"Yes, it was bought by a man in a short gray shirt." I replied.

"Why didn't I hear your report?"

"This ......" I thought of the scene of the master holding the scroll against my neck that day, and I still have palpitations, I almost died that time, I really didn't think about it so much. At that time, I just vaguely felt that the owner wanted to check Li Dongsheng's identity, so he asked people to buy one of his characters.

"Where else have you seen this letter?" Meng Sima asked again.

I had to honestly tell the story of the second meeting with the Lord on the afternoon of the 29th of the lunar month.

"I see." After hearing this, Meng Sima smiled with a happy smile on his face: "It seems that they are really scared of you, so they will be self-defeating." ”

A big question was drawn in my head: "What do you mean?" ”

Meng Sima explained: "Lord Xiang deliberately let people buy Li Dongsheng's words, and then displayed them in front of you, I was expecting you to report to us: Lord Xiang may be interested in calligraphy and painting. At this time, this character appeared in the assassin's house again, so isn't it possible to suspect that the assassin may be the master?

It's a pity that you didn't notice this, and this painting may also be copied like I am now, so I won't be convicted of assassinating history based on just one word. So they gave up their plan to frame the assassin for the time being.

They're not going to tell the other agents because you're tight-lipped or you just don't know.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, your family stayed in the Jianghu Inn, when the shopkeeper Huang happened to come over for breakfast, and he knew your whereabouts clearly. So he deliberately announced that the store would open the next day.

As he expected, when the next day, you really couldn't hold your breath anymore, and went to find Lin Sheng, wanting to strike first and lead someone to arrest the master.

So, after Lin Sheng gave the order, Han Lu sent a message to the Assassin Shi, deceived the Assassin Shi into changing into the clothes worn by the Xiangzhuo, and arrived at Maocaolong, and then, the people of the county lieutenant Xiao came to the Assassin's Mansion to report the news, and Wu Changshi and I took people over together.

In order to make it more realistic, Lin Sheng did not hesitate to lose his life. Killing people in public, no matter what, the assassin always has to give an explanation. ”

I listened carefully to Meng Sima's speech, and I only felt a chill in my back. I was a little glad that we were in the driver's seat and could lead those delicate noses, but I didn't expect that the lord was extremely cunning and set traps for us everywhere.

I looked at Meng Sima's sad appearance and bloodshot eyes, and I was also worried: "Then what should I do with the assassination now?" Can we rely on Li Huichun's temptation and Long Yuhan's testimony to prove that he was deceived into going to Maocaolong to meet me yesterday? ”

Meng Sima pinched his eyebrows with his hand: "Han Lu died last night!" Committed suicide by hitting a wall in prison. He should have known that he had been teased by the fake master. ”

"What?" I just felt a chill in my heart, and the only witness was gone.

Meng Sima let out a long sigh again: "Even if he doesn't die and tortures him, I'm afraid he won't admit in court that it was his own words, and even if he does, it is estimated that people will feel that he was beaten by us."

Assassin Shi was captured on the spot as the leader of the fine work, and he also killed people under the noses of everyone, there is no solid evidence, it is really difficult to convince the public to say that he is not guilty.

Believe it or not, if we are released from prison with the insignificant testimony of Li Huichun and Long Yuhan, it is guaranteed that there will be a gathering of people to make trouble immediately, accusing us of ignoring the law and protecting each other. ”

"What then?"

"I'm also in trouble, and we don't have enough evidence to prove that he is the owner. How did you doubt him? The scent of ink on his body alone? Meng Sima walked around to the bookcase, drew circles in the inkstone with a pen, and looked at the "Tranquility Zhiyuan" that had just been copied with empty eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.

"I can't tell, but I just happened to see him put the couplet written by Li Dongsheng in his sleeve, and then went upstairs to accompany the guests. After that, I went to Maocaolong, and when he approached me, I could smell the smell of wine and ink on his body, so I felt ...... It's really just a feeling. ”

I couldn't help but sigh, it's too difficult, if I had Li Huichun's skills, how could I still have so many troubles when I pulled off his veil at that time.

Meng Sima smiled faintly: "So, in the final analysis, for the Huang shopkeeper, you can only say that it is just a feeling, in fact, sometimes a person's feeling is still very accurate, after all, only you have seen the master three times." However, it feels like we can't be used as evidence, and we can't arrest him, just like we can't clear the suspicion of assassination. ”

I clenched my fists weakly: "Sima, don't worry, since I have this feeling, I will look for this feeling and find evidence." ”

Meng Sima smiled bitterly: "You are too unconfident in what you said. ”

Yes, I felt like it was just a comforting word.

Looking for proof? How to find it?

"When will the Chin Cha come back?" I asked, I really miss Xiao Mu.

"Chincha?" Meng Sima's eyes were even more confused: "He is also my friend, three years ago, we were in high school together in Chang'an, we were also poor, but he always managed to get money." He even sent me some coils when I left Beijing to take up my duties. I used to think I knew him well, but now, I don't understand him anymore. ”

……

I left the Thorn Mansion in a daze, and the sky finally dawned. Looking at the bustling flow of people on the street, I didn't feel the joy of the New Year at all.

I know in my heart that today's Xiangzhou seems to be singing and dancing, but it has already hidden a murderous intention, just like the rows of pavilions and pavilions, the surface is magnificent, but the load-bearing pillars have given birth to termites, if you don't pull them out immediately, wait for them to multiply, the building will collapse, and the prosperity will no longer be. They will become the lords of Xiangzhou, and we will be slaves, and the future will be precarious.

"But do you want to buy candied fruit? Come in and take a look! There are also a variety of pastries that you can try for free! ”

I suddenly woke up, only to find that I unconsciously stopped at the door of Huang's pastry shop, in the face of the warm greeting of the shopkeeper, I shuddered involuntarily, who knows if he is fine?

"No...... No need. I felt that my tongue was a little disobedient, and I couldn't help but glance into the shop, and just happened to see the shopkeeper Huang nodding at me with a smile, so I didn't dare to stay longer, and ran towards the Jianghu Inn quickly.

Alley! I stopped. The small alley between Huang's pastry shop and Jianghu inn is only three feet wide and can accommodate one person, but it is twenty steps long, with the wall of Huang's pastry shop on the west side and the side courtyard of the inn on the east. The road bricks on the ground are also some years old, uneven, because the east side of the Jianghu Inn is the street, so generally no one passes from here.

I remember that Xiao Mu first invited me to be an elite spy in this alley, and he also found me a part-time job to take care of Lao Meng. The way he connected with me was to walk five steps from the mouth of the alley and place a copper plate under a loose floor tile against the base of the wall.

It's just a copper plate, if Xiao Mu is in Xiangzhou City, maybe he will see it.

With a glimmer of hope, I looked left and right, and seeing that no one was paying attention, I quickly stuffed a penny under the stone slab, and ran into the inn.

"Brother Jianghu, when did you get up?" Wang Jiajia and A-Niang were having breakfast in the living room, and when they saw me coming in, they quickly got up and pulled me to the table.

"Auntie."

"Why did you get out so early?" A-Niang's face was full of displeasure, but her words were concerned.

"I got up just after dawn and went out." I sat down opposite Wang Jiajia and carefully glanced around the entire guest hall: "We seem to have fallen into passivity. ”

"What's passive?"

I picked up a steamed bun and took a bite, and said in a low voice: "Assassin Shi was framed, but there is no evidence to prove his innocence, I don't know what else the lord will do." ”

"That master, do you still have no clue?" Wang Jiajia also became nervous.

"Hmm. Why don't you stay here for a few more days. Ay! I shook my head, nibbled on another steamed bun, and then took a half bowl of gruel from the bowl next to me and ate it.

"Jianghu, you're here too." Wang Fatzi ran in out of breath, glanced at A-Niang, and said to me, "Han Lu died in the prison of the Assassination Mansion last night. It is said to be the only witness who can prove the innocence of the assassin. ”

"Master, I know. Sima told me. ”

"That'...... This has been done for a long time, and the leader of the fine work you ventured to find ......" Wang Fatzi looked around vigilantly, and saw that there were few people eating, and no one paid attention to our side, and then said: "Could it really be counted on the head of the assassin?" ”

"Alright, don't make a mess. This case is not your concern in the first place. If the assassin is guilty, he can only be sentenced by Qincha. He is now in prison on his own initiative in order to prove his innocence, and if the owner still acts during this period, he can naturally be ruled out of suspicion. A-Niang analyzed.

Wang Jiajia bit her lip: "If my mother can think of this, the owner will definitely pay more attention, how could he commit another crime during this period?" ”

"Little Er, it's still the same!" With a familiar shout, the shopkeeper Huang stepped into the store with a smile.

"Oh, Shopkeeper Huang. How is business going today? Fauber himself greeted him and asked.

"It's ok. It's just to make a living, but if you want to make a fortune, it's difficult! The shopkeeper Huang sat down and looked at the counter: "Your owner is not here?" ”

"Yes, yes." Li Dongsheng trotted down from the corridor: "Shopkeeper Huang is early!" ”

"Hehe, borrowing your good words from the owner, business was really good yesterday, and your couplet was framed, saying that it would be good in a few days."

"Shopkeeper Huang, please use it slowly!" Ah Wuduan brought food.

Li Dongsheng also sat down opposite him: "Thanks to Shopkeeper Huang, if you really like my words, I will write a few more for you when I have time." ”

"Oh, then I'll thank you first. Hahaha. Shopkeeper Huang smiled and came to breakfast.

After chatting with Meng Sima just now, I learned that Li Dongsheng had been his benefactor before and had sponsored him during his exams. So this time, Meng Sima stooped down to take care of the gift book for Li Dongsheng and Mu Niangzi when he married him, and secretly asked people to buy the words he couldn't sell.

But not everyone knows about Entu and deserves to have a deep friendship with it. Li Dongsheng is simple-minded, just because the shopkeeper Huang likes his words, so he has a good conversation with him, but don't be inadvertently tricked out of things that shouldn't be said.

I listened to them happily talking about calligraphy, but I pinched the sweat for Li Dongsheng, if this Huang shopkeeper is really the master, then what is the purpose of his approach to Li Dongsheng?

Hey, my brain is really not enough for such a complicated matter. Xiao Mu, what the hell are you ......

"Hey, Brother Jianghu, Xiao Mu!" Wang Jiajia suddenly shook my arm and pointed towards the gate.

I couldn't wait to look over, only to see a person smiling and stepping into the door, still wearing the washed gray robe, carrying the silver-white cloth bag cross-body, and playing with a copper coin in his hand, who else could it be if it wasn't Xiao Mu!