Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 178 Locking Down the Kidnappers
"That's it, that's it!"

After considering all the clues, Lu Bing thought it over and agreed that it made a lot of sense. He nodded repeatedly and asked, "So how do we find Sun Liu now?"

Haiyue thought it was simple and asked directly, "Where was Sun Liu's original home?"

Lu Bing was somewhat embarrassed: "I don't know for now."

Haiyue asked in confusion, "Don't know? Sun Liu is a secret agent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, how could he not know his original address?"

“We confirmed Sun Liu’s identity from the private register of a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) traitor.”

Lu Bingdao said, "That guy's private register only contains the current identities and roles of these spies. Their original families and addresses are not recorded at all. Obviously, he doesn't care about them at all."

Haiyue originally brought Yan Song into the palace to obtain intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He couldn't ask for it himself, but he could have Jiajing arrange it. However, he didn't expect the Embroidered Uniform Guard to be so unreliable: "This is troublesome!"

Lu Bing frowned: "Will Sun Liu go home? What if he gets the money and leaves the capital immediately?"

“If that were the case, there would indeed be no way to track him down. But I think that the fact that Sun Liu left behind the erotic picture book but took the Embroidered Uniform Guard token shows that he still identifies with that identity.”

Haiyue analyzed, "He has been a night watchman at the Imperial Examination Hall for more than ten years. His sudden betrayal suggests that something has happened at home and he is probably in dire need of money. If we know his home address and rush there tonight, we can find out who the kidnappers are and rescue Donglou. This is the fastest way!"

Lu Bing said in a deep voice, "The spies should also have a roster that records their original identities in detail. I'll send someone back to the Northern Garrison Command to search for it carefully!"

His tone was uncertain.

Unlike private registers, which are just thin books containing key information, dossiers are stacks of massive amounts of data. Given how much Xiao Zhen values ​​these spies, they've probably been gathering dust for ages. Finding Sun Liu's original identity from them could take a few hours if you're lucky, but several days if you're unlucky.

Now that there's a curfew, even if Sun Liu returns home, there's nothing he can do. Once dawn breaks, he'll likely take his family and money and leave the capital, but by then it will be too late...

Let's take a two-pronged approach!

Haiyue remained focused and didn't waste any time.

The two walked together toward the outside of the examination hall. Halfway there, Lu Bing suddenly asked, "How did Sun Liu manage to trick Yan Shifan into leaving the examination hall?"

Haiyue remained silent.

Lu Bing looked at him and repeated, "Mingwei, how do you think Sun Liu managed to get Yan Shifan out of the examination hall? Is it related to the rumors of cheating in this year's provincial examination?"

Haiyue said, "I don't want to lie to you, so I didn't hear your question just now."

Lu Bing froze, a bitter look gradually appearing in his eyes. He murmured, "Why do it this way... why do it this way..."

Haiyue was silent.

Lu Bing took a deep breath and stopped asking questions. After leaving the examination hall, he met up with Hong Qi, who was waiting outside. They then dispatched men to head towards the Northern Garrison Command to start investigating the case files.

Lu Bing, accompanied by his remaining subordinates, approached Hai Yue, his expression now back to normal: "Mingwei, I've made the arrangements on my end. What are your plans now?"

Since a two-pronged approach was being used, Haiyue did indeed have a plan to find the kidnappers: "The kidnapping letter provided a clue! This item was actually redundant; it was clearly a kidnapping, yet the letter's content was all about compassion and pleading for the people, and the letter itself was written on gold-flecked paper—a contradiction that also reveals the kidnappers' characteristics—"

Lu Bingdao: "He usually keeps to himself and never interacts with ordinary people?"

Haiyue continued: "He has little experience, yet he is self-righteous."

Lu Bing added, "This person has a deep-seated hatred for the Yan family, yet he dared to defy convention and kidnap people during the Deer Cry Banquet!"

"No!"

Haiyue disagreed with this point: "The kidnappers must have received rumors from inside the examination hall beforehand. They believed that the kidnapper was a student who cheated to get on the provincial examination, and that the kidnapper was speaking up for the people, thus occupying the moral high ground. In this scenario, they thought they wouldn't anger the court, but would only completely destroy the Yan family!"

Lu Bing pondered for a moment, then ultimately found it absurd: "Isn't this thinking far too simplistic? The Deer Cry Banquet is a grand occasion for the imperial examinations; how can we allow traitors to act so recklessly? Whoever it is, we will investigate thoroughly!"

"So this person is arrogant and self-important."

Based on this personality analysis, Haiyue actually suspects someone.

Marquis Guo Xun of Wuding.

But that was Guo Xun, the most arrogant and domineering military figure in history, who eventually became so arrogant that he even dared to disrespect the Jiajing Emperor.

The current Marquis of Wuding suffered a great loss and is now shutting himself away from guests, hiding in his mansion like a coward. Unless he's tired of living, he wouldn't dare to do something so inflammatory.

Then there's this madman, similar to Guo Xun: "Wenfu, do you know of such powerful figures?"

Lu Bing thought and thought, then shook his head: "Many families in the capital have spoiled sons, but even the most spoiled wouldn't dare to do something that would implicate their entire clan... As for those officials who had direct conflicts with Vice Minister Yan, they've either been exiled or demoted, and their families have mostly left the capital... I really can't imagine what normal person would have the guts to do something so foolish..."

"Ugh!"

In the end, Lu Bing sighed deeply. He had never had a good impression of Yan Shifan, always feeling that this young man was far inferior to Hai Yue's chivalrous spirit. Now, with his active involvement in the Yixin Society, he worried that Yan Shifan would use his father's influence to cause trouble for his friend.

But as time goes by, the chances of Yan Shifan being rescued become increasingly slim, and he felt regretful as he faced the cold night wind.

It looks like we're about to have a feast!

Upon hearing this, Haiyue was immediately inspired: "What 'normal person' would have this kind of courage... a 'normal person'... right! How could I have overlooked the impact of that incident before?"

Lu Bing was somewhat puzzled: "What is it?"

Haiyue asked, "Since the Liyuan Society's conspiracy regarding the 'White Tiger Star Pill' was confirmed, have the Embroidered Uniform Guards searched all users of 'Gastrodia Powder' and 'Hundred Flowers Brew' and found any similar poppy products?"

"Found it!"

Lu Bingdao: "There are indeed two kinds that are circulating in private. One is called 'Hibiscus Intoxication' and the other is called 'Floating Life Fragrance'. Both have similar addictive effects to 'Gastrodia Powder' and 'Hundred Flowers Brew'. However, the thieves of Liyuan Society are very vigilant and have completely cut off the sale of these two items. We didn't have time to catch them!"

Haiyue then asked, "Which groups of people are these two types sold to?"

"They are naturally from a powerful and wealthy family!"

Lu Bing replied matter-of-factly, “'Hibiscus Intoxication' is mostly favored by noblewomen, while 'Floating Life Fragrance' is a Buddhist sandalwood incense that first spread from temples.”

Haiyue asked, "Are these four poppy products—'Gastrodia Powder,' 'Hundred Flowers Brew,' 'Hibiscus Intoxication,' and 'Floating Life Fragrance'—still sold in the capital?"

Lu Bing said in a deep voice, "It's forbidden! How can we allow them to cause further chaos?"

Haiyue was pleased with this anti-drug effort, but he knew it wasn't over yet, because addicts wouldn't give up so easily: "So, there are quite a few powerful and wealthy people who have lost access to this drug?"

"Yes……"

Lu Bing finally realized: "The kidnappers are one of them too?"

"This explains why the other person is so impulsive and extremely arrogant; this person's mind is actually not quite clear anymore!"

Hai Yue nodded: "Minister Yan has been ruthlessly reforming the bureaucracy and purging corrupt officials. It is highly likely that this person harbored hatred for the Yan family because of this incident. Furthermore, due to the scandal of cheating in the imperial examinations, he became obsessed with the idea that this was the perfect opportunity to take revenge, and ultimately carried it out!"

Lu Bing's spirits lifted, and he summarized: "Now we have three conditions—wealthy family! Feud with the Yan family father and son! And having taken the evil medicine from the Liyuan Society! This makes things much easier to investigate!"

"Hurry!"

Haiyue said in a deep voice, "Donglou is probably suffering right now. If the kidnapper is really an unpredictable drug addict, he might kill her if things go wrong!"

……

“Mmm…Mmm…!”

Yan Shifan cautiously tried, only to find that the ropes binding his hands and feet were still tightly bound, causing excruciating pain with every rub. He knew it was unlikely he could break free on his own, yet he still refused to give up.

'I am the founder of the Yixin Society! My father will become a Grand Secretary! I have the Emperor's trust! I will pass the imperial examination with flying colors! My future is limitless! I will one day shoulder the responsibility for the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty!!'

'How could I, Yan Shifan, die quietly in this place?!'

'Damn it! Damn it! How could I have believed that night watchman's nonsense!'

Although only six or seven hours have passed, the Deer Cry Banquet seems like a distant memory.

Even now, when he recalls it, he hates himself for being so careless and believing the lies of that vile night watchman.

The main reason was that the matter of cheating in the imperial examinations was too serious. When Yan Shifan heard that his ranking had been added to the list, he immediately realized how serious the damage this rumor would do to Yan Song's reputation if it were to spread. At that time, those who hated the Yan family could make up countless unofficial historical stories to vilify the father and son!

In his shock and anger, and because it was broad daylight and Yan Shifan was caught off guard, he followed the night watchman out of the back gate of the examination hall, whereupon he was struck on the head with a club, causing him excruciating pain.

Before losing consciousness, he felt himself being stuffed into a carriage. When he woke up again, he was in this place where no one could hear his cries for help.

The only saving grace is that he is at least alive and has not been tortured.

However, just as this thought crossed his mind, Yan Shifan suddenly turned his head, and through the tattered cloth covering his eyes, he vaguely saw a flickering flame that gradually became clearer.

That is……

Lanterns approaching?
'No! No!'

Yan Shifan shrank back in fear, but a delicate fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and then a woman's soft voice rang out in front of him: "Young Master Yan, do you still remember me? I am Yun Shao from Biyu Hall!"

(End of this chapter)