At Lu Ling Feng's signal, Guo Zhuang opened the cloth bag, and Wen Chao crawled out.
He wanted to get angry, but suddenly saw the three of them silently watching him.
“Zheng Yu Shi? Zhong Lang Jiang? Su Xian Wei? Where is this?”
Wen Chao was puzzled.
Fei Ji Shi ran in from the outside:
“Zheng Yu Shi, something bad happened… huh? Who is this?”
He looked at Wen Chao, feeling completely unfamiliar.
Lu Ling Feng said lightly:
“A dying man, you don't need to mind him.”
Zheng Qing asked, “Fei Shen Yi, why are you so flustered?”
Fei Ji Shi pulled Zheng Qing aside and whispered:
“I went back to the Ghost Market just now, you won't believe this, I heard some amazing news!
On the 18th of this month, the Ghost Market will have a batch of specially made Chang'an red tea on sale, it's ridiculously expensive, and you can pre-order it now! One gold ingot, one tael of tea!”
Zheng Qing nodded in understanding.
They all thought about it for a moment and realized something was wrong.
Wen Chao had purchased Chang'an red tea several times, as a small Si Hu Can Jun, his salary could only provide him with a basic living in Chang'an. If he went to buy expensive red tea, his money would definitely not be enough to support it, someone else must be behind him.
After a series of severe torture, Wen Chao confessed his purpose of going to the Ghost Market and the source of the silver.
It was Pei Jian!
When Zheng Qing heard this news from Su Wu Ming, he pretended to be surprised.
It was Lu Ling Feng who was curious:
“What did that beggar tell you just now?”
“Beggar?!
Let me tell you, I am a divine physician, you can disrespect me now, but when you get sick later, when you get poisoned, don't kneel down and beg me to save you!” Fei Ji Shi began to yell.
“You two stop talking, there is something urgent that needs to be investigated immediately.” Zheng Qing interrupted the two of them.
Su Wu Ming seemed to guess something and asked curiously:
“Could it be about the Chang'an red tea?”
“Yes, on the 18th of this month, the Ghost Market will have a batch of specially made Chang'an red tea, the price is outrageous, one gold ingot for one tael of tea!”
“One gold ingot? One tael of tea!”
Su Wu Ming was extremely surprised, this price was simply outrageous, not to mention ordinary people, even he, as the Chang'an County Wei, couldn't afford it!
They began to discuss countermeasures.
While Zheng Qing went to Pei Jian's mansion.
“What? Wen Chao actually went to the Ghost Market to buy Chang'an red tea?” Pei Jian was also extremely surprised when he heard this.
Zheng Qing nodded.
“Yes, and he also said that the gold and silver he spent buying the red tea came from his teacher, Pei Shi Lang, you.”
Pei Jian chuckled:
“Oh, is that right? He came to me a few days ago for a cup of tea, as his teacher, I couldn't refuse, could I?
But I didn't have much in stock, so I told him to go buy some, but I didn't expect him to go to the Ghost Market to buy it!
And, I heard that you have been investigating the Chang'an red tea these days, but Su Xian Wei said that it contains hallucinogenic substances, after all, it was just your speculation!”
Zheng Qing's tone became heavier:
“It was speculation before, but now it has been confirmed!”
The smile on Pei Jian's face immediately froze.
Zheng Qing took out a pouch and handed it to Pei Jian:
“Please have a look.”
Pei Jian asked as he opened it:
“What's in here?”
“This is the raw material for Chang'an red tea, Ming Luo Grass.
Also known as the Western Region Phantom Grass!”
Zheng Qing explained.
Pei Jian looked surprised, somewhat incredulously:
“This is really a contraband?”
Zheng Qing nodded:
“Indeed!”
After a while of conversation, Pei Jian couldn't help but ask:
“What else did Wen Chao say?”
He knew his student's nature well, he was a smooth talker and also cowardly.
He was afraid that if the matter involved the Jin Wu Wei, before any torture, he would confess everything.
Although Pei Jian was not involved in anything, he still had to be cautious!
Zheng Qing looked Pei Jian up and down:
“He said that the Chang'an red tea you drank before was always sent by him.”
Pei Jian secretly breathed a sigh of relief:
“Oh, you're talking about that, yes.
This student showing respect to his teacher, shouldn't be considered bribery, right?”
“Of course not.”
Zheng Qing quickly said, “It's just that you know how Wen Chao got his tea?”
Pei Jian said matter-of-factly:
“He must have bought it!”
Zheng Qing shook his head:
“You must have heard the price of Chang'an red tea, you must also know how much a Can Jun earns in a month!
Can he afford it?!
A Si Hu Can Jun who manages the household registers, actually exchanged the lists of weddings and funerals for Chang'an red tea, I wonder what the court will do when they find out?”
“Ah, Zheng Yu Shi, this has nothing to do with me, if I knew his tea was from an illegitimate source, I wouldn't have accepted it!”
Zheng Qing nodded, but then said:
“It's just that I'm afraid His Highness the Crown Prince won't think so!”
“Zheng Yu Shi, don't always scare me with the Crown Prince, what do you want to do? Just say it!”
Pei Jian was also filled with anger towards Zheng Qing now!
When Zheng Qing first appeared at his mansion, Pei Jian didn't take him seriously, he didn't even care when he introduced him to the Emperor!
But recently, there have been a lot of rumors in Chang'an, even if he wanted to ignore it, it was difficult!
This man was not only skilled in martial arts, but also said to be a good detective!
And now he was doing such a thing, his intentions must not be simple!
He was the Li Bu Shi Lang, but he felt that there was nothing that Zheng Qing would care about, unless…
Pei Jian suddenly thought of something and pointed at Zheng Qing:
“If you dare to have designs on my daughter, I will never forgive you, even if I have to sacrifice this old bone…”
Zheng Qing shook his head:
“You're joking, I have the utmost respect for Pei Gong!”
“Don't beat around the bush, just say it, what do you want to do?”
Zheng Qing explained:
“Although Wen Chao's trading of the marriage and funeral records is against public morals, he still has a chance to redeem himself, but this requires Pei Shi Lang to cooperate.”
“What do you want to do?”
Pei Jian felt a pang in his heart, a bad premonition.
“I heard that Miss Xi Jun wants to marry the deceased General Xiao.
I want to use this as a starting point, have Xi Jun pretend to go through a ghost marriage with General Xiao, and use this to lure out the person who is pretending to be a spirit in the Ghost Market!”
Pei Jian said angrily:
“This is absolutely impossible, am I, a dignified Li Bu Shi Lang, supposed to let my daughter have a ghost marriage? If this gets out, how can I face anyone?!”
Zheng Qing reassured him:
“Pei Gong, please let me finish.
Miss Xi Jun's fondness for General Xiao, even to the point of seeking death for him, has already spread.
This has even damaged Miss Xi Jun's reputation!
The ghost marriage is just a pretense, it won't be done according to the whole procedure.
The purpose is naturally to lure out the head of the Ghost Market, if this matter is solved perfectly, what will people think of Miss Xi Jun when it gets out?
They will surely say that this woman is both talented and brave, and she risked her life for the safety of the people of Chang'an!
Wouldn't that also be beneficial to you, Pei Shi Lang?”
…
Fifth update delivered!
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