Princess Consort Niu's younger brother had recommended that he investigate the case?
No matter how he looked at it, there was something strange about this.
So strange that Sun Shaozong even suspected that she had stolen it herself, then used it to set a trap and lure him into the Prince's Mansion so she could avenge her brother.
However...
Since he was going to investigate a case, Sun Shaozong would naturally bring a full staff—especially since this case was highly likely to involve an inside accomplice. If Prince Zhongxin wanted Sun Shaozong to oversee the case, he had no reason to refuse the entry of Dali Temple officers into the Prince's Mansion.
Could Princess Consort Niu have secretly hidden several hundred soldiers, then given an order to unleash a hail of arrows and kill all these officials and constables?
Thus, though Sun Shaozong had his suspicions, he did not refuse to investigate at the Prince's Mansion—besides, he had no reason to refuse.
As the Left Vice Minister of Dali Temple, investigating major cases was already his official duty. The theft of a Goryeo Kingdom national treasure from the Prince's Mansion fell squarely within his jurisdiction no matter how one looked at it.
Now that Prince Zhongxin had specifically named him, how could Sun Shaozong refuse to go?
After making the necessary preparations, he summoned Temple Justice Tang Weishan, Deputy Temple Justice Chen Jingde, Head Constable Huang Bin, and over twenty constables, then set off in force for Prince Zhongxin's Mansion.
Prince Zhongxin's Mansion was located near Dongsi Archway. It occupied a considerable area, though its location was somewhat out of the way—of course, that was only compared to the other princely mansions. In truth, it was merely an alley away from the bustling market district.
When the carriage leading the