hidden somewhere.
For many days, he waited until his appearance could no longer be recognized before letting others see him. It was unclear whether he died in the Qinhuai River at first. You can check the boats on the river."
Mr. Bao Erye responded: "Heroes see the same thing."
Zhen Zangzhu pointed at him and said with a smile: "Everything I think of, Second Master also thinks of it. Why didn't Second Master tell me earlier?"
Mr. Bao Erye smiled and said, "If I had told you earlier, wouldn't I have stopped saying it because of Brother Zhen's temperament?"
Zhen Zangzhu hummed, "You got my brother Bao Xian drunk? Otherwise, why would he give you all his information?" The two looked at each other, clapped their hands and laughed.
The prince then followed the ideas of Zhen Zangzhu and Bao Erye to investigate, and the results were obtained within two days. It turned out that Huang Yang was greedy when he saw more and more money hidden for the prince. He had a good friend of his.
A prostitute was on a boat on the Qinhuai River. He helped his sweetheart redeem his life, bought a new boat and changed his career to become a madam. Following a stupid idea, he got drunk and drowned a subordinate of similar stature to him, and gave him a new job.
He took his own clothes and soaked them in the bottom of the boat. After soaking for seven days, he was completely changed beyond recognition, and then he let the body float out. At first, he didn't run away, but after hearing that "Yellow Sheep was dead", he pretended to be a woodcutter and walked out of the north gate of Jinling City.
Because he didn't know that he had been discovered, he didn't walk very fast. The prince's pursuers rushed towards Qi State, and sure enough they captured this man on the way. But the bastard who came up with the idea ran away without knowing where he was.
What happened to Huang Yang is unknown to outsiders. Anyway, after he was arrested, the prince came to Zhen Zangzhu's house to seek help. Zhen Zangzhu took Huang Yang's post and became the young master of the prince's mansion.
In the future, the whole Jinling City knew that the prince had a famous person named Zhen Zangzhu - and Young Master Zhen Yingjia also knew about it. He regretted it: "Baba'er actually sent him away that day!"