Tang Dynasty Prison Administration

Chapter 128: The Azure Dragon Case

Upon hearing this, Su Wen quickly asked, "Master Ye, where is this Shi Linfeng currently?"

Ye Fashan shook his head slightly and said, "This old Taoist really doesn't know. This person is eccentric, stubborn, greedy, and lustful. He is not a disciple of our Taoist sect at all. Therefore, about five years ago, when I saw that he was fifteen years old, I let him leave the Taoist temple. I have no idea where he is now!"

The young Taoist priest standing nearby interjected, "I've heard my senior uncles and elders say that after Senior Brother Shi was expelled from the sect, he founded an illusion troupe and began performing throughout the Tang Dynasty to make a living!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Lingyu immediately looked at Su Wen and said, "Illusion Troupe!"

Upon seeing this, Su Wen immediately frowned, his mind quickly recalling the illusion troupe he had visited with Cui Lingyu that day.

Ye Fashan glanced at the young Taoist, then said in an extremely cold tone, "I've already told you, he's not your Senior Brother Shi, his name is Shi Linfeng!"

As he spoke, Ye Fashan looked at Su Wen and Cui Lingyu, a hint of anger on his face, and said, "This person has exceptional talent. He has been learning illusion techniques from me for eight or nine out of ten years and is already close to mastering them. However, this person is a wicked and lecherous individual, not a disciple of my Daoist sect. If he violates the laws of the Tang Dynasty, I urge this official to punish him severely and not to lighten his punishment simply because he is my disciple!"

Su Wen was puzzled by Ye Fashan's angry expression.

After Ye Fashan left, Cui Lingyu took out a very delicate little pastry from her bag and handed it to the young Taoist boy who was only about ten years old.

The young Taoist boy initially hesitated, but he couldn't resist Cui Lingyu's coaxing tactics and was quickly persuaded to open the small pastry box and start eating.

Cui Lingyu asked, "Young Daoist, why does Daoist Ye get so angry when he mentions Shi Linfeng?"

The young Taoist boy said, "I heard from my uncles and senior brothers that my master took pity on him and took him in. He is very clever and extremely skilled at learning illusion techniques. He can basically learn all the illusion techniques after seeing them only once!"

"Unlike me, I've been learning the simplest illusion spell for almost three months, and I'm still not very proficient, hehe!"

The young Taoist priest chuckled foolishly, then picked up a pastry and exclaimed, "This is so delicious!"

Cui Lingyu smiled and looked at the young Taoist boy, asking, "And then what happened?"

The young Taoist boy said, "Later, it was said that he used illusion magic to defile a young girl, but since my master was the Imperial Preceptor, the Sage made a special exception and reduced his punishment in the first year of the Xiantian era. However, my master was very angry, believing that he had disgraced the Taoist sect, so he expelled him from the sect!"

As he said this, the young Taoist took another piece of pastry and ate it, saying happily, "But I heard from my master that when he was in the first year of the Xiantian realm, he sought refuge with Madam Taiping. Madam Taiping was such a kind person. I was still young then, and she often brought me pastries, but none of them were as delicious as yours, sister!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen instinctively looked at Cui Lingyu, then whispered, "Lingyu, let's go!"

Cui Lingyu responded, then took out a box of candy from her bag and handed it to the young Taoist, saying, "Whenever I have time, I'll bring you something to eat, okay?"

The young Taoist boy accepted the brocade box, smiled, bowed to Cui Lingyu, and said, "My master said that one should express gratitude to those who have done favors for us. Wu Yun thanks you, Sister, and Young Master Su!"

Su Wen smiled slightly and said, "Okay, I understand. We'll come again when we have time. I hope you'll have learned the simplest illusion magic by then!"

Wu Yun smiled and nodded, saying, "Sister and Mr. Su, please don't worry, I'll definitely have learned it by the time you come next time!"

As Su Wen and Cui Lingyu left together, Su Wen said, "Now we can go back to the prison and immediately issue a warrant for Shi Linfeng's arrest!"

After pondering for a moment, Cui Lingyu said, "We still don't know where Shi Linfeng is hiding, so I think it's best not to issue a warrant. Otherwise, once the warrant is posted, it will be almost impossible to catch Shi Linfeng again!"

Su Wen said, "But Chang'an is too big. It's impossible to search every single place thoroughly. How can we possibly capture them?"

Upon hearing this, Cui Lingyu smiled slightly and said, "I have a plan, but I haven't decided who to ask yet!"

Su Wen looked at Cui Lingyu and asked, "What plan?"

Cui Lingyu smiled slightly and said, "To lure the snake out!"

"Lure them out?" Su Wen asked. "How do we do that?"

Cui Lingyu said, "Just now, Master Ye and the young Taoist both said that this person is greedy and lustful, and has even defiled a young girl. This shows that he is extremely lecherous, so all we need to do is find a woman, set a trap, and wait for him to fall into it!"

Su Wen shook his head slightly and said, "That's not appropriate. This man is a lecherous fellow and skilled in illusion. If he uses illusion to deceive the people in charge of the arrest, the woman who went to seduce him will be in great danger. This is not a good idea. We are here to solve a murder case, not to send lambs to the slaughter!"

Su Wen stepped forward and said softly, "Lingyu, as the saying goes, 'A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall,' we cannot do that. However, your attempt to lure the snake out of its hole has reminded me of something!"

When Cui Lingyu heard Su Wen's rebuttal, she was not angry at all. Instead, she smiled and ran up to Su Wen, slightly raised her head, and looked directly at Su Wen.

Su Wen and Cui Lingyu locked eyes, and Su Wen's face flushed slightly as he looked at Cui Lingyu's sweet and charming appearance.

Cui Lingyu said, "I didn't expect Mr. Su to be so respectful to women. I thought you would agree!"

When Cui Lingyu saw Su Wen turn his head slightly, she didn't hesitate at all and threw herself into Su Wen's arms, hugging him in front of everyone.

Passersby who witnessed this scene couldn't help but chuckle and even whisper among themselves.

Su Wen said softly, "This... Lingyu, there are too many people around, please be mindful of your behavior!"

Cui Lingyu smiled and released her grip on Su Wen, then looked at him shyly and asked, "Su Lang, what was it you wanted to say just now?"

Su Wendao said, "We've been discussing the case of Li Xinyue's death, but perhaps that case is just a minor incident. What is the other party's true purpose? Have you thought about it?"

After hearing Su Wen's explanation, Cui Lingyu immediately understood.

Yes, Su Wen and Cui Lingyu have been led by the nose by the case of Li Xinyue's death, even though there are more and more clues and clear people involved.

However, everyone seems to have forgotten something very important: the purpose!

Murder always has a purpose, combining the Fragrance Collection, Azure Dragon Powder, Fallen Dragon, Silkworm Silk, Illusion, and so on.

Su Wen seemed to have already guessed what the mastermind really wanted to do!

That night, the emperor summoned Su Wen to Xingqing Palace for discussion. Upon entering Xingqing Palace, Su Wen saw several people sitting on his left and right sides: Prime Minister Yao Chong, Song Jing, Zhang Yue, and Cui Lin. Among them was also Zhang Jiuling, the Grand Counselor.