Chapter 802

Zhou Min's widow?

Hearing this, Xu Qi 'an's first reaction was: She's lying.

Other than the officials, all the officials in Daibun, from the governor of a state to the governor of a county, were all foreigners.

As a member of the Imperial Command, Zhou Min of the Records Department was no exception. Moreover, Governor was his official position on the surface, but his identity was a night watchman's spy.

Would Wei Yuan let a spy keep his wife and child by his side? Wouldn't that make him a traitor at any moment?

"Zhou Min?" Inspector Zhang frowned, "What injustice did he suffer?"

He had an attitude of "I don't know who Zhou Min is".

Yang Yingying said sorrowfully, "My husband was originally a Governor of Yunzhou's Imperial Command."

Inspector Zhang was shocked, his attitude suddenly changed, he bent down to help Yang Yingying up, "So it's Governor Zhou's wife, what happened to Governor Zhou? Why did Madam give up what was close at hand and go to Qingzhou to complain?

"Qingzhou and Yunzhou are the same level of states, then Governor Yang may not take over this case. Yes, I am Yunzhou's Inspector, the three departments of Yunzhou have to listen to me. If Madam has any grievances, feel free to say it. "

So not only were women born to be actors, the acting skills of officials were also top-notch … Xu Qi 'an watched silently from the side, watching Old Zhang's performance.

Yang Yingying hesitated for a moment, she stared at Inspector Zhang and said, "Daren, can this commoner take a look at your appointment document, or perhaps, your official seal?"

Once these words came out, Inspector Zhang and the night watchmen all frowned.

The gongs and gongs couldn't help but press down on the hilt of their knives, scrutinizing Yang Yingying.

This was not something an ordinary commoner woman could say, even if she was Governor Zhou's wife.

She knew the market very well … Xu Qi 'an also held the hilt of his knife, staring at Yang Yingying seriously. This woman didn't have the slightest fluctuation of Qi, judging from the coverage of her body fat, she didn't look like she practiced martial arts.

But he could only rule out the possibility that she was a martial artist, other systems were flashy, there were too many tricks, he couldn't let his guard down.

Imperial Inspector Zhang took two steps back without batting an eyelid, he said, "I'll have to trouble Jiang Jinluo to retrieve my official documents and seal."

Coward … Jiang Lüzhong squinted at him, took the document and official seal.

Inspector Zhang didn't take it, ignoring Jiang Lüzhong, looked at Jiang Lüzhong, "Since you are Governor Zhou's wife, I allow you to take a look."

Jiang Lüzhong had to step forward, showed the document and official seal.

Yang Yingying looked at it carefully for a long time. In fact, it was the first time for her to read an appointment document. She searched for the words "Yunzhou" and "Inspector-General" and then saw the bright red seal. She no longer had any doubts.

Up until now, the fact that the other party was willing to argue with a weak woman like her for so long was actually a kind of sincerity and style.

Yang Yingying knelt down again, kowtowed and said, "I'm Yang Yingying, a woman from the Musical House in Yunzhou. A few years ago, I met and fell in love with Lord Zhou. After that, I got rid of my status and have been serving Lord Zhou …"

Everyone tacitly revealed an expression that said "I see".

… So she's a seafood merchant. No wonder she's more knowledgeable than the average woman. She even knows how to read official documents and official seals. Xu Qi 'an suddenly understood.

In this era, seafood merchants were a highly educated and cultured group of women. In this era, seafood merchants were a highly educated and cultured group.

Yang Yingying briefly talked about her past with Zhou Min and frankly said that she was a woman who was raised outside and that Zhou Min would only meet her once in a while.

"Some time ago, Zhou Min suddenly came to me and gave me an item. He said that he might be in danger soon, and if he really met with an accident, he asked me to hide immediately, then find a way to leave Yunzhou and give this item to Qingzhou's administrative envoy, Mr. Yang.

"Not long after, I received the news of Zhou Min's death …" Yang Yingying's tears fell, choking with sobs.

"I was sad and scared, so I didn't dare to stay anymore, so I hid in a sister's house, asking her to inquire about the news.

"After hiding for a while, my sister told me that Mr. Zhao's caravan would go to Qingzhou soon, so I borrowed 20 taels of silver from her, bought a horse, and left Yunzhou with the caravan …"

Everyone knew what happened after that.

Xu Qi 'an looked at Yang Yingying's micro-expressions coldly. This time, when she spoke, her eyes were impartial, and her voice was full of sorrow and emotion.

He couldn't see any signs of falsehood.

Therefore, he tried to find clues from Yang Yingying's words. Zhou Min didn't reveal his identity as a night watchman, even though he was a trustworthy friend of Guan Bao. This meant that Zhou Min was a qualified night watchman.

If he revealed his identity easily, it would be very suspicious.

As for why he went to Qingzhou to find Layman Zi Yang instead of the neighboring provinces, Xu Qi 'an's judgment was that Zhou Min didn't trust anyone but the great scholar of Yunlu Academy.

First of all, compared to ordinary scholars, the great scholar of Yunlu Academy was more trustworthy because of his cultivation system. After all, bad people couldn't follow the Confucian system.

Secondly, the scholars of Yunlu Academy and the Imperial College had a fight for orthodoxy. Adhering to the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, finding Layman Zi Yang was the right choice.

Inspector Zhang frowned, "You suspect that Zhou Min was killed."

Yang Yingying nodded, "Isn't it obvious? I beg you, Sir, to help my husband."

"This …" Inspector Zhang pondered for a moment, "Okay, I promise you. Take out the last thing that Zhou Min left for you."

Yang Yingying immediately kowtowed, "Thank you, Sir."

Xu Qi 'an couldn't help but look at him in a new light. Old Zhang's scheming was not bad. He was indeed a wily old fox in the officialdom. Those who worked for Wei Yuan all had dirty hearts.

Yang Yingying straightened her body, put her hand into her bosom, and took out half a jade pendant. She presented it with both hands, "This was what Sir Zhou gave to me that night."

Everyone's eyes were focused on the jade pendant.

It was a semicircle jade pendant. Its entire body was translucent green. It was supposed to be a round jade, but it was cut in the middle by a sharp weapon and split into two.

Jiang Lvzhong took the jade pendant and passed it to Inspector Zhang. The latter held it with his fingertips and rubbed it, muttering to himself.

"This looks like a keepsake?" Jiang Lvzhong said in a low voice. When he finished, he looked at Xu Qi 'an, asking for his opinion.

Inspector Zhang also looked over.

What are you looking at me for? I can investigate cases, but I'm not a fortune-teller … The two of you didn't even try to hide your thoughts of using me as a tool … Xu Qi 'an pondered, "Let's go to Yunzhou first. What's the use of guessing blindly?"

Inspector Zhang kept the jade pendant and ordered the officers and soldiers, "Continue to move forward to Yunzhou."

They dug a pit on the spot to bury the corpses. They brought the surviving peddlers and goods along with them. The troops continued their journey, following the official road to Yunzhou.

…

On this rare morning, Huaiqing finished her sword practice and was about to call the palace maids to prepare hot water. When she turned her head, she saw two palace maids sitting in the pavilion playing chess.

Huaiqing frowned. It was not that she was dissatisfied with the palace maids playing chess, but they didn't know how to play chess at all.

She didn't say anything and walked into the pavilion in silence, watching the two palace maids playing chess.

The pretty little palace maids were so engrossed in the game of chess that they didn't notice their masters approaching.

They did not know how to play chess, nor did they know how to fight for an advantageous position. Moreover, their moves were as swift as the wind, patter patter patter, as if they did not need to think.

Huaiqing's frown deepened. This kind of play-like play was very uncomfortable for a great chess player like her. But after watching for a while, she understood.

This kind of chess was very simple. It was a competition to see who could arrange five pieces first, whether it was vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. It didn't matter. Whoever could arrange five pieces in a row first would be the winner.

She couldn't help but ask, "What kind of chess is this?"

The two palace maids trembled in fear. They hurriedly stood up and answered softly, "It's Five in a Row."

Five in a Row? What was this thing?

The knowledgeable Huaiqing was stunned for a moment.

The other palace maid explained, "It was spread out from Princess Lin An's side. Now it has spread in the Palace and everyone is playing."

She was referring to the eunuchs and palace maids in the Palace.

"One heard that even Imperial Consort Chen also said that it is interesting." The other palace maid said.

Lin An? She was just a stupid girl … Huaiqing nodded her head, "Bengong want to take a bath. Tell the cook not to prepare lunch."

Yuanjing Emperor wanted to hold a family banquet this morning and the Princes and Princesses had to go to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to eat.

After the bath, Princess Huaiqing left the courtyard and headed to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

She met her siblings in the magnificent hall. In places where she was not around, Lin An, who liked to wear red dresses and gorgeous jewellery, would be the center of conversation.

Today was somewhat different. The Imperial siblings only nodded their heads to greet Huaiqing before continuing the topic just now.

"Lin An has created a school of chess. The rules of Five in a Row are easy to understand and it is more interesting to play. Even the servants in my Palace can easily pick it up and play with relish."

"Our Princess Lin An's name will also spread far and wide."

Her face was round and her peach blossom eyes were charming. She enjoyed the flattery of her siblings and her lips hooked up into a sweet smile but she pretended to be reserved and modest.

Like a proud little hen that wanted to show off but was holding it in.

Seeing Huaiqing coming in, she slightly raised her snow-white chin and put on a proud posture.

Quickly be jealous of me, quickly be jealous of me … She muttered in her heart and glanced at Huaiqing from the corner of her eyes.

But the aloof Huaiqing only sat there and drank a few mouthfuls of tea, not paying attention to her stupid younger sister.

Humph … Huaiqing is indeed jealous of me. She comforted herself with a sentence in her heart.

Princess Huaiqing was an unsociable Imperial Princess. This was not only because she was proud, but also because her thoughts were unpredictable to the Princes and Princesses. The topics discussed by the Princesses were beautiful clothes and rouge, but she was interested in the Four Books and Five Classics.

When the Princes discussed politics and the overall situation, she would say: How to solve the flood, how to manage the officials?

Who the hell knew that the princes would feel terrible? We're talking about the big picture, a macro problem. Aren't you just bickering?

Near noon, the eunuch of the Yuanjing Emperor's Palace came to invite the Princes and Princesses.

She followed behind the Crown Prince brother with her skirt flying. Suddenly she heard Huaiqing's voice behind her, "Lin An."

"Heh," Fan Lan burst into laughter. He couldn't control his expression at all and said proudly, "What?"

When the other Princes walked away, Huaiqing said lightly, "Who taught you Five in a Row?"

"I created it by myself." Lin An was actually very confused because it was Xu Qi 'an who taught her. She should not use it against her conscience. But her brothers' words were so nice that she could not stop.

"I will say that Xu Ningyan taught me after a while …" she thought.

"Later, when my father asks about it, you better say the same thing." Huai Qing walked outside, and his cold and pleasant voice was mixed with a warning.

"Father doesn't like that guy. You should use your brain when talking."

After that, Huaiqing added, "If you have it."

She swallowed the word "why". She was like a little lion baring its teeth and claws. She caught up with Huaiqing and said angrily,

"You have no brain, you have no brain!"

"I am more beautiful and smarter than you. You see, Xu Ningyan is willing to work for me. He doesn't want you."

Huai Qing abruptly stopped in his tracks and gave him a stern look.

She jumped back like a vigorous cat. She felt that she was too timid and stared back stubbornly with her peach blossom eyes.

Princess Huaiqing raised her hand.

"Brother Crown Prince, Huaiqing wants to hit me." She screamed and ran away.

At the banquet, Yuanjing Emperor asked about it as expected.

How did Huaiqing know that father was going to ask … Lin An was shocked and looked at the annoying Huaiqing subconsciously. She had no expression on her beautiful face and was eating.

She rolled her eyes and said coquettishly with a smile, "Because Lin An is father's daughter. Father is the smartest person in the world."

Yuanjing Emperor laughed heartily.

Father had been paying attention to the situation in the palace, just like he silently looked down at the court … Huaiqing ate without changing her expression.

She didn't train her own cronies in the palace and never actively inquired about the news in the palace. She didn't even know about the recently spread five-in-a-row.

It was not that Huaiqing didn't know, but she didn't want to know.

Princess Huaiqing had to admit that although her sister Lin An was extremely stupid, she was useful even if she was useless. It all depended on how you used her.

At least in terms of pleasing his father, no one in the Imperial Palace could surpass Lin 'an, including those concubines who were not favored or had been favored before.