There was no useful information after a long talk.
The Zeng family was inextricably linked to this matter; Fang Er and Zhang Gongjin already knew.
The fragmented carved board was the best evidence.
Zhang Gongjin stared at him with a grim expression and waved at the mule-trader.
“Give him another bowl!”
Liu San’er was terrified. He was already feeling the effects of that one bowl, and another would surely cause him to explode!
“My lord, this is all I know!”
“Please spare me, my lord. I am merely a servant, this really isn't my fault…”
“My lord…”
He said this in panic, then suddenly seemed to remember something, turning to point at one of the assassins.
“Yes, yes, I remember now, he, he, he’s from the Zhou family of Yixing!”
The Zhou family of Yixing!
“You, deserve to die!”
The assassin he pointed at instantly erupted, lunging forward to smash his head against Liu San’er.
At this very moment, Lai Yifa entered from outside, his face filled with inferiority. The wealth of the mule-trader made him feel utterly ashamed.
Great Corn, defeated…
This was truly preposterous!
His face, which had been devoid of life, suddenly changed upon seeing the assassin’s move, and he sprang forward with a kick.
“Bang!”
The assassin was sent flying, landing on the ground and coughing incessantly.
Lai Yifa seemed to have found an outlet for his frustration. Staring at the assassin, a cruel smile spread across his face.
“My lord, leave him to me. I guarantee he’ll speak obediently.”
Interrogation, wasn’t the Eastern Depot the legitimate authority?
He heard from Wang Xuance and Xue Rengui that his lord had borrowed this name from the Great Ming centuries later.
The Eastern Depot of the Great Ming was a terrifying existence that struck fear into the hearts of all. Could they be inferior?
Fang Er turned to glance at him: “I’ll give you half an hour, is that enough?”
“Heh heh, more than enough!”
Lai Yifa said, grabbing the assassin’s hair and dragging him out.
“Is your subordinate capable?” Zhang Gongjin was somewhat uneasy.
“This is the only assassin from the Zhou family we’ve apprehended so far. If he dies, this lead will be broken?”
Fang Er’s mouth curved into a smile: “Rest assured!”
“If he dies, we’ll just catch another one. It’s no big deal!”
“Quietly arrest the head of the Zhou family. I don’t believe he can endure less than an assassin!”
Zhang Gongjin: ………
However, Lai Yifa did not disappoint Fang Er.
With seven minutes to spare before the half-hour mark, he returned with the confession.
“My lord! Please examine it!”
From the confession paper, it was clear this assassin had been with the Xuanwen Bookstore for quite some time.
Most of the Zhou family’s instructions to the Zeng family were conveyed through this assassin. Everything, one by one, was recorded on it.
“Bang!”
After reading it, Zhang Gongjin immediately slammed the table.
“Issue an order! The Divine Spear Army…”
“Beep beep…”
“Beep…”
“Beep beep beep…”
Before his order could be uttered, the radio in the luggage box carried by Lai Yifa’s subordinate suddenly sounded.
His command was stifled. Zhang Gongjin sat back down with displeasure and glared fiercely at Fang Er.
Lai Yifa’s fingers trembled rhythmically as he spat out characters.
Everyone in the hall unconsciously held their breath, afraid of disturbing him.
A moment later, Lai Yifa cupped his hands and said.
“Reporting, my lord!”
“The telegram states that the incident in Yangzhou was jointly planned by the Liu family, Zeng family, Zhou family, and Shen family!”
“We have obtained a full confession from the Shen family’s son-in-law, and we can proceed with arrests.”
“Bang!”
Zhang Gongjin once again slammed the table.
“Issue an order…”
“Beep… beep… beep beep beep…”
Zhang Gongjin: ………
“Is this damn thing ever going to end!”
Lai Yifa said with a grave expression: “My lord, behind the four families, there is the shadow of the Duke of Song!”
Zhang Gongjin froze on the spot. He then stepped forward, grabbed Lai Yifa by the collar, and stared at him in disbelief.
“Boy, you mustn’t speak such things carelessly!”
“I am not speaking carelessly. The telegram says so, and there are letters to prove it!”
“Damn it!”
Zhang Gongjin shoved Lai Yifa away and began frantically rubbing his head with both hands.
“Duke of Song, Xiao Yu!”
“I’ll fuck your ancestors!”
He cursed in a low voice, his expression distorted.
After a long while, he turned to Fang Er.
“Brother, accompany me back to the capital!”
“I want to see what that old rascal Xiao Yu is up to!”
As for the plague in Yangzhou, with Sun Simiao and Hua Tuo present, it would not be resolved immediately, but the rest was a matter of time.
With heightened vigilance, it would be difficult for rats in the dark to succeed in anything.
Now that it had led to Xiao Yu, arresting him would require the Emperor’s approval.
A flicker of killing intent flashed in Fang Er’s eyes. The assassins would never have deliberately avoided Changsun Ling’er when they attacked!
Her survival was purely a matter of luck!
“Issue an order, prepare for takeoff!”
Half an hour later, several helicopters took off from the Divine Spear Army camp, heading towards Chang’an.
Chang’an, inside the Liangji Hall.
Li Shimin, looking at the mountain of memorials piled before him, frowned. The folds of his flesh were so deep they could trap a fly.
There were urgent reports everywhere. One after another, they all seemed to be coincidences.
Soaring grain prices, poisonous insects entering the city, celestial fires in the grasslands…
With so many coincidences, to still call them coincidences was an insult to intelligence!
Yet, the Hundred Cavalry Division had investigated for a long time and only found some insignificant clues.
“Your Majesty, Duke of Zou and Duke of An have returned to the court.”
Outside the hall, Cheng Chumò put away the walkie-talkie, entered the hall, and bowed to report.
“Summon them quickly!”
“Yes!”
Soon, the figures of Zhang Gongjin and Fang Er appeared in the Liangji Hall.
They bowed and paid their respects.
Li Shimin looked at them with confusion: “The great epidemic in Yangzhou, why are you not there, but have returned to Chang’an?”
Zhang Gongjin cupped his hands: “Your Majesty, the Duke of Song is behind this matter. My brother Fang and I dared not act on our own, so we have returned to seek your instruction.”
As he spoke, he beckoned towards the door.
The mule-trader and Lai Yifa carried a box into the hall.
Upon opening it, it was filled with confessions from the interrogations of the past few days.
In addition, there was a telegram from Xiao Yu’s mansion found in Yixing!
These items, combined, could completely outline the cause and effect of the Yangzhou epidemic, the physician switch, and the fake newspaper.