Dali Temple has his Lord Luo

Chapter 11 Who is it?
Seeing Luo Ning looking at them, the palace maid hurriedly explained: "Sir, after the Queen went to the front hall, we put the jewelry that Sister Hong had installed back to its original place, right here!"

After speaking, the two of them walked behind the wooden partition on the right. Luo Ning took a look and saw that there was a dark room here with many boxes already stacked up. It seemed that this was the Queen's private jewelry store!
Luo Ning nodded: "Where were you two at that time?"

One of the palace maids said: "I'll stand here and hand the box to Xiaozhu." The palace maid stood up and motioned to Luo Ning.

The palace maid named Xiaozhu continued: "Sir, I am here to take the box handed over by Xiaolan. You see, these are all packed that day!"

After speaking, he pointed to the jewelry box that had been neatly placed on the wooden grid.

Luo Ning stood in two separate positions. The position where he handed things was facing the door, so he could see what was going on outside the door. Xiaozhu was facing the wall, and he couldn't even see the door!

Luo Ning pointed to the palace maid named Sister Hong and asked Xiaolan: "Did you see her walking out of the harem?"

Xiaolan nodded: "Before Sister Hong went out, she shouted, Oh no, the sandalwood was still burning. She said she would be back soon, so she ran out. Xiaozhu and I responded to her."

"Then where were you when Sister Hong came back from the dormitory?"

"Still here, there are still three or four boxes that have not been put away!" Xiaozhu replied.

Luo Ning walked out of the secret room. In other words, from the time Sister Hong left until she came back, there was actually no one in the room for a period of time!
Luo Ning walked to the corridor and stood guard at the palace maid's position. Sure enough, standing here, he could see the front hall, the bedroom, and the door of the back hall, but the darkroom and table behind the door could not be seen!
Luo Ning returned to the room: "Did you hear anything at that time?"

"Voice?" Several people shook their heads in confusion: "It's no different from usual!"

Luo Ning looked around the room again. It was square, walked to the window and opened it. Outside the window was a bamboo forest path, and in the distance there was a corner of the balcony hidden in the bamboo forest.

"Where is that?" Luo Ning pointed to the palace in the distance!
The palace maid named Sister Hong replied: "It is the Queen Mother's longevity palace. This road is the only way to get to the longevity palace." After speaking, she pointed to the road outside the window.

"Are there many people passing by usually?" Luo Ning asked.

"There shouldn't be many. This is just the road from the Changsheng Palace to the Changsheng Palace. Other empresses usually take the main road! But in those days, for the Queen Mother's birthday, the Changsheng Palace and the Changsheng Palace are being repaired. Maybe someone will walk here?"

Luo Ning nodded and said to Song Zhuer, "I'll go out and take a look. You stand here at the table and wait for me!"

After finishing speaking, he motioned to Sister Hong to take her out.

Luo Ning walked through the bamboo forest. The Queen Mother's longevity palace was not far away. He turned back and walked along the bamboo forest path. When he reached the corner of the bamboo forest, he clearly saw Song Zhuer talking to Xiaozhu.

Walking a few steps back, you can clearly see the layout of the room. Keep walking along the road and you will find the front door of the Changsheng Palace.

Luo Ning asked Sister Hong: "Where was the location of the Changsheng Palace when it was repaired?"

"It's the southwest corner here." Sister Hong stood still and pointed to the palace in front of her.

"How long have the repair craftsmen stayed in the Changsheng Palace?"

"Heilan finished the project on the day the pearl was lost! The empress didn't have the mood to take care of the palace because she lost the pearl, so she handed it over to the Ministry of Industry and dismissed it early."

Luo Ning nodded: "You go and call Song Zhu'er out. I'll take a walk here. I understand the situation. Please tell me, sister, to report to the Queen. I will do my best to solve the case!"

Sister Hong nodded and saluted, then turned back to the back hall. Luo Ning walked along the bamboo forest path again. When he returned to the intersection of the front and back halls, Song Zhuer also walked out!
"Sir? Did you find anything?" Song Zhuer asked anxiously.

Luo Ning smiled: "Talk about yours first!"

Song Zhuer lowered her voice and looked around: "I suspect that Sister Hong is behind the scenes!"

"Oh? Why?" Luo Ning was curious.

"Sister Hong will be leaving the palace in two months. She was the only one in the room that day. If she had held the Hailan Pearl in her hand and hid it when she went to the palace, no one would have known that the Empress was searching her body that day. In fact, the pearl was It’s not on her at all!”

Luo Ning looked into the distance and thought deeply: "It makes sense!"

When Song Zhuer heard Luo Ning's approval of her words, she hurriedly said: "Sir, Hailan Pearl is extremely valuable and easy to carry. This is why other jewelry has not been lost!"

Luo Ning nodded frequently: "Zhu'er, if you took the beads, where would you hide them?"

"Hidden... hidden in the sleeves?" Song Zhuer was a little confused by Luo Ning's sudden question.

"Let's not rule out the possibility that Sister Hong may have committed theft. The palace maids must be cleaned and searched when leaving the palace, and their clothes cannot be taken out of the palace. So, if she steals the Hailan Pearl, how will she be taken out of the palace?"

Luo Ning seemed to be asking Song Zhuer, but also seemed to be talking to herself. She frowned and thought: "How to take her out of the palace?"

Song Zhuer did not dare to disturb her, but when she saw that Luo Ning was not leaving the palace, she followed her closely.

The two walked outside the Meridian Gate, and Song Zhuer saw a government office.

Plaques with big characters "Ministry of Industry" hang above the beams!
Luo Ning reported to the concierge, and the Minister of Industry heard that the Minister of Dali Temple was visiting and hurriedly asked people to come in.

Seeing that this Luo girl is indeed well-deserved with her reputation and outstanding appearance, it is a pity to stay in Dali Temple all day long to solve cases!
"Master Luo, if you are free today, come to our Ministry of Industry?"

Luo Ning was not familiar with these court ministers. He saw that Mr. Qi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, was stout and about the same age as his father. He had a kind face and was looking at him with a smile:

"Excuse me, sir. There is a case, and I want to find a clue here, sir!"

"Oh? What case?" Qi Shangshu immediately became energetic when he heard about the case.

"I would like to know who is responsible for the maintenance of the Queen Mother's Changsheng Palace and the Queen's Changsheng Palace two months ago?"

When Song Zhuer heard that what Luo Ning wanted to investigate had nothing to do with today's case, she felt very puzzled. Shouldn't she be investigating Sister Hong now?
He didn't dare to say anything, just observed Luo Ning's every move, hoping that he could catch some clues!
Upon hearing this, Shangshu Qi stroked his beard and thought about it. He stood up and walked to the cabinet next to the bookcase.

"I have to check. The repairs in the palace are all under the responsibility of the Beijing Supervision Department, but every project will be reported to me, how much materials are used, how long it takes..."

After saying that, he turned over what he was looking for, pulled out the file and looked at it. After a while, he pointed with his finger: "Here it is!"

Luo Ning hurried over, and the case was written in great detail: Zhao, in the sixth year of Xuanwu, the palace was renovated, and the person in charge was: Beijing Supervision Department.Luo Ning looked down the file. Participants, Team [-], followed by a list of specific personnel!
Luo Ning admired from the bottom of his heart. It was really great. The records of each department were detailed and made it easier to check. He couldn't help but sigh that the emperor governed the country well.

"Sir, can I make a copy of this list of participants?"

"Of course, you can if you want to meet. The members of the several teams of the Beijing Supervision Department are all fixed, and they are often assigned projects. If I remember correctly, the second team is currently repairing the ditch in the Prince's Mansion!"

"Prince's Mansion?" Luo Ning felt flustered in his heart: "Then thank you first, sir."

Luo Ning stood up to leave, but Song Zhuer followed behind with a confused look on her face.

(End of this chapter)