Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 200 Search
Si Buping looked at Xie Li and asked, "Why did Governor Xie reprimand you last night? Did you do something wrong?"

Xie Li looked a little embarrassed. "Actually, something happened at the Xie family's ancestral home. The Grand Chamberlain should have heard about our Xie family. Although our Xie family was once glorious, it later declined. Now the family has dwindled and there are few houses and lands left. The reason why the family can still survive until now is all thanks to the financial support of my cousin. But my cousin's salary is limited, and he can't pay much every year, so some people in the family had evil intentions. They borrowed money in the name of my cousin to do business. Later, the business lost money. Due to my cousin's identity, the creditor couldn't come to the door to ask for money directly, so he could only write a letter to my cousin and mention the matter euphemistically. My cousin was very angry and asked me to restrain the people in the family and not do things that would hold him back. As for the money owed, my cousin has already paid it out of his own pocket."

Si Buping raised his eyebrows: "It sounds like just a small matter, why would Governor Xie be so angry?"

"My cousin has always been like this. He can't tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes. Although this matter is small, if it gets out of hand, it will damage my cousin's reputation. It's normal for my cousin to be angry."

"In that case, why do you look so angry?"

Xie Li looked like he was wronged. "I didn't do that! I was scolded at the time, and I felt wronged and annoyed. After all, I didn't do these things. Why did my cousin take it out on me? But I was just annoyed, and I don't have any hatred at all!"

Si Buping's eyes swept over Xie Li, Xie Chusong, and Liu Qingguang one by one. He knew that these three must have a lot of secrets.

At this time, the palace soldiers led Old Ding in.

Old Dingtou is a farmer who is over 40 years old. As he is a cousin of the purchasing agent of the Governor's Mansion, he adheres to the principle of keeping the wealth within the family, and the good business of supplying vegetables to the Governor's Mansion fell on him.

As soon as he entered the door, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "I was wrong. I was blinded by greed and let outsiders sneak into the governor's mansion for a small amount of money. I will return all the money now. I swear that I will never make such a mistake again. I beg you officials to give me another chance!"

Xie Li pointed at Liu Qingguang standing next to him and asked, "Old Ding, take a closer look. Did he pay you to bring him into the governor's mansion?"

Old Ding looked up at Liu Qingguang and nodded immediately, "Yes, yes, it's him! He said he is the envoy's biological son. Even if this matter is discovered, the envoy will not blame me, so I dare to help him."

Xie Li waved his hand and ordered someone to take Old Ding away.

Old Ding had nothing to do with the death of Governor Xie, but he accepted bribes and brought people into the governor's mansion, which violated the taboo of the governor's mansion. For this, he was bound to be beaten. As for his good business of supplying vegetables to the governor's mansion, it was naturally gone.

Liu Qingguang defended himself: "You all heard it, Old Ding can prove that I didn't lie."

Xie Li immediately said, "Old Ding can only prove how you got into the governor's mansion, but he can't prove that you are not the real murderer who killed the governor."

Liu Qingguang emphasized his tone: "Uncle, how many times do you want me to tell you before you believe me? I can't possibly kill my own father!"

"Don't rush to claim kinship. Your true origins have yet to be confirmed."

Liu Qingguang's face was pale and blue, and he looked very embarrassed.

Si Buping didn't have time to listen to their bickering and gave orders directly.

"Since all of you are suspects, let's search you first. Governor Xie was murdered only two hours ago. If the murderer is really among you, you may still have traces of murder on your bodies."

Xie Li and Liu Qingguang had no objection to this and expressed their cooperation.

Xie Chusong showed hesitation: "I am a woman, and you people in the Inner Guard are all men..."

Si Buping said: "We also have a woman in the Inner Guard, Dongli!"

An inner guard wearing light armor walked in. She was tall, with long arms and legs, and had her hair combed in the same bun as a man. At first glance, she really looked like a man, but if you look closely, you can find that she has no Adam's apple, and her hips are slightly wider than those of an ordinary man. It turns out that she is a woman wearing men's clothes.

She crossed her hands and saluted: "Dongli is here, please give me your instructions, Grand Master."

Si Buping pointed at Yan Ciwan and Xie Chusong and ordered, "You are responsible for searching their bodies."

"Yes!" Yan Ciwan said, "Didn't Uncle Feng provide us with an alibi just now? Logically speaking, Xiao Liulang and I are no longer suspects, so we don't need to be searched again."

Si Buping said slowly, "Ah Feng's testimony can only be used as a reference. After all, he is also a human being. As long as he is a human being, there is a possibility of lying. Unless you can find other more favorable evidence, you and Xiao Liulang are still suspected. It's just that compared with the three of them, you two are less suspicious."

Yan Ciwan frowned, obviously dissatisfied with the result.

The men stayed in the hall to be searched, while Yan Ciwan and Xie Chusong were taken to a small room next door.

Before leaving, Yan Ciwan secretly glanced at Xiao Wang.

Xiao Wang happened to be looking at her, and their eyes met in the air. At this moment, they saw relief in each other's eyes. Fortunately, they had hidden the white jade Buddha amulet in advance.

The body search was quickly completed and there was nothing suspicious on anyone.

However, the matter was not over yet. Si Buping immediately ordered the internal guards to search the suspects' residences.

The internal guards received the order and left, while the five suspects remained in the Hall of Justice and were not allowed to leave for the time being.

Si Buping sat in the main seat and picked up a file on the desk. He slowly flipped through it while quietly observing everyone present.

Xie Chusong lowered his head, fiddling with the embroidered handkerchief with his fingers, seeming uneasy.

Xie Li turned his head to look at the door from time to time and looked very nervous.

Yan Ci Wan and Xiao Wang exchanged glances quietly.

Both of them were a little worried, wondering if the amulet would be discovered by the internal security.
Liu Qingguang was the only one present who felt no burden, because he did not live in the governor's mansion at all, and nothing of his could be found in the mansion.

He stared at Xie Tanyu's body lying on the stretcher with a very complicated look.

The search lasted two hours.

By the time the guards came back to report, it was already dawn outside the window.

Under the gaze of everyone, Fu Bai walked into the court, came to Si Buping, bent down and whispered something in his ear.

After listening to this, Si Buping looked up at Xie Chusong and said, "The inner guards found some residual paper ashes in the brazier in your boudoir. Were you burning any letters during the day?"

Xie Chusong immediately denied it: "No, I need to draw the patterns first when I'm a maid. Sometimes I don't draw them well, so I burn the drawing paper."

Si Buping did not comment on her answer. Then he looked at Xie Li and asked.

"You are a military officer, why do you have so many famous paintings and calligraphy in your room?"

Xie Li explained: "Although I am a rough man, I also like calligraphy and painting. Collecting calligraphy and painting is one of my personal hobbies."

"But with your salary, you can't afford so many expensive calligraphy and paintings, right?"

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