Chapter 90

Chapter 91: Guiding the Situation

Although an incident occurred in the mansion, the festival still had to be celebrated. At this time, the deities worshipped during the Dragon Boat Festival were not only Qu Yuan but also Cao E and Zhang Daoshi. Zhao Cheng knew about Qu Yuan, who was a symbol of national integrity and was widely worshipped in later generations. As for the other two, they were gradually forgotten by people.

The weather in May was already hot, and various poisonous insects and animals were becoming active. There was a saying about avoiding the five poisons during the Dragon Boat Festival. Worshipping Zhang Daoshi meant inviting the Celestial Master to suppress evil and drive away diseases. On this day, people would collect herbs to make medicine, which could be considered a widespread public health activity. To prevent the invasion of poisonous insects, people would also wear protective items. They would hang calamus and mugwort on their doors and wear sachets and fragrant bags on their bodies. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, items such as peach, willow, sunflower, calamus leaves, and Buddhist and Taoist mugwort would be laid out in front of the door, and an effigy of mugwort would be nailed to the door to ward off evil.

Of course, the prince's mansion was more complex and luxurious than the common people's homes. All the decorations were set according to the standards of the palace. Red silk was used to line the cups and saucers, which were painted with gold and color. The image of the Celestial Master riding a tiger, carved from calamus or pith, was placed in the center of the cups and saucers, surrounded by calamus dyed in five colors. Bugs were also carved on them, and sunflowers, pomegranate flowers, and various leaves and flowers were used to decorate. Colorful threads, delicate gold flowers, silver drums, honeyed fruits, skillfully made zongzi, and colorful beads were woven into amulets. Five-colored calamus and various herbs were placed in a three-tiered large box, decorated with pearl and jade sunflowers, pomegranate flowers, mugwort, and various flowers, as well as centipedes, snakes, and lizards, symbolizing the eradication of poisonous insects.

Since his mother became the empress, the palace's gifts to Zhao Cheng were much richer than in previous years. In addition to the fragrant silk, gauze, silk, and fine ramie used to make summer official clothing, there were also exquisitely made honeyed fruits and sugar syrup. Even Zhao Cheng's attendants received various gifts, including emerald green leaves, pearl and jade sunflowers and pomegranate flowers, gold-threaded emerald fans, pearl-threaded amulets, sachets, soft fragrant dragon saliva pendants, purple silk, white hemp, and red bananas. Nearby Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries also sent amulets and other items to ward off evil and poison.

The main food of the Dragon Boat Festival was zongzi. In addition to the common triangular zongzi, there were also bamboo tube zongzi, filled with rice and sealed with toon leaves, and wrapped with colored silk. There were also zongzi made with water caltrop leaves. Many fruits were also seasonal foods, such as peaches, apricots, plums, apples, loquats, and various northern and southern fruits. However, one thing made Zhao Cheng uncomfortable: the owl soup. The owl, known as a bird of ill omen, was used to make soup to ward off evil. But Zhao Cheng found it quite disgusting. He asked Jianxi why people ate it, and learned that the owl was considered an evil bird, and eating it was believed to eliminate evil. But Zhao Cheng thought it was all nonsense!

The joint task force from the prefecture and county settled in the mansion. Led by a military secretary, they directed the constables to investigate the scene, question witnesses, and screen suspects, working busily. The next day, the Duke of Zhou personally delivered zongzi and gave each person five taels of silver as a reward. He also inquired about the progress of the case.

"Your Highness, according to the description of your mansion's guards, the thief was short and agile, skilled in martial arts. We also examined the stolen treasury and found two footprints and handprints on the roof beam, indicating that he did not enter through the windows or doors but opened a skylight on the roof, descended using a rope, and used a knife to pry open the silver chest. After obtaining the loot, he returned the same way. This thief is very experienced and must be a habitual criminal!" the military secretary of Zhou Prefecture respectfully said, "However..."

"However, what? Is there something wrong?" Zhao Cheng listened to his detailed account and realized he was indeed a capable official. He was afraid that this man was too smart and might uncover the truth.

"Your Highness, what is puzzling is why the thief, after obtaining the loot, did not immediately flee but instead went to the guard room to spy, which is very confusing!" the military secretary said, shaking his head in confusion.

"Oh? Have you found out where he escaped from?" Zhao Cheng thought he knew the answer but couldn't tell him, so he asked with a curious expression.

"Your Highness, the guards said that after the thief escaped the包围, he jumped over the wall into the inner courtyard. They did not dare to enter and search without permission. By the time they got permission, the thief was long gone. We also examined the scene but found only the marks of his entry, not where he escaped from," the military secretary said, embarrassed.

"Do you suspect an inside job?" Zhao Cheng asked, finishing his sentence for him.

"Your Highness, I initially thought so, but when I questioned the inner courtyard's managers, they all said no one left on the night of the incident. This is strange. Did he fly away?" the military secretary looked at Zhao Cheng and said.

"Only I haven't been questioned. You don't suspect me, do you?" Zhao Cheng saw his suspicion and asked with a smile.

"Your Highness, you jest. How could you steal from your own mansion? Besides, I've heard that you are not in good health!" the military secretary laughed awkwardly.

"Ha ha!" Zhao Cheng laughed without answering. It seemed that his poor health had become a shield. It appeared that this man had indeed listed him as a suspect.

"All the people in our mansion are innocent. How could there be an inside job!" Jianxi, standing beside him, said with a sneer. He knew the Duke of Zhou well and glanced at Zhao Cheng, whose figure was indeed similar to the thief described by the guards. He thought to himself, "If the Duke of Zhou were in good health, he might have done it. But why would he tease the guards?"

"Sir Jianxi, we have reviewed all the criminals in the vicinity of Zhou Prefecture and found two major thieves whose methods are similar to this one. We have already sent people to investigate. Once confirmed, we will apprehend them!" the military secretary said respectfully.

"Good, I appreciate your efforts. When the case is solved, I will treat you all to a drink!" Zhao Cheng sighed with relief and said with a smile. It seemed the matter had been smoothed over.

"I have one more question. Secretary Zhang, you said the thief's behavior was abnormal. Have you found out his purpose?" Just as Zhao Cheng was about to leave, Jianxi asked. He had learned from the Duke of Zhou to always ask why.

"Sir Jianxi, I'm not sure yet. I will certainly ask him when we catch him!" the military secretary smiled and said.

"We must investigate this thoroughly. If he used theft as a cover to spy on the mansion and intended to harm the Duke of Zhou, we must be cautious!" Jianxi said.

"Yes, I will investigate thoroughly!" the military secretary replied, but he secretly scolded himself for speaking out of turn. This was originally a theft case, but now it had escalated into a plot to harm the Duke of Zhou, which would make his job much more difficult.

Zhao Cheng watched the military secretary's troubled face and secretly laughed. Jianxi's unintentional question had cornered the task force. They would find it hard to backtrack now. The crime of 'plotting to assassinate a prince' was serious, and this could provide some people with an opportunity for promotion and wealth. They would certainly try to 'solve' the case and report it to the emperor, making it seem more legitimate than if Huang Jingchen or Zhao Cheng had reported it. This might bring his plan to fruition.

Under severe interrogation, anything could be obtained. Zhao Cheng believed that his ancestors were no less capable than modern people. Moreover, in this era, the presiding judge was fully protected by the law. Even if a suspect died during interrogation, no one would hold him responsible. As for who would be the unlucky rabbit, Zhao Cheng couldn't control that.

Sure enough, the thief was caught a few days later. He was a notorious bandit from the capital region, known as the 'Flying Monkey.' He was small and agile, rumored to be able to walk on lotus leaves and sleep on tree branches. He had committed several major crimes and was wanted by the authorities. He had gathered a few people and taken over a mountain. Hearing that the Duke of Zhou's mansion was wealthy, he planned to kidnap the Duke for ransom. On the night he entered the mansion, he was just scouting the place. Seeing the gold and silver, he decided to take some.

During the interrogation, the mansion sent people to testify and identify the criminal. No one had seen the thief's face that night, but the captured man confessed without hesitation. He accurately described the mansion's environment, the route he took, and the items he stole. Since he confessed, they had no reason to doubt him. They hastily concluded that he was the thief who had entered the mansion, though the stolen items had already been sold and could not be recovered.

Solving the premeditated kidnapping of a prince was a significant achievement. The Zhou Prefecture immediately reported it to the Supreme Court, and the criminal was executed. The mansion was 'grateful,' and Zhao Cheng personally wrote 'Swift Case Solving' in large characters, had it carved on a golden plaque, and sent it to the prefecture office. He also wrote a memorial to the emperor, requesting that the relevant officials be rewarded. This caused a stir in the city.

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