Hearing the word "intuition," Pan Ziye didn't mock Leng Yusheng for judging by instinct. He knew that Leng Yusheng had solved many cases in the Dali Temple, and his keen intuition had been honed by accumulated experience, making it very accurate.
"Since you're certain it was man-made, do you have any leads on how to solve it?" Pan Ziye was very curious.
"Not at the moment." In reality, he did. He thought of the owner of the wooden hairpin he had in his sleeve.
The theft of the national treasury was too bizarre, almost unbelievable. At first glance, it seemed beyond human capability.
But the invisible person he encountered last night was also very strange and unbelievable.
If that invisible person wanted to enter the palace and the national treasury, no amount of guards would have been effective. However, he didn't believe she was the thief who stole from the national treasury.
Although she could become invisible, the vast amount of gold and silver treasures in the national treasury would require at least tens of thousands of people working simultaneously to transport them out of the palace in such a short time.
It was absolutely impossible for her to steal the entire national treasury and take all the gold and silver treasures out of the palace in such a short period of time by herself.
However, because of her, he had gained a line of thought for solving the national treasury theft case. But it was only a nascent idea, and solving the case was still a long way off.
Moreover, the national treasury theft case was a hot potato that he absolutely could not touch. Even if he had a clue, he couldn't reveal it, let alone let the palace know. Otherwise, he would be inviting immense trouble upon himself.
"I didn't expect even you, the divine detective, to be helpless. It seems this case will be difficult to solve...
But the Emperor has ordered us, the Dali Temple, the Six Doors, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice, to investigate jointly. We must solve it. If we fail, we will all suffer," Pan Ziye sighed, a look of worry on his face.
"At worst, it's a demotion. They can't kill us all," Leng Yusheng scoffed lightly.
"You have a relationship with the Emperor, and he greatly appreciates you. How could he bear to kill you!" Pan Ziye chuckled.
"Speaking of your kinship with the Emperor, your grandmother is the Emperor's paternal aunt. In terms of辈分, should you call him 'cousin uncle' or 'cousin grand-uncle'? I remember you call his younger brother, the Prince of Dai, 'cousin uncle'." He looked rather interested.
Leng Yusheng didn't answer him, instead giving him a "You're so boring" look.
Pan Ziye seemed to realize he was being a bit dull, rubbed his nose, and changed the subject...
"Speaking of the Prince of Dai, I've already followed your instructions and secretly asked my father to have his men in the army investigate that matter."
As he said this, Pan Ziye glanced towards the door and cocked his ear, listening to ensure no one was outside or beyond the surrounding walls, before speaking in a low voice.
"How long until we get news?" Leng Yusheng asked.
"I don't know. The person said it's a difficult matter to investigate, but he'll try his best to find out."
Leng Yusheng nodded gently. Pan Ziye suddenly looked directly at him and asked, "Your family also has people in the army. Why didn't you ask them to investigate, but asked me instead?"
Just as Leng Yusheng was about to reply, Pan Ziye preempted him, "I know you. You want to avoid suspicion, don't you!"
"Given your relationship with the Prince of Dai and his son, you indeed should avoid suspicion!
Before, the Emperor ordered you to raid the Prince of Dai's mansion, which was clearly intentional, to see if you would show any mercy towards the Prince of Dai's household...
Fortunately, you behaved with cold-blooded ruthlessness and showed no hint of sympathy for the Prince of Dai's mansion."
"Speaking of the people in the Prince of Dai's mansion, all the men are dead, leaving only the old, weak, women, and children. I heard there are even pregnant women, it's truly tragic...
They were also raided and exiled to a desolate place like Lingping. Sigh... I don't know if they'll even survive to reach Lingping!
Speaking of this, weren't you worried before that they might die before reaching Lingping, and you were planning to have your subordinates escort them to Lingping and secretly look after them along the way?
Why didn't you have your subordinates escort them later, but instead arranged for unrelated people from below to escort them?" Pan Ziye's face showed deep confusion.
"It's unnecessary," Leng Yusheng replied indifferently with three words.
Seeing Huangfu Yue, the daughter of a military general, during the raid, he believed she could protect the old, weak, women, and children of the Prince of Dai's mansion and lead them safely and smoothly to Lingping without his intervention.
"What's unnecessary?" Pan Ziye frowned again.
Leng Yusheng didn't want to explain further, giving him a look that conveyed "you wouldn't understand," which once again made Pan Ziye feel insulted.
"You kid, stop insulting me! I'm not as smart as you, but I'm not stupid..."
"Not stupid, yet you always rank last, and can't even pass the imperial examinations," Leng Yusheng critiqued ruthlessly.
"Stop bringing that up! That's ancient history from eight hundred years ago!" Pan Ziye grumbled irritably, knitting his brows.
"I'm much smarter now than I was before, I've improved a lot! I can solve cases now too. Wasn't the murder case I solved before praised by everyone!
Everyone in the Dali Temple gives me a thumbs-up, and the Temple Minister even personally commended me!" His face showed immense pride.
Leng Yusheng once again displayed his ruthlessness. "That murder case, even a three-year-old could solve it, it was too simple.
Anyone who saw the crime scene at the time would have been certain that the husband killed his wife!
The reason everyone praised you, the whole temple gave you thumbs-up, and the Temple Minister personally commended you, is all because you have a good father!
Before, your father came to the temple and asked everyone to encourage you and give you confidence.
After you solved the case, your father even specifically held a celebration banquet for you, not only inviting all relatives and friends but also inviting officials. The intention was obvious – who would dare to be disrespectful."
"..." Pan Ziye's face performed another color-changing act, turning green, then white, then red.
He opened his mouth, and after a while, managed to blurt out, "Aren't you being disrespectful yourself! Trying to expose me!" He rolled his eyes at Leng Yusheng, "What kind of friend are you!"
"A friend speaks the truth!"
"Hmph—Thank you very much."
"You're welcome."
"..."