False evidence

Chapter 454 Painted Skin (4)

Hearing what Shen Fangyun said, I felt a sudden chill run down my spine.

Shen Fangyun continued, "Lan Zhaodi disappeared in 1722, during the Qing Dynasty. A major event also occurred there—the struggle for the throne among the nine princes, the death of Emperor Kangxi, and the ascension of Emperor Yongzheng!"

"1761..."

As Shen Fangyun recounted her story in one breath, as if reciting a familiar tale, I was somewhat bewildered.

Liang Kaiyuan also took several deep breaths. "Fangyun comes from a scholarly family. Back then... she was the most famous talented woman in the area."

Zhao Qi raised an eyebrow: "You figured it out?"

I said, “I have a friend who knows a lot about history. I remember her saying that in the years when the first few people went missing… a major event happened each year.”

Zhao Qi chuckled: "Your friend knows a lot about history, and you have a good memory too."

Seeing that Liang Yuan was restless, I didn't want to beat around the bush anymore and said:
"The day Yang Surong disappeared happened to be the day Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself, marking the end of the Ming Dynasty; and the day Lan Zhaodi disappeared happened to be the day Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne... If these missing persons were imperial relatives or powerful officials who 'vanished' at a particular time, that wouldn't be surprising. But these women were all ordinary people. How could their disappearances be related to dynastic changes or political turmoil?"

Zhao Qi nodded: "It's enough that you've thought of these things. As for the rest of the questions, we can only find the answers through action."

Liang Yuan slammed her fist on the table: "I just want to know where Meizhi is right now!"

Zhao Qi ignored him and instead handed me another document.

I turned to the first page, and before I could even read the contents, I heard Eunuch Sun exclaim in surprise:
"Why is it him?!"

"Do you know this person?" I asked instinctively.

Zhao Qi gave a strange look.

Liang Yuan glanced at the photo above: "I recognize him, that's Zhu Yunwen!"

At the same time, Eunuch Sun exclaimed in a shrill voice, "He is the Jianwen Emperor!"

I was taken aback. After quickly glancing at the contents, I looked at the photo again.

The man in the photo is around forty years old. He is somewhat thin, has an ordinary appearance, and wears a pair of metal-framed photochromic glasses, which makes him look very refined.

I secretly asked Eunuch Sun, "Is he the Jianwen Emperor? How can you be sure?"

When Eunuch Sun was serving in the palace, he was already a descendant of the Yongle Emperor. As for the Jianwen Emperor, given his special status, I don't believe the Ming Dynasty at that time would openly preserve his real portrait.

Eunuch Sun said, "I have never seen Emperor Jianwen, but I have seen the portraits of Empress Ma and Crown Prince Yiwen! This person looks so much like him... so much like him..."

Shen Fangyun explained: "Crown Prince Yiwen was Zhu Biao's posthumous title. He was the eldest son of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma. Emperor Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen, was Zhu Biao's second son."

I suddenly realized.

Although Eunuch Sun was illiterate, the most important qualities for serving in the palace were keen eyesight and a clever mind.

Zhao Qi and Liang Yuan mentioned Zhu Yunwen more than once, and this name had already given Eunuch Sun a preconceived notion.

Seeing the person's appearance in the photo, he combined the resemblance of Empress Ma and Zhu Biao and concluded that the person in the photo was Zhu Yuanzhang's grandson and Zhu Biao's son—Emperor Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen!
I found it absurd and ridiculous.

The Jianwen Emperor in history was indeed somewhat special.

According to unofficial historical accounts, when Zhu Yuanzhang decided to let his grandson inherit the throne, he thought that "this grandson" might not be fit to be emperor, so he gave him an iron box. He said that if the throne were ever in danger, one could open the iron box, act according to the circumstances, and turn the situation around.

It has to be said that Zhu Yunwen's 'sixth sense' was really accurate. Zhu Yunwen had only been emperor for a few years when his uncle Zhu Di led his troops to attack the capital.

Before entering the city, the uncle and nephew fought each other. Zhu Yunwen knew he couldn't win, so he opened the iron box. Inside the box were six items: a set of kasaya robes, a string of Buddhist beads, a certificate of ordination, a razor, a map, and a set of flint and steel.

After looking at the map, Zhu Yunwen understood his grandfather's meaning: he was to disguise himself as a monk and use the underground passages of the Nanjing Imperial Palace to escape in times of crisis.

Seeing that the situation was already settled, Zhu Yunwen had no choice but to shave his head, put on a cassock and dress as a monk, set fire to the palace with a flint and steel, and then escape from Nanjing through a secret passage.

There is also a saying that the iron box was given to Zhu Yuanzhang by Liu Bowen.

These are just rumors, and it's hard to verify them.

However, the ultimate fate of Emperor Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen, remains a great mystery in history.

My understanding of history is only at a junior high school level, but I can roughly calculate that it has been more than six hundred years since the Prince of Yan seized the throne.

The final fate of Emperor Jianwen remains a mystery, but I can accept the idea that there is now a way to see his ghost.

But to say that he is still alive is just nonsense.
Ignoring Eunuch Sun's reaction, I'll bring the issue back to what I consider to be the main point.

I asked Zhao Qi, "Just tell me straight, what do we need to do and how do we do it to find Li Meizhi?"

"I'm so glad you didn't say you wanted to go to her house, her bakery, or her newly opened kindergarten to find her."

Zhao Qi rubbed his hands together. "As I said before, the only way to find the answer to questions is through action. Our discussion is temporarily over; now I'll just talk about my plan."

You've read the information; Zhu Yunwen didn't simply make a living by renting out houses. He bought two minibus routes a long time ago: one around the suburbs, and the other between the local area and Sanhe County.

It's not like before. Minibus routes can be purchased through connections, but not contracted out—meaning they can't be monopolized. Zhu Yunwen is just a minor tycoon; he owns three minibuses in total. Two circle the suburbs, and the other runs the Sanhe route.

“What’s interesting is that all three of his vehicles are night buses,” Zhao Qi said, raising an eyebrow.

In his mind, Liang Kaiyuan thought, "Judging from this point alone, Zhu Yunwen is either not short of money or simply doesn't want to be idle. Otherwise, he must have had another purpose in buying these two lines."

"What do you mean by that?" Lu Xin asked.

Liang Kaiyuan said, "It's very simple. Privately operated minibuses, as an auxiliary to public transportation facilities, are still necessary here. But since it's a business, it must be for profit."

That's right, there are policy subsidies for night buses. But while the two suburban bus routes can still make a profit, the night bus to Sanhe County will not only lose the profits of the other two, but will also lose even more.

Therefore, in order to make a profit, minibus owners will choose good routes and time slots, even if it means giving out extra bribes. At the very least, they'll combine both, not caring about earning a little less. Who would choose only unprofitable routes, especially at night?

"That's just burning money."

I looked up at Zhao Qi and asked, "So what's your plan?"

"My plan is to have three minibuses, and tonight, each of us will ride one."

Erpang said in a simple voice, "There are four of us now. I'll team up with Sanqi."

“No, you, me, and Sanqi, each of us will choose one.” Zhao Qi looked intently at Liang Yuan. “Your mission is the most important.”

"You're completely insane!" Liang Yuan was about to explode.

"If Li Meizhi were to be taken to a place she could never return from on one of those minibuses, which one do you think she would be on?"

Zhao Qi raised his voice, stood up, tossed a car key to Liang Yuan, and said seriously, "You know now that even if I don't look for Li Meizhi, she will still become the sixteenth missing person! I hope you can cooperate with me, or suggest that for the safety of your loved one, you stay calm and do what you should do."

Just then, Erpang picked up the documents I had just put down and flipped through them. He exclaimed, "Hey, Sanzi, haven't we taken bus number 9 before?"

(End of this chapter)