Chapter 48 Who is the murderer?
Yuan Zonggao never expected that the fire would actually burn Zhu Houcong , and he immediately looked at Hou Chun with fierce eyes.
At this time, even Hou Chun did not dare to stand up and speak for the sharp-haired hoe. He arrived later and was not clear about the situation at the time. Judging from the descriptions of the people at the scene, it sounded like the sharp-haired hoe was responsible.
"Take the man down and detain him pending trial."
Yuan Zonggao did not want to interrogate the prisoner on the spot to avoid exposing any embarrassing matters.
He walked towards Zhu Houcong, after all, the prince had not woken up yet.
Zhang Zuo reminded: "Yuan Changshi, should we hand the prisoner over to the government office or county office and let the government try him?"
Yuan Zonggao glared at him. Even though Zhang Zuo's status in the palace was very high, he still couldn't compare to Yuan Zonggao. His eyes were clearly reminding him, do you understand what "family disgrace should not be made public" means? Your own family set the fire, and you still want to send the case to the government for trial? Do you think the incident is not big enough?
Zhang Zuo lowered his head in shame, seemingly realizing that his suggestion was inappropriate.
"It's unfair, it's really not my fault..." The pointed hoe was taken away, and a group of craftsmen were trembling with fear, afraid of being implicated by the pointed hoe.
Yuan Zonggao walked up to Zhu Houcong, squatted down and carefully felt Zhu Houcong's pulse, his brows furrowed, as if he had noticed something.
Zhang Zuo said, "I've had the doctor check my pulse before, and it's nothing serious."
Yuan Zonggao hummed, frowned and thought for a while, then looked at Zhu Hao who was slumped on the ground and asked, "Why did he... come to you?"
Even though Zhang Zuo and others had revealed Zhu Houcong's identity, Yuan Zonggao still wanted to cover it up in front of Zhu Hao.
Zhu Hao was not afraid that Yuan Zonggao would find out. Chinese medicine emphasizes observation, auscultation, questioning and palpation. To put it more bluntly, it is to adapt to circumstances. Ask what has happened recently, check the symptoms, etc., make a rough prediction, and then apply some vague theories...
Do you want to discover the presence of anesthetics made from Datura and Aconitum in Zhu Houcong's body by taking his pulse?
Don't think of yourself as a half-god.
Zhu Hao lowered his head, as if admitting his mistake, and said, "Zhu Si came to play with me... We knew each other before."
"Um!?"
Yuan Zonggao frowned when he heard this. It was obvious that he did not trust Zhu Hao at all. Of course he would guess that Zhu Houcong happened to appear at the fire scene, and that place was also Zhu Hao's residence, so perhaps Zhu Hao was behind it.
Lu Song saw Yuan Zonggao's suspicion and hurriedly explained: "Zhu Hao was not at the scene when the fire started."
Yuan Zonggao glanced at him and asked, "Do you know whether the arsonist has any accomplices?"
Lu Song was speechless for a moment.
It is said that Zhu Hao and Jianmao Zhuo are in the same group?
What a joke!
It was the sharp-bristled hoe that wanted to burn Zhu Hao to death, but it accidentally implicated Zhu Houcong...
Zhu Hao stood up, looking angry: "Since you don't trust me, why did you let me into the palace to study with you? I risked my life to rescue people from the fire, is it still my fault? I should have left without caring about anything at that time, to avoid the tragic end of almost being buried in the sea of fire!"
Faced with Yuan Zonggao's questioning, Zhu Hao could only try his best to express his anger.
Yuan Zonggao looked Zhu Hao up and down with a deep gaze.
At first he couldn't believe that a seven-year-old child could speak so dignifiedly in front of so many adults, but after looking carefully he noticed a detail: Zhu Hao's clothes were burned by the fire and were covered with black ash and holes, but Zhu Houcong did not have this problem.
"What happened to him?"
Yuan Zonggao pointed at Zhu Hao and asked Lu Song who was standing beside him.
Lu Song is the person involved and a witness to everything that happened at the fire scene.
Lu Song said: "When Zhu Hao rushed out of the fire, he took a wet blanket and wrapped it around... Young Master, but he didn't... We had to put out the fire on him... The situation was extremely dangerous..."
Yuan Zonggao was originally full of doubts about Zhu Hao, but after hearing Lu Song's words and the wet blanket on the ground beside him, he was speechless for a moment.
yes……
It is said that Zhu Hao set the fire, but there is clearly irrefutable evidence that there was an arsonist. If Zhu Hao was that person's accomplice, then why did he enter the fire to save people?
He even gave the chance of survival to Zhu Houcong, but his own clothes were burned like this?
Totally unreasonable!
Yuan Zonggao thought he was quick-witted and intelligent, and could easily see through human nature, but when it came to Zhu Hao...his insight seemed to have failed.
At this moment, a guard came running over and reported: "Yuan Changshi, the prince wants you to come over."
This matter has alarmed Prince Xing Zhu Youjun himself, but due to his status he could not be present at the fire scene. In addition, the entire Prince Xing's Mansion was in partial chaos due to the fire. If someone took the opportunity to harm him, it would be terrible!
It would be more accurate to say that it was a reminder rather than a meeting with Yuan Zonggao, to quickly bring Zhu Houcong back to the inner courtyard of the palace and settle down, and to discuss matters when they met again.
"Lu Dianzhang."
Yuan Zonggao thought for a moment and immediately called Lu Song next to him.
Lu Song clasped his fists and said, "I am here."
Yuan Zonggao said: "Cancel the rotation of all guards in the Royal Palace Ceremonial Guard Department, strengthen the guards at each gate, and send the people in the East Courtyard, the murderer... and Zhu Hao, to the courtyard inside Chunhui Gate. We will make a decision after consulting Queen Xing!"
…
…
Zhu Hao successfully passed Yuan Zonggao's test.
After receiving instructions from Yuan Zonggao, Lu Song stopped being polite and directly escorted all the craftsmen in the East Courtyard to a large courtyard near the east gate of the inner courtyard as if they were prisoners, and then began to interrogate them.
"Are any of you connected with the murderer?"
Lu Song was actually half an "insider" and was full of suspicion towards Zhu Hao.
Among all the people, no one felt more strongly than he did that Jianmao Hao might have been wrongly accused, but he could not say it out loud. He had to make a fuss about these craftsmen and make the case an ironclad one.
When the craftsmen saw this, how could they dare to hide anything?
Someone immediately jumped out and said, "Lu Dianzhang, please understand that we are honest people, how dare we commit crimes? But that sharp-haired hoe has been saying recently that he wants to teach Zhu Hao a lesson, saying that this is the order of the Hou family."
Hou Chun cursed: "You mother's dog fart, why don't you say that this was ordered by Yuan Changshi?"
The man who came out to report him curled his lips. He probably had some grievances against Hou Chun in his heart and took the opportunity to add insult to injury.
Lu Song took a look and found this matter quite unusual. No wonder Yuan Changshi did not directly punish Jianmao Zhuo, the recognized murderer. Could it be that the arson was really related to Yuan Changshi?
Old Song said: "If the sharp-bristled hoe is not that bold, is it possible that the fire was caused accidentally? There are many flammable materials in the warehouse, and the tung oil tank leaked before..."
Among the people in Dongkuayuan, the only one who can be described as "honest" is Lao Song.
At this time, the only one who spoke up for Jianmao Zhuo was Lao Song.
"Old man Song, are you still making excuses for Jianmaochu? Could it be that you are his accomplice?" It was Daxi, who usually treated Jianmaochu as a brother, who stood up to question him.
Old Song didn't expect that such a thing could be attributed to him, and he quickly defended himself: "I'm telling you the truth. You know the situation in the warehouse better than I do..."
…
…
Zhu Hao sat on the steps and watched a group of people fighting each other.
The plan was perfect, and even Yuan Zonggao couldn't find any loopholes. With the wisdom of these people... he could only think about who was the accomplice of the sharp-haired hoe. It seemed that he could successfully extricate himself from the matter, not only without any fault but also without any merit.
But he also knew that Lu Song couldn't help but be suspicious.
Sure enough, while Lu Song was asking questions, he secretly looked at Zhu Hao with an uncertain expression on his face.
This kind of interrogation without any coercive means will obviously not produce any results. Everyone present wants to clear themselves of the charges, and false accusations and random accusations become the norm in the conversation.
"Lu Dianzhang, Yuan Changshi has ordered you to take the fire-fighting child... to the study hall in the backyard of the palace."
The interrogation was at a stalemate and Lu Song was getting extremely anxious when someone came over to deliver a message.
"knew!"
Lu Song could only order his men to keep a close eye on the group of people in the East Courtyard, while he personally took Zhu Hao to the backyard, which was a restricted area for most people in the palace.
…
…
When Zhu Hao entered the inner courtyard of the palace for the first time, he was unusually calm. He already knew how to answer other people's questions.
"Master Zhu, there are no outsiders here. Tell me the truth, is this matter related to you?" Lu Song found it difficult to calm his doubts. He took Zhu Hao to a secluded corner, looked around, and then asked in a low voice.
Zhu Hao frowned and asked, "Lu Dianzhang, what are you talking about?"
Lu Song deliberately slowed down his pace. "I'm sure you and I both know how stupid Jianmao Zhuo is. It's not difficult to frame him. You just need to throw the torch in front of him... Besides, how could the prince appear at your place by chance? Don't just deny it now. Even Yuan Changshi is full of doubts about this matter. Tell me, maybe I can help you."
Help you a big head ghost!
Zhu Hao knew very well that Lu Song acted as if he was on the same page with him just to trick him into talking.
"Are you trying to ask me if I used you to get involved in the big case of 'tricking the prince into my residence, and then I set fire to it, almost burning the prince to death'?" Zhu Hao asked back.
"ah?"
Lu Song was horrified.
From Lu Song's performance, Zhu Hao realized that this guy had a good relationship with Prince Xing's Mansion. If he knew the truth, he might really report him without any scruples.
Lu Song had always been reluctant to work for Captain Lin, but perhaps Captain Lin had made a promise that as long as he investigated the intelligence and did not endanger the safety of the people in Prince Xing's Mansion, he reluctantly agreed. However, if he found out that Zhu Hao had set the fire, given his loyal character, there was no guarantee that he would not report it.
Now Zhu Hao is telling Lu Song, don’t always doubt me. If I am the mastermind as you said, then you are the accomplice. We are in the same boat.
Zhu Hao said, "Lu Dianzhang, I didn't see Jianmao set the fire. I arrived at the scene later... Did you see who set the fire with your own eyes?"
Lu Song shook his head.
"If you really think I can plan everything, to set the fire and save people, then go and tell Prince Xing... But even if you don't tell anyone, no one in the palace will doubt it? Then what's the point of telling anyone?"
Zhu Hao's question made Lu Song completely confused.
yes.
Without any evidence, what can I use to report Zhu Hao?
Not only is this a waste of time, but he also reported himself?
Is he so ruthless that he even wants to hurt himself?
