The situation suddenly changed, and a continuous winter rain fell in Xuanmiao City.
This winter rain heralds the end of winter, and the Holy City is about to usher in the recovery of all things and the return of spring to the earth.
In the mansion of Cao Ding, the Prime Minister of Shui Ling.
Tie Jing, Dongfang Yaorao and Chen Taiji were under the eaves, discussing something while taking shelter from the rain.
"Why...are you back here again?" Tie Jing was puzzled, "Have you not been here before?"
"Haha, maybe there was a mutiny that night," Dongfang Enchanting said sarcastically, "Didn't Special Envoy Xu find out clearly?"
"Then...then there's no need to mobilize so many troops?" Tie Jing frowned, "I pointed at the map and asked us questions. I've already wasted a whole day. What should I do if it continues to be delayed like this?"
"So," Dongfang Enchanting smiled faintly, "it is not the truth that foreign monks can chant sutras, and it is not suitable for investigating cases!"
"No," Tie Jing finally found a common topic and said, stroking his beard, "We local monks can't even touch the door, let alone those from outside!"
"You two adults don't know something," Chen Taiji couldn't help but say at this time, "Shui Lingcheng Cao Ding is indeed a little suspicious."
"What?" Dongfang Yaorao was the first to hear the problem and asked, "Are you saying...that there is a problem with Cao Ding's murder, or that there is a problem with Cao Ding himself?"
"They all have problems," Chen Taiji said. "After Xu Zun checked all the assassination scenes, he found that only Cao Ding's situation was the most special."
"What...what kind of special method?" Tie Jing asked hurriedly.
“All the victims were assassinated by young, beautiful and close-knit women,” Chen Taiji explained. “These women were either concubines, daughters-in-law, maids, or Hualou girls married by the victims.
“These female assassins lie dormant next to their victims, just waiting for the pre-planned assassination moment to arrive, and then they kill!
"The longest they stayed with the victim was only about half a year, and the others were all in the past one or two months.
"But... the woman who assassinated Cao Ding has been married to Cao Ding for a year.
"Moreover, only Cao Ding cannot prove that the assassin must be the young lady he married, because there are no witnesses at all.
"We just took it for granted that it was her based on inertial thinking."
"This..." The two looked at each other and suddenly felt that something made sense.
"There is also another major suspicion," Chen Taiji added. "Most of the victims had prosperous families, or were accompanied by bodyguards or protected by experts. The assassins could only lie dormant and gain trust before taking action.
"But Cao Ding is a lonely man. He only has a housekeeper at home, and he doesn't even hire a maid." He pointed to the house and said, "Although the residence is not bad, it really doesn't look like the home of a dignified fourth-grade official.
"But... to tell you the truth, I had some friendship with Cao Lingcheng in the past. Cao Ding is introverted, not sociable, and doesn't like liveliness. His favorite thing is to study his model designs. Otherwise, let him do water conservancy projects.
Where’s the project!”
"So..." Dongfang Yaorao took over the conversation and asked, "Special Envoy Xu is suspecting that Cao Ding himself is also a member of Xuanmen?"
"It stands to reason," Chen Taiji said, "Assassinating Cao Ding is easy, and there is no need to arrange a woman beside him.
"Xu Zun suspects that this woman may be spying on Cao Ding, or she may want to obtain some kind of information on Cao Ding!"
"This... is a bit..." Tie Jing frowned and said, "It's a bit confusing, isn't it? I know Cao Ding well. It may be possible to say that others are Xuanmen rebels, but Cao Ding will never do it. He is a person who
Living a simpler life, without so many twists and turns..."
While several people were talking, Zhao Yu was leading the guards to conduct a search. The search was extremely careful and they only had to dig three feet into the ground.
"Sir..." At this time, I heard Cao Ding's housekeeper say to Xu Zun, "Sir Cao usually doesn't let me enter the study. I really don't know what is missing in it!"
The next second, everyone saw Xu Zun walking out of the study and asked at the same time: "Do you know what Cao Lingcheng is doing recently? Is he responsible for any projects?"
"This... this little man doesn't know even more!"
"Special Envoy Xu..." Seeing this, Tie Jing hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, if you want to know what Cao Lingcheng is doing recently, we can go to the Ministry of Industry!
"I think that since Cao Ding is the water conservancy minister, he must be responsible for the water conservancy construction of Daxuan."
"Okay!" Xu Zun said firmly, "In that case, let's go to the Ministry of Industry!"
"Ah oh..." Unexpectedly, Dongfang Enchanting suddenly yawned and said, "Special Envoy Xu, we should wait here for your return!"
"Yes, yes," Tie Jing agreed, "The Ministry of Industry is in Xinglongfang, very close."
Xu Zun knew that these two people looked down on him, so he ignored them and led Zhao Yu and others directly out of Cao Ding's house.
However, Chen Taiji was different from Tie Jing. He had already vaguely felt that Xu Zun might have discovered something.
So he did not stay at Cao Ding's house, but set out with Xu Zun and others.
"Report..."
Just as he left the house, the inner guard came to report that Xu Yusheng, the Minister of War who had narrowly escaped assassination, had returned to the Holy Capital and was being questioned at the inner guard mansion.
Xu Yusheng was worried that the Empress Dowager would doubt him, so he did not dare to lead the troops and instead rode back to the city alone.
Since Xu Yusheng was not killed by the assassin, his confession must be very important.
However, Xu Zun was currently thinking about Shui Lingcheng's matter, so he decided to continue going to the Ministry of Industry to investigate.
…
The Ministry of Industry is an extremely large organization that is in charge of civil construction, water conservancy projects, and the production of various utensils across the country.
Because these departments have different functions, they are located relatively scattered and are not in the same place.
Xu Zun had a clear purpose and went straight to the Ministry of Water Resources where Cao Ding was working.
In this assassination, the Ministry of Industry lost two high-ranking officials, one was the Minister of Industry, Ying Zang, and the other was Shui Lingcheng, Cao Ding.
When it comes to rank, Cao Ding is just one rank lower, but he is also an extremely important position in the Ministry of Industry.
Previously, according to Xu Zun's instructions, someone had already inquired about the work status of Ying Rang and Cao Ding.
At this moment, a young craftsman from the Ministry of Water Resources was introducing Cao Ding's work to Xu Zun.
This person is Cao Ding's deputy and is naturally the person who knows Cao Ding best.
However, after some introduction, Xu Zun discovered that Cao Ding had not undertaken any large-scale projects recently. His work was mainly to deal with water conservancy issues across the country.
If there is any important task, it is that the Ministry of Water Resources is manufacturing a batch of copper bulls to control water and prepare to place them on both sides of the river downstream to prevent floods.
Next, Xu Zun checked Cao Ding's office and found that the office was full of books about water conservancy projects.
"Let me ask you," Xu Zun asked, "Who does Cao Lingcheng interact with the most on weekdays?"
"Servant Ying, but..." Master Jiang lowered his head and said, "Servant Ying was also killed!"
"Is there any more?" Xu Zun asked again.
"There are humble positions, and...and..." the young craftsman recalled carefully. From this, it can be seen that Cao Lingcheng's interpersonal relationship is really worrying.
However, before the young craftsman had finished speaking, a guard suddenly ran in from outside.
"Special Envoy Xu... Special Envoy Xu... It's not good, it's not good..." This person rushed in like crazy and reported to Xu Zunhui, "Cao Ding's house was attacked and Tie Jing was assassinated on the spot!
!!The Eastern Divine Catcher was also seriously injured and his condition is worrying..."
ah……
When Xu Zun and others suddenly heard such news, they felt like a bolt from the blue!
"Ah?" Who knows, the young craftsman who will be the master said, "Tie Jing... is that Tie Jing from Dali Temple? He... he is also a good friend of Cao Lingcheng..."
