Early in the morning, it rained.

The drizzling rain and the gloomy sky make people feel extremely depressed. It doesn't rain all summer, but when you get up, it's endless. In the continuous autumn rain, the bones seemed to be rusted, and the limbs felt stiff and very uncomfortable.

Cao Peng's face was very ugly, as if it was this gloomy weather, standing there, exuding a coldness.

All the people around him seemed to tremble.

Even Chen Qun didn't come forward to talk, but just watched from a distance under the porch.

Yue was locked in the meditation room, and his eyes were swollen from crying.

In this lonely temple, Snow Lotus is her only companion.

Now, the partner is gone, and Yue Guan is very sad. When she saw Xuelian's body, she fell to the ground and fell unconscious.

Cao Peng squatted down and stretched out his hand to close Xue Lian's empty eyes.

He narrowed his eyes, examined it carefully, then stood up and slowly ascended to the porch.

"How?" Chen Qun asked.

"There were wounds on the body, tattered clothes, but the fatal wound was in the back of the head, caused by a blunt object. The scars on her body should have been abrasions on the wall of the well when she fell into the well...... I can't be sure of the time of death now, but I can roughly infer that it is between the time of death and the time of ugliness. ”

Cao Peng's eyes erupted with fire and he gritted his teeth.

Snow Lotus was as if someone had killed her right under his nose.

He knew that the murderer was likely to be at the banquet at that time, but he didn't take any precautions.

Remiss!

This is a typical dereliction of duty!

Cao Peng felt that he was really careless.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. I haven't slept all night, my temples are pounding, and my head is very chaotic...... Why was Snow Lotus killed?

Was it accidental, or was it deliberate?

When Xue Lian spoke to herself yesterday, her voice was very soft. In addition, singing and dancing were in full swing at that time, and even Chen Qun, who was closest to him, did not hear it. In other words, no one will know what Xue Lian said to herself. And everyone's attention was on Yue Guan's dance at that time, who would notice Xue Lian talking to him at that time? Cao Peng frowned and slowly walked down the porch.

"Ah Fu, where are you going?"

"Let's go to the water pavilion."

There is a faint feeling that Snow Lotus's death is related to her conversation with herself last night.

Chen Qun ordered people to block the entire Chrysanthemum Nunnery, followed behind Cao Peng, and walked towards the Water Pavilion. The two came to the water pavilion one after the other, and Cao Peng stopped and looked around at the mess in the water pavilion. Last night's singing and dancing still seemed to echo in my ears, and the noise was still ringing in my ears...... Cao Peng suddenly asked, "Big brother, do you remember everyone's location last night?" ”

Chen Qun recalled carefully and walked to the seat in the center, "I sat here yesterday, and you are on my left. On the right, I remember that it was Yuan Xuanshuo, and below Xuanshuo was Zhang Yuanan. Jing Zhao Chi Boyu sat next to Zhang Yuanan, and opposite him was that Lao Shizi Zhudao. It seems that the head of the congratulatory road is Zhang Tai...... The next one is ...... Think about it, Runan Chen Bodao. Sitting opposite Chen Bodao was Su Wei.

Yue Guan is under you, and at that time I also joked that this Yue Nunnery Master seems to be interested in you...... That's roughly the order. ”

Chen Qun had a strong memory, and he quickly lined up the places where everyone was seated last night.

"But then, it was a bit messy." He added.

"When singing and dancing, what is the position of everyone?"

"When you're singing and dancing?" Chen Qun closed his eyes and thought about it.

"Zhang Ziyu stroked the qin, just at the door of the water pavilion; Chi Zhong and Su Wei switched seats...... The lord of Yue'an was singing and dancing at the time, and the others were ...... Zhang Yuanan was talking to Zhu Dao at the time, and Chen Bodao was a little drunk, so he lay on the table. Yuan Xuanshuo enjoyed singing and dancing. ”

"Why did Chi Zhong switch seats with Su Wei?"

"This ......," a strange look flashed on Chen Qun's face, "I see that Chi Boyu seems to like Master Yue a little. Su Wei's position can be seen more clearly, so ...... You know, the song and dance of the lord of Yue Nunnery is quite amorous. ”

"Uh...... I understand! ”

In other words, no one noticed him at the time.

At least from Chen Qun's words, Cao Peng thinks so.

"Ah Fu, what should I do next?"

Cao Peng thought for a while, "Since there was a murder, and it was found in this chrysanthemum nunnery, I am afraid that I will wronged the owner of the Yue Nunnery." ”

"Well, she is the last person to see Snow Lotus, and it is inevitable."

Cao Peng and Chen Qun walked out of the water pavilion and returned to the courtyard. Chen Qun went to explain the situation to Yueguan, and asked her to go to the Ya of Luoyang County to inquire in detail about the situation at that time; As for Cao Peng, Zefu walked into Xuelian's room again, sat down on the bed, and observed quietly.

Yue Guan said that Xue Lian went back to her room to rest because she was unwell, and then never appeared again.

But her body was found in a well...... In other words, it is likely that she was killed in this room and then thrown into a well. But in the room, there was no trace of a fight, except for the incense burner in the Buddha shrine, there seemed to be no items to prove that Snow Lotus had returned to the room. Cao Peng immediately came up with another hypothesis, Xuelian was not killed in the house, but was called to the well and hit the back of the head with a blunt object. Snow Lotus was caused by that habitual surname and fell headlong into the well...... Wait, if so, what about the murder weapon?

Cao Peng immediately got up and walked out of the room.

Yue Guan changed into plain clothes and was about to go to the county government with Chen Qun.

Seeing Cao Peng come out, she was slightly blessed.

Cao Peng smiled at her, and then beckoned Chen Ju to come over.

"When you searched just now, you found the murder weapon?"

"I haven't found it."

Cao Peng nodded and said to Chen Qun: "Big brother, you go back first, and I'll let Zifang bring a few people to stay." ”

"Good!"

Chen Qun didn't say a word, and agreed to Cao Peng's request.

Cao Peng ordered Chen Ju to take people and continue to search for the murder weapon. And he stood on the porch, carefully observing this secluded little courtyard...... The cross-courtyard area is not large, but it is very elegant.

It is about 150 meters away from the water pavilion, and there is a courtyard wall about two meters high, which blocks the view from the water pavilion.

Even if they kill people here, the people in the water pavilion will not find out.

Cao Peng came down from the porch and slowly walked to the well and stood still. The black well is very deep...... "Chen Ju!" ”

"Whoa."

"Find out where this well is connected."

Chen Ju was stunned and hurriedly responded.

Cao Peng summoned two more servants, "Which of you has a good water surname?" ”

"Go back to the northern master, I grew up on the bank of Yishui, and the surname Shui is okay."

"Can you dive down?"

The two servants were stunned and said with a wry smile: "It's okay to dive, but I don't know how deep this well is, and I may not be able to dive to the end." ”

Also, if the well is very deep, the gas may not be able to.

Cao Peng thought about it, asked people to find cowhides, and ordered people to try to catch up with the airbags. Air is stored with an airbag, which allows for ventilation under water. This is a very simple method in the afterlife. However, this airbag is not easy to make, and it took an hour to make three simple airbags. One of the servants tried it, tied it around his waist with a rope, and jumped into the well.

At this time, the sky was bright and the rain stopped.

The sunlight shines through the shade of the trees into the small courtyard, flickering and darkening, making this small courtyard exude a gloomy atmosphere.

About half a cup of tea, the rope suddenly shook. The messenger at the well hurriedly shouted loudly and quickly pulled up the rope. After a while, the servant who had gone into the water, with a pale face, appeared from the well water. With the help of the servants, he crawled out of the well, sticking out his tongue and gasping for breath.

"How's it going?"

"When I went back to the north, I found a copper kettle at the bottom of the well."

He held a deformed copper kettle in his hand and placed it in front of Cao Peng.

Cao Peng recognized at a glance that this copper kettle was the prop used in throwing the pot last night. The copper kettle used for pitching is basically solid, and it is quite weighty to start with. The spout has a noticeable dent, apparently damaged during the blow. Cao Peng held the copper kettle and observed it carefully.

At the bottom of the pot, there is a faint blood mark, although it has been soaked in well water, but because of time, it has not been completely eliminated.

There is no doubt that this copper kettle is the murder weapon that killed Snow Lotus.

After Cao Peng ordered the copper kettle to be put away, he ordered to prepare to leave...... Before leaving, Cao Peng walked into Xue Lian's room again. For some reason, he always felt something strange in this room.

"Cao Beibei, I've already asked clearly."

Chen Ju walked in at this time and replied respectfully: "I checked the surrounding villagers, and most of the wells near here are connected to Yishui. ”

"Hmm."

Cao Peng nodded absentmindedly.

"Zifang."

"Whoa!"

"Do you believe in Futu?"

"Huh?"

"Or are you at home, worshipping the gods?"

Chen Ju hesitated for a moment and said softly: "My ancestor once believed in a period of Taiping Dao, but then he stopped believing in it. ”

"Well, you don't have to be afraid, I'm not looking after this.

I'm just asking you, if you worship your ancestors or worship gods in your house, will you put your spirit tablets or shrines facing the gate? ”

Chen Ju was stunned, thought about it, shook his head and said, "No, wouldn't that be directly attacked by the wind?" ”

His gaze, following Cao Peng's line of sight, fell on the Buddha shrine facing the gate. Chen Ju frowned, and suddenly seemed to understand Cao Peng's intentions. He hurriedly walked over and reached out to take the Buddha statue out of the Buddhist shrine. But under the Buddha statue, there is a wooden box of almost the same color as the Buddha shrine. If you don't look closely, it's really not easy to see the flaws. Cautiously, he took out the wooden box, turned around and came to Cao Peng, handed the Buddha statue and the wooden box to Cao Peng, and showed a look of great admiration on his face.

"Cao Beibei, there is really a mystery."

Cao Peng smiled and placed the Buddha statue next to him.

Then he opened the wooden box, and his eyes froze. In that box, it was empty, there was nothing...... "Cao Beibei, it's empty." ”

Cao Peng took a deep breath and said softly, "Perhaps, it's a step too late." ”

This Buddha statue is very small, so there must be something underneath. Snow Lotus used this box instead, and deliberately put the Buddha shrine facing the door, not without the intention of reminding. Perhaps, she had expected this day a long time ago, so she deliberately arranged it this way.

Walking to the Buddhist shrine, Cao Peng took a closer look.

After a while, he let out a long breath and said to himself, "The Tao is one foot high, and the magic is one foot high...... Snow Lotus, Snow Lotus, although you have been on guard for a long time, you don't know that your opponent is also aware of it! Zifang, look at this Buddha shrine, it is clearly a new one! Snow Lotus has been practicing in the Chrysanthemum Nunnery for many years, and it stands to reason that after receiving so much incense, the Buddhist shrine should have been blackened a long time ago. But this Buddha shrine can still see its true colors.

This shrine will not be used for more than three months...... Xuelian, you girl is confused, but you are smart enough to come up with ......"

Cao Peng suddenly closed his mouth, turned his head suddenly, and looked at the Buddha statue on the bookcase in a daze.

Chen Ju couldn't help but ask, "Cao Beibei, what's wrong with you?" ”

Cao Peng did not respond.

"Chen Ju, what is this thing?"

"Futu."

"What?"

"Futu!"

"No, you read it together, read it faster."

"Futu, Futu, Futu......" Chen Ju didn't understand what Cao Peng meant, so he kept repeating the word 'Futu', at first, he could still pronounce the words clearly, but gradually, his mouth was dry, and his words became more and more vague, and became more and more vague.

Cao Peng suddenly gasped...... His face turned pale.

He said to himself: "Fourth brother, fourth brother, it turns out that you also saw the flaw, so you suffered this disaster...... Brother, why don't you just play it, but find it out on your own? Confused, confused...... Fourth brother, fourth brother, you are really confused! ”

There was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Cao Peng dodged out of Xuelian's room and rushed into Yue Guan's house.

Yue Guan's room also looks very simple, quite similar to the layout of Xuelian's room. It's just that Snow Lotus's room, like its owner's name, is simple and dignified; And Yueguan's room is obviously brighter in color than Xuelian's room, just like the owner of the same period...... "Cao Beibei?" ”

"Oh, I'm fine...... Let's go. ”

Cao Peng smiled slightly, his face was still a little pale, but his bearing became calm.

When he left the Chrysanthemum Nunnery, he glanced at the three side rooms in the courtyard, and a hideous color flashed in his eyes.

When —————————————————————————————— out of the chrysanthemum hermitage, it was already noon.

Cao Peng and his entourage hurriedly returned to Luoyang, and when they saw that they were about to arrive at the gate of Luoyang City, they saw a horse galloping out of Luoyang City.

"Ziyou?"

Cao Peng pulled the horse and looked at Xiahou Lan who was galloping in confusion, a little puzzled.

Xiahou Lan also saw Cao Peng, urged the horse to Cao Peng, and then rolled the saddle and fell off the horse, kneeling on one knee.

"Childe, the black eye has arrived."

When Cao Peng heard this, he was overjoyed.

"Ziyou, has the black eye arrived? Where is it now? ”

"Back to Gongzi's words, I just got a message from Xingba, and Hei Wei has already passed Yishuikou and is rushing to Luoyang. Xingba also said that the old lady and Miss Huang were here, so they were delayed for two days. It is estimated that they will arrive in Luoyang in the evening. ”

"Ah Niang and Yueying are also here?"

Cao Peng was stunned at first, and then relieved.

Daddy is in Xudu and is busy with official business. Now the official worships the people Cao Duwei, supervising water conservancy and farming, it is estimated that he is too busy to be at home all day.

Previously, Cao Peng was studying in Luhun Mountain, and Zhang's was not easy to disturb.

Now, Cao Peng is serving as the lieutenant of the northern part of Luoyang, which is not far from Xudu, and it is also a normal thing for the Zhang family to come to visit Cao Peng. However, what made Cao Peng happiest was the arrival of Hei Xuan. The arrival of Hei Wei also solved the embarrassing situation of his lack of manpower and no one was available. Not to mention, Kan Ze, Gan Ning, and Hao Zhao accompanied him, which made Cao Peng's confidence suddenly increase greatly.

As soon as his thoughts turned, Cao Peng's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Ziyou, you go back immediately and let Miao Xu come to see me tonight."

(To be continued)