Gao Cheng died on the streets two days ago.

If the murderer is an outsider, he will definitely not be able to enter the Hou Mansion; If the murderer is in the Hou Mansion, it is likely that after killing someone, he will subconsciously deal with the traces of his own past, so Lu Li feels that the possibility of clues in Gao Cheng's room is relatively small.

But no matter how unlikely it is, the people who investigate the case also need to take a look. Even if you can't find any clues related to the murder, it is helpful to know more about the deceased's personality, habits, and hobbies.

So Lu Li asked to see Gao Cheng's room.

Zhang's expression solemnly agreed: "Naturally." However, she did not accompany her in person, and told Cui Zhi to treat her guests well, and asked the head of the outer courtyard to help her, so as not to slack off.

Lu Li and the others all expressed their understanding, and Zhao Zhu, who had the most honorable status, did not have any dissatisfaction.

First, although it is a human life, it is just a subordinate, and the master attaches too much importance to it, but it seems to be a fall; Second, whether the Zhang family is a woman or a widow, it is normal for the incident to suddenly be unstable; Thirdly, Zhang's love has fluctuated a lot since this morning, and there are still some gaffes, you always have to let others tidy up, wash your face and change your clothes, and smooth your mood or something......

The Hou Mansion is a big place, and it is not bad for money, and it is not harsh on the subordinates, such as Zhang Cheng, who has achieved the level of stewardship, can have a separate wing room with the brightest and best terrain in the inverted seat, or a small courtyard in a remote corner of the house, choose one of the two.

Gao Cheng chose a small courtyard.

That is, it is to live with the next person, the environment is much worse, it is said to be a small yard, in fact, the place is very small, it is a single wing, and a small area is used as a yard with green bricks in front of the house, and a few people are too crowded to stand a few people.

And the place is also very remote, almost all of it leans against the wall of the Hou Mansion.

Shen Wansha and Lu Li bit their ears and explained that in general, in a big family like the Hou Mansion, the guards in the mansion patrol in shifts, and they can't be broken for twelve hours a day. It's just a big family with a background, Cui Luo, who is a marquis because of good luck, doesn't be an official, doesn't practice martial arts, has no power in his hands, no soldiers, and doesn't even have a servant, most of the guards are bought, maybe hired with a lot of money, naturally not as serious and careful as the servants who have been trained since childhood, and the head of the family needs to think of other ways to enhance security precautions.

One of the ways to divide the small courtyard against the wall is to live with people with heads and faces.

Those who can manage things, not to mention being deaf and clear-sighted, must be able to deal with things. If they hear something bad at night, whether they want to be promoted or are afraid of losing their current position, these people will stand up and find a way to deal with it properly.

The small courtyard is built in a hidden place, all against the wall of the Hou Mansion, which does not affect the landscape of the mansion, and can have one more protection, why not?

Lu Li was a little surprised, it could still be like this......

Shen Wansha shook his fan and winked proudly, "Is the master always smarter than the subordinate?" "Those who can work more, one person can do two kinds of work or even more, and the master is willing to use it and is willing to give better treatment.

But this is not without its drawbacks.

Lu Li clearly pointed out: "If the subordinate colludes with outsiders, the danger will be even greater."

Shen Wansha also admitted, but isn't there no way to do this, if the guard force is enough, the main family will not be like this. Moreover, the punishment for harming the lord is very severe, and ordinary subordinates dare not dare to do such a thing.

The two talked all the way, and they arrived at the gate of Gaocheng's courtyard. The housekeeper lowered his head and pushed open the door and waited, and Cui Zhi asked Zhao Zhu and the others to go first.

Yard...... Nothing special, just small.

"Huh? Lock the door. Shen Wansha pointed to the big lock on the door of the wing room and asked the housekeeper, "Do you have a key?" ”

The butler shook his head, "The steward's room is locked, and the key is not handed over to the house." ”

"Then only Gao Cheng has it?" Shen Wansha tilted his head, "Then what should Gao Cheng do if he loses the key?" Or what if he commits a crime and the house needs to search his room? ”

The housekeeper replied respectfully, "If there is really a time, find a powerful locksmith to pick it open, and if it doesn't work, cut it." ”

Shen Wansha thinks about it, how much is the lock? He walked up to Helian Yu and touched his waist knife.

"Do what?" Helian Yu was afraid that the young master would be injured, so he didn't want him to touch the blade, so he held down his hand.

Shen Wansha pointed to the lock, "Cut this lock!" "I don't understand this yet, how obvious! The young master couldn't resist Helian Yu's strength, so he simply withdrew his hand and blinked, "Why don't you come?" ”

Helian Yu didn't have a problem with this......

Unbeknownst to them, when the two of them were talking, Lu Li and Zhao Shu had already approached the door to observe the door lock...... "That's really the case." ”

"What's wrong, what's wrong?" Shen Wansha shook off Helian Yu and jumped forward.

Lu Li pointed to the door lock, "You see, this lock is not locked, it is just hanging." ”

As he spoke, he looked at Zhao Zhu, his clear eyes full of smiles. Zhao Zhu's eyes were too sharp, and he could see that the lock was not locked at once, he still didn't believe it, but he came over and saw that it was really true!

"Oh, really!" Shen Wansha pointed to the part of the brass lock tiger head, "This seam is too thin, if you don't look at it carefully, you think it's locked!" ”

But this is not locked, is it careless before Gao Cheng leaves, or is it ...... What else is the reason?

In short, no need to smash.

Zhao Shu took the lock, handed it to Cui Zhi, and asked him to put it away, and several other people pushed open the room and entered.

When they entered, everyone was stunned, and no one dared to move.

Because the scene is so shocking!

Tables and chairs were upside down, cups and pots were broken, everything was scattered all over the ground, and even the bed tent was torn off! This room is not small, there are a lot of furniture, but everything is not in its original place, the whole room seems to have experienced a storm, messy no!

"This is ......" Shen Wansha's eyes widened, "Visited by thieves?" ”

Helian Yu rubbed his head, "It could also be a murderer." "Coming looking for things with an unspeakable purpose......

"Even if it's the murderer, why don't you clean up the scene after looking for it?" Shen Wansha disagreed with this speculation, "Are you afraid that others won't know that he killed someone?" ”

There are too many traces left, and it's too easy to get caught, okay?

Helian Yu's peach blossom eyes were full of smiles, "Yes, what the young master said is right." He just said it casually.

Lu Li had already begun to avoid the things on the ground, walking cautiously and observing the environment in the room.

Zhao Shu followed behind him, also with a solemn expression.

Cui Zhi...... Cui Zhi is a teenager who has not experienced this kind of thing, he has no experience, he only tries to stretch his face, he is strict, and he pays attention to the movements of several people at any time, what are the requirements.

Lu Li circled the room and felt a little weird. The things in this room are too completely poured, but if all the small pieces are poured, even if someone else is looking for something, there is no need to destroy it like this, right? He had seen the scene of a burglary, such as tables and chairs, thin wood, no drawers, and it was obviously impossible to hide important items, unless people argued and bumped into them, they generally did not fall.

Even the bed tent has been torn off here, and only a row of cabinets stands in the corner, is it too large and heavy to be easy to use?

……

Zhao Shu looked at it four times, walked to Lu Li's side, and looked at the only cabinet standing in the room.

This cabinet is made very large, high and long, the bottom is stored, and the top is placed to enjoy the things, mostly porcelain wood, now all the porcelain is broken on the ground, and the wood can still see a concubine.

He reached out and touched the surface of the cabinet, and a shallow layer of dust was stained on the tip of his finger. He first took a look at it himself, and then showed the dust mark to Lu Li, "The last time the room was cleaned was within five days. ”

Lu Li gave Zhao Zhu a 'very good' look and asked the housekeeper, "Gao Cheng is diligent?" ”

Obedient and arguing, the housekeeper has been in the room, of course he understands what Lu Li means, "As long as he is not drunk, Gao Cheng is diligent and loves to be clean, and he deliberately cleaned up the room before going out, and many people saw him carrying water." ”

Since it is cleaned up, it is impossible to wipe only the cabinets that have been leaked elsewhere. The cabinet was used to store the ornamental items, and now everything has been swept to the ground, and if you look closely at the light, the dust marks on the cabinet are even, as if nothing has been left on it.

The room is so messy, it must not be Gao Cheng's own deliberate doing, otherwise there is no need to clean up in one fell swoop, and it is directly the situation of this room must be done by others.

The dust traces on the cabinet are too even, and there is no difference between shades, so the time for the things on the cabinet to be swept off is not long after cleaning and finishing...... In other words, Gao Cheng had just finished cleaning, and before the dust had time to be lightly laid, the things on the cabinet were pulled down and kept until now.

And Gao Cheng went out directly after cleaning, did not return home, and died at the mouth of Chaoyang Street and alleys......

This point in time is more delicate, if it is a bit far-fetched to say that petty theft is really related to Gao Cheng's death.

In this way, the murderer may be someone from the Hou Mansion.

……

Everyone started their brains to observe, and suddenly the housekeeper 'huh'.

Cui Zhi was puzzled, "What's wrong?" ”

The butler pointed to the surviving, unswept lotus-shaped lamp on the windowsill, "This lamp oil...... I seem to have used it. ”

"Isn't it normal to use it?" Cui Zhi didn't understand it even more.

The housekeeper shook his head, "Because Gao Cheng wants to go out to collect the bills, in order to earn more money, he has added a night shift in the last half a month, and he gets up every evening to do things and add night to work, and after the morning errand is done the next day, he will rest near noon, so this lamp oil is not needed." He himself said that anyway, when he went out to take the car, there was time in the car to make up for sleep, which could cost more money for a month and save lamp oil, which was very cost-effective. ”

Shen Wansha was curious, "So he hasn't lit the lamp recently?" This lamp has been lit...... It must be the murderer! ”

Could it be that the murderer came at night?

The young master solemnly reminded Lu Li: "You need to ask the Hou Mansion to confess at night." ”

Lu Li's jaw was tilted, indicating his agreement.

Cui Zhi looked at the messy house, and his mood was also very chaotic, "The house is so messy, did someone have an argument with Gao Cheng?" ”

Shen Wansha's eyes widened, "That's right! If someone argues and fights, the room will be chaotic, not necessarily a thief! ”

"It's unlikely." Lu Li shook his head, no, "If it is a dispute and pushing, it can be messed up like this, the fight must be particularly fierce, and the fight is so bad, it is impossible for both sides to not be injured at all, even if it breaks a little skin, it will leave traces, but there is no room for it." ”

Zhao Shu echoed: "The walls, tables and chairs, and the ground have no traces of human tearing, dragging, or collision...... It looks more like looking for something, and it's deliberately sabotage. ”

"That's what you're looking for...... I can't find it upset, so it's so messy? Shen Wansha touched his chin, "What's so powerful?" ”

"Nature is a good thing." At this time, Helian Yu had already walked to the cabinet, staring at the corner and laughing.

Shen Wansha leaned over, "What did you find?" ”

Helian Yu pointed to the depths of the cabinet a little red, "See?" ”

Shen Wansha saw it, but ...... "I don't understand." ”

Helian Yu pointed to the broken pile of things on the ground again, "Is there a red one?" ”

"Nope." Shen Wansha shook his head, and after shaking it, he understood, his big eyes widened, "There was originally a red thing here, and it was taken away!" ”

He hurriedly beckoned Lu Li, "Little Li, come and see!" ”

Lu Li and Zhao Zhu were already at the other end of the cabinet, but when they came over to take a look, they both looked enlightened.

There is a touch of red in the depths of the cabinet, and if you touch it with your fingers, you can also get a trace of it, and the traces are very new, obviously caused recently.

Zhao Shu rubbed it and sniffed it, "It's like red lacquerware." ”

It's just a pity that there are too few traces to tell what it is.

……

Lu Li thought that he would not gain much from going to the deceased's room this time, but he gained a lot.

For example, Gao Cheng's death is likely to have been committed by someone in the Hou Mansion, someone went to this room at night and took away a red lacquerware, although I don't know what this lacquerware is and what it is for, but it must be very important, so important that this person searched for it too hard, and in anger, he caused disaster to the whole room......

In addition, Helian Yu studied the lock hanging on the door, it was a delicate tiger head lock, it was difficult for ordinary craftsmen to open without a key, this person could enter the room, and it was likely that he had the key to the deceased.

Therefore, as long as you look back, if the deceased does not have the lock key on him, the possibility of the murderer and the person who caused the chaos in the room is even greater.

……

As soon as a few people finished looking at the room, the Zhang family sent someone to invite the next person who went to the government to identify the body and came back, saying that the deceased was indeed Gao Cheng.

Lu Li and the others glanced at each other, and walked back to the main hall with the messenger. Zhang had already changed his clothes, sat in the main seat, and beckoned to Lu Li while pointing to the small guy standing in front of the hall, "If you have any questions, you can ask him." ”

Lu Li was also not polite, "Can you recognize clearly, the deceased is indeed Gao Cheng?" ”

"The little one is sure," the little guy's head was full of sweat, "The officials have also found out the clues, and they are about to go to the Hou Mansion to ask questions, and the little one went over and immediately recognized that the deceased was Gao Cheng!" ”

Shen Wansha shook his fan, "The government has also found out the identity of the deceased?" "It's not slow.

The little guy bowed his hand, "Yes." ”

"What about them?"

The little guy glanced at the Zhang who was sitting on the head and did not speak.

Lu Li understood that the Hou Mansion had a class status, although there was a murder case, his identity was only a subordinate, and it was not a serious case, and he had to cooperate with the wishes of the head of the family.

Zhang's eyes narrowed slightly, "It's a mess in the house, and it's almost time to eat, so I'll ask the officials to have a meal first, and then come to the house in the afternoon to ask for a confession." ”

Lu Li's jaw is headed, such an attitude is already very good, it is good not to push people out and not let the government take care of it, Zhang's heart is to solve the case.

He asked the little guy, "Does Gao Cheng have any ......?"

"Let me in! I know who the murderer is! Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the hall, blocking Lu Li's words.

The voice was sharp and crisp, and it was a woman.

Because the serious master in the mansion was Mrs. Hou, for a moment, everyone looked at the main seat Zhang.

The corners of Zhang's lips pursed deeply, and displeasure flashed in her eyes, but it was only for a moment, and she regained her gentle and noble appearance, "Let her in." ”

As soon as she gave the order, the people outside the hall let go, and a Hulu figure immediately rushed in, glanced at the hall for a week, and did not salute the Zhang family, but knelt down directly at Zhao Zhu, who seemed to have the highest status, and shouted, "I know who the murderer is!" ”

While talking, she was still lying forward, looking like she wanted to hug Zhao Shu's legs, but Zhao Shu's martial arts skills were high, if he didn't want to, others would naturally not be able to hug him......

This woman is slender, with shaved shoulders and willow waist, smoky eyebrows and peach cheeks, and the whole person exudes a sense of softness. There are a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and she doesn't look young anymore, but this temperament is still obvious, and you can imagine what kind of stunner she would be when she was young.

But she moved quickly, lost her politeness to Zhang, spoke quickly and loudly, and there was still a bit of anger in her eyebrows, which was very incompatible with her temperament, and this incongruity made people look a little uncomfortable.

Shen Wansha saw that Lu Li was slightly stunned, thinking that he minded something, so he leaned over and explained, "King Ping is wearing the prince's regular clothes, and the four-clawed golden dragon on his chest is too dazzling, anyone can see his identity at a glance, but it is not that he has any past with this woman." ”

Lu Li was even more stunned, Shen Wansha misunderstood that he was jealous?

Shen Wansha saw that he was stunned, and patted him lightly on the back, "If you are still unhappy, I will help you beat the king together when the business is over in a while, huh?" ”

He even coaxed him!

Seeing that the young master was worried, half distressed and half wanted to speak and then stopped softly persuading, Lu Li stroked his forehead, "I don't have ......"

Shen Wansha had an expression of 'I understand, everyone is duplicitous when they encounter this kind of thing', and patted Lu Li's back again.

Lu Li: ......

"Mother Du," Zhang's eyebrows narrowed slightly, "pull her away!" ”

Mother Du immediately took the maids over, and the woman broke away from their hands, "Get out!" I will get up myself! ”

Then, the woman stood up and glared at Zhang indignantly.

Zhang sighed shallowly, stood up and apologized to Zhao Shu and the others, "This is my husband's concubine, surnamed Pang, I have always had no rules, please forgive me." ”

Seeing her like this, Pang Zi snorted with his nose, "Pretend!" ”

Mother Du looked at Pang Zi, her voice was slightly cold, "Auntie, stop a little, there are guests in the mansion today, and Mrs. is not good to deal with you, if you go too far, you will lose the face of the Hou Mansion-"

Pang Shi snorted and turned to Zhao Shu again, "I know who killed Gao Cheng, it is our lady Hou who sits in a high position, elegant and calm!" ”

These words silenced the room.

Mother Du's eyes were as sharp as knives, "Aunt has spoken and thought about it, Gao Cheng is just a subordinate, if Mrs. is not happy, if she wants his life with just one sentence, the outer courtyard will be eighty boards, and you can casually throw it to the mass grave, and no one else will know about it, it is worth making such a big move and going to the government?" ”

Pang Shi sneered, and his voice was even sharper, "Because although Gao Cheng is a subordinate, he is different from ordinary subordinate, he knows the secret of Madame's murder, and Madame is angry, that's why he died so heroically!" ”

These words surprised everyone, especially the word 'killing husband', which means that the Zhang family killed Cui Luo!

Pang didn't give others time to react, picked up the corner of his skirt and knelt down heavily in front of Zhao Shu, "What the concubine said is true!" Zhang's ruthless and vicious, murdered my husband Wu'an Hou Cuiluo, Gao Cheng is Hou Ye's personal servant, the most loyal, it must be that he learned about this, Zhang's murder and mouth, please make the decision for them! ”

"Your husband?" Mother Du's voice was even colder, "You are a cheap concubine, and you are also worthy of calling Hou Ye a husband?" In the entire Great Xia, there is only one person who can call the Hou Ye by her husband! ”

"But although I have a lowly status, I serve the Hou Ye wholeheartedly, so that I can be favored by the Hou Ye during his lifetime, and the Zhang family is just a woman who has stained her body and ruined her reputation and is not worthy of life!" As if he was afraid of being pulled down by covering his mouth, Pang Zi said very quickly, "Why does the Zhang family have only one child under his knees, and it is not after the incident fourteen years ago, the prince refuses to touch her again!" Why didn't the prince touch her? Isn't it that when she was in Tang Nanzhuang, she used as bait to lure away the bandits, and was defiled by the bandits! ”

"If it weren't for her meritorious, Hou Ye would have divorced her a long time ago, and it was already generous to treat her with respect, but she was not satisfied, she was resentful, and killed Hou Ye!"

What she said was too heavy and shocking, and everyone in the hall didn't know how to react for a while.

"I thought you really knew how Gao Cheng died, so I allowed you to come in, but I didn't expect you to mention the old thing again, and you still said this."

Zhang's expression was indifferent, and he explained to Lu Li: "When my husband passed away, Pang Zi made a fuss about it, not that I was not greedy enough to kill my husband." At that time, there was evidence from the Cui family and the government's investigation, and I didn't do such a thing. I remembered that Pang Zi had meritorious service and gave birth to a child for the Hou Ye, so I didn't care, but I didn't expect that to this day, she still remembers this matter, but it frightened a few people. ”

This kind of thing is a secret matter of a private house, and it will not be spread outside, Shen Wansha has never heard of it, his eyes are wide open, such a thing has happened in the Hou Mansion of Wu'an!

Lu Li felt that this little concubine was very suspicious, and asked Pang Shi directly, "You said that Gao Cheng knew about the events of the year, so he was killed by his wife?" ”

Pang Zi's expression was firm, and his eyebrows were sharp, "Yes!" ”

"How can you be sure that Gao Cheng was killed because of this matter, what is your relationship with him?"

Ponzi's face immediately changed.

This question was asked so wonderfully, Shen Wansha couldn't help but put away the fan, "Yes, what is your relationship with him, how can he tell you any secrets?" ”