Xing Zhubu got down from the carriage, solemnly adjusted his clothes and walked into the back door.

  No one guided him, and he quickly walked to a cabin that was still lit up. He knocked on the door lightly and went in after it opened.

  In this room, there was only one table. Behind the table, Zong Chuke stared at Xiang Zhubu who had just entered, his face expressionless.

  Xing Zhubu was startled in his heart, lowered his head and quickly walked in, then knelt down: "Your humble servant pays respects to the Honorable Minister."

  Zong Chuke gazed at him coldly for a moment before speaking: "Get up."

  Xing Zhubu was like he had been granted a special pardon, and he stood up, saying: "Thank you, sir."

  Xing Zhubu showed some tension and kept glancing at Zong Chuke. "May I ask, sir, what instructions do you have for me now that you've summoned me?"

  Zong Chuke's gaze was fixed on him for a long time before he said, "Does that young man suspect you?"

  Xing Zhubu's expression changed, and he lowered his head, saying: "I have always listened to your words, sir, and never made any rash moves. I suppose even if Pei Tan were extremely perceptive, he wouldn't be able to detect anything from me."

  It is said that the Dalisi of the Dalisi Temple, Lai Tan, has changed several times, but Xing Zuozhu, the chief clerk, has never been replaced. Of course, there was the role of Zong Chuke in this. On the contrary, because Xing Zuozhu had been waiting for a long time, each new Dalisi Temple chief would rely on him even more after taking office.

  "What has that boy been up to lately?" Zong Chuke asked coldly, after having ruthlessly "killed" his son, what other hateful things had this boy done.

  Xing Zhubu began to recall: "Pei Tan recently opened the warehouse where the collected case files were stored, and from five years ago, he re-examined every single old case. Moreover...he even called in some people who were involved in the cases at the time for questioning at the Dalisi Temple."

  Zong Chuke's expression turned even colder: "What is he trying to do by doing this?"

  Xing Zhubu looked up at Zong Chuke: "I don't know either."

  Pei found this behavior to be utterly bizarre, and he didn't seem to intend to appeal the case either, because some people were summoned to the Grand Court, but they were all released on the same day. If someone wanted to retry a case, it wouldn't be like that.

  But Zong Chuke was apparently worried about something else. The hand he placed on his knee clenched into a fist, "I'm asking you, have you recently... noticed anything unusual about the case of Huo Er?"

  Is Pei still concerned about this case, that is the most important thing. He thinks it doesn't matter what happened in the past, what matters is whether he still cares about Zong Hua's "death".

  In the hearts of Chang'an people, Zong Huo is already dead. Pei Tan not going to ask about a dead man's case is what should be done. But if he still pays attention to this matter now, it means... at least in Zong Chuke's view, it's absolutely not simple!

  Xing Zhu Bo gazed at Zong Chu Ke's face and slowly said, "In my humble opinion, Pei Tan is no longer fixated on the matter of Young Master Zong Huo."

  Although Pei Tan's behavior is not normal, at least on the surface, it has absolutely nothing to do with Zong Huo.

  Zong Chuke's hand clenched tighter: "Are you sure?"

  Xing Zhubu's eyes gleamed with a faint light: "This humble one is confident that Pei Tan has no suspicions about this humble one whatsoever, and his mind is currently preoccupied with the old case files. He should not have any thoughts to spare for the matter of Zong Huo Gongzi."

  Pei Tan didn't need to disguise himself in front of Xing Zhu Bo, if he wanted to ask about the Zong Huo case, he would have let Xing Zhu Bo find the files for him. Since he didn't do so, it shows that Pei Tan's mind was preoccupied with other things.

  There was a long silence in the house.

  From Zong Chuke's expression, he seemed to have believed it, but there was something obscure and unclear.

  Just then, his eyes deepened, "Two nights ago, Pei Tan entered the palace, did he bring anyone back with him?"

  If you want to talk about Dali Temple, Pei Tan is absolutely not as fluent as Xing Zuo, because when it comes to familiarity with Dali Temple, Pei Tan can't compare to Xing Zuo who has been the chief clerk for many years.

  Xing Zhubu's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said after a moment of deliberation: "I didn't find anyone else. By Pei Tan's side, there was only that Pei Xian."

  Zong Chuke stared at Xing Zhu Bo: "Really?"

  Xing Zhubu's eyes were dim and distant: "I dare to guarantee with my own head that this is a petty person."

  Bai talked about this period of time, there was no abnormal behavior, entering the palace and coming back also did not have any problems, it seemed like everything was normal.

  Zong Chuke stared at the night outside the window, had he really thought too much?

  Pei Tan is just a jester after all, and when he first took office as the Grand Justice, he asked for permission to "execute" his own son, which was merely a reckless move of a jester.

  Zong Chuke slowly loosened one hand, gazing somberly at Xing Zhu Bo and said: "Continue to keep a close eye on this kid, if you find anything off about him... immediately come report back to me."

  Xing Zhubu bowed his head and said, "Yes."

  ——

  The next day, Pei Tan ordered the several prisoners to be brought to the Dalisi Temple. Pei Xian came to tell him: "Young Master, are you going to hold a trial?"

  "Never mind, just lock them up in the backyard for half an hour and then let them go."

  "Doesn't the governor want to ask questions?"

  "They had long passed the period for retrial and the leads had been exhausted with time, so there was no need to retry them."

  It's not about whether the case was unjust in the first place, nor is it about Pei Tan being a fair and just official who wants to right the wrongs. It's just that these are cases that have long lost their significance, and even the parties involved won't bother to revisit them anymore.

  "Then, young master... why bring them to the yamen?"

  Pei Tan slightly opened his eyes from the book and looked at Pei Xian, saying: "Earlier I had someone bring Zi Yan to Da Li Temple. Although her case was already clear, it's hard to guarantee that no one would notice anything unusual. Now with several old cases brought together like this, naturally it won't attract attention."

  It turned out that among the lush greenery, it was just to disturb the line of sight. Pei County only then understood his own son's plan.

  "But, young master... why must you go to such great lengths? Even if you didn't do it, who would investigate, or do you think someone will pursue the matter?"

  "I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, but for all things, it's still better to make more preparations to ensure everything goes smoothly."

  It's better to be prepared for everything and have no worries. It's also better than lacking something and having endless troubles later on.

  As if in response, Xing Zhu's figure walked in from the outer room, "Sir, those few people you asked to be brought here have been taken to the backyard. Please ask, sir, do you want to interrogate them personally or..."

  Pei Tan glanced at him and said calmly: "The clerk has worked hard, you can go down first, the official will deal with it later."

  Xing Zhubu said with a respectful expression: "Yes, I'll let that little person go first."

  When Xing Zhubu left the main hall, Pei County subconsciously looked outside and then turned to look at Pei Tan.

  Pei said nothing more and simply picked up the book, standing up: "As I instructed earlier, you watch those people for half an hour personally, then let them go."

  Let Pei County see it for himself, and no one will dare to snoop. Half an hour later, the person was released, and everything was safe.

  Half a time later, Pei County let people come back, and there was another letter in his hand.

  In the courtyard, received a homing pigeon.

  "Master, it should be a secret guard from outside the city." Pei County handed the opened letter tube to Pei Tan.

  Pei Tan opened it and saw that the letter from An Wei described a tragic event that had occurred at an inn outside the city.

  A lovely young girl, with eyes wide open, refused to close them in death.

  Pei Tan slowly unfolded the letter.

  "Send a few reliable men to the location outside the city mentioned in the letter and bring back the body."

  It's said that this young girl was sold by her parents to Zong Huo, so the old couple who ran the inn didn't make a fuss and just pretended they never had a daughter.

  "Your Highness, why don't you let the Dark Guard take action now and capture Zong Huo?"

  This man is just like his father, cruel and ruthless, leaving a trail of bloodshed even in his escape. If he's allowed to flee further south, who knows what kind of disaster he'll bring about.

  Pei Tan's eyes were cold and gloomy: "The Pei family's secret guards we sent out are not strong enough to capture Zong Huo. Even among the merchant troops escorting Zong Huo, there are many desperate fugitives. If they really start fighting, the secret guards will only die in vain."

  So Zhong Zong told Pei Tan that this matter cannot be made public.

  Pei Tan cannot mobilize the Imperial Guards in Chang'an City, and the palace will not give Pei Tan support. What Pei Tan can mobilize are only the few dark guards of the Pei family and the bailiffs of the Dalisi Temple.

  Such a task that would fail if one was not careful, only Pei Tong could undertake and receive Zhong Zong's orders.

  It's because of this matter that Pei Tan poked his nose in.

  Sometimes, the emperor's ruthlessness is also something that cannot be helped but considered.

  "Have someone bring the corpse back from outside the city, you go with them. Coincidentally, there's a group of bandits near Chang'an recently, pretend to go out and chase the bandits, pass by that inn on the way and bring the corpse back."

  This way no one will suspect Pei County is going out of town for what, and it's also good for Pei Tan to make a move in the open.

  "But young master, who will protect you?" Pei Xian subconsciously tightened his grip on the sword at his waist. When he followed Pei Tan to take office, he was entrusted with protecting him with his life.

  If Zong Chuke wants to protect his son Zong Huo for the rest of his life, he must find a way to get rid of Pei Tan, this thorn in his side.

  Even if Pei Tan is the son of the Pei family, what does it matter? The backing behind Zong Chuke is Empress Wei.

  Pei Tan's eyes were dim, and after a long while, he said: "You go quickly and come back quickly, don't worry. These two days... I'll also take the opportunity to rest and experience the charm of Chang'an Street's wine houses."

  If Pei Tan gave an order, then no matter what, Pei County would have to follow.

  On the second day, he personally led a team of people and galloped out of the city from the North City Gate to pursue the enemy.

  Not long after he left, Pei Tan also got on a horse-drawn carriage and went to the most prosperous section of Chang'an Street.

  Pei Tan had been sitting in Zui Qing Lou, the most famous flower street in Chang'an City, for an entire morning. He was once one of the Pei princes who galloped horses with those young masters in Chang'an City, and was familiar with poetry, wine, and romance.

  After leaving the Drunken Love Building, Pei Tan went to the most famous wine building on Chang'an Street, listening to the storyteller who told stories of the prosperous Tang Dynasty and the beautiful imperial concubine.

  Then on this day until sunset, at the moment before curfew, Pei Tan returned to the Temple of Great Rites by carriage.