It was getting darker and darker, and the small oil lamp on one side was barely visible. But not far from Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao, there were at least three people watching them. The three entrances and exits to the outside world are surreptitiously watched. Qin Tai didn't write a novel with Zhanxiao, but he estimated that Zhan Xiaoxiao had already seen it. As a kung fu person and a seasoned case-handling officer, Zhan Xiaoxiao certainly knew that they had been monitored. According to Zhan Xiaoxiao's observation, two people from each of the three places took turns to monitor, and a total of six of them acted together. Zhan Xiaoxiao also found that not far from them, there was an inconspicuous place, and there was a person watching them inside.

Zhan Xiaoxiao and Qin Tai sat back to back, riding on their only bench. I don't know if it was because they were embarrassed, or because someone on the side was watching and couldn't talk, they didn't talk. It was the first time that Zhan Xiaoxiao was so close to Qin Tai so alone, and he couldn't help but feel a little flustered. She didn't know if she should tell Qin Tai the secret in her heart, and Qin Tai didn't react when she said it, what should she do? As a woman, she can't handle cases with a large number of men in the government, which not only does not conform to the rules of the government, but also is not good for her own reputation. Regardless of whether she can enter Qin Tai's house in the future, if her reputation is damaged, it will not be a good thing. And at this time, telling Qin Tai about this matter is definitely not the best time, it will only add more trouble to Qin Tai, who is already in trouble. Zhan Xiaoxiao knew that Qin Tai was a law-abiding official who was selfless and impartial in enforcing the law, what would he do when he knew that he was not a man and that he was pretending to be a man as his subordinate? According to the rules of officialdom, if someone commits a crime, the boss has to ask for the guilt himself, which is the famous "joint sitting method". After Qin Tai knew Zhanxiao's true identity, if he didn't report it, he would know the law and break the law, and deliberately conceal and deceive the court. Even if the above did not condemn him, he could not forgive himself. If he knew about it and reported it to the imperial court, not only would Zhan Xiaoxiao be forced to leave the officialdom and stay away from Qin Tai's side, but Qin Tai would also be implicated because of it. Qin Tai was originally in a dilemma, whether it was Yan Song or Xu Jie, that party would take advantage of this place to directly kill Qin Tai. Even if Qin Tai doesn't lose his official position and resign, he will never be able to get ahead. Qin Tai is an upright person, a person who only likes to solve cases, if he can't solve cases and can't do the work he likes anymore, he might as well die. Thinking of the unwillingness, the sloppy old Qin Tai, Zhan Xiaoxiao was shocked in his heart, and decided that there was no suitable opportunity to resolutely tell the truth. If outsiders really know about their own affairs, even if they die, they can't affect Qin Tai and a few of their own people.

When Zhan Xiaoxiao was in the wild, Qin Tai felt that Zhan Xiaoxiao was trembling a little. Zhan Xiaoxiao is not afraid of the cold, but he is just cold when he thinks of the cold Qin Tai. Qin Tai didn't know, thinking that Zhan Xiao was a little cold, in this kind of mountainous place, the temperature difference between day and night is very large. Zhan Xiaoxiao will definitely not be like Qin Tai, who has been prepared in advance.

When he came out, in order to prepare, Qin Tai added several clothes to his official uniform, just to prevent it from getting cold at night. Not only did he put on more clothes, but he also took a coat and came out. Originally, he thought that he would find a big stone in the cemetery, spread his coat and sit all night to deal with it, but he didn't expect to borrow a bench. The tunic was placed on the bench and pressed under his ass. Since Zhan Xiaoxiao is cold, he just needs to use it.

Qin Tai got up, and Zhan Xiaoxiao thought that Qin Tai wanted to move after sitting for a long time, so he also stood up. The bench they sit on is very sturdy, and it is not too uncomfortable to sit on, but the general bench has a disadvantage, two people sit together, two people get up together, if one person suddenly gets up, it is very likely that the other will sit directly on the ground. Therefore, in the south, some places call the bench "warping stool", and many people have suffered this kind of hardship. Some children also often use the bench as a toy to play with other children.

Qin Tai is a northerner, and he doesn't often sit on this kind of bench, so he doesn't know the mystery inside. So he stood up silently and didn't notify Zhan Xiaoxiao in time. Fortunately, they were back to back, fortunately Zhan Xiaoxiao had good skills, and fortunately Zhan Xiaoxiao didn't focus too much on one thing, paying attention to the things around him. When Qin Taiyi stood up, Zhan Xiaoxiao also stood up, so that he was not suddenly taken off and landed, and sat on the ground all of a sudden.

Zhan Xiaoxiao said to Qin Tai: "My lord, have you been sitting for a long time and want to move?" "This is the rule, when Qin Tai wears an official uniform, he represents the imperial court. As Qin Tai's direct subordinate, he can't be as big or small as usual. This is respect for the boss, but also for the court officials. Therefore, Zhan Xiaoxiao should respectfully call Qin Tai "adult", and cannot call Qin Tai's name or other nicknames.

Qin Tai picked up the coat and handed it to Zhan Xiaoxin: "It's cold, beware of catching a cold." Put on. ”

Zhan Xiaoxiao looked at the coat and knew that the coat was not his own, and his clothes were locked in his luggage. But in order to prevent anyone from looking through her luggage, she used a calfskin suitcase for her clothes, and added a large lock on the outside that was not easy to open. This coat is obviously Qin Tai's, and it was bought by Qin Tai half a year ago.

Zhan Xiaoxiao didn't take the coat, she said, "Adult, you better wear it yourself." The subordinates are not cold. She was embarrassed to wear Qin Tai's clothes, and she was also worried that Qin Tai would catch a cold by herself, so she didn't take her coat.

Qin Tai opened his official uniform, revealing the clothes inside, and said, "Don't worry, I have several clothes." It won't be cold, this dress is for you to wear. Beware of colds. ”

Zhan Xiaoxiao had to take it and wear it outside. It's a pity that this coat is too big for her. Qin Tai is a northerner, although he is not a tall one among northerners, but he is also taller than the average southerner. Although Zhan Xiaoxiao is a person who practices martial arts, she is always a girl from the south, and the petite Zhan Xiaoxiao usually doesn't feel too small, but after wearing Qin Tai's coat like this, how do you look at it is not the same thing.

Zhan Xiaoxiao knew that Qin Tai would laugh at her and would ask her some questions about personal matters. In order not to lead the problem to himself, Zhan Xiaoxiao said to Qin Tai: "My lord, I went to the cave. There are some discoveries, and now it's okay anyway, so I'll tell you about it. Anyway, they are too far away from us for them to hear us talking. ”

The people who are spying on them really don't get close, so if they don't speak loudly, they really can't hear clearly. So Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao dared to speak so reassuringly.

Qin Tai listened to Zhan Xiaoxiao's report while looking at the white cloth that Zhan Xiaoxiao gave him, on which not only the topographic map and some situations in the cave were drawn, but also some small objects. Qin Tai asked some detailed questions from time to time.

It turned out that Zhan Xiaoxiao went to the cave this time, and there were two unexpected discoveries, the first cave had a strange totem painted on the wall. It looks like a snake, but this snake is strange, not only does it have a large bag on its head, but it also has thorns on its outstretched tongue, and its teeth are not only long, large, and barbed. It has scales all over its body, and its tail is upturned like a scorpion. It looked terrifying, and it really scared Zhan Xiaoxiao at the time.

There are also some children's toys in the cave, all carved from wood. There is a pair of "tumblers" that are particularly eye-catching, and Zhan Xiaoxiao has already painted them. In order not to attract attention, Zhan Xiaoxiao put the toys back in their original places.

Qin Tai was thinking about things while looking at the pictures, he didn't know why, he always felt that the totems on the wall and the toys were related to the case, but they couldn't directly prove anything.

At this time, Zhan Xiaoxiao heard a sound of footsteps, and when Zhan Xiaoxiao saw it, he knew that things were in trouble.

It turned out that when the two of them were analyzing the case, the sky was gradually brightening. Some anxious villagers couldn't bear it anymore and gradually surrounded the two of them with tools. They did not rush up directly, presumably because the leader had not yet arrived and had not received accurate orders, so they did not launch a general attack.

Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao immediately put away the white cloth, ready to break through at any time. Zhan Xiaoxiao has reminded Qin Tai many times that only when people are alive can they handle cases and try cases, and if even people die, there is no way to solve the case. If reinforcements didn't arrive, they had to get out of here first. As for Wang Tianbao's grave, it has to be left to fate, and it is best to leave clues, even if it is destroyed, there is no way.

Just as they were about to leave, the villagers automatically gave way to a man who seemed to have a lot of prestige in the village. Zhan Xiaoxiao knew that this person could not be given any chance to speak, as long as this person spoke, it would be even more difficult for them to leave. Zhan Xiaoxiao pulled Qin Tai and rushed out.

At this moment, Qin Tai's familiar voice came from a distance. Qin Tai and Zhan Xiaoxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. The two of them finally sat down on the bench with peace of mind, waiting for someone to come.

"Young master, I brought someone here. I brought officers and soldiers. Xiao Lingzi shouted as he led a team of officers and soldiers to rush over. Didn't Xiao Lingzi go to find Lizheng who came to the town again? Why didn't you call Lizheng, but brought officers and soldiers?

When the villagers saw the officers and soldiers, they hurriedly hid the guys in their hands. No matter how stupid they were, they didn't dare to raise their weapons in front of the officers and soldiers.

Xiao Lingzi came to the cemetery with an officer, and the officer glared at the villagers and said, "What's wrong?" Want to rebel? Dare to use force in front of this officer? Do you want to kill officials and rebel? This official tells you that if you dare to touch the officers and soldiers and officials here, I want all your villagers to be buried together. ”

All the villagers did not dare to move, and a few timid ones had already dropped their tools and ran quickly towards the village.

The officer sneered and said, "Run, run." See where you can go. Can you escape from the land of the Ming Dynasty? If you have the ability to flee to the enemy country, Lao Tzu just killed you in the name of it. Kill your whole family, not a single chicken and dog will be left, and there will be no one left in the family. According to the law of the Ming Dynasty, those who defect to the enemy and traitor destroy the three tribes. Those who dare to rebel will destroy the nine clans. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, few villagers dared to stay, and many of them fled home, closing their doors and not daring to come out again. This is the power of officers and men, and officers and men must be reasonable, but officers and men do not need to be reasonable. In the hearts of the common people, officers and soldiers are a hundred times more terrible than the beasts of the flood.