Tang Dynasty detective

Chapter 234 Looking for Master Shangshu
Kang Xu pondered for a moment, and said, "Mr. Tao, don't panic. Think about it carefully. Is there any old acquaintance with Master Shang Shu in Zhengyang City, or is it something he is familiar with?"

Tao Ruozhu shook his head and said: "Master, this is the first time to come to Zhengyang, how can there be a familiar place, besides, there are no old acquaintances living here!"

Kang Xu's brows furrowed immediately, he thought for a while and said, "Young Master Tao, haven't you looked for it in the city?"

"The guards said that they searched all the inns in the city, but they didn't see the trace of the mentor. This time, the mentor came here in low clothes, and there were not many guards with him. Zhengyang County is so big, and now I can only turn to you, my lord, for help!" Tao Ruozhu's face was wrinkled, and he was almost crying.

"Mr. Tao, it's useless to be anxious. According to me, we must first find the place where Master Shangshu disappeared last, and then use it to find it." Kang Xu pondered for a while, and then said: "How about it, Mr. Tao First go and inquire carefully about the whereabouts of Master Shang Shu, and after I have settled the case of Lingmei’s murder, I can go with you to find Master Shang Shu.”

"It's too late. If you delay more than one share, your mentor will be in danger. Now that the murderer who killed the little sister has been caught, the case is closed. My lord, my mentor came here by the emperor's order, so it must be of great importance." If things are delayed because of this, it will cost lives!" Tao Ruozhu said eagerly.

Kang Xu pondered for a while, and felt that what Tao Ruozhu said made sense.

Although there are still some doubts about Tao Zhaoxue's case, the murderer can be basically determined to be Lu Jitong. As for those doubts, they can't get rid of Lu Jitong's murder charges, and the case can be closed at this point.

After thinking about it, Kang Xu nodded and said, "In this case, after I make some arrangements, we can go to find Master Shangshu."

Tao Ruozhu wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded heavily: "Everything is up to you, sir. I will go back to the post and wait for you."

After saying that, Tao Ruozhu said goodbye and left.

There was a whisper outside the county government office, and the crowd around the audience was even more puzzled. This case went well, how could it stop suddenly?
Kang Xu returned to the Nuan Pavilion again. He cleared his throat and said calmly, "The murderer of Tao Zhaoxue was Lu Jitong. Now that there are all witnesses and material evidence, the evidence is conclusive. I will report the case to the state government." , How to deal with it will be decided separately. Withdraw from court."

Lu Jitong was stunned for a moment, staring at Kang Xu, lost in thought.

Xiao Wu looked at Kang Xu in a little surprise. Although the murderer was Lu Jitong, many doubts had not yet been solved. Why did Kang Xu suddenly announce that the case was closed?

After hesitating for a while, Xiao Wu was about to ask a question, but when he saw the look in Kang Xu's eyes, he immediately understood the meaning.

Hastily announced his resignation, and ordered Lu Jitong to be taken into prison. After sending someone to guard him strictly, Kang Xu went straight to the back hall and changed into casual clothes.

"Brother Kang, I don't know what happened that made you so nervous? There are still many doubts about Tao Zhaoxue's case. Why did you close the case here?" Xiao Wu was a little puzzled.

Kang Xu tidied up his clothes, and said in a deep voice, "This time something has happened. Cui Huan, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Master Cui disappeared in Zhengyang City. Now his life and death are unknown. The most important thing right now is to find Master Cui."

Xiao Wu was very surprised, he said in amazement: "Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites? How did he come to this small place like Zhengyang City?"

Kang Xu shook his head: "I don't know the exact reason, but according to Tao Ruozhu, Master Cui came here at the emperor's order, and he seems to have important matters to deal with. Now that he has disappeared in Zhengyang City for no reason, if he has any accidents, I’m afraid it’s hard to escape the blame.”

Xiao Wu nodded, Minister of Rites is a great official in the frontier, not to mention his high position and authority, just because he came here by the emperor's order is enough for them to attach great importance to him.

"Your Excellency is in a coma now, and he is helpless in the investigation of the people from Dongpu. Now that this incident has happened again, this is really a wave of unrest, and another wave!" Xiao Wu sighed, shaking his head, Pulling himself together, he said, "Brother Kang, what are you going to do?"

Kang Xu pondered for a while, and said, "Xiao Wu, go and greet Chang Feng, ask him to bring more yamen servants, and follow me to Yuelai Inn."

Xiao Wu nodded yes, then hurriedly left the back hall.

Kang Xu rubbed the center of his brows, Cui Huan's arrival and disappearance were so sudden that he was caught off guard.

However, he could vaguely sense that Cui Huan's arrival might have something to do with the 'Dragon Stele' in Damiao Village.

After all, this matter is of great importance, and rumors are spreading among the people.

Kang Xu only knew that these rumors had spread throughout Luoyang City, but he didn't know that the news had already spread throughout the Central Plains.

When Kang Xu and others arrived at Yuelai Inn, Tao Ruozhu was already waiting anxiously in front of the door.

Seeing Kang Xu coming, Tao Ruozhu hurriedly stepped forward and said, "My lord, the two of them are mentor's bodyguards. Before the mentor disappeared, they were by the mentor's side."

Kang Xu nodded, and he sized up the two guards, both of whom were strong and well-built, and they looked like they had strong martial arts skills.

"Both of you, have you followed Lord Shangshu from beginning to end?" Kang Xu asked after a moment of thought.

One of them nodded: "The two of us are your personal guards, so naturally we can't leave each other."

Kang Xu stomped a few steps and asked, "When and where was the last time you two saw your lord?"

"Three days ago, the tea shed in the west of the city." The man replied indifferently.

"Tea shed in the west of the city?" Kang Xu muttered a few times before saying, "What happened before Lord Shangshu disappeared? I hope you two will tell the truth."

The man's expression was indifferent, he didn't look at Kang Xu squarely, but cast his eyes on Tao Ruozhu, seeing Tao Ruozhu nodding, he said coldly: "Your Excellency just went out to observe the people's situation that day, and nothing suspicious happened. In the evening , we went to a teahouse, my lord ate a few steamed buns in the teahouse, and drank a bowl of water, then my lord suddenly felt unwell in his abdomen, and ordered me to wait in the teahouse, and then went to the toilet for convenience.”

Speaking of this, the man's indifferent expression changed, he frowned, and continued: "The two of us waited for half an hour, but still did not see the adults come back, when we went to check, the adults had already disappeared We searched the vicinity for an hour but did not find Sir, we thought that Sir returned to the inn alone, but after we got back to the inn, we found out that Sir has not returned, and only then did we realize that Sir is missing.”

Kang Xu touched his chin, paced back and forth, and asked, "What places did you look for afterwards?"

"Inns, taverns, everything I can find, I have searched, but I can't find your whereabouts." The man replied.

"According to what Bachelor Tao said, Lord Shangshu communicated with you by secret code. Could it be that you didn't even discover the secret code?" Kang Xu questioned.

(End of this chapter)