HLnovel Chapter 202 Xiao Zhang
Chapter 202 Xiao Zhang
Xinghan looked at Gu Chengjin, his eyes gleaming with deep thought.
He said slowly, "Mr. Gu, from my observation of Lao Zhang, although he is scheming, his hands and feet are not very quick. It is difficult for him to complete such a delicate work so perfectly by himself. I am afraid that there are other people behind this."
Gu Chengjin frowned when he heard this.
He then nodded and ordered the guards to take Lao Zhang away and keep him under strict supervision.
After everything was arranged, he turned to face Xinghan, his eyes full of expectation and trust:
"Brother Xinghan, what should we do next?"
Xinghan pondered for a moment, his eyes deep, and slowly said to Gu Chengjin:
"Mr. Gu, in order to thoroughly investigate this matter, I suggest that we proceed in two steps."
Gu Chengjin nodded and listened carefully. Xinghan continued:
"First, you need to inquire carefully in the mansion and secretly observe Lao Zhang's daily behavior to see if he has any unusual behavior, such as a sudden increase in wealth, going out late at night, or secret meetings with certain people. At the same time, you should also pay attention to who he interacts closely with, especially those whose behavior has become unusual recently."
Gu Chengjin accepted Xinghan's suggestion and immediately began to make arrangements.
He secretly gathered his trusted servants and began a covert investigation of Lao Zhang.
Soon, some useful information was obtained.
Lao Zhang does often go out late at night, and always looks nervous when he comes back.
Lao Zhang is very close to a young servant named Xiao Zhang, who used to be close to the eldest master.
Gu Chengjin told Xinghan about this discovery. After Xinghan heard it, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes and he said:
"Very good, Master Gu, your investigation is very effective. Next, we need to shift the focus of the investigation to Xiao Zhang. Since Lao Zhang committed this crime for his apprentice, Xiao Zhang is likely the key figure in the whole incident."
Therefore, Gu Chengjin intensified his investigation into Xiao Zhang.
He discovered that Xiao Zhang had been seen entering and leaving the eldest young master's residence many times, and that he also had secret contacts with certain people outside the mansion.
Through tracking, Gu Chengjin's men quickly concluded:
It turned out that Xiao Zhang was instructed by the eldest young master, who took advantage of Lao Zhang's love for his apprentice and dragged Lao Zhang into the abyss of crime step by step.
After this series of investigations, Gu Chengjin finally came to a conclusion.
He realized with anger and disappointment that the one who really wanted to murder the master was the eldest young master whom he had always respected.
And Lao Zhang is just an innocent person who was exploited.
Gu Chengjin knew that this matter was of great importance and must be handled with caution, so he found Xinghan again to discuss the next countermeasures.
"I think you have to adopt a roundabout tactic when dealing with Lao Zhang. I heard that Lao Zhang is highly valued by the master. If he is injured, it will be difficult for you to report to him." Xinghan suggested.
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengjin immediately took action.
He personally visited the mansion and talked to the servants one by one.
Finally, I learned from a servant who had a good relationship with Lao Zhang that Lao Zhang did have an apprentice, called Xiao Zhang, who seemed to be very close to the eldest young master on weekdays.
After learning this clue, Gu Chengjin became even more confused.
He interrogated Lao Zhang again, and this time, he adopted a gentler approach.
Know it with emotion, move it with reason.
With Gu Chengjin's patient persuasion, Lao Zhang finally gave in and revealed the truth.
It turned out that it was Xiao Zhang who told him that he needed the herb and said that after the job was done, the employer would give him a generous reward, which would be enough for him to marry and have children in the future.
Old Zhang felt pity for his apprentice and was concerned about his apprentice's future, so he was confused for a moment and embarked on this path of no return.
Even more shocking is that Lao Zhang also revealed an astonishing secret:
As early as a year ago, he had secretly taught Xiao Zhang the skill of making tea.
The purpose was to ensure that Xiao Zhang would have a temporary acceptable livelihood after he left the Gu Mansion.
Over the past year, whenever the master drank tea, it was actually Xiao Zhang who was in charge. He was studious and inquisitive, and was highly valued by Old Zhang.
Moreover, apart from being a little reckless, inexperienced, and occasionally careless, there is really nothing to complain about Xiao Zhang.
He was the only one who had the best possible conditions to secretly tamper with the master's tea and soup.
When Gu Chengjin heard this, his heart was in turmoil. He never expected that the planning of this matter had actually started a year ago.
"It seems that it is time to act. I can't be soft-hearted anymore." Gu Chengjin looked at the lotus leaves in the pond and murmured to himself, "For myself and for her..."
In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun filled the courtyard of the Gu Mansion, covering this ancient mansion with a golden coat.
Gu Chengjin was concerned about his father's safety, and hurried into his father's room to check on him.
However, when he opened the door, the scene before him made him feel both surprised and delighted.
I saw Mr. Gu sitting by the window, looking energetic and with a ruddy complexion, and he was having a pleasant conversation with Xinghan.
The two of them sometimes lowered their heads in thought, and sometimes smiled at each other, obviously having a strong interest in a certain topic.
Gu Chengjin's arrival interrupted their conversation, but Mr. Gu showed a warm smile on his face and waved at him.
"Chengjin, you're here." Master Gu's voice was full of love and concern, which instantly dispelled most of Gu Chengjin's worries. He walked quickly to his father, bowed respectfully, and then naturally joined the conversation.
When sitting down at the tea table, Gu Chengjin's eyes were attracted by several different styles of teapots placed on the table.
These teapots are of different shapes, some are simple and elegant, some are delicate and exquisite, and each one reveals the exquisite craftsmanship of the craftsmen. He couldn't help but wonder why these teapots appeared here at the same time.
"Father, Brother Xinghan, these teapots are..." Gu Chengjin couldn't help but ask, his eyes wandering among the teapots.
Upon hearing this, Master Gu laughed and explained:
"Oh, these are specially prepared for me by Xinghan. He said that different teas need to be paired with different teapots to bring out the best flavor. Look, he is teaching me how to distinguish tea leaves and how to choose a suitable teapot."
Xinghan also smiled and nodded, adding: "Master Gu is quite knowledgeable about the tea ceremony, and I only know a little bit about it. Today I am just showing off my skills in front of an expert. However, seeing that Master Gu is so energetic, I feel relieved."
Gu Chengjin felt a warm current in his heart when he heard this. He looked at his father and found that his eyes were shining with an unprecedented light, which was a love and expectation for life. He knew that all this was inseparable from Xinghan's careful care and companionship.
"Brother Xinghan, thank you." Gu Chengjin said sincerely, his voice full of gratitude and respect.
Xinghan shook his head gently and said with a smile: "Mr. Gu, you are too polite. This is what I should do. As long as Mr. Gu is in good health, I will be satisfied."
The three of them smiled at each other and continued to drink tea and chat.
At this time, the servant came over to report that Prime Minister Hua came to visit, and City Lord Gu hurriedly stood up and said that he would go to the gate of the courtyard to greet the Prime Minister.
Gu Chengjin stood up and was about to leave, but unexpectedly, City Lord Gu waved his hand and said, "Your elder brother is here, so you can stay here and accompany Mr. Xinghan."
Xinghan also stood up and bowed to City Lord Gu's back, accidentally catching a glimpse of Gu Chengjin's dejected expression...