Tibet

Although this Sang Qian was a Kunlun slave, he was bold and careful in his work. After killing Wang Sili, he left Chang'an overnight. He first hired an ox cart to go to Xianyang County. He did not continue to escape westward and hired another ox cart. He walked east again, all the way to Huayin County, partly to avoid detection, but also because his club wound was not healed and he could lie down in the cart to prevent the wound from bursting.

Although he encountered several groups of government officials who went to various places to post wanted notices along the way, they were not pursuers and did not intercept and inspect his bullock cart. He arrived in Huayin County smoothly without any danger.

But his goal was not Huayin County, he was just worried that the coachman would betray him.

This is where Sang Gan was bold and careful. In Huayin County, he secretly climbed into a straw truck and headed north. After several twists and turns, he arrived at the central county of Fangzhou.

Thirteen years ago, when he was first sold to the Tang Dynasty, he entered Guanzhong via the Luoshui River. At that time, his Sogdian master fell ill, and they stayed in the central county for a month.

Central County was the only county he was familiar with in the Tang Dynasty except Chang'an, and he did not tell anyone this secret. The Sogdian who sold him to the Tang Dynasty had also died long ago. Two of the five companions who were sold to the Tang Dynasty with him were After his death, the other three followed the master Yuan family to overseas Jianguo, so no matter how the government traced it, they would never have imagined that he would be hiding in the central county and wait a few months before escaping back to his hometown.

Sang Qian did not enter the county town, but rented a small courtyard that was about to be abandoned from a farmer. He bought a month's worth of dry food and a few large water hyacinths from a small store that sold dry food for the journey, and then bought some more. After receiving the medicine for his injuries, he hid in the small courtyard and stayed in the house to recuperate from his injuries.

He always moves at night, wears a bamboo hat, and uses the night to hide his complexion. In addition, he can speak pure Chang'an Mandarin, and the old peasant woman who rents him a house has no idea that there are Kunlun slaves in this world.

Sang Qian lurked in Fangzhou. Five days had passed since he killed Wang Sili.

The internal guard is responsible for investigating the murder case. Once the case is investigated and the real culprit is identified, the internal guard will leave it alone. The rest is left to the Criminal Department to arrest the culprit.

In the round hall of the Political Affairs Hall, Jiang Huaien, the Minister of Criminal Affairs, was reporting the investigation situation to the emperor and senior officials of the Political Affairs Hall.

"This Kunlun slave was beaten with a hundred sticks just two days before the murder. His injuries were relatively serious. He could not ride a horse or walk. He must have escaped by boat or car. We checked all the records that night and the next morning. The ships and carts leaving Chang'an indeed found clues."

Everyone was refreshed and asked quickly: "Did you find him in person?"

Jiang Huai'en nodded, "We found an old driver who transported an injured black man to Xianyang. The man was wearing a bamboo hat and it was still dark. He only knew that the man's skin was very dark, not like the black skin of the Han people, and his figure was also dark. He is tall and fits the characteristics of the suspect. We have conducted a large search in Xianyang County, but no trace of him was found."

"Will you take a boat in Xianyang and continue westward?" Wei Jiansu asked.

"It is indeed possible, but there are many boats and we have no way of checking them. We even suspect that he did not go west by boat, but went east. He may have gone to Hexi from Jingyuan Road."

Zhang Li shook his head and said: "He was beaten with a hundred sticks. He was so seriously injured that he couldn't walk along the Hexi Corridor. He must be hiding somewhere to recover. He may not be hiding in the county town. He is probably hiding in a small town or in the countryside. It’s useless for you to search the county.”

Jiang Huai'en smiled bitterly and said: "If he hides, it will be difficult to investigate, just like finding a needle in a haystack. If he hides for a year and a half, it will be even harder to investigate."

Guo Ziyi said slowly: "No matter what, he will definitely return to his hometown. I think as long as we check carefully at the entrance to Hexi, his skin color is the biggest feature, and he will be found sooner or later."

Wei Jiansu nodded and said to Jiang Huai'en: "The Ministry of Punishment will continue to investigate and ask the counties in Jingzhao Prefecture for assistance. If you really can't find it, then wait patiently and wait for him to be arrested."

At this time, Emperor Li Ye coughed slightly, and the political hall immediately became quiet.

Li Ye said slowly: "The unfortunate death of General Wang is certainly heartbreaking, but if we don't recognize the other side of this case, then General Wang's death will be in vain."

Li Ye glanced at everyone with a stern look, "I asked all officials to complete the slave cleanup before the end of June, but the Kunlun slave case exposed the reality. It is now November, and five months have passed since the deadline. There are still people who don’t take my will seriously, and treat my words as if they are farting. I would like to ask everyone here, have you cleaned up all the slaves in your house? If you have, please raise your hands!”

At this time, no one dared to offend the emperor again, and they all raised their hands. Li Ye nodded, "Very good! Maybe there are only a few officials who failed to do it, and General Wang is one of them. Then I will give the officials one last chance. As of the last day of the year, no matter whether they are high-ranking officials of the first rank or minor officials of the ninth rank, whether they are generals or lieutenants, whether they are Kunlun slaves or Silla maids, as long as it is found that there are slaves at home in the next year, the officials and generals will be dismissed immediately. He will be demoted to a commoner and will never be admitted. His family will be blacklisted and he will not be admitted to the imperial examination."

Li Ye was completely angry. The abolition of slavery was not only a social reform, but also a manifestation of his monarchy. To disobey or ignore it was to challenge his monarchy, which made him murderous.

Liu Wutong came to the house where Xiaohong was temporarily placed. He sat down in the main hall and carefully looked at this young woman whom he had not seen for many years. Her appearance had not changed much, but she was indeed much more mature than before.

"Miss Xiaohong, you should still know me, right?"

Xiaohong nodded. Of course she knew him. He was the master's trusted guard leader.

"The emperor can't see you. He asked me to come and talk to you."

Xiaohong suddenly realized that her fate was in the hands of this guard leader. She immediately put on a bit of coquettishness and said softly, "What does General Liu want to talk to me about?"

"Let me see the child first!"

Xiaohong nodded and got up to go to the backyard. Not long after, she brought a boy about seven or eight years old. The boy was a little scared when he saw Liu Wutong and held his mother tightly.

Liu Wutong was stunned. The boy's eyebrows and eyes did look a bit like the emperor, but his temperament was a bit vulgar and a bit like a rat. He looked a bit like Zheng Xiaoze.

He looked carefully again and nodded, "Okay!"

Xiaohong let go of her son, and the boy turned around and ran away.

Liu Wutong asked again: "I sent you money twice before. The child should have been born at that time. Why didn't I see it then?"

"I don't live in Chang'an. The child is in Hanzhong. I didn't bring him to Chang'an."

It was Hanzhong. Liu Wutong still followed the original plan and said: "You also know the master's current status. He can't recognize an illegitimate child."

"I know, then give the money! I will raise the child."

Xiaohong was very straightforward. This was the purpose of her coming.

"How much do you want?"

Xiao Hong held up a finger, "10,000 guan!"

Liu Wutong sneered, "You really dare to ask?"

Xiao Hong's eyes turned red, and she said sadly: "This is the son of the emperor, the brother of the emperor, he is not even worth 10,000 guan?"

"Five thousand guan, I can only give this much at most, if you want it, take it, if not, I will leave."

Liu Wutong stood up and left, Xiao Hong quickly compromised, "Okay! Give me five thousand guan first, I need to support the child."

Liu Wutong wanted to slap this woman in the face, five thousand guan is just to support the child, how many people in the world can take out five thousand guan.

Liu Wutong said coldly: "Too much money will easily attract thieves, which will lead to the extinction of the whole family."

Xiaohong's face changed with fear. She lowered her head and whispered: "I will never go out to publicize it!"

Liu Wutong took out an envelope and put it on the table, "Five thousand strings of Baoji counter tickets, and half a jade pendant. The secret code is 'winter snow and spring rain'. You can take care of yourself!"

Liu Wutong turned and left. Xiaohong held the envelope in her hand. She originally only wanted to get a few thousand strings of money, but she didn't expect to get five thousand strings of money. She was really overjoyed.

Of course, she didn't expect that she could enter the palace and become the concubine of the emperor. Of course, when she heard the news that Li Ye ascended the throne and became the emperor, she also regretted it. If she didn't want the money back then and insisted on relying on Li Dai, with her capital and skills, she would definitely fascinate Li Dai and she would be the emperor's concubine now.

It's a pity that there is no regret medicine in the world. She is already married and can only use her children to make money.

After getting the money, Xiaohong quickly packed up her things and left with her child in a carriage. However, she didn't know that she was being followed and monitored by two groups of internal guards.