Chapter 122： birthday

Xie Zhi: "But even if Ji Zhuilu showed these flaws, there is still a lack of conclusive evidence to convict him."

Li Zichou said, "It doesn't matter if there is no evidence, as long as he can be caught, that's enough."

Xie Zhi was taken aback for a moment: "...Please make it clear, Your Majesty."

So Li Zichou told Xie Zhi all about her plan. After hearing it, Xie Zhi really thought it was feasible, but she still had some doubts.

"This is just my preliminary plan. I came to you to talk about this, because I need your and Yang Dejin's consent." Li Zichou knew that she was worried.

Hearing her mentioning Yang Dejin, Xie Zhi still couldn't help asking his doubts: "Your Majesty, are you and Prince Yu..."

Li Zishou changed his name: "She is my best friend."

Xie Zhi repeated word by word: "Best... friend, friend?" Obviously, this was an answer she hadn't expected.

Although she had noticed clues from many places before, she really did not expect that this time, the Queen and Prince Yu would be friends.

So their usual feuds are all just pretending?

I really know how to act.

"Yes, so I can't allow someone to frame my friend."

"......what can I do?"

"I need to meet with her alone. It's a confidential one. You don't need to do a lot. She knows how to find me in the palace."

"I understand. Tonight, I will dismiss the prison guards and open the prison door." Xie Zhi paused when he said this, "But Your Majesty, I have one more request."

"What request?"

"If you decide to take action, please ask the minister to protect Yang Dejin."

"Yes, but you must protect yourself."

"nature."

In the end, Li Zichou said, "Don't tell Bai Qingyang about this, please."

Xie Zhi was silent and agreed.

When Xie Zhi was about to leave, Li Zichou stopped her: "Xie Shilang, no matter who is the person who is caught in the end, I will give you the right to deal with it, no joke."

But Xie Zhi just cupped his hands and said a word of compliance, but did not understand the deeper meaning of the other party's words.

//

Back to the Ministry of punishment.

No matter who the murderer is, Li Zishou will give Xie Zhi full authority to deal with it. This is the monarch's promise to her.

Xie Zhi asked in a daze: "Your Majesty, are you serious?"

Even if the Emperor Lie's last edict clearly stated that it is not allowed to harm compatriots, would she feel relieved to leave it to herself?

"One promise, one thousand gold."

Li Zichou knew that no one was more qualified than Bai Qingyang and Xie Zhi to take revenge on Ji Zhuilu.

In fact, Li Zifu doesn't care, no matter how authoritative the dead man's decree is, it can't restrain her. She is not her cheap father, and she is not afraid of it. It's those guys in Chaozhong, it's a little troublesome to fool them, and her confidants have to work overtime.

With Li Zifu's approval, Xie Zhi showed a heartfelt smile, and because of his unsteady emotions, he seemed a little stiff: "My minister, thank you Lord Long En."

Then, she turned around and looked down at Ji Zhuilu, her eyes were still red, but her expression had returned to coldness. She suppressed her anger and shouted to the soldiers: "Detain him, I will interrogate him overnight!"

"yes!"

Zhang Keji on the side watched his younger generation lead people to the next door, wondering whether he should follow, and then looked at the empress and empress, hesitating at a loss, staring blankly at several of his subordinates.

Too many things happened tonight, the explosive amount of information, like a meteorite, made them dizzy and confused. The few parties involved and the insiders are alright, but the people who were called here are all tingling and trembling.

"Whether you want to talk about what happened tonight is up to you." Li Zishou sensed the embarrassment of the officials and said, "Now, go do your own work."

Several officials from the Ministry of Punishment rushed to Ji Zhuilu's cell as if they were being pardoned. Zhou Huaijin, bored, also followed.

"I didn't expect you to really solve the case of Prime Minister Bai." Yang Dejin sent the hidden guards home first, and stayed to talk to Li Zichou.

That was a non-existent case that the original author didn't write clearly, and Li Zichou, an outsider, could see it clearly.

"It's just a coincidence." Li Zichou responded casually, and then said in a joking tone, "It may also be a destiny? Who knows?"

Under the pen of the original author, what outsiders as readers can see is only the tip of the iceberg of this world. For them, everything here, from microscopic particles to the macroscopic world, is subjective fiction.

For the natives of this world, everything that happened here is absolutely real. As an independent plane, this world is running soundly, with a causal loop and self-consistent logic.

For individuals like them who broke the rules, this world is a huge stage of unpredictable destiny.

Here, even if you want to control your own destiny, you must be exhaustive, because they themselves are variables, and only the established facts remain unchanged.

Yang Dejin chuckled, "Isn't the Riddler?"

"No way." Li Zichou replied, "It's been really hard for you these two days."

Yang Dejin waved his hands nonchalantly: "Why are you still talking about this, haven't we passed our anger a long time ago?"

//

The time was set back to two days before the palace banquet.

In the middle of the night, Yang Dejin appeared in the announcement room of Tianshu Palace. She was wearing the same hunting suit she wore in the paddock. She hadn't changed it for the past two days because she was squatting in the game. She was dusty and looked a little downcast.

"Why do you want me?" She asked coldly.

She was still angry with Li Zichou. First, he ignored her warning and insisted on putting himself in danger; second, he indiscriminately put her in prison!

I'm furious! This big fool*! I really want to punch her twice!

"Sorry." Yang Dejin was thinking angrily, but heard the other party say this sentence suddenly.

"Ah?" Yang Dejin was stunned.

I saw Li Zichou sitting on the banquet table with his back straight, his hands on his knees, his head slightly lowered, as if admitting his mistake and apologizing.

"I had a bad attitude before. You obviously thought of me, but I didn't listen to you." Li Zichou said with a sincere and sincere tone, "I'm really sorry, can you forgive me?"

She bowed her head to apologize first, and being so formal made Yang Dejin stiff.

"Ah... uh... Actually, I also have something wrong..."

Just now, Yang Dejin purposely stood in front of Li Zichou in order not to lose her aura, and looked down at her condescendingly. When she heard the other party apologize, she put away the low pressure on her body and sat down awkwardly.

"You were in the center of the vortex, and I flung my face at you." Yang Dejin said with drooping corners of her mouth, "I was really worried when something happened to you, and I somewhat understood Xie Zhi's feelings before."

Li Zichou smiled knowingly: Fortunately, Yang Dejin is willing to forgive her...

"By the way, are you injured? Is it serious? Show me!"

When she was at the monastery, Yang Dejin saw a group of imperial physicians entering the emperor's camp. She had been wanting to ask questions but hadn't found a chance.

Seeing that Yang Dejin was about to rush over, Li Zichou hurriedly got up to avoid it, and raised his hand to signal her not to move.

Yang Dejin: "?" Are you serious about taking a half step back?

Yang Dejin was slightly annoyed: "What are you afraid of? They're all girls!"

Li Zichou: "..." How did your niece's famous words come out of your mouth?

Li Zichou coughed twice: "It's not serious, just a little skin trauma."

Although it was a skin trauma, it hurt the muscles and bones after all, and the wound was still scabbing. She didn't want Yang Dejin to worry.

"It's not serious?" Yang Dejin obviously didn't believe it, "It's not serious, are the imperial doctors making such a big fight? Do you think I'm stupid?"

"It's really not serious. Look, I'm fine now?" Li Zifu stretched his muscles as if to prove it.

Yang Dejin looked at her carefully, and saw that she really didn't seem to be trying to force herself, so she said, "It's really okay...then you have to tell me where you hurt, I'm afraid I might accidentally hurt you."

"The shoulder blades on the back have already been medicated, so it doesn't matter."

After hearing this, Yang Dejin could only nod doubtfully.

"You and I don't have much time, let's just talk about the business." Li Zichou changed the subject when he straightened his expression, "The matter of framing you has already begun, and Xie Zhi and I suspect that Ji Zhuilu is doing it behind the scenes. thing."

"Ji chasing deer??"

"Yes, he controls the paddock and has the best opportunity."

Li Zichou relayed the content she discussed with Xie Zhi to Yang Dejin one by one. After listening to Yang Dejin, Yang Dejin showed an expression of increased social experience.

"No wonder Xie Zhi told me to stay away from him, I didn't expect him to be a hidden big boss!" Yang Dejin was sighing, and suddenly realized something, "Oh no, then you knew that there was a problem with the crossbow arrow, so you should lock me in." In prison?!"

Li Zifu froze for a moment while drinking the water, and said with some reason: "Uh... isn't this to confuse the murderer, he wants to mess with you, it's safer for you to stay in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, Xie Zhi is there to take care of you, and it's convenient to protect you .”

In fact, there is another reason besides this, that is, Yang Dejin has no fully valid witnesses, and she herself cannot prove herself, and there are too many perjury evidence pointing to her. Ji Zhuilu was also watching, and it was imperative to put her in prison.

Yang Dejin snorted heavily: "Well, I'm a big wronged one, and I'm so stupid."

What kind of brains did these people have? She didn't figure out anything, which made her feel very shameless.

And why do you always have to lock her up to protect her? ! In the past, the prince's mansion was behind closed doors and she was thinking about her mistakes, but now she is in a prison in the Ministry of punishment. She must think that she has a special constitution that is easy to be involved in incidents!

"You are not stupid, you are too simple." Li Zichou comforted her.

Yang Dejin was annoyed: "Don't think I didn't hear it, you are saying that I can easily be used as a gunman."

Li Zichou shook his head: "That's not true, you are the one who is easy to lie down."

Yang Dejin: "..." That's true.

"Actually, besides this matter, I also have some conjectures about Prime Minister Bai's case."

"What guess?"

It was another compression of the divine words, and Yang Dejin's jaw dropped even more after hearing it.

"It's too nonsense, it's not a novel."

"It's just a novel."

"…?"It really is!

Yang Dejin: "There is a suspicion of killing Prime Minister Bai...then we have to tell Bai Qingyang!"

"My conjecture has not been fully confirmed, so I can't tell her yet." Li Zichou said, "But it is not that difficult to confirm it, as long as we can find out Ji Zhuilu's identity."

"Have you got a solution?"

"Facing the assassination of you and me, they all failed. The Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet is Ji Zhuilu's last chance."

"...You got it."

"Yes, Xie Zhi told me everything. She has been thinking so hard these days," Li Zichou said, "For you, she even put down her face and begged me for mercy. You have to thank her."

Yang Dejin nodded solemnly, and hummed: "I will thank her. Speaking of the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, what should I do?"

Li Zichou told Yang Dejin about his plan again.

"So that's the case, I'm going to be the bait."

"Ji Zhuilu will definitely not let you and me go, he will either go to the Yaoyue Pavilion or break into the Ministry of Punishment." Li Zichou listed the possibilities, "Should send someone to rescue those prairie people, but Ji Zhuilu The chances of leading the team are low, I have warned Dali Temple."

Yang Dejin: "The only thing left to do is to sit on the sidelines..."

"Well, I'll let Xie Zhi and the imperial guards protect you." Li Zichou said again, "Can you do it? If not, I'll find you a substitute."

"Hey don't!" Yang Dejin waved his hand, "I must have a share in such an exciting action!"

"...We're not here to play!" Li Zichou couldn't help helping his forehead seeing that she was still in good spirits.

"I know, I know." Yang Dejin was so excited that his hands were shaking, "But I have hidden guards, so the Imperial Army should use them to protect you."

"Are your hidden guards reliable?"

"The heroine of the original work agrees to use it!"

"..." That seems quite reliable.

"By the way, don't you still want to find my lost crossbow? You can let Yinniang go, she is a professional."

"...Isn't she from an assassin background? Why does she still have this business?"

"People can't have a side job."

"Can be able to..." But it's not legal...

After a while of secret conversation, Yang Dejin looked at the copper leak, sighed, and then got up: "It's getting late, Xie Zhi doesn't have much time to buy."

Li Zichou also stood up: "These two days, you have to bear it."

Yang Dejin didn't care much: "It's a small thing." She herself quite enjoyed it.

In the mid-autumn night project, the two reached a consensus and raised their hands to fist bump.

"Then I'm going back."

"Well, be careful in everything."

//

Back to the Criminal Ministry for the last time.

"Finally the truth has come to light." Yang Dejin said with emotion.

This is definitely one of the most interesting and wonderful experiences in her life, and she quite enjoys such a life full of ups and downs.

It's just that being framed and framed is not very comfortable.

"Yes, you and Xie Zhi have contributed a lot."

"Don't flatter me, I didn't do anything." Yang Dejin looked at Bai Qingyang beside her, "Compared to this, I think someone is still waiting for your explanation."

Bai Qingyang hadn't made a sound for a long time, it seemed that he was shocked enough.

It's all Li Zishou's fault, if she insists on preparing a surprise for her, it's strange to be happy when this series of events are thrown in front of her!

"Qing Yang?" Li Zichou noticed her only now, something was wrong with Bai Qingyang, she yelled worriedly.

Hearing the sound, Bai Qingyang looked up at her in a daze, as if he had just woken up from a dream.

Seeing her reaction, Li Zichou's heart tightened: It's broken! Don't you just make her stupid?

Li Zifu pressed her shoulders, making her look into his eyes, and said in a disturbed tone, "Are you all right, Qingyang, is there something uncomfortable?"

Bai Qingyang and Li Zichou looked at each other, their lips kept opening and closing, as if they wanted to ask a lot, but the last thing they said was: "When did you know?"

Li Zishou knew that she was asking about Bai Xun: "Just two days ago, not much earlier than you."

Bai Qingyang was a little stunned, and he still couldn't believe it, and murmured: "Aye, he... didn't treason?"

"No, you, Aye, are a loyal man, and you are the queen of a loyal minister."

"After the loyal minister?"

Li Zichou hummed: "Emperor Jing probably believed in this deeply, so he let the Qinzhou defenders protect you for nearly four years."

Bai Qingyang slowly opened his eyes wide, as if he understood something: "Qinzhou defenders..."

"right."

Emperor Jing knew who the murderer of Bai Xun was. It was impossible for him not to know that Bai Xun's wife and daughter had gone to his hometown in Qinzhou, and that Bai Xun's death was in vain. It was not only the monarch, but also the relatives of the deceased who grieved.

Perhaps it was because of the guilt towards him that Emperor Jing asked the Qinzhou garrison to pay close attention to the mother and daughter of the Bai family, and enforced an order called house arrest, which was actually a protection order.

The prime minister's mansion has been destroyed, and Bai Xun has been charged with unnecessary crimes, so they cannot return to Linjing, a place of right and wrong.

Including Xie Zhi's being inspected and promoted to the court, probably at the behest of Emperor Jing. Since Emperor Jing and Bai Xun are close friends, he should know that Bai Xun has a very good student. The one who promoted Xie Zhi was none other than Emperor Jing who was suspected of being the murderer.

Emperor Jing knew the secret, but he couldn't tell it, so he could only save the country. He promoted Xie Zhi all the way to be Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and gave her a lot of authority and connections. He hoped that this young man could find out everything and tell him the truth that he couldn't speak.

After explaining this, Bai Qingyang still didn't have much reaction. Seeing this, Li Zichou became more worried and anxious: "What's the matter, Qingyang, are you not satisfied with the birthday surprise I prepared for you?"

Although what happened tonight was more of a shock to Bai Qingyang, but Li Zishou felt that this would definitely be what Bai Qingyang wanted to see.

To find out the truth about Bai Xiang's death, clear Bai Gong's grievances, and untie Bai Qingyang's knots, this is the most sincere gift that Li Zifu can offer.

Bai Qingyang frowned in confusion: "Birthday... a surprise?"

"Sorry, I didn't catch a wild goose, so I can only prepare this." Li Zichou explained, "Today is the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, which is the Mid-Autumn Festival and your birthday. Have you forgotten?"

The two are very close, almost half a step forward and they will touch each other. Seeing this scene, Yang Dejin groaned, and ran to join in the excitement of the interrogation room, leaving the two of them in place.

Bai Qingyang was stunned: Lunar calendar...August 15th, yes...it's her birthday...

How long? Since the year Aye passed away, it seems that he has never celebrated his birthday... So long that I have forgotten...

"...so you didn't tell me anything?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, because I'm not 100% sure..."

Li Zishou's tone weakened, explaining carefully, being affected by her emotions.

She has never felt so clearly that she is being pampered and favored by others.

A layer of mist rose from Bai Qingyang's eyes, the agitation in his chest was noisy, and the blood was beating all over his body.

How to do? So happy... so happy that I'm going to faint...

Yes, the truth about Aye's case came to light, and she should be happy.

But...but why? This uncontrollable grief... this inexplicable sadness...why...?

The threshold of endurance broke through the limit, and her makeup was stained by tears. Finally, she couldn't help crying, which was very different from the pear blossoms with rain that often describe girls crying in novels. Her crying could be heard throughout the Ministry of Justice.

Strange... really strange, obviously just now, at the moment when the truth was revealed, she really couldn't cry at all. But why... just a few words from Li Zishou, her precarious psychological defense completely collapsed.

Different from the choking in the proclamation room that time, this time it was a shower of crying, an explosive catharsis caused by a mixture of various negative emotions.

Li Zichou secretly breathed a sigh of relief, took her into his arms, hugged her tightly, and gave her a small sense of security: "Cry." It's not uncomfortable to cry.

Compared to the imageless crying now, Li Zishou is more afraid of her empty eyes and lifeless look just now, as if her soul has been taken away.

Bai Qingyang buried his face into her neck, crying out of breath, Li Zifu could feel his neck was wet.

She silently endured the almost collapsed emotions of the person in her arms, and patted her on the back lightly, letting her vent.

Bai Qingyang gripped Li Zifu's front tightly, tears soaked into the black fabric, leaving seemingly invisible traces.

It wasn't until the mid-autumn moon hung high in the sky that the person in his arms gradually calmed down, from crying in a storm to softly sobbing, and Li Zichou hugged her quietly, giving her peace of mind.

"Do you feel better?"

Bai Qingyang hummed in a low voice.

In fact, when she heard Li Zishou's voice, she almost couldn't help the tears that could be stopped, because she believed in her heart that this person would tolerate her tears unconditionally and give her the greatest comfort.

After comforting Bai Qingyang, it was really over. Li Zichou let her go, brushed the corner of her eyes lightly with his sleeves, and said in a gentle voice: "You are very tired, go back and rest first, take a medicinal bath, and then order some tranquilizers. Xiang, you will sleep better."

"What about you?" Bai Qingyang asked in a nasal voice.

"There are still some things waiting for me to deal with the aftermath." Li Zichou stroked her temple hair, "When you wake up tomorrow, Prime Minister Bai will be wronged.

"I will pursue a posthumous posthumous title for him, rebuild the prime minister's mansion, and restore the Bai family for you and your mother.

"And you don't have to do anything, just get a good night's sleep."

Bai Qingyang blinked his wet eyelashes: "But Ji Zhuilu..."

"With Xie Zhi here, don't let him irritate you anymore." Li Zichou paused, as if he felt that he should be responsible to the end, and then said, "Let me go back to the palace with you and send you to Yuheng Palace After that, I will go to the Yueyue Pavilion again."

After Li Zichou finished speaking, he held her hand, intending to take her away from the Ministry of Punishment. Just when she took a step, a strong sense of dizziness hit her, and the darkness instantly eroded her vision. The **** smell in her throat could no longer be suppressed. She seemed to be suddenly drained of strength and fell to the ground.

"Pay...?"

"Plum reward!"

The author has something to say:

Yang Dejin: I am so mad, am I a special physique that is easy to be involved in troubles? !

Li Zichou: I approve of your 100% participation rate.

Xiaobai's birthday falls on the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, as mentioned in Chapter 77.