When Zhao Hongrun, his uncle Zhao Yuanli, Zong Wei Weijiao and others came to the office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs again, the office was still blocked by military guards and imperial guards, and no one could enter unless they were relevant persons.
Of course, with the temporary promotion of "Inspector", Zhao Hongrun still entered the house unimpeded.
He went straight to the internal storage of the Ministry of Personnel, because Zhao Hongrun felt that since this was most likely the place where Zhou Yan, the Minister of Punishment, was knocked unconscious and kidnapped, then there was a high probability that Zhou Yan also stayed here.
What clue.
However, when Zhao Hongrun and his party arrived at the warehouse, he was shocked to find that most of the soldiers and imperial guards who had been guarding the inside and outside of the warehouse had withdrawn for some reason.
The remaining people were putting the boxes of official registration rolls that had been moved out of the warehouse two days ago back to their original positions.
What made Zhao Hongrun even more concerned was that he did not see the chief inspector of Dali Temple, Xurong, here, but only the deputy inspector of Daliang Prefecture, Chu Shuli.
"Master Chu, what's going on?"
Zhao Hongrun asked in shock when he saw Chu Shuli standing outside the storehouse from a distance, instructing the guards to return the official register to its original place.
Chu Shuli looked back and was very surprised when he saw Zhao Yuanli next to Zhao Hongrun.
After all, Zhao Yuanli, the "Sixth Prince" who never interfered with court matters, was extremely famous in Daliang, especially among the aristocratic circles in Daliang City. It seemed that this Sixth Prince could mingle with all kinds of nobles.
Although this prince does not have any real power in his hands, he has a wide network of contacts.
"Prince Yi?" Chu Shuli came to Zhao Yuanli and Zhao Hongrun, bowed his hands and said, "Chu Shuli meets Prince Yi and pays homage to His Highness Prince Su."
Zhao Yuanli waved his hand and said with a somewhat sad look on his face: "I have just returned to Daliang. I heard from Hongrun that Lord Zhou Yanzhou, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, was killed, so I came to take a look..." As he said that, he raised his finger.
He pointed to Zhao Hongrun beside him, indicating that Chu Shuli should not pay too much attention to his arrival.
Seeing this, Chu Shuli understood in his heart, turned his head and cupped his hand towards Zhao Hongrun: "His Royal Highness King Su."
Zhao Hongrun naturally wouldn't mind if Chu Shuli saluted Zhao Yuanli first, waved his hand and said: "Master Chu is so polite...Master Chu, what are you..." He pointed to the soldiers and guards who were carrying the official roster.
A dim look flashed in Chu Shuli's eyes, and he whispered: "Your Highness, please take a step to speak." As he said that, he glanced at Zhao Yuanli apologetically, and Zhao Yuanli waved his hand to indicate that he didn't mind.
.
Zhao Hongrun naturally understood Chu Shuli's scruples, so he didn't say anything more and followed Chu Shuli a few steps further to a remote corner.
At this time, Chu Shuli whispered to him: "Your Highness, I don't dare to investigate anymore..."
Of course Zhao Hongrun understood the profound meaning of Chu Shuli's words: It was not easy to catch Yu Yan, a member of the evil gang, but the result was that he immediately alerted Emperor Wei of Chui Gong Palace. Even in the end, before Dali Temple could interrogate Yu Yan, Wei Emperor
The emperor then killed Yu Yan.
What this means is obvious.
With such a huge weathervane in front of him, how could Chu Shuli dare to investigate further?
"No more investigation?" Zhao Hongrun was shocked when he heard this, and asked urgently: "What should Zhou Shangshu do?"
"Your Highness, please don't embarrass me." Chu Shuli said with a wry smile on his face: "Whether it is Mr. Xu or the veteran, we both hope to track down the murderer who harmed Zhou Shangshu, but...but what happened yesterday
"Your Highness, you have also seen it. It's not that I don't want to investigate, but I don't dare to investigate anymore..."
"Then how will the case be closed?" Zhao Hongrun was silent for a moment and asked seemingly calmly: "How to reply to Zhou Shangshu's wife?"
Chu Shuli moved his lips, maybe because he wanted to say something, but maybe because of his scruples, he did not say what was in his heart after all. He just shook his head and sighed slightly: "First... let's delay it for a while, Zhou
The case of Shangshu has shocked the entire Liang Dynasty. If the case is closed hastily, it will definitely arouse discussion between the government and the public. As for after a while... it depends on the intention of Chui Gongdian."
After saying that, he glanced at Zhao Hongrun nervously, because the tone of his last sentence was slightly complaining.
But what surprised him was that Zhao Hongrun was frowning and had a sulky look on his face.
"The dignified Minister of Punishment was killed, and the murderer has not been traced, so the matter was left unsolved?" Zhao Hongrun stared at Chu Shuli. The momentum he had cultivated when he commanded 200,000 Wei troops instantly overwhelmed Chu Shuli and left him breathless.
"Your Highness, please calm down. Your Highness, please calm down." Chu Shuli saluted with his hands raised repeatedly, and said repeatedly: "I hope Your Highness will forgive me for the difficulty I and others face... I kneel down to you, Old Minister."
Chu Shuli is not worried that His Highness Su Wang in front of him will spread his complaints about Emperor Wei to Chui Gong Palace. Instead, he is more worried about what His Highness Su Wang will do out of anger. After all, His Highness Su Wang in front of him is indeed
He sincerely wanted to track down the murderer of Zhou Yan, the Minister of Punishment.
"..." Zhao Hongrun promptly supported Chu Shuli, who was about to kneel down after being forced to the ground. He sighed for a long time and said in a deep voice: "I understand... I have offended you so much, I hope Chu Shuli will not blame you."
Seeing that Zhao Hongrun's aura suddenly disappeared, Chu Shuli breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, I heard Zhao Hongrun say seriously: "Master Chu, please go back for the time being, but the soldiers and guards here must not be withdrawn for the time being... I am also an inspector after all, so the two elders will not investigate anymore.
Then let me investigate!"
"Your Highness, you..."
"The king has made up his mind. There is no need to persuade Master Chu!" Zhao Hongrun raised his hand to interrupt Chu Shuli's words.
Seeing this, Chu Shuli opened his mouth, but finally just nodded.
After all, all the ministers in the court knew that His Highness Prince Su was stubborn and conceited. Once he decided on something, even the person in Chui Gong Palace would find it difficult to make His Highness change his mind, let alone others.
"Old minister...resign." With a bit of shame, Chu Shuli, the chief minister of Daliang Mansion, bowed deeply to Zhao Hongrun with his hands, and then left with a solemn figure.
After watching Chu Shuli leave from a distance, Zhao Yuanli walked over. Seeing Zhao Hongrun's face looking ugly, he asked, "What's wrong, Hongrun?"
Zhao Hongrun took a long breath and said inexplicably: "They are afraid... They are afraid that this case will involve some ulterior past affairs of my father, so they dare not continue the investigation."
"..." Zhao Yuanli's eyes twitched slightly, and then he said with a smile: "What are you talking about? Does your father have any ulterior motives?"
Zhao Hongrun glanced at Zhao Yuanli and said nothing.
In fact, Zhao Hongrun has learned about several dark histories of his father so far, such as Xiong Tuo, Lord of Yangcheng, and Yuma of Dang County, which are not glorious things.
It's just that Zhao Hongrun never mentioned it.
Because he felt that it was a decision made by his father out of the interests of the country. Although the method was not glorious, it was beneficial to the entire Wei State.
Therefore, he can understand and accept these dark histories of his father.
Including the dark history of his father behind the case.
Because he believed that even if his father had done something ulterior, it was for the benefit of the entire country.
Zhao Hongrun took an oil lamp from the guard room of the warehouse and walked to the door of the warehouse. He did not move for a while.
Seeing this, Zhao Yuanli asked curiously: "Hongrun, what are you doing?"
Zhao Hongrun was seen looking at the storage room in front of him, and whispered: "In fact, Mr. Chu Shuli and Chu have led the soldiers and guards to rummage through the storage room here several times, but they still haven't found any clues. This is enough." It proves that searching for a needle in a haystack is not the best way. Therefore, I plan to use another method."
"Another way?"
"Well, using a deductive reasoning method... I plan to reproduce Zhou Shangshu's actions here that day, and maybe I will gain something."
After hearing this, Zhao Yuanli showed a little surprise on his face, and asked incredulously: "Is it possible to do such a thing?"
"Try it, Uncle Six should know that I can have a photographic memory." Zhao Hongrun licked his lips, and after staring at the oil lamp in his hand, he fell silent.
Seeing this, Zhao Yuanli and the Zongwei took two steps back one after another, not daring to disturb them.
At this time, Zhao Hongrun had already walked into the row of storage rooms in front of him holding an oil lamp, muttering something to himself.
"... Holding an oil lamp, Zhou Shangshu walked into the warehouse. He was looking for the official register... He looked for Wang Ling first because Wang Ling was his old friend..." Speaking of this, Zhao Hongrun recalled: "Wang Ling , he was transferred from outside in the second year of Hongde...the second year of Hongde."
He raised his hand and brushed a label on the wooden shelf.
"The first year of Hongde... no, the second year of Hongde... that's it." Glancing at the label, Zhao Hongrun muttered in a low voice: "The arrangement of the official register is based on the surnames. Wang... the fourth Order."
Zhao Hongrun walked a few steps towards the depths of the warehouse, holding an oil lamp in his right hand and holding on to the wooden frame in front of him with his left hand.
In fact, the soldiers and guards here have searched many times and cannot find Wang Ling's official registration list at all.
However, Zhao Hongrun did not need such a thing at this time, because in his mind, the official register of Wang Ling was "placed" there.
"...Zhou Shangshu found Wang Ling's official register. He was going to look through it, but he was holding an oil lamp in his hand... so he put down the oil lamp..." After looking around, Zhao Hongrun placed the oil lamp in his hand where it was most convenient. Location - the edge of the next shelf.
It has to be said that if Zhou Yan, the Minister of Punishment, was still alive and saw Zhao Hongrun's conclusion with his own eyes, perhaps he would be more willing to make friends with Zhao Hongrun, because the position where Zhao Hongrun placed the oil lamp was exactly where Zhou Yan placed the oil lamp that day.
"...Zhou Shangshu looked through Wang Ling's official register. He found something, but he was not sure of his guess, so he quickly looked for Ma Qi and Su Li's official register..." Zhao Hongrun turned around and scanned Look at the two rows of wooden frames on both sides.
Looking at Zhao Hongrun's appearance as if possessed by an evil spirit, Zhao Yuanli and the Zongwei looked at each other in confusion.