Ding Mei did not exaggerate. In just three or four days, she was able to distance herself from her old boss Cai Guohou and her late concubine Ai Ji Cao. But she really couldn’t explain Cao’s card with the word "Guohou" written all over it.
Xue Tao's note. The King of Qin thought about it again and again, but he really did not dare to use Cai Guohou again, so he left him idle.
When Cai Guohou walked out of the prison, his wife and children came to greet him at the door.
Cai's wife said: "Miss Mei said that she is the one investigating the case and it is not convenient for her to come to pick me up, for fear of arousing suspicion of favoritism."
Cai Guohou said: "Earlier she was very courageous. This frightened me about being imprisoned." He sighed, "It's better to be cautious."
Cai's wife wiped away her tears and said, "It's a shame that I taught you a good subordinate. Your Majesty is so confused!"
Cai Guohou smiled bitterly and said: "I just don't know why it happened, and I feel upset."
Mr. Cai hurriedly said: "Father, just come out, we can't care about anything else."
The family got in the car and went home. On the way, Mr. Cai mentioned that he had recently met a friend from Beijing, which was very interesting. He wanted to go to the capital for a walk and see the world. At first, because Cai Guohou was the chief craftsman of the Qin State,
, very restrictive about his son's words and deeds. Now that he has no official position and is light, he no longer has to be taboo. He thought that reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles, not to mention that the world has become more serious now, so he agreed. Mr. Cai couldn't help cheering.
Mr. Ding San loves face very much. His niece secretly returned to secular life and secretly left the family temple to work as a fan in Chunfeng Tower. Ding Bozhang never knew how to tell his brother. On this day, he was sitting in the Yamen feeling worried.
A civil servant came forward and called several times.
Ding Bozhang came back to his senses and saw several colleagues gathered around the case. "What's the matter?"
A subordinate said: "Sir, I just received the news. Your Majesty sent an order that the post of General of the Internal Guard was changed to Commander of the Internal Guard, and Ding Mei, the Lieutenant Commander of the Internal Guard, took over." Ding Bozhang was stunned.
Another said: "This man has the same ancestry as your Excellency. Does Your Excellency know his origin?"
Another asked: "What's the point of changing the general of the inner guard to a commander? Does the prince want to set up a royal guard?"
"The inner guards and the imperial guards are the same thing." Everyone was talking about it.
Ding Bozhang's face suddenly turned red, then white, then blue, and changed several colors in the blink of an eye. He naturally knew who Ding Mei was. In terms of official position, his niece was on the same level as him. However, the commander of the inner guard made it obvious that this position was the confidant of King Qin.
, more important than myself. After a while, I looked up and saw that my subordinates were all looking at me eagerly, and then coughed: "There are many people with the same name and surname in the world, let's talk about it when we see it." He waved his hands to let them disperse. Everyone was instantly moved.
Suspicions arose, and they started discussing secretly.
That night, Mrs. Ding went to Mrs. Ding San's courtyard and talked for a long time, and by the way, she scolded the second bedroom. Both Mrs. Ding San and the second bedroom were confused.
Five days later, the internal guards suddenly broke into the censor's platform and without any explanation, captured a censor Zhongcheng. That man was Ding Bozhang's old subordinate, and the two were always very close. Ding Bozhang snapped at the case and shouted: "Is the little girl rebelling?
" So he angrily led a few people straight to the Neiwei Yamen.
When he arrived at the door, he was slightly surprised. Next to the two big stone lions stood two soldiers, armed with muskets. Ding Bozhang hesitated for a moment, jumped off his horse and walked straight in. The soldiers did not stop him. There was one.
Menzi came out. Ding Bozhang explained his identity, and Menzi said: "My lord, please wait a moment, I will go and report." Menzi held a folder in his hand, and there was a charcoal pen tied to the folder. He raised his hand and glanced at it.
With the watch in his hand, he muttered in a low voice, "It's five quarters and four minutes, Ding Bozhang, the censor." He opened the clip and wrote on it with a charcoal pen.
Ding Bozhang frowned and stared at the watch in his hand for a long time: "Has your new commander taken office?"
"It has been five days since I took office." After Menzi finished writing, he bowed his hands to Ding Bozhang, turned around and walked inside.
Ding Bozhang said from behind: "What you wrote is what she meant?"
Menzi turned around and stood respectfully: "Yes." Ding Bozhang was a little annoyed and waved his hand to send him away. Menzi then left.
Not long after, the disciple came back and said, "Master Ding, our commander is here to invite you." Ding Bozhang felt a fire of ignorance rising in his heart, but he couldn't break out yet, so he had to hold it in and follow him in.
When I got inside, I saw that the person sitting in front of the hall wearing the official robe of the third rank was indeed his niece Ding Mei. Ding Mei had already stood up, held her hands with a smile and said, "I didn't expect Lord Ding to come so quickly."
Ding Bozhang sneered: "Commander Ding has such great official authority."
Ding Mei asked in surprise: "Could it be that our colleagues in the Yamen were rude to Master Ding?"
Menzi looked aggrieved and said in a low voice: "Master Ding, I am very respectful."
"It has nothing to do with him." Ding Bozhang said, "Commander Ding appointed a new official and came to Yushitai to arrest people without even a reason?"
"So that's what happened." Ding Mei said, "Today things are really urgent. Don't be anxious! I'm afraid he got the news and ran away." Then he picked up a letter on the desk and handed it to Ding Bozhang.
Ding Bozhang took a look and saw that the address on the envelope was from a Taoist priest in Xianyang, and the handwriting was that of his subordinate. He took out the letter and found some trivial daily matters written in it. Ding Bozhang asked: "What's this?"
Ding Mei silently handed him a confession. After Ding Bozhang read it, his heart beat like thunder.
The confession was Le Lan's. Since it was clear that the Cao family had an adulterer and he was not the Marquis of Cai, this name would inevitably come back to Le Lan. Ding Mei issued a military order to the King of Qin to pry open Le Lan's confession within fifteen days.
Mouth.
Three days ago, Ding Mei went to see Le Lan alone. After looking at him for half a day, she said seriously: "I know what crime you have committed, and you know it. I know you have not committed any crime, and you also know it. But you don't know.
Whichever is more serious, which is less serious. The crime you think is serious can be offset by the merit; the crime you think is light, as long as you don't clean it up, there will be no suspicion, even if it is just a 'suspicious' one without conclusive evidence.
You will also die without a burial place. Master Le, you know what I am talking about."
Le Lan raised her eyes and asked, "What did Master Ding say?"
Ding Mei said: "I say, having an affair with Shu is a small matter, but having an affair with the prince and his mother is a big deal."
Le Lan's face remained calm: "I can't understand what Lord Ding said."
Ding Mei smiled and said: "You don't know yet. Your accomplices have abandoned you. They rescued Cao's nephew, Huang Widow, the old madam of Baihualou and others, but they won't save you. Mr. Le, you are an abandoned son.
.”
Le Lan closed her eyes slightly: "I really don't know what Master Ding means."
"Ah, no. They didn't abandon their children." Ding Mei said, "Do you know a little maid? She was with Bai Lan, the oiran of Baihua House in Xianyang. She later followed Bai Lan and fled to Chang'an, hiding in Ding Bozhang's mansion. She was not exposed in the first place.
Yes, it's just that Bai Lan became suspicious of her. Official Bi evacuated the people this time and took her away with him. Mr. Le is in prison and really doesn't know what happened outside. Let's do it. Sir, go out for a walk. "
Le Lan was slightly startled and raised her head: "Master Ding, please put down your official position and go out?"
Ding Mei smiled and said: "I'm just letting you go shopping. Of course there will be people watching you from a distance. I'll give Master Le...well...three hours should be enough. You can walk around the teahouses, taverns, flower streets and willow lanes, and listen to the people in the market.
What are you talking about? There was a very lively incident a few days ago, and it is being discussed in Chang'an right now. But Mr. Le cannot go back home, so you can go elsewhere as you like." After saying this, without waiting for Le Lan's reply, he stood up and said, "Come on.
Sir, please wash up and change your clothes, Master Le." He turned around and left.
Two jailers brought water basins in. One opened the iron lock on Le Lan's body, and the other washed his face. Le Lan just let others serve him, thoughtfully. After washing, the jailers brought a complete set of clothes, shoes and socks. It was brand new inside and out, but the style was a bit tacky. After Le Lan put it on, he immediately became a rich man. The jailer handed him another purse, which contained twenty taels of scattered silver. Then he opened the cell door respectfully. He said: "Master Le, please help yourself." Le Lan coughed and walked out with his hands behind his back.
Because he was imprisoned for committing adultery with the Cao family, it didn't take long for the crime to be transferred to Cai Guohou. Therefore, although he suffered some minor crimes, he did not receive a serious punishment. Even so, he stayed in prison. It was also killing her energy. As soon as she stepped out of the prison gate, large swaths of snowflakes fell in front of her, and the jailer also sent a green leather umbrella. Le Lan opened the umbrella and stood there for a long time, looking up and around with mixed feelings.
The jailer said: "The snow started falling in the middle of the night yesterday and it doesn't show any intention of stopping. Please be careful on the road."
Le Lan looked at the fact that there was no snow under his feet. There were people in orange clothes sweeping away in the distance. It was Liu Feng's arrangement to send extra people to clean up the snow on snowy days. In previous years, Le Lan traveled in winter. He was either riding in a car or in a sedan chair. He always complained that Liu Feng was a common man and that the beautiful snow scene had completely damaged him. Today it was his turn to walk. He was still wearing ordinary cotton shoes, and the north wind somehow got in. , it was as cold as a knife, so I understood the benefits of clearing the snow. So I walked to the street, hired a carriage and went to the lively place.
After just sitting in the teahouse for a while, I heard someone talking about what happened at Chunfeng Tower a few days ago. Le Lan ordered a pot of tea and some snacks, and then asked the waiter: "I went on a long trip and was not in Chang'an a while ago. , may I ask what excitement you missed?"
The waiter immediately said: "Uncle, you were not in Chang'an a while ago? Oops, you really missed a big event! Just wait, I will get tea for you and let you know when I come back!"
Then I heard a tea guest in the next seat say loudly: "Brother, were you not in Chang'an a while ago?" Le Lan nodded. The man immediately said, "I'll tell you, I'll tell you! The excitement is getting louder!" He also said You're welcome, he picked up his teapot and teacup and walked across from Le Lan.
The waiter smiled and said: "You say it, you say it! I'm going to get some tea." He smiled and walked away.
The tea guest shook his head and started talking, even dancing when he got up. Le Lan just listened to the beginning, and her heart sank suddenly. Bi Daguan led the troops and kidnapped the guests of Chunfeng Tower, but let Fentou go, asking for Replaced his accomplices in prison. Le Lan was still in prison. The tea guest didn't know how to look at people's faces and just talked with joy. However, when the waiter came to bring tea and snacks, he looked at Le Lan for a long time. Le Lan waved his hand and said, He just puts his things down.
After the tea guest finished speaking, Le Lan's face looked both happy and sad. After a long time, he handed over his hands and said, "Thank you, brother, for telling me. Otherwise, I wouldn't even know what others are talking about."
Only then did the tea guest realize that something was wrong with him: "Brother, is there something wrong?"
Le Lan forced a smile: "To be honest, I often go to Chunfeng Tower. If I hadn't gone to other places this time, Bao Buqi would have been held hostage by gangsters in that building."
The tea guest was careless and said with a smile: "So that's the reason. Don't you understand, brother? Those guests were only trapped for an hour, and then they were replaced by the four adults and King Zhao Qiansui."
Le Lan said: "Having said that, I still feel a little uneasy in my heart. I still won't go to Huajie Liuxiang in the future."
The tea guest laughed and said, "Isn't this because I stopped eating because of choking? It's not that I was choking, but I heard that others were choking." Then they started talking with interest. Le Lan listened half-heartedly, and occasionally chatted with him for a few words.
After leaving the teahouse, Le Lan went elsewhere. Everyone was talking about this, and it was exactly the same.
Three hours later, two people appeared out of nowhere and walked up to Le Lan. Knowing that they were internal guards, Le Lan sighed softly, paid the bill, and left.
Back in the cell, Le Lan lay back on the cold, torn cotton mattress, feeling confused.
Ding Mei came back the next morning, looked at him with a smile and said, "Master Le, have you figured it out? I still say the same thing. Having an affair with Shu is a small matter, but having an affair with the prince and his mother is a big deal. The face of the Tian family is the most important thing."
Le Lan smiled bitterly and said: "I have never had an affair with Empress Cao."
"I know." Ding Mei said coldly, "It was Bi who had an affair with her."
Le Lan said: "Master Ding knows, why do you need to ask me?"
Ding Mei smiled as if the spring breeze was blowing on her face: "Because I have no evidence of your affair with Shu. Now that I know that you have defected to Shu, wouldn't it be good to let you take the blame for your colleagues? The real owner has escaped.
, I can’t catch him. Mr. Le, the weather is getting colder and the Chinese New Year is about to come.”
Le Lan was stunned for a long time and suddenly said: "Why did King Zhao come to Chang'an?"
Ding Mei said: "He really came to travel, but no one believed it, and he was helpless."
"Who would believe that he was not in Zhao and came to Chang'an during the Chinese New Year?"
"Zhao has nothing to do with him. There are ministers involved in state affairs, and he is at odds with Princess Zhao. Empress Dowager Wei wants to come to Chang'an. As a son, it makes sense for him to accompany his mother."
Le Lan hummed: "I don't believe it."
Ding Mei said: "It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. You are just a prisoner." Le Lan choked. Ding Mei said again, "Speaking of which, a few days ago, Mr. Le also rushed to the palace in the middle of the night, vying to be a hostage.
.”
Le Lan was shocked: "What?!"
Ding Mei sighed: "Maybe he wants to make a meritorious service so that his son can be exonerated. The poor old man has no idea what crime you have committed." Le Lan unconsciously covered her forehead. Ding Mei looked at him for a while and turned around.
Gone.
Two hours later, Le Lan confessed. The Taoist priest in Xianyang was Shu's last informant to Le Lan. He should not go to him unless absolutely necessary. He also attached a secret code of intelligence compiled by Shu.
After Ding Bozhang read the confession, he was speechless. Ding Mei said: "I will not let Mr. Ding read the secret messages of the Shu Kingdom."
Ding Bozhang nodded, looking at his niece with mixed feelings. After a while, he asked: "Commander Ding...can you go home to celebrate the New Year this year?"
Ding Mei smiled calmly: "I'll discuss it with my mother later. By the way, I want to take her to live with her. My uncle won't object."
Ding Bozhang frowned: "Your father will not agree."
"It has nothing to do with him." Ding Mei said, "He sent me to have a dark marriage, and he didn't even ask me if I would agree to it when he became a monk."