Chapter 2 Chapter two

A spacious official sedan chair for two people is being carried to the main gate of Jinhua County.The front and rear Zhufan soap covers, and the teeth are arranged very neatly.Lanterns and colorful decorations were hung along the doors of shops on both sides of the market.Pedestrians felt that it was the guard of honor in the official office, and they all avoided the side. The county magistrate Luo Yingyuan and Di Renjie sat in the sedan chair.The autumn sun at noon was still hot, and the brims of their black gauze hats and dark green official robes were a little damp with sweat. Luo Yingyuan yawned, twirling the neatly trimmed mustache under his chin, and said, "Brother Dinian, the discussion on the state capital is finally over. We have to have fun. I have made a detailed plan for these two days. You must appreciate the honor of my younger brother. On the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and guests come from afar, this can be regarded as a rare poet event in Jinhua County for many years! Brother Nian, do you know that Master Shao Fanwen, an elder in the poetic world in the court, should also The younger brother's invitation has been accepted. He is a leading figure in the literary world, and two days before he became an official, he drafted an imperial edict for the Holy Majesty. There is also Zhang Lanbo, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, who was originally a poet in the inner court that the Holy Majesty loved very much. He is exactly this Jinhua native ; This time, he returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, just in time for tonight's grand event. ——Brother Nian, your presence added a lot of color to this grand event."

"Luo Xianggong has a false reputation. I have no chance to write poetry. Why should I add a dead body to the poet's position. Besides, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival for family reunion. If the Governor-General hadn't ordered an official discussion , I have to rush back to Puyang. Besides, there is still a case pending there. Mr. Luo is so hospitable. If your poems hadn’t attracted their attention, how could the two masters, Shao and Zhang, condescend? Came here in vain? I heard they are still very picky." "Brother Dinian doesn't know that my Jinhua Street Courtyard used to be the residence of the nine princes of the former emperor. The buildings, pavilions, gardens, rockeries, water halls, wind pavilions, and cloisters are very spectacular, and there are many bright flowers and beautiful feathers Surrounded by Ruimu, this is a great place to arouse the poet's elegance. ——Oh, think about it, Shao and Zhang have come to our yamen at this time."

There was a sound of gongs outside the official sedan chair, and the servants of Yazhang stopped to wait.The county magistrate of Luo opened the curtain of the sedan chair and carefully got off the sedan chair with Mr. Di's long sleeves. At the gate of the yamen, Master Gao and an inspector ran up to him in a panic, and the red tassels on the inspector's pitch-black helmet kept trembling.Four yamen servants were lined up standing in the verandah waiting for orders, and a group of common people who watched boldly were surrounded from a distance. Luo Yingyuan asked in surprise: "Gao Fang, what happened?"

"My lord, half an hour ago, the shopkeeper Meng of the tea shop came to report a murder case. The scholar surnamed Song who leased the backyard of his house was murdered. All his belongings were stolen. It seems that this happened on a big day today. Early morning...". Luo Yingyuan sighed dejectedly: "Unlucky!" He hurriedly asked: "Have all my guests come?" "Lord Shao and Master Zhang arrived in the morning. I explained to the two lords that the master is discussing matters in the government office, and I have settled in the residence of the two lords according to the master's instructions. At this moment, I have just had lunch and are resting in the building. Oh, Master Ruyi from Minwu Temple arrived just in time for lunch, and he treated him with vegetarian food, water and wine according to the Master's instructions, and went to rest." ——Master Gao said cautiously.

Luo Yingyuan ordered: "I'm going to shopkeeper Meng's house right now. Gao Fang, you and the inspector will take four yamen servants to go on horseback first, protect the scene, and set up a guard. Well, have you notified Wu Zuo?" "It's already been notified, and I'm already waiting in the value room of the yamen house." As he said that, he respectfully presented a bundle of books: "Master, this is a list of files related to Song Xiucai and Shopkeeper Meng." "Get on the sedan chair. ——at the shopkeeper Meng's house at the east gate." Luo Yingyuan ordered. "

Luo Yingyuan pulled Di Gong's sleeve and said: "Brother Di Nian, don't you mind? I interrupted your lunch break. I admire your ability in detection and detection very much. It seems that this case needs the help of Brother Nian. How greedy I am!" After a few drinks, I seem to be a little drunk. Brother Nian must be careful." "Where, where." Duke Di became excited when he heard that there was a murder case.County Magistrate Luo's invitation hit his heart, and he naturally agreed: "If you can do something for Mr. Luo, it is also Di's great wish."

Luo Yingyuan spread the case file on Di Gong's lap: "Brother Nian might as well take a quick look at the case file first, there is still a way to the east gate." Then he dozed off on the cushion. Dee Fong rarely had the opportunity to see how his colleagues tried cases.He often heard that magistrate Luo was a romantic poet who was addicted to wine and sex.He is very rich, and it is not easy to maintain the daily expenses of the royal palace in Jinhua Yayuan.But Luo Yingyuan didn't care very much.Now Di Gong can see that Luo County Magistrate's usual debauchery is mostly pretended, or carefully cultivated.In fact, he managed Jinhua County very well and orderly.His non-stop decision to investigate the crime scene just now left a deep impression on Di Fen.Many colleagues often regard this as a routine for subordinate inspectors and arrests.

According to the case file, the name of the deceased was Song Yiwen, a scholar, twenty-three years old, and unmarried.He came to the local area to inquire about relevant books and materials in order to compile the local history of Jinhua in the Southern Dynasties.He registered in the county government, and Mr. Gao approved him to go to the county school library to check it himself.Judging from the records of the county school library, for half a month, Song Yiwen spent every afternoon in the library. The record about shopkeeper Meng is: Meng Shuzhai.tea merchants.Forty years old.Wife Huang, concubine Li.Mrs. Huang gave birth to a boy and a girl. The girl was sixteen years old and the boy was fourteen years old.Meng Shuzhai aspires to be faithful to the Buddha, and concentrates on doing some good deeds to help people in need.He is a master of Minwu Temple.

Mr. Di closed the file and nodded in satisfaction.

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