Shen Xingwen's mouth corners twitched with a playful smile, his eyes slightly cold.

  Pei Tan faintly asked him: "Are you Shen Xingwen that kind of person who values his life?"

  Shen Xingwen is a man who defies convention, and his status as a concubine's son cannot hold him back. Given the opportunity, he will turn against the legitimate branch of the Shen family. From what he has done, it can be seen that he is daring to the point of disregarding life and death, and fear of death is not a reason for Shen Xingwen.

  Shen Xingwen was a bit cold, people like him just didn't want to be controlled by others at will.

  "So, everything in this world can be seen as a trade-off, it just depends on whether you think it's worth it or not."

  "So... does the lord admit that he is using his official position to buy me, Shen Mou?"

  Pei Tan stared at him, and after a moment said: "You are willing to sink into being a mortician, no doubt because your mother passed away, you have no family ties. But forever being a mortician, no matter how hard you investigate, it's impossible for you to achieve your goal."

  "Although the Shen family can't be compared with families like the Seven Sages and Five Surnames, there are still several members of the Shen family serving as officials in Chang'an. You alone cannot possibly contend against them."

  Shen Xingwen fell silent as he gazed at Pei Tan. When it came to his late mother, he could no longer maintain the standoff.

  "Your current situation is exactly as you said, because you are a child born out of wedlock and your talented brothers suppress you with kindness. You can't even get ahead. In that case, what's wrong with being the vice president of the Supreme Court?"

  It was a sixth-grade position, but for Shen Xingwen, who had been suppressed all along, it was like leaping over the Dragon Gate.

  Shen Xing's eyes were gloomy, and after a long while, he said: "Will the adults really believe me?"

  If you can't truly trust each other, what's the point of being calculating towards one another? Shen Xingwen had long been disgusted by those family members who were full of schemes.

  Pei Tan said faintly: "For officials, there is always a big taboo, that is to use suspicious people. If you accept the position of Dalisi Temple, I will naturally"

  Will use you without suspecting anything.”

  Shen Xingwen's face was slightly shaken. It's easy to say "use people without suspicion", but how can someone really do it? People's hearts are complex, especially between him and Pei Tan, there had already been a rift.

  "Moreover, being a sixth-grade Temple Assistant is just the condition I set for you to assist in the case. As an autopsy expert, you are only ranked ninth grade, and the position of Temple Assistant is already the highest you can be promoted to at present."

  This was still possible under the special permission of Zhong Zong, who was recommended by Pei Tan.

  Shen Xingwen detected that Pei Tan had an ulterior motive, and it was precisely because he had detected it that he looked at Pei Tan with some skepticism.

  "So, if you can play a crucial role in this case and it is successfully solved, I will directly petition the Emperor to promote you as the Junior Minister of the Supreme Court."

  The Lesser Minister of the Temple of Great Rites.

  Shen Xingwen stared at Pei Tan in utter disbelief, Da Li Temple

  Currently, apart from Pei Tan this Zheng Qing, all the other positions such as Temple Censor and Junior Minister are vacant. But what about the Junior Minister of the Supreme Court? Fourth rank? Shen Xingwen only knew that the direct branch of the Shen family, the main house's highest official position was only third rank.

  Shen Xingwen stared at Pei Tan, wanting to know if the man in front of him was joking or not.

  "The case of Crown Prince Zhang Huai is related to the dignity of the current imperial family. Your Majesty has personally given a secret order, which shows that this case is taken seriously. If you can crack the case and bring back the coffin of Crown Prince Zhang Huai to Chang'an, such an achievement will be enough for Your Majesty to issue an edict to promote you as a junior official in the Ministry of Justice."

  As long as the Holy Heart is pleased, what can't be done with a holy edict? Don't mention the junior minister of the Supreme Court, even higher positions, as long as Zhong Zong has the heart, what can't be given?

  Pei Tan was directly promoted from a junior nobleman to the third-ranking Da Li Zheng Qing.

  Shen Xingwen stared at Pei Tan: "Sir, are these words true?"

  For Pei Tan, recommending someone to Zhong Zong was indeed a trivial matter.

  It's an easy thing. But for a family member who has been deprived of his official career and lost his mother, this may be the opportunity to change Shen Xingwen's fate.

  "What I can give you is just an opportunity, whether you can seize this opportunity depends on your own ability."

  Shen Xingwen's face sank.

  There are few opportunities in this world that are fair enough to allow you to play with your abilities, and most of the time you don't even have a chance to show off before being strangled.

  So this fair opportunity is almost no one can say give up and then give up.

  "Think carefully before you reply."

  The case files that Pei Tan had not finished reading were still on his desk. No one in the Da Li Temple had a heavy heart like Shen Xingwen, but once he could make Shen Xingwen obey him, the help he brought to Pei Tan would be more useful than anyone else.

  Shen Xingwen said word by word: "No need. Whatever you want me to do, sir, just give the order."

  Pei Tan walked up to the case and picked up those files, flipping through them in his hand.

  "Finish reading these old case files within tonight, the case of Crown Prince Zhang Hua is quite complicated and most of the royal family members are still in Chang'an. Summarize this case first and tell me your thoughts, in a few days...the imperial edict appointing you as the Deputy of the Supreme Court should arrive."

  Shen Xingwen looked at Pei Tan and took over the case files.

  These things, Pei Tan hasn't even finished reading, and Shen Xingwen wants to finish all the case files before tomorrow's arrival. This means he won't be sleeping tonight. He also needs to summarize Pei Tan's thoughts on the case, this first hurdle is not easy to pass.

  Shen Xingwen did not say a word and left Pei Tan's study with the case files.

  He spent ten years studying by the cold window, considering reading as his way out. After his mother's death, he burned all his writing utensils, thinking that a scholar was useless. He never thought that one day he could also turn his writing tools into sharp swords to harm people.

  Jing Wan'er saw Shen Xingwen come out of Pei Tan's study and knew from his expression that Pei Tan had succeeded.

  She smiled and said, "Congratulations, sir."

  Shen Xingwen can be used for more than just this case at hand.

  In the future, Dali Temple will be a great help to Pei Tan.

  To investigate Zhang Huai's case, we must first clarify who was involved back then. Although many people think that Zhang Huai fell out of favor with Empress Tian and threatened her position, leading to his exile and eventual death, I don't believe in unfounded speculations.

  Someone step by step promoted these, perhaps it was the person who envied Crown Prince Zhang Huai, and also the cruel officials. These people together brought about the death of a generation of crown princes.

  Zhong Zong wanted to bring back the coffin of Zhang Huai Taizi to Chang'an, and it was not just a matter of overturning the case, but also to kill all those people at once, in order to relieve his hatred.

  "In the twinkling of his eyes, Pei Tan said: 'One day as the Son of Heaven, one day as a minister, in such a chaotic situation, even as the crown prince, it's hard to protect oneself.'"

  Jing Wan'er's lips moved slightly, but she slowly fell silent again.

  Even if you are a crown prince, it's hard to protect yourself. The family of Jing Wanyu and the crown prince of a country can't even be compared to ants, family matters have always been

  The thorn stuck in Jing Wan's heart, that poisonous thorn that could neither be driven in nor pulled out.

  It will take root and sprout sooner or later. By that time, it may have killed her...and also kill others who touched the thorn.

  Jing Yuanyu took her leave without looking at Pei Tan and walked out of the study.

  Pai Tan's eyes were dim and distant behind him.

  At night, Pei Tan rested in the study room. He simply spread a mat here. It was hot before, but now it's cool, and he still didn't order anyone to add more quilts.

  The temple didn't need to review the case, and no one came to wake up Pei Tan. Pei Tan slept until almost noon the next day.

  He thought it was wrong and frowned and got up.

  The gatekeeper at the door heard the order and came in: "Is the master up?"

  "What time is it?"

  Chaiyidao: "It's already past the hour of the snake... Shen Yu has been waiting outside the master's door since before dawn."

  "Tell him to come in."

  Shen Xingwen stepped inside.

  Still wearing a long shirt, with dew on the hem of his robe from the morning mist.

  "Didn't you go home last night?" Pei Tan looked at him.

  Shen Xingwen's face turned pale: "Subordinates were in an empty room in the temple all night looking at the case files."

  "Have you finished reading?"

  So many files, with so many details inside, it's hard to sort out.

  Shen Xingwen and he looked at each other: "There are six case volumes, one statement, all of which I have read without missing a single word."

  Pei Tan walked slowly from the front of the couch to the edge of the desk and said slowly: "Alright, you tell me."

  Shen Xingwen's face was expressionless: "Your Honor asked me to state my views on this case. Shen Mou cannot say such things."

  Pei Tan's eyes were deep and profound as he looked at Shen Xingwen: "You've been waiting here since dawn, what do you want to say?"

  His Majesty has ordered you to crack this case. Compared with the cases you cracked in the past, Zhang Huai is indeed a bit more difficult to deal with.

  The clue of the case is extremely simple.

  Pei Tan looked at him: "You think it's extremely simple?"

  Shen Xingwen also looked at Pei Tan: "This case has never been complicated, it's only been a decade or so since the incident, and in Chang'an City, you can easily find people who were alive back then. Find a few old subordinates of Crown Prince Zhang Hua and Empress Tian, ask them a few questions, and even if we can't completely recreate what happened back then, it's definitely enough to help you crack the case."

  Solving a case is nothing more than finding evidence and looking for witnesses. This case has both, what's there to worry about?

  And yet, it's so simple, how could Pei Tan not think of it?

  Pei Tan looked at him and didn't say anything.

  Shen Xingwen's eyes suddenly became deep and profound, he stared at Pei Tan like this for a while: "Solving the case in such a way, I'm afraid even you, sir, wouldn't choose it?"

  Yes, it's just that I want to help Crown Prince Zhang Huai escape punishment. What's difficult about that? With a single imperial edict from Emperor Zhongzong, we can have Crown Prince Zhang Huai's coffin sent back from Bazhou to Chang'an.

  However, something so simple, neither Zhong Zong nor Bae Dae were able to accomplish it.

  Yes.

  "Go on." Pei Tan's voice was faint.

  Under Shen Xingwen's loose sleeves, his figure was actually thin and bony: "In the years when Empress Wu Zetian was in power, the blood that stained the Tang Dynasty has not been washed clean until now. But no matter what, she is now also known as 'Zetian Dasheng Huanghou'."

  The Queen of Heaven has passed away, and the Middle Ancestor has been restored to power. The Tang Dynasty is plagued by a miasma of blood and rain, which has never ceased.

  Shen Xingwen's voice was as gloomy as a prison: "At present, Your Majesty has in his heart how much resentment towards his own mother, and how much nostalgia for his elder brother. All of these can only be kept in his heart. Even if there is no longer any obstruction from the former Empress Dowager, but if he were to recklessly welcome back Crown Prince Zhang Huai, and publicly declare this resentment to the whole world, then Your Majesty would not only have to bear the criticism of the world for being unfilial, but also as a reigning monarch, yet still living in the shadow of the former dynasty, that unforgettable shadow!"