Although this man was dirty, his clothes were ragged, and his hair and beard were gray and clumpy, his conversation and insight were not comparable to those of ordinary beggars. Zhong Ziyuan became interested in him, so he hugged his fists and said, "This uncle, I don't know what to call him?"

The beggar rolled his eyes and said, "If it sounds good, it will cry for food, and if it is not good, it will cry out for food." ”

After saying this, Zhong Ziyuan couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. She said curtly: "Uncle said it was funny. ”

"Who's free to laugh with you here? It's a waste of my time. At this hour, the person who bought the biscuits always left me with the unsold biscuits, and you dragged me over for some reason, and my dinner was not settled. After saying that, he flicked his sleeves angrily, and limped away with the toothless clogs on his feet.

Li Xiucai asked with some dissatisfaction: "Sister-in-law Zhuang, where did you find this beggar?" ”

The banker's eyes were still red and swollen, and her tears couldn't stop falling. She wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, and after steady, she explained: "I don't believe that the Xiang Guild would do such a thing, so I rushed to the streets where he usually goes to inquire." Overheard this beggar say to another beggar that he had picked up a few purses in the alley and could exchange them for steamed buns to eat. I happened to see him take out those purses, obviously I embroidered them for my husband to sell. So I pleaded with him, and he told me that he had seen a merchant carrying a load knocked unconscious from behind, and then thrown into a wagon and carried away. I guess what he saw must have been my father-in-law, so I begged him to testify. Can. But that dog official didn't even pay attention to it, so he convicted my father-in-law" At this point, she covered her mouth violently. Choked again.

When Li Xiucai heard this, he slapped his thigh and said, "Since that's the case, I really shouldn't let him go." Maybe he will overturn the case for Brother Zhuang in the future, and he is still a key witness. ”

"It doesn't matter." The banker's lady sobbed and said, "I heard that this beggar has been begging on that street all along, and it is not difficult for us to find him." ”

"That's good, that's good." Li Xiucai nodded again and again.

It was completely dark. There were a lot of people coming in and out of the yamen, and there were a few malicious glances that swirled around the three of them. Zhong Ziyuan frowned, she regretted a little in her heart that she shouldn't have asked about the beggar here. So she whispered, "This is not the place to discuss things, let's go first!" ”

"Yes, yes, yes. Let's go. Li Xiucai also came to his senses. Urging the dealer lady together, the three of them left here quickly.

Several men hidden in the shadows looked at the man in the lead. The leader frowned and said, "You guys, follow those three men and see where they live." You two, go find the beggar. This Chang'an City is so prosperous, no one cares if one or two beggars are missing. The men took the order and left, but the leader who remained in place sighed slightly. Looks worried.

When the three returned home, Li Xiucai asked his wife to accompany the banker's wife. He himself carried two vegetable balls and came to Zhong Ziyuan's house to wait. After Zhong Ziyuan went home, he casually ate a few bites of lotus leaf mung bean porridge, and then instructed Fu Bo to put on the carriage and said that he was going out.

Her clothes were first soaked by the rain, and although they were half-dried by the heat along the way, they had a peculiar smell and must not be able to wear them. So she went back to her room and changed into another clean dress, and by the way, she carried her inseparable medicine box.

With Cardamom and Li Xiucai in the carriage, Fauber raised his whip, and the carriage drove on the narrow road. On the way home, Zhong Ziyuan had already thought very clearly, if he wanted to save Brother Zhuang, he couldn't do it by relying on a few of them alone, and he had to ask to go to Guo Chenghe. As a squire of the Criminal Department, he shoulders the heavy responsibility of supervising and reviewing the world's criminal names, which is also one of his duties.

Coming to the tall, magnificent, and two mighty stone lions standing at the door of the Zhenguo Mansion, Li Xiucai felt uneasy in his heart, and even his face became a little pale. In such a top-notch noble house, he never expected that he would step into it one day.

Historically, the various classes have been distinct. Although he had some surplus food at home when he was young, he studied for a few years, and now everyone respectfully calls him Li Xiucai. But in front of these real nobles, he was like an ant, so his originally straight back unconsciously slumped down.

Zhong Ziyuan didn't notice his abnormality, but just instructed Cardamom: "Go and call the door, just say that you will find Rong Xi next to the prince to come out and say a few words." ”

Cardamom was not afraid of anything, and she immediately jumped out of the carriage and ran to the corner door and banged on it. When a doorman came to open the door, she immediately offered a few broken silver horns, and said a few good words with a smile, and the doorman finally went in to help her call someone.

Li Xiucai said with joy on his face: "Doctor Jia, although I knew that you were capable, I didn't expect you to be so capable. Guo Shizi's personal servant is not easy for ordinary people to touch. If he is willing to help Brother Zhuang say a few good words, maybe this case will have a chance to maneuver. ”

"What's the use of looking for Rongxi?" Zhong Ziyuan said indifferently: "If you want to find it, of course, you can only do it by looking for Guo Shizi himself." As a servant of the Criminal Department, it is his duty to avenge the people. ”

What! Looking for Guo Shizi himself, Li Xiucai opened his mouth wide in horror, his jaw "clicked", and he fell to the ground.

After half an hour, I saw Rongxi appear at the corner gate. Zhong Ziyuan immediately jumped out of the carriage and walked over, and Li Xiucai gritted his teeth and followed her tremblingly.

Without waiting for her to speak, Rong Xi laughed first: "Doctor Jia is here to find our prince, right?" ”

Zhong Ziyuan hurriedly arched his hand and said, "Exactly, please also ask Brother Rong Xi to help inform me." ”

"No need." Rong Xi said heartily: "I heard a report from Menzi that a person claiming to be Dr. Jia came to look for me, and I thought that Dr. Jia must not be looking for me." I immediately reported to the prince, and the prince asked me to take you directly in. ”

"Thank you so much, please lead the way in front of Brother Rongxi." Zhong Ziyuan has been thinking about what to do if Guo Chengsi is not in the house. She never expected it to be so smooth, and she couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Rong Xi explained a few words to Menzi, and then took Zhong Ziyuan and Li Xiucai. Entered the gate of the Zhenguo Mansion. Along the way, rockeries and flowing water, green trees, pavilions and pavilions are magnificent, trees and mountains are verdant and lush, and you can faintly see the high walls and cornices of those pink walls and tiles, revealing the ultimate magnificence.

Rongxi took the three of them past the front yard and the middle courtyard. In the backyard, I don't know how many hanging flower doors I have passed, and how many corridors I have passed through. How many delicate maids who wear gold and silver, wrapped in silk and satin, like a fairy.

Li Xiucai feels strange when he sees everything, and he feels rich when he sees everything. I feel like my eyes aren't enough. From time to time, he tugged at the corners of his clothes. Suddenly, I felt that the dark blue cotton robe on my body, which was originally quite fit, looked a little shabby. In particular, the inconspicuous pudding at the hem is even more eye-catching.

Just when he was in a hurry, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of Zhong Ziyuan. Seeing her straighten her back, she looked not strange. only kept a calm face and followed behind Rongxi without squinting.

He couldn't help but feel ashamed in his heart, wasting how many years he had grown, but he was not as good as the bearing she showed at a young age. And the honor is not surprised. So Li Xiucai restrained his mind and followed Zhong Ziyuan's example. retracted his wandering gaze, and followed behind Rongxi step by step.

Finally came to a courtyard gate, Rongxi pushed open the gate, and the tall and verdant bamboo forest in the courtyard appeared in front of Zhong Ziyuan. A fresh smell of green bamboo came to the face, and the dry heat of the bitter summer suddenly dissipated a lot. In the middle, a path paved with warm stones connects the courtyard gate with the main house inside. A little girl wearing a short dress of begonia red plain yarn on the top and a lotus lotus-colored pomegranate skirt on the bottom ran over and said with a smile: "Brother Rongxi is back, and the prince has asked twice." ”

Zhong Ziyuan knew that this was the little girl guarding the door, so she only stood behind Rong Xi with her eyebrows lowered and ignored it. But Li Xiucai's heart was originally tight, as soon as he saw this little girl running over and speaking crisply, he immediately subconsciously hugged his fists and bowed, and said humbly: "Hello girl." ”

The girl was about fourteen or five years old, and when she heard this, she was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth and giggled. Zhong Ziyuan was embarrassed, and hurriedly pulled Li Xiucai quietly, and he looked at Zhong Ziyuan with an unknown expression, not understanding why the girl suddenly laughed. Rong Xi forced a smile and scolded: "This son is polite, you dare to laugh if you don't say that you want to avoid it?" Be careful, I sue Sister Sù Sui'er to hit your board. ”

The girl stuck out her tongue quietly and immediately avoided it. Rong Xi smiled and said to Li Xiucai: "It's the maid who is rude, please don't blame the son." ”

Li Xiucai whispered embarrassedly: "Don't dare, don't dare." ”

Rong Xi took the two of them along this cobblestone path to the main house, the main house is surrounded by eaves, carved corridors and paintings, and green windows and oil walls. There is a row of birdcages hanging under the eaves, and a few parrots, wrens. There were three or four girls below who were also dressed in red and green, with silver hairpins on their heads and emerald rings on their hands. Some of them were playing with the rope, some were teasing Brother Wren, and when they saw Rong Xi coming in with Zhong Ziyuan and Li Xiucai, they all looked at them curiously.

Zhong Ziyuan still maintained an attitude of not squinting, and Li Xiucai did not dare to act rashly since he made a joke at the door, and followed Zhong Ziyuan in every move.

Rong Xi ignored those girls, and only stood behind the bamboo curtain made of fragrant concubine bamboo and whispered: "Sister Sui'er, Sister Sui'er, I brought Dr. Jia in." ”

The bamboo curtain was lifted, and Sui'er walked out lightly. She was wearing a goose-yellow embroidered butterfly tunic with a floral tulle, a light green breast-length soft smoke skirt tied inside, and the crow's hair was combed into a concentric bun, and there were several white hostas diagonally inserted in the bun. This all-round style is more decent than that of ordinary young ladies.

Looking at the costume, it is not difficult to guess that this must be a big girl with some face in front of Guo Chengsi. She couldn't help but take a few more looks, and saw that she had a round face and big eyes, her skin was not white enough but delicate and soft, and although the whole person looked not bright enough, she was very gentle and lovely. Zhong Ziyuan smiled at her and said, "Hello Miss Sui'er." ”

Sui'er went through Song Qinglian's careful training for several months before she was put by Guo Chenghe's side. Now she has already taken off her previous childishness and recklessness. Treat people and things to become a degree of advance and retreat, steady dà square.

Seeing a decent smile on the corner of her mouth, she turned a blind eye to Zhong Ziyuan and Li Xiucai's slightly shabby clothes, but she was blessed, and said, "I have seen the two sons, my family has been waiting inside for a long time, please come in." With that, she reached out and opened the bamboo curtain. Zhong Ziyuan smiled and walked in with her legs raised.

Along the way, Zhong Ziyuan has seen the prosperity and wealth of the town's Guogong Mansion. In her mind, as the bedroom of the prince, it should be more luxurious and rich. After entering, she realized that she was wrong, and the furnishings inside were actually very simple and clear. Except for a whole set of Huanghuali furniture, there is no other excessive furnishings at all.

The only thing that caught people's attention was the few swords offered on the high table. Looking at the quaint and even somewhat worn scabbards of those swords, you can know that these swords must have an extraordinary origin.

A black plain gauze robe was loosely draped on Guo Chengsi's body, perhaps in his bedroom, it was his most relaxed moment, the thin plain gauze robe on his body was not tied, it was so open, without hesitation, revealing his honey-colored, fine-strong chest, and the two points of cherry red that aroused people's reverie.

He leaned leaning on the long collapse and looked at a blue scroll in his hand. The black hair was untied and draped over his shoulders like ink, and occasionally a drop or two of water fell from the ends of his hair. This qiē is incomparably lazy and tranquil, as well as fragrant-glamorous.

Zhong Ziyuan was defenseless, and suddenly felt that his nose was hot, and two tubes of nosebleeds actually spurted out very unproductively. She immediately blocked her nose with her sleeve in a panic, leaving only two black eyes purring around, not knowing where to put them.

"Doctor Jia, what's wrong with you?" Li Xiucai was startled and hurriedly helped her wipe her nosebleed.

Zhong Ziyuan said with a smile: "It's been too hot and dry in the past two days, some are on fire, some are on fire. ”

Guo Chengsi put down the scroll in his hand, and his eyes shining like obsidian rose and looked at the two people who were in a mess. He frowned and said, "What the hell are you guys messing about?" ”

Zhong Ziyuan hurriedly wiped off the nosebleeds twice, and quietly pulled Li Xiucai again. Li Xiucai came back to his senses at this time, he hurriedly saluted Guo Chenghe, and said with a little stammer: "See, I've seen Guo Shizi." Guo Chengsi ignored him, and his eyes were only staring at Zhong Ziyuan.

Zhong Ziyuan was busy with a smiling face, and said to Guo Chenghe, who had a constipated expression: "This is my neighbor, surnamed Li, let's call him Li Xiucai." After introducing Li Xiucai, she paused and continued: "I have encountered a problem, think about it, only you can help." ”

Guo Chengsi smiled coldly, gritted his teeth and said, "I knew that if it was okay, you wouldn't take the initiative to come to me." (To be continued......)