Wanli said: "How did Yu Jing's account book fall into the hands of bandits? Mou Rongtian, do you know the reason for this?"
Mou Rongtian said: "According to Meng Shanhu's confession, they went down the mountain to rob a man and a woman a few days ago. The man was Yu Jing's bodyguard Zhang Shouyue, and the woman was Yu Jing's seventh concubine Pan Xiaoyun. Meng Shanhu killed them
We arrested Zhang Shouyue and found this account book from Zhang Shouyue."
Wanli said: "How did Zhang Shouyue obtain the account book?"
Mou Rong added: "Pan Xiaoyun knew that there was a notebook hidden in the cushions in Yu Jing's study, and asked Zhang Shouyue to steal the notebook. They used the account book to extort Zhuang Shoufu three thousand taels of gold, and wanted to fly away, but unexpectedly they met him on the way.
Mengshanhu and these bandits.”
Wanli looked at Zhuang Lian and said, "How do you explain the fact that Zhuang Shoufu, Zhang, and Pan blackmailed you?"
Zhuang Lian said: "The old minister has been wronged. There is no such thing." He thought that as soon as Zhang Shouyue died, he would die without any evidence.
Mou Rong added: "Your Majesty, a few days ago, Lord Luo said that Zhang Shou would go to Zhuang Shoufu within five days and give Zhuang Shoufu something. Lord Luo ordered his ministers to set up an ambush in secret, and wait for Zhang Shou to hand over the thing to Zhuang Shou.
After the chief assistant, Zhang Shouyue was captured. I asked Master Luo what Zhang Shouyue wanted to give to Zhuang Shouyu? Master Luo did not allow me to ask any more questions.
"I suspect that when Zhang Shouyue blackmailed Zhuang Shoufu, he must have promised to hand over the account book within five days. The thing Zhang Shouyue wanted to hand over to Zhuang Shoufu must be the account book."
Wanli nodded slightly, feeling that Mou Rongtian's analysis was reasonable, and asked: "Zhuang Lian, what else do you have to say?"
Zhuang Lian was nervous, with big beads of sweat on his forehead. He pondered for a moment and said, "Zhang Shouyue wants to give me something, but I don't know what it is?"
Wanli said: "Why did Luo Sigong arrest Zhang Shouyue? You asked him to do it, right?"
Zhuang Lian said: "It was the veteran who asked Mr. Luo to arrest Zhang Shouyue."
Wanli said: "Why do you do this?"
Zhuang Lian said: "Dongchang is investigating Yu Jing's case. Zhang Shouyue has been following Yu Jing for many years. The veteran estimates that Zhang Shouyue may know some unknown secrets of Yu Jing, and wants Jin Yiwei to capture Zhang Shouyue and send him to
Dongchang, help Dongchang investigate Yu Jing’s case.”
Although Wanli didn't believe what Zhuang Lian said, there was no flaw in what Zhuang Lian said, and there was nothing Wanli could do against him.
Mou Rongtian said: "Your Majesty, the three thousand taels of gold are in Meng Shanhu's stronghold. As long as we find out the source of the gold, the matter will naturally come to light."
Wan Li nodded slightly and said, "What Aiqing said is absolutely true. It's up to you to find out the case."
Mou Rongtian said: "I obey the order."
Zhuang Lian thought to himself: "Zhang Shouyue is dead, and Mou Rongtian may not be able to find out the source of the gold."
Wanli said earnestly: "Zhuang Lian, you are my loyal minister. I don't want you to have problems, but if you do have problems, I will never be soft on you. You all should stand down."
Zhuang Lian, Hai Zhongdi, and Mou Rongtian retreated. The Queen Mother stood up and was about to leave when Wanli said: "Mother, how could the account book be lost? Is there still a thief in the palace? Even if there is a thief, the account book is not there.
It's valuable, how could a thief steal it?" He felt like a mirror in his heart, knowing that the Queen Mother was deliberately protecting Zhuang Lian. He couldn't understand why the Queen Mother did this, but he couldn't ask directly.
The Queen Mother smiled awkwardly and said: "The Aijia can't tell clearly. If the Aijia go back and look for it, we might be able to find it."
Wanli said: "My child is sending me off to my mother."
The Queen Mother returned to Cining Palace, summoned Luo Sigong, and told the story of Wanli's trial in the imperial study room, and said: "We cannot let Mou Rongtian find the gold."
Luo Sigong said: "Don't worry, Queen Mother, Mou Rongtian will never find that gold."
The Queen Mother said: "If Mou Rongtian persists in pursuing the case, it will be troublesome. You have to find a way to stop him."
Luo Sigong said: "I understand." He left the palace, returned to the Jinyiwei General Office, walked into the office, saw Zhuang Lian sitting on the guest chair with a sad face, and closed the door behind him.
Zhuang Lian said anxiously: "Brother Luo, you are finally back. You were in the imperial study room just now..."
Before he could finish his words, Luo Sigong interrupted: "I know everything about the Imperial Study Room."
Zhuang Lian was startled and said, "You are indeed well-informed. You found out so quickly."
Luo Sigong said: "Don't worry, Mou Rongtian can't find the three thousand taels of gold."
Zhuang Lian said: "I borrowed the gold from Dalai Bank. If Mou Rongtian finds out about it, I will be in big trouble."
Luo Sigong frowned and said, "Can't you get three thousand taels of gold from your house? Why do you want to borrow it from Yinhao?"
Zhuang Lian said: "At that time, Zhang Shouyue kept a close eye on me. I didn't dare to go home to get the gold, for fear that he would rob me of all my family property."
Luo Sigong asked, "Did you go to the Dalai Bank with Zhang Shouyue?"
Zhuang Lian nodded.
Luo Sigong frowned again and said, "Tell me more about the situation at that time."
After Zhuang Lian finished speaking, Luo Sigong said angrily: "So many people in the Dalai Bank have seen you and Zhang Shou, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to kill everyone in the Dalai Bank?"
Kill them all?"
Zhuang Lian had a sad face and didn't answer.
Luo Sigong pondered for a moment, sighed, and said, "Brother Zhuang, Brother Zhuang, let me tell you what's good about you."
Zhuang Lian said: "If you are really in trouble, then I will surrender to the Holy One. Don't worry, I will never involve you."
Luo Sigong said: "Don't rush to surrender yet, let me think of a way."
Mou Rongtian returned to Fusi, Beizhen, and left Beijing with Shi Yi. A few days later, they arrived at Mengshan Mountain. The two tied their horses at the foot of the mountain and hiked up the mountain. They found the Mengshan Tiger's stronghold. Shi Yi shouted in front of the stronghold.
: "Which one is the leader? Come and talk to me."
There were several minions standing on the wall of the village. They were very nervous when they saw the Jin Yiwei coming. One of them shouted: "What do you want to do?"
Shi Yi shouted: "Don't get me wrong, we have no ill intentions and are not here to attack the stronghold. Call your leader out. We have something to say."
The soldier said: "The master of the first village and the master of the second village have gone out to do business."
Shi Yi said: "Who is in charge of the village now?"
The soldier said: "Master Li Jiu is in charge."
Shi Yi said: "Call him here."
The soldier went to report the news. After a while, a middle-aged man climbed up the wall of the village, raised his fist towards Mou Rongtian and Shi Yi, and said, "I am Li Jiu, what do you call me?"
Shi Yi said: "My officer, Yanzi Shi Yi, is the famous Detective Qianhu of Beizhen Fusi, Iron Tiger Mou Rongtian."
Li Jiu smiled and said: "It turns out it's Master Shi and Master Mou. I'm disrespectful and disrespectful. I wonder what you two are doing here?"
Shi Yi said: "Some time ago, did you arrest a woman named Pan Xiaoyun and steal three thousand taels of gold?"
Li Jiudao: "Yes, this is indeed the case."
Shi Yi said: "Hand over Pan Xiaoyun and the gold, we will take them away."
Li Jiudao: "Pan Xiaoyun is dead, and the gold was robbed."
When Shi Yi and Mou Rongtian heard this, they were both startled. Mou Rongtian thought to himself: "This must be someone sent by Master Luo to do this."
Shi Yi didn't know what to do next, so he turned to look at Mou Rongtian. Mou Rongtian asked: "Li Jiu, how did Pan Xiaoyun die? Who robbed the gold?"
Li Jiudao: "Two nights ago, a masked man in black came. The gold was robbed by that man, and Pan Xiaoyun was also killed by him. He not only killed Pan Xiaoyun, but also killed several of our brothers."
Mou Rongtian asked: "Is what you said true?"
Li Jiudao: "It's all the truth. How dare you deceive Master Mou. Pan Xiaoyun's body is buried in the back mountain. If Master Mou doesn't believe it, I can take you to see it."
Mou Rongtian said: "Okay, you take us to have a look."
Li Jiudao: "Master Mou, you won't take the opportunity to arrest Xiao Xiao and attack our mountain stronghold, right?"
Mou Rongtian said: "Don't worry, the purpose of our trip is Pan Xiaoyun and the three thousand taels of gold, and we will never embarrass you."
Li Jiudao: "Master Mou, you must keep your word."
Shi Yi shouted: "What are you writing about? Will Mr. Mou still lie to you? You are a small village. If we want to attack, do we need to bother with you? Stop talking nonsense and come out and lead the way."
Li Jiudao: "Then I will trust you once." He ordered the soldiers: "Open the gate of the village."
One of the soldiers said: "Master Jiu, the gate of the village cannot be opened. What if they don't keep their word and attack?"
Li Jiudao: "If they want to attack the stronghold, do you think this stronghold wall can stop them? Stop talking nonsense and open the stronghold gate quickly."
After a while, the village gate opened wide, and Li Jiu came out with a few minions carrying shovels.
Mou Rongtian and others, led by Li Jiu, came to the back mountain and saw a cemetery on the hillside. Some graves had tombstones in front of them, while others did not. Those tombstones were very simple, all made of wood.
Li Jiu came to a grave and said, "Pan Xiaoyun is buried here."
When Mou Rongtian saw the tombstone written "Tomb of Pan Xiaoyun, Mrs. Yazhai", he thought: "It seems that it is not false." But he did not dare to be careless and said: "dig out the body, I want to check it."
Li Jiu called on the minions to start, and several minions dug the grave with shovels. After a while, Pan Xiaoyun's body was dug out. She had just died and the body had not yet rotted. Mou Rongtian knew Pan Xiaoyun, and it turned out to be her.
Asked: "Li Jiu, have you seen the man in black who killed Pan Xiaoyun?"
Li Jiudao: "I wasn't there at the time, but the brothers were."
Mou Rongtian asked: "What's that person's figure?"
Li Jiudao: "I heard from my brothers that the man is not short, about five feet three or four inches tall. He is tall and strong."
Mou Rongtian asked: "What kind of guy are you using?"
Li Jiudao: "A ghost-headed sword."
Mou Rongtian thought to himself: "Who could this person be?" He pondered for a moment and then asked: "Has all the gold been taken away? Didn't Mengshan Tiger get so much gold and not give you any?"
Li Jiudao: "After the leader of the village got the gold, he was in a hurry to do something, but he didn't have time to share it."
Mou Rong added: "Have you seen this gold?"
Li Jiudao: "I've seen it before, young one."
Mou Rongtian asked: "Is there a silver mark on the base of the gold ingot?"
Li Jiudao: "It has the stamp of a silver number."
Mou Rongtian asked: "Which bank is it?"
Li Jiu recalled it for a moment and said, "There is a silver number coming from the capital."
Mou Rongtian was overjoyed and thought: "Following this clue, we will surely find evidence of Zhuang Lian's crime."