Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 38: Making a "false accusation"

Chang'an West Market was crowded with people.

People were coming and going, shoulder to shoulder.

There are a dazzling array of shops on both sides, with various signs and banners fluttering in the wind, attracting passing merchants to come and go.

It was unknown when Cui Qian, the magistrate of Chang'an County, had changed into a round-necked robe with a blue silk plaid pattern and a jade hat on his head. He walked quickly among the crowd, and his face, which he raised inadvertently, was solemn.

Deep in his eyes, there was deep worry.

Today, the prince went to Lu's house in person. He should have pursued Lu Hu relentlessly, but suddenly he showed rare leniency.

A mourning poem fully describes the loyalty of the Lu family of Fanyang.

Such a contrast was enough to make all the officials in the court re-examine and re-evaluate the prince.

A generous prince is enough to make people respect him.

Also, his left leg didn't seem to be as serious as rumored, and he wasn't crippled at all as people said.

Especially since he is the crown prince.

He is the most legitimate crown prince of the Tang Dynasty.

In this way, I don’t know how many people will turn to the prince without hesitation.

For Cui Qian, the fact that the prince had given up on investigating Lu Hu's case today meant that he was completely safe.

Everyone's attention will turn to investigating those maids from Goryeo and Silla, and no longer pursue the person behind the scenes.

Logically speaking, Cui Qian should be happy, but in fact, there was no joy on his face.

Yes, there was not much joy on his face.

Because he knew clearly that his benefactor, Shangshu Zuo Pushe Fang Xuanling, had the real purpose of supporting the King of Wei to replace the Crown Prince and become the new heir to the throne.

Fang Yiai was too deeply bound to the Prince of Wei in the Prince of Wei's Mansion, while the other members of the Fang family had little connection with the prince. For the sake of the future, Fang Xuanling's choice was not surprising.

Cui Qian was a man secretly cultivated by Fang Xuanling. If the King of Wei ascended to the throne, Cui Qian could become his confidant through this relationship and even have a promising future. But if the King of Wei failed...

Suddenly, a green cloth banner appeared in front of Cui Qian, and he stopped subconsciously.

After glancing sideways behind him to make sure no one was following him, Cui Qian quickly walked into the shop under the banner.

……

Just after Cui Qian entered the store, two figures quietly appeared at the alley across the street.

"That's a fur shop. The owner is either a Turk or a Tuyuhun." Qi Chao glanced at the shop before whispering to Zhang Wenguan, "Brother Zhang, why is this guy here?"

Zhang Wenguan, dressed in a gray robe and a black uncut hat, leaned against the wall, holding his sword in his hands. He sneered and said, "This shows that he is still related to Lu Hu's death. If anything else is found out from this, don't blame us."

"What about the prince..." A trace of worry flashed in Qi Chao's eyes.

Zhang Wenguan looked at Qi Chao in surprise and asked doubtfully, "Did the Crown Prince tell you that he wanted to put an end to this matter, or did Sun Siqing specifically tell you to do so?"

Qi Chao's voice was cut off.

"All we have to do is take care of our own affairs. As for the rest, those are matters that the bigwigs need to deal with. Don't worry too much." Zhang Wenguan glanced at Qi Chao, then turned to look at the entrance of the fur shop and frowned. "He's been in there for too long... No, there's another world inside."

After saying this, Zhang Wenguan ignored Qi Chao, held the sword in his hand, and strode forward.

Qi Chao hurried to catch up.

A moment later, the two were standing at the back door of the fur shop.

Cui Qian had already disappeared through the back door.

"Brother Zhang, what should we do?" Qi Chao's face was solemn.

"He suddenly resorted to such tricks today. Doesn't that just prove he's guilty?" Zhang Wenguan sneered softly. Then, he suddenly looked towards the store and said coldly, "Go back. He must have chosen this store for a reason. We should investigate the owner and employees of this restaurant thoroughly."

"Okay!" Qi Chao's expression suddenly became excited.

……

Huaiyuanfang, deep in the alley.

Cui Qian walked quickly with a serious expression.

A sturdy female guard wearing a black tight-fitting robe with a left lapel and a dark hat led the way.

Every time they had a conversation, they would choose a courtyard in Huaiyuanfang.

Basically, they change places every time they meet, which is very cautious.

Finally, the female guard in front stopped and turned around. In front of her was an ordinary courtyard.

The female guard stepped forward, took out the key, unlocked the door, and walked in. Cui Qian followed behind her, looking around cautiously.

There were hardly any people in the remote alley.

This is a remote place with inconvenient access, and there are not many people living here.

As soon as Cui Qian entered the courtyard, the specially cultivated vegetable garden, the well, and the cleanly swept courtyard immediately caught his eye, and Cui Qian couldn't help but relax.

The female guard in front stopped and said sideways, "Close the door."

"Yes!" Cui Qian quickly turned around, inserted the bolt on the worn wooden door, and then turned around...

With a "whoosh", a palm-long crossbow arrow instantly appeared in Cui Qian's eyes. Before he could react, it had instantly pierced his chest, and blood exploded.

A cold touch came from his heart, and before the pain even flashed, Cui Qian looked at the female guard opposite him with disbelief on his face.

It was at this moment that endless pain overwhelmed him.

……

The female guard in black put down the crossbow in her hand, walked over, picked up Cui Qian effortlessly, and then walked directly into the main house opposite.

With a creaky sound, the door was pushed open.

A charming woman wearing a pink skirt, with a beautiful face but a bit of Goguryeo appearance, was lying on the low table of the couch.

A jade pot and two wine glasses.

One cup was right in front of the Korean woman and had been knocked over.

Black poisonous blood was already flowing out from the corner of the Korean woman's mouth.

The female guard in black placed Cui Qian's body at the door, then walked to the body of the Goryeo woman, put the crossbow in her hand into hers, and then looked at Cui Qian at the door again, gesturing to make sure the direction was correct. Then she climbed out of the window with an expressionless face and disappeared in the yard.

I don’t know how long it took, but with a “bang”, the gate was kicked open.

Zhang Wenguan, Qi Chao, and several neighborhood guards rushed in at once.

The vegetable garden, the well, the cleanly swept courtyard, and the two corpses in the main house all came into view in an instant.

Qi Chao followed Zhang Wenguan with a serious expression and entered the house carefully.

After taking a look at Cui Qian, who had been shot dead by a crossbow, Qi Chao pulled out a wanted poster from his bosom and walked over to the Korean woman holding the crossbow. After comparing their appearances, he looked at Zhang Wenguan with a complicated expression and said, "Si Cheng, this is the Korean maid from Lu Hu's family. Judging from her appearance, it seems that Cui Qian kept her here after Lu Hu's death. Today, he wanted to silence her, but in the end, she dragged her down to hell with a crossbow before she died."

"They both perished. Coincidentally, Lu Hu's case has been closed, and Cui Qian is also dead." Zhang Wenguan nodded coldly, sneer- ing sarcastically, "What a clever plan! I wonder who planned it, but it's so meticulous, leaving no loopholes."

Zhang Wenguan saw clearly that the prince had let Lu Hu and the Lu family go, but the person who actually instructed Cui Qian to kill Cui Qian took the opportunity to completely cut off all clues.

A Korean maid was also used to close the whole case.

The final outcome of the Dali Temple case may have been that the cousins ​​Cui Qian and Lu Hu killed each other for a Korean maid.

"Temple Secretary." Qi Chao searched briefly, came out and shook his head, saying, "There are only traces of women's lives here, no men's."

"Let's investigate. After all, he's the Magistrate of Chang'an County, not a small official." Zhang Wenguan sighed and said, "That pot of wine, this yard, the neighbors around, and that crossbow with its arrows, there must be something to investigate."

"Yes!" Qi Chao bowed slightly.

Zhang Wenguan turned around and walked out of the courtyard. He glanced at the well on the side and shook his head.

Just as he was about to take a step, his eyes fell on the footprints on the ground. He took a look and then his eyes lit up: "Huh!"

Zhang Wenguan bent down and carefully measured the length and depth of the footprints...

Suddenly, Zhang Wenguan stood up and said in a cold voice, "Let's go to Cui's house."

Cui Qian was killed, so it was a good opportunity to investigate the Cui family.

……

The moon hangs high in the sky and the cold wind howls.

In Xuanyangfang, the long street is deserted.

"Bang, bang, bang..." The night watchman, holding a lantern, shouted weakly, "It's dry, be careful with fire..."

As he walked, his voice became quieter and his footsteps became lighter.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the courtyard in front and disappeared in an instant.

The old night watchman, who was a little drowsy at first, woke up instantly and subconsciously banged his stick hard: "There's a thief!"

The lantern ahead flickered slightly.

The residence of the Duke of Fanyang County.

(End of this chapter)