Chapter 10 10. The Six Daughters of Yunshao
The carriage passed through the wide avenue of Chang'an, and stopped at the gate of Prince E's Mansion.
Just as Huang Zixia jumped out of the carriage with Li Shubai, he looked up and saw that E King Li Run was already standing at the door.
He still has that delicate and refined appearance, with a three-point smile on his face, noble and gentle.Against the backdrop of the cinnabar mole on his forehead, his facial features, which were originally slightly thin, suddenly became auspiciously beautiful, and turned into an out-and-out beautiful boy.
He nodded to Huang Zixia with a smile, and came up to greet Li Shubai: "Fourth Brother, didn't you discuss matters with King Haiqing of Huihe in Daming Palace today? Why are you free to come to my side?"
"It's nothing serious, it's just a routine. But he gave me a string of golden rosewood beads. I think you will like it, so I will send it to you as a gift."
"Fourth brother, you know my heart best!" Li Run happily held them in both hands, touched them one by one with his fingertips, and said, "Fourth brother, come in and sit down. I recently got a piece of Tianxi tea cake, which is this year Freshly made tea, let’s make tea and drink together later.”
A small red clay stove with slender pine branches.The doors and windows on all sides of the flower hall are open, and a small spring is drawn out of the window. A few snow-white rocks are piled up, and a large piece of short pine is planted, which has a poetic flavor of meticulous carving. Huang Zixia took a sip of tea and looked up to see two lines of Wang Wei's poem hanging on the wall of the flower hall.One sentence is: "The wind blows the belt, and the moon shines on the mountain to play the piano." One sentence is: "The bright moon shines between the pines, and the clear spring stone flows upward." Li Shubai tasted tea and said: "There are pine trees, springs, stones, and round windows like the moon. It's really like walking into the poetry of Maji." Huang Zixia immediately understood what he wanted to make use of, and said in a low voice: "If there is another piano, it will be completely poetic." "Chong Gu is right, I happen to have a ready-made luthier here." Li Run nodded with a smile, and immediately ordered someone to invite Chen Nianniang.After a while, Chen Nianniang came over with Qin in her arms. When she saw Huang Zixia while saluting, she immediately showed a happy expression on her face, and nodded slightly to her: "Eunuch Yang." Huang Zixia nodded in return, and unconsciously moved her right hand that was tucked into her sleeve.In the sleeve pocket, there is a small hard thing wrapped in white cloth. Her heart was slightly touched, she looked at Chen Nianniang and thought, this is the jade with your name engraved on it, Feng Yiniang didn't let it leave her body until she died! Her heart was slightly cold, but she still had a smile on her face, and said to her: "Ms. Chen, the household department has not found any news about your senior sister, so it seems that we have to wait." Chen Nianniang nodded, her face was a bit haggard, but her piano skills were still amazing, a piece of Wanhe Ming, the lingling resounding from the Songjian Spring, made people forget the world. Li Shubai praised: "There are many qin masters in the Jiaofang, none of them can compare with Chen Qin master." Li Run smiled and said, "That's right, Master Chen Qin should be a national player now." Li Shubai said casually: "Chonggu, I remember that after listening to Chen Qinshi's wonderful performance last time, you were fascinated many times, and you even learned piano from other people in private. If you have the opportunity today, why don't you hurry up and ask Chen Qinshi for advice?" Huang Zixia admired his ability to tell lies casually without changing his face, so he quickly climbed up on the pole, helped Chen Nianniang put the piano back into the piano bag, and carried her back to the piano room.Li Run treated Chen Nianniang like a guest, the small courtyard where she lived was in the east corner of the palace, the courtyard was full of green bamboos, it was sparse and quiet. Chen Nianniang sat down and tuned a few tunes, and said: "Learning the piano is a lifetime of hard work. I think my little father-in-law is busy with daily affairs, so it may be difficult to learn the piano with all his heart. If you are just on the spur of the moment, then learning a few easy-to-learn pieces is just fine." That's enough. Have you learned Gongshang Jiaozhengyu and several gestures and gestures?" Huang Zixia hurriedly asked for advice, and Chen Nianniang taught her one by one. Seeing that the sun was approaching noon, people from the palace brought them lunch. Seeing that Chen Nianniang ate very little, Huang Zixia said, "Chen Niang, seeing that you have lost weight recently, please don't worry too much and take care of your body first. I think Feng Niang definitely doesn't want to see you haggard like this now." Chen Nianniang looked up at her, forced a smile, and said, "Thank you, little eunuch, but I can't live in peace day and night, every night when I close my eyes, I see Yiniang's face. Maybe you don't know this feeling. I have lived with her for more than ten years. Now I’m the only one left, and I really don’t know how to go on.” Huang Zixia patted her hand involuntarily, thinking of her parents and family who had left her forever.However, she is also a fallen person in Tianya, but she can't talk about it, she can only silently hold the small piece of suet jade in her sleeve. She handed back the small portrait that Chen Nianniang gave her last time, and said, "I asked someone to copy one and keep it with me, thinking that I might be able to look for it for you in the future, do you think it is okay?" Chen Nianniang put away the small portrait with great care, and said, "Of course, I can thank my father-in-law." Huang Zixia asked again: "You and Feng Niang have such a good relationship, has she never mentioned to you who entrusted her?" "No. Yi Niang didn't hide anything from me originally, but that time she only said that this matter is a great thing, and she has to help." Huang Zixia was thoughtful, and asked: "Feng Niang and you should have nothing to hide, do you think there is any old person who deserves to be so happy for Yi Niang?" Chen Nianniang tuned the strings, and said slowly: "To tell you the truth, although we grew up together and learned art together, Yiniang's fate was unlucky and she was sold into a brothel. Fortunately, a benefactor helped her redeem her life not long after. She followed that When I arrived in Yangzhou, because of the enmity between the mistress and the mother, she took out a sum of money and bought a small house, and then worked as an enshrined piano teacher in Yunshao Garden, Yangzhou. But I stayed in Luoyang until several years later. It was only when I received her letter that I found out that she was in Yangzhou. She said in the letter, Nian Niang, when we were young, we swore to support each other through life and death. Now if you have the heart, you and I can grow old together..." Speaking of this, tears rolled down Chen Nianniang's eyes.On the face that was no longer young, the teardrops were still crystal clear: "I was in Luoyang at that time, teaching the piano to several high-ranking families, and my life was worry-free. But with a letter from Yi Niang, I packed up the simplest few things. A piece of clothing, and went south to Yangzhou. She never mentioned her life in the past few years, and I didn’t want to mention my past, because we all felt that there was no need to talk about it between us.” So her old friend, Yi Niang doesn't know who it is? Seeing that she was thinking, Chen Nianniang asked, "Little eunuch, are these things related to looking for Yiniang?" Huang Zixia hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "But there is no record from the Ministry of Household Affairs, so I just want to check it in private, because something happened in the palace recently. I can't take this opportunity to help you find Yi Niang." Chen Nianniang saluted her deeply, and then said, "Thank you, little eunuch! If you have anything to say, just ask me, and I will definitely tell you everything." Huang Zixia supported her, and then said: "In my guess, the most important thing about this matter is to find out who the old friend who entrusted her to Beijing is." "I should have asked, but..." Chen Nianniang said, her voice was low and choked, "I really have no clue..." Huang Zixia said: "In my personal opinion, the person who can ask a luthier for help must be someone who is similar to her status or background, at least, it should not be a guest of Yunshaoyuan, and the most likely one should be Yun Shaoyuan. The sisters in Shaoyuan, moreover, should have left Yunshaoyuan before they can be called old friends." "Well, if it's about this, I think it might be...someone she knew during the time we were separated," Chen Nianniang pointed out, and said carefully, "Yimiang and I have been together for so many years, Our relationships are very simple. After arriving in Yunshaoyuan, I am familiar with all the people she knows. So I think, about her old friend, who met her in the years when we were separated. I am not familiar with her, but she is better friends Otherwise, she will definitely talk to me about who entrusted her to escort the deceased's daughter to Beijing." "How long ago did you lose contact with Yi Niang? I wonder if the person who knew you at that time is still there?" "It was fifteen or sixteen years ago. Yunshaoyuan was a singing and dancing band, and everyone came and went frequently. They might still be together in harmony today, but they went their separate ways in a blink of an eye, let alone more than ten years ago. Most of the old people in those days are now There's no trace left." "But I think that those who can entrust this kind of important task more than ten years later should not be casual acquaintances. At least, it should be something that happened at that time that will be unforgettable to this day." Huang Zixia thought, "Ten years ago Didn't Yi Niang mention it to you?" Chen Nianniang thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "The six daughters of Yunshao..." The six daughters of Yunshao, Huang Zixia immediately remembered what Jin Nu had mentioned, the six women who founded Yunshao Garden back then.She hurriedly asked: "Nianniang, can you give me a detailed introduction?" "It was more than ten years ago, the top six sisters among the Yangzhou group of prostitutes. The six of them established Yunshao Garden together, which was taken from the Yunshao Mansion of Emperor Zetian at that time. Up to now, the Yunshao Garden still enshrines the The dagger used by the Emperor of Heaven to train horses!" In a singing and dancing band, a dagger was actually enshrined, and Huang Zixia was very surprised: "The dagger used by Emperor Zetian when he tamed his horse? How did it get lost in Yangzhou?" "The eldest sister among the six daughters of Yunshao is a descendant of Aunt Gongsun. At that time, Aunt Gongsun's sword dance was famous all over the world, and Emperor Xuanzong gave her that dagger. After the Anshi Rebellion, Aunt Gongsun's disciple Li Shiriniang Pass this dagger to your grandson, Yunshao's first daughter, eldest sister Gongsun Yuan." "So, among the six girls, who has the best relationship with Yi Niang?" "When I went, only the eldest sister was left. It is said that the other five people had married or left in a few years. But Yi Niang mentioned it occasionally, saying that if it weren't for the six daughters of Yunshao, she would not have been able to escape from the one who helped her redeem her. It seems that the merchant’s big house wants to resell her. Fortunately, the sisters in Yunshaoyuan took pity on her talent and tried their best to deal with the big house, so they helped her redeem her. It’s just a pity that after they got married, they only sporadically sporadic I have exchanged letters, except for the elder sister Gongsun Yuan and the third sister Lauder, I have never met any of them. Although they are quite famous in Yangzhou fireworks, after all, they were born as musicians. I think... If they can marry It seems that it is not easy for a high-ranking family." Huang Zixia nodded silently. Although he was not sure whether the person who entrusted Yiniang was one of the six daughters of Yunshao, it was still a clue. "By the way, Chen Niang, since you are from Yunshaoyuan, do you know Jin Nu?" Huang Zixia asked quickly as she remembered something. Chen Nianniang said: "Of course I do. The last time I was able to perform in front of the lords, it was thanks to Jin Nu's help. Otherwise, how could I meet the nobleman?" "Please tell me more about Jinnu." Huang Zixia hurriedly took her hand and asked, "For example, her previous life, who she was friends with, or... the sisters around her, etc." Chen Nianniang recalled carefully, frowning slightly: "When I was in Yangzhou, there were many musicians in Yunshaoyuan, but the qin and pipa that Jinnu and I were good at were both from Bingxian Pavilion, so we met occasionally, but in fact it was just It's just a nod acquaintance. When she was in Yangzhou, her skills were outstanding among the younger generation. She was good-looking, and she liked to go to banquets and tours. She was a well-known party person in Yangzhou. There are countless people, but there seems to be no one who has turned against each other. You may also know that although Jin Nu lives a promiscuous life, she has a good nature, can turn around in the scene, and treats people warmly. Seeing me when I was passing by, I quickly jumped out of King Zhao’s car to reminisce with me. After knowing my plight, she immediately helped me find a hotel to stay in, and helped pay the rent for many days. I saw her in Jiaofang She should also know how to behave, but as for the sisters here, I don’t know.” Huang Zixia could only find some unimportant things to ask: "I heard that her master is Mei Wanzhi, one of the six daughters of Yunshao?" "I've heard of this. Mei Wanzhi was regarded as the leader of instrumental music in Yunshao Garden. After she picked up the five-year-old Jin Nu home, she treated her like her own daughter. Later, Mei Wanzhi gave birth to her daughter Xuese Afterwards, everyone said that she was not as good to Xue Se as she was to Jin Nu." "Snow color...blood color?" Huang Zixia muttered these two words, and suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed in front of her, making her whole brain feel cold and scorching hot at the same time. Chen Nianniang didn't notice it, and just said: "Yes, Xuese. Mei Wanzhi married a painter named Cheng. He is very good-looking and his paintings are very good, but he is always different from the world in his heart. Usually we choose the name , always Hua'er Yan'er or something like that, but he named his daughter Xuese, which many people heard as 'Bloody Color', so he could only make that beautiful daughter smile wryly for Mei Wan." Huang Zixia felt that the fog in front of her eyes was gradually dissipating, she couldn't help but grabbed Chen Nianniang's hand, and said eagerly: "Chen Niang, how is Mei Wanzhi's daughter Xuese doing now?" Chen Nianniang looked at her in amazement, she obviously didn't know why when she was talking about Jin Nu, she suddenly wanted to know about Xue Se.But she only followed her question, and said, "Mei Wanzhi's daughter has a lot of ill-fated fate. Her mother died before she was five years old, and her father took her with her. After returning to her hometown in Liuzhou, she didn’t have any means of earning a living. After all, Huahua couldn’t make ends meet. She died when she was in her teens when she was poor and ill. Xuese had no place in the family and was bullied. Later, the rest of the six daughters of Yunshao knew what happened to her, so they let her come to Yangzhou to seek refuge. When she came, the whole Yunshao Garden was a sensation. Just arrived at Yunshao Garden, followed Yi Niang and the others to the door to see her. The thirteen-year-old Xue Se came here with disheveled hair, dirty and thin, and she couldn't see her face at all, let alone want to see Mei Wanzhi back then. The few old friends in Yunshao Garden burst into tears, saying that the plum blossoms were full of flowers, magnificent and gorgeous, but they did not expect the remaining daughter to suffer like this..." "Then where is Xue Se now?" "Lau Dai took her to Puzhou, and Yi Niang and I only saw her hastily outside the crowd. As for her appearance... We talked about it later, but we didn't see it clearly. I really can't remember. gone." "Well... can she play the piano?" "I don't know. Her mother was very good at playing the pipa, but Xuese was already old when she came here, and the best time has passed. Everyone sighed and said that Mei Wanzhi's brilliance back then will not be passed down to the next generation." "Is Mei Wanzhi a great beauty?" Huang Zixia asked again. "I've never seen it before, but I heard that she is a stunning beauty!" Chen Nianniang said in an unquestionable tone, "Even after so many years, Yunshao Garden is full of outstanding beauties every day, and Jinnu is also an eye-catching beauty. But Yi Niang always said that the color of the snow is far inferior to that of her mother. When it comes to beauty, only Mei Wanzhi is the one who shines brightly and radiantly. The so-called only peony is really beautiful, and only she can be worthy of it. " "Well, I also heard from Jin Nu that she said that her master is an all-powerful beauty." "When Mei Wanzhi passed away, Jin Nu was only in her teens, but I always heard her recite Master, not only Mei Wanzhi picked her up from the road when she was five years old and saved her life, Wanzhi is also really respected and worshiped. I heard that when she left Yunshaoyuan to go to Beijing, she deliberately turned to Puzhou to find Laudai, visited her master's daughter Xuese, and bowed down in front of Mei Wanzhi's portrait with a pipa in her arms, kneeling It's been half an hour." "Mei Wanzhi has a portrait?" Huang Zixia asked. "Mei Wanzhi's husband is a painter. Although he came from a poor background, he is very talented. Back then, he painted a spring outing for the six daughters of Yunshao. There were six people on it, and it was kept in Lauder's place." Huang Zixia nodded silently, and asked again: "The portrait, can I borrow it to have a look?" Chen Nianniang said: "It's not difficult. When Lau Dai left Yangzhou, she left us an address in Puzhou. I wrote to Xue Se to send the scroll, and it only took a day or two." Huang Zixia was pleasantly surprised: "Really? That's great. If Xue Se can deliver the painting in person, I think maybe this matter will make great progress." "Well, I'll write to Lauder today." "Thank you, Mrs. Chen!"
"Yangzhou, Lefang..." Back in the palace, Li Shubai frowned slightly after listening to her report: "How could something that happened so long ago and so far away be involved?" "I didn't expect it either," Huang Zixia had no choice but to say, "but judging from all the signs, it seems that there is really a connection." They talked about the case, and walked slowly along the curved bridge on the water to Jingyu Hall.Li Shubai has always disliked many people following him and serving him carefully, so a group of guards and eunuchs only followed from a distance, and only Huang Zixia walked on the bridge with him. Looking back in the forest on the shore, palace lanterns have been lit, and the lights, the moon, and the Milky Way are reflected on the slowly fluctuating water surface, twinkling, and the two are like planets and moons. Both of them couldn't help but stop and stand on the bridge, looking at the vast light on the water.The night wind has gradually warmed up, and late spring and early summer are the most pleasant and pleasant seasons. Li Shubai turned his head to look at Huang Zixia who was standing a step away behind him, seeing her eyes shining brightly in the light of stars and moon at this time, her gaze involuntarily stopped for a moment. At this moment, a burst of chaotic footsteps on the shore suddenly disrupted the silence at this time.Someone rushed up the bridge and shouted: "My lord! My lord Kui!" Li Shubai turned his gaze to the person who came, and saw that the guards had stopped the person on the shore, so he turned and walked towards the shore, and saw that the person standing anxiously at the bridgehead under the light was Zhou Ziqin. Li Shubai signaled the guards to let Zhou Ziqin come over, he turned and walked to the pavilion on the long bridge, sat down in the pavilion, signaled Zhou Ziqin who was in a panic to sit down, and asked, "What happened?" Zhou Ziqin sat down on the stone bench opposite him, clenched his fists in bewilderment, and hesitated to speak. Li Shubai frowned slightly, and asked, "What's the matter?" "I... I might..." Zhou Ziqin said, his pale and bloodless lips were trembling all the time, he raised his eyes to look at Li Shubai, then at Huang Zixia, and after a long time, he squeezed out a few indistinct words, "Maybe... killed someone." Li Shubai slightly raised his eyebrows and asked, "Maybe?" "It's just... Even I can't explain it clearly at the moment. Chong Gu also knows about this matter. I really didn't intend to kill them!" Huang Zixia looked at Zhou Ziqin in surprise, and asked, "How could it be related to me?" "Because the people who died were those beggars whom I gave food to them last night!" As soon as Zhou Ziqin's words came out, Huang Zixia let out an "ah" and couldn't help blurting out: "Who were those beggars last night?" Li Shubai glanced at her, and said in a deep voice, "Ziqin, explain the ins and outs carefully." "Well," Zhou Ziqin thought nervously, and said in a trembling voice, "Cui Shaoqing said last night that we were invited to have a drink at Zhuijinlou. Chonggu, so I went over to have a meal... After the meal, I saw that there were a few dishes on the table that hadn't been touched, so I wrapped up the leftovers and brought them to the beggars... Before, I do that all the time, never had a problem." Huang Zixia nodded, indicating that there was no problem with what he said. "Then, after I got up this morning, I heard that the people from the Ministry of Punishment were conducting an autopsy next to the Xingqing Palace, so I hurried over to have a look, and I found out...the ones who died were those beggars from last night!" Huang Zixia asked: "That doesn't necessarily mean that the food we sent was poisonous, right? After all, we didn't find anything unusual when we ate it yesterday." Zhou Ziqin grabbed her hand nervously and said, "No, it's true! Those people died of poisoning. I picked up the lotus leaf that was wrapped last night on the ground, and after sneaking it home for testing, put it on it. I found some traces of a highly poisonous poison... moreover, it is a poison that is rarely seen here." Li Shubai glanced at his hand, Huang Zixia had already withdrawn his palm calmly, and asked, "What is the poison?" "It's the sap of the poisonous arrow tree. It's commonly known in Nanban as seeing blood to seal the throat. It is said that the poisoned person can't walk more than ten steps. It is one of the most poisonous things in the world." Zhou Ziqin frowned, "It's rare in the capital. , I have only seen it in books before, the whole body of a person who is poisoned by this kind of poison is black and festered, swollen with pus and blood, and his face cannot be recognized, it is very terrifying!" "It's the same with those beggars?" "Well, now the Ministry of Criminal Justice has ordered that this case is extremely horrific, and we must thoroughly investigate that vicious killer." Zhou Ziqin's lips were pale, and his shoulders trembled non-stop, "But you know Chonggu, I... ...I really have no intention of harming anyone!" Huang Zixia frowned and said, "The question is, since we are fine, why did the things we sent over suddenly become poisoned?" "And... and we wrapped it up with our own hands and sent it directly..." Li Shubai interjected: "In my opinion, the main problem should be who poisoned the food and drinks you eat." Huang Zixia nodded and said, "At that time, there were Cui Shaoqing, Wang Yun, us, and several officials from Dali Temple...there was Jin Nu." Zhou Ziqin passed these people over with his fingers, obviously he couldn't set them up as murderers, and finally raised his head bitterly and asked: "Chong Gu, if you say this, will we be found out? " "What do you think?" Huang Zixia asked back. "When we went there last night, the curfew was almost on the street, and no one saw it, so I thought maybe... as long as we don't say it, there shouldn't be a problem, right?" "I don't know how other headhunters will deal with it, but I will check the remaining food in the stomach of the deceased as soon as possible. It is rare for a beggar to eat such good food, and the range of the murderer can basically be circled. At the same time, the leftovers at the scene The lotus leaves are fresh, and most of them are purchased for the restaurant as a spare, and if the meals are cooked in ordinary people’s own kitchens, they are usually dried lotus leaves for wrapping. How can someone prepare fresh lotus leaves just to wrap meals? You must know that the capital is low-lying and cold, the lotus money in the city has just come out of the water, and the lotus leaves in the restaurant are specially contacted with fishermen outside the city. They are picked together when the fish and shrimp are delivered in the morning, which is considered a rare item." "Then... that may be to confuse the public, deliberately get some things wrapped in lotus leaves..." "It's possible. But before considering this possibility, the police officers should have visited various restaurants, and then quickly selected Zhou Ziqin, the son of Zhou Shilang who never wastes food, and mastered the dishes you packed last night. If the evidence is conclusive, you can immediately ask your superiors whether they want to invite you to the yamen." Zhou Ziqin suddenly collapsed on the chair, his face turned pale, and his eyes became straight. Huang Zixia asked helplessly: "Don't you usually deal with dead bodies? Why didn't I know you were so afraid of the dead?" Zhou Ziqin said weakly: "I just like to study corpses, but I absolutely don't like turning people into corpses." At the same time Huang Zixia and Li Shubai exchanged glances, Jing Yu came in and reported, "My lord, Cui Shaoqing is asking to see you." Li Shubai asked: "What will Dali Temple ask me for?" "It is said that it is for the case." One sentence made Zhou Ziqin jump up immediately: "No, no way, does he know that I'm here..." "Zi Qin." Li Shubai glanced at him. Only then did Zhou Ziqin realize that he was too nervous, even if Cui Chunzhan knew that he was the murderer, he would not be able to come directly to King Kui's mansion to ask for someone. Li Shubai turned to look at Jing Yu, and said flatly, "Cui Shaoqing, please come in."
Cui Chunzhan stepped in quickly, and after saluting Li Shubai, he nodded to Zhou Ziqin and Huang Zixia. Zhou Ziqin was uneasy, and he felt relieved when he saw that he didn't seem to pay too much attention to himself. Unexpectedly, Cui Chunzhan cut straight to the point, and said in the first sentence: "This time I came to ask for an audience, the prince should already know the purpose of the lowly position. Ziqin, Yang Gonggong, you are here, do you know this too?" Zhou Ziqin jumped up immediately, and stammered, "I, I know..." "Well, have you heard about it too..." He glanced at Li Shubai, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "The corpse is extremely strange, the skin all over the body is black and festered, pus and blood are swollen, and it's hard to distinguish..." Zhou Ziqin's face became paler, and he said in a trembling voice, "I saw, I saw..." "What? So you have already seen the corpse?" Cui Chunzhan was a little surprised, but said meaningfully, "It seems that Ziqin's reputation is really well-known in the capital. Even such a big event, the palace will call you to go and have a look." Huang Zixia and Li Shubai glanced at each other, and both could hear something wrong with what he said. However, Zhou Ziqin didn't recover, he was still in the shock of killing someone, he just nodded blankly. "Although you often examine corpses, this is the first time you've seen them, right? The murderer's brutality and arrogance are unprecedented and unheard of!" Cui Chunzhan shook his head and sighed, "Let's not talk about you, even I couldn't recover when I heard the news. This is really the most cruel and terrifying case in the capital city in the past ten years! Ziqin, you seem to have a lot of research on poisons, can you figure out what kind of poison it is?" Zhou Ziqin opened his mouth, but couldn't make a sound for a long time. Huang Zixia was about to stomp on him, when he heard Li Shubai beside him said calmly, "Ziqin came to me for this matter, he thinks the murderer must have used poison arrow tree sap." Cui Chunzhan nodded and said, "I knew Ziqin Dingran knew." Zhou Ziqin showed that fidgeting expression again on Zhou Ziqin's face, an expression of "I have something to do with this matter, and I have a guilty conscience". Huang Zixia rolled his eyes at him with hatred, saying that we are also victims, why can't you pretend to be calm at this time?If he was involved now, how would he go about finding the real culprit? Li Shubai turned to Cui Chunzhan and asked, "Where was Wang Ruo's body found?" Huang Zixia didn't expect him to ask so lightly, straight to the point, she couldn't help but look sideways slightly, seeing that although his face was covered with a serious expression, his eyes were only calm and breezy, without any fluctuation, which made her feel a little cold in her heart. As soon as Li Shubai's words came out, Zhou Ziqin immediately jumped up: "What, what? Princess... that girl from the Wang family who disappeared in the palace for no reason died? And the body was found?" Cui Chunzhan looked at him inexplicably: "Didn't we talk about this for a long time just now?" "I... I thought what you said was..." Zhou Ziqin couldn't help but dare not say it. Huang Zixia had no choice but to help him and said: "Actually, before Cui Shaoqing came, we were discussing the bizarre deaths of several beggars in the capital, so Ziqin always thought that Cui Shaoqing you were talking about beggars." Cui Chunzhan waved his hand and said, "Who cares about the death of a few beggars now! The girls from the queen's family all disappeared in the palace and died tragically. Dali Temple is not going to have a good life now!" Zhou Ziqin said weakly: "Beggars are human beings, let alone three or four lives... Ouch!" Huang Zixia secretly kicked his feet under the table, signaling him not to get burned.He finally shut up. Cui Chunzhan asked again: "Since the lord was not talking about this matter just now, why did the lord know that the humble official is talking about the daughter of the royal family?" "Under the whole world, the palace will call people in for inspection, and let you come to me at the first time, what else can it be?" Li Shubai said lightly. What's more, after you came in, you have been showing expressions of sympathy, mourning, sadness, and moaning all the time. Who wouldn't know what you want to express?Huang Zixia slandered. "So... So what we were talking about was not the same thing?" Zhou Ziqin finally came back to his senses, the dead air finally faded from his face, and his eyes began to roll. Cui Chunzhan also nodded and said: "Yes, it seems that there is a misunderstanding. I was just wondering why you went to examine the body of the queen's sister before I did." Among the four, only Huang Zixia calmly asked about the matter: "Excuse me, Cui Shaoqing, where was Miss Wang's body found?" "You guys won't believe me if you tell me." Cui Chunzhan frowned, "An hour ago, her body suddenly appeared in the East Pavilion of Yongchun Palace in Daming Palace." "What?" Zhou Ziqin jumped up again, "She, didn't she disappear from there?" "That's right, because something happened there, the imperial guards are still guarding it. This morning, the eunuchs went in to check it out. But in the afternoon, someone smelled a strange smell, so they went to open the door and found Miss Wang The dead body was lying on the bed, still wearing the clothes and hairpin rings when he disappeared, but the whole person has turned black and festered, and died of poisoning!" Huang Zixia frowned slightly and remained silent. Zhou Ziqin said in amazement: "This is really an anecdote in the world... Why did the person who disappeared suddenly reappear, and what's more, he still disappeared without anyone noticing, and then reappeared without anyone noticing..." "Yeah, it's as if she's never disappeared, she's always been there, it's just that she became invisible to us for two or three days," Cui Chunzhan shook his head and said, "This case is not easy to start..." The matter was so important that he could not care about the curfew, Li Shubai stood up, went to the door and called Jing Yu over to help him change his clothes, ready to enter the palace and go to the Yongchun Hall. Huang Zixia also cleaned up her clothes, and said thoughtfully: "How can there be anything invisible in the world?" Cui Chunzhan looked troubled, and lamented: "There must be something, isn't there something happening now that more than two hundred people can't see it?" Zhou Ziqin hurriedly said: "I'm going home to get some things, you must wait for me and take me into the palace too!" Li Shubai ignored him, walked out, and said, "Don't worry about it, she is a lady of the Wang family, how could I let you use a knife on her body?" Zhou Ziqin could only say: "Then, can I go and have a look?" Li Shubai raised his chin slightly to signal Cui Chunzhan: "Didn't Cui Shaoqing often ask you to check the scene at Dali Temple? How about looking one more time now?" Cui Chunzhan immediately waved to him: "Come on, Ziqin, my carriage is at the side door."
A small red clay stove with slender pine branches.The doors and windows on all sides of the flower hall are open, and a small spring is drawn out of the window. A few snow-white rocks are piled up, and a large piece of short pine is planted, which has a poetic flavor of meticulous carving. Huang Zixia took a sip of tea and looked up to see two lines of Wang Wei's poem hanging on the wall of the flower hall.One sentence is: "The wind blows the belt, and the moon shines on the mountain to play the piano." One sentence is: "The bright moon shines between the pines, and the clear spring stone flows upward." Li Shubai tasted tea and said: "There are pine trees, springs, stones, and round windows like the moon. It's really like walking into the poetry of Maji." Huang Zixia immediately understood what he wanted to make use of, and said in a low voice: "If there is another piano, it will be completely poetic." "Chong Gu is right, I happen to have a ready-made luthier here." Li Run nodded with a smile, and immediately ordered someone to invite Chen Nianniang.After a while, Chen Nianniang came over with Qin in her arms. When she saw Huang Zixia while saluting, she immediately showed a happy expression on her face, and nodded slightly to her: "Eunuch Yang." Huang Zixia nodded in return, and unconsciously moved her right hand that was tucked into her sleeve.In the sleeve pocket, there is a small hard thing wrapped in white cloth. Her heart was slightly touched, she looked at Chen Nianniang and thought, this is the jade with your name engraved on it, Feng Yiniang didn't let it leave her body until she died! Her heart was slightly cold, but she still had a smile on her face, and said to her: "Ms. Chen, the household department has not found any news about your senior sister, so it seems that we have to wait." Chen Nianniang nodded, her face was a bit haggard, but her piano skills were still amazing, a piece of Wanhe Ming, the lingling resounding from the Songjian Spring, made people forget the world. Li Shubai praised: "There are many qin masters in the Jiaofang, none of them can compare with Chen Qin master." Li Run smiled and said, "That's right, Master Chen Qin should be a national player now." Li Shubai said casually: "Chonggu, I remember that after listening to Chen Qinshi's wonderful performance last time, you were fascinated many times, and you even learned piano from other people in private. If you have the opportunity today, why don't you hurry up and ask Chen Qinshi for advice?" Huang Zixia admired his ability to tell lies casually without changing his face, so he quickly climbed up on the pole, helped Chen Nianniang put the piano back into the piano bag, and carried her back to the piano room.Li Run treated Chen Nianniang like a guest, the small courtyard where she lived was in the east corner of the palace, the courtyard was full of green bamboos, it was sparse and quiet. Chen Nianniang sat down and tuned a few tunes, and said: "Learning the piano is a lifetime of hard work. I think my little father-in-law is busy with daily affairs, so it may be difficult to learn the piano with all his heart. If you are just on the spur of the moment, then learning a few easy-to-learn pieces is just fine." That's enough. Have you learned Gongshang Jiaozhengyu and several gestures and gestures?" Huang Zixia hurriedly asked for advice, and Chen Nianniang taught her one by one. Seeing that the sun was approaching noon, people from the palace brought them lunch. Seeing that Chen Nianniang ate very little, Huang Zixia said, "Chen Niang, seeing that you have lost weight recently, please don't worry too much and take care of your body first. I think Feng Niang definitely doesn't want to see you haggard like this now." Chen Nianniang looked up at her, forced a smile, and said, "Thank you, little eunuch, but I can't live in peace day and night, every night when I close my eyes, I see Yiniang's face. Maybe you don't know this feeling. I have lived with her for more than ten years. Now I’m the only one left, and I really don’t know how to go on.” Huang Zixia patted her hand involuntarily, thinking of her parents and family who had left her forever.However, she is also a fallen person in Tianya, but she can't talk about it, she can only silently hold the small piece of suet jade in her sleeve. She handed back the small portrait that Chen Nianniang gave her last time, and said, "I asked someone to copy one and keep it with me, thinking that I might be able to look for it for you in the future, do you think it is okay?" Chen Nianniang put away the small portrait with great care, and said, "Of course, I can thank my father-in-law." Huang Zixia asked again: "You and Feng Niang have such a good relationship, has she never mentioned to you who entrusted her?" "No. Yi Niang didn't hide anything from me originally, but that time she only said that this matter is a great thing, and she has to help." Huang Zixia was thoughtful, and asked: "Feng Niang and you should have nothing to hide, do you think there is any old person who deserves to be so happy for Yi Niang?" Chen Nianniang tuned the strings, and said slowly: "To tell you the truth, although we grew up together and learned art together, Yiniang's fate was unlucky and she was sold into a brothel. Fortunately, a benefactor helped her redeem her life not long after. She followed that When I arrived in Yangzhou, because of the enmity between the mistress and the mother, she took out a sum of money and bought a small house, and then worked as an enshrined piano teacher in Yunshao Garden, Yangzhou. But I stayed in Luoyang until several years later. It was only when I received her letter that I found out that she was in Yangzhou. She said in the letter, Nian Niang, when we were young, we swore to support each other through life and death. Now if you have the heart, you and I can grow old together..." Speaking of this, tears rolled down Chen Nianniang's eyes.On the face that was no longer young, the teardrops were still crystal clear: "I was in Luoyang at that time, teaching the piano to several high-ranking families, and my life was worry-free. But with a letter from Yi Niang, I packed up the simplest few things. A piece of clothing, and went south to Yangzhou. She never mentioned her life in the past few years, and I didn’t want to mention my past, because we all felt that there was no need to talk about it between us.” So her old friend, Yi Niang doesn't know who it is? Seeing that she was thinking, Chen Nianniang asked, "Little eunuch, are these things related to looking for Yiniang?" Huang Zixia hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "But there is no record from the Ministry of Household Affairs, so I just want to check it in private, because something happened in the palace recently. I can't take this opportunity to help you find Yi Niang." Chen Nianniang saluted her deeply, and then said, "Thank you, little eunuch! If you have anything to say, just ask me, and I will definitely tell you everything." Huang Zixia supported her, and then said: "In my guess, the most important thing about this matter is to find out who the old friend who entrusted her to Beijing is." "I should have asked, but..." Chen Nianniang said, her voice was low and choked, "I really have no clue..." Huang Zixia said: "In my personal opinion, the person who can ask a luthier for help must be someone who is similar to her status or background, at least, it should not be a guest of Yunshaoyuan, and the most likely one should be Yun Shaoyuan. The sisters in Shaoyuan, moreover, should have left Yunshaoyuan before they can be called old friends." "Well, if it's about this, I think it might be...someone she knew during the time we were separated," Chen Nianniang pointed out, and said carefully, "Yimiang and I have been together for so many years, Our relationships are very simple. After arriving in Yunshaoyuan, I am familiar with all the people she knows. So I think, about her old friend, who met her in the years when we were separated. I am not familiar with her, but she is better friends Otherwise, she will definitely talk to me about who entrusted her to escort the deceased's daughter to Beijing." "How long ago did you lose contact with Yi Niang? I wonder if the person who knew you at that time is still there?" "It was fifteen or sixteen years ago. Yunshaoyuan was a singing and dancing band, and everyone came and went frequently. They might still be together in harmony today, but they went their separate ways in a blink of an eye, let alone more than ten years ago. Most of the old people in those days are now There's no trace left." "But I think that those who can entrust this kind of important task more than ten years later should not be casual acquaintances. At least, it should be something that happened at that time that will be unforgettable to this day." Huang Zixia thought, "Ten years ago Didn't Yi Niang mention it to you?" Chen Nianniang thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "The six daughters of Yunshao..." The six daughters of Yunshao, Huang Zixia immediately remembered what Jin Nu had mentioned, the six women who founded Yunshao Garden back then.She hurriedly asked: "Nianniang, can you give me a detailed introduction?" "It was more than ten years ago, the top six sisters among the Yangzhou group of prostitutes. The six of them established Yunshao Garden together, which was taken from the Yunshao Mansion of Emperor Zetian at that time. Up to now, the Yunshao Garden still enshrines the The dagger used by the Emperor of Heaven to train horses!" In a singing and dancing band, a dagger was actually enshrined, and Huang Zixia was very surprised: "The dagger used by Emperor Zetian when he tamed his horse? How did it get lost in Yangzhou?" "The eldest sister among the six daughters of Yunshao is a descendant of Aunt Gongsun. At that time, Aunt Gongsun's sword dance was famous all over the world, and Emperor Xuanzong gave her that dagger. After the Anshi Rebellion, Aunt Gongsun's disciple Li Shiriniang Pass this dagger to your grandson, Yunshao's first daughter, eldest sister Gongsun Yuan." "So, among the six girls, who has the best relationship with Yi Niang?" "When I went, only the eldest sister was left. It is said that the other five people had married or left in a few years. But Yi Niang mentioned it occasionally, saying that if it weren't for the six daughters of Yunshao, she would not have been able to escape from the one who helped her redeem her. It seems that the merchant’s big house wants to resell her. Fortunately, the sisters in Yunshaoyuan took pity on her talent and tried their best to deal with the big house, so they helped her redeem her. It’s just a pity that after they got married, they only sporadically sporadic I have exchanged letters, except for the elder sister Gongsun Yuan and the third sister Lauder, I have never met any of them. Although they are quite famous in Yangzhou fireworks, after all, they were born as musicians. I think... If they can marry It seems that it is not easy for a high-ranking family." Huang Zixia nodded silently. Although he was not sure whether the person who entrusted Yiniang was one of the six daughters of Yunshao, it was still a clue. "By the way, Chen Niang, since you are from Yunshaoyuan, do you know Jin Nu?" Huang Zixia asked quickly as she remembered something. Chen Nianniang said: "Of course I do. The last time I was able to perform in front of the lords, it was thanks to Jin Nu's help. Otherwise, how could I meet the nobleman?" "Please tell me more about Jinnu." Huang Zixia hurriedly took her hand and asked, "For example, her previous life, who she was friends with, or... the sisters around her, etc." Chen Nianniang recalled carefully, frowning slightly: "When I was in Yangzhou, there were many musicians in Yunshaoyuan, but the qin and pipa that Jinnu and I were good at were both from Bingxian Pavilion, so we met occasionally, but in fact it was just It's just a nod acquaintance. When she was in Yangzhou, her skills were outstanding among the younger generation. She was good-looking, and she liked to go to banquets and tours. She was a well-known party person in Yangzhou. There are countless people, but there seems to be no one who has turned against each other. You may also know that although Jin Nu lives a promiscuous life, she has a good nature, can turn around in the scene, and treats people warmly. Seeing me when I was passing by, I quickly jumped out of King Zhao’s car to reminisce with me. After knowing my plight, she immediately helped me find a hotel to stay in, and helped pay the rent for many days. I saw her in Jiaofang She should also know how to behave, but as for the sisters here, I don’t know.” Huang Zixia could only find some unimportant things to ask: "I heard that her master is Mei Wanzhi, one of the six daughters of Yunshao?" "I've heard of this. Mei Wanzhi was regarded as the leader of instrumental music in Yunshao Garden. After she picked up the five-year-old Jin Nu home, she treated her like her own daughter. Later, Mei Wanzhi gave birth to her daughter Xuese Afterwards, everyone said that she was not as good to Xue Se as she was to Jin Nu." "Snow color...blood color?" Huang Zixia muttered these two words, and suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed in front of her, making her whole brain feel cold and scorching hot at the same time. Chen Nianniang didn't notice it, and just said: "Yes, Xuese. Mei Wanzhi married a painter named Cheng. He is very good-looking and his paintings are very good, but he is always different from the world in his heart. Usually we choose the name , always Hua'er Yan'er or something like that, but he named his daughter Xuese, which many people heard as 'Bloody Color', so he could only make that beautiful daughter smile wryly for Mei Wan." Huang Zixia felt that the fog in front of her eyes was gradually dissipating, she couldn't help but grabbed Chen Nianniang's hand, and said eagerly: "Chen Niang, how is Mei Wanzhi's daughter Xuese doing now?" Chen Nianniang looked at her in amazement, she obviously didn't know why when she was talking about Jin Nu, she suddenly wanted to know about Xue Se.But she only followed her question, and said, "Mei Wanzhi's daughter has a lot of ill-fated fate. Her mother died before she was five years old, and her father took her with her. After returning to her hometown in Liuzhou, she didn’t have any means of earning a living. After all, Huahua couldn’t make ends meet. She died when she was in her teens when she was poor and ill. Xuese had no place in the family and was bullied. Later, the rest of the six daughters of Yunshao knew what happened to her, so they let her come to Yangzhou to seek refuge. When she came, the whole Yunshao Garden was a sensation. Just arrived at Yunshao Garden, followed Yi Niang and the others to the door to see her. The thirteen-year-old Xue Se came here with disheveled hair, dirty and thin, and she couldn't see her face at all, let alone want to see Mei Wanzhi back then. The few old friends in Yunshao Garden burst into tears, saying that the plum blossoms were full of flowers, magnificent and gorgeous, but they did not expect the remaining daughter to suffer like this..." "Then where is Xue Se now?" "Lau Dai took her to Puzhou, and Yi Niang and I only saw her hastily outside the crowd. As for her appearance... We talked about it later, but we didn't see it clearly. I really can't remember. gone." "Well... can she play the piano?" "I don't know. Her mother was very good at playing the pipa, but Xuese was already old when she came here, and the best time has passed. Everyone sighed and said that Mei Wanzhi's brilliance back then will not be passed down to the next generation." "Is Mei Wanzhi a great beauty?" Huang Zixia asked again. "I've never seen it before, but I heard that she is a stunning beauty!" Chen Nianniang said in an unquestionable tone, "Even after so many years, Yunshao Garden is full of outstanding beauties every day, and Jinnu is also an eye-catching beauty. But Yi Niang always said that the color of the snow is far inferior to that of her mother. When it comes to beauty, only Mei Wanzhi is the one who shines brightly and radiantly. The so-called only peony is really beautiful, and only she can be worthy of it. " "Well, I also heard from Jin Nu that she said that her master is an all-powerful beauty." "When Mei Wanzhi passed away, Jin Nu was only in her teens, but I always heard her recite Master, not only Mei Wanzhi picked her up from the road when she was five years old and saved her life, Wanzhi is also really respected and worshiped. I heard that when she left Yunshaoyuan to go to Beijing, she deliberately turned to Puzhou to find Laudai, visited her master's daughter Xuese, and bowed down in front of Mei Wanzhi's portrait with a pipa in her arms, kneeling It's been half an hour." "Mei Wanzhi has a portrait?" Huang Zixia asked. "Mei Wanzhi's husband is a painter. Although he came from a poor background, he is very talented. Back then, he painted a spring outing for the six daughters of Yunshao. There were six people on it, and it was kept in Lauder's place." Huang Zixia nodded silently, and asked again: "The portrait, can I borrow it to have a look?" Chen Nianniang said: "It's not difficult. When Lau Dai left Yangzhou, she left us an address in Puzhou. I wrote to Xue Se to send the scroll, and it only took a day or two." Huang Zixia was pleasantly surprised: "Really? That's great. If Xue Se can deliver the painting in person, I think maybe this matter will make great progress." "Well, I'll write to Lauder today." "Thank you, Mrs. Chen!"
"Yangzhou, Lefang..." Back in the palace, Li Shubai frowned slightly after listening to her report: "How could something that happened so long ago and so far away be involved?" "I didn't expect it either," Huang Zixia had no choice but to say, "but judging from all the signs, it seems that there is really a connection." They talked about the case, and walked slowly along the curved bridge on the water to Jingyu Hall.Li Shubai has always disliked many people following him and serving him carefully, so a group of guards and eunuchs only followed from a distance, and only Huang Zixia walked on the bridge with him. Looking back in the forest on the shore, palace lanterns have been lit, and the lights, the moon, and the Milky Way are reflected on the slowly fluctuating water surface, twinkling, and the two are like planets and moons. Both of them couldn't help but stop and stand on the bridge, looking at the vast light on the water.The night wind has gradually warmed up, and late spring and early summer are the most pleasant and pleasant seasons. Li Shubai turned his head to look at Huang Zixia who was standing a step away behind him, seeing her eyes shining brightly in the light of stars and moon at this time, her gaze involuntarily stopped for a moment. At this moment, a burst of chaotic footsteps on the shore suddenly disrupted the silence at this time.Someone rushed up the bridge and shouted: "My lord! My lord Kui!" Li Shubai turned his gaze to the person who came, and saw that the guards had stopped the person on the shore, so he turned and walked towards the shore, and saw that the person standing anxiously at the bridgehead under the light was Zhou Ziqin. Li Shubai signaled the guards to let Zhou Ziqin come over, he turned and walked to the pavilion on the long bridge, sat down in the pavilion, signaled Zhou Ziqin who was in a panic to sit down, and asked, "What happened?" Zhou Ziqin sat down on the stone bench opposite him, clenched his fists in bewilderment, and hesitated to speak. Li Shubai frowned slightly, and asked, "What's the matter?" "I... I might..." Zhou Ziqin said, his pale and bloodless lips were trembling all the time, he raised his eyes to look at Li Shubai, then at Huang Zixia, and after a long time, he squeezed out a few indistinct words, "Maybe... killed someone." Li Shubai slightly raised his eyebrows and asked, "Maybe?" "It's just... Even I can't explain it clearly at the moment. Chong Gu also knows about this matter. I really didn't intend to kill them!" Huang Zixia looked at Zhou Ziqin in surprise, and asked, "How could it be related to me?" "Because the people who died were those beggars whom I gave food to them last night!" As soon as Zhou Ziqin's words came out, Huang Zixia let out an "ah" and couldn't help blurting out: "Who were those beggars last night?" Li Shubai glanced at her, and said in a deep voice, "Ziqin, explain the ins and outs carefully." "Well," Zhou Ziqin thought nervously, and said in a trembling voice, "Cui Shaoqing said last night that we were invited to have a drink at Zhuijinlou. Chonggu, so I went over to have a meal... After the meal, I saw that there were a few dishes on the table that hadn't been touched, so I wrapped up the leftovers and brought them to the beggars... Before, I do that all the time, never had a problem." Huang Zixia nodded, indicating that there was no problem with what he said. "Then, after I got up this morning, I heard that the people from the Ministry of Punishment were conducting an autopsy next to the Xingqing Palace, so I hurried over to have a look, and I found out...the ones who died were those beggars from last night!" Huang Zixia asked: "That doesn't necessarily mean that the food we sent was poisonous, right? After all, we didn't find anything unusual when we ate it yesterday." Zhou Ziqin grabbed her hand nervously and said, "No, it's true! Those people died of poisoning. I picked up the lotus leaf that was wrapped last night on the ground, and after sneaking it home for testing, put it on it. I found some traces of a highly poisonous poison... moreover, it is a poison that is rarely seen here." Li Shubai glanced at his hand, Huang Zixia had already withdrawn his palm calmly, and asked, "What is the poison?" "It's the sap of the poisonous arrow tree. It's commonly known in Nanban as seeing blood to seal the throat. It is said that the poisoned person can't walk more than ten steps. It is one of the most poisonous things in the world." Zhou Ziqin frowned, "It's rare in the capital. , I have only seen it in books before, the whole body of a person who is poisoned by this kind of poison is black and festered, swollen with pus and blood, and his face cannot be recognized, it is very terrifying!" "It's the same with those beggars?" "Well, now the Ministry of Criminal Justice has ordered that this case is extremely horrific, and we must thoroughly investigate that vicious killer." Zhou Ziqin's lips were pale, and his shoulders trembled non-stop, "But you know Chonggu, I... ...I really have no intention of harming anyone!" Huang Zixia frowned and said, "The question is, since we are fine, why did the things we sent over suddenly become poisoned?" "And... and we wrapped it up with our own hands and sent it directly..." Li Shubai interjected: "In my opinion, the main problem should be who poisoned the food and drinks you eat." Huang Zixia nodded and said, "At that time, there were Cui Shaoqing, Wang Yun, us, and several officials from Dali Temple...there was Jin Nu." Zhou Ziqin passed these people over with his fingers, obviously he couldn't set them up as murderers, and finally raised his head bitterly and asked: "Chong Gu, if you say this, will we be found out? " "What do you think?" Huang Zixia asked back. "When we went there last night, the curfew was almost on the street, and no one saw it, so I thought maybe... as long as we don't say it, there shouldn't be a problem, right?" "I don't know how other headhunters will deal with it, but I will check the remaining food in the stomach of the deceased as soon as possible. It is rare for a beggar to eat such good food, and the range of the murderer can basically be circled. At the same time, the leftovers at the scene The lotus leaves are fresh, and most of them are purchased for the restaurant as a spare, and if the meals are cooked in ordinary people’s own kitchens, they are usually dried lotus leaves for wrapping. How can someone prepare fresh lotus leaves just to wrap meals? You must know that the capital is low-lying and cold, the lotus money in the city has just come out of the water, and the lotus leaves in the restaurant are specially contacted with fishermen outside the city. They are picked together when the fish and shrimp are delivered in the morning, which is considered a rare item." "Then... that may be to confuse the public, deliberately get some things wrapped in lotus leaves..." "It's possible. But before considering this possibility, the police officers should have visited various restaurants, and then quickly selected Zhou Ziqin, the son of Zhou Shilang who never wastes food, and mastered the dishes you packed last night. If the evidence is conclusive, you can immediately ask your superiors whether they want to invite you to the yamen." Zhou Ziqin suddenly collapsed on the chair, his face turned pale, and his eyes became straight. Huang Zixia asked helplessly: "Don't you usually deal with dead bodies? Why didn't I know you were so afraid of the dead?" Zhou Ziqin said weakly: "I just like to study corpses, but I absolutely don't like turning people into corpses." At the same time Huang Zixia and Li Shubai exchanged glances, Jing Yu came in and reported, "My lord, Cui Shaoqing is asking to see you." Li Shubai asked: "What will Dali Temple ask me for?" "It is said that it is for the case." One sentence made Zhou Ziqin jump up immediately: "No, no way, does he know that I'm here..." "Zi Qin." Li Shubai glanced at him. Only then did Zhou Ziqin realize that he was too nervous, even if Cui Chunzhan knew that he was the murderer, he would not be able to come directly to King Kui's mansion to ask for someone. Li Shubai turned to look at Jing Yu, and said flatly, "Cui Shaoqing, please come in."
Cui Chunzhan stepped in quickly, and after saluting Li Shubai, he nodded to Zhou Ziqin and Huang Zixia. Zhou Ziqin was uneasy, and he felt relieved when he saw that he didn't seem to pay too much attention to himself. Unexpectedly, Cui Chunzhan cut straight to the point, and said in the first sentence: "This time I came to ask for an audience, the prince should already know the purpose of the lowly position. Ziqin, Yang Gonggong, you are here, do you know this too?" Zhou Ziqin jumped up immediately, and stammered, "I, I know..." "Well, have you heard about it too..." He glanced at Li Shubai, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "The corpse is extremely strange, the skin all over the body is black and festered, pus and blood are swollen, and it's hard to distinguish..." Zhou Ziqin's face became paler, and he said in a trembling voice, "I saw, I saw..." "What? So you have already seen the corpse?" Cui Chunzhan was a little surprised, but said meaningfully, "It seems that Ziqin's reputation is really well-known in the capital. Even such a big event, the palace will call you to go and have a look." Huang Zixia and Li Shubai glanced at each other, and both could hear something wrong with what he said. However, Zhou Ziqin didn't recover, he was still in the shock of killing someone, he just nodded blankly. "Although you often examine corpses, this is the first time you've seen them, right? The murderer's brutality and arrogance are unprecedented and unheard of!" Cui Chunzhan shook his head and sighed, "Let's not talk about you, even I couldn't recover when I heard the news. This is really the most cruel and terrifying case in the capital city in the past ten years! Ziqin, you seem to have a lot of research on poisons, can you figure out what kind of poison it is?" Zhou Ziqin opened his mouth, but couldn't make a sound for a long time. Huang Zixia was about to stomp on him, when he heard Li Shubai beside him said calmly, "Ziqin came to me for this matter, he thinks the murderer must have used poison arrow tree sap." Cui Chunzhan nodded and said, "I knew Ziqin Dingran knew." Zhou Ziqin showed that fidgeting expression again on Zhou Ziqin's face, an expression of "I have something to do with this matter, and I have a guilty conscience". Huang Zixia rolled his eyes at him with hatred, saying that we are also victims, why can't you pretend to be calm at this time?If he was involved now, how would he go about finding the real culprit? Li Shubai turned to Cui Chunzhan and asked, "Where was Wang Ruo's body found?" Huang Zixia didn't expect him to ask so lightly, straight to the point, she couldn't help but look sideways slightly, seeing that although his face was covered with a serious expression, his eyes were only calm and breezy, without any fluctuation, which made her feel a little cold in her heart. As soon as Li Shubai's words came out, Zhou Ziqin immediately jumped up: "What, what? Princess... that girl from the Wang family who disappeared in the palace for no reason died? And the body was found?" Cui Chunzhan looked at him inexplicably: "Didn't we talk about this for a long time just now?" "I... I thought what you said was..." Zhou Ziqin couldn't help but dare not say it. Huang Zixia had no choice but to help him and said: "Actually, before Cui Shaoqing came, we were discussing the bizarre deaths of several beggars in the capital, so Ziqin always thought that Cui Shaoqing you were talking about beggars." Cui Chunzhan waved his hand and said, "Who cares about the death of a few beggars now! The girls from the queen's family all disappeared in the palace and died tragically. Dali Temple is not going to have a good life now!" Zhou Ziqin said weakly: "Beggars are human beings, let alone three or four lives... Ouch!" Huang Zixia secretly kicked his feet under the table, signaling him not to get burned.He finally shut up. Cui Chunzhan asked again: "Since the lord was not talking about this matter just now, why did the lord know that the humble official is talking about the daughter of the royal family?" "Under the whole world, the palace will call people in for inspection, and let you come to me at the first time, what else can it be?" Li Shubai said lightly. What's more, after you came in, you have been showing expressions of sympathy, mourning, sadness, and moaning all the time. Who wouldn't know what you want to express?Huang Zixia slandered. "So... So what we were talking about was not the same thing?" Zhou Ziqin finally came back to his senses, the dead air finally faded from his face, and his eyes began to roll. Cui Chunzhan also nodded and said: "Yes, it seems that there is a misunderstanding. I was just wondering why you went to examine the body of the queen's sister before I did." Among the four, only Huang Zixia calmly asked about the matter: "Excuse me, Cui Shaoqing, where was Miss Wang's body found?" "You guys won't believe me if you tell me." Cui Chunzhan frowned, "An hour ago, her body suddenly appeared in the East Pavilion of Yongchun Palace in Daming Palace." "What?" Zhou Ziqin jumped up again, "She, didn't she disappear from there?" "That's right, because something happened there, the imperial guards are still guarding it. This morning, the eunuchs went in to check it out. But in the afternoon, someone smelled a strange smell, so they went to open the door and found Miss Wang The dead body was lying on the bed, still wearing the clothes and hairpin rings when he disappeared, but the whole person has turned black and festered, and died of poisoning!" Huang Zixia frowned slightly and remained silent. Zhou Ziqin said in amazement: "This is really an anecdote in the world... Why did the person who disappeared suddenly reappear, and what's more, he still disappeared without anyone noticing, and then reappeared without anyone noticing..." "Yeah, it's as if she's never disappeared, she's always been there, it's just that she became invisible to us for two or three days," Cui Chunzhan shook his head and said, "This case is not easy to start..." The matter was so important that he could not care about the curfew, Li Shubai stood up, went to the door and called Jing Yu over to help him change his clothes, ready to enter the palace and go to the Yongchun Hall. Huang Zixia also cleaned up her clothes, and said thoughtfully: "How can there be anything invisible in the world?" Cui Chunzhan looked troubled, and lamented: "There must be something, isn't there something happening now that more than two hundred people can't see it?" Zhou Ziqin hurriedly said: "I'm going home to get some things, you must wait for me and take me into the palace too!" Li Shubai ignored him, walked out, and said, "Don't worry about it, she is a lady of the Wang family, how could I let you use a knife on her body?" Zhou Ziqin could only say: "Then, can I go and have a look?" Li Shubai raised his chin slightly to signal Cui Chunzhan: "Didn't Cui Shaoqing often ask you to check the scene at Dali Temple? How about looking one more time now?" Cui Chunzhan immediately waved to him: "Come on, Ziqin, my carriage is at the side door."