gguo Mansion and the Changxing Hou Mansion"Chun Liu replied frankly, "We are not very close, just acquaintances."Meng Jinyáo nodded lightly: "Um, I understand."Chun Liu couldn't quite figure out what...Acting swiftly, Gu Jingxi didn't waste any time. He instructed Chan'er to take care of things and went to find Duke Du. After a brief encounter yesterday, he could tell that Duke Du was an upright man. His demotion was due to a mistake in his work, not a flaw in his character.

When Master Du saw his solemn expression, as if he had something important to tell him, he took the initiative to ask, "Yao Ling, is there something you want to tell me"

Gu Jingxi nodded and said, "Uncle-in-law, I do have something to discuss with you."

"Master Du replied, "Yao Ling, if you have something to say, just say it."

Gu Jingxi got straight to the point and asked, "Uncle-in-law, after you arrived here, have you replaced anything in the county government Have you also replaced anyone who works here"

Upon hearing this, Master Du was somewhat bewildered, unsure why he was asking these questions. Nonetheless, he truthfully replied: "The people who originally served in the county office haven't changed. As for newcomers, there's just a new constable. The servants in the back courtyard of the county office are those I brought. They are people I am accustomed to working with. However, besides the ones I brought, everything else in the back courtyard is original and old. What do you ask these questions for"

Gu Jingxi then asked, "When the previous two county magistrates died, were their belongings not replaced"

"Master Du replied: 'Common household items have been replaced, like tables, chairs, and beds. They are all old. However, after I arrived, I used my own silver to buy a new bed. The old one is now stored in the storeroom.'"

Gu Jingxi said in a warm voice, "Uncle, I need to thoroughly investigate the study, office, and your residence at the county government. This will require your cooperation."

"Yao Ling, what are you looking into" Lord Du frowned, feeling like he was being misunderstood. He continued, "I'm an honest official, I don't take bribes or engage in corruption. If you have any doubts, just ask."

Gu Jingxi shook his head slightly: "Uncle, you've misunderstood. This has nothing to do with you. It concerns the previous two county magistrates. How they died, I believe your uncle is well aware."

Upon hearing this, Duke Du was dumbfounded again. After a moment, he came to his senses and simultaneously understood Gu Jingxi's intention in coming to Deqing County. He had come to see him, that was one thing, but there was something even more important: investigating the cause of death of the previous two county magistrates and the official sent by the court.

"Lord Du replied, "Yao Ling, to be frank with you, I also find their deaths suspicious. I have investigated secretly, but found nothing. Even the officials at the county office, whom I questioned, all said that they had encountered something unclean and were harmed by it, which caused them to become ill and die suddenly."

Gu Jingxi was very surprised: "Uncle also investigated"

"Duke Du wouldn't hide it from him either, speaking truthfully: "There was something amiss about their deaths. Since I was transferred here to serve as magistrate, fearing that I might become the next one to die suddenly like the previous county chief, I investigated the matter."

Gu Jingxi frowned, feeling that the situation was more difficult than he had imagined, but this was normal. After the death of the second county magistrate, all evidence had been destroyed. The people sent by the imperial court afterward probably found some clues, but they also died, and those traces were erased again. Until now, it would definitely not be easy to find anything.

He asked unwillingly, "Besides that, have you found any other clues Not even the slightest abnormality"

There is no

Lord Du shook his head and sighed. Deqing County was a prosperous county town. Though he was somewhat disheartened to be demoted here, he was mostly grateful that he hadn't been sent to a remote and impoverished area. This proved that the Emperor hadn't abandoned him. However, being the magistrate of Deqing County came with its own risks. There was always the possibility of dying suddenly from an unforeseen illness, making it a dangerous position.

Gu Jingxi said: "Uncle, I want to check it again."

Lord Du nodded: "Whatever you need, Yao Ling, I will cooperate."

-

Gu Jingxi carefully checked the magistrate's office, study, and resting quarters, finding nothing unusual. He gained no insights, and the investigation reached a stalemate.

The first official sent by the court to investigate this case was Mr. Liu. He knew that the previous two county magistrates had both heard someone crying for help in the middle of the night and then suddenly fell ill the next day.

Therefore, when Liu the Elder heard someone crying out for injustice, he must have known his time was short. Under normal circumstances, anyone in this situation wouldn't be willing to die so easily; they would leave clues beforehand.

It's not just Liu, but the former magistrate Chen as well. Because the former magistrate Sun served as a warning example for them both, Chen certainly knows his time is short and will leave some clues no matter what.

However, he found no clues, and didn't know if they had been destroyed by someone or if he had simply overlooked something.

Meng Jin Yao entered the room and saw him sitting by the window, his brow furrowed, as if troubled by something. She walked towards him, reaching out to gently stroke his forehead, as if trying to smooth away his worry.

Gu Jingxi looked up at her, then reached out to hold her waist and let her sit on his thigh. He explained the case to her in detail and then asked softly, "A Yao, do you think I've overlooked something Or am I stuck in a misconception I've searched everywhere that could be relevant. Before me, Uncle also investigated, and we both came up empty-handed.

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao pondered for a moment before asking in return, "Sir Chen, you may not be aware of this, but Lord Liu is a court official. You know him, don't you What do you think of Lord Liu"

Gu Jingxi said, "I understand. What's wrong"

Meng Jin Yao organized her thoughts and slowly said: "Given that the previous two county magistrates both died knowing something, if the clues left behind are easy to find, it is estimated that the other party would destroy the evidence. So they must have hidden them in a place that is not easily found. Husband, think about what place is hidden but also easiest to be overlooked Or what place seems not hidden but is also easiest to be overlooked by people If you knew Mr. Liu's personality, combining his personality, where do you think he would hide the clues"

And if a case is one that others can't find, perhaps the emperor would send Lord Qi to investigate. And if even Lord Qi couldn't solve it, he'd probably send you. Do you think he wouldn't include everyone who might be investigating this case Then he would also think of how to leave clues so that you could find them. I don't know if my reasoning is correct, but if it were me, knowing that I was about to be killed, I would definitely leave clues based on our understanding.

Gu Jingxi pondered for a moment, then as if he had thought of something, his brows relaxed. He cupped her face and kissed her, saying, "Ayao is truly brilliant, your words awakened me like a bolt from the blue. I'll go take a look again."

Meng Jinyao softly asked, "Have you got any leads, my husband"

Gu Jingxi replied, "I have a little clue, but I need to find out more."was getting worse and worse, even daring to give him the cold shoulder. The gentleness and sweetness she once had were gone. Feeling irritated, he went to his concubine's courtyard to find some happin...