Nightwatcher

There are a few points to be confirmed. Mounted crisply asked: "What is it?"

Huai Qing pursed his lips, while paying attention to Xu Qi'an, while thinking about what he would discover. I, who was also searching carefully in the house, was in a mess at the moment, and didn't get any useful clues or major discoveries.

"First of all, if Concubine Fu was really insulted by the crown prince, she would definitely call for help. Why didn't the servants and maids of Qingfeng Palace hear it? Let's go downstairs first and you go and call all the maids and servants in the courtyard."

The last sentence is for the little boss.

Everyone immediately went downstairs and summoned all the servants and maids of Qingfeng Palace in the courtyard, a total of twelve people, four maids and eight servants.

"Listen carefully, this is Mr. Xu who was ordered to investigate the case. He has full power to handle the case of Concubine Fu's murder. Mr. Xu has something to ask you now. You must answer every question, and you must not hide it." The little boss said in a deep voice. road.

"yes!"

Everyone bowed their heads in response.

The little boss nodded in satisfaction, and looked at Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an locked on a handsome court lady, and beckoned, "Come here."

The little maid lowered her head and stepped forward in small steps.

"Come a little more."

The little maid came to Xu Qi'an, he whispered a few words in his ear, and then said: "Go."

The little maid trotted into the attic.

What is he doing?

The little eunuch who mounted and supervised was at a loss, while Huaiqing was thoughtful.

Xu Qi'an looked around at the other maids and servants, and said: "I want to ask you, why is there no maid serving in the attic when Concubine Fu had an accident that day?"

The court lady and the servant looked at each other, a little timidly afraid to speak.

Xu Qi'an's eyes sharpened, and he scolded: "Anyone who conceals and does not report, and who knows what is not reported, will be regarded as a suspect in the murder of Concubine Fu, and will be sent to the jail."

A young eunuch immediately said: "My lord, we dare not approach the attic."

Afraid to go near the attic?

Xu Qi'an felt that he had discovered Huadian, a man entered Concubine Fu's bedroom, but the servants in the courtyard did not dare to approach, what does this mean?

It shows that Emperor Yuan Jing has a grassland above his head.

Xu Qi'an secretly looked forward to it.

The little eunuch explained: "Concubine Fu likes to drink, and when she drank too much, she often beat and scolded the servants of Qingfeng Hall. We are afraid of suffering unreasonable disasters, so we will stay away when we drink with our lady."

"Is it like this every time?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"Yes, without exception." The little eunuch replied.

"When did it start."

Regarding this question, the little eunuch murmured for a moment, then shook his head and said: "The servant has entered the Qingfeng Palace, and this is what happened to the concubine Fu."

Bai Zhanji, your qualifications are not good enough Xu Qi'an scanned the crowd and asked, "Which one is Fufei's personal maid?"

"It's a servant girl." An older court lady came out.

"You come to answer the question I just asked." Xu Qi'an stared at her.

"This, this" said the elderly court lady hesitantly: "It was alright in the past few years, but these years the empress's personality has become more and more strange, she often stands alone in the attic, and she doesn't know what she is looking at.

"When drinking, I like to recite some sad poems about spring and autumn"

What she said was very cryptic, probably because she didn't dare to talk about Concubine Fu or the emperor's family affairs. But Xu Qi'an and Huai Qing are both smart people, and understood the meaning behind the words.

This is the sadness of a lonely woman. Alas, Emperor Yuan Jing was not a son of man. There are so many beauties in the harem, and they are so hot and beautiful. They even went to practice Taoism and abstained from sex. Xu Qi'an sighed and asked:

"Did anyone hear Concubine Fu's cry for help on the day of the accident?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Xu Qi'an didn't make a statement, looked towards the direction of the attic, and nodded slightly.

Everyone followed his gaze, and there was a little maid who had just entered the attic standing on the observation deck. With Xu Qi'an's instruction, the little maid immediately closed the lattice door at the observation deck, and within a few seconds, there was a faint cry for help.

At this point, the brain is not too smart, and he understands what Xu Qi'an means.

"Bastards, you dare to lie, the call for help is so clear." Mounting framed angrily.

The servants in the yard were taken aback and quickly defended themselves.

Xu Qi'an pressed his hand, motioned them to be calm, and then turned his head to tell the little boss: "Bring out the broken guardrail!"

Then, he looked at the older maid and said, "You stay, and the others leave."

The elderly court lady was a little flustered, stirring her hands restlessly.

"Little eunuch, you go to the outer courtyard first, I will call you later, and you come back." Xu Qi'an originally thought that this little eunuch who was not very knowledgeable would retort, and he planned to bring out Huaiqing and Lin'an to suppress people.

In the end, the little eunuch didn't say anything, but turned and left willingly.

"What did you find?"

After the people left, Huaiqing spoke first.

Her Royal Highness, the cold and proud princess, has her own reasoning in her heart. Just now the maid called for help in the attic, but she could hear it outside, although it was very weak.

Then there are two possibilities: First, Concubine Fu didn't call for help at all. Two, Concubine Fu is under control.

"How is the crown prince's cultivation?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"Having practiced martial arts for several years, he is very good at bowing, horseback riding and archery." Huaiqing replied.

Oh, it's a weak chicken Xu Qi'an nodded.

It is understandable that the prince's cultivation base is not even in the refinement realm. For a prince, carrying on the family line and extending the descendants is the top priority. What is personal martial arts? The emperor didn't need to charge forward.

Secondly, whether you can sit still in the face of beauty is also a major test.

Especially the prince, as a prince, surrounded by beautiful maidservants, I am afraid it will be difficult to guard his body like a jade when he was young and impulsive.

Xu Qi'an felt that only a person with great perseverance like himself could remain single for nineteen years.

"Although the crown prince's cultivation level is superficial, it's still very easy to use force on a weak woman, so Concubine Fu may not even have the chance to cry out for help." Xu Qi'an said.

"My elder brother would not do such a thing." Mounted immediately retorted, this was her last stubbornness as a younger sister.

Xu Qi'an didn't respond to the swollen face that bulged into buns, and looked at the older maid with a sneer, and said, "Didn't you tell the truth just now?"

A trace of panic flashed in the maid's eyes, she waved her hand and said: "Everything I said is true, and I am absolutely not lying. Please learn from me, my lord."

"I didn't lie, but I didn't tell the whole story, right." Xu Qi'an patted her thigh with the scabbard:

"I don't have much patience. If you don't tell me, you can go to the jail in the prison of the jailer and tell me. I don't guarantee what the jailer will do to you."

These little maids and eunuchs are thoughtful and timid, and intimidation is the best way.

The palace maid bit her lip, her heart froze, and she said, "Your Highness, Mr. Xu, please follow me."

She turned around and went into the attic, Xu Qi'an, Huaiqing and Lin'an followed behind.

Returning to the attic, the maid went straight to the bottom of the bed, pulled open a large wooden box with difficulty, and took out a small wooden box from under the old clothes.

The palace maid lowered her head and offered the wooden box timidly.

Xu Qi'an took it, opened the wooden box, and after seeing the contents clearly, two words came to mind: Wuhu!

If Lin'an and Huaiqing were not by his side, he would still blow an exaggerated whistle.

Inside the wooden box lay an object carved from jade.

Xu Qi'an immediately understood why the court lady hesitated and dared not speak.

This thing is forbidden in the court, the moral aspect is one aspect, and this is the court, the concubine is the emperor's woman, it is definitely not acceptable.

Does the emperor lose face?

Once someone finds out, they will be thrown into the cold palace at worst, and their status will be demoted at least.

This can explain why Concubine Fu wants to disperse the servants out of the attic. One aspect is that she is in a bad mood after drinking, and the thing in front of her is another aspect. Fortunately, I drove the little eunuch out, otherwise Emperor Yuan Jing would have to kill me. Xu Qi'an's expression was complicated.

"What is this?" Princess Lin'an frowned.

Xu Qi'an glanced at her, and then at Huaiqing. Princess Gao Leng was expressionless, and focused on examining the jade carvings with confusion in her eyes.

No, no, it's fine if Lin'an is illiterate, but Ning doesn't know Princess Huaiqing who has read poetry and books?

Xu Qi'an coughed and explained to the princesses in a very soft voice.

Lin'an said "ah", and took a few steps back in horror, his round face was flushed, his neck and ears were completely red.

Princess Huaiqing withdrew her gaze as if shocked by electricity, turned her head away, two blushes appeared on her fair face.

"Fu, concubine Fu, she actually hides this kind of thing privately, no, she has no shame, hurry up, put it away quickly" Lin'an stammered and cursed.

Don't get excited, there might be Xu Qi'an under your mother's bed who covered the box, handed it back to the maid, and said: "Take it back, don't dirty the eyes of the two Highnesses."

The maid obeyed obediently.

Xu Qi'an asked: "When Concubine Fu fell from the building that day, was this thing on the bed or in the box?"

"It should be in the box." The maid said.

If there was such a thing on the bed, it would be written in the file that Xu Qi'an nodded and asked: "The missing palace lady, like you, is a personal servant of Concubine Fu?"

The maid nodded.

"Okay, let's go down."

After she went out, Xu Qi'an sat at the table, regretting that "Yu Ruyi" could not be tested, and at the same time gave an analysis to the two illiterate princesses:

"On the day when Concubine Fu fell from the building, the servants in the courtyard did not hear the cry for help. There are two possibilities: either the Crown Prince controlled her; or Concubine Fu was willing to have an affair with the Crown Prince."

Huaiqing shook his head: "If it's a voluntary adultery, why are there traces of resistance and struggle in the room?"

Seeing that you are inexperienced, Xu Qi'an smiled and said: "There are still two situations: First, Concubine Fu was unwilling at first, so she resisted, but the prince used some method to coerce her.

Second, sometimes it doesn't have to be on the collapse. "

The two princesses blushed at the same time and spat.

"Then why did Concubine Fu fall from the building? You said that she was pushed down." Huaiqing questioned.

"I can't answer this question for now," Xu Qi'an analyzed, "On the day when the incident happened, Concubine Fu drank alcohol.

"If I were the prince, I could use this coercion to achieve a long-term relationship. Concubine Fu's long-term body may be half-pushed, and there is no need to push her down the stairs. Even if the prince is sober and wants to kill someone to silence him, it shouldn't be the end of the matter." Afterwards, because during the sage's time, men are the calmest and will never be impulsive.

"There is another doubtful point. Since Concubine Fu is going to do that and drive away the maids and servants in the attic, it is even more unreasonable to send her personal maid to invite the prince, unless the two have already had an affair.

"However, according to the investigation by the Sanfa Division, as well as the confessions of the servants and maids in the courtyard, Concubine Fu has never had any contact with the Crown Prince."

"That is to say, my elder brother was really wronged." Her eyes sparkled brightly.

"This possibility is not small, but it's not yet time to make a conclusion." Xu Qi'an nodded.

Huaiqing asked: "How did you see that the palace lady is hiding something?"

She stared closely at Xu Qi'an with a pair of clear and beautiful eyes. It seems to be asking for advice, but it can't save face.

Understand micro-expression psychology Xu Qi'an said: "A person's expressions and body movements will reveal the heart to a certain extent, they are more honest than the mouth."

Huai Qingxiu frowned: "I have never seen a book that records this kind of knowledge."

"This is what I studied on my own."

Huaiqing nodded slowly, admiringly: "You are indeed a genius in solving crimes."

In fact, the most important thing to solve a case is not talent, but experience and knowledge. Without these things, even if you are a reasoning genius, you will not be able to pass the threshold. Xu Qi'an said with a smile: "Your Highness is absurd."

At this time, the little head of the guards shouted downstairs: "Master Xu, the things have been brought here."

Xu Qi'an got up immediately, and said: "The next step is to verify one of my conjectures. How Concubine Fu died may be known soon."

The three came downstairs, Xu Qi'an took the broken guardrail from the guard's hand, carefully inspected the fracture, and checked repeatedly.

He was lost in thought.

The red skirt and the white skirt tacitly agreed without disturbing each other.

Although a pair of little feet under the framed skirt kept trampling, showing anxiety.

Because Xu Qi'an said just now that Concubine Fu's death will be known immediately. It was about the innocence of the prince's brother, and she was very anxious.

But still dare not disturb his thinking.

"Let's go to the ice cellar. Please trouble the Elder Princess to invite a nanny." Xu Qi'an led everyone away from Qingfeng Palace, Huaiqing ordered the guards outside the hall to invite the old nanny.

When they came to the ice cellar, the guards, Xu Qi'an, Huaiqing, Lin'an, the eunuch and the old mother who were in charge, entered the ice cellar and saw Concubine Fu's body again.

"Please trouble me to remove the clothes on Concubine Fu, and then turn her over." Xu Qi'an said.

The old mama hesitated, but seeing Xu Qi'an instinctively turned her back, she looked at Princess Huaiqing with a questioning look, not at Lin'an.

Huaiqing nodded and said, "Do as Master Xu said."

A few minutes later, the nanny said, "This old slave is done."

Xu Qi'an turned around, Concubine Fu was naked, lying on the plank, her pale back was covered with corpse spots, but there was nothing Xu Qi'an wanted to see.

"Okay." He nodded.

Leaving the ice cellar and coming to the side hall, Lin'an couldn't wait to ask: "How is it? How did Concubine Fu die, my prince brother is innocent, right?"

Xu Qi'an glanced at the little eunuch who was supervising, then glanced at the two princesses, and said in a deep voice: "Concubine Fu should have fallen into the attic by herself."

"Why do you see that?" Huaiqing raised his eyebrows.

This result surprised everyone.

"The guardrail of the attic of Qingfeng Hall is not decayed, it is very strong. If Concubine Fu was pushed down by someone, when her body broke the guardrail, there would be bruises on her back.

"But after the inspection just now, there are no long strips of bruises on Concubine Fu's back. There are only lumps of bruises from corpse spots and falling from the building." Xu Qi'an said.

Huaiqing pondered: "But she did break the guardrail and died. You mean, someone tampered with the guardrail?"

Xu Qi'an nodded: "In addition, Concubine Fu drank wine before she fell from the building, and the maid of Qingfeng Palace said that she often watched the scenery from the observation deck. I guess she was looking to see if His Majesty would come. Of course, these are not important.

"The important thing is that when people drink alcohol, they will instinctively lie down or lean against the guardrail. Concubine Fu fell from the building on her back, so she should have been leaning on the guardrail at that time, but the guardrail was tampered with, so she fell to her death.

"I asked just now, that is to say, Concubine Fu that day, well, you know. So, the possibility that she will stand on the observation deck is very high.

"During the autopsy, the statement that she was not violated can also be used as evidence. The maids of Qingfeng Palace did not hear the cry for help, because Concubine Fu was not raped at all, so naturally there is no need to call for help."

Huaiqing and Lin'an suddenly realized, and the latter was really happy, because the prince's suspicion suddenly became much lighter.

The former fell into contemplation, chewing and reminiscing about Xu Qi'an's analysis, like a top student digesting the contents of a teacher's lecture.

The little eunuch in charge of supervision bowed his head and tried his best to silently write down every word Xu Qi'an said, and will report it to his godfather later.

Hearing this, the old mother interrupted and said: "My lord, the person who examined Concubine Fu is also an old slave, not a coworker."

"Oh, so it's Mammy. That's just right, I still have some details to ask."

He pulled the old nanny to the side, and said in a low voice, "Mammy, what is your standard for judging whether you are innocent?"

He whispered his doubts.

The old mother said: "It fits perfectly."

"Oh, then I'll understand." Xu Qian said with confidence, this old woman's driving skills are better than mine.

In this way, it is even more certain that Concubine Fu was not defiled, but really died of an accident, an accident carefully arranged by someone.

Since it wasn't for sex, the prince's suspicion is very light.

After getting the confirmed answer, Xu Qi'an said: "The only one who can do this should be the personal maid."

Of course, the palace maid would not kill Concubine Fu for no reason and frame the prince, this is a problem that everyone can figure out.

"Then who is the person who instigates the court lady?" Mounted glanced at Huaiqing, his eyes were full of distrust.

Huai Qing sneered, and immediately shrank behind Xu Qi'an.

She was too lazy to be as knowledgeable as Lin An, and frowned: "Then how to explain the messy traces in the room?

"Before Concubine Fu fell from the building, the palace maid would definitely not be able to intentionally mess up the room in front of her. After Concubine Fu fell from the building, she immediately attracted the attention of Her Highness Qingfeng."

"It may be that Concubine Fu has a very bad temper, so she messed up the room. It may also be that there is something wrong with the drinks, such as hallucinations." Xu Qi'an explained.

It's a pity that Concubine Fu could not be dissected, so this guess could not be confirmed.

"Let's stop here for today. I want to go back and think about it and sort out the case." Xu Qi'an said.

He cannot say that he is sabotage.

Sending Princess Lin'an back to Shaoyin Garden, Xu Qi'an saw Princess Huaiqing waiting outside, and walked over tacitly.

The two walked forward in silence, but the guard did not follow and fell far behind.

"I didn't expect that as soon as you made a move, there would be a breakthrough in Concubine Fu's case." Princess Huaiqing praised.

"This case is actually not difficult, at least it is not difficult to prove that the prince is innocent." After Xu Qi'an finished speaking, after a few seconds, he said:

"Sanfasi seems not in a hurry to prove the prince's innocence."

Xu Qi'an has always felt that the reasoning knowledge and criminal investigation methods of this era are backward, but it cannot be denied that there are still many talents in the Sanfa Division.

The Concubine Fu case is not as detailed as the tax and silver case, nor is it as treacherous as the Sangbo case, nor is it as brain-intensive as the Yunzhou case, and there are not too many spiritual practices involved.

It is a bit difficult to prove the prince's innocence, but it is not impossible.

Princess Huaiqing stared ahead, remained silent for more than ten seconds, and said calmly, "There are two possibilities for this matter: one, the real culprit is the prince. Two, the prince was framed."

Xu Qi'an let out a "hmm".

"If the crown prince is the real murderer, then he will be deposed. As soon as the Beijing inspection is over, there will be a national struggle. No matter whether it is the father or the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty, they don't want such a thing to happen. Moreover, they will also be deposed. The prince was jealous of one party and made enemies for nothing.

"If the crown prince is framed, then who in the harem has the ability and dares to frame the crown prince? Sanfa is even more unwilling to offend. In the final analysis, this is still the royal father's family business."

Xu Qi'an answered straightforwardly: "All the princes who can inherit the position of the Eastern Palace are possible."

Huai Qing said: "But the biggest suspects are my brother and my mother."

Because the fourth prince is the eldest son, the first heir.

"Suspect is suspicion, as long as there is no evidence, even His Majesty can't do anything." Xu Qi'an said.

Suspicion is inevitable, if a prince dies in the palace, those favored concubines are all suspects. But as long as the evidence is destroyed, no matter how serious the suspicion is, so what.

Gong Dou is actually very simple and rude. It is impossible for every concubine in the harem to be Zhuge Liang with far-reaching plans and wily calculations.

Huaiqing nodded slowly.

"One thing I don't understand is that the fourth prince is the eldest son, why did His Majesty appoint Lin'an's brother as the prince?"

When Xu Qi'an asked this question, she kept her eyes fixed on Huaiqing. If she had an expression of boredom and resistance, it meant that her behavior of stepping on two feet made her feel bad, and she no longer regarded herself as her confidant.

Huaiqing pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said: "No one can guess what Emperor Father is thinking, but I have a chance and heard some rumors."

Xu Qi'an hastily interrupted, "Your Highness, I want to live until my children and grandchildren are full, and die in bed."

Unusual, Huaiqing smiled, "It's not a secret, it doesn't matter if you listen to it."

After a pause, she continued: "It is said in the palace that the reason why the prince is the prince is because Chen Guifei favored the harem when she was young, and the emperor made an exception to make the eldest son born of a concubine the prince.

"But the emperor once complained to me in private. When he was young, his father treated him very well, and he often taught him how to be a king. If he had no intention of making him the crown prince, how could his father say such things?" The remarks?"

Xu Qi'an turned around, waved his hands at the guards in the distance, and walked a distance away from Huaiqing, and couldn't hide his gossip, rubbing his hands and asking:

"Then why did the eldest son of the concubine finally be established?"

PS: I will try my best to finish the next chapter before 12:00.

Change first and then change.