Volume 2: Female Corpse in Monk's Clothes Chapter 82 Qinglan Academy
When Xu Zun was "invited" back to the Marquis' Mansion, the lights were already on.
Since the Marquis only invited Xu Zun, even Zhao Yu was unable to accompany him this time.
Before coming, Xu Zun had already instructed Zhao Yu to go to the yamen to meet Huo Anu, and then wait for him to return to the post station.
Zhao Yu knew everything that had happened and was naturally worried about Xu Zun, but his worry was of no help.
At this moment, Xu Zun was invited to the reception room of the Marquis' Mansion and sat in a side seat.
On the coffee table next to it was placed freshly brewed tea and various exquisite pastries.
Unexpectedly, Marquis Lu Jinlong went against his usual behavior and directly picked up a chair and sat opposite Xu Zun, less than one meter away.
The butler who behaved like a eunuch and the Taoist priest Wei Beihui, the guard, stood on the left and right of the marquis respectively.
Apart from him, there was no one else in the hall.
"Xu Tixing," Lu Jinlong said straight to the point, "I didn't know you had been to my house before. Can you tell me what you found?
"Why do you say that my daughter's disappearance is related to my house?"
If it were anyone else, they would have panicked and lost their composure in this situation.
However, Xu Zun grabbed a piece of cake, took a bite, savored it carefully, and said nothing.
"Hmm..." Lu Jinlong waited for a few seconds and frowned slightly. It was the first time he met someone who dared to be so arrogant in front of him.
However, Lu Jinlong was well-mannered and immediately said to Xu Zun politely:
"Xu Tixing, I know what you mean. You still have unfulfilled wishes, right?
"It doesn't matter," he said, spreading his hands, "As long as you can help me find my daughter, I promise to use my connections to transfer you to the Dali Temple.
"As for the future when I inherit your father's business and become the Supreme Court Justice, as long as I help you, it will be just around the corner!"
Hearing this, Xu Zun swallowed the cake in one gulp and said:
"My Lord, you misunderstood! I will fight for my own fame and career, and it is my duty to find the daughter of the Marquis's Mansion. I will naturally do my best.
"However, there are still a few doubts about the young lady's disappearance. Only when these doubts are resolved can I help you find the young lady!"
"Oh?" Lu Jinlong looked at Xu Zun carefully and asked, "Anything else that you doubt?"
"That Lu Xiaofeng..." Xu Zun stared at the three people in front of him and asked, "What's going on?"
"Lu Xiaofeng?" Lu Jinlong turned around in confusion and looked at Wei Beihui and the housekeeper.
"Oh," Wei Beihui replied hurriedly, "He is Miss Lu's close friend. A few months ago, Miss Lu's family moved away from Shangyuan City, which made Miss Lu worried. Miss Lu even asked me to help her find this Lu Xiaofeng."
"Then...did Master Wei help the young lady find it?" Xu Zun asked.
"I have looked for him, I have looked for him," Wei Beihui replied anxiously, "but Lu Xiaofeng's family left in a hurry, and I haven't received any news yet. I heard that he seemed to have returned to his hometown because of an urgent matter?"
"I've heard about this, too," the butler beside him said sharply, "The young lady had a very good relationship with that Lu Xiaofeng, and she was quite worried when he suddenly left without saying goodbye.
"However, this incident should have nothing to do with the young lady's disappearance."
"Okay," Lu Jinlong said to the two, "Then send someone else to look for it!"
"Yes!" the two agreed.
"Xu Tixing," Lu Jinlong turned to Xu Zun and asked, "Apart from this Lu Xiaofeng, are there any other doubts?"
"My Lord," Xu Zun asked, "Are you really not worried about the female corpse that appeared in the Huguo Temple?"
ah!?
These words scared the three of them.
"I know," Lu Jinlong said, "someone in that case should be imitating the case of the female corpse in monk's clothing back then! But...it shouldn't be related to Mingyue, right?"
"Yes, Lord..." Wei Beihui bowed and said, "We have sent people to investigate! According to my analysis, this case may just be a sudden incident.
"This kind of perverted murderer usually kills to satisfy his desires. There is no need for him to offend the Marquis!"
"Yes," the housekeeper agreed, " Didn't that monk back then also find prostitutes and kill them?
"There's really no need for him to take the risk of kidnapping our young lady!"
"But no matter what," Lu Jinlong said, "the murderer must be found quickly, otherwise I won't be able to rest assured!"
"Yes!" the two agreed again.
Xu Zun had already seen and remembered Lu Jinlong's answer, as well as Wei Beihui and the housekeeper's performance.
It seemed that they were not too worried that Miss Lu was abducted by the monk-robed killer.
"Xu Tixing," Lu Jinlong said to Xu Zun, "you don't have to be distracted by this case. Let's talk about my daughter first! What's the problem in my house?"
"Okay," Xu Zun nodded and gave his analysis, "My Lord, have you ever thought that the young lady was abducted because there was something wrong inside the mansion?"
"This..." Lu Jinlong frowned slightly and nodded, "I have already thought of this and I have already conducted a thorough investigation, but..."
Lu Jinlong gestured to Wei Beihui.
Wei Beihui immediately took over the conversation and said, "Even if there is a spy inside, they must have some purpose in kidnapping the young lady. But there has been no news in the past five days. It is really illogical."
"Well...indeed," Xu Zunyan said, "The reason why I came to your house to investigate today is to find out whether you have received any news from the kidnappers.
"Now it seems that the problem may lie in another place!"
"Oh? Where?" The three of them looked puzzled.
"My Lord," Xu Zun finally said the point, "I want to go to Qinglan Academy where the young lady is studying to check. I wonder if you can agree?"
"ah!!?"
After hearing this, Lu Jinlong and the others behaved in the same way as Li Yan and the others.
"Impossible!" Lu Jinlong suddenly stood up and waved his hand to Xu Zun, saying, "Qinglan Academy has absolutely nothing to do with my daughter's disappearance!"
Why?
Xu Zun was surprised. He didn't expect that Lu Jinlong would not only react so strongly, but also be extremely resolute.
"The young lady was kidnapped on the way to Qinglan Academy after school," the housekeeper reminded, "How could it be related to the academy?"
"Lu Xiaofeng was also in Qinglan Academy. Her family disappeared, and the young lady also disappeared," Xu Zun said, "Even if they are not related, there is no harm in investigating, right?"
"No!" Lu Jinlong said firmly, "Xu Tixing seems to be unaware that the abbot of Qinglan Temple is none other than my mother!!"
What?
Xu Zun was dumbfounded. No one had ever told him about this.
"After my father passed away, my mother founded the Qinglan Temple," Lu Jinlong introduced. "Because of her contribution to the construction of the temple, Empress Dowager Lin regarded her as a role model of the Xuan Dao and personally conferred the title of Taoist Priest Qinglan on her!
"Later, my mother admired the Empress Dowager's idea of female officials, so she founded Qinglan College, which was specially designed for aspiring women in Shangyuan City. She was highly appreciated by the Empress Dowager.
"So," Lu Jinlong said to Xu Zun, "Without the Queen Mother's order, who dares to touch Qinglan Temple!?"
"Yes," the housekeeper agreed, "This Qinglan Temple is only open to women. Since its establishment, no man has ever entered!"
I see……
Xu Zun finally understood why these people would react so strongly!
"Xu Tixing," Lu Jinlong said, "The abbot of Qinglan Temple is my daughter's grandmother. How could there be any problem with Qinglan Temple?"
"Okay, in that case," Xu Zun said, "then I can only change direction!"
"Hmph!" Lu Jinlong snorted coldly, obviously angry, "Xu Tixing, what I hate most in my life is those smart-aleck people. If you can't find out what happened to my daughter, you can't just change direction and be perfunctory!
"Three days," he held up three fingers, "I'll give you another three days. If you still can't find Mingyue by then, I can guarantee that your career will end here!"
After the threats, Lu Jinlong and others thought that Xu Zun would be timid and pale.
Unexpectedly, Xu Zun steadily grabbed a piece of cake and said:
"It won't take that long. By this time tomorrow, I'll be able to give you the answer you want!"
"What!!?"
The three of them were surprised, their eyes full of suspicion.
"But..." Xu Zun stated his conditions, "It's ok if Qinglan Academy can't investigate, but you have to give me some other authority. I promise to help you find your daughter..."
