Humans in All Heavens: Starting with Detective Dee

"Please rise, please rise."

The man stood up and looked at Di Renjie: "Elder, I have already made preparations upon learning that you are coming to the History Museum to review the archives."

I wonder which period of the archives you intend to consult.

Di Renjie smiled and said, "These are the Right Guard records from the early years of the Wude era to the tenth year of the Zhenguan era."

"Please come with me, Your Excellency."

Led by the official, the three arrived at a palace.

Inside the palace were bookshelves, and the official led the three to one of them.

Pointing to two of the floors, he said, "Elder Guo, these are the Right Guard archives from the early years of the Wude era to the tenth year of the Zhenguan era."

"Okay, go ahead."

"This humble servant takes his leave."

"Quick, look inside and see if there's any file about Jiang Xiaolang."

The three of them quickly picked up a book and began to flip through it rapidly.

A moment later, Li Yuanfang's slightly surprised voice rang out from inside the palace: "My lord, there are records about Jiang Xiaolang here."

"Read it quickly." Di Renjie and Di Chun put down the books they were holding.

Knowing the plot is the most painful thing; it would be better if it were in another world.

Unfortunately, this world happened to be right next to Di Renjie, so he could only offer reminders based on the existing clues.

Instead of giving the full answer directly, otherwise Di Renjie would have doubted Di Chun.

Li Yuanfang looked at the contents of the book and quickly read aloud: "Young Master Jiang joined the Right Guard in the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu's reign (605 AD) and was then appointed as a guerrilla general."

Two years later, he was promoted to General of Hanyang for his meritorious service.

In the early years of the Zhenguan era, Jiang Xiaolang suddenly disappeared.

"He suddenly disappeared. Is there any record in the book of the reason for his disappearance?" Di Renjie asked anxiously.

"This..., sir, what do you think...?" Li Yuanfang turned a page and suddenly turned pale with shock.

Di Renjie and his companion went over to take a look and saw that two pages of the file had been torn out.

The jagged edges of the paper are clearly visible through the seams of the book.

Di Renjie took it, touched it, felt it for a moment, and then looked up: "This was just torn off recently."

These two torn pages must be the reason Jiang Xiaolang ran away.

"Our opponents are cunning; they destroyed the evidence before we could," Li Yuanfang said, feeling somewhat frustrated.

"No, Brother Yuanfang, this is precisely how the enemy exposes themselves."

"Oh?" Li Yuanfang looked at Di Renjie, his eyes filled with doubt. "Brother Di, what do you mean?"

"Do you remember the question the lord asked on the official road earlier?"

Why did Gao Rujin, a nonagenarian, get involved in this case? What role did he play in it?

The case dates back decades, and even local young people have never heard of it.

We've only heard of elderly people, and among them, based on clues on the official road, we determined that Gao Rujin was the murderer of two bloody cases decades ago.

Jiang Xiaolang was a victim; his whole family was killed.

There aren't many people involved with Jiang Xiaolang anymore, so why bother investigating why he tore up his clothes and escaped?

Li Yuanfang frowned, still not understanding Di Chun's meaning: "Brother Di, could you explain it more clearly?"

Di Renjie laughed and said, "Di Chun means that if Jiang Xiaolang is really dead, then tearing out these two pages of the file is completely unnecessary."

Since these two pages have been torn out, it can only mean one thing: Jiang Xiaolang is still alive.

"What?" Li Yuanfang was shocked. His eyes widened as he looked at the two of them with an incredulous expression.

Seeing this expression, Di Chun chuckled and said, "Brother Yuanfang, nothing is impossible."

Moreover, Jiang Xiaolang should be Gao Rujin.

"This, this..." Upon learning the truth, he stammered for a moment, completely unable to accept this reality.

"My lord." Suddenly, Li Yuanfang looked at Di Renjie, wanting to hear what he had to say.

"Di Chun is right."

Gao Rujin should be Jiang Xiaolang.

Our arrival in Lintai was sudden, so it's clear that our adversaries didn't destroy evidence to prevent us from investigating.

There must be some ulterior motive. Would you tear up a file about someone who's been dead for decades?

Li Yuanfang shook his head.

"That's right. If you need anything, you can just look it up. Why tear out these two pages of the file? All of this only proves that Jiang Xiaolang is still alive."

If Jiang Xiaolang were still alive, he would be over ninety years old now.

In Yongchang County, Gao Rujin is the only nonagenarian who is connected to this matter.

The matter is already quite clear.

After listening to Di Renjie's analysis, Li Yuanfang seemed to wake up from a dream and accepted the reality.

Li Yuanfang looked at the two men with an amazed expression, and even cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "My lord and Brother Di are truly divine beings."

It's amazing that so many things could be figured out from just two pages of files.

"I am truly ashamed; I had no idea at all."

"Brother Yuanfang, you're too kind." Di Chun waved his hand with a smile. He also enjoyed the treatment that Di Renjie received and was called a god.

"Now that things are clear, we can go and arrest Gao Rujin."

I want to see who the mastermind behind Gao Rujin really is.

Di Renjie's eyes revealed a resolute determination.

The three left Lintai again and boarded a carriage heading towards Yongchang County.

After much back and forth, it was already afternoon when they finally arrived at the Yongchang County Government Office.

At the entrance of the county government office, Zeng Tai led the county government officials to kneel and welcome Di Renjie.

"Student Zeng Tai respectfully welcomes his esteemed teacher."

"Alright, Zeng Tai, get up."

"Master, didn't you already ask for permission after you came to your senses?"

"Has the Emperor already issued an edict?" Zeng Tai approached Di Renjie, looking puzzled.

Di Renjie smiled and said, "Zeng Tai, take the county yamen runners and come with me to Qingyang Ridge."

"Qingyanggang? Isn't that the old site of Jiangjiazhuang?"

"That's right, I need to verify something."

Without further explanation, Zeng Tai could only lead the county yamen's constables to Qingyanggang, completely bewildered.

At Qingyanggang, in front of Jiang Xiaolang's tombstone, Di Renjie ordered: "Zeng Tai, have someone dig up this grave for me."

"Dig it open? Master, this, this..., student..." Zeng Tai's jaw was clenched.

Two consecutive days of investigation had instilled in him a fear of the underworld.

He believed it was a vengeful ghost seeking revenge, and subconsciously didn't want to get involved in these matters.

Seeing this, Di Chun laughed and said, "Brother Zeng, since it is Yuwen Chengdu's vengeful ghost, then you should dig up Jiang Xiaolang's grave."

Isn't this tantamount to helping Yuwen Chengdu get revenge?

You're all in cahoots. He should be thanking you, not attacking you.

Let's get started.

He calmed himself down, unsure whether it was Di Chun's words that comforted him or his own desire not to embarrass himself in front of Di Renjie.

Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. Di Renjie wasn't afraid, so what was he afraid of?

Zeng Tai immediately waved his hand: "Dig it for me."

"Yes." Immediately, more than a dozen people, armed with various tools, began digging Jiang Xiaolang's grave.