The content of the letter was: [800 sets of Wisteria Armor, 800 Black Mo Sabers, trade at the usual location!]
Wisteria Armor is a vital national asset; an ordinary person wearing it can defend against the full-force strike of a Martial Artist below the fifth level of the Acquired realm.
The Black Mo Saber is also a fine blade.
800 sets of Wisteria Armor and 800 Black Mo Sabers can directly equip an 800-strong unit of heavily armored, top-tier cavalry.
On the battlefield, 800 top-tier armored cavalry could crush 10,000 ordinary infantry as easily as child's play.
A set of Wisteria Armor is worth 500 taels, and a Black Mo Saber is worth 200 taels.
800 sets is no small amount, totaling five to six hundred thousand taels.
Gao Shihan truly dared!
"The Wisteria Armor and Black Mo Sabers are manufactured by departments under the Ministry of War."
"So, was this letter written by a foreign tribe to Gao Shihan? Asking Gao Shihan to procure a batch of military equipment for them?"
"Or was it written by someone within the Great Yu Dynasty who intends to rebel?"
"Regardless of the possibility, Gao Shihan's private sale of military equipment was likely completed, after which he was silenced."
... Lu Zhenghai thought to himself, once the truth is uncovered, Gao Shihan will be fine, since he is already dead.
As for everyone else in the Gao Residence, hah... when the Emperor gets angry, everyone in the Gao Residence will likely be executed, or at the very least, exiled.
That is how it was in ancient times.
When one person ascends, even the chickens and dogs benefit.
When one person seeks death, the whole family suffers.
Everyone in the Gao Residence had enjoyed the blessings brought by Gao Shihan's position as a Vice Director in the Ministry of War over the years.
Now, having to suffer miserably alongside Gao Shihan is only right.
"I must deliver this letter to Centurion Song as quickly as possible."
Since such a major matter is involved, if he, a weakling at the fourth level of the Acquired realm, dared to investigate alone, he would be seeking death!
Handing the letter to Centurion Song constitutes a major clue, securing a great merit, and rewards are guaranteed.
This is enough. Remember, when strength is insufficient, it is taboo to be greedy for merit.
Besides, his main purpose in participating in this case was the seventy thousand taels of silver, and he already has the bank notes, hasn't he?
After Lu Zhenghai obtained the letter and the seventy thousand taels in bank notes, he did not immediately leave the study.
Instead, his eyes, like a scanner, meticulously scrutinized the entire study over and over again.
Finally, he saw an inconspicuous object placed on the desk. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he picked up the item for careful observation.
After a long while, Lu Zhenghai's eyes lit up, and he immediately took it with him.
He pushed open the study door.
"Boss..." Zhou Hu and Zhao Black Pillar greeted him, "Did you find any clues?"
Lu Zhenghai nodded, smiling.
Zhou Hu was very excited: "Boss, you are too awesome."
Zhao Black Pillar's face was even slightly flushed with excitement.
"When the case is over, you won't be lacking in benefits."
Lu Zhenghai kicked Zhou Hu's backside, feeling greatly pleased.
With seventy thousand taels of silver in his hand, he had to spend it quickly.
Turning the silver into Martial Artist resources and transforming it into strength was the most crucial thing.
Of course, while he ate the meat, he would also let Zhou Hu and Zhao Black Pillar drink some soup.
As an Embroidered Uniform Guard, he needed loyal followers, so naturally, he couldn't treat them unfairly.
Oh, right. Once his strength was sufficient, the first thing he needed to do was severely discipline the remaining eight scoundrels under his Squad Leader command.
Damn it.
I am their superior! How dare they oppress their superior?!
The three men walked towards the outside of the Gao Residence, but before they could leave the Gao Residence... "Stop right there!"
A delicate shout suddenly rang out.
Lu Zhenghai and the two men subconsciously turned their heads.
Zhou Hu then widened his eyes, nearly drooling, while Zhao Black Pillar was fine, as he was not a lecherous person.
Lu Zhenghai was also a little surprised; what met his eyes was a very beautiful woman.
She wore a long blue and white dress, likely a member of the Gao family.
Since Gao Shihan was dead, she, as a Gao family member, naturally had to wear plain clothes.
She hadn't put on much makeup, yet she was still very beautiful.
Her features were naturally delicate, especially her eyes, which were bright and lively, seeming as if they could speak.
Her appearance leaned towards a charming and seductive style, but because of her young age, her temperament was also very pure.
The perfect combination of charm and purity created a genuinely innocent yet alluring vibe.
Two Maidservants followed anxiously behind the woman, trying to tug at her sleeve.
But the woman ignored them, radiating a spoiled and willful Qi.
She strode towards Lu Zhenghai and the two men.
"Miss, is there something you need?"
"How exactly did my uncle die?" Gao Yunran demanded.
Her manner became increasingly willful, looking as if Lu Zhenghai were the murderer.
"It has not been investigated yet," Lu Zhenghai replied calmly.
"Did you fail to find out, or are you refusing to say what you found? Also, why was my uncle's body taken to the Jinyiwei Garrison?" Gao Yunran snorted, "Tell me!"
"No comment!"
Lu Zhenghai simply walked away.
He couldn't be bothered to waste time with a spoiled little girl, even if she was indeed quite beautiful.
However, Gao Yunran blocked Lu Zhenghai's path: "You are not allowed to leave! You must tell me!"
"Get lost!" Lu Zhenghai grew annoyed, his gaze hardening as he roared sharply.
Gao Yunran was clearly frightened; her beautiful, delicate eyes instantly welled up with tears, and she dared not continue blocking Lu Zhenghai.
Staring at Lu Zhenghai's retreating back, she bit her pearly teeth and muttered to herself: "Just a lackey of the Imperial Court. Why is he putting on such Divine Qi? If my uncle were still alive, even if you wanted to speak to this young mistress, I wouldn't even bother acknowledging you."
And also.
I, Gao Yunran, am at the seventh level of the Acquired realm, and I just turned eighteen this year.
That person is just a Squad Leader; it is said that an Embroidered Uniform Guard Squad Leader is only between the fifth and ninth levels of the Acquired realm.
It is possible his strength is not even greater than mine. How did I, this young mistress, get frightened by a single shout from him?
Hmph, I must not have performed well. If he dares, let me try again.
Leaving the Gao Residence, Zhou Hu raised a thumb in admiration: "Boss, you are a real man. That girl was so beautiful, yet you were willing to tell her to get lost."
"Are you tempted?"
"Do I dare to be tempted?" Zhou Hu immediately pulled a long face; he had a tigress at home.
Lu Zhenghai burst out laughing: "Haha... As men, we must assert our authority. Being afraid of one's wife won't do."
"Boss, aren't you also afraid of the madam?"
Since the Boss got married, he has never visited brothels or similar places, which proves the point.
"Zhou Hu, tell me, if the Gao Residence were confiscated, what fate would await that Gao family girl?" Lu Zhenghai asked with interest.
"She would probably enter the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department, become a slave, and eventually fall into a life of infamy," Zhou Hu said casually, his expression then turning suggestive: "If the Gao Residence really is confiscated, Boss, you must come personally. If you wish, you could take any female dependent of the Gao Residence who has become a slave, and that little girl is no exception."
"The Gao Residence is going to be confiscated?" Zhao Black Pillar turned his head, scratching his scalp, not understanding.
"Perhaps," Lu Zhenghai did not elaborate.
Soon.
The three men returned to the Embroidered Uniform Guard Garrison.
"Greetings, Centurion Sir, greetings, Chief Huang."
Lu Zhenghai walked into the morgue.
There were quite a few people inside the morgue, including Chief Huang, Squad Leader Zhang, and others, as well as Centurion Song.
He glanced at the coroners who were tidying up their tools, thinking that the detailed autopsy must be finished.
Centurion Song looked at Lu Zhenghai, but did not rush to ask him anything. Instead, he first questioned the coroners: "What is the result?"
One of the coroners replied respectfully:
"Reporting to Sir, we are fortunate not to have failed in our mission. After repeated examinations..."
"It can be confirmed that the deceased died from a rare and strange poison used by foreign tribes."
"If this poison is ingested or enters the body through breathing, it can kill a person within a dozen breaths."
"During the poisoning process, the deceased would be unable to speak or move due to total body paralysis, only suffering minor convulsions."
"Furthermore, this poison decomposes automatically inside the victim after death, making it very difficult for ordinary coroners to detect."
"In addition, the bloodstains at the scene are confirmed to be human blood, not animal blood."
... Centurion Song and the others abruptly turned their heads to look at Lu Zhenghai, staring intently, as if they were looking at a Divine Being.
Good heavens, Lu Zhenghai had predicted it perfectly.
This is simply Divine!
The murderer even used human blood, not animal blood, to fake the scene; his mind was meticulous enough.
If it weren't for Lu Zhenghai, Gao Shihan's death would have been classified as suicide one hundred percent of the time.
Chief Huang was so shocked that he cursed: "Lu Zhenghai, did you open your Heavenly Eye or something?"
However, after the initial excitement, Centurion Song, Chief Huang, and the others began to feel frustrated.
After all, if Gao Shihan did not commit suicide, it would be extremely difficult to investigate the truth and capture the murderer within three days.
"You brat, you created this problem, so you have to solve it!" Centurion Song said. Now they could only rely on Lu Zhenghai, the detective who seemed to possess a Heavenly Eye.
Lu Zhenghai: "Centurion Sir, Chief Huang, may I speak with you privately?"
Centurion Song dismissed everyone else, leaving only the three of them in the morgue.
"Were there any new discoveries in Gao Shihan's study?"
Lu Zhenghai didn't play guessing games and immediately handed over the letter: "There was a very hidden false compartment in the bookcase in the study, and this letter was found inside the drawer."
After Centurion Song and Chief Huang finished reading the letter, their expressions changed drastically.
"It involves Wisteria Armor and Black Mo Sabers, and a foreign tribe's poison. It seems Gao Shihan secretly sold military equipment to a foreign tribe and was then silenced by them?" Centurion Song's eyes flashed with anger and killing intent.
Lu Zhenghai: "The murderer painstakingly faked Gao Shihan's death as a suicide precisely because he feared exposing the foreign tribe's poison and implicating the foreign tribe."
Chief Huang sighed: "That's not right. If the murderer didn't want to expose the foreign tribe's poison, he could have used a non-foreign tribe poison entirely."
Lu Zhenghai slowly said:
"It is probably because poison control within the Imperial City is very strict!"
"Even if he could buy other lethal poisons that leave no trace of poisoning, they would be noticed or even registered, losing secrecy."
"Of course, gathering lethal poisons that leave no trace from the Jianghu would still be very secretive, but it requires time."
"I suspect the murderer suddenly received a message from his superior ordering him to kill Gao Shihan immediately."
"Time was extremely pressing, and the murderer had no choice but to use the foreign tribe's poison he already possessed."
... Centurion Song immediately voiced his doubt: "How exactly was the poison administered? The murderer couldn't have entered Gao Shihan's study last night and poisoned him face-to-face, could he?"
"No, no, no, it wasn't poisoned face-to-face." Lu Zhenghai took a candlestick out of his sleeve:
"Centurion Sir, later, have the coroners thoroughly examine this candlestick."
"The wax residue on the candlestick most likely contains the foreign tribe's poison."
"The murderer must have tampered with the candle several hours or perhaps a day in advance."
"Waiting for Gao Shihan to light the candle last night, as the candle burned, the foreign tribe's poison was released, poisoning Gao Shihan to death."
... The candlestick was exactly what Lu Zhenghai had taken when he left Gao Shihan's study earlier.
Centurion Song and Chief Huang exchanged glances, their expressions constantly shifting.
Their scalps tingled.
This murderer is truly a Divine Being; his method of committing the crime is quite formidable!
Even more formidable is Lu Zhenghai. He could easily figure this out? And even bring back the evidence?
However, after careful deliberation, Chief Huang raised another doubt: "Even if the poison could be administered in advance, after Gao Shihan was poisoned to death, the murderer still needed to enter the study at some point last night to fake the suicide wounds on Gao Shihan's body and arrange the bloodstains at the scene, correct? Only Gao Shihan's son, Gao Ren, entered the study last night."
Lu Zhenghai, unhurried, stated with absolute certainty: "Therefore, excluding all other possibilities, Gao Ren is the murderer."
Centurion Song took over with a wry smile:
"Leaving aside the fact that Gao Ren has no motive."
"More critically, after Gao Ren entered the study to deliver the late-night snack, he spoke with Gao Shihan for the entire duration, about the time it takes an incense stick to burn halfway."
"The two watchmen clearly heard this."
"And as soon as the conversation ended, Gao Ren pushed open the study door and left, having no time to linger."
"If Gao Ren, under the pretext of delivering a late-night snack, faked the poisoning as a suicide scene during that half-incense stick's time in the study, the absolute prerequisite would be that Gao Shihan had already been poisoned to death at that time."
"However, it is obvious that Gao Shihan was still alive when Gao Ren left the study."