Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 71 Recognition
"Qiao Zhizhi's body must also be handed over to our court for disposal, and he must be subjected to the punishment of slow slicing after his death!"

Lai Junchen raised his neck and said sinisterly.

Lu Ling, Lu Shiyilang and others were stunned: since ancient times, witchcraft and sorcery have been feared by the royal family and the emperor. Emperor Wu of Han's crown prince Liu Ju committed suicide in the East Palace because of the witchcraft disaster caused by his father's suspicion. The Southern Liang's Zhaoming Prince Xiao Tong also had a rift with the Liang emperor and his son because of the witchcraft incident and died of depression.

Knowing full well that this thing was feared by the emperor, Qiao Zhizhi, a fifth-rank Zuosi Langzhong, was bored and did such a foolish thing.

The crime of framing and fabricating accusations could not be more obvious.

"But Qiao Zhizhi died in the tavern for no reason, and we haven't found out the murderer yet!" Lu Ling retorted.

Lai Junchen's mouth twitched, and he said in a very teasing tone: "Lu Shaoqing, you are not going to disobey the imperial order, are you? Does it matter who the murderer is now? What matters is that Qiao Zhizhi has committed the crime of treason and deserves death as an apology!"

Lu Ling was so angry that his eyebrows were raised. At this time, Murong Huan pulled his hand and signaled him not to say anything more.

Xiao Muchen said, "Since it's an imperial decree, then the Imperial Censor can take Qiao Zhizhi's body away!"

"Xiao Zhongcheng is still aware of the current situation and knows how to speak!"

Lai Junchen chuckled, then turned his head to signal his mob, who then rushed into the Dali Temple. The officers acted with impunity and disrespect, pushing aside several constables standing in the hall. One man, a man with a scar on his face, was grinning arrogantly. He turned around and saw Murong Huan with a lewd grin.

Not long after, several scoundrels actually carried out Qiao Zhizhi's body and threw it in front of the gate of Dali Temple.

"Sir, what should we do with this thing?" asked the man with the scar.

The dead no longer call people.

Lai Junchen covered his nose and replied with disgust, "Although he's dead, this fellow still wanted to snatch the King of Wei's woman. He wrote those cheesy love poems, which led to the King of Wei's new beauty committing suicide by jumping into a well within a day. He's truly despicable! First... castrate him!"

"Ah... right here?"

Lu Ling and Xiao Muchen frowned, and Lu Shiyilang shouted angrily, "Come here, Censor, this is the Dali Temple. We have no right to interfere with how you deal with the prisoner, but it's not right to humiliate someone in broad daylight and in public. What's more, we have a young lady here!"

Lai Junchen glanced at Murong Huan and said, "Really... I am being presumptuous. I am being presumptuous. Then... take him back to the Magistrates' Court!"

With that, dozens of bandit-like scoundrels rolled up Qiao Zhizhi's body, mounted their horses, and galloped away. As they were about to leave, Lai Junchen turned back and asked, "Oh, by the way, how is the criminal Qiu Shenji doing now? He's such a wanted criminal, Lu Shaoqing, you must keep a close eye on him and don't let him escape, otherwise the sage will blame you and you'll be in big trouble."

Lu Ling held his temper for a long while before saying, "Don't worry, Censor Lai, I will definitely bring him to justice and give an explanation to the whole world!"

"That's good, that's good, hahahaha... let's go!"

A group of people rushed away, causing people and horses to fall to the ground on the road.

"Sir, that little girl is really pretty. She even learned to handle cases in the Dali Temple like a man. It's quite interesting!"

"It's quite interesting. It's said that she has handled several cases for the Dali Temple. The death of Zhou Xing and his son is very likely related to her." Lai Junchen narrowed his eyes at this point. "But she is indeed beautiful. They say that Wang Wuniang is the most beautiful woman in our Luoyang Shendu. I think this girl is much prettier than Wang Wuniang."

"Sir, you want to..."

"No rush, let's wait until that radiant and bright Xiao Zhongcheng is imprisoned. Who knows what this godlike figure would look like if he were tied to the rack? Especially when the woman by his side becomes someone else's woman... Hahahaha..."

……

Seeing the group of scoundrels led by Lai Junchen rushing away, even the faces of the people on both sides of the street were filled with fear and sorrow.

"It seems that Qiao Zhizhi's death is closely related to the King of Wei!"

Even Lu Ling couldn't help but wonder, "But who did this? Setting up such a big scheme to take Qiu Shenji away, killing Guo Hongba and the Qiu family to silence them? And where is Qiu Shenji now?"

"It's the red thread and the ringing sound!" Murong Huan answered, then looked at Lu Ling: "Lu Shaoqing, there are some things I want to investigate secretly with Xiao Zhongcheng. Once we find evidence or the real murderer, I will come to the Dali Temple to find you!"

Lu Ling said, "Okay!" and glanced at Xiao Muchen again. "However, you two must be careful of that Censor from now on. I just saw that he looked at you two with a bad expression, especially when he looked at this young lady."

"I know that he came here this time and took Qiao Zhizhi's body away so arrogantly because he was demonstrating to us. He came here on behalf of the King of Wei to kill a chicken to scare the others!"

Qiao Zhizhi became the first "chicken" killed by the King of Wei as a warning to others.

……

After leaving the Dali Temple, Murong Huan and Xiao Muchen did not return to the Xiao Mansion immediately, but went to the Qiao Family. Sure enough, they saw that the Qiao Family’s mansion had been sealed, all the male members of the Qiao Family had been taken to the execution ground and beheaded, and the female members of the Qiao Family had been imprisoned in the Jiaofangsi.

Dozens of women in a disheveled state were driven forward by officials in front of the Qiao residence.

"My Qiao family is in this situation today because of that lowly servant! My son, you have truly met the same fate as Shi Chong!"

The old lady of the Qiao family cried and suddenly bumped into the stone lions in front of the mansion gate, bleeding to death. The female relatives followed and tried to charge forward, but were pulled back by a group of officials.

Some young and beautiful women were dressed in rags, their faces were ashen, and there were even scratches on their pale cheeks. However, those laughing officials showed no mercy and took the opportunity to rub their bodies...

Murong Huan was somewhat surprised and even angry when he saw this.

Xiao Muchen suddenly pulled her and said, "Let's go! Stop looking, let's go home!"

Before she could react, he simply picked her up and brought her directly into the carriage.

Murong Huan felt his heart beating violently, which seemed to contain a hint of fear.

"That's what confiscation of property and extermination of a clan is like. There's nothing much to see. You've been tired these past two days, so let's go home and eat first, okay?"

Murong Huan nodded and asked, "Xiao Muchen, I want to ask you a question. Can you answer me truthfully?"

"Okay, you ask!"

"Who is your master?"

Xiao Muchen was stunned for a moment, then he understood and smiled, "I didn't lie to you. I really don't know who the master is. But I know that he also accepted a female disciple. In his words, she is a very cute and talented girl."

Having said this, he paused intentionally, looked at her seriously and said, "That's you!"

Murong Huan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he looked at Xiao Muchen with sudden realization and surprise.

"You have such an expression. Has the master never mentioned me to you?"

Seeing her so surprised, Xiao Muchen asked with some amusement.

So, it was true that he introduced her as his junior sister at the Peony Flower Banquet. He had indeed never lied to her, but she had never thought about it that way.

Murong Huan shook his head and replied, "Master's whereabouts are uncertain. He only stays in Taoyuan Village for about a month each year to teach me some things. He also likes to wear a mask, so I can't see his face clearly. He has never mentioned his other disciples to me. So, I am very confused now. Besides you and me, does he have other disciples?"

"Why do you think so?"

"Because 'The Red Thread' and 'The Story of Nan Ke Magistrate' are stories that my master once told me, including 'The Story of Huo Xiaolian' and 'The Story of Xie Zi'e', as well as 'The Complaint of Lu Zhu'."

At this point, Murong Huan paused, then continued, "Today, I felt a layer of dust on the desk in the interrogation room of the Dali Temple. I could smell it, and it was the soul-sucking incense that made Wu Jie have sweet dreams. My master once told me that if you have good intentions, you can use this incense to save people and cure their illnesses, but if you have evil intentions, you can use it to kill people, and kill them in their dreams."

(End of this chapter)