Chapter 4 Proving one’s innocence
Min Zangzhi is famous throughout Chang'an City for being arrogant.
During the day, he was a small clerk in Tingwei Temple, but at night he became a popular romantic figure in Fengyue Church.
It’s not that he is lustful, but this man can really make flowers come out of his pen! It’s that arty “elegance”!
Just last year, there was a theft in Tingwei Temple.
The thief did not steal the gold and silver salary of Ting Wei Zheng Li Huaishan, nor did he steal the horse's silk. He just stared at the dusty interrogation records in the warehouse and stole them. When he was caught, the little thief said a golden word: " Min Langjun's words are worth a lot of money and a hundred schools of thought seek for them."
At this point, Min Zangzhi became famous in one battle, and everyone knew about it.
Zhou Zhao felt sad in his heart. She was in a hurry to leave without giving in. She took out the sealing cloth from the previous bamboo slip from the blue cloth bundle. With a move of her wrist, the sealing cloth fell in front of Chang Zuoping.
Chang Zuoping looked worried. He lowered his head and saw the words "Min Zangzhi on June 15, the seventh year of Tianyi" written on it.
"At dusk today, Mr. Min went to Shanming Academy and said that Tingwei Temple would seal up the Shanming Changyang case four years ago and return some irrelevant evidence to us for consideration.
He gave Princess Changyang's jewelry to Uncle Fu, the steward of the princess's residence, and handed this blank bamboo slip to me. ”
Zhou Zhao said, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes, and his hand holding the bamboo slips tightened.
Four years ago, her brother Zhou Yan was killed in the underground library of Shanming Villa. At that time, the bamboo slips on the bookshelf were scattered all over the floor, and this bamboo slip was crushed under his hands.
Zhou Yan was an unparalleled talent. At that time, everyone in Chang'an City did not say that the Zhou family was very lucky, and they were afraid that "three generations of imperial guards" would be born.
So Tingwei Zhengzhou Buhai at that time, like Zhou Zhao today, regarded the bamboo slips in his hand as important clues left before their deaths.
It's a pity that four years have passed and this bamboo slip has not shown anything special. Apart from Zhou Yan's blood, there are no clues on it at all. It is even blank.
Until today, "A Letter to the Dead Wife" appeared on it...
"When Min Wenwen went there, we were offering sacrifices."
When Chang Zuoping heard this, he had a plan in mind.
He turned to ask Min Zangzhi unhappily, and as expected he saw the man grinning with white teeth, "No, that big basket of gold ingots, if burned, could be exchanged for more money than your ten years of salary, Chang Zuoping." "More!"
Before Chang Zuoping could get angry, Zhou Zhao continued talking.
"Of course, the most powerful proof is not Mr. Min, but the footprints you mentioned, Chang Zuoping."
Zhou Zhao raised his feet, and the red soil on them was clearly visible, making him different from others at first glance.
Princess Changyang loved camellia, and the red flower mud she collected from everywhere was everywhere in Shanming Villa.
It rained heavily at dusk today, so there was a lot of mud on her feet.
Chang Zuoping took the red mud footprints she left in the courtyard of the murder scene as evidence of her coming and going.
"As long as the murderer appears at the scene, it is impossible not to leave traces. There is only a series of footprints left when I broke into the courtyard after discovering the murder, but there are no red footprints next to it. What does this tell you?"
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"Let me tell you that I did not jump over the wall, use the back door, or climb over the walls to visit Zhang Ruoqing's courtyard."
"Otherwise, there should be other footprints left."
Zhou Zhao said and took the second step towards the door.
If she didn't kill anyone, she didn't kill anyone. Everything at the scene will naturally prove her innocence.
Chang Zuoping's expression did not change. In fact, he went to the scene to check, and he had no way to refute Zhou Zhao's words.
However, he still had the most crucial evidence.
"What about the wooden sign with your name engraved in Zhang Ruoqing's hand? The Beijun heard with their own ears that you proved that you were the murderer!"
Zhou Zhao heard this and looked towards where the beard of the Northern Army was, but unexpectedly discovered that Zhu Li, who was sitting there before, had left at some point.
The bearded man was nodding his head like a fool, with an expression that seemed to say that the military master was still here, just waiting to see this weird guy send him to prison. Zhou Zhao coughed twice and cleared his throat.
"I only said half of what I said at that time. It is indeed extraordinary that Zhang Ruoqing holds my name in his hand. I am not an insignificant person in this case."
"But the name in the hand may be the deceased identifying the murderer. It may also be a clue left by the deceased, or it may be a method used by the murderer to frame the blame."
When Zhou Zhao said this, he raised his eyebrows at Chang Zuoping, "After all, it is very likely that the murderer, like you, Chang Zuoping, believed the so-called rumors."
"Pfft..."
Neither Min Zangzhi nor Bearded Man could hold back his laughter, and Chang Zuoping's face turned a little darker.
Zhou Zhao's three steps have already taken two. She only needs to lift her feet again, and she will leave the prison and walk out of Tingwei Temple.
"Zu Zuo should already be doing the autopsy. It's strange, isn't it? Zhang Ruoqing didn't block the injury."
"She was stabbed twice, once in the chest and once in the neck. If the murderer's blow was not fatal and she was not unconscious at the time, she would have screamed and struggled..."
"In this situation, people will naturally raise their hands to block... I have seen it, her sleeves are very complete, and the scene is very clean."
Chang Zuoping listened carefully, his expression becoming solemn.
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He frowned tightly and stretched out his hand to stroke his white goatee, "Only people who have fainted or are dead will be unresponsive."
Zhou Zhao snapped his fingers, took his third step, and stood at the door.
The wind in the aisle outside the door blew her hairband flying, and the strange combination of "the laws of nature are clear" and "no taboos" seemed so reasonable at this moment.
"That's right! If Zhang Ruoqing was already unconscious, how could she have the time to accurately select my name from the dense black wooden cards when facing the murderer, and then hold it in her hand as her last words? ”
Zhou Zhao said, looking at the beard.
“Previously at the scene, I was interrupted mid-sentence.
What I want to say is that someone wants Zhang Ruoqing to hold my name in his hands. ”
After saying three o'clock, Zhou Zhao raised his hand, waved at Chang Zuoping, and then strode away without hesitation.
She held the scroll of bamboo slips in her arms, and she felt no relief from having her grievances washed away. The bamboo slips were now cold, and there was no burning feeling at all.
Is it that the words only appear when it is permed, or that no one else but her can see the words on it?
Seeing her walking neatly, Chang Zuo, who was sitting in the upper seat, suddenly stood up.
He jogged a few steps to catch up, but a burst of fragrance hit him behind him, and his sleeve was firmly grasped by Min Zangzhi.
"Chang Zuoping is willing to admit defeat, otherwise I will write on my document that you cannot afford to lose. Tingwei Temple's face..."
Chang Zuoping was so angry that his beard stood up. When he raised his eyes, he saw the tender pink flowers in Min Zang's hair...
The 800-year-old Tingwei Temple must have been completely disgraced!
Zhou Zhao didn't know what was happening behind her. She quickly walked out of the gate of Tingwei Temple, wanting to go back and check the bamboo slips immediately. There were too many eyes here, so it was really not a suitable place.
"A Zhao!"
Zhou Zhao looked up after hearing the sound and saw a familiar figure getting off the carriage at the door.
"Auntie, why are you here?"
(End of chapter)