Chapter 108：

Shao Shang didn't go home today, so he sent Sangguo back to the mansion to report that he was going to stay in Changqiu Palace for the night, and told his family not to worry about it. Zhai Yu to accompany him. At night, holding the candle book case, she wrote a line of doubts on a smooth wooden slip. Early the next morning, Shao Shang had just eaten breakfast when the prince's personal Xiao Huangmen came to her and asked her to go to the East Palace.

Walking to the east palace, the prince was talking with Ling Budo in a low voice in the courtyard, Liang Qiuqi asked the maid to lead Shao Shang to the side palace, and said softly: "The young master said, The steward of Zigui Bieyuan is here, and I want to see the young master. If you want to ask questions, feel free to ask, and the young master will take you out of the palace to investigate the case later."

Shao Shang nodded and followed the maid into the side hall, only to see the Crown Princess crying to a 30-year-old brocade official.

"... Qu Lingjun, this **** little slut, wants to kill himself and also drags down His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Now there is so much rumor outside, I don't have the face to go out to meet people! It's really not enough Let go of my hatred!"

Young businessman couldn't listen anymore, he stepped in and said loudly, "See you in two days, will the Crown Princess be safe?"

The Crown Princess is now a little afraid of Shaoshang, and she can't help shrinking when she hears her voice. The man in the golden robe shouted loudly: "Where are you from being rude, and you don't bow your head and salute when you see the Crown Princess?!"

Shao Shang saluted the prince concubine loosely, and then looked up and down the man: "You are Sun Sheng, the cousin of the prince concubine, the steward of Zigui Bieyuan?"

Sun Sheng looked at Shaoshang with cloudy eyes, and said triumphantly: "Exactly! The little lady is born well..."

"What is rude? The Crown Princess is usually too kind to be bullied, which makes our Sun family so aggrieved! The maiden family of the dignified Crown Princess, so far, has not caught anything except the two Xujue, what a shame. Shameless!" Sun Sheng said angrily.

The Shao Shang snorted softly: "Fortunately, I didn't seal any official for your grandson's family, and even a mere hospital can't manage it well. Common people, bring the crown prince's reputation!"

"What did the little **** say!" Sun Sheng's face changed greatly.

"I said that you are still alive and dead!"

Prince Concubine hurriedly said: "Although Zigui Bieyuan is managed by a cousin, there are so many slaves and servants inside and outside, and the cousin also has a hundred secrets and a sparse. There will be a lot of osmanthus flowers scattered on the ground, maybe the servant will pick up a handful secretly, this is hard to prevent."

Shao Shang sneered: "The other courtyard is not full of purple osmanthus trees! Zhai Yu said that there was originally called Zigui Bieyuan, and later seven or eight trees grew by the lake on the east side. The name was changed after the extremely rare purple osmanthus tree. After all, in fact, there is only one place in the entire courtyard with purple osmanthus, and a special person is dispatched to take care of it every day. Well, even if Mr. Sun has kept a few secrets, the incident happened now. Now, dare to ask Master Sun to find out who stole Zigui?"

Sun Sheng gritted his teeth: "In a hurry, I haven't found it yet."

"Are there any servants in the other courtyard who have suddenly become wealthy recently?"

"...There are so many slaves and maids in the other courtyard, I haven't had time to ask them one by one."

"Zigui Bieyuan belongs to Huangzhuang, and the servants in it are generally controlled by palace servants and eunuchs, and they can't easily go out. These days, who have left the other courtyard?" , it must be delivered.

“…not yet known.”

"You don't need to ask them one by one, just flip through the registration book of entering and leaving other courtyards. Why don't you know?!"

Sun Sheng was so embarrassed by the question that he howled: "Don't be aggressive! I'm in charge of Zigui Bieyuan, I have my own measure, what do you know, you stinky little girl! It's too slow. Check it out slowly…”

"I'm afraid it's too late." Ling Budo's voice came, and then he and the prince stepped into the side hall one after the other.

Everyone hurriedly saluted the prince, Sun Sheng showed a guilty conscience and said with a smile: "This...His Royal Highness, look at this..."

The prince sullen and refused to pay attention to him. Sun Sheng asked for help to see his cousin, and the princess looked embarrassed.

Ling Budo turned around and asked Shaoshang: "Have you finished your question?"

Shao Shang looked disgusted: "This Master Sun doesn't know when he asks three questions, but his authority is not small."

Ling Budo nodded and ordered outside: "Come here, take Sun Sheng down. Liang Qiuqi, **** yourself."

Sun's cousins ​​were shocked. Sun Sheng was stunned, and the Crown Princess trembled: "You...what are you going to do? Even if my cousin neglects to control the slaves and servants in other courtyards, it's not a crime..."

Ling Budo was too lazy to talk nonsense, mentioned Sun Sheng's back leader, and said indifferently: "I want the princess to know that Zigui is still a trivial matter, but what about the jade cicada of the prince? I haven't seen Qu Ling-Jun, but I had groomed myself before I went to meet him. At that time, His Highness clearly remembered that the jade cicada was still hanging on his waist."

"Maybe it was lost on the way back. It's easy to lose accessories when riding a horse!" The princess was still struggling.

Ling Budo glanced at Sun Sheng, who had a guilty conscience, and sneered: "After meeting Qu Lingjun, the prince became unstable, and sat in the other courtyard for a long time, then abandoned his horse and drove back to the East Palace. The other courtyard, the carriage, the palace road, the East Palace, Yuchan can only be thrown in these four places...Prince Princess, where do you think this Yuchan will be thrown?"

"If someone deliberately framed the prince, naturally they had to plan ahead. The carriage and the palace road were all accidents and could not be predicted. Donggong, after the last time the seal was sealed, it was not so easy to start... That must be another courtyard!" Shao Shang tilted his head.

Sun Sheng's face was pale, and he shouted for mercy: "His Royal Highness, it's not me, it's not me... Someone must have sneaked into the other courtyard! Crown Princess, please help me beg Your Highness..."

"What's going on, just ask." Ling Budo stopped talking nonsense and threw Sun Sheng out of the corridor.

Liang Qiuqi led the guards to wait outside, very skillfully captured and bound him, and by the way stuffed a rag in Sun Sheng's mouth.

The princess watched this scene in the palace, trembling all over in fear, knelt before the prince and kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead was blood red, weeping: "Concubine asks for His Highness Mingjian. Concubine is ignorant and shallow. Jealous, but the heart of the prince is only heavenly. Why did the concubine's cousin have any intention to frame you?! There must be a hidden secret, I beg the prince to find out!"

The prince seemed to be unbearable, but still insisted: "If it's not Sun Sheng's business, he will come back in good condition. Zi Sheng will not deliberately make trouble with him."

Shao Shang found that Ling Budo looked at the prince with a kind of sneer, as if he was helpless for how easily the prince was soft-hearted, but it was just a few kowtows and a few tears.

The prince gently pushed the princess away, turned his head and said, "Due to Gu's negligence, a catastrophe has been planted, please trouble yourself."

Shao Shang felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and solemnly promised: "Your Highness, rest assured, concubine will do her best to return your innocence!"

The prince was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "Okay, I believe in you..."

Shao Shang noticed that the prince looked different, looked back at Ling Budo behind him, and suddenly said, "Your Highness, what you said just now was aimed at Lord Ling!" , what a shame.

The prince couldn't bear to speak bluntly, turned his back and shook his shoulders.

Ling Budo was keeping his head down and laughing, but when he looked up, it seemed that the mountains and rivers were in full bloom. He pulled the pouting girl and resigned to the prince together. Walking on the palace road, he asked the girl, "Where shall we go to check first?"

Ling Buxuan's eyes were full of smiles, but his face was solemn: "Whether others believe you or not, whether or not anyone sees you, you should do everything seriously. Righteousness."

Shao Shang nodded slowly and smiled slightly: "Okay, although I know you are coaxing me, but you are right, you should do things like this."

"Stop being angry? Where shall we go first?"

"There is no precedence, I just want to go to Liangfu. Changes remain the same, the joints are there!"

"Very good, I thought so too."

…

The atmosphere of Liang Mansion today is different from yesterday.

If yesterday's Liang Mansion was a combination of gossip and dazed eagerness, today's Liang Mansion is much more gloomy, and even faintly has a desolate atmosphere. After entering the mansion, the troops were divided into two groups. Ling Budo went to Liang Zhoumu gracefully. Shaoshang went to see Qu Lingjun as usual, but who knew that he saw a good show first.

Qu Lingjun's courtyard was originally planted with various cloud plants and misty grasses, but now all of them have been plucked up to clean up the broad slate-paved ground, where a group of sturdy housemen with sticks or ropes Standing solemnly, there were seven or eight people in the middle who were pinned to the ground and were banging their boards. Shao Shang noticed that none of them were gagged, and seemed to let them scream so that no one could hear them.

Yuan Shen stood under the porch, the royal blue brocade velvet cloak fluttering in the wind.

Shao Shang was stunned: "Why are you here?" This is the inner house.

Yuan Shen smiled at Shaoshang: "My mother is here today."

Liang Qiufei, who was sent by Ling Budo to follow behind Shaoshang, said with a cold face, "I have seen Young Master Yuan before." He urged again, "Ma'am, time is waiting for no one, go in and ask Mrs. Qu."

Shao Shang thought about it right, so he nodded at Yuan Shen, and quickly took off his shoes and got into the inner room.

The situation in the room at this time is very interesting, just like a live drama.

In the middle of the upper head, there is a plain-clothed lady sitting high in the middle. She looks very beautiful in her forties, but her expression is lonely, with an air of bitterness, as if she is worried about something in this world don't care. On his head was a clear white jade hairpin, two white jade pendants beside his ears, a white jade bracelet with a back-shaped pattern on his left wrist, and an abrupt vermilion colored glaze pendant tied around his waist—this person must be Yuan's mother Liang Shi. . When she heard that the servants reported the name of the young merchant, she looked at the girl a few more times.

Qu Lingjun knelt down beside Mrs. Liang, she seemed thinner than yesterday, described as haggard, and her slender body seemed to have only a skeleton. Her confidant servant Youtong stayed by the side.

The next one is a middle-aged and elderly woman with a fierce face, gnashing her teeth and staring at Liang Qu and Liang Qu, if it wasn't for the two strong women holding her down firmly, she would have jumped up long ago He rushed to beat Qu Lingjun.

Liang Li was so pressed that she could not move, and burst out from between her teeth: "I am your concubine! You dare to be rude to me!"

Mrs. Liang said: "...I didn't approve of my father marrying you at the beginning. It's just a trivial matter. You are narrow and shallow, and you are very selfish. You know the stakes in front of you. Now that it's alright, you will pull the Crown Prince into the water, and you don't care about the life and future of the family. Which elder in the family will come to support you? Stop dreaming."

Liang Yu said bitterly, "Could it be that this **** can get away with ease while watching my son's tragic death?!" She looked at Qu Lingjun with a gaze that seemed to devour her alive.

"The facts of the case have not yet been understood, and should not be taken hastily."

"Fart! You are all self-righteous and have always looked down on our mother and son, but Ah Shang is the future head of the Liang family, and I am your father's widow..."

"That's why I said my father shouldn't marry you. In this world, there is the Liang family first, and then there is Liang Shang. With Liang Shang's ability, if there is no Liang family, he is worth a lot of money ? Also, let me tell you the truth. No matter what the outcome is this time, your widow wife has done it all, and you will be taken care of and 'recuperate well'."

Mrs. Liang's expression was indifferent, and she seemed to have just put a cricket into the earthen pot. After saying this, she asked her servant to block Liang Mi's mouth, not wanting to see her frightened expression, she turned her head towards Qu Lingjun.

"I thought you were a wise man, but a good marriage ended up like this. Liang Shang beat you, can't you speak or move? Your father and brother are not people who disregard your life and death, If it came out earlier, it wouldn't be like this."

Qu Lingjun's face was pale and his expression was dejected: "At first, I wanted to break off the marriage, and Liang Shang threatened to say that I had secretly exchanged music with the prince and gave and received privately. I was frightened. After having a child, I saw that Liang Shang was just bluffing, so I wanted to break up the marriage again. But he said maliciously, saying that even if I can leave, the child will always stay, and the little child does not know how to live. A few days...I hesitated again."

"Besides, the Liang and Qu family were like water and fire at the time, and it was easy to reconcile. How could I ruin the overall situation for me alone. But what should I do? Yes, because I secretly searched for a few skilled maids and kept them by my side, Liang Shang didn't dare to do anything to me again. In fact, I only really had nowhere to say in the first few years. Later, when Liang Shang hit me a few times, I will definitely ask the maid to beat me back. If you don't believe me, let him see, Liang Shang is also injured."

"Liang Shang has stopped a lot in the past few years. Who knows that after coming to the capital, he will return to his old ways, but today I will no longer bear him. A few days ago, I have reported this matter to the state shepherd. He told me the truth. Although my cousin was very embarrassed, he still promised me that if I broke up with Liang Shang, I would take the two children away and ask the kind and virtuous aunts in the clan to raise them. So, why should I kill Liang Shang? There's a way out!"

Speaking of the last sentence, Qu Lingjun was somewhat excited.

Shao Shang sighed. No wonder it is said that it is difficult for honest officials to cut off housework. Yesterday, when she found out that Qu Lingjun suffered from domestic violence all year round, she actually felt a little disdain in her heart. She felt that only weak and incompetent women would endure such rude things, and this Qu Lingjun was nothing more than that. Now that I think about it, every family has a hard-to-read scripture.

Mrs. Liang also remained silent for a long time. She turned her head towards Shaoshang and said, "Since you have been ordered by Changqiu Palace, you can ask whatever you want."

Shao Shang nodded, sat up and began to ask questions.

"Who was the one who delivered meals to the bookstore at noon?"

"It's Youtong. She went in my velvet cloak. I don't want the people in the house to know that I went out."

"But when Young Master Liang sees You Tong, won't he recognize him?"

"He knows it, and I have torn my face with him anyway. Some things are tacit."

"So that bookshelf was really knocked down by Mr. Liang?"

"Oh, when he saw Youtong coming, he immediately knew that I was going out, so he lost his temper and pushed down the bookshelf. However, he was obsessed with engraving at the time and didn't want to interrupt, just threatened to wait until I came back. Settlement."

Shao Shang shook his head and sighed silently—this case is really tortuous and bizarre, and the suspicious things calculated yesterday turned out to be true.

"And that bookcase, can Madam confirm what's inside?"

"I know what Miss Cheng means. Liang Shang has no talent or virtue, and the only thing he is obsessed with is engraving on gold and stone. I want to bear Liang Shang's anger when it matters. But the book box that was carried into the bookstore the day before yesterday, I confirm that it is indeed a book, not a corpse that has been unwrapped. "

"Why is Madam so sure?" Shaoshang felt strange.

Qu Lingjun had a shy look on his face, calmed his mind, and said firmly: "The day I returned to the city from Zigui Bieyuan, I met an old man who was selling ancient books along the way, so I bought it easily. One volume. After I got home, I asked someone to carry the book box from my courtyard. On the lakeside path to Shulu, I personally opened the book box and put the last volume of the book in. Since then, the family has been He carried the bookcase beside me and never left my side. I really don't know why there are bloodstains under the tarpaulin..."

Shao Shang frowned in thought. Since the bookcase has been placed in Qu Lingjun's courtyard for a long time, it is natural that someone took the opportunity to do something under the tarpaulin, but Qu Lingjun and his servants did not notice it.

She suddenly thought of something, and said strangely: "But in the bookstore that day, I saw that there were only a few volumes in the bookcase."

Qu Lingjun showed a pained face, and said in a hoarse voice: "... Liang Shang and I are called husband and wife, but in fact they are not even good friends. After I entered the bookstore that day, I didn't want to deal with Liang Shang. After saying a few words, Liang Shang didn't pay attention to me. I thought he was losing his temper and didn't bother to pay attention to him, so I opened the bookcase by myself and put the bamboo slips into the outermost bookshelf. There was still no response, which was strange. I walked around the bookshelf and the screen and saw Liang Shang was leaning against the west wall with a knife stuck in his body. I fell to the ground in fright and called everyone over."

Shao Shang is speechless, what a coincidence.

"It's okay for Madam to explain it this way, but Master Ji said, oh, it's not just Master Ji... Others say that you dragged Young Master Liang's corpse from the bookcase and placed it against the wall , and then put some books in the bookstore into a box to make it look like." Although Liang Shang's bookstore didn't have many books, there were enough bamboo slips to fill a book box.

The maid Youtong suddenly said: "When the lady opened the book box by the lake, several servants saw it, and there was indeed no one in the box."

Shao Shang sighed: "The madam brought the servants from her mother's house. They all carried the corpse for the madam, not to mention the mere concealment. If you say it, people will not believe it."

You Tong froze for a moment, threw herself on the ground and cried bitterly: "The slave said that day, and the slave confessed the crime of murder, but the lady refused!"

Qu Lingjun stroked the top hair of his confidant maid and sighed: "Silly Youtong, you grew up with me, what's the difference between killing you and me, I have to be driven as well. I will spare you for the crime of murdering a slave and a servant."

You Tong cried.

Shao Shang said: "Can I see the velvet cloak that Youtong wore that day? It's better to let me see the clothes that you wore that day."

Jun Qu Ling agreed, and let the young Tong, who was taking a ride, take Shao Shang to the back.

You Tong's house is not with other maids, but sleeps directly in the compartment behind the hostess' bedroom, so that she can take care of it nearby.

While waiting in the bed of Jun Qu Ling, Shao Shang looked around and saw something very familiar, and she couldn't help but move.

Soon, You Tong came out with the clothes she wore that day and Qu Lingjun's velvet cloak. Shao Shang checked it carefully and found that there was no blood or doubt, so he gave up .

Then, Shao Shang planned to go to the bookstore where the crime happened, but Yuan Shen, who was standing in the corridor, heard it and followed him with a smile.

"Lingtang is so unsmiling, why do you laugh so much?" Shaoshang said.

Yuan Shen still smiled: "As a family, learn from each other's strengths. My mother doesn't like to laugh or talk, so I will laugh more and talk more."

"What are you doing with me?"

"You and I still have some origins. I will accompany you, lest you be afraid."

"Oh, scared?! I saw more than a hundred corpses outside Huaxian?! Ha, scared, I won't write these words!"

Yuan Shen stopped, folded a branch, and held it in front of Shaoshang: "Will you write these two words to see? Use the font on the book of rituals, and don't use it fonts commonly used by officials.”

Shao Shang glared at him for a long time, and finally he laughed first: "...I really can't write!"

The Queen has never had a hard target for her academically, and she takes reason as the first essential point.

The girl's smile was like a flower, and she was free and easy.

—Liang Qiufei, who was following behind the two, rolled his eyes, even more angry than he was wearing a green hat, but Yuan Shen had a noble status and was articulate, and he couldn't think of what to say for a while what to push him back.

Yuan Shen seemed to be scolded for being comfortable and laughing loudly.

"Don't laugh, don't laugh, people are dying in the Liang residence right now! You laugh like this, begging for a beating! Stop laughing, even if you are Mrs. Liang's son, beware of being attacked Knock the sap!" Shao Shang looked around nervously.

Yuan Shen slowly restrained his laughter, and then made a long bow: "Young Shangjun, I apologize here." He got up, looked at the girl and smiled slightly, "I know Shao Shang Jun is brave and resolute, and it is time to make a rude statement."

Shao Shang saw the sincerity he said and said with a smile: "Forget this trivial matter, I won't take it to heart. In fact, I know your thoughts, and you also want to help Liang Zhoumu and Lingtang Don't worry, let's come together."

Liang Qiufei witnessed everything, and felt that his blood was surging, and he couldn't bear it any longer, so he whispered to the guard behind him. The guard glanced at the pair of jade men who were walking in front of them. He understood it in seconds, and quickly left.

At this time, Ling Wuxuan was chatting with Liang Wuji in a quiet inner room.

"...Lord State Shepherd think about it, I'm not in a hurry."

"Since you're not in a hurry, why are you persecuting me?" Liang Wuji said coldly.

"Master Liang, do you think it's the prince who is anxious now? No. The one who should be most anxious now is the state shepherd, which is the position of the entire Liang family in His Majesty's heart."

Liang Wuji sat with his head bowed and his palms down, silent.

Ling Buxuan sat in front of the case with a clear voice: "This murder case seems to be complicated, what kind of secret room in a bookstore, what kind of velvet cloak bookcase, and Yuchan Zigui... These are all combined in In one place, only one conclusion can be drawn, that is, the Qu family had an affair with the prince, killing Liang Shang and trying to get out of the crime—and this is also the result that the people in the dark want."

Liang Wuji had a headache: "How is this possible? The Qu family has been in Hedong since they got married, never set foot in the capital, and..."

"Yes. You know that Qu's can't kill Liang Shang, because she already has a way to escape; I also know that the prince can't kill Liang Shang, because he hasn't seen Qu's for ten years - But outsiders don't know." Ling Budo said.

Liang Wuji sat slumped.

Ling Budoubt said: "People's words are terrifying. When the rumors spread more and more widely, the prince's reputation will be discredited, and the purpose of the people in the dark will be achieved."

Liang Wuji sneered: "I thought it was the Qu family who implicated the prince, but now I know that it was the prince who implicated the Liang family. The people in the dark have spent a lot of time, how can they only target a weak woman , It turned out to be the sword pointing at the East Palace! Liang Jiatu suffered this tragic incident, but now, Zisheng, are you still here to persecute me?"

"The Liang family is not entirely innocent, right?" Ling Budo said lightly, "Isn't Liang Shang not named Liang?"

Liang Wuji was puzzled.

Ling Budoubt said: "If Liang Shang has an honest character, and he is a good husband and wife with the Qu family, loving, respectful, and intimate, this plan may not be successful. However, he has to be a beast! Many people know that their husband and wife are not on good terms, but now that the matter is exposed, they even know that the Qu family suffers, and Liang Shang’s actions are despicable. So, this planting is more and more certain.”

Liang Wuji was angry and said solemnly, "It turns out that it's all the fault of the Liang family! Master Ling is very eloquent."

"The Liang family's bride, the Liang family's children, the Liang family's mansion, the Liang family's bookstore and the students of the school... It's not the Liang family's business, is it still mine?"

Liang Wuji was so angry that he fell on his back.

Ling Budoubt continued: "Lord Zhou Mu, don't be angry at me. Just now I missed a sentence, not only did I know that the prince could not kill Liang Shang, but His Majesty also knew that the prince would not. Although he didn't act well, if the prince fell into this sloping sewage because of the Liang family, what would the state shepherd think His Majesty would think?"

Liang Wuji was frightened, his anger dissipated, and his fear surged up; so he sincerely said: "Dare to ask Zisheng, how should the Liang family understand this matter?"

Ling Budo was about to answer when his guard suddenly asked to see him outside. After he was allowed in, the guard whispered a few words in Ling Budo's ear, Ling Budo's face changed slightly.

Liang Wuji was a little curious, but the handsome and noble son in front of him was still calm and relaxed, and he was mature and mellow when dealing with him, without showing any timidity. I don't know what happened to make him look like this.

Ling Budo frowned, and then suddenly smiled at Liang Wuji: "Liang Zhoumu, it's fine for you and I to chat here, but the Liang family members are still arguing and making noise outside. From the following point of view, it is better to control it a little bit. Alright, otherwise, if we spread it to the outside world, wouldn't it add fuel to the fire?"

Liang Wuji was stunned for a moment, he didn't quite understand how his relatives were making noise in his mansion, and what was the relationship with the prince; but he didn't want to have too many troubles, so he said: "What Zisheng said is true. Just ask someone to let them rest for a while…”

Use it. It is better for the state shepherd to send Young Master Yuan Shen, I think he is very good. Young Master Yuan is half of the Liang family, and he is very knowledgeable, well-known, and articulate, and he will surely be able to appease the Liang family."

Liang Wuji:…

"Thank you Zisheng for caring so much about the Liang family." Although Lord Zhou Mu was experienced in the world, he was at a loss at this time.

Ling Budo is very polite: "You're welcome."