Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 80: The Righteous Yan Shifan (First Update)
"Brother Donglou!"

"Shisanlang!"

A quarter of an hour later, Haiyue and Yan Shifan met again.

Haiyue was responsible for questioning Zhao Chen's servant Jinyan, and Yan Shifan was responsible for questioning Gui Zai's servant Yanqing and maid Lanyin, and they began to exchange clues at this time.

Yan Shifan was full of confidence and spoke first: "I have two major discoveries!"

"First! Gui Deyu received a letter last night. After reading it, he was about to come to the Imperial College to take the exam this morning. According to his personal maid Lan Yin, the letter contained threats and seemed to be related to Gui Deyu's brother!"

Haiyue asked, "Brother?"

"My older brother, the second son of the Gui family, Gui Fu."

Yan Shifan lowered his voice and began to introduce the situation at Gui'e's home.

Compared with Yan Shifan, who was the only son of Yan Song, other court officials basically had many children. For example, Gui E had three sons who grew up alive.

The eldest son, Gui Yu, was born to his wife, Wu, and served as the Shangbao Sicheng; the second son, Gui Fu, was born to his concubine, Shi, and served as the Zhongshu Sheren; the youngest son, Gui Zai, was also born to his concubine, Shi, and was still a commoner.

The eldest son Gui Yu served as the Shangbao Sicheng, a sixth-rank position that was based on imperial favor and salary. The sons of nobles received the salary in name only but did not actually perform their duties, which meant they "ate the salary but did not do any work."

The second son Guifu's position as Zhongshu Sheren was much better. The Zhongshu Sheren in the Ming Dynasty was far inferior to that in the Tang and Song dynasties. He was in charge of drafting imperial edicts and making confidential decisions, and became a document executor. However, he was still a close minister of the emperor and could often appear in front of the emperor. If he was favored, he would naturally have a bright future.

From this we can see that the second son born to a concubine is more capable than the eldest son. After Gui E retires, he may even inherit some of his father's influence in the court.

Hai Yue asked, "It was because the threatening letter involved his own brother that Master Gui kept quiet and came to the Imperial College?"

Yan Shifan nodded. "That's right! According to my maid Lan Yin, Deyu hesitated about whether to report this to Lord Gui, but the conflict between the two branches of his family was intense, so he ultimately decided not to act rashly. Instead, he decided to visit the Imperial College first..."

"Why the Imperial College?"

Hai Yue's eyes moved: "Did the second young master of the Gui family enter the officialdom through the imperial examination?"

"Shisanlang is indeed a detective!"

Yan Shifan's eyes were filled with admiration. "Gui Jia Erlang was also a student at the Imperial College. He chose the Imperial College specifically now. Perhaps it has something to do with Gui Jia Erlang's past, such as a scandal?"

Hai Yue nodded slightly: "Do you have any clues about the person who is threatening?"

Yan Shifan took a deep breath. "This is the second discovery! From far away, yet right before our eyes, it was Zhao Qilang! According to the servant Yanqing, it was Zhao Qilang who took the initiative to find his son and whisper to him. Deyu was shocked. He stared at Zhao Qilang with shock and anger for a long time before dismissing his attendants and talking to him alone in the room..."

"This is interesting!"

Haiyue looked thoughtful.

From the deceased Zhao Chen's servant Jinyan, he learned that Zhao Chen and Gui Zai had a dispute, and Zhao Chen scolded Gui Zai for being the son of a concubine. Therefore, he thought that the other party would hold a grudge and stabbed his son to death with a knife today.

According to the suspect Gui Zai's servant and maid, Gui Zai came to the Imperial College today because he received a threatening letter involving his brother. He was afraid to speak out, and the person who wrote the letter was most likely the deceased Zhao Chen?
The two hate each other?

Setting traps for each other?

The relationship is quite messy!
"Let's go! Let's go back to the scene!"

After exchanging clues, Haiyue did not delay any longer and walked straight into the yard.

Rather than guessing, it’s better to ask the person involved.

Gui Zai was no longer at the scene at this time. Instead, he was sitting on the blue bricks outside the school, holding his head dejectedly, without saying a word.

When Hai Yue and Yan Shifan came up to him, he slowly raised his head, his voice regaining some composure: "Did you two find out anything?"

Yan Shifan's eyes flickered, and he was still trying to form his words when Hai Yue asked, "Have you ever been insulted by Zhao Qilang because of your background?"

Gui Zai was stunned: "What do you mean?"

Haiyue was very direct: "He insulted you, saying you were born from a concubine."

"This?"

Gui Zai was stunned for a moment. Instead of feeling embarrassed and angry as expected, he felt a bit amused and helpless. "Did you two know that Zhao Qilang was also born to a concubine?"

"Ok?"

Hai Yue frowned, and Yan Shifan was stunned.

Gui Zai explained, "The current wife of the Marquis of Wuding, Mrs. Zhao, was born to the principal wife. She was virtuous and generous, and had a good reputation. Zhao Qilang was born to a concubine. Not long after his birth, his mother died of illness. He lost his mother at a young age and was very lonely."

"Fortunately, after he came of age, he was brought over from his hometown by the Zhao family and raised in the Marquis's residence. He has been enjoying great success in recent years. If you two don't believe me, you can find out by asking around in the Marquis's residence."

"If he were the wife's son, I would be ashamed to insult me ​​like this, but he is also the son of a concubine. I just think he spoke without thinking and was blinded by anger..."

After a pause, he added with some disdain: "Or perhaps, Zhao Qilang has been so loved by his legitimate sister that he has forgotten his own origins? Ha! That would be ridiculous!"

Yan Shifan really didn't know this. He had to admit that this person was right.

If a person who was born to a concubine scolds another person who was born to a concubine, and the other person's status is higher than his own, it would be self-humiliating.

Hai Yue asked, "Since Zhao Qilang and Madam Hou are not born of the same mother, do you know how their relationship is going these days?"

Gui Zai frowned: "Why do you ask?"

Hai Yue said, "According to what the servant said, Zhao Qilang has been quiet and depressed lately. Although he doesn't know the specific situation, it may be related to the Marquis' wife."

In fact, the servant Jinyan was hesitant and obviously knew something, but no matter how Haiyue pressed him, he avoided the subject and ultimately did not reveal the secret, which was in line with the name "Jinyan".

But this also proves that something must have happened between the brother and sister, and it was not ordinary serious, otherwise the servant Jinyan would not be in a situation where he could not protect himself, but still gritted his teeth and refused to speak.

"Zhao Qilang has been acting strangely lately. His temper has become increasingly volatile, and he often stirs up trouble out of nothing. I'm ready to distance myself from him..."

Gui Zai said slowly.

Haiyue looked at Yan Shifan, who nodded slightly, indicating that there was indeed such a trend.

Gui Zai continued, "As for his relationship with his sister, I don't know. His family affairs have nothing to do with me..."

Hai Yue said, "But he is very concerned about your family affairs and even sent a threatening letter. Why did you just show up at the Imperial College today?"

Gui Zai's face suddenly changed. He gritted his teeth and hissed, "That's right! That threatening letter was written by Zhao Qilang. I don't understand what's wrong with him. He actually said such nonsense and slandered my brother. It's really hateful!"

Hai Yue said in a deep voice: "So you killed him?"

"No! I didn't kill anyone!"

Gui Zai became furious and stood up suddenly: "Zhao Qilang has practiced martial arts since he was young. He is tall and strong. How can I kill him?"

Indeed, Gui Zai was handsome, but his only flaw was that he was short. In later generations, he was only about 1.6 meters tall, while Zhao Chen was tall and strong, nearly 1.8 meters tall.

What's more, one practices martial arts but doesn't study, while the other looks like a weak scholar. Whether in terms of height, body shape, or physical strength, the two are obviously superior.

Of course, if a strong person is careless, he will inevitably be killed by a weak person, especially if the former despises the latter and takes it lightly.

Zhao Chen was about to threaten Gui Zai, relying on his height and physique, and did not take the powerless opponent seriously. Unexpectedly, Gui Zai took out the dagger from his waist and stabbed the opponent to death.

This is entirely possible.

But in such an unexpected killing, with the dagger piercing the opponent's abdomen, the gushing blood would definitely stain his clothes. It would be impossible for his white clothes to be spotless like Gui Zai's.

But if Gui Zai hadn't killed anyone...

Could it be true, as the other party claims, that there is a third, invisible murderer? What is the motive?

Hai Yue looked at Gui Zai, whose brows were filled with grief and anger, and sorted out the clues. Yan Shifan suddenly turned around and stood on tiptoe: "Someone is coming from the Shuntian government office!"

In fact, Haiyue had already heard it without him saying it. The sound of a large number of people arriving from the rear came. Obviously, the news of this horrific murder case had been reported to Shuntian Prefecture in the capital, and people from the yamen had arrived.

Gui Zai's knees softened, and he slowly sat down, saying in a trembling voice, "Dong Lou! Dong Lou! I'm really wronged! Please help me!"

"Don't worry, Deyu, I will definitely help you!"

Yan Shifan immediately reached out, grabbed his arm, and shook it vigorously, speaking passionately and forcefully.

Just as Hai Yue thought, the reason why he was working so hard now was not for anything else but because Gui Zai was Gui E's son.

His father, Yan Song, was now the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, in charge of compiling the "Veritable Records of Emperor Wuzong". He had taken advantage of his access to the palace to try to befriend the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department, but the process was not smooth. Yan Song would occasionally sigh when he returned home. When he was in a low position, he had been stern and cold towards the eunuchs, preferring to live in seclusion in the mountains rather than kowtow to them. But now that he was a third-rank official, he had become humble towards the eunuchs...

Yan Shifan heard it, but he only wanted to help his father.

Water flows to the lowest place, and people’s hearts always want to be higher. What’s wrong with that?
The closer you get to this point, the more you want to go further, and the more you should go further!
But this one step away is often a world away!
The reason is the same as Zhou Xuan's.

There's no one up there.

Of course, Yan Song's level was higher. Above him were the chief minister of the cabinet Zhang Cong, the second chief minister of the cabinet Gui E, and the minister of the Ministry of Personnel Fang Xianfu, a group of upstarts in the Grand Ceremony Debate who could truly decide the promotion of officials and hold the highest positions in the government.

Therefore, Yan Song allowed Yan Shifan and Gui Zai to interact early on, hoping to deepen their friendship through the relationship between their sons.

As a result, after he stepped down as the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, Gui E did not help him, but promoted him step by step.

The circle of the new elite in Daliyi is really exclusive. It is too difficult to integrate into it!
But now is an opportunity...

If Gui Zai's murder conviction could be cleared and a head-on conflict between Gui E and Guo Xun could be avoided, then the two cabinet elders, the Minister of Personnel, and the most powerful nobleman would all have to remember the kindness of this father and son!
Yan Shifan was so happy when he thought of this. He let go of Gui Zai's hand, turned around and walked forward with a heroic and confident look, facing the Shuntian government office, and shouted with righteous indignation:

"Wait! There's an injustice in this case!"

(End of this chapter)