Chapter 171: Sword Light and Sword Shadow

"My cousin is so intriguing. She is wearing a long skirt like this. Aren't you afraid of the cold?" Chen Ao turned over and got off the horse, handed the reins to Deng Long, and taught him to take them to the horse house first, and walked to Zhou Ruo with a smile.

The moonlight was bleak. When I got closer, I saw Zhou Ruo wearing only a white-backed gauze shirt and a white pleated skirt; standing in full bloom, dignified and noble, quiet and elegant; under the moonlight, it was like a budding lotus, spotless.

Zhou Ruo handed the lantern in his hand to Chen Ao, and said awkwardly: "Cousin, I'm the one who hurt you; I'm uneasy, I don't know how your case is going?"

Zhou Ruo showed rare tenderness, with a little guilt in his words; this cousin still has his heart! And he could feel that she has been getting better and better with him recently!

How could he not be moved when he was waiting for him to come back in front of the door in a cold weather like tonight? When he saw Zhou Ruo, he really had the illusion that his wife was waiting for Ye Gui's husband worriedly, which made him feel a little warm!

Chen Ao and gentle, smiled and said, "It's great, my cousin doesn't need to worry about me; I haven't used food yet, my cousin, it's very cold here, go in and talk."

I went into the mansion and arrived at the small hall of the outer courtyard. I asked someone to send some pastries and food, and taught people how to make charcoal fire. After a moment, the small hall was as warm as spring.

Chen Ao looked at Zhou Ruo's still frowning deeply, and said gently and with a bit of playfulness: "Cousin doesn't need to be guilty. This matter actually has nothing to do with you. Of course, if my cousin wants to be grateful, my cousin doesn't mind you agree with you."

Zhou Ruoye's eyebrows spread and spat, "My cousin will joke." A joke made her feel a little more comfortable, and she whispered: "I don't know what's wrong. I've been restless these days. I heard that the official teaches you what case to investigate. If you can't find out, will you blame me?"

If you can't find out, your cousin will die!

Chen Ao smiled bitterly in his heart. This is definitely not an exaggeration. The emperor pushed himself to the front desk to fight with the people who set fire to the fire. The other party has regarded him as a thorn in his eyes and must try every means to get rid of it. Otherwise, how could Chen Ao take risks and take the golden arrow to violate the will and let the unscrupulous merchants raise the price of grain. Since ancient times, raising the price of grain has been a word of death. When the price rises, social turmoil will inevitably occur. If you pursue it, isn’t this culprit yourself?

Alas, people are floating in the world, and there are swords everywhere.

Seeing Chen Ao's expression solemn, Zhou Ruo's eyes couldn't help but become confused, and his guilt and worries about Chen Ao were even stronger!

But I don’t know why things turned out like this. Chen Ao usually looks very determined and peaceful, as if he doesn’t take anything seriously. But today, he is full of sorrow and looks completely indifferent on the surface, but inadvertently, his heart is still revealed.

Zhou Ruo said, "Cousin, are you not sure? I know you are very powerful. I used to deal with the profiteer and the eunuchs in the palace, but weren't you able to capture the same skills?"

Thinking of the past cooperating with Zhou Ruo to cheat people, Chen Ao smiled slightly, swept the haze, and said with a smile: "At that time, my cousin was my assistant, but now I am alone, so it's natural that it's different."

Zhou Ruo's pretty face turned red, biting his lip, and said awkwardly: "If you are willing, I can be your assistant now."

Zhou Ruo today is a little different from before. She is a little more shy and less cold, which makes Chen Ao's heart warmer even stronger. She smiled and said, "Forget it, there is no reason to take the young lady to investigate the case, but my cousin doesn't have to worry. My cousin has many shortcomings, such as being handsome and smart, but she always has advantages. She has never suffered any losses in her life, and no one can take advantage of me."

Zhou Ruo glared at Chen Ao and said, "My cousin loves nonsense. I'm going to go early. Dad is still waiting for you to reply in the study. You can go quickly, it should be very important."

After Zhou Ruo said that, he turned around and stood up, and was about to pass Chen Ao, but Chen Ao suddenly grabbed her hand. Zhou Ruo's face turned red and he subconsciously wanted to pull back his hand, but Chen Ao caught it tighter, making Zhou Ruo feel that his heart was inexplicably beating much faster.

Immediately, Zhou Ruo remembered what Chen Ao did for her, and the strength in his hand gradually relaxed, and looked back and said, "Cousin...what are you doing?"

Chen Ao looked at Zhou Ruo's face with a bit of awesomeness and said seriously: "If something happens to me this time, my cousin must find a good family. At least he should be handsome, better-inspired than his cousin, and more cleverer than his cousin. Otherwise, my cousin would be filled with hatred and die with his eyes closed."

She was going to take her hand back, but in the end she still asked him to continue to catch her. He had already understood her feelings for him. It was just that some things were not yet clear. However, if this cousin had the fate to survive, he would not plan to let go!

Zhou Ruo was shocked and angry, but looking at Chen Ao's sincere appearance, he seemed to be facing some kind of crisis, and his heart softened and murmured: "Cousin, stop joking about such things."

Zhou Ruo's little hands were cold and placed on Shen Ao's palm, which gave him a cool and tender feeling. Chen Ao held it tightly and said, "Okay, I won't joke anymore, you go to bed quickly."

I reluctantly put down Zhou Ruo's hand, not knowing whether I wanted to take advantage of it or whether I really felt a sense of crisis in my heart. I smiled and thought, maybe there were both, so I must live well, because a man who is smarter and more handsome than me is already extinct, and I must not let my cousin be a widow. Ha, why did I have this idea? I should be very uneasy.

Zhou Ruo's eyes were red, and he bit his lip and said, "It would be great if you could be more serious."

As he said that, he turned around and left with a few beautiful figures, his shoulders seemed to twitch slightly. Chen Ao wanted to call her and say something to her, but this sentence was in his throat, but he couldn't say it. Maybe the next moment she looked back, she saw her pretty face with pear blossoms and rain. Chen Ao couldn't stand the woman crying.

After sitting there for a while, when Zhou Ruo walked away, Deng Long rushed in quickly and exclaimed: "Young master is so amazing. I was outside the door just now... that... Haha, this method is just as good as the person Deng admires the most."

Chen Ao asked curiously: "Who is the person you admire the most?"

Deng Long raised his chest and said, "Of course it's me."

Chen Ao was speechless, picked up a lantern and walked towards Zhou Zheng's study. From a distance, he saw the faint light exposed in the pane. In the candle shadow, there seemed to be a figure sitting blankly.

What was my uncle thinking at the moment? The cold night wind blew on his face, Chen Ao's heart was warm. He waited until midnight, and the people in the study were afraid that they were also worried about themselves.

He handed the lantern to Deng Long, walked over, and a servant guarding the door leaned against the wall and fell asleep. Without reporting, he went in directly and saw Zhou Zhengzheng holding a book absent-mindedly, raising his eyes, which happened to face his own eyes.

"Come on, sit down." Zhou Zheng's voice was very light and a little tired.

Chen Ao closed the door and sat on the small stool in front of the desk. It seemed that both of them had seen through each other's thoughts. They sat opposite each other silent for a long time. Only the candlelight on the desk swayed. Zhou Zheng finally spoke first: "Have you talked to the county magistrate?"

Chen Ao nodded and told him about his conversation with Duke Wei in Dali Temple and his deployment. When Zhou Zheng heard the plan to lead the snake out of the hole, he frowned and said with a gloomy face: "This plan is too risky and has a lot to do. Have you already thought about it?"

Chen Ao's eyes were sure: "Yes, I've already thought about it. Since I want to investigate, I must catch them off guard and cannot teach them to lead our noses. Only by disrupting their stance can this case be revealed."

Judging from the methods and arrangements of the crime, the other party has been planning for a long time, but I am afraid that there will be a plan to cure the disease. Even if these suspicious people are captured and questioned, I am afraid that the result will not be found.

Once such a confession is made, the family will be confiscated and the clan will be exterminated. None of them will speak out in a day, let alone these people have a low status and cannot be punished. The only way is to first find out the unscrupulous businessman in the partnership and then follow the clues.

Zhou Zheng sighed: "You are very delicate and smart, but you still lack some meticulousness in doing things. Before doing anything, you still need to be careful and careless. The first thing is to protect yourself first."

Chen Ao could only smile bitterly. Zhou Zheng was right, but if he was mature and steadfast and looked at the front, he would not be Chen Ao. Having said that, if Chen Ao's temperament was not like this now, the emperor would not let his prisoner investigate the case. It is precisely because the case is too important and the officials in the court were too cautious and self-protection, so that Chen Ao's sharp blade was needed. Only Chen Ao would do some thrilling things repeatedly.

Zhou Zheng sighed and said, "You don't have to worry about Dali Temple. They will definitely help you with the poor. As for the Ministry of Justice, you need to be careful about the dikes. Also, Duke Wei County is a good person, but he has a big and deep roots, but he has a lot of concerns. He is afraid of many things when he does, so you don't have to resent him. Also, you can ask for advice from Duke Yang. If he can help you, those people in the dark will never dare to attack you. Be careful."

Chen Aohe nodded and said with a deep meaning: "Nephew understands."

Zhou Zheng said in a daze: "Okay, let's go and rest earlier. If you really get 100,000 yuan in a hurry, go to the palace immediately. With the protection of the official family, no one can do anything to you."

Chen Ao stood up, saluted, turned around and was about to leave, but Zhou Zheng suddenly called him, staring at Chen Ao deeply with his eyes, and said seriously: "Remember, since you have chosen to do this, you have to do it in one go, don't be discouraged!"

Chen Ao suddenly felt relieved. This sentence was the best encouragement for him. He said freely: "My nephew understands that if someone blocks the killing, the Buddha blocks the killing the Buddha!" ​​He touched the golden arrow hidden in his chest, full of confidence.

I only said a few words to Zhou Zheng, but these words yielded a lot of information. One thing is certain, I am afraid that many people in the court can guess the real murderer in the case, but almost everyone did not speak because it would cause trouble. As a nobleman, he is the only rule to protect himself.

Another information is that you need to be careful of the Ministry of Justice. You must hide some progress that should be hidden and not be taken lightly; and the Duke of Wei County is afraid that he will not be able to rely on everything, and he can only rely on himself.

Seeing Chen Ao come out, Deng Long welcomed him with a lantern and said, "Young Master, why did you look gloomy when you go in? When you come out, you suddenly look radiant. Could it be that the Duke of the State wants to betroth the lady to you? Oh, this is not good. How can a man betray his wife? I am really not worth it for the young master!"

Chen Ao was laughing in his heart. Deng Long seemed to be worried at all. It is better to be simple. It is a blessing to not think too much. He shook his head and thought, but unfortunately, I am destined not to be ordinary and simple!
Chapter completed!