When Ruan Xin was waiting outside the private room, he had already quietly inquired with others about what Ji Yan was asking inside, but he didn't expect his turn to come in, the first sentence was actually about his son Ruan Xiaoyi, he was a little embarrassed, hesitated, smiled, and said: "It's not that I don't agree, it's mainly because I'm worried that the dog is too dull and will ruin the big things of the court. ”

His worries are not entirely unreasonable, just such a son, who had a quiet life at home and enjoyed peace and wealth, ended up getting involved in the affairs of the court, and became nothing, and if it was bad, it would be a big trouble.

Ji Yan pondered for a long time, and said to Ruan Xinzhengse: "I don't know if Uncle Ruan trusts Ji Yan or not?" ”

When asked, Ruan Xin of course replied: "Naturally, I am trustworthy and can translate you, and I not only trust you, but also admire you very much." ”

"Then I promise you that when Xiaoyi goes to the capital, he will only work with the Ministry of Industry to repair the pagoda, and I will naturally ask him for credit, if there is a bad pool, I will definitely protect him from any involvement."

After hearing these words, Ruan Xin buried his head deep in his hands, as the saying goes, he knows his son Mo Ruo's father, how could he not know that Ruan Xiaoyi is not keen on reading the subset of scriptures and history, and loves the firing process to go to sea, but he is the head of the family, and this is his only son.

After a while, he finally raised his head again, took a long breath, made up his mind, and said: "Ji Tongyi, I believe you, you go and ask the child's opinion, if he agrees, I will stop talking, and then I have to talk to my in-laws." ”

A big stone in Ji Yan's heart finally fell.

Ruan Xin was the last of all the merchants to enter the door to talk, and after talking to him, Ji Yan beckoned everyone outside into the house, and said directly: "In March this year, the matter of Lord Zheng He's mission to Japan that everyone rumored was a secret of the imperial court, and the major military aircraft should not be talked about in the market. ”

The merchants present immediately exchanged their heads and whispered.

Ji Yan waved his hand, signaled everyone not to quarrel, and comforted: "When I talked to you alone, I also said that this matter has nothing to do with you and has nothing to do with it, but I need to verify who came here in March and spread the news." I wonder what you have to do? ”

A merchant rushed forward and said, "None of the people in the house should think for themselves, have you seen any suspicious outsiders when you were eating and drinking here in March?" ”

There was another bit of chatter.

Ji Yan didn't bother to interrupt everyone this time, his eyes kept sweeping back and forth the faces of each merchant, hoping to read some different content from someone's face, some of the results he was looking forward to now, and someone could think of any clues.

But nine times out of ten, life is not as good as it should be.

There was about half a pillar of incense, Ji Yan kept staring at this group of merchants, but there was no surprise in the result, this group of merchants did not discuss any eyebrows, and everyone couldn't remember that they had seen it.

At a loss, Ruan Zhong suggested that since someone was writing on the toilet wall of this hall, maybe someone in the hall had seen it.

Everyone agreed for a while, so they went to invite the shopkeeper of the guild hall.

Ji Yan let the merchants disperse and go back to their respective homes, and the shopkeeper was questioned by him alone.

He first identified himself, and then asked a very straightforward question, had any strange special people been there in March of this year, especially in the small courtyard of the guild hall.

The shopkeeper scratched his ears and cheeks for a long time, and he didn't jump out of a fart, after all, his main job is to receive distinguished guests, and he is optimistic about the younger brothers, who cares if anyone is walking in their yard.

The shopkeeper went out, and the two shopkeepers came in in turn to ask, anyway, the wind and rain are coming, and there are no guests in this hall.

In addition to that specific question, Ji Yan asked them again if there were any new people in the store who had gone to work or left in the past few months, etc., etc., and all the little two people, including the kitchen guy, asked around.

Still no one has any impression, after all, more than three months have passed, and if it weren't for something special, a stranger who appeared in a restaurant, no one would pay special attention.

After everyone went out, Ji Yan left only the shopkeeper in this private room with him, and he looked out of the window at the small courtyard, and suddenly his heart moved.

Ji Yan asked the shopkeeper: "Who cleaned your latrine?" ”

The shopkeeper said: "A local old man, named Liu Laohan, comes twice a day. ”

Ji Yan thought that this might be the last chance, so he then asked, "When will he come?" I'm going to talk to him too. ”

The shopkeeper said: "He will have to come for a while, but Ji Tongyi wants to see him, so I will ask someone to find him." ”

Ji Yan raised his hand and said, "Then there will be labor." ”

Not long after, an old man in his fifties with wrinkled skin entered the house, and his body smelled a little, but Ji Yan didn't care, and personally poured a cup of tea for the old man, the old man was very frightened, and quickly stood up and took the teacup with both hands.

The two of them sat down, and said gently: "Uncle, in March this year, that is, in the spring, did your old man see any strange people in this yard when he was at work?" ”

The old man had never seen this battle, so he was a little nervous, and replied in a low voice: "What is a strange person, I don't understand." ”

Ji Yan rolled his eyes and said softly: "It's just not like a local, and I'm not usually a regular visitor here, not like I came to eat and drink, and wandered around the latrine." ”

The old man held the tea poured by Ji Yan, thought about it, and after a while, he seemed to remember something, so he said, "I've seen it." ”

Ji Yan asked eagerly, "What does that person look like?" Are there any distinguishing features? ”

The old man was a little confused by the question, so he could only reply cautiously: "What does it look like?" It's similar to the talented old men on the street, characteristics? What does that mean? I don't understand. ”

Ji Yan said: "It's just that there is something different from others, for example, whether this person is tall or short, how old he is, whether his face is black or white, these are all counted." ”

The old man replied: "You are about the same as the official master, you are tall and short, you are about the same age, you are darker than the master, and I can't remember the rest." ”

Ji Yan paused, these characteristics were not much different from none, and he continued: "Has that person spoken?" ”

The old man said, "I said it." ”

Ji Yan's eyes lit up, "What did that person say?" Where's the accent? ”

The old man replied honestly: "The toilet he said stinks." I still laugh at him, doesn't it stink that it's called a toilet? ”

Ji Yan asked, "That's it?" What is his accent? Does it have the same accent as me? ”

After speaking, Ji Yan deliberately used a Beijing accent to try to imitate the disgusting tone of the person at that time and said: "This toilet really stinks." ”

The old man said with a sad face: "It's not the same accent as yours, he just said this sentence when he came out of the latrine." Where's the accent? I don't know, I only know, it's not a Qingzhou accent, and I haven't been out of these ten miles ......and eight towns since I was born."

Ji Yan didn't listen carefully, and the old man's rambling words seemed to be the only way to get this information from the last hope.

What the old man said is true, the Ming Dynasty used a strict policy of protecting armor and settling down to restrict the homeless, if a person does not have a road guide, which is equivalent to a letter of introduction, he cannot leave a certain range of his hometown, and if he is found by officers and soldiers, he will be punished.

Qingzhou Mansion has been war-free for many years, and it is normal for this old man to stay in Qingzhou all his life, so he can only hear that he is not a local, but he can't tell where he is from.

Ji Yan took out a small string of copper coins from his arms and gave it to the old man, which was regarded as some reward, and the old man went out with a thousand thanks.

Sending the old man away, Ji Yan leaned his neck, sat on the stool, he closed his eyes, and after a while, the long-brewing rainstorm finally came, and the heavy rain was like a pillar like a curtain in an instant, as if there was only this rain between heaven and earth.

The temperature dropped suddenly, Ji Yan shuddered, but these are not important, he feels weak now, very lost, everything he can check, but he can only get such a result, his whole head is empty, and his heart is the same, at this moment, he just wants to return to Beijing as soon as possible, wants to see Mei Yuning again, and wants to cry.

Ji Yan lay on the table, listening to the torrential rain outside and the rumbling thunder in the distance, and fell asleep in a drowsy.