Chapter 97 Letter from Chang'an
Li Yuanfang stepped forward to help Zeng Tai up and comforted him, while Di Renjie's attention returned to the two bodies.

He muttered to himself, "Both the deceased were surnamed Wu, both were from Chang'an, and came to Changcheng County together. They were killed at the same time ten days ago. After the crime, someone forced Zhang Chun and Wang Wu to take the blame. It's really bizarre!"

Zeng Tai apologized, "I am ashamed that I didn't even notice the connection between the two murders."

Di Renjie smiled and waved his hand, then began to pace. "What County Magistrate Zeng said is correct. These two murders are related. To be more precise, there is some kind of connection between the two victims."

"Although one of them went by water and the other by land, I am sure that they came to Changcheng County with the same purpose."

Li Yuanfang nodded in agreement and said, "Your Excellency is right. I observed the wounds on the necks of the two victims and they must have been done by the same murderer."

"The murderer not only stole their identity documents, but also framed the crime on Zhang Chun and Wang Wu. He wanted the government to treat this as an ordinary murder case to cover up the truth of the matter."

After hearing this, Di Renjie smiled with relief: "The analysis makes sense. Now the most urgent task is to find out the identities of the two deceased and their purpose for coming to Changcheng County."

Just then, Di Chun suddenly rushed in with a briefcase.

Di Renjie looked at Di Chun's anxious look and asked quickly, "What's wrong, Di Chun? Why are you so flustered?"

Di Chun glanced at Zeng Tai next to him and did not answer immediately.

Di Renjie frowned and told Zeng Tai, "Zeng County Magistrate, please immediately move Zhang Chun, Wang Wu and their families to the inn where I am staying and hand them over to the guards of the demotion and promotion envoys for protection."

"Also, put up a notice tomorrow saying that the case has been closed. Zhang Chun and Wang Wu will be sentenced to death and taken to the provincial capital to await execution in autumn. Remember, this matter must be kept absolutely confidential!"

"I obey your command." Zeng Tai agreed and walked out.

When Di Chun saw Zeng Tai had gone, he whispered, "A letter from Lord Zhang has arrived for you, along with official documents from the court. Please take a look."

When Di Renjie heard that it was a letter from Zhang Jianzhi, his heart suddenly tightened. Knowing that the matter was of great importance, he immediately took the official document and letter.

After quickly reading the official documents, Di Renjie frowned and his expression suddenly became extremely ugly.

He took a deep breath and opened Zhang Jianzhi's letter again. Only then did his brows relax a little and he looked thoughtful.

Seeing Di Renjie's expression change so much, Li Yuanfang hurriedly asked, "Sir, what happened?"

Di Renjie folded up the official documents and letters and put them away, then shook his head and said, "This is not the place to talk, let's go back to the inn and talk. Also, call Zeng Tai over, I have something to tell you later."
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The Changcheng County Posthouse, which was originally bustling, has now been emptied, and the guards of the deposed and promoted envoys have surrounded the posthouse inside and out.

Di Renjie strode into the main hall, and Li Yuanfang followed closely behind him, closing the door tightly.

Li Yuanfang looked at Di Renjie, who still had a solemn expression, and asked again, "Sir, what happened?"

Di Renjie said in a deep voice: "Something happened to the prince. Unfortunately, what we predicted yesterday came true. Wu Xiaojie, a scholar at the Chongwen Academy, and Xu Shide, a proofreader, killed each other in Xu's house. It was found that Wu Xiaojie was an old colleague of the King of Yue."

"Your Majesty angrily rebuked the Crown Prince at the court meeting, and many old ministers were implicated. Now, Your Majesty has left Chang'an and started his southern tour. After the tour is over, he will return to the capital."

After saying this, Di Renjie sighed and shook his head.

Li Yuanfang was also shocked after hearing this and remained speechless for a long time.

After a while, Li Yuanfang consoled him, "Sir, things have come to this point. We are thousands of miles away and cannot change anything. You should take care of yourself and stop worrying too much."

Di Renjie pondered for a moment, a firm look flashed in his eyes: "No, although we are in Huzhou, we have been involved in this storm. Wu Xiaojie and Xu Shide, two literati, actually killed each other. There must be something strange!"

He began to pace in the room. "In one day, we heard that three people with the surname Wu died, and they were all from Chang'an. This is suspicious. And the prince got into trouble because of Wu Xiaojie." "I now have a vague feeling that the incident in Changcheng County will involve the prince. We must solve the case as soon as possible, otherwise the prince may face a greater crisis."

Li Yuanfang was a little confused: "Sir, this shouldn't be the case, isn't this a little too mysterious?"

Di Renjie shook his head and slowly sat down on the chair.

He fell into deep thought: "Both the deceased were wearing silk clothes, and both had the surname Wu. They came to Changcheng County for the same purpose. Maybe they were servants of Wu Xiaojie's family, or maybe they were disguised as servants of Wu Xiaojie's family."

"Since the two came here for the same purpose, they traveled by land and water separately. This is obviously to hide their tracks. If they are really servants of Wu Xiaojie's family, what is there to hide about their identities?"

"Why did the murderer take their identity documents? Everything shows that the identities of the two deceased are extraordinary. Since these two people came to Changcheng County secretly and split into two groups, how did the murderer know their whereabouts? Strange, really strange!"

Di Renjie was immersed in his own brainstorming and completely ignored the presence of Li Yuanfang beside him.

Seeing that Di Renjie had not said a word for half a day, Li Yuanfang knew that he might be thinking about the clues of the case, and he did not dare to interrupt him easily.

It was not until Di Chun came to report that Zeng Tai wanted to see him that Di Renjie came out of his deep thoughts and said slowly: "Please let Magistrate Zeng in."

After Zeng Tai entered the room, he respectfully reported: "Your Excellency, Zhang Chun and Wang Wu have been transferred to the post station and handed over to the guards for protection according to your instructions, and their families have also been sent to pick them up."

Di Renjie nodded with satisfaction, and a warm smile reappeared on his face: "Well done. I have one more thing I would like to ask Magistrate Zeng."

Zeng Tai said, "Excuse me, sir."

Di Renjie asked, "I wonder if there are any people in Changcheng County who have served as officials in Beijing?"

Zeng Tai answered without hesitation: "My Lord, the only person in Changcheng County who has ever served as an official in Beijing is Liu Chali, the owner of Liujiazhuang in the western suburbs of the county."

Di Renjie and Li Yuanfang looked at each other in surprise: "Are you talking about Liujiazhuang in the western suburbs outside the county?"

Zeng Tai affirmed: "That's right. Liu Chali was once a doctor in Xiaguan (the Ministry of War). He resigned due to illness many years ago and retired. He has some reputation in Changcheng County."

"What a coincidence." Di Renjie said with a smile.

Zeng Tai was a little confused: "Lord, do you also know Liu Chali?"

"That's right. My Lord and I once went to Liujiazhuang in disguise and met Liu Chali once." Li Yuanfang explained.

Di Renjie made a prompt decision and ordered, "County Magistrate Zeng, Yuan Fang, order the guards and the yamen officials to prepare, and we will go to Liujiazhuang together tomorrow to take a look."

Zeng Tai and Li Yuanfang said yes in unison, then stepped back to prepare.

After the two of them went down, Di Renjie unfolded the letter sent by Zhang Jianzhi again.

The letter also mentioned one thing that Di Renjie did not tell Li Yuanfang - Zhao Ji had been transferred from the Prince's Palace and promoted to the position of Inspector General of the Right Thousand Oxen Guard. However, he did not take up his post at the Right Thousand Oxen Guard Palace, nor did he accompany the emperor on his southern tour.

Zhang Jianzhi speculated that Zhao Ji was carrying out some secret mission, and he suspected that this secret mission was related to the prince.

Di Renjie took a deep breath and placed the letter on the candle, and the flame quickly engulfed the paper.

　Thanks to Uncle95 for the reward.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)