Gu Feng walked in the darkness with an expressionless face.
When a light appeared in front of him, the haze on his face seemed to be dispelled by the light, and Hexi's smile hung on his face again.
In the interview just now, he gained two important pieces of information.
First, King Zhou and Princess Taiping have discovered the secret treasury of the Wei family.
Second, the buckle he left behind was indeed on Yan Yaosheng, and the King of Zhou had already targeted the murderer among the servants of the Wei family.
He now needs to know the progress of King Zhou's investigation immediately.
No one in Chang'an City was afraid of Zhou Wang Wu Chengsi's ability to solve cases.
If Wu Chengsi had any other clues, he would have no choice but to leave the Duke's Mansion.
When walking through a corridor, a maid suddenly came forward.
The maid's eyes lit up instantly when she saw Gu Feng, she trotted over and said happily: "Gu Feng, are you here to see me?"
Gu Feng's face was full of worry and he said: "I heard that there was a murder case in the Duke's Mansion. Even His Royal Highness King Zhou and His Royal Highness Princess Taiping came over. Sister Zhou, are you okay?"
The maid named Zhou waved her hands and said, "What can I do?"
His face suddenly became a little heavy, and he said: "But my eldest uncle is dead. I heard that his death was tragic. Fortunately, you didn't see it, otherwise I might have frightened you."
Gu Feng said in shock: "Master Yan is such a good person, who would kill him?"
The maid named Zhou took a few steps closer to him and lowered her voice: "His Royal Highness King Zhou has found the murderer."
Gu Feng's face changed slightly and he said: "Really, really, who is it?" As he asked, he paid careful attention to his surroundings.
"I heard it's Old Deng who guards the tea garden. He always likes to peek at me lewdly. I've known for a long time that he's not a good person." The maid surnamed Zhou snorted.
Gu Feng smiled and said: "Sister Zhou is so beautiful, everyone likes to take a second look at her."
After a pause, he asked again: "I wonder how they found out that the murderer belonged to Lao Deng?"
The maid surnamed Zhou was so elated by the praise that she naturally had nothing to hide.
"I heard that there was a wound on my aunt's body. They judged from the wound that the murderer was very short, and then they called the short servants in the house one by one into the study for questioning."
Gu Feng's face changed slightly.
The maid named Zhou put a hand on his shoulder and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, Lao Deng was arrested as soon as he was called in. They didn't question other servants."
Gu Feng touched his chin and said:
"It's really strange. Even if Lao Deng is really the murderer, he wouldn't admit it. How did they know for sure that the murderer was Lao Deng?"
The maid named Zhou smiled sweetly and said:
"You don't know, that guy Lao Deng has a guilty conscience. When His Highness King Zhou asked him to kick the wall, he refused to do anything, and that's when his flaw was exposed."
Gu Feng's eyes flashed slightly and he said with a smile: "Sister knows very well. Could it be that she was nearby at that time?"
"She is just a little maid, so she has no right to enter the master's study. Miss Qi saw it. After she came out, she quietly told us sisters what happened inside."
The maid named Zhou answered and gently touched Gu Feng's shoulder.
Gu Feng nodded slightly. Miss Qi was Miss Wei's personal maid, and her status in the mansion was similar to that of a housekeeper. It was not surprising that she could enter the study.
"Then Master, do they believe that Lao Deng is the murderer?" Gu Feng took off the hand of the maid named Zhou.
The maid named Zhou glanced at him resentfully, nodded and said:
"Both the master and the eldest lady believe that the murderer is Lao Deng, because the eldest uncle always felt that Lao Deng was too wretched and wanted to fire him, so he had a grudge and killed the eldest uncle."
Gu Feng said: "So, Lao Deng has been taken to Jingzhao Mansion?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because His Royal Highness the King of Zhou still has doubts."
Gu Feng squinted his eyes and smiled: "What else does he doubt?"
"I heard from Miss Qi that His Royal Highness the King of Zhou did not find the clothes with missing buttons in Lao Deng's house. He said that if no evidence is found, it cannot be concluded that Lao Deng is the murderer."
Gu Feng sighed and said: "His Royal Highness the King of Zhou is worthy of being the King of Zhou. He is indeed meticulous in handling cases."
The maid surnamed Zhou hummed: "I think it's unnecessary for him. Old Deng is the only one in our house who can do such a thing. How can anyone else hurt my uncle!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that Gu Feng turned around and walked away, shouting hurriedly: "Where are you going?"
Gu Feng waved his hand without looking back and said, "It's getting late. Sister Zhou, please rest early."
Returning to his residence, Gu Feng took out a piece of clothing from the cabinet, and then opened a locked wooden box. There was a pure black kitten lying inside.
The cat slowly opened its eyes, saw Gu Feng, jumped up, and jumped onto his shoulder.
Gu Feng took some cat food, fed the black cat, and stroked its chin, saying: "Hei Ji, I'm glad I brought you here this time."
The black cat seemed to understand what he said and meowed happily.
Gu Feng changed into night clothes, and then wrapped the clothes he just took out with black cloth.
He hugged the black cat again and left the residence quietly, heading all the way to Lao Deng's residence.
The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind became extremely cold.
Gu Feng walked forward silently. The black cat in his arms was trembling with cold, but it did not make any sound.
Lao Deng was responsible for guarding the tea garden and lived alone in a wooden house near the tea garden.
When he was dozens of feet away from the wooden house, Gu Feng spotted the fire and immediately stopped approaching and walked around to the back of Lao Deng's residence.
From a distance, many guards and servants holding torches could be seen searching around Lao Deng's wooden house, seemingly looking for the missing piece of clothing.
Gu Feng chose a place with fewer people, took out the robe from the package, and let the black cat hold it in its mouth.
Then he pointed to a big rock ten feet away in front of him and said: "Hei Ji, take your clothes over and come back."
The black cat silently picked up the clothes and flew towards the big rock.
When the black cat was five feet away from the boulder, a burst of sound broke through the air, and several men in black jumped out of the darkness.
Gu Feng didn't hesitate, turned around and ran away.
The men in black surrounded the black cat, and one of them exclaimed: "Why is it a cat?"
Feng Wu was among the men in black. The moment she saw the black cat clearly, she immediately knew that she had been tricked and jumped away in the direction where the black cat came from.
However, after running for more than ten feet, there was only endless darkness all around, and there was not even half a human figure anywhere.
…
The sound of the watchman beating the gong to watch the night was particularly loud at night, and could be heard clearly in the study room of the Duke's Mansion.
Dong Dong... Dong Dong... Dong Dong.
The watchgong rang three times, indicating that it was already midnight (23 o'clock).
During this period, people would not be awakened by the sound of the clock, but would suddenly wake up because they did not hear the sound of the clock.
Hei Ji stared with green pupils, and the hair on her body stood on end, intimidating the stupid humans around her.
There were four people surrounding it, and Xu Guogong was undoubtedly the one who had the least favorable impression of Hei Ji.
He sneered and said: "After struggling for so long, we caught a cat. Could it be that this cat killed Yaosheng?"
Wu Chengsi said calmly: "The murderer is very cunning. He deliberately let the kitten put the clothes on, while he hid behind. As long as there is any disturbance, he will escape."
Miss Wei said: "Then what should we do next?"
Wu Chengsi said: "First we must determine the identity of the murderer."
"How to determine?" Miss Wei asked again.
Princess Taiping sneered and said: "This is not easy. Call all the servants in your house to gather immediately. If anyone doesn't come, he must be the murderer."
Miss Wei nodded and led the housekeeper out of the study.
Princess Taiping looked at Hei Ji and suddenly said: "Second cousin, I want to take this cat back to my house and keep it, is that okay?"
Wu Chengsi stretched out his hand and wanted to touch the kitten, but Hei Ji took two steps back and refused to let him touch it.
"Yes, yes, but you have to wait."
"What are you waiting for?"
Wu Chengsi narrowed his eyes and said: "Although the chance of success is not high, I want to try to see if I can use this cat to find its owner."
After a long time, Miss Wei came back, her face a little ugly.
Xu Guogong asked: "Has it been found out?"
Miss Wei nodded, gritted her teeth and said, "All five temporary servants are missing."
Xu Guogong was surprised and said: "Five people?"
Then his surprise turned to anger, and he glared at the housekeeper and said: "Gao Ping, how did you review the candidates? Five thieves suddenly came to the house!"
The executive said in panic: "My subordinates have investigated their origins and found no problems."
Wu Chengsi said calmly: "Mr. Xu, you don't have to blame the housekeeper. These people must have come prepared. Naturally, they will not let you easily see the flaws!"
Xu Guogong's expression changed slightly and he said, "What do you mean by coming prepared?"
"It's up to you to understand this by yourself. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave."
Wu Chengsi and Princess Taiping left together, taking Hei Ji with them.
After Xu Guogong asked all his servants to leave, only the father and daughter were left in the study.
Wei Xuanzhen came to the desk a little tired and sat down, rubbing her forehead and saying, "This birthday has been terrible."
Miss Wei said solemnly: "Father, so many people have sneaked into our house and killed Yaosheng. I always feel that something is wrong."
Wei Xuanzhen waved his hand and said: "The big tree attracts the wind. Our family has been hated by many people over the years. It is not surprising that someone is plotting against us."
Miss Wei frowned and said, "If they really just hate our family, their target should be you or me. Why would they attack Yan Lang?"
"Then what do you think?"
Miss Wei was silent for a long time, then asked along her lips: "Could it be the other two families who attacked us? Otherwise, how could Yaosheng die next to the secret warehouse?"
Wei Xuanzhen waved his hand and said:
"It's absolutely impossible. The three of us made a contract at the beginning. As long as one family collapses, it can drag the other two families into trouble. There is no way they are causing trouble behind the scenes!"
"Father, think about it carefully, where is the contract?"
Wei Xuanzhen was stunned, touched the piece of paper in his sleeve, and said, "You mean they are here just for the contract?"
Miss Wei said bitterly: "Yes, they must want to steal the contract, so that even if our family collapses, they will not be dragged down."
Xu Guogong was stunned for a while and said: "You mean, they sent those five people here just to steal the contract?"
Miss Wei said coldly:
"Is there any other possibility? On the day of the birthday banquet, our family's hands were concentrated in the hall, and they wanted to take advantage of it. Yaosheng happened to find it, and then they killed him!"
Xu Guogong thought for a while, shook his head and said: "It is impossible for only five people to break into the secret room."
"Maybe those five people are particularly skilled in martial arts, or have some special weapons?" Miss Wei argued.
Xu Guogong remained silent.
Miss Wei gritted her teeth and said: "Aren't we also trying to make a contract with them? They may have noticed it, and naturally they won't be polite to us anymore."
Xu Guogong paced back and forth in the room and said coldly: "Tomorrow you send out invitations and invite Song Guogong and Hedong Marquis to gather at their old place. I will test their reactions first."
…
The day dawned very late in December. When Wu Chengsi woke up, it was already mid-Chen hour, and his wife was no longer in the bedroom.
After getting dressed, I left the dormitory. The sky was gray, indicating that it would be another cloudy day today.
This cloudy sky has lasted for three days, which seems to reflect Wu Chengsi's current mood.
At this time, three days had passed since the birthday banquet at Xu Guogong's mansion, but Wu Chengsi had gained nothing in the past three days.
Princess Taiping conducted a detailed investigation of the Wei family's properties and found that there were many properties and shops under their family's name, but none of them had anything to do with the royal family.
After the black cat was released, it would run to Wei's house every time. Apparently it had regarded that place as its own home.
Di Renjie made no progress in investigating the weapons inspection, and no more clues could be found on Yan Yaosheng's body.
There is no trace of Cai Yang, as if he has evaporated out of thin air, and even his family members have disappeared.
The case seems to have hit a bottleneck.
Fortunately, Wu Chengsi is now quite experienced, and this kind of situation has not been encountered before.
He told himself that at this time, he had to stay calm.
As long as you can hold on and continue investigating, new clues will appear sooner or later.
Except for the case, everything else went smoothly.
After three days of recuperation, Zhang Gou regained consciousness. Li Zhiying sent a maid to serve him.
Xu Wenqing's mental state gradually recovered, but she was bored in the palace every day.
Li Zhiying wanted to take her out to meet some friends, but she was like a patient with social anxiety, unwilling to leave the palace even half a step.
When Wu Chengsi arrived at the hospital building, he found that Li Zhiying was again earnestly urging Xu Wenqing to go out.
"Yujin is really nice. After I told her about you, she admired you very much and always said she wanted to meet you!"
Xu Wenqing whispered: "She, what does she admire about me?"
She seemed to be in a daze and did not notice Wu Chengsi's arrival. Instead, Li Zhiying discovered her husband first.
She smiled at Wu Chengsi and then continued:
"Of course, in order to save your father, you traveled thousands of miles to Chang'an and Taizhou, and even risked your life to get close to the King of Yue. She said that it took a lot of courage to do this!"
Xu Wenqing's cheeks turned slightly red and he said happily: "Really?"
"of course it's true!"
Xu Wenqing was silent for a moment, nodded and said: "Okay, then." After a pause, he bowed to Li Zhiying again and said, "Sorry for your trouble."
Li Zhiying smiled slightly and was about to talk to Wu Chengsi. When she turned around, she realized that he had gone out.
She immediately said hello to Xu Wenqing, left the hospital building, and found Wu Chengsi outside the door.
I just heard him say: "It's a bit late. I'll go directly to the military camp and won't have breakfast at the house."
After a pause, he added: "When you go out later, you can buy some new clothes and some for her too."
Li Zhiying said with a faint smile: "Husband, do you really want to take her shopping for clothes?"
Wu Chengsi was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered that Xu Wenqing's last incident was caused by buying clothes, so it was naturally not suitable for him to go to Cloth Shop again.
"You'd better be careful, forget it, you can arrange these things."
Li Zhiying nodded and said: "Husband, can you go to Liyuan at noon?"
"Okay, okay, do you want me to accompany you to have a meal outside?"
Li Zhiying said worriedly:
"It's not with us, it's Yu Jin and the elder son of the Xue family. After the Wei family's birthday party that day, the elder son of the Xue family has never been back home."
Wu Chengsi understood that his wife wanted him to come forward and mediate the relationship between the Xue brothers and sisters. He nodded and said, "Okay, I'll note it down."
After leaving the house, Wu Chengsi bought a few Hu biscuits for breakfast on the road.
Now his riding skills have improved so much that he can eat while riding.
Next to him, Feng Wu was also eating while riding. Wu Chengsi accidentally glanced at her and almost spit out all the food in his mouth.
Feng Wu's appearance was so indecent that he had never seen it with any other woman before.
Her very delicate facial features were stretched out like rubber balls, and in addition to holding a nearly finished pancake in her right hand, she also held three in her left hand.
Wu Chengsi couldn't help but said: "You don't have to eat in such a hurry, no one will compete with you."
Feng Wu glanced at him, unaffected by Wu Chengsi at all, and continued to eat heartily.
On the way, Wu Chengsi kept paying attention to Feng Wu until she finished all four pancakes. He looked at her belly and said, "If you eat like this, won't you get fat?"
Feng Wu was silent for a while and said slowly: "If you don't fight for food, you will starve to death. I have survived like this since I was a child."
Wu Chengsi was startled, then nodded and said: "I understand, you must have received strict training since you were a child. Many of your companions are probably dead."
Feng Wu looked at him with surprised eyes.
Wu Chengsi showed an enigmatic smile and ignored her.
Feng Wu finally couldn't help but asked: "Have you experienced that too?"
Wu Chengsi sighed and said, "My experiences and yours can only be said to be similar. Have you ever seen a battlefield?"
Feng Wu shook her head.
"On the battlefield, if you don't kill all the enemies, you will be the one who dies. Isn't it similar?"
Feng Wu looked at him silently for a while and nodded lightly.
Wu Chengsi sighed secretly. Feng Wu was simpler than he thought. In fact, although the battlefield was cruel, it was far less than her previous experience.
There are enemies and companions on the battlefield, but she only has herself and can only believe in herself.
No wonder she has such good martial arts skills at such a young age.
Wu Chengsi felt a little sympathy for her.
He said nothing more, waved his horsewhip, and accelerated towards the military camp.