Zhan Zhao investigates the case in the palace and encounters another suicide case.

How to look at the two cases and how they were implicated, the Zhan guards had to put them together to investigate.

Nangong called a few palace maids who knew Granny Liang for Zhanzhao and asked Zhanzhao to question. In fact, there is no need for Nangong to look for it, the palace maids have already lined up, and they have the opportunity to chat with the Zhan guards, of course the girls are happy, but unfortunately only Zhan Zhao is here today, Bai Yutang did not come, otherwise there will be no regrets in life if you catch the two of them and talk together.

Zhan Zhao asked around, the palace maids said the same, can you sum it up......

This Granny Liang has always done some heavy work in the harem, laundry and cooking. These little palace maids don't know about her past, and she rarely mentions her own affairs, and the only clue is provided by a few older palace maids, saying that this Granny Liang's family has passed away, and no one knows the reason.

As for the evaluation of her character, everyone agrees, whether it is the eunuch in charge, the cook, the palace maid, the guard, etc...... As long as they know her, they all say that she is very kind and very good.

As for why she committed suicide, everyone shook their heads, saying that they couldn't figure it out.

But when Zhanzhao asked about what was abnormal about this Granny Liang recently, no one noticed it, what should I say...... This mother-in-law has a good relationship with many people in the palace, but she is not particularly good, many people know that she is good, but no one understands her...... To put it bluntly, everyone is a general acquaintance.

Zhan Zhao felt that this Granny Liang was deliberately keeping a distance from the people around her.

In the end, Zhan Zhao and Gongsun arrived at the residence of Granny Liang in the palace.

The palace maids live in the west courtyard of the palace, and in addition to the palace maids who are resident in the palace, some of the older ones who help are outside with their own homes, and the palace is just a temporary residence.

Granny Liang has a separate room, the room is poorly furnished, and she looks like she is just sleeping temporarily.

Zhan Zhao flipped through it, but didn't find any clues, so he asked the steward to take the registration booklet. After all, they are helpers in the palace, and each of them has been investigated by a special person sent by the steward's office, not to mention the address, and all the living ones of the upper and lower generations are recorded. This Granny Liang's home outside the palace is not far from the palace, and on the list of relatives, there are fathers and mothers, as well as younger siblings...... However, Zhanzhao looked at the year, which was registered thirty-five years ago...... In other words, she entered the palace as a teenager.

Zhan Zhao touched his chin, it is unlikely that she entered the palace as a teenager to do rough work, maybe she served a concubine or princess, I don't know if anyone remembers her.

In the palace, Zhanzhao asked Zhao Pu to help find the Queen Mother to check, and he himself went to the residence outside the palace of Granny Liang with his grandson.

At this time, it was getting late, and Zhan Zhao and Gongsun found an old mansion according to the address registered with the steward.

As expected by Zhan Zhao and Gongsun, the house was old and dilapidated, and Granny Liang's family was poor...... That's right, if the family is well-off, no one will be willing to send their daughter to be a subordinate.

After filming for a long time, there was no one at home, but the people in the house next door woke up.

The door of the next room opened, and an old man walked out with his clothes on.

Most of the people in Kaifeng City knew Zhanzhao, and this old man was no exception, and he recognized it at a glance, "Isn't this Lord Zhan?" ”

Zhan Zhao said hello to the uncle, and asked, "Is the owner of this house here?" ”

The old man shook his head and said, "This house has been empty for a long time, and Qiao Niang rarely comes back." ”

"Qiao Niang?" Zhan Zhao asked, "Is she helping in the palace?" ”

"That's right!" The old man nodded, "Her real name is Liang Qiaoyu, the older ones call her Qiaoniang, and the young people call her Granny Liang......"

Speaking of this, the old man frowned slightly and asked Zhanzhao, "Lord Zhan, isn't something happened to Qiao Niang?" ”

Zhan Zhao roughly explained the matter.

"Oops!" The old man stomped his feet, looking very sad, "She still can't think about it!" ”

The old man was noisy at the door, the old lady at home also walked out, and the doors of several other neighborhoods next door also opened, and some people came out to ask what happened.

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun glanced at each other, feeling puzzled, so they asked Liang Qiaoyu in detail.

This Liang Qiaoyu used to have younger siblings in both parents, her father and mother were not in good health, the family was poor, Liang Qiaoyu was very well-behaved, and she was the oldest, so when she was a teenager, she went to the palace to choose a palace maid, and finally chose and entered the palace. Liang Qiaoyu is very capable, serving the concubine in the palace, she is very liked by the concubine, and often has some rewards, she takes them back to supplement the family, and the life of the family gradually improves...... But when Qiao Niang was about eighteen years old, that is, about three or four years after entering the palace, all the family members passed away.

Zhanzhao sounds fresh, a family, father and mother plus three younger siblings, a total of five people, how can you say that death is death?

"Could it be that someone murdered?!" Zhan Zhao was horrified.

The old man smiled bitterly, "Lord Zhan, you don't know, about thirty years ago, there was a big case in this neighborhood!" ”

Zhan Zhao was slightly stunned, "What case?" ”

"Someone gave poisoned sugar cakes to children in the neighborhood." The old man shook his head.

Gongsun frowned, "Who is so hateful?!" ”

"Alas......" the old man sighed, "Does Master Zhan know which sugar cake shop in Kaifeng Mansion is the biggest?" ”

"Full of memorization?" Zhan Zhao asked, Manji Sugar Shop can be said to be well-known in the world.

"More than 30 years ago, in addition to Manji, there was also a Xu Ji." The old man said, "I remember that year coincided with the emperor's birthday to celebrate, and a shop was needed to make sugar." Whoever can accept the errand in the palace is equivalent to the royal sugar shop, so Xu Ji and Man Ji broke their heads. Xu Ji's boss didn't know if he was confused, so he came up with such a trick to damage yin morality, put □□ in the sugar cake of Man Ji, and distributed it to the children of poor families...... The Liang family's doll took the sugar cake home and ate it with her parents, but the whole family died. ”

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun were stunned on the spot, feeling that they couldn't believe it.

"Several children died on the street." The old man shook his head, "In the end, after the case was investigated, the emperor personally sentenced Xu Ji to be beheaded." ”

Zhanzhao frowned...... He seems to have seen in the case file, the Great Song Dynasty did not impose heavy punishments, and there were very few cases that could be sentenced to full of beheadings, and there was indeed a family surnamed Xu, it turned out that it was for this reason......

Gongsun also frowned, "I haven't even heard of this......"

"Is it a child from a poor family who was poisoned, naturally no one cares." The old man sighed faintly, "I don't believe that if you poison any of the emperor's relatives, this case is estimated to be known to the world." This world is so unfair, the children of poor families are so sensible, but they suffer a tragic death. Some of the second ancestors were high-flying, but they lived a long life and enjoyed the blessings of a lifetime. ”

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun also felt depressed, so they asked the old man if there was anything abnormal about Granny Liang recently.

"Abnormal?" The old man thought it was funny, "She hasn't lived normally since her family died, she hasn't married in her life, she rarely talks to us in a simple house, and she only comes back every two or three months, and then again, why did she come back?" There was no one at home. ”

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun thanked the old man, but decided to go to Liang Qiaoyu's house to have a look.

Gongsun held back his anger, after all, he was a father, and he felt that it was heinous when he thought that someone had poisoned the sugar cake, and he walked with Zhanzhao, muttering in his mouth, "It's so annoying!" ”

Zhan Zhao pried open the lock of Granny Liang's house, and said helplessly, "That old man is also reasonable, sometimes good people don't live long and leave a thousand years of harm. ”

There was a "crunch" and the door opened.

The house was in chaos, peas were planted in the yard, but it should have been left unattended for a long time, and it grew like weeds, most of them had died, and the lanterns at the door were also broken, and the gate was even more dilapidated.

Gongsun sighed, "What a poor family." ”

Zhanzhao opened the door, entered the house, lit candles, and looked around.

The cottage is not big, one for adults, one for children, and the back is a stove room or something.

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun split up to find clues that might be related to Granny Liang's death, so as not to rummage through the cabinets, and the two tried not to mess up the things at home......

After rummaging through and finding nothing, Gongsun sat on the edge of the bed and felt that there seemed to be something under the futon.

The quilt is lifted to look at the bed slats.

Zhan Zhao also walked over, and the two groped for a while, and found that a piece of the bed board was uneven, so they pried it open...... A box was taken out from inside.

The box is not small, very heavy, and has a lock.

Zhan Zhao weighed it, and said in his heart, what is so heavy in it?

The two of them didn't find the key, so Zhanzhao twisted it lightly, and the lock was unscrewed, and the box was opened to take a look...... Be dumbfounded.

I saw a chest full of gold!

Gongsun was shocked, "This has to be a few hundred taels, right?" “

Zhan Zhao nodded.

The two of them went to look at the wooden grid again, and found that there was something inside.

Zhan Zhao simply lifted the entire bed board and found that there were still four boxes inside.

Take out the chests and open them, there are three chests of gold, and two chests full of jewelry. Gongsun picked it up and appraised it, frowning, "Everything is worth a lot!" ”

Zhan Zhao frowned, "With this amount of money, it's enough to buy a mansion, right?" ”

Gongsun raised his eyebrows, "What's more! It's enough to buy a mansion and enjoy the blessings for a few lifetimes! ”

Zhan Zhao picked up a phoenix hairpin in the jewelry box and frowned, "This is not like the usual phoenix hairpin......

Gongsun turned the phoenix hairpin over, and saw that in a relatively hidden place, there was a word "tribute".

Gongsun was taken aback and looked at Zhanzhao, "This is a tribute!" ”

Zhan Zhao also nodded, "Looking at the luxurious style, it doesn't look like ordinary people will use it!" ”

"And there's a bit of a Western Rim!" Gongsun frowned, "It should be a tribute from foreign tribes!" ”

Thinking of Granny Liang working as an errand in the palace, Zhanzhao couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, "There are too many words of reward, right?" Could it be that this Granny Liang is a snitch? ”

"No......" Gongsun had a hard time connecting this ill-fated palace maid with the snitch, and then thought of Concubine Ye, so he asked Zhanzhao, "Could it be that she hid it for Concubine Ye?" ”

Zhan Zhao touched his chin, looked at the treasure in front of him again, shook his head, and said, "Have I been with Yutang for a long time?" I always feel that there is not much money here, if it is Concubine Ye, there should be more than these treasures she stole, right? ”

"Well......" Gongsun scratched his head, and was a little unsure, they were indeed too familiar with Bai Yutang, especially whenever Bai Fu counted the money, the mountains of gold and silver, it could be seen that people had no concept of gold and silver.

……

In Kaifeng Mansion, Bai Yutang, who was sitting in the courtyard drawing a picture with a pen, turned his head and sneezed.

Standing at the table to help him polish the ink and watch him draw, the little fourth son held his chin with one hand and yawned, "Why haven't Daddy and the cat come back yet?" Did Jiujiu go to Grandma Huang? ”

Bai Yutang rubbed his nose, estimating that Zhanzhao hadn't come back so late, maybe something had happened again, he shook his head while putting down the brush, picked up the portrait he had drawn, and asked the little fourth son, "Is it like?" ”

Xiao Sizi touched his chin and nodded, "Hmm...... It seems to be about the same......"

“…… You say you're a kid, why don't you paint landscapes, don't paint beauties, and draw an old lady? ”

Bai Yutang and Xiao Sizi turned around when they heard the sound of talking from behind them, only to see Tianzun standing behind them with a wine jar.

Outside the door, Yin Hou also walked in, they stayed in Nan'an Temple for a day, and just came back.

Yin Hou looked left and right, "What about Zhao?" ”

"I haven't come back from the palace yet." Bai Yutang put down the portrait and recalled the old lady he had just seen, what other characteristics did he have.

"What did you draw?" Tianzun stretched out his hand to pick up the portrait and look at it.

Bai Yutang told him about the situation he met when he came back with the little fourth son just now.

Yin Hou took the two portraits and asked, "Is it like?" ”

The little fourth son nodded, "Oh, yes!" ”

Tianzun also touched his chin, "Hmm...... She's good at kung fu? ”

Bai Yutang nodded, "But I can't think of such a person in the rivers and lakes." ”

"Did she say anything?" Yin Hou asked.

Bai Yutang told the old lady what she said before leaving, "The world is unfair, she lives well with old bones, but the person in the painting is young but dead", and sued the second elder.

Tianzun suddenly touched his chin and raised his face, "Oh? I seem to have heard this somewhere. ”

Bai Yutang and Xiao Sizi both looked up at Tianzun.

After a long time, Tianzun shook his head, "I can't remember!" ”

Bai Yutang was powerless.

Yin Hou said, "There is nothing special about this in itself, there are not a few people who can say this kind of thing." ”

"That's right!" Tianzun agreed, "If I see some children die, I will feel like this, I have lived well for more than a hundred years, how can some children die before they grow up, the world is really unfair." ”

Bai Yutang frowned and stared at the portrait in a daze.

Yin Hou was not interested in the case, so he went to wash and sleep, and the little fourth son ran to soak his feet.

Tianzun sat down beside Bai Yutang and slapped him, "I said." ”

Bai Yutang looked up at his master.

Tianzun looked very curious, "Although you have always been concerned about the matter of the kitten, you seem to be very distracted about this case, what's so special?" ”

Bai Yutang looked at his master with some surprise, he was quite careful.

Bai Yutang put down the image of the old lady in his hand, picked up the portrait painted by Gongsun, and said to Tianzun, "I don't know this person. ”

Tianzun blinked, tilted his head to look at Bai Yutang—and then?

Bai Yutang said, "But...... The skeleton gave me a sense of déjà vu. ”

"Huh?" Tianzun opened his mouth, "Do you know such a thin friend?" ”

Bai Yutang was speechless and glanced at Tianzun.

Tianzun grinned, stopped teasing the apprentice, and asked with great interest, "There is only one skeleton left, how do you know it?" ”

"I feel ......" Bai Yutang was helpless, "but the skeletons in the world all look similar, I may have seen too much." ”

Tianzun amused Bai Yutang, and reached out and knocked on his apprentice's head, "You said that you raised a cat by yourself but was led away by a cat." ”

Bai Yutang was also helpless.

The two compartments were looking at each other, and footsteps could be heard outside.

When I turned around, I saw Zhan Zhao and Gongsun running in with a few boxes, and there were shadow guards behind them who helped carry the boxes.

The fourth son ran out of the mansion, and after calling his father, he found that Zhao Pu was not there, so he asked Ochre Ying, who was walking behind, "What about Jiujiu?" ”

Ochre Ying spread his hands, "I went to the Empress Dowager's palace just now to help investigate the case, but I didn't expect the Empress Dowager to be there and I was arrested and sent home." ”

……

Zhan Zhao put the box on the table and reached out to take the teacup in front of Bai Yutang to drink.

Tianzun opened the box curiously, "Huh...... Did you pick up the money? ”

Zhan Zhao shook his head, drank tea, and told Bai Yutang about Liang Qiaoyu's matter.

Bai Yutang took a few pieces of jewelry in the box and looked at it, frowning, "It's indeed worth a lot." ”

"Although it is hidden in the Liang family, it may not be stolen by Liang Qiaoyu." Yin Hou said, "Stealing in the palace requires skills, and it is difficult for her to do it as an ordinary palace maid." ”

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun both nodded, apparently thinking the same way.

Seeing the portrait painted by Bai Yutang, Gongsun picked it up and looked at it, saying that he thought it was similar to the man on the portrait, but Zhanzhao was just like Bai Yutang, and he didn't see the likeness...... In this regard, everyone still believes in Gongsun's judgment.

Hearing Bai Yutang say what happened just now, Zhanzhao suddenly sighed with emotion, "Hmm...... When I meet an old man here, I feel that good people don't live long and the scourge lasts for thousands of years, and when you meet an old lady here, I feel that the world is impermanent, and the white-haired people send the black-haired people......

It was also late, and everyone collected their things and prepared to check them tomorrow, so they went back to the house to wash and sleep.

……

When Bai Yutang took a bath and returned to the room, he saw that Zhanzhao had also washed, wearing a white underwear, sitting at the table and nibbling on a piece of shrimp cake, there was a plate on the table, and he had eaten almost half of it.

Seeing Bai Yutang come in, Zhan Zhao pointed to him with shrimp cakes, "The kitchen lady made a supper." ”

Bai Yutang closed the door, walked over, looked at Zhan Zhao, who was seriously eating shrimp cakes, and suddenly wanted to laugh, "This world is indeed unfair. ”

Zhan Zhao's cheeks bulged and looked at Bai Yutang, "Huh? ”

"Someone eats one meal a day and gets fat, and you don't see you grow meat after eating ten meals a day, do you think it's unfair?" Bai Yutang asked.

Zhan Zhao squinted, came over to drill the quilt with shrimp cakes in his mouth, and pushed Xiao Wu, who jumped on the end of the bed and rubbed him, leaning on its soft belly. Zhan Zhao lay down comfortably, raised his legs and asked Bai Yutang, "Yutang." ”

Bai Yutang looked at him, "Huh? ”

"Do you think the man in the portrait is familiar?" Zhan Zhao asked suddenly.

Bai Yutang shook his head, stared at Zhanzhao, and asked, "Do you think it looks familiar?" ”

"Oh, not really." Zhan Zhao shook his head, "It's strange to say, I'm sure I haven't seen the person on that portrait, but that skeleton, I don't know why, I always feel like I've seen it somewhere." ”

Bai Yutang stared at Zhan Zhao in a daze.

"And yes!" Zhan Zhao sat up and said to Bai Yutang seriously, "I also think that fishtail pillow is familiar. ”

Bai Yutang was slightly surprised, "The pillow is also familiar?" ”

"The pillow is fine, it's the shape of that fishtail!" Zhan Zhao patted his head, "Where have I seen it?!" Can't remember! ”

Bai Yutang raised his hand, turned off the light, and said, "Forget it, don't think about it, go to bed early." ”

Zhan Zhao was churning with Xiao Wu on his pillow, and his mind was chaotic.

Bai Yutang played with Xiao Sizi for a day today, don't look at Xiao Sizi lying still like a little quail on weekdays, and it is quite crazy to play, so he ...... The fifth master soon felt sleepiness, and when he was about to fall asleep, he heard Zhanzhao suddenly "Ah! "Yes.

Bai Yutang opened his eyes suddenly, thinking that Zhanzhao had a nightmare or something, but who knew that the cat rushed up to his chest and lay on his chest, grabbing his collar and shaking, "I remembered!" I remember where I saw that pillow! ”