They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 48 Even I doubt myself
"Lying?" Wei Zheng frowned, his cloudy old eyes looking at Chen Guangrui with confusion.

“Guangrui, you can’t say such things carelessly. It’s my duty to investigate cases! That witness was found by the yamen according to regulations. He stands on the main road, seeing all the comings and goings every day. How could he dare to…”

“Lord Wei,” Chen Guangrui’s lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, as if he had seen through something interesting.
"Do you really think that once you become a high-ranking official and wear an official hat, everyone will tell you the truth? Fear you? Flatter you? That's the norm in officialdom. But in the eyes of ordinary people, especially when that person seems to be dealing with ghosts and gods... hey, lying is only human nature."

Wei Zheng's expression was somewhat strange, clearly taken aback by Chen Guangrui's blunt and even somewhat disrespectful words; his white beard trembled slightly. He picked up the rough porcelain wine bowl and took a swig, seemingly digesting the meaning behind Chen Guangrui's words.

"Then... in your opinion, why would he lie? And what does he know?"

"Why he lied, you'd have to ask him yourself to know."

Chen Guangrui looked directly at Wei Zheng and said, "But you can try asking him another question."

"what is the problem?"

“Ask him,” Chen Guangrui said with certainty, “that day, did the stranger he saw talking to the farmer go in the direction of Daxingshan Temple?”

Wei Zheng was even more surprised, clearly bewildered by Chen Guangrui's nonsensical words.

"Daxingshan Temple? Why would you think of going there? Is there some other clue?"

His sharp gaze was fixed on Chen Guangrui, trying to find the answer in his face.

Although he had been keeping it a secret, Chen Guangrui's guess was correct. Besides finding the Jinghe Dragon King, he also inquired with the land gods near Chang'an.

As a civil official, he was well aware of the crucial role of land in the local information network and was even more acutely aware of what the clues pointing to the Buddhist temple meant.

However, you can't just say things like that carelessly.

Chen Guangrui nodded, his expression natural.
“I mentioned this matter to General Li Jing. After the assassination attempt failed, General Li also found it strange, so he secretly sent people to investigate along the only clues. Some clues vaguely pointed to that big temple. Even if that person did not enter the temple directly, he was very likely related to the monks in the temple or those who came and went with him.”

He had it all figured out: once he'd firmly linked Buddhism to this matter, he could shift the blame. "You're an official in the Ministry of Personnel, you represent the Jade Emperor, so you can handle it as you see fit."

As for "both Li Jing and I found clues"?
Wei Zheng certainly wouldn't bother to verify such a detail with Li Jing.

As for the "old man on the official road" that Lao Wei asked about, who else could it be but the local earth god who was in charge of that land but feared Buddha like a tiger?

He must have seen the blue lion shrouded in "Buddha's light" making contact with the two unfortunate farmers, but due to the power of the Buddha's light, he dared not tell the truth to the official!
If we press him further, he'll reveal the "Buddha's Light Lion," and the Buddhist sect will be completely unable to clear its name! As long as Wei Zheng, the official in charge of personnel, is willing to investigate deeply, we can pry open the local official's mouth!

He put down his bowl, his expression saying, "I'm just providing directions, you figure it out." He continued, "These are all the clues I can think of. How to verify them and how to proceed is entirely up to you, Lord Wei."

After saying that, he seemed to no longer care about the matter and picked up his chopsticks to take a piece of pig's head meat.

Wei Zheng sat opposite him, his fingers tracing unconscious lines on the rough tabletop, lost in thought. The assassin's origins were mysterious, and now the clues were subtly pointing to the important Buddhist temple, Daxingshan Temple… This pool was indeed unfathomably deep. After a moment, he raised his eyes, his gaze profound.

"Hmm... I understand." He didn't press Li Jing for details of his investigation, clearly accepting Chen Guangrui's explanation and realizing the sensitivity of the clues.

The rest is up to him to consider.

Chen Guangrui wasn't in a hurry; if Li Jing knew about this, he definitely wouldn't wait until the next day. But Wei Zheng was always cautious, and he probably needed to figure out the seriousness of the situation.

Seeing that he had finished his contemplation, Chen Guangrui seemingly changed the subject with concern.
"By the way, Lord Wei, I've been walking around the city these past few days and I heard that something seems to have gone wrong at the palace. Some important old documents have gone missing? Rumor has it... that the Prince of Qin's residence... is behind this?"

He spoke subtly, but his meaning was clear: he wanted to test Wei Zheng's opinion on the matter and the information he possessed.

Wei Zheng immediately shook his head, his wrinkles deepening, and sighed.

“Oh, it’s not them. That thing,”

He lowered his voice, his tone carrying a knowing helplessness, "To put it bluntly, it's some old files from the former Crown Prince's palace. If they really fall into the wrong hands, it will be extremely detrimental to both His Highness and the nobles of the Prince of Qin's mansion in the court... Whoever leaks them will be stirring up a hornet's nest!"

Chen Guangrui understood; this was consistent with his and Li Jing's analysis.

He feigned ignorance and asked, "Then why is the Prince of Qin's mansion still pursuing you? Don't they know...?"

Wei Zheng gave a bitter laugh, a rare self-deprecating smile and a hint of bitterness appearing on his weathered face: "Just because the items were lost within two short days of my appointment as the Registrar of the Imperial Household! At that time, I was worried about my future with that memorial, completely overwhelmed, how could I have the mind to care about the storeroom? To outsiders, I was the prime suspect because I used to be a member of the former Crown Prince's household. As for those people in the Prince of Qin's household? Hmph, it's understandable that they suspect me too. I'm afraid the Crown Prince himself may also have his doubts..."

His eyes were complicated. "To be frank, these past few nights I've been thinking about this so much that I sometimes can't help but doubt myself. With so many eyes watching, how could the item just disappear? If I really investigate, I myself am indeed the 'most suspicious' person!"

This is somewhat ironic. Wei Zheng knew he hadn't stolen those documents, but stepping outside the situation, even he himself doubted himself, let alone the people in the Prince of Qin's mansion.

The somber atmosphere caused Chen Guangrui to temporarily abandon his composed and strategic demeanor.

Looking at the exhausted and speechless old minister opposite him, he asked, "Then, Lord Wei, who do you think it is? Who has the courage and the ability?"

Wei Zheng shook his head blankly, the candlelight flickering in his eyes, reflecting deep weariness and doubt.

"I don't know... I really can't figure it out. But the person behind this is incredibly cunning and has truly angered His Majesty! Once exposed, their entire family may be in grave danger."

Chen Guangrui leaned forward slightly, and said softly in a tentative tone,

"Now that things have come to this, the secrets of the palace are beyond our comprehension. Lord Wei, although you are a suspect in the theft in the palace, it is indeed inconvenient to investigate further... Have you considered asking around? Perhaps... asking some 'non-human' beings? Chang'an is such a large city, there are probably only living people who can see things."

He gently stroked the rim of the glass with his fingers, his eyes calm as still water, as if he were just making an ordinary suggestion.

(End of this chapter)