Ouyang Lan and Li Zhentian sat in the room and interrogated all the subordinates one by one. However, after interrogating all the people, they did not get any clue. According to Ouyang Lan's arrangement, it was a subordinate and a servant girl in one class, exactly five groups. Shift every two hours, take turns to wait outside the door, and do not arrange people to be on call when they are ugly and in the middle of the day. You are not allowed to enter the room when no one is in the house. The guards here also said that no outsiders had ever entered or left the inn. Therefore, it must be the people inside the inn who steal the things.

At this time, Ouyang Lan, Jian Xin, Li Zhentian and Zhao Shu in the house were discussing in the house, and Li Yu and Li Longzhan were also watching.

Ouyang Lan complained: "I think that woman is the most suspicious!" ”

Everyone knew that Ouyang Lan was talking about Mrs. Zhou, but no one proposed it.

Li Longzhan said: "No. My mother has taught me not to do that kind of thing, and I believe that my mother will never do such a thing. ”

Li Zhentian said: "Your aunt is just suspicious. ”

Zhao Shu said: "It won't be the second lady." The owner's and lady's room is on the second floor, while the second lady's room is on the first floor. Someone just said that from beginning to end, the second lady never went upstairs. As for stealing at night, the second lady doesn't know martial arts, so it's impossible. ”

Li Longzhan said: "That's right." I can testify that my mother never entered your room without permission, even when my father and aunt were not at the inn. ”

Ouyang Lan didn't give up, "Could it be that she instructed someone to do it?" After all, she used to be from this capital, so it's hard to guarantee that she doesn't have an acquaintance or anything. ”

Li Zhentian said: "It's also unlikely. These subordinates are all newly recruited, even if only Min can know one or two, he can't know them all. We were in a two-person shift, randomly divided, and one of them stole and the other wouldn't know? Besides, yesterday, the people here testified in pairs that no one had entered our room during the time we were not at the inn. ”

Ouyang Lan said: "That's someone who lies!" ”

Zhao Shu said: "In fact, the possibility of the two committing crimes cannot be ruled out. However, if it is really two people who committed the crime, then we can really only ask one by one again. Or it's the official. ”

Li Zhentian shook his head, "Since I said it today, as long as he takes the initiative to send it back." I don't blame the past, if I report to the official, then I can't hide this matter. ”

Ouyang Lan held her head and shook her head: "This is not good!" That won't work either! Let's let Brother Han come, he has a bright brain! ”

Zhao Shu looked at the door and said sharply, "Who?" ”

I saw a small head poking out of the door, it was Twilight. After hearing Zhao Shu's shout, Twilight Lan walked in little by little. Jian Xin said, "Dulan, why are you here?" Did you see something, hear something, or have any clues you want to say? ”

Twilight shook her head, "I don't have any clues. ”

Jian Xin was a little frustrated, and said, "Then what are you going to do?" I can't teach you etiquette right now. Now the top priority is to find the lost jade belt. ”

Twilight pursed her lips, "I have a way, do you want to try it?" ”

Ouyang Lan said with interest: "Let's hear it." ”

After Twilight Lan explained the method to everyone, Li Zhentian nodded, "You can give it a try." It's just that you're going to have to suffer a little. "

Twilight replied, "It's okay. ”

In the afternoon, Ouyang Lan gathered everyone again and said cruelly: "Okay! It's a hard mouth! None of you are allowed to eat today! If you can't find it for a day, you won't be allowed to eat for a day, and I see that you can last for a few days. Also, if no one admits it tomorrow, one person will be ten lashes. It is to let you know that if one person commits a crime, all will be punished. Then he flicked his sleeves and left.

After Ouyang Lan left, the subordinates immediately exploded. "Whoever steals it will admit it himself! Don't let anyone be punished with you. "That son of a bitch, her hands are so unclean!" "Phew! It's really unlucky, and I encountered such a thing when I came out. "If Lao Tzu is beaten tomorrow, when this person is found, Lao Tzu will be beaten back twice!" Such voices shouted and cursed in the crowd. Some of these people are scolding, some are sad, and a few are uncertain.

Li Zhentian looked at Ouyang Lan's departing back and explained to everyone: "Don't be surprised. That's what my wife is. But rest assured, I will do my best to persuade my wife. However, I still say the same thing, as long as you take the initiative to return it, I will ensure that you are safe and sound. Let's disperse. Then he hugged a fist and left, and after taking two steps, he turned around. Facing Sister Zhang, the foreman of the maidservant, he shouted, "Sister Zhang, come with me." ”

This Sister Zhang walked over, Li Zhentian and this Sister Zhang walked aside, and these subordinates looked at Li Zhentian and Sister Zhang one after another, but they couldn't hear what the two said. After a while, Sister Zhang walked back, and these subordinates surrounded Sister Zhang and asked what was going on.

Sister Zhang said: "It's nothing, this Master Li just asked me for a list of all of us." ”

When these subordinates heard this, they all hung their heads and went to their own places.

The next day, Ouyang Lan gathered everyone again. Sitting on the chair, he looked at everyone proudly, and said, "Yesterday, the owner interceded for you. For the owner's sake, I will allow you to eat. ”

After hearing this, these subordinates showed happy expressions on their faces. However, this joy did not last long, and was beaten back to the ice cellar by Ouyang Lan's other words.

"Meals can be made for you, but this whip is indispensable." Ouyang Lan stretched out her hand, and Jian Xin handed over a whip. Ouyang Lan took the whip and threw it at Zhao Shu in front of her. Zhao Shu took the whip, and Ouyang Lan said, "Ten whips for each person." Including the second lady's maidservant, Chun Tao, is not exempt. ”

When Chun Tao heard this, she immediately complained: "Since I can't be exempted, why can't Jian Xin be exempted?" ”

Ouyang Lan retorted: "Jian Xin has served me since she was a child, and I have absolute trust in her. Besides, she wants to make me use the trouble of stealing the jade belt. Poisoning my food is enough for me to eat unsuspectingly. ”

When Chun Tao heard this, she looked at Ouyang Lan with a look of resentment.

"Look at what! Then take you first. Zhao Shu, do it. ”

"Okay. Madam. Then, Zhao Shu said to Chun Tao: "Miss Chun Tao, you better turn your back." ”

Chun Tao turned around very reluctantly, only to hear the sound of a whip "pop", Chun Tao breathed violently, the pain in her back was all over her body, Chun Tao grinned in pain, and turned her head to look at Ouyang Lan.

Ouyang Lan said lightly: "You'd better twist it back, it's not over yet, if you hurt your face, it won't look good." ”

Chun Tao's ten whips were finally finished, and Chun Tao wanted to touch his back with his hands, but as soon as he touched it, bursts of pain followed. The whip marks, black and purple, are shocking to watch. These subordinates were all pale and their legs were shaking.

"No one has admitted it yet. Then come one by one. Ouyang Lan took out the list given by Sister Zhang yesterday, and read it name by name. These people were all whipped by Zhao Shu and beaten violently, and even Dulan was not spared.

After this whipping, Ouyang Lan said, "Okay." Come one by one, and we'll continue to judge. ”

Ouyang Lan's words were like a demon's whisper, which made these people extremely frightened in their hearts, they didn't expect that a woman with such a beautiful face would do such a vicious thing. Ouyang Lan continued to read the list and began to judge everyone. However, after the interrogation, there was still no clue. Ouyang Lan put down her words: "No one has admitted it yet, then let's continue tomorrow." "Leave with Jianxin. These people were left behind, suffering from the pain of flesh and skin.

At this time, Li Zhentian walked out of nowhere and said, "Everyone, I'm sorry. I did my best, but my wife, alas. After a while, I will arrange for someone to prepare some medicinal wine for everyone to rub. Sister Zhang, come over here. Li Zhentian called Sister Zhang over again and said to her: "Madam has arranged for someone to secretly investigate this matter, I think it will soon come to light, you can go and comfort everyone." And he walked away.

At this time, there were still a few people who came to ask Sister Zhang what she had explained, and Sister Zhang repeated Li Zhentian's words, but there were obviously not as many people today as there were yesterday.

After Chun Tao went back, she told Mrs. Zhou about it. Mrs. Zhou found a free time, went to Zuichun Mansion again, talked about it, and said in horror: "Fight like this, she won't recruit it." Give us up when the time comes. ”

This matter was arranged by Sister You, and one of the maidservants who went was named Xiaohong. His father and brother are both ruffians, good at gambling, and if they don't pay back the money, they sell Xiaohong, Xiaohong wants to regain her freedom, so Sister You told her to let her steal the jade belt. When the shift was about to change, let Mrs. Zhou call the two who were about to change shifts to move some things and separate the people, because it was just going up and down the stairs, and the time was very short, and they didn't even have half a cup of tea, so the two didn't care. If it was normal, Zhao Shu would really be aware of it, but at that time, he happened to be packing up money in the house to dry.

Sister You said lightly: "You didn't steal it, what are you afraid of." That Xiaohong, give her ten guts, and she doesn't dare to confess to me. ”

Another day passed, and there were only two days left before the new emperor's enthronement ceremony. As yesterday, the crowd was again whipped and interrogated. After the same incident, Li Zhentian called Sister Zhang and said some innocuous words. And today's people, there are only a few people who come to ask Sister Zhang.

It's another day, there is only one day left before the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, if you can't find it today, tomorrow Li Zhentian can only go to the emperor to admit his wrong grace and reward him with a jade belt. Then they were flogged and interrogated. After the same end, Li Zhentian called Sister Zhang, and this time Li Zhentian said to Sister Zhang: "I have found someone." Tomorrow you will not have to suffer. ”

Sister Zhang naturally smiled after hearing this, and then said bitterly: "How can we people not be beaten, but Mrs. is like this, and she has been fighting for several days in a row, which is really unbearable." Master Li, who stole it? ”

"You don't have to worry about that." Li Zhentian dropped such a sentence and left. At this time, there was only one person, leaning over and enduring severe pain, to ask Sister Zhang what was going on. After Sister Zhang told her, she didn't feel the slightest joy, but her spirit beat a little, and her face showed a trace of panic, and the maid was Xiaohong. All this made Li Zhentian, who was not far away, watch.

In the dead of night, Xiaohong sneaked out of the inn and into a dilapidated house in the alley. This is her own home, or rather the home she once was. When I walked into the house, it seemed that no one had come back for a long time, and it was dirty and messy. Xiaohong secretly took out a jade belt from under the bed. She originally handed over the jade belt to Sister You, but she didn't accept Sister You, and let Xiaohong dispose of it herself, as long as she wasn't discovered. Xiaohong wanted to destroy this jade belt, but the texture of the jade belt was strong, and she couldn't cut it with scissors. Moreover, this jade belt is also as Li Zhentian said, it is impossible to find someone to change hands, and as soon as it is made, it will be discovered and reported to the official. She began to feel annoyed, she resented her family, resented her father and brother, resented Sister You, resented everything in the world, and raised the jade belt and planned to smash it to the ground. However, before the jade belt could land, a gust of wind struck, and Li Zhentian had already appeared in front of Xiaohong and snatched the jade belt from Xiaohong's hand. Xiaohong fixed her eyes and saw that it was Li Zhentian, her heart was like ashes, she took out the scissors under the sheets, and immediately pierced her stomach, and she didn't even let out a wail, so she died with hatred.

Li Zhentian grabbed the jade belt, and when he was relieved, he didn't expect this little red to commit suicide. Li Zhentian sighed and said, "Why bother. "Take the jade back to the inn.

Today is the last day before the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, and the jade belt has been lost and recovered, and everyone must be happy in their hearts. Li Zhentian gave a heavy reward to all his subordinates. to comfort them in their previous sufferings. With this money, those people don't care about what they suffered the other day. As for Xiaohong's matter, everyone knows about it, but the person has committed suicide, and they will not be unforgiving to a dead person.

In the room, Ouyang Lan said to Dulan: "Dulan, thanks to your idea, I found this jade belt." You don't have to be beaten. How's your injury? ”

"It's okay, it's okay. The second young master sent me medicine every day, and the effect of the medicine he sent was quite good. ”

Ouyang Lan smiled interestingly and said, "Of course, this medicine was prepared by that Doctor Han. The effect is not comparable to ordinary medicines. Let me think of what to reward you? ”

"No, ma'am. Your great kindness, Twilight Lan can't repay it in her life, how can you still ask for a reward. ”

"That's not going to work."

"Not really. It is a blessing for me to be able to serve by my wife's side. Tomorrow is the emperor's enthronement ceremony, madam, you have to take a good bath today, and I will boil water for you. With that, Twilight walked out the door.

Ouyang Lan and Jian Xin smiled.

In the backyard of Zuichun Building, Sister You hated and said: "Be clever and ruthless." I thought this Ouyang Lan was just a brave and resourceless woman, but I didn't expect her to be so shrewd. ”

Zhou said: "This time it was not her idea, it was the girl who took it from you at that time, it seems to be called Xiaolan." ”

"That little girl is so smart, I regret sending her away."

"Shall we now?"

"I can only slow down for a while. After the enthronement ceremony, you should go back to Luoyang, and I will arrange someone for you, and we will continue to contact each other when the time comes. ”