Chapter 25 Surface

I don't know how long it took, but it was completely dark. Zijuan had already entered the room and added lamp oil twice.

Chu Zheng raised his head and saw that Liu Qingru was still rummaging carefully. He couldn't help but feel unbearable and said: Sister Qingru, go to bed first. There is not much left here, I'll do it alone.

Liu Qingru shook her head and said: If you have something to do, how can I sleep? Besides, I can’t help you, so let me finish reading these things.

Chu Zheng was helpless, and at this time he was getting more and more disappointed. It was difficult to find any suspicious things from these books alone. It seemed that tomorrow would have to go to the officials' houses with the experts of Chitang to secretly check them out.

Liu Qingru suddenly said: Young Master, come and see, this official is a bit strange

Chu Zheng was immediately excited and hurried to Liu Qingru's side

Liu Qingru pointed to the book and said: Young Master, this person is named Tang Ganjiang, and he is the prefect of Lingdong Prefecture in the West Front. He is less than forty years old. He is usually introverted and rarely interacts with his colleagues. According to the previous records, last year, this person gave birth to a young son in Lingdong Prefecture. He is very fond of him on weekdays, but after he arrived in the capital, there is no mention of this book about this book, just as it disappeared out of thin air. Tang Ganping had no relatives in Lingdong Prefecture, so it was impossible for him to leave his son in someone else's house.

Chu Zheng took it and took a closer look. As expected, he said to Zijuan beside him: Go call Chu Fanghua here

After entering the house, Chu Fanghua bowed to Chu Zheng and said: The master is looking for a maid.

Chu Zheng said: Go and tell Chen Zhenzhong and Wei Shi quickly, and order them to send someone to strictly monitor the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, Tang Ganjiang Prefecture, and not let go of any small matters. All of them are reported to the owner of the hall to come and remind them to act carefully and not let the people in the Tang Mansion notice it.

Chu Zheng and Chu Fanghua went out and said to Liu Qingru: Sister Qingru, this matter is very urgent, I need to report this to my father as soon as possible

Liu Qingru looked out the window and couldn't help but say: It's already so late, the master and the wife have rested.

Chu Zheng shook his head and said: If something happened today, it would be strange if my father could sleep.

Chu Zheng walked on the road and thought in his mind that these officials were monitored by Lan Tang and Zi Tang. It seems that there are many people available in these two halls. Chu Mingzuo and Xuan Zuhe cannot let go, so it is better to control them as soon as possible.

Chu Mingtang was indeed not asleep yet, and the study was brightly lit. From time to time, servants from Chu Mansion led officials at all levels in and out.

Most of the officials left with serious expressions, obviously they were not sure about what Chu Mingtang told him.

Chu Zheng secretly was glad that the man in blue was not careful for a moment and actually assassinated himself in the clothes of a servant of the government. Otherwise, he would have no idea about this matter. However, this man in blue might have acted helplessly. If he was wearing civilian clothes, the Imperial Guard had implemented the city ban and had to be investigated everywhere.

If it were his fault for being incompetent and unable to kill himself, if Wu Anran hadn't shown mercy, the man in blue would have been captured by him.

Chu Mingtang looked quite tired

Today, King Zhao summoned him and Fang Lingxin, and used the opportunity to curse the two of them fiercely, as if he had vented all the resentment he had accumulated for many years.

Chu Mingtang and Fang Lingxin had to endure it silently. They were also responsible for Liang Shangyun's death.

King Zhao ordered the two to solve the case within a time limit until he was so angry that he had no strength to curse it. But if he couldn't solve it, what would happen to him, but King Zhao didn't say a word. After all, he knew that he could not do anything to the two people in front of him.

Chu Mingtang and Fang Lingxin did not dare to neglect them, and immediately mobilized all their strength to find the group of men in black.

Although both of them did not believe that the other party would assassinate Liang Shangyun, everything was not absolute, and the other party was also suspicious of himself. If the case was delayed, it would be of no benefit to both the Chu family.

Chu Mingtang saw Chu Zheng coming in and forced a smile and said: Zheng'er, why are you here? You haven't slept yet

Chu Zheng had met his father and handed the book in his hand to his father, saying: Is this father familiar?

Chu Mingtang took the book, frowned slightly, and said: Isn’t this a thing from the Eagle Hall? Why did you take it out casually?

Chu Zheng said: It's urgent, and the child can't take care of so many things

Chu Mingtang opened it and looked at it, pondering: Tang Ganjiang? He is actually an official of the Ministry of Personnel. Why am I not impressed? How long has he been in the capital?

Chu Zheng said: According to the records in this book, it has just been one month since today

This person's surname is Tang, Chu Mingtang murmured, and suddenly asked Chu Zheng: What are you doing inquiries about this person?

Chu Zheng bowed and said: The child suspected that the men in black were related to this Tang Ganjiang, and might even be hiding in the Tang Mansion.

Chu Mingtang was shocked when he heard this. He knew that although Chu Zheng was laughing, he rarely spoke falsely. He hurriedly asked: How can he see it?

Chu Zheng talked about his and Liu Qingru's speculations one by one

Chu Mingtang couldn't help but angrily heard that the assassins wanted to assassinate his son: These thieves are really bold.

Having said that, Chu Mingtang was secretly terrified. These people were indeed vicious. Fortunately, Chu Zheng had martial arts skills, otherwise if something unexpected happened, he would have to be in chaos.

Chu Zheng said: That is, if these people are not sentenced to death as soon as possible, they may cause even greater storms in Beijing.

Chu Mingtang paced back and forth a few steps and said: Zheng'er, what you think is, is it no wonder that the Imperial Guard and the Ministry of Justice searched the capital for a whole day, but did not find any clues. Who would have thought that a servant from the Ministry of Personnel Office who had been in Jing for many days was the assassins.

Chu Mingtang thought for a while and suddenly said to the door: Come, come to the front hall to invite Lord Tang, Minister of Personnel.

Chu Zhengqi said: Father, Lord Tang is also in the mansion?

Chu Mingtang said: It was Fang Lingxin who was in charge of the Ministry of Justice tonight, so he had to do business in the mansion for his father. When Liang Shangyun died, the two families of Chu Fang suddenly had a grudge. Many people in the mansion believed that this was done by the Fang family and Fang Lingxin thought it was better to avoid it for the time being and act separately.

Not long after, Tang Xiaokang, the Minister of Personnel, walked in quickly

After seeing Chu Mingtang, Tang Xiaokang saw Chu Zheng standing aside and smiled and said: I didn’t expect that the fifth young master is also in Brother Mingtang. This child can share your worries at such a young age. It’s really envious of Tang.

Tang Xiaokang has been very close to the Chu Mansion these days. He often comes to the mansion to visit Chu Mingtang for the sake of his daughter and Chu Yuan. The two are quite familiar with each other.

Chu Zheng was injured and bedridden a few days ago, and he had visited him several times, and Chu Zheng was not unfamiliar with him.

Chu Mingtang politely said: Brother Tang, there is an official named Tang Ganjiang in the Ministry of Personnel. Do you know?

Tang Xiaokang was stunned and said: Has this person been transferred to the court in the near future?

Chu Mingtang nodded and said: That's right

Tang Xiaokang thought about it, his face turned slightly red, and said: This person is a distant brother of Tang. Seeing that he is capable and his political achievements are OK, Tang transferred him to the Ministry of Personnel to assist Tang.

What Tang Xiaokang said was not true. At that time, Chu Mingtang released dozens of Chu clans out of the capital, leaving many vacant vacancies in the court. Seeing that there was an opportunity, Tang Xiaokang used his power to transfer his clans into the capital. Unfortunately, his Tang family was few, so Tang Xiaokang had to follow the genealogy, regardless of whether he knew him or not. As long as he was an official today, all the ancient brains were transferred to the court.

Chu Mingtang asked: Is Brother Tang familiar with him?

Tang Xiaokang was a little unnatural, and said: This person has not been in Beijing for a long time and is said to have suffered from wind and cold on the way to Beijing. He has been ill in bed and has never been to Tang's mansion. He just sent his subordinates to Tang's place to accuse him.

Chu Mingtang and Chu Zheng looked at each other, Tang Ganjiang was indeed full of doubts

Tang Xiaokang was puzzled and couldn't help but cough: Why did Brother Mingtang ask about this person?

Chu Mingtang hesitated for a moment, expecting that Tang Xiaokang would not have the courage to collude with the assassins, and said: I suspect that those assassins might be hidden in the Tang Ganjiang Mansion.

Tang Xiaokang was so scared that his face turned pale and said repeatedly: How could this be possible? He is also a court official, how could he be associated with these ruthless assassins?

Chu Mingtang told the suspicious points that Chu Zheng found one by one, but only hid the name of Yingtang and Chu Zheng.

The more Tang Xiaokang heard it, he became more and more frightened, and his hands were trembling. If this matter was true, Tang Xiaokang would definitely not be able to escape. If this was not done well, the Minister of Personnel, who had just been a few days ago, would have to step down. He hurriedly said: Our Tang family has lived in Linhai Prefecture for many years. This person has been an official at the Western Front for many years. The subordinates did not know him. He was transferred to the capital to see that his political achievements were still good.

Chu Mingtang knew that Tang Xiaokang wanted to be anxious to clear his relationship, so he comforted him for the time being: Lord Tang, I also knew that during that period, the middle and lower-level officials of the court had changed a lot, and this matter would not be blamed for you. If the emperor blamed him, I should make excuse for you.

It was beautiful, but Chu Mingtang shook his head in his heart. Tang Xiaokang was eager for quick success and instant benefits, and was quite greedy. Compared with his ex Tang Shouwang, he was actually just a good guy.

I was really worried about this when the Ministry of Personnel handed over to him. I won’t mention Chu Yuan’s marriage with his daughter for the time being.

Tang Xiaokang breathed a little relieved and bowed and said, "Thank you, Lord Taiwei, please go immediately to mobilize the troops and horses to search for the thieves in the Tang Ganjiang Mansion."

Chu Zheng said: Lord Tang, please wait

Chu Mingtang felt aroused in his heart, thinking that those assassins were not ordinary people, they were all from the world, and the government officials might not be able to catch them all in one go, so it would be better to listen to their son’s thoughts.

Chu Zheng said: Father, Lord Tang, we are just speculating about this Tang Ganjiang now, and it is late tonight, so it is probably inappropriate to break into his mansion.

Tang Xiaokang said: The fifth young master is too worried. Tang Ganjiang is just a small official in the Ministry of Personnel. Even if he makes a mistake, what's wrong? I'm sorry he won't be brave enough to make a statement.

Chu Zheng smiled and said: Lord Tang, my nephew is not worried about this. I think it is very likely that the assassins will hide in the homes of officials. I am just worried that if we speculate that something is wrong, will the assassins be alarmed if we break into the Tang Ganjiang Mansion with such a big fanfare? If those assassins are really in the Tang Ganjiang Mansion, they are all masters in the martial arts world, and ordinary soldiers can't do anything to them at all. Instead, they let them escape around in the capital while the night is dark. If so, it would be difficult to pursue them one by one, so the child thinks it is more feasible to act tomorrow morning.

Chu Mingtang nodded and said: Zheng'er is right, Lord Tang, this matter must be arranged in advance

Tang Xiaokang also felt that he was too impatient and nodded.

Zheng'er, where is your master Mr. Wu, why didn't he come with you? Chu Mingtang then remembered why he didn't see Wu Anran. Usually, the master and apprentice are inseparable.

Chu Zheng said: Today, the child and his master have been searching for the whereabouts of these assassins, and they may not have returned home yet.

Chu Zheng never told his father that Wu Anran was unwilling to interfere in this matter because of the Demon Sect. He did not want to create a gap between his master and his father. When he heard his father ask, he hurriedly covered up for Wu Anran.

Chu Mingtang was not suspicious, and said to Tang Xiaokang: Lord Tang, you go down and prepare for tomorrow's affairs first, and inform Chu Shen'an, the son of Chu Mingnan, of the Minister of Rites, to order him to take two thousand imperial guards outside the mansion tomorrow morning to wait with you and me

Tang Xiaokang said: For such a dangerous thing, the Taiwei doesn’t have to go there in person, just go there by the lower official.

Chu Mingtang smiled and said: It's okay that there are some family generals in my government who are familiar with martial arts, which are enough to protect me.

Seeing that Chu Mingtang had made up his mind, Tang Xiaokang stopped dissuading him and said goodbye.

When Chu Mingtang saw Tang Xiaokang go out, he said to Chu Zheng: Zheng'er, go and mobilize all the masters of the Eagle Hall, change into the clothes of the generals of the Chu family, and go with you tomorrow morning with your father. If you think there is not enough staff, go find your mother and ask Mr. Gao and his disciples to go with you, and be sure not to let anyone go tomorrow.

Chu Zheng bowed and said: Father, don't worry, the people in the Eagle Hall have already been prepared, but the child wants to have assassins at most at least 30 people. The Eagle Hall plus the two thousand imperial guards should be enough, let alone the Child knows that General Manager Gao is the leader of his grandfather's wolf hall. The Eagle Hall and the Wolf Hall have always been in a disagreement, so don't bother them.

Chu Mingtang snorted and said: What do you know? Do what your father said

When Chu Zheng saw that his father insisted on the people in the wolf hall to participate in this matter, he couldn't help but feel suspicious. After thinking about it, he suddenly laughed and said: "I'm afraid my father has other intentions, right?"

Chu Mingtang glared at him and said: You are too talkative, don’t go out to do business yet!

Chu Zheng smiled and turned around and left, thinking that the people under his mother's wolf hall had followed his father for many years. His father seemed to want to learn from Liu Bei to borrow Jingzhou, but he had borrowed or not.

Most of the masters in Yingtang in the capital belong to Chitang. Chen Zhenzhong had already gathered them together and prepared for the trip. The three worshippers of Yingtang had agreed to this after receiving the order from Chu Zheng. Chu Zheng was not worried about this, so he went out of the study and went straight to Wang Xiuhe's room.

Wang Xiuhe had not fallen asleep yet. She knew that Liang Shangyun's murder had a great impact on Chu Mingtang, so she ordered the people from the Wolf Hall to go out to investigate.

Hearing Chu Zheng that he had basically determined where the assassins were, he couldn't help but be very happy and praised Chu Zheng very much.

Chu Zheng took the opportunity to ask Chief Gao to help, and Wang Xiuhe immediately agreed, as if she had never thought that her husband had ulterior motives.

Chu Zheng left Wang Xiuhe's room, but did not return to the outing garden. Instead, he walked to a hidden place. He looked at the crowd and saw that there was no one around. He had his figure unfolded and then walked out of the wall.

Along the way, Chu Zheng carefully avoided the patrol sergeants who came from time to time.

I have different identities. If I find that the fifth son of the Chu family sneaked out of the mansion in the middle of the night without caring about the curfew, it will definitely make some people think a lot, and it is even hard to say what I want to go to.

Chu Zheng came to Wanhua Building, one of the four brothels in Beijing with familiarity. He also felt a little strange. He had only been here once, so why did he remember the road so clearly.

Perhaps due to the curfew, Wanhua Building is quieter than usual

Chu Zheng walked into the gate, maybe he didn't expect that there would be guests coming at this time, and no one came out to greet him.

Chu Zheng was a little thin-skinned and was not familiar with the rules of brothels. He stood there at a loss

Chu Zheng coughed several times, and finally a beautiful woman came over and chuckled: Why did this young master think of our Wanhualou so late? I wonder which girl made the young master miss it so much...

Chu Zheng turned around and said with a smile: Of course it's Mrs. Ji, you are Mrs. Ji.

The visitor was Mrs. Ji, the elder of Tianmeimen who had a few encounters with him.

Mrs. Ji was stunned. She looked at Chu Zheng several times and was suddenly shocked and said: It turned out that it was the young master who came here. I have missed the opportunity to welcome you. Please forgive me for your crime.

Chu Zheng couldn't help but smile and said: I just said goodbye to my wife yesterday, why does the wife seem to know me no longer?

Mrs. Ji looked complicated and said slowly: It was my fault, please forgive me.

Chu Zheng didn't know that when Mrs. Ji left yesterday, his Dragon Elephant Demon-Subduing Art was still at the fourth level.

Later, he healed Wu Mèi's wounds, and in disguise he actually broke through the fifth level of realm.

The Dragon and Elephant Demon Subduing Technique was extremely slow. Although it was impossible to really add the power of a dragon and an image when practicing to the first level, Chu Zheng's internal strength was at least doubled, and even Wu Anran, who was beside him at the time, was quite shocked.

Chu Zheng's fifth level is just now, but he doesn't know how to restrain himself, and his breath is overflowing

Fortunately, the Dragon and Elephant Demon Subduing Technique is profound and peaceful, and ordinary people can't even notice it, but the internal skills and mental methods of Tianmei Sect are naturally incompatible. As soon as Chu Zheng entered the Wanhua Tower, some disciples who were carrying martial arts felt it.

Several disciples in charge of welcoming guests had a little bad martial arts skills and did not dare to approach Chu Zheng. The few of them were shocked and hurried to report to the elders.

Several elders thought that his opponent had come to the door, so they asked Mrs. Ji to come out first to deal with it, and the rest hurriedly discussed countermeasures.

When Mrs. Ji saw that the person coming was Chu Zheng, she breathed a little relieved and said: Why didn’t Senior Sister Wu come with the young master?

Chu Zheng said: Master, she has other important things, so it is inconvenient to come.

Mrs. Ji said: What happened to the young master this time?

Chu Zheng said: I have something to ask for a meeting with Master Xu, so I would like to ask my wife to inform you.

Mrs. Ji didn't dare to neglect her at the moment and said: Please wait for me, my son.

Not long after, Mrs. Ji walked downstairs and said: The master of the sect is welcome, please follow me.

Her voice suddenly became charming, and her facial expression was also full of spring. Chu Zheng followed Mrs. Ji and looked at the woman carefully. She was about thirty years old. Her face looked like a full moon, her eyebrows were as beautiful as a distant mountain, and her body was plump. While walking, her two plump big breasts were scrambling and her fragrant fat buttocks were about to come out. She saw her walking plump buttocks swaying and swaying in a variety of shapes. She was so beautiful that she couldn't help but secretly praised her. The women in Tianmeimen were indeed all beauties.

Mrs. Ji suddenly turned around, and her chest almost hit Chu Zheng, and asked: Young Master, I have something to do, so please give me some advice.

Chu Zheng saw her stop, and felt a little disappointed and said: Please tell me, Madam.

Mrs. Ji said: Since the young master is a disciple of Senior Sister Wu, why is his internal skills more like Buddhist Zen skills?

She had just tried all her best to test Chu Zheng, but she didn't expect that the young man was as unmoved as a man Lu, so she couldn't help but ask.

Chu Zheng scratched his head. This is the biggest hatred of the master. It is better not to let Tianmeimen know. He said: When he was young, he was weak and sick. He practiced some other skills before becoming a disciple. However, I don’t know if there is the Zen skill mentioned by his wife.

Although Mrs. Ji did not believe what Chu Zheng said, she was not easy to ask, so she had to give up.