Chapter 83 The murderer is among us
This Zhou Hong was none other than the Captain of the Yiluansi. Deng Qianqiu had seen him in the Yiluansi before, but he was a man who always kept a low profile, was taciturn, and didn't like to talk to people, so they didn't have much in common.

But no one expected that he would be responsible for the interrogation, which shows that this person is highly trusted by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhou Hong said: "Your Majesty, I have already questioned him, and Liu Chong confessed to it, saying that he did it on purpose."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly, "Really? It was intentional..."

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Let him speak."

The man who was beaten to a bloody mess was Liu Chong. When Liu Chong heard Zhu Yuanzhang asking him to speak, he immediately burst into tears and said, "I deserve death, I am guilty of death. This teacup was indeed arranged by me..."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "You are responsible for supplying the palace utensils, what is your intention in doing this?"

Liu Chong trembled, gritted his teeth, and finally said: "Yes...someone used silver, saying...it was said...as long as this thing is given to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, there will be benefits..."

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious: "So you dare to do such a thing?"

Liu Chong cried, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... Of course I dare not. No matter how bold I am, I will never dare to murder the Crown Prince for a few silver coins. Even if I have the courage of heaven, I would not dare to do that."

His voice was trembling.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang was a man who understood human nature very well. He was quite puzzled at this moment. There really were people in the palace who valued money more than their lives. This was a heinous crime.

But Liu Chong continued, "I...I checked the teacup to make sure there was no problem, so I took the money and gave it to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so...so..."

What he meant was that if it was something that could really harm the prince, he certainly wouldn't dare give it to the prince, but he really wanted to take the silver, and after making sure that there seemed to be no problem, he still accepted the silver.

Generally speaking, ordinary people really cannot predict that such a seemingly harmless teacup can actually be poisonous.

No one would think in this direction.

As he spoke, Liu Chong kowtowed like crazy and cried, "I beg you to die a thousand times. I am guilty of this crime."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhou Hong and asked, "Is that all? What else did you find out?"

Zhou Hong looked calm and composed, but there was a unique coldness on his face, as if he didn't want to be approached by strangers. He said, "Your Majesty, I also interrogated Liu Chong and asked who ordered him to do so."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Liu Chong coldly, and then asked slowly, "Who is it?"

This is obviously what Zhu Yuanzhang cares most about.

This is definitely not something a small eunuch would dare to do. What Zhu Yuanzhang wants is the truth and the real person behind the scenes.

He wanted to know who was so bold as to touch the tiger's butt.

What's more, the person involved was the crown prince, Zhu Yuanzhang's biggest weakness.

Zhou Hong calmed down and said, "Liu Chong told him that the person who gave him the silver was a merchant with a Suzhou accent."

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes slightly, his pupils contracted, staring at Zhou Hong intently, and said, "Have you checked it?"

"I have ordered people to start hunting him down in the city, but... that person has a name, but according to my guess, it must not be his real name. I can only identify him based on his appearance, but in this vast sea of ​​people..."

Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily: "We must dig three feet deep to get to the bottom of this. Suzhou... merchants... hehe..."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed grimly.

Obviously, these messages seemed to give Zhu Yuanzhang some ideas.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Some people are really haunting us. Send more people. If the people we have are not enough, send a letter to the Five Military Commands, the Five City Military Command, and the prefectures and counties of Zhili, ordering them to assist. Give as many manpower and material resources as needed, no matter the cost!"

Zhou Hong said: "Yes."

Deng Qianqiu had been listening carefully and suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I would also like to ask this Liu Chong."

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be very angry. Today's incident actually made him a little defensive. Someone dared to attack the prince. To him, this was more serious than brandishing a sword in front of him.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked more questions, and then said, "You ask."

Deng Qianqiu nodded and looked at Zhou Hong with a smile: "Eunuch Liu..."

As Deng Qianqiu spoke, he took out a handkerchief he always carried with him and handed it to him: "Come, wipe the blood."

Liu Chong hesitated, like a frightened deer, and did not dare to take it.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned repeatedly.

Seeing that Liu Chong didn't take it, Deng Qianqiu went up to wipe the blood off Liu Chong's forehead and asked, "Where are you from?"

"I...I am from Suzhou..."

"When did you enter the palace?"

"It was during the first year of the Wu Dynasty." Liu Chong said with a sad face, "I was a captive at that time, so... I was taken into the palace."

The so-called first year of Wu was actually the time before the founding of the Ming Dynasty, when Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself King of Wu in Nanjing.

Deng Qianqiu continued, "You are lucky. You have become the head of the Imperial Household Department in just a short period of time."

Liu Chong said with tears in his eyes: "Yes... yes... I am usually quite well behaved, but... sometimes I can't control my hands."

Deng Qianqiu smiled and said, "You are in Suzhou. Do you have any relationship with Zhang Shicheng?"

Liu Chong was startled, looked up at Deng Qianqiu, then lowered his head again and stammered, "Who among the military and civilians in Suzhou was not related to Zhang Shicheng at that time?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned even more after hearing this. He pursed his lips, his eyes were fierce, and he was obviously getting impatient.

Deng Qianqiu remained calm as usual, and continued to look at Liu Chong and asked: "Does Eunuch Liu leave the palace on weekdays?" Liu Chong explained: "The Imperial Household Supervisor needs to supervise the official kilns and the imperial workshops, and occasionally needs to leave the palace..."

Deng Qianqiu nodded and said, "This is a good job. His Majesty really has nothing to say about you."

"I...I..." Liu Chong was speechless for a moment.

Deng Qianqiu continued: "Do you know if this teacup is poisonous?"

"No...don't know..."

"You really don't know anything at all?" Deng Qianqiu said calmly, "Maybe you know, but it's a serious matter, so you don't dare to say it, right?"

Liu Chong cried out: "I really didn't know that this was a merchant from Suzhou..."

After hearing this, Deng Qianqiu's face changed drastically, and he suddenly turned hostile and shouted angrily: "Since you don't know, you are still slandering me. What crime should you be punished for?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall looked strange.

Only Zhou Hong, the captain of the Yiluansi, remained expressionless.

Liu Chongze was so frightened that his face turned pale. His body was shaking and he dared not even breathe.

Deng Qianqiu asked, "You still haven't told the truth yet? Who is threatening you?"

"No... that's not the case..." Liu Chong shook his head desperately and denied it flatly: "It is indeed..."

Deng Qianqiu said: "Damn it, damn it, you really deserve to die! I originally intended to save your life, but since you have no intention of repenting, then... no one can save you."

Liu Chong had a complicated expression, but he still said: "Every word I said is the truth..."

Deng Qianqiu ignored him and turned to look at Zhu Yuanzhang, saying, "Your Majesty, I have finished my questions."

Zhu Yuanzhang was obviously in a very bad mood today. He could not help but said angrily: "Why are you still talking so much? I will arrest them all from Nanjing to Suzhou!"

Then, he ordered Zhou Hongdao: "Catch Liu Chong and put him in prison first. When we catch the mastermind behind the scenes, we will cut them into pieces together."

Zhou Hong said: "I... obey..."

"Wait!" Deng Qianqiu said suddenly.

In fact, Deng Qianqiu originally wanted to interrupt Zhu Yuanzhang when he said "cut into pieces", but he was timid.

He didn't have the courage to interrupt Zhu Yuanzhang, but he had the courage to interrupt Zhou Hong.

Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang realize how much trouble Deng Qianqiu's nagging personality had caused in such matters. But then he thought... I had just promised you not long ago that you would be my man and I would not pursue any matter you did. It had only been a few hours, so it was impossible for you to turn against me.

Thinking of this, he finally suppressed his anger.

What's more, it was because of Deng Qianqiu that he became aware of the case. If it weren't for this kid, no one would have known that his son had been killed.

Zhou Hong finally showed some emotion at this time and looked up at Deng Qianqiu.

Zhou Hong said, "What else does Captain Deng have to say?"

Deng Qianqiu heard the thorn in Zhou Hong's words. After all, Zhou Hong was his superior. How could he have the right to explain anything to Zhou Hong?

But Deng Qianqiu couldn't care less about that now. He said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Your Majesty, Liu Chong deceived the emperor and deceived his superiors. His crime is unforgivable. I think he should be punished for deceiving the emperor and beheaded immediately to serve as a warning to others."

After these words were spoken, there was no expression on Liu Chong's face.

But the expressions of the others changed.

Of course Liu Chong must die.

But the problem is that Liu Chong's crime was poisoning the prince, murdering the crown prince, and colluding with the rebel party.

But Deng Qianqiu only said that he deceived the emperor, which... is hard to make sense.

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but feel doubtful. He stared at Deng Qianqiu and asked, "What does Lord Deng mean by this?"

Deng Qianqiu said: "Your Majesty, this matter... has nothing to do with Liu Chong."

"Hmm?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Deng Qianqiu with a strange look.

Deng Qianqiu continued, "If my guess is correct, the person who poisoned him is someone else, and it's definitely not Liu Chong."

"Why didn't you say it earlier?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked angrily.

Deng Qianqiu said angrily, "Your Majesty, I am also new here. I have only been in the palace for a short time and I am not familiar with the ecology of the palace. Shouldn't I get familiar with the environment first? Otherwise, if I say something wrong, wouldn't I be guilty of a thousand deaths?"

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

But Deng Qianqiu's words undoubtedly made many people in the hall change color.

Especially the Yiluansi captain Zhou Hong, he stared at Deng Qianqiu and said: "Captain Deng, why do you say that, and on what basis do you make such a conclusion?"

Deng Qianqiu seemed very calm, and said: "Didn't I say that the person who poisoned was someone else, and...if my guess is correct, this person who poisoned...is in this hall..."

what……

There was horror in everyone's eyes. People looked around subconsciously with suspicion in their eyes.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened again.

(End of this chapter)