Insufficient balance

  The imperial court of Chang'an has gained another topic of conversation. The wife and child of a newly appointed scholar were murdered in their home, and what's even more astonishing is that his wife was found dead naked. Salacious events always seem to pique people's interest, no matter how righteous they sound when discussing it, using sympathetic and condemnatory tones towards the victim and the perpetrator, but still unable to conceal their inner excitement.

  Outside the Temple of Heaven, in various temples and government offices, there were free lunches subsidized by the national treasury under the corridors, which was convenient for officials to have lunch. At this time, all kinds of news spread among the idle talks of officials.

  Liu Youqiu also heard the news at Gongmen Wucan, and for two consecutive days, people said that this matter was definitely not fake. At this time, he felt a little panicked in his heart, because he remembered that Xiao Heng had given him a considerable amount of money.

  The key is that he only heard that Xiao Heng's wife and children were killed, but did not hear any news about Xiao Heng... Was Xiao Heng dead or not? He thought for a moment, then found an opportunity to quietly go to the Dali Temple alone.

  Liu You had a tall and slender figure, wearing a large official robe with an ethereal and elegant demeanor. However, his eyebrows were not particularly good-looking, with two slanted brows that resembled the character "eight". At this moment, he was somewhat troubled, and when he furrowed his brow, the "eight" shape became slightly more even.

  After finding Dali Temple's Shaoqing Cui Riyong, Liu You immediately said: "This time I came for private matters, no need to make a fuss, let's talk in the back hall."

  Shao Qing Cui Ri Yong was an official inclined towards the Crown Prince, so Liu You sought him out.

  Two people came to the back hall, Cui Riyong thought it was something on the side of the crown prince, so he dismissed his attendants and asked: "Mr. Liu is not without a reason to enter the three treasure halls, what happened?"

  Liu Youqiang smiled and said: "Now it's calm and peaceful, what could happen? Don't be nervous."

  Chui Riyong hesitated for a moment. Liu Youqiu continued, "Nothing important, really. I was just eating in the corridor earlier and overheard someone saying that something has happened at Xiao Heng's house. Xiao Heng had sent me some poems before, alas, he's a talented person... I suddenly felt nostalgic about old times, and since this afternoon is quite free, I came to take a look, and also to see how you're doing, we haven't seen each other for many days, have we?"

  "Mr. Liu said so, I'm a bit embarrassed, it's been a long time since I went to visit you. Please forgive me, please forgive me. In the past few days, many of the prince's people were demoted, we also need to be careful, don't get caught up in gossip." Cui Riyong said hastily.

  Liu Youqiu asked: "I want to take a look at Xiao Heng's case file."

  Chui Ri-yong hastily got up and said, "Lord Liu is a high-ranking official, to look at the documents only need to send someone to say a word, I should personally deliver it. Please wait."

  "It's nothing, I wasn't supposed to interfere with the trial in the first place. It's just that I suddenly remembered a few poems by Xiao Heng and got emotional for a moment."

  After a while, Cui Riyong brought the volume over and presented it to Liu Youqiu with both hands. Liu Youqiu didn't bother with many words, took it in one hand, and began to flip through it to examine it.

  On-site records, neighbor testimony, and case summaries all have detailed records. Liu Youqiu first saw a line: Two deceased, Xiao Heng's wife and youngest son.

  Liu Youqiu's heart suddenly "thudded" as he thought that only two people had died, so where did Xiao Heng go?

  Hurriedly flipping through the page, Liu Youqiu saw a record of the scene, which included: At the scene of the crime, there was one male shoe, with the same size as the shoes worn by Xiao Heng at home.

  Why is there only one shoe? Is it that Xiao Heng was also present at the time and was tied up and left behind after struggling? Otherwise, where is the other shoe? Liu Youxu flipped to the last page to see the officer's speculation on the case, and indeed, his own guess was the same, suspecting that Xiao Heng had not died, but was kidnapped from home.

  Liu Youqiu's face was already quite unsightly, he made an effort to calm himself for a moment before raising his head and sighing: "Not even sparing women and children, the murderer is too ruthless! Has there been any progress in the case?"

  Chui Jiyong said, "The lower government offices have not yet reported any progress, so it's possible that there hasn't been much. This case is really strange - at the scene, there was a money bag, but inside were just a few rocks. The money bag can't be considered a clue, as things like that are everywhere on the market, and we don't know if it belonged to Xiao Heng or the murderer... What do you think someone would put rocks in a money bag for?"

  Liu You furrowed his brow and said, "Perhaps the murderer was someone Xiao Heng knew, and when he went there, he deliberately carried a bag full of money in order to smoothly enter Xiao Heng's home?"

  "Yes, that's possible. Li Shouyi from the Jingzhao government also said so. He suggested starting with the people Xiao Heng knew... Cui Riyong immediately lowered his voice and leaned in, whispering, 'Li Shouyi even suspected you, Liu Gong, but there wasn't enough evidence or motive, and you're the current prime minister, so he didn't dare to act rashly.'"

  Liu Youxu was shocked and said, "I have no grudge against Xiao Heng, he is just a newly appointed scholar-official, not even holding an official position, why would I kill his wife and children?"

  Chui nodded: "It's precisely because there was no motive that Li Shouyi didn't rush to investigate you, but since we're on the same side, we can't not remind you. Li Shouyi is not someone to be trifled with; he even dared to enter the home of Wei Guogong, the son of Taiping, and rummage through their belongings... Today, Liu Gong arrived at the Dalisi Temple, but if it gets out that Li Shouyi heard about it, he'll become even more suspicious of you. He'll say that a suspect who has committed a crime will be restless and try to go to the scene of the crime or gather information from the authorities... Li Shouyi also has people planted in Xiao Heng's household..."

  When Cui Riyong mentioned Xue Chongxun, it suddenly reminded Liu Youqiu that a bad omen flashed in his heart: Wasn't this case done by someone from Xue Chongxun or Taiping Princess?

  "Let Li Shouyi come and investigate!" Liu Youqiu said angrily, thinking for a moment before adding, "I came here today, it's better if you don't mention it to anyone."

  Chui Riyong said, "You can rest assured of this. As time passes, people's hearts will be revealed. I, Chui Riyong, am not someone who has been in the imperial court for just one or two days. Whether or not we can work together, everyone will eventually know."

  "All right, I still have some official business this afternoon, so I'll take my leave first. Don't see me off, lest it attract attention." Liu Youqiu said with a clasped fist.

  Chui Ri-yong bowed and said: "I won't see you off far, Lord Liu, take care on your journey."

  Liu Youqiu returned to the government office, but the more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He didn't have the heart to work, so he made an excuse that his body wasn't feeling well and left the Great Ming Palace early to go home.

  Liu You felt anxious about this matter, and it seemed that the people on Taiping Princess's side were extremely suspicious... Of course, he couldn't tell his thoughts to the people in the Dalisi Temple's Criminal Department, because he himself was also involved.

  Recently, two famous chancellors, Yao Chong and Song Jing, were almost put to death simply because they spoke a word unfavorable to Princess Taiping in front of the emperor. Although they didn't die, they were exiled to remote areas. Several other high-ranking officials also died or were scattered, with Princess Taiping's side being very aggressive. Although the situation has eased somewhat over the past two months, if they find an excuse, they will naturally not miss the opportunity to suppress the Crown Prince's party.

  If Princess Taiping had grasped real evidence of Liu Youqiu's bribery, what would have been the outcome?

  Liu Youqiu is someone who can't even get results with his toes, he's got a stubborn head and no one can save him!

  Liu Youqiu involuntarily touched his neck, and the image of Jiangzi's knife chopping at his neck appeared in his mind. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

  Why did Laozi want to take advantage of Xiao Heng's wealth at this extraordinary time?

  But Liu Youqiu had not been successful before, and he was poor and down on his luck for most of his life. It wasn't until the time of Empress Wei's execution that he made a name for himself through a political coup. Who wouldn't want to enjoy the benefits after suddenly rising to power? Receiving some flattery from scholars, it's not like Xiao Heng could expose the fact that Liu Youqiu had bribed the prime minister to pass the imperial examination. Why wouldn't Liu Youqiu accept?

  In short, his regret is now useless, the key is how to get through this crisis.

  Just then, a pretty maid walked in with tea, gently placed the teacup on the table in front of him, knelt down and gently massaged his legs, saying: "Master returned so early today, is he thinking of me?"

  Liu Youqiu was lost in thought, suddenly interrupted, and instantly furious. He stood up with a "thud", slapped the girl's face with a loud "slap" sound, and sent her tumbling to the ground. Liu Youqiu cursed: "You cheap thing! If I die, you won't even wait for a day before you'll be lying under someone else, calling out in bed and selling your charms!"

  "Ah Lang..." The pretty girl's face immediately swelled up, she covered her face with her hand, and tears flowed down, "Ah Lang was still gentle and considerate to Nü'er this morning, but now what's wrong? If you're not happy in your heart, can't you just say so? Nü'er won't bother Ah Lang anymore..."

  "Get out!" Liu Youqiu roared, "It's broad daylight and you're calling for a hanging, go wash that thing of yours clean and come back tonight!"

  The pretty girl covered her face and backed out crying all the way.

  Liu Youqiu said indignantly towards her back: "If I didn't have power and money, would you follow an old man like me?"

  He picked up the tea that the girl had just brought in and took a big gulp, calming himself down, and continued to think of a solution.

  The most critical thing now is that Xiao Heng is still alive! If he had died, it would have been better, as there would be no evidence. But the damn thing is that he's indeed still alive! Will Xiao Heng reveal the truth about his father? It's likely that even if he doesn't want to say anything, he'll have to: the people who caught him killed even women and children, their methods were cruel, and their hearts are black; Xiao Heng, a young and inexperienced kid, can he withstand interrogation?

  If only there was still a way to silence him! But now, no one knows who has Xiao Heng; even if they did, who could go to the territory of Princess Taiping to silence him?

  "Dead, dead!" Liu Youqiu muttered to himself, pacing back and forth anxiously.

  A place of power, a tempting place, once successful, everything should be available. Look at that little girl who was just coquettish, so lovely, but I think how to control her and she dares not lie down, one kick on her butt, call her back and make her kneel down.

  But this is also a dangerous place, where one misstep can lead to beheading and the loss of reputation, with no burial ground available, and even being recorded in history as a treacherous party that brings calamity to the country and its people, to be cursed for generations to come.

  Liu You racked his brains, thinking of ways to silence Xiao Heng, but this was basically an impossible task. Taiping Princess was now in a position of great power and influence, with the Emperor himself backing her up, so killing someone on her turf would be even more difficult than assassinating the king of a vassal state.

  What is the most common way to kill a king? Liu Youqiu seeks a flash of insight: War!

  Directly use a large army to flatten his entire country, then kill into the palace and behead the enemy leader! This is basically the most effective way... So, to kill the people in Taiping Princess's hands, the method is to directly flatten Taiping Princess's party, completely eliminate them, isn't it just clean?

  Liu Youqing cleared the thread, finally calmed down and considered one thing: how to persuade the crown prince to take action in advance, to launch a coup, to firm up the crown prince's confidence in winning, and then suddenly start, to get rid of Taiping Princess and others, as for Xiao Heng, it doesn't need to be said, just kill him with one knife.

  As long as the Taiping Princess Party falls, even if Liu Youqiu's corrupt behavior is exposed, it won't be a big deal. At most, he'll just have to make up for his mistakes or receive some minor punishment - his head will still be intact!