Dali Temple has his Lord Luo

Chapter 115 Hidden Chess Game
"Do you know how many people attended the chess game last night?"

"Actually, there are only a few people in each chess game meeting. Some people have poor chess skills and the emperor doesn't like it, so the number of people participating in each chess game is almost the same."

After Qin Zhao finished speaking, Luo Ning thought of a question:
"So the time for each chess game is fixed? Or is it very random?"

"It's very casual. It all depends on the emperor's mood. The emperor not only likes to play chess himself, but also likes to watch others play chess. Mr. Meng is a relatively good chess player, but he doesn't participate every time."

"Could it be that the murderer knew that Mr. Meng was not at home last night, so he chose this time to attack?"

Song Zhuer asked.

"It seems that the murderer is familiar with Mr. Meng's itinerary, and he has to start from the people around him. The problem is that Mrs. Meng and Mr. Meng have simple communication. Who wants to kill Mrs. Meng?"

Luo Ning really felt like he had no idea at all.

"Meng Sizhi, you and Zhu'er will visit the rouge shop and the ready-to-wear shop again to see if there are any other clues!"

"Master Qin, let's go to the Meng Mansion again and see if we can find anything?"

Luo Ning frowned, feeling like a fish that didn't know where to swim at this moment.

Walking into Meng's Mansion again, a Jingzhao Mansion official was guarding there. At this moment, Meng's Mansion was desolate and solemn.

It was pitch dark when we visited last night, and now it seems that Mr. Meng and Mrs. Meng really only do activities in the front yard on weekdays.

Entering the second courtyard, the house is full of weeds. The window lattice of the house has long been damaged. It seems that it has been idle for a long time.

"Master Qin, how are you doing with Master Meng in the court?"

"He is a talented and capable man. He has held important positions since the time of the previous emperor. When the emperor ascended the throne, he even entered the cabinet. Lord Meng is one of the few elders of the two dynasties."

The two people walked through the foyer and corridor, and once again came to the room where Mrs. Meng was killed.

Pushing the door open, the inside was the same as last night. The blood stains had dried up, and there was only a hint of warmth in the places where the sun shined.

The jewelry box is still the same as yesterday.

Luo Ning said:
"It seems that Mr. Meng did not enter this room after we left."

"Then where does he sleep?"

Qin Zhao asked casually.

Thinking of this question, Luo Ning took another look at the room. It was all women's things:
"Does Master Meng not live here on weekdays?"

Qin Zhao looked at her and opened the closet next to her:
"Look here, they are all women's clothes!"

Luo Ning walked over to take a look, and sure enough it was so.

I can't help but wonder in my heart, although they are an old man and a young wife, there is no outsider in the Meng family, and they live separately, so what kind of life are they living like?
Luo Ning saw that Mrs. Meng had a lot of high-quality clothes. There was also a jewelry box in the closet. When she opened it, there were more jewelry inside.

Luo Ning glanced at Qin Zhao: "It's expensive!"

"It seems like it was definitely not a robbery. All the valuables are still there."

Qin Zhao confirmed his thoughts this time:

"Ning'er, don't you think this Meng Mansion is weird?"

"Tell me first, how do you feel about it?"

"There are not even any servants or maids. Although Mrs. Meng is the daughter of a merchant, she is still the wife of a first-class official after all. How can she live such a peaceful life!"

"I feel the same way. After a morning of investigation, Mrs. Meng seems to be outside the crowd. She has no friends and rarely socializes. She doesn't go out on weekdays. When will she wear these beautiful clothes?"

The two people walked out of Mrs. Meng's room. Not far away was the study room. The door was ajar, and the two people pushed it open and went in.

This room is square, with a study outside and a soft couch past the partition. It seems that Lord Meng lives here on weekdays.

"They are actually separated! Isn't Mrs. Meng too lonely?" Luo Ning sighed.

Qin Zhao also didn't understand:
"Do the two of you have a bad relationship?"

Luo Ning felt that this Meng Mansion was too weird.

"And, do you know? After I sent you back to the house yesterday, Cui You and I chatted for a while. He was very aggrieved that Master Meng asked him to come to the house and encountered another murder case!"

"What does it mean?"

"Mr. Meng has been in the cabinet longer than Cui You, and he is older. Although he and Cui You are both in the cabinet on weekdays, they each have their own duties. In addition, the memorial to be submitted to the emperor the next day is not that urgent."

"What Cui You means is that there is no need for Mr. Meng to ask Cui You to come to the house?"

"That's what Cui You means. He was invited to Lord Meng's house for the first time, and something like this happened. Witnessing the murder made him very uncomfortable."

How is this going?

It's not urgent, but you still want him to come to the house. Could it be that he wants Cui You to see the murder?What is the purpose of seeing the murder?
Oh my God, Luo Ning couldn't help but widen his eyes.

After Mr. Meng left yesterday, something happened to Mrs. Meng.

Mrs. Meng knew the murderer well and did not resist.

The murderer was familiar with the layout of the rooms in Meng's house and could easily get the long knife from the woodshed.

Could it be... Mr. Meng?
There is no reason. Why did Mr. Meng kill his wife?Besides, the way he looked yesterday was heartbroken.

How is this going?

Qin Zhao looked at Luo Ning's expression and changed again and again:

"What did you find?"

"Do you think it was Master Meng who killed his wife?"

Qin Zhao was shocked by Luo Ning's inference:
"No way, do you have any evidence?"

"Judging from the clues currently available, it is very possible."

Qin Zhao stopped talking. Since deciding the case with Luo Ning, he has seen too many things that he thought were impossible before. Now his understanding of the case is:
Everything is possible.

"Do you want to investigate Mr. Meng?" Qin Zhao asked.

"We have to investigate. Everyone can't rule out the possibility, especially since we don't have a clue yet. Let's see if Yao Si Zhi comes back tomorrow and can bring any new news!"

Luo Ning returned to Dali Temple and communicated his doubts about Meng Qingsong to everyone. Unexpectedly, Meng Xiao felt the same way:

"Sir, perhaps the case of Wang Hu left a deep impression on me. I have long wanted to check on Mr. Meng."

"I'd better visit Mr. Meng again. You can investigate in private. After all, you are a member of the imperial court. Without conclusive evidence, it is difficult for us to publicize it."

Luo Ning and Qin Zhao walked into the cabinet together. Cui You saw them both in the window and hurried out:
"You are here to see Mr. Meng? He just came here too."

Luo Ning asked in a low voice:
"Yesterday, did you notice anything unusual about Mr. Meng?"

Cui You glanced at Qin Zhao: "It's indeed weird!"

"tell me the story!"

"Mr. Meng usually has a normal relationship with me, but last night he took the initiative to invite me to his house. To be honest, we have known each other for almost two years, and this is the first time I have gone to his house!"

"Do you think Master Meng just wants you to witness the murder?" Luo Ning asked softly.

Cui You nodded:
"After I returned home, the more I thought about it, the weirder it became. The memorial is not something to be anxious about, and we are not that close!"

"Does Mr. Meng talk about his wife on weekdays?"

"No, I can't tell how they feel about each other. Mr. Meng likes a very simple and regular life."

"Do you still remember when Master Meng arrived at the chess competition yesterday?"

(End of this chapter)