CH 180

Zhao Zhi had originally planned to leave Yangzhou very quickly, but just when he was about to leave, something happened, the secretary of the imperial court of justice, Zhang Qin, was murdered. The killer did a clean job, and did not leave any traces.

A fourth-rank official of the court had suffered such a violent death, the case had to be properly investigated. Unfortunately, Yangzhou’s officials really lacked talent in investigating criminal cases, a few days passed, with still no clue, they even thought about reporting that Zhang Qin had died by hanging himself.

But now that the crown prince was still in Yangzhou, they couldn’t so easily lie about this case.

Zhao Zhi also did not have any interest in doing a detailed investigation, this person was a former official in charge of dealing with criminals, he had made use of his position to get rid of obstructing people and had made enemies everywhere. The people who wanted to silence him by killing him weren’t few.

It was of no matter that this man was dead, that wouldn’t disturb anything.

But the timing he died wasn’t right, the place was also not right. Zhao Zhi ordered Wei Liu to go investigate.

Wei Liu, however, returned without success and half-kneeled down, “This subordinate is incompetent.”

Zhao Zhi was wearing a thin and dark zhizhui, in the deep autumn, his face was pale from the cold, he had just taken a bath and a faint and clear fragrance was coming from his body, his black hair was scattered, his body was thin, his wide lapel was gently swaying along the cold wind. He was looking at the moon, as he indifferently said: “Even you can’t find out anything?”

“The murderer is a paid wanderer from the Jianghu, not long after Zhang Qin died, he also died.”

This way, no one could ask him about the person who ordered him to do the job.

Zhao Zhi was not very interested, he raised his eyelids, “It is not necessary to go to such lengths to kill one Zhang Qin.”

Using a cow butcher’s knife to kill a mere chicken.

“Perhaps it’s for the sake of not taking any risk.” Wei Liu guessed.

Zhao Zhi put back the white jade chess piece he was holding in his fingers, he took a look at the chess board, before raising his face and saying indifferently, “It is indeed for the sake of not taking any risk, but I really can’t think of anyone who would want his life so desperately.”

“Your Highness, then should I continue the investigation?”

Zhao Zhi now coughed whenever the wind was blowing, his throat was itchy and sore, and he was not feeling very well. He said, “Forget it, there is no need. If he’s dead, then that’s it.”

Closing the case would make the prefect the most happy person, he wouldn’t have to be so afraid anymore that the crown prince would direct his anger at him because of this matter.

For fear that the crown prince would not be comfortable in Yangzhou, the prefect deliberately ordered people to prepare songs and dances and planned to offer several beauties to the crown prince.

However, his calculations fell through.

The crown only sat for a while before he left the table. The prefect could only make the few beauties go to the crown prince’s courtyard as maidservants for the time being.

If they had the ability to get the crown prince’s attention, they would be able to enjoy endless glory and wealth in the future.

At the end of the banquet, the confident of the prefect reminded him with a concerned face, “His Highness has just lost his beloved concubine, I’m afraid he won’t be interested.”

“You don’t understand, His Highness is now lonely, so he needs the beauty of flowers to relieve himself.”

“But I heard that His Highness went to Lingchan Temple a few days ago and asked the abbot to deliver his unborn child from the purgatory. Your Excellency should not take the liberty of speculating on His Highness’s mood.”

“This this this …… what should I do?”

“Hurry up and bring back the girls that were sent there.”

The prefect didn’t get to curry favor like he had intended to, but instead stepped on a minefield.

Zhao Zhi had now been staying in Yangzhou for close to half a month, and in a few days, he was going to return to the capital by boat. He would probably not be coming back to Jiangnan in the near future.

Song Huaiqing had received instructions from his aunt, and he was obliged to follow them. So he took Zhao Zhi around the most bustling area in Yangzhou.

Vendors on the side of the street were shouting loudly.

As Song Huaiqing walked forward, he found that he had left him behind, and when he turned his head back, he felt a little headache coming, “Your Highness, do you want to buy anything?”

The stalls were full of toys targeting children, butterflies, and paper tigers.

Zhao Zhi remained silent and paid the money without saying a word. While he was holding the butterfly in his hand, what he was thinking about was unsure.

Song Huaiqing closed the fan in his hand and said to him slowly, “I heard that there is a particularly good pastry shop in this street, do you want to go over and take a look?”

Zhao Zhi’s face was expressionless as he answered with a low voice, “I don’t like pastries.”

“Of course, I know you don’t like it, I was just asking.”

But there was a person who liked them very much. She couldn’t eat them very often, so she frequently used her pitiful watery eyes to look at him, shaking his arm, whispering to him, acting coquettishly.

Whenever Zhao Zhi thought of her, his heart swelled with pain. He frowned, “Let’s go and see.”

Song Huaiqing led him to the door of the shop. Seeing the closed wooden door, his tone was rather regretful, “It’s actually closed.”