As dawn approached, people in the market began to occupy their seats. the whole appearance of selling vegetables and meat, sharpening knives; The person who makes steamed buns and noodles pushes a wooden cart, puts down the guy and sets up a canopy, fills the small stove with firewood, wipes the steamer, and rolls oil in the pot, and the aroma comes out.

When the bell rings and the gates open, there will be a crowd of cars and horses, passing through the market, and the shops on the street are also opening their doors one after another to welcome customers. The entire Yongcheng seems to be about to wake up, bathe in the morning light, and glow with the vitality of this day.

Yongcheng Prefecture.

"My lord? My lord? My lord! ”

The master called a few times at the prefect Tong who was lying on the case, and woke people up.

"Huh? Why did the official fall asleep......" Master Tong wiped his saliva, yawned, frowned and rubbed his shoulders.

Looking at it, last night's booklet was turned upside down, but there was little gain.

After the two of them had breakfast, they returned to the study and sorted out their thoughts.

Adult Tong set his eyes on the bookcase. On a piece of rice paper on the left-hand side are the shoe prints of yesterday's quick rubbing, and on the right-hand side are the record books after carefully examining the corpse.

A lame man, a murderous knife...... It lingered in his mind, gradually merging into an intertwined thread.

Master Tong's expression was solemn: "Jin Chiliang has a bad character, and there should be a lot of people who have offended." You go and find the file about him from the library and see if you can seek revenge. ”

This time, it seems that it really got it right.

Mr. Tong leaned back on the Taishi chair, put the tea cup on the table, closed his eyes and waited.

Half a pillar of incense was not enough, the master hurriedly rushed in, pinched the file in his hand, handed it to Master Tong and said slowly: "My lord, Jin Chi Liangping has been bullying people, and there are many cases of drunkenness and hurting people, but the records on the file are not exhaustive, and the case will be closed after losing money." You know, the previous prefect often had dealings with Jin Chiliang, and it must have been the lord who brushed up and covered up the past. ”

The last prefect, Tong Daren met when he arrived, handed over matters to each other, and drank a glass of water and wine before leaving. For that person's reputation, he is a confused official, and he is not ambiguous when he collects cashiers.

"Do you find anything suspicious?" Tong stretched out his finger and dipped his saliva and flipped through the file.

The master leaned closer, and his fingers slid on a line of words, "Indeed." Two years ago, there was an embroidery girl who was working in the Jin family and threw herself into the lake on the way home, and the family went to the government to sue Jin Chiliang. However, the cause of her death is ambiguous in the file, saying that she accidentally fell into the lake and drowned, and the investigation process and closing statement are all brushed aside. ”

"What is the name of the embroidered girl, but the family is still in the city? Check it out. ”

～

Zhao Qingmiao, as usual, went to Wang Ji Restaurant again.

Because I entered the government yesterday, the people on the road this morning either pointed sideways or shrugged away.

"Miss...... We're not beasts of the flood, aren't these people? Chang Xi approached Zhao Qingmiao, glanced around, and was very unaccustomed to it in his tone.

"The human heart is like this, just get used to it." Zhao Qingmiao did not squint, and what he said was always understated. However, Shen Xiao, who was following closely behind him, paused, pressed his brows, and was a little concerned.

When the three of them entered Wang Ji Restaurant, they were stunned by the scene inside.

It is not an exaggeration to say that it is crowded.

"Hey, Miss Zhao was invited to the yamen yesterday, do you know what's going on?"

"I know, Jin Gongzi of Chengxi Qianzhuang died at home!"

"Hey, that kind of person is dead, and he deserves it!"

The second junior in the running hall was too busy to pull away, and even the bookkeeper also picked up the teapot and went over to help. Finally luckily, I saw Zhao Qingmiao wave his hand and squeeze over.

"I thought there would be a lot fewer people coming today." Zhao Qingmiao didn't know whether to talk to herself or to the tent.

The tent raised his sleeves to wipe the sweat from his sideburns, and explained: "It's all just a joke, thinking that I can find out about Jin Chiliang's case when I come, but you said that our restaurant is not a government yamen......"

"Where's the beef noodles I ordered?" Some guests knocked on the plate and urged hard.

Xiao Er hurriedly raised his neck and responded: "Don't worry, officer, I'll go back and see if the cook is ready." ”

After speaking, the person put the tablecloth on his shoulder, rushed over in a hurry, stumbled and stumbled directly into Zhao Qingmiao, who was about to go upstairs.

Zhao Qingmiao took a step, although he was not guarded, but when he saw it, he tried his best to avoid danger. As soon as I moved, my center of gravity was unstable, I leaned forward, and I was about to fall face down, with a blue nose and swollen face—I only had time to wail silently, and my life was over!

"Miss!" Chang Xi stretched out his hand to miss it and exclaimed loudly.

A pair of bony hands stretched out from the diagonal thorns, grabbed Zhao Qingmiao's waist tightly, and steadily pulled her aside.

Breathing lightly and panting, his chest and back were close to him, and his clothes rustled.

Shen Xiao shot extremely quickly, and his deep eyes reflected the face that was panicked for a moment. The bottom of his heart was like a feather brushing lightly, his eyelashes moved slightly, and the corners of his mouth were raised: "Miss, it's okay." ”

Zhao Qingmiao slowed down a few beats before he recovered, and found that he was still holding his arm, his face turned white, and he spread all the way to the root behind his ear. She let go as if she had a hot hand, her heart was like a deer, and she said in a deliberately distant tone:

"Shen Jiu, thank you."

She seems to be close to others, but in fact she doesn't care about anyone.

Chang Xi glanced at the two of them and was about to speak, when something happened in the lobby.

A group of errands came in with a backlight, the shoes and clothes were dusty, and the leader of the hunt was very familiar. Everyone couldn't sit still, some chopsticks fell to the ground, and some people crushed peanut shells.

— Why is it here again?!

Zhao Qingmiao's eyes were shocked, and then he stepped forward to meet him.

When the head catcher saw that it was her, he arched his hand: "Miss Zhao, I can't help disturbing the business of your restaurant." ”

Zhao Qingmiao listened to his official tone, and asked unhappily: "Yesterday, the prefect just said something to ask, and this morning he reversed himself?" ”

The catcher smiled: "Look, did you misunderstand?" Today, I'm here to arrest the real suspect, and I'd like to ask Miss Zhao to make it easier. After that, he didn't wait for Zhao Qingmiao to agree, and directly motioned for someone to go to the back kitchen.

It was quiet inside, and after a while, the curtain moved, and the cook was limped out by the servants.

Everyone saw it clearly, and gasped: Could it be that this Wang Ji cook killed Jin Chiliang?!

～

Yamen Mansion. Blue bricks and gray tiles, three rooms into two deep, the eaves hall casts bright light, and the two columns of errands standing in the hall are all solemn.

Zhao Qingmiao took Chang Xi and Shen Xiao to stand in the courtyard outside the hall, and many people came to watch the trial.

Shen Xiao crossed his arms and waited with great interest to solve the case.

Chang Xi asked in a low voice, "Miss, will this Master Yang be the murderer of Jin Chiliang?" ”

Master Yang's face was vicissitudes, his steps were not fast, and he knelt down in front of the prefect's case with some difficulty.

Zhao Qingmiao suddenly thought of the situation when Jin Chiliang came to Wang Ji that day, this cook was indeed a little weird. "Listen to how adults judge, you always need a reason to kill."

After asking his name, Mr. Tong slapped the shocked wood on the public case: "Yang Hua, have you ever sued Jin Chiliang?" ”

Yang Hua is the cook, but he was unusually calm when he was arrested, and sneered: "Yes, the adult said yes." ”

There was a shouting in the courtyard.

Master Tong continued to ask: "Jin Chiliang died at home the night before, were you at home at that time?" ”

At this hour, except for those who steal chickens and dogs, normal people sleep at home. If he's not there, he's—

"I'm not at home." Yang Hua pressed his hands on his knees and grabbed it hard and then slowly let go, suddenly his eyes showed contempt, and he sneered in his mouth: "I went to the Jin Mansion to kill people." ”