Xi Yan, who was in Chongdu, learned the news of Xi Qing's death almost the next morning.

In the Begonia Courtyard, he looked at the short piece of paper in his hand expressionlessly. After confirming that it was correct, Xi Yan put the paper on the candlestick and lit it, watching it turn into wisps of green smoke in his hands.

Xi Yan's thoughts are chaotic, he really has too many things in his hands, and the case in Shigu Lane has not progressed yet; Although Xi Qing is dead, the matter of water is far from over; What's worse is that An Ruofei is still in Gu Zhiyuan's hands, but Gu Zhiyuan has not heard from him since he kidnapped An Ruofei, and it is still difficult to find him after several searches.

All the secret guards in Chongdu under his command have been dispatched, but Gu Zhiyuan seems to have disappeared, and there is no trace inside and outside the city.

In this kind of clueless and chaotic time, Xi Yan knew that he was in a hurry, and after thinking about it again, he still decided to perform his existing duties, so he changed into an official uniform and went to the yamen to take people to Shigu Lane.

Although it is very close to Shifang Street, Shigu Lane is rarely set foot in the daytime, and it is even more deserted after the murder. Even though the sun was shining brightly outside, the courtyard was still dark in the shade of the trees.

Before this, Liu Yuanli had been here many times, but every time he came, he found nothing. But after Xi Yan took over the case, it was the first time he came to the scene.

Xi Yan stood in the courtyard, there was a faint musty smell in the room, he only glanced at the door, and then retreated.

"Tell me about the context of the Shiguxiang case," Xi Yan found that the text of the case was very rough and not exhaustive in many places.

"Yes," the accompanying criminal officer replied after sorting out his thoughts, "This case was a murder case before it became a reverse case. In early March this year, a murder and robbery occurred here, and the deceased was a single male aged 43. ”

"Wait," Xi Yan raised his hand to interrupt the little official's words and asked, "Have you investigated the life of the deceased, as well as the activities and whereabouts of the deceased?" ”

"Yes, I've found out." The little official responded to this problem properly, "This person's name is Huo Ping, he has lived here more than 20 years ago, but he has never married a wife, and he is a lonely ......."

"You wait," Xi Yan interrupted him again, "When this case was not transferred to the Criminal Department, it was always handled by Jingzhao Yamen, did what you just said find out and write on the text of Jingzhao Yamen?" ”

"Yes," the little official didn't understand what Xi Yan wanted to say, so he continued, "The lower official has summoned Huo Ping's neighbors, and they all said that they are not familiar with him, but the strange thing is that the neighbors all say that Huo Ping is often away from home for months. ”

"He lives alone, how do you know?"

The little official let out an "oh" and continued: "Huo Pingnai lives alone, and the house will not even light up for half a year, and the courtyard door is also closed. ”

"Well......" Xi Yan nodded thoughtfully, "Evidence of the Taiping Society's rebellion has been found here, and I think this Huo Ping is also a member of the Taiping Society." He was away from home for several months, so he must have gone out to make contact. ”

Liu Shilang also said so, "Although the little official is respectful on the surface, he actually doesn't look down on this boss from a family in his heart, he only thinks that this is another second ancestor who is a gentleman, and he is just going through the motions when he comes here today......

"Where is the secret room where the letter of rebellion was found?"

"The entrance is in the house," the little official glanced at Xi Yan inquiringly, "My lord, do you want to go and see?" ”

"Take a look," Xi Yan looked up and took the lead in walking towards the house.

After descending more than twenty steps down the narrow stone steps, it can be regarded as coming to the legendary secret room. All the evidence here has been carried away by the Criminal Department, and the dark room is empty at this moment, except for the dim light emitted by two oil lamps on the stone wall.

"How did you find this dark room?"

Xi Yan asked casually, but when he heard the little official, he chuckled first, and just as he looked over with a little doubt, the little official hurriedly put away his smile and arched his hand, "It was discovered by the people of Jingzhao Yin's Mansion when they were handling the case, my lord...... Did you notice a knocker on the wall in the middle of the house? ”

Xi Yan thought about it carefully and found that this was indeed the case, so he nodded and said, "Yes, that knocker is a little abrupt, and it is difficult for people not to notice." ”

"That's it, it's so strange that there is a knocker on the wall, so the officials of Jingzhao Yin's Mansion tried to pull it, and it turned out to be really pulled. Then an entrance will be revealed in the underground," the little official couldn't help laughing again, shook his head and said, "I don't know what this Taiping Sect thinks, it is really worrying to set such an important place so abruptly." ”

Xi Yan said "um", took a torch from the attendant's hand, and looked along the stone wall in the dark room, the more he looked, the more Xi Yan's eyes showed a trace of satisfaction, but his emotions were imperceptible to others.

"Let's go home......" Xi Yan glanced at the little official and said leisurely, "This case is really difficult to handle, I don't know when the two-month period arrives...... What are we going to do to your majesty? ”

The little official also knew that this case really couldn't be handled, and Liu Yuanli had said such things when he was handling the case, but now that he has changed his words, he still has such a statement...... But he wasn't worried, when the emperor blamed, the first person to bear the brunt was Lord Shangshu anyway.

When Xi Yan returned to the front of the mansion in a sedan chair, the red lantern at the door had been replaced by a white lantern...... The news of Xi Qing's death has come back.

Except for the two white lanterns in front of the mansion, there was nothing unusual in the mansion, and he asked casually, it turned out that the news of Xi Qing's death came back in the afternoon, and since then, his father has gone back to the study by himself, and he has not come out until this time.

Xi Yan sighed lightly, turned around and went back to Haitang Courtyard, he knew that at this time, he should never comfort him, even if he met his father now, what could he say to him?

As soon as he returned to his study, Xi Yan felt that all his thoughts were locked in a bottomless cold pool...... Depressed and heavy. The cutscene in Shigu Lane has been completed, but what really worries him is An Ruofei's whereabouts. But at this moment, when he was involved in a hair and moved his whole body, no matter how panicked he was, he still had to deal with the important things in front of him.

"Who brought back the news of the death of the fourth prince?"

After asking, Xi Yan found that there was no one else in the house except himself...... Xi Yun is still on the other side of the water, and he will have time to rush back in the future. And he had also ordered no one to wait in the study, and when he was stunned, Xi Yan pushed the door and called Wanxing in, "Who brought the news of death back?" ”

Wan Xing lowered her eyes and said politely: "It's the guard next to the fourth prince, and today I received a flying pigeon from my family." The head of the house didn't say anything, only told the housekeeper to go to the water to help the spirit, and then went back to the study with a calm face, and the white lantern at the door was also ordered by the fourth lady to hang up. ”

"I see...... The head of the family and the housewife are still here, and this move has gone beyond the norm. Xi Yan thought about it, and still ordered, "That's it, it's better to leave it to your father to deal with, you can retreat." ”

"Yes," Wan Xing reluctantly glanced at her master quietly, but looking at his slightly gloomy face, she still retreated very sensibly.