Chapter 31 Chapter Thirteen

When Di Gong returned to the state government office, he was hot and tired, so he quickly took a shower, changed into a clean and cool fine-grained cotton robe, put on a light gauze cap, and hurried to the inner office study.Hong Canjun was already there waiting for him. Seeing that Hong Liang was at ease and confident, Duke Di asked, "Have you found out about Ke Yuanliang?" He took off a goose feather fan hanging on the wall and fanned it lightly. "Master, this matter went very smoothly. I happened to meet a fast-talking maid from the Ke Mansion at the vegetable market——Ke Yuanliang really rode out early this morning."

"Does he have the habit of walking his horse early in the morning?" Duke Di hurriedly asked again. "No! Ke Yuanliang never goes out in the morning. The maid said that everyone in Ke's mansion thought he was in pain, missed Hu Po, and wanted to go for a walk to relieve depression. The maid also said that although Ke Yuanliang and Mrs. Hu Po are very different in age, But the relationship between the husband and wife is very strong, and they are very loving. Amber knows the general situation, knows how to advance and retreat, not only considerate Ke Yuanliang, but also considerately take care of Jinlian. Ke Yuanliang has a loving, harmonious and happy family. But now..."

Duke Di remained silent.Suddenly he pointed to the two bamboo plaques on the desk and asked, "When were these bamboo plaques delivered?" "Oh, I forgot to tell the master, this is just sent by the captain of the south gate." Di Gong hurriedly picked up the bamboo cards to check, and saw that the number "two hundred and seven" was scrawled on the two bamboo cards.One handwriting is crooked and clumsy, while the other is skillful and beautiful.Di Gong moistened his fingers with water, gently wiped off the number on the second one, carefully put it into his sleeve, and showed a satisfied smile on his face.

"I'll keep this one, and you take that one back to the captain at the South Gate. Hong Liang, I haven't told you about Miss Zilan's situation yet." "Miss Zilan? Yes! How is she? She is really a beautiful and elegant woman?" Di Gong replied: "She is not beautiful, and secondly, she is not elegant. At first glance, she is three-point intimidating. But although she is rude, she understands righteousness, hates evil like hatred, does not bully the weak, and is good at fighting injustice. She is a heroine among women. " Di Gong briefly told Hong Liang about his meeting with Miss Zilan, and finally said: "Now we finally know that there is a cruel, bold and cruel devil who is wantonly killing people and things in Puyang City. He First hired Dong Mei and then hired Xia Guang to abduct women for him for his pleasure. These three murders may be caused by this demon."

Hong Liang said: "In this case, Ke Yuanliang is not a suspect. Let's assume that he killed Hu Po and Dong Mei out of jealousy. But he will never pay someone to find other women, let alone kill her rashly. Xia Guang." "Hong Liang, you may not be able to say these words to death. From the outside, even in the eyes of the servants and maids of the Ke Mansion, Ke Yuanliang is a well-educated, gentle and gentle elder gentleman. He is not only tender and loving to his wives and concubines, Even they are very sympathetic to their servants. But this kind of people are good at hiding their evil and despicable character so deeply that people can't recognize their livers and lungs when they see their faces. But any such vicious devil, The crimes committed and the crimes committed are very difficult, and the most difficult to solve. Of course, Ke Yuanliang is the most familiar person than his wife and concubine, so I am very suspicious of the cause of Jinlian's disease. Ke Yuanliang was tortured and tried to escape? But she failed. Desperation finally destroyed her normal thinking and memory. I saw that there were welts on Amber's body, which may indicate the same problem. Hong Liang, I also specially visited Yang Kangnian, the shopkeeper who opened an antique shop opposite the Confucius Temple, his description of Ke Yuanliang's character is very thought-provoking."

Di Gong explained in detail how Ke Yuanliang broke the Persian glass bowl.He went on to say, "Just because there was a small flaw in the bottom of the bowl, Ke Yuanliang broke a priceless and rare treasure in a rage. One can imagine how angry he would be if he knew Mrs. Hu Po's infidelity! ——A woman The biggest flaw is the infidelity to her husband. But what I am puzzled here is why he didn't kill the adulterous woman himself, but secretly hired a scoundrel like Xia Guang to do it. This is in line with Ke Yuanliang's personality and psychology Contradictions and disagreements. As for the fact that he killed Xia Guang, of course he did it to silence—do you think he went to the Emerald Villa early this morning?"

Hong Liang nodded frequently, pondered for a while, and asked again: "But it is true that Ke Yuanliang hired Dong Mei and Xia Guang to hunt antiques for him—isn't the buyer and seller of the Royal Pearls just Ke Yuanliang and Dong Mei?" Di Gong frowned and said: "Today shopkeeper Yang told me that Bian Jia and Guo Ming also collected antiques, especially beads! This makes me dare not easily conclude that Ke Yuanliang is the real murderer - there are more complicated inside stories behind this." There was a sound of a gong in the main hall of the front Yamen, and the three-way drum was finished, and two rows of Yamen soldiers rushed out in response to shouting.

Mr. Di changed into a dark green brocade official robe, jade belt, soap boots, and black gauze hat, all neatly up and down.He looked in the bronze mirror, stood up and took Hong Canjun's sleeve with one hand, and said, "I'm going to finish the official business in the hall hastily. After you leave the hall, you should immediately go to Shen Bada and ask about the bets on the Bian Jia Nine in the dragon boat race. By the way, Tell him that I have boasted for him in front of Miss Zilan. Then you go to the Eight Immortals Hotel to find the shopkeeper or accountant, and ask them if Guo Ming often comes to live with them, how long he stays at a time, how many days in between, and whether anyone comes Visit him, and ask him if he has any relationship with the prostitutes in the brothel, whether anyone has quarreled with him or complained about him. This strange medicinal material dealer came here suddenly from the capital, and people can't help but feel suspicious. Now I want Know as much as possible about him."

Hong Canjun was suspicious, so he couldn't ask any more questions. They had already walked to the front hall door. Hong Liang stretched out his hand to lift the beaded and embroidered curtain, and Duke Di walked into the courtroom with his head held high and ascended to the high seat.The yamen officials and secretaries sang and paid homage, and the two rows of yamen soldiers shouted, and the hall was suddenly silent. Looking down at the hall, Mr. Di could see from a distance that there was a crowd of judges outside the verandah. Ke Yuanliang and Bian Jia were among them, side by side, and Guo Ming and Yang Kangnian were just standing behind them.

Mr. Di patted the gavel and announced that he would be promoted to the court to ask questions.Outside the verandah, Guo Ming pushed aside the crowd and stepped up to the courtroom and knelt down.Di Gong said: "Mr. Guo might as well stand up and speak." Guo Ming stood up calmly, cupped his hands and said: "Xiaomin has rented the Eight Immortals Hotel in Xicheng according to the master's order. If the master wants to ask questions, Xiaomin will come whenever he is called." Di Gong nodded.Signal to back down.There are complaints and complaints in the Chuanming hall, and there are complaints of injustice, but the killing of Dong Mei, Hu Po and Xia Guang is not mentioned.

In response, two members of the crowd flashed out, and they both knelt in the hall to file a lawsuit for an acre of land.Mr. Di patiently listened to the lawsuits of both parties, and the sentence was dropped, and the two conceded and withdrew. Suddenly a shopkeeper of a pawn shop knelt down and accused two strips of strips of trying to blackmail him, and then three more lawsuits against Sesame Mung Bean came to court.Di Gong listened to the lawsuit with his ears, uttered his words with his mouth, and approved his reply with his hands. Seeing this situation, the people watching the trial under the verandah of the outer hall couldn't help being disappointed, and left the yamen one after another. Di Gong looked up and saw that Ke, Bian, Guo, and Yang had all disappeared, so he turned his head and said to Hong Liang, "You can go to work on your own now, and you don't have to wait to leave the hall." Hong Liang turned to the back hall immediately after receiving the order. After Di Gong asked about the last lawsuit, he felt his lips were burnt and his tongue was parched, and his whole body was dripping with sweat.He is about to announce his retirement.Suddenly, there was a commotion at the gate of the yamen, and the three big men staggered to the courtroom, knelt on the slate stone, trembling all over.Seeing that the clothes of the three men were torn, their faces were bruised, and the hands of one holding his head were bloody, he moaned. Miss Zilan stalked with an angry face and her head held high, followed by a young girl with a bruise on her face and wet tears. The Yamen official was furious and hurried forward to stop him.Miss Zilan stretched out her hand and pushed him lightly, the yamen official staggered a few steps and almost fell down on his back. Zilan was still angry, and shouted at the astonished yamen official: "I know the rules of the court, so I don't want you to come here!" She turned to the girl following behind her and said, "Kneel down! This is the yamen's rule." Then The girl knelt down in response. Zilan said: "Master Di, forgive me for not kneeling. My name is in the Dongguan book, and I only kneel to the empress and the prince. The three gangsters kneeling in front of the hall were the ones I brought to the court to wait for the judge according to the master's instructions. , Their names are Fang Biao, Wang Denggao, and Liao Jie. This kneeling girl is named Mudan, and she is a government-registered prostitute. "I was sitting in the backyard of my house having lunch, when I suddenly heard a woman calling for help in a secluded alley outside the backyard. I jumped out of the courtyard wall and saw these three gangsters dragging Mudan forward. Mudan was so excited when she saw me. Calling for help, Fang Biao punched her hard in the face and drew a sharp knife to force her to leave. I stepped forward to stop Fang Biao and asked him politely what was the matter. Fang Biao initially Disdainful to answer my question, he raised the sharp knife in his hand and told me to get out of here and mind my own business. But soon he rolled down on the ground and obediently told me that the scholar Xia Guang gave each of them a tael of silver the day before yesterday. They abducted the peony from her courtyard, dragged it to a house in the South Street behind Laojun Temple, and gave it to an old lady named Meng. They chose to do it at noon, because the courtyard and the street were at that time. There were very few pedestrians on the road, and they covered Miss Peony's head with a black cloth. Miss Peony struggled to the death, and she grabbed the black cloth and shouted for help. Fortunately, she ran into me. The three gangsters have confessed I committed the crime of violently kidnapping a woman. I remembered that the Yamen was investigating and arresting Xia Guang, so I immediately brought the three of them to court, and brought Miss Mudan along with me as witnesses. I deeply hope that the master will find out. Hidden feelings, impartial and clear judgment, don't let an evil person who commits crimes be spared." Mr. Di understood what he heard, and hurriedly signaled the yamen official to come forward and whispered: "Immediately lead a few servants to the house of the old woman surnamed Meng in the South Street behind Laojun Temple, arrest everyone there, and take them all into the yamen. Prison." The Yaguan took orders and hurriedly retreated. Di Gong turned to Miss Zilan and said, "Miss Zilan acted decisively, acted bravely, upheld the law, and captured the treacherous criminals with her bare hands. It's really admirable. I just wonder how Miss Zilan subdued these three criminals?" "Master Di, you only need to see how miserable these three gangsters are, so there's no need to go into details. They've already learned how my wife does it. Luckily, they're still men and have made some fists and sticks. That's all I want to say." Di Gong leaned over and glanced at the three people who were kneeling in the hall, and saw that they were stroking their respective pains and humming.Fang Biao, the leader, raised his head and wanted to say something, but there were some inaudible murmurs in his throat. Mr. Di stroked his beard slowly, pondered for a while, and suddenly shouted sharply: "Fang Biao, you raise your head, the hall has something to ask you. When and where did you meet Xia Guang? You must tell the truth, if there is any hesitation , be careful of the flesh!" Fang Biao lowered his hand from his head, and blood immediately oozed from his ruptured ear.He replied tremblingly: "The day before yesterday, sir, we met him in the hotel in the store the day before yesterday - we didn't know this guy before. He gave us a tael of silver each, and promised to pay a lot of money when things are done." Thanks." "Xia Guang said who is his master?" Fang Biao looked at Di Gong suspiciously and shook his head. "Master? The villain only knows that Xia Guang paid us money, but he doesn't know that he has a master. We wanted to do something that night, but because the peony was receiving guests and there were so many people in the courtyard, we had no choice. It was like this last night. Early this morning we went to the hotel to find Xia Guang and asked him how much more money he would give, because it was a risky business after all. But Xia Guang was not there, so we wanted to try our luck at noon and ask him for a reward at night. During lunch, we managed to lure Peony out. When we brought her to the corner of the Jiangjun Temple, she suddenly tore off her veil and shouted loudly. Then a big lady flew down from the high wall—she... …she nailed a piece of the villain's ear to the doorpost with a throwing knife." Fang Biao couldn't help choking as he spoke, covering his bloody ears with one hand, and let out mournful sobs. Di Gong slapped the hall with a gavel, and shouted: "Are you three guilty?" The three were so frightened that they kowtowed to the ground, pleaded guilty, and begged the master to think about it and give him a lighter sentence. With a wave of Di Gong's hand, six yamen servants who were like wolves like tigers stepped forward and put them in shackles and handcuffs. Di Gong and Yan Yuese said to Mudan: "Miss, stand up, and you will tell me what happened just now in detail." Mudan wiped the bruises on her face with her sleeve, and replied softly: "My sisters and I were preparing dinner in Liangxuan, and these three rascals came to the hospital and pretended that my mother was sick to lure me to visit. I don't know Ji, as soon as he followed out of the gate of the Xingyuan, he was covered by a black cloth. He twisted his hands and urged him to move forward. He only said that he would lend me one night and put it back tomorrow. I was so terrified that I struggled and shouted desperately, but I was kicked and beaten by them. After half a day, I secretly freed my hand, pulled off the black cloth covering my head and shouted for help, just in time to meet this chivalrous female Bodhisattva She saved me and overthrew these three people, such a mountainous kindness should be repaid in the future." Duke Dee asked, "Has anyone kidnapped or hijacked you before?" "Master, it has never happened before." Peony replied in a low voice. "Miss Peony guesses which one of your guest officers is the one who came to do such a thing?" Mudan looked at Di Gong blankly, thought for a while, then shook her head, and replied: "I really don't know who would do such things in secret. I was sold to the academy for only one year, and I have little knowledge and few contacts. , the few guest officials I know are all kind people who are responsible and kind, and they will never commit such shameless crimes.” "Miss Peony, besides picking up guests in the courtyard, you also go out to socialize in villas, mansion singing halls or restaurants and dance halls?" "Oh, no, no, the slaves don't know how to play bombs or dance, so they've never been invited to sing in halls, but occasionally they go out with the head team in the courtyard for evening banquets, dress and change for them, and serve outside." "Okay, Peony, just remember the days of the big and small banquets you have socialized with in the past two months. Who are the people attending, can you tell me?" Mudan pondered for a while, and reported a large list of banquet dates and people - the names of Ke Yuanliang, Bian Jia and even Yang Kangnian were reported more than once.Mudan also remembered that Guo Ming also attended a small banquet as a guest, which was initiated by the local crude medicine guild. Di Gongdao: "Are there any guests who pay special attention to or are deeply interested in you?" "My lord, I don't remember anyone paying attention to me. Those celebrities, wealthy businessmen, rich men and magnates are just joking with the heads of the line, so they don't have time to hang out with me. Of course, they also give me rewards, sometimes the amount is not enough. Quite a few." "Miss Peony, have you ever heard of the names Dong Mei and Xia Guang?" Peony thought for a while, then shook her head. Di Gong expressed his gratitude to Miss Zilan for her courageous actions, comforted Miss Mudan with kind words, and then announced his withdrawal. Miss Zilan bid farewell to Duke Di and walked straight down to the courtroom.Mudan knelt down to Digong again and again, and followed Zilan away.