The Pearl Lake on the outskirts of Qingcheng in Cangzhi Country is already full of tourists, it is the spring of March, the wind blows the weeping willows, everyone takes advantage of the good spring to walk by the Pearl Lake. Pearl Lake is next to the official road, and at this time two teams of people are passing unhurriedly. At the front was a convoy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that had been ordered to purchase fine porcelain, followed by the girls of the Red Sleeve Pavilion.

Gu Peiqing sat in the carriage, there were all kinds of strange things on the small table, and there was also a boy on his right hand, dressed in a cyan robe, embroidered with a lush bamboo forest. In comparison, Gu Peiqing's clothes are much simpler, black and dark, with no accessories.

"Gu Peiqing, you are really lucky, you met the emperor Weifu on patrol, and you also performed your best reasoning in front of him, and you got the favor of the Son of Heaven, and went directly to the national capital and city to appoint the eight-rank official, tsk, sure enough, the time has come, and the imperial examination is exempted."

"Master, I didn't want to take the imperial examination and enter the officialdom. It's hard to disobey the destiny now, but it's good to go to the city to see it, I haven't been there yet. I've had a falling out with the old man recently, and it's been almost three months since I ran away, and he doesn't know that I'm going to be an official. I'm going to make him anxious when I'm missing this time. ”

"Pei Qing, you don't have to be sentimental, even if you don't go home for three years, your father won't be in a hurry. You've been jumping around at home, and your dad doesn't know how much he's been idle in March. ”

"Li Anyan, I see that you and my father have a nostril of air."

"Okay, okay, I'm not joking with you, Pei Qing, you didn't tell your father when you went to the city this time, you don't have enough money on you, and I also heard that there are few people from the eighth grade, I'm afraid that you will have to live a hard life in the past, I have some silver tickets here for you to use first." Li Anyan took out some silver tickets from his arms and put them on the small table.

Gu Peiqing smiled and picked up the silver ticket and counted it, totaling two thousand taels, and then put it in his arms, "I will definitely return this money to you, An Yan's kindness, I will never forget it." ”

"Pei Qing, you and I have been brothers since childhood, don't say thank you. It's just that this silver tael should be counted as a profit-generating silver coin, two hundred taels a year, and it can be paid off within five years. ”

Gu Peiqing just wanted to kick Li Anyan out of the car.

At this time, the carriage stopped, and a shrill voice sounded outside the carriage: "Master Gu, let's rest here before we set off." ”

"There's Father-in-law Lao Feilan." After Gu Peiqing finished speaking, he opened the carriage door, and at this time, Feilan's father-in-law had already driven his horse to the convoy of the girls of the Red Sleeve Pavilion behind.

"An Yan, just send me here, and we will meet again when you come to the city in the future."

"Pei Qing, you haven't been in shape all year round, this time you go to the city to be an official, you have to think twice before acting, don't cause trouble, you must be safe."

"I know, I know, sir, I'm so smart, I'll never do anything to cause fire."

After the two exchanged words, Li Anyan took his white horse and turned away.

Gu Peiqing simply went to the Pearl Lake for a walk, he grew up in Qingcheng since he was a child, and he has been to this Pearl Lake many times, but this time it was a parting, and the feeling was different. Behind him immediately followed a small servant, dressed in a simple eunuch suit.

"Feilan's father-in-law said that when Gongzi Li is gone, this route will be for the villain to serve Master Gu." He saluted respectfully.

"What's your name?"

"The villain's name is Ah Ye."

Gu Peiqing looked at Ah Ye, he looked no more than fifteen years old, his appearance was quite ordinary, the kind that he couldn't find in the next second when he entered the sea of people, he was thin and small, and his expression was very nervous.

"What did you do before?"

"The villain was sprinkled and swept by the Flower Pavilion in the Internal Affairs Office before, and he has never served others, so please forgive me for anything inappropriate." After he said this, as if Gu Peiqing was some kind of man-eating monster, his face turned a little whiter.

"I don't have so many rules, how can you be happy and do it yourself, I have been able to live independently since I was a child, and I don't need to be served." Gu Peiqing patted him on the shoulder and continued, "You can also talk to me about the things in the city. ”

Ah Ye, who was patted, almost knelt down, and he said tremblingly: "The villain doesn't know where to start. ”

"Then let's talk about Grandpa Feilan."

"It's... I'm afraid it's inappropriate to talk about Feilan's father-in-law. ”

"Then let's talk about the girl from the Red Sleeve Pavilion who is following behind, it's all right."

The little eunuch glanced back at the five or six carriages of the Red Sleeve Pavilion, and said in a low voice: "Boss Su of the Red Sleeve Pavilion thought of the development branch of the city, so he sent the assistant of Mr. Qi and four or five popular girls to the city, but he thought that it was not safe for the girls to go on the road, and at first he was looking for the protection of the dart bureau, but he got the news that the Ministry of Internal Affairs purchased porcelain and returned to the capital, and asked someone to find a relationship to contact Feilan's father-in-law, and Feilan's father-in-law agreed to let the carriage of the Red Sleeve Pavilion follow behind, but they couldn't live in this station. Boss Su said that these girls, in addition to the red silk girl, also danced knives and guns from a young age, and they were not so precious. ”

Gu Peiqing's eyes widened: "You mean the red silk girl is also among them?" That's the Oiran of Qingcheng, Boss Su seems to want to make a big show in the city, and even the red silk girl brought it over. ”

"Master Gu has seen the Red Silk Girl?"

"Not really, I've heard of it, I've never been interested in that. My group of fox friends and dog friends have listened to her play the piano, anyway, she can't see her face clearly behind the curtain, and they also say what the color of the country is, I don't understand, how can I be the color of the country without seeing the face? ”

"Your Excellency has a point."

"You may see the red silk girl on the road, and I will definitely help my fox friends verify whether she is the color of the country."

"Adults, this may be inappropriate, there are many people talking along the way, which will affect your reputation." Ah Ye didn't know where to go.

"There's nothing wrong with that, I know in my heart, and I definitely won't affect you. I don't have any hobbies in my life, just reading Zhiwei novels, solving cases, and exploring the truth. Hey..."

Ah Ye took a closer look at this unreliable Lord Gu, the legendary Son of Heaven, a case-solving wizard favored by the saints, he was dressed simply, his appearance was delicate, the bridge of his nose was straight, and his eyes were bright like stars when he smiled, which made people feel an active youthful atmosphere.

The girls of the Red Sleeve Pavilion also came out of the carriage intermittently and walked to the lake, they all covered their faces with light veils, brightly dressed, and Nana, and for a while most of the eyes were on them. Feilan's father-in-law and Second Brother Qi slowly walked to Gu Peiqing's side and followed his gaze to see those girls.

"Second Brother Qi, I'm afraid that the girl you brought to the city is going to lose the souls of those little boys, and now Lord Gu is a little out of her mind." Fei Lan laughed.

Gu Peiqing said with a smile: "Such a good sun, and fairy-like girls to see, you can't live up to it." ”

Second Brother Qi continued: "I'll let the girls dance the sword right away." ”

Those girls got the order of Second Brother Qi, took out the guzheng, pipa and jade flute from the carriage, and began to play gently. A girl held a long sword in her hand and danced on the node, Gu Peiqing looked at it carefully, that Ah Ye was right, although these girls looked weak and weak, but whether they were dancers or piano and flute, they were full of energy, especially the girl who danced the sword, the long sword in her hand was particularly heroic.

After the dance, the visitors applauded, and many people shouted: "One more song!" ”。 The girls just smiled and got up and packed up their things and went back to the carriage.

"Not bad," Fei Lan said, "Be careful with the other halls in the city." Did the Red Silk Girl have a show just now? ”

Second Brother Qi hurriedly replied: "Miss Hongsi has been unwell for the past few days and is resting in the carriage. When she is better, she will play and sing to the adults. ”

"Boss Qi, you should arrange for Miss Red Silk to sing for Master Gu, now he is a hot figure in the city. It's not too early, so let's go in a little more tea. Fei Lan turned and walked towards the convoy.

Gu Peiqing was about to leave behind Feilan's father-in-law, when a pale yellow figure passed by in front of him, it was a very young woman, dressed in a ribbon-colored butterfly satin skirt, with a bun at will, and a silver hairpin with phoenixes singing in unison on her head. Her almond-sized smart eyes also looked at Gu Peiqing, and inexplicably showed a sweet smile, and her originally pretty face was even more lively and beautiful. She carried a quaint long box in her arms, carved with leaves and branches, in which a few small birds fluttered. The long box looks like it's from the hands of a great craftsman, and the price is very high, and the items in it are estimated to be some peerless treasures.

When the girl saw Gu Peiqing, she came straight over, she didn't salute when she approached Gu Peiqing, and called softly: "Lord Gu Peiqing." Then she winked at him and passed into the carriage of the Red Sleeve Pavilion.

Gu Peiqing and Ah Ye were stunned, Ah Ye thought that the girls he had seen before were not wearing such clothes, Second Brother Qi said that only the Red Silk Girl did not get off the carriage, and the woman who suddenly appeared went towards the carriage again, probably the Red Silk Girl.

"Is that the Red Silk Girl? She looked like she knew an adult. Ah Ye whispered.

Gu Peiqing was also puzzled by the second monk, and said: "I don't think her appearance will be a red silk girl, if you want to say that the color of the country is still quite far away, did the red sleeve pavilion bring a little maid this time?" ”

The carriage slowly went on the road again, and when it arrived, it stopped at the gate of the official post, and some officials were already waiting at the door. Feilan's father-in-law got out of the car, and those officials immediately greeted him, and Feilan's father-in-law shouted very affectionately. Gu Peiqing also got out of the car, and Feilan introduced him to the local officials. After introducing Gu Pei Qing's mouth of "long admiration and long admiration" one by one, those officials have higher official ranks than him, but I heard Feilan say that this was hand-picked by the emperor, and Feihuang Tengda was just around the corner, so he treated him more respectful and polite.

The post house had already prepared wine and food, and all the officials gathered around Feilan's father-in-law to sit at the table, and after three rounds of drinking, the second brother Qi came over to ask if he wanted the girl from the Red Sleeve Pavilion to sing a song. At this time, Feilan's father-in-law was slightly drunk and said, "I don't know if Miss Hongsi is in better health, I didn't see her perform today, and the miscellaneous family feels quite regretful." ”

Second Brother Qi nodded immediately, "Miss Red Silk is much better, I'll call her to play the piano immediately." ”

Half a cup of tea passed, everything was ready, Second Brother Qi set up a small platform in the hall, and a woman wearing a colored skirt and scarf under the bead curtain raised her hand to pluck a string, crisp and pleasant aftersound, everyone stopped and looked at the small platform in the hall, and soon a smart and lively song "Mountain and Moon" poured into everyone's hearts like flowing water, and even Gu Peiqing, who had never appreciated music, was immersed.

The last note fell, and the hall fell silent, and then burst into applause. Gu Peiqing's eyes were sharp, and he saw the quaint long box placed outside on the small platform, the figures in the bead curtain were swaying, and he couldn't see clearly, but the long colored dress was quite easy to identify. The color of the country? Gu Peiqing sighed.

After the banquet was dispersed, Gu Peiqing was arranged in the upper room, Ah Ye slept in the outer hall, and Gu Peiqing asked him to finish it at any time. The five upper-class wings were all on the fourth floor, Gu Peiqing opened the window and took a look, and there were two upper-class rooms lit up. One is Feilan's father-in-law, and the other one?

Ah Ye has figured out Gu Peiqing's temperament for most of the day, and found that he is quite easy-going and bolder. He also came over to look out the window and said, "Is Master Gu thinking about who lives in the other high-class room?" When I just went to fetch water for you, I heard the little guy below say that it was a girl arranged by Feilan's father-in-law, and Feilan's father-in-law was very polite to her, and I estimated that it was a red silk girl. ”

"This red-sleeved pavilion is too unfair, the other girls sleep in the carriage, and the red-silk girl sleeps in this high-class room."

"That's the cash cow of the Red Sleeve Pavilion, after the song of the Red Silk Girl tonight, Feilan's father-in-law admires her very much." Ah Ye left from the window and went to make Gu Peiqing's bed.

"Sleep, sleep." Gu Peiqing closed the window and heard the sound of plucking the strings, but he simply plucked a few notes, but it didn't become a tune.

"This red silk girl's piano is so good, this tone is really unparalleled in the world." Ah Ye exclaimed.

"You know that?" Gu Peiqing was surprised.

Ah Ye nodded, "Before I went to the Internal Affairs Office, the house next door sold musical instruments, and I always visited the door, so I naturally understood something." Ah Ye blew out the candle, and the room was dark.

Gu Peiqing was woken up by Ah Ye, he was dazed, frowned and asked, "Ah Ye, what are you doing?" It's not even dawn. ”

"It's not good, my lord, something happened." Ah Ye's voice was full of nervousness.

"What's wrong?"

"Just now, a little servant came up with a snack to Feilan's father-in-law, and the little servant entered the wrong room, but when I went in, I saw a woman hanging herself in the room."

Gu Peiqing instantly sobered up, "But the red silk girl?" ”

"I don't know yet, it was Feilan's father-in-law who asked me to bring you over, I think there can only be a red silk girl in that room, please hurry up and change your clothes."

Gu Peiqing didn't comb her hair, grabbed her clothes and put them on her body casually and ran out of the door. At this time, the door of the wing room at the far edge of the corridor was crowded with people, and Feilan's father-in-law saw Gu Peiqing coming and asked everyone to make a way.

The woman hung on the beam of the room, a white silk made her body sway, her tongue stretched out, a fruit wood stool kicked to the side, and standing in front of the corpse was a girl with a pensive face, which Gu Peiqing met in the afternoon. Gu Peiqing suddenly relaxed for some reason, he didn't realize this himself.

Feilan's father-in-law followed behind Gu Peiqing and said, "Lord Gu, I disturbed you to rest, but the girl said that she must let you come over, saying that this woman did not commit suicide." ”

"Why did the Red Silk Girl say that?"

The woman looked at Gu Peiqing and said, "How do you know that I am Red Silk?" ”

"I saw you holding a simple long box earlier, and the long box was on the small stage when you played, and the clothes you wore were the same as when you played, and it was also this long colored dress."

She nodded and said, "Master Gu is right. ”

"Why does the girl think that this woman is not committing suicide?"

"I just walked around the room and asked the other people in the inn, her name is Yun Niang, and she is in charge of the upper wing room. The first point is that people who hang themselves generally choose to commit suicide in their own room, and choose a space they are familiar with, of course, there are exceptions. The second point I went to her own room, a room in the small courtyard behind the inn, with mashed impatiens juice on the table. It makes sense to take care of yourself and then commit suicide, but it's not normal to commit suicide before your nails are painted. ”

"Miss Red has a point." Gu Pei Qingzai carefully looked at the hanging person, and then said to the guard at the door, "Put her down." Those guards didn't move, just looked at Fei Lan, Fei Lan nodded, and said, "Why are you stunned, Master Gu said put it down." ”

The female corpse was put down, Gu Pei Qingzai carefully examined it, and said: "There are no obvious external injuries, the nails are also very clean, there is only one strangulation mark on the neck, and the specific ones have to be made, who found her first?." ”

"It's... It's the villain. A young man with his head bowed appeared, "My name is Ah Chai, and the post chief arranged for me to deliver snacks to the officials who had not slept, and I looked downstairs, as if there was only one room with light, so I went up with a snack." When I got to the fourth floor, I saw the room at the end of the corridor lit up, so I knocked on the door, but no one opened it, I thought that the official didn't want to be disturbed, and wanted to turn around and leave, and suddenly the door opened a crack, and I was a little curious and opened the door, and then I saw Yun Niang hanging there, I screamed, and then the door next to me opened, and the girl came to ask me something. He gestured to the Red Silk Girl.

Hongsi nodded and said: "I can't sleep well, but I didn't light a candle, I opened the window and blew the wind for a while, I heard his screams, and when I came out, I looked at the situation in the room, and asked him if he knew who this woman was, so I called a guard to guard here, and then I asked a few people in the post house to ask about the situation of Xia Yunniang, and I went to her house to take a look, and came to the conjecture that she was not a suicide, so I wanted to ask Lord Gu to take a look." When he came back, he found Feilan's father-in-law and asked him to call Master Gu over. ”

"The window was closed when you came in?" Gu Peiqing asked Ah Chai.

Ah Chai thought about it for a moment and nodded. The windows were also closed at this time.

"Yun Niang! Yun Niang! Suddenly, a person rushed out and pounced on Yun Niang, calling hoarsely.

"Hurry up, who are you!" Fei Lan asked sharply as she instructed the guards.

The man was carried by two guards and knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, but he didn't reply to Feilan's question, just cried.

The post chief broke out in a cold sweat, and came to the front to answer Fei Lan's question: "This is Yun Niang's husband He Qing, their husband and wife have a very good relationship, Yun Niang has an accident here, and he didn't control it for a while to disturb his father-in-law." ”

"What does he usually do?" Gu Peiqing asked.

"He who adds fodder to the horses." The postmaster replied.

"Has Yun Niang usually offended anyone?"

"No, Yun Niang is an old person from Princess Duan's Mansion, and she came out when she reached the age of marriage, and the princess has a good relationship with Yun Niang, so she was specially arranged to do some simple sprinkling and cleaning at the post station, and He Qing was also arranged by the princess. Yun Niang usually works diligently, and treats other people very well, even if there is no trivial quarrel, there will definitely be no enemies. ”

Hearing the words of the old man in the princess's mansion, Fei Lan's face changed.

The crying became quieter, and He Qing actually fainted. "Help him go to another room to rest, and I'll ask him something when he wakes up." Gu Peiqing arranged, "Father-in-law Feilan, I still want to take a closer look in this room, just leave two guards, please clear out the irrelevant people." ”

Fei Lan looked very tired, especially when he learned that Yun Niang was an old person from the princess's mansion, his brows furrowed even deeper, he didn't say anything, he exited the room, and the others watched Fei Lan leave, and followed back to their respective rooms, and the people at the door also dispersed.

The red silk girl was still standing in the room, Ah Ye was also standing by the door, and the two guards looked at each other, not knowing whether to drive them away, but they didn't do anything if Master Gu didn't speak.

"I admire that Miss Red Silk is still very calm and calm at such moments."

"The little woman is not talented, but she has also seen several homicide scenes." She groped around on the ground as she spoke, as if searching for something, "I have an idea that needs to be confirmed." There was a thick blanket on the ground, and Gu Peiqing walked around without any sound. He looked at the window, and the bolt was well inserted, and it was the same as the one in his room, carved with a picture of a bird perched among the branches, but the beak was broken, as if it had been hit by something. He picked up the fruit stool again, and it looked like something had been knocked under the surface of the stool.

"Miss Red Silk is interested in solving crimes?" Gu Peiqing asked with a smile.

The Red Silk Girl was still groping around on the ground and replied "yes".

Gu Peiqing suddenly approached her and said, "Miss Red Silk make a bet with me, if I solve this case before you, you have to promise me one thing, if you break it first, then I will promise you a condition." ”

Hongsi raised her head and saw Gu Peiqing's smiling face, and said, "If Master Gu is interested in me, just say it, this kind of old-fashioned trick will be avoided, my Hongsi is also Qingcheng Oiran anyway, what kind of formation have you never seen?" ”

Gu Peiqing glanced at her and said, "Don't think too much about the red silk girl, I just like to compare with others, if you don't want to, forget it." Speaking of this Qingcheng Oiran, I was really amazed today, no, I was frightened. This posture alas... I thought it was the little maid of the Red Sleeve Pavilion. ”

"What do you say?" Red Silk glared at him fiercely.

Gu Peiqing had already shook his head and went out, "I've already solved eight or nine, I just need to ask again tomorrow." Red Silk Girl needs to do her best. ”