Although Xiao Jinyan didn't know this person, from their conversation, it could be inferred that this middle-aged man was involved in the assassination of Li Chengcheng by the Lingnan Sword Sect. Li Xiaohua borrowed the name of having problems with the accounts, and made a move out of nothing, so that the people in the third room showed their feet, and only then did they think of eliminating the traces and killing people.

The middle-aged man left the No. 7 pawnshop and did not leave the city directly, but walked around the city. He looked flustered, and observed his surroundings every few steps, for fear that someone would follow him, and he specially picked a place with a lot of people to walk. Obviously, he got the news that someone would be against him, so he was so cautious.

After a big circle in the city, he went out of the city from the Dinghuai Gate in the west of the city, rented a fast horse in the horse market and ran wildly like crazy, and ran out of more than ten miles in one breath before he stayed. Xiao Jinyan followed secretly, although this middle-aged man had a strong sense of anti-tracking, it was still not worth mentioning in the face of absolute strength, and as soon as he stopped, he was blocked by the two.

"You are Liu Xiaoda's brother-in-law of the thirteen branches of the Li family in Jinling?"

The middle-aged man was full of vigilance, "Who are you?"

"We are the pilgrims of the No. 7 pawnshop, and our shopkeeper has lost something and want to find you to recall. ”

Liu Xiaoda said, "I know all the courtiers over there, why haven't I seen two?"

One said, "We are responsible for collecting and collecting accounts, and occasionally taking people's lives." It's normal that you don't know each other. ”

After that, the two stepped forward, detained Liu Xiaoda, left the official road, and went straight to a remote wilderness. Liu Xiaoda felt that something was wrong, but the acupoint was controlled and he couldn't resist, and he was already scared to death in his heart.

"At the beginning of last year, the transaction with the Lingnan firm, when I took inventory this year, I found that the account books with the bottom sheet were missing. ”

Ordinary pawnshops and businesses always have some shady business, and there are usually two account books, one of which is for the proprietor to show and for the government to inspect, and the other is the bottom book, which records the real purpose. For example, the money given by the No. 7 pawnshop to the Lingnan firm was recorded in the account book to the Li family as tea, and the real purpose was concealed.

Liu Xiaoda said, "What does this have to do with me?"

"Our shopkeeper listened to your Cuihualou's friend, she has seen this account book in your hand, if you refuse to tell the truth, we have to use some means. ”

The swordsman took out a small knife, shaped like a spoon, Liu Xiaoda knew that this was a tool used by Jiang Yang's thieves to pluck out his eyes, and his face was so frightened that he said: "I just want to save my life!"

"Where?"

Liu Xiaoda said, "I can't say it, if I say it, you will naturally kill me." ”

"You don't have to say it, we will make your life worse than death!" With that, the swordsman flipped his wrist and dug out a piece of meat from his heart, and suddenly, blood flowed from Liu Xiaoda's chest.

"Whew!"

A scream spread through the valley.

It's just that this place is remote and inaccessible, and no one pays attention to it at all.

Seeing this, Xiao Jinyan was afraid that the other party would kill someone, coughed, and walked out of the shadows, the two swordsmen did not expect that there would be someone here, "Who is it?"

"I'm a killer, a Red Star Hall Wood Killer. ”

The swordsman said, "It's none of your business here, get out of here." ”

Xiao Jinyan said, "Someone paid a lot of money to let me save this person's life, do you think there is anything wrong with me?"

"Wooden card killer? haha, also a killer?"

The other man made a look, and the two swordsmen suddenly struck, one left and one right, and attacked Xiao Jinyan, Xiao Jinyan was surprised in his heart, he didn't expect these two swordsmen to still know the Xuanzhong realm, it seems that the Li family in Jinling should not be underestimated.

Xiao Jinyan sneered, stepped without recklessness, drew true qi, led a sword over, stabbed it into the chest of another person, and then spit out the internal force, ending this person's life.

Xiao Jinyan sighed, "The wooden brand killer is also dignified. He kicked the two swordsmen into the cliff and came to Liu Xiaoda.

"Who are you?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "I also came to ask for the account book, but, unlike them, I only need things and don't kill people." ”

Liu Xiaoda said in his heart that you don't kill people, and between talking and laughing, he killed two swordsmen of the Li family, "How do I know if you are in a gang, maybe you are singing double reeds to deceive my trust." ”

Xiao Jinyan pointed to the cliff and said, "Even if I want to sing a double reed, I guess the two people at the bottom of the mountain don't want to, right?" He added, "Now, the people of the Li family want your life, and I am the only one who can save you." ”

"Why should I believe you?"

"I'm a friend of Li Chengcheng, presumably, you should know what this sentence means, right?"

Of course, Liu Xiaoda knew about the assassination of Li Chengcheng, because of this incident, the third master of the Li family secretly transferred the No. 7 pawnshop to his sister, that is, Li Xiangzhong's wife, and he could receive five hundred taels of silver from the pawnshop every month. The assassination was not trivial, for the first few months, he was terrified, for fear that someone would settle accounts after the autumn, but for more than a year, he gradually got used to it, began to squander in the city, and lived a life of spending and drinking. Until a few days ago, when he heard that Li Chengcheng had returned to Jinling alive, Liu Xiaoda was not calm, and took the opportunity to sneak into the pawnshop and steal the book at that time.

Xiao Jinyan said, "Now, someone wants to kill you. And the only one who can save you is Li Chengcheng, and you know the stakes in this. ”

Liu Xiaoda is not stupid, he understands that the other party wants to get the account books, and then find out the mastermind behind it, this is already an internal struggle between the top leaders of the Li family, a fight between the gods, and before the winner is decided, his life should be safe.

"How can I trust you?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "I will take you away and hide you in a place where the other party can't find you and can't move you, provided that you hand over the account book." ”

Half an hour later, Xiao Jinyan took Liu Xiaoda back to the bank of the Qinhuai River, and with a wave of his hand, a ferry boat came over and walked towards the dragon and phoenix painting boat.

Liu Xiaoda said, "I understand your kindness, I usually take this mouthful, but now that I am injured, it is better to go to this kind of place less." ”

When he came to the painting boat, Liu Xiaoda saw a number of Li family sword servants on it, but he didn't see a woman, and he was still a little disappointed in his heart. Xiao Jinyan said, "You live here, no one dares to touch here at present." Where's the books?"

Liu Xiaoda explained, "As soon as the No. 7 pawnshop entered, there was a Taishi chair, and the right back leg was hollow, and I hid the account book in it. ”

Xiao Jinyan smiled, "I didn't expect you to be quite shrewd." ”

Liu Xiaoda said proudly, "That's nature, if I hide at home, they can find it even if they dig three feet into the ground, but they don't understand the truth that is hidden under their noses and dark under the lamp." ”

Due to the loss of the account book, the No. 7 pawnshop was heavily guarded in the past two days, and after nightfall, Xiao Jinyan tried to get close to that side, and vaguely found that the other party was on guard, with his skills, if he broke in, he was also seven or eight points sure, but it was a little difficult not to alarm the other party.

I learned from Li Tingcheng's side that the third room has been re-doing accounts recently, especially this No. 7 pawnshop, which is very important, once they detect it, the other party will destroy the evidence even if they are desperate, Xiao Jinyan did not dare to act rashly, so he had to give up and go back to Shanhefang to discuss with Li Tingcheng.

Due to the stiff relationship with Li Xiaohua on the surface, Li Chengcheng and Li Xiaohua passed the news through the sword servant Qingcao, he had already learned of the disappearance of the No. 7 pawnshop account book, heard Xiao Jinyan's news, and said, "If you can get the account book and follow the map, you can find the evidence of the third room." ”

Xiao Jinyan said, "Your father is the head of the family, if you want to run a person, do you still need evidence?"

Li Chengcheng said, "It is precisely because he is the head of the family that he acts according to the rules, otherwise, such a big family, wouldn't it be a mess? Although they have already guessed that it was the third uncle who attacked me, but without real evidence, everything is empty talk." You hurry up and find a way for me to get the account books. ”

Xiao Jinyan asked, "Where is the palace map I want?"

Li Chengcheng took out a drawing from his arms, "Do you know how much risk I took for a picture today?"

"What's wrong?"

"I went to the library, and was tested by Uncle Li for half a day's study, and only then did he sneak into the library and steal the picture out when he was out of courtesy, you quickly remember, I will return it tomorrow. ”

Xiao Jinyan opened the map, kept in mind the terrain in the palace and the place to be found, and complained in his heart.

The Taiji Hall and the Mai Swordsman's Cottage are only more than ten zhang apart, and with his cultivation, he is afraid that he will be discovered without waiting to get over. The only hope is that when the Li family worships their ancestors, the unknown master and the eunuch who announced the decree in the palace will watch the ceremony together, and he will have a chance to take advantage of it.

The two continued to discuss the matter of stealing the account book, Xiao Jinyan thought of an idea, and said to Li Chengcheng, Li Tingcheng said, "You can try, I have a house in the city, let Qingcao take you there tomorrow." ”

Before leaving, Xiao Jinyan asked, "Is there anything to eat in the courtyard?"

"Why, hungry?"

Xiao Jinyan pointed to the roof not far away, "There is still one living there, aren't you afraid that he will starve to death on it and make it stink?"

The Master of Mercy wants to cry without tears.

He has been here for a day and a night, surrounded by swordsmen, he did not dare to move, during this period, the rice grains did not enter, not even saliva, fortunately, the body is fat, strong resistance, but also persevered.

Xiao Jinyan jumped onto the roof.

The Master of Compassion saw Xiao Jinyan and asked, "Where have you been?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "Don't mention it, after you fainted, I went down to assassinate me, I was almost found, and I was trapped in the kitchen. ”

The Master of Compassion dissatisfied, "You are trapped, live in the kitchen. I'm trapped, I can only live on the roof, is there any reason for heaven?"

Xiao Jinyan smiled bitterly, "Master of Mercy, you lie here basking in the sun, but you don't know that I can only stay by the ice cellar, the kitchen is full of people, I can only eat some steamed lamb, steamed bear paws, steamed deer tails and the like, if you want to eat something light, it's difficult!"

After that, he patted the Master of Compassion on the shoulder, and the Master of Compassion said, "Don't touch me, it's peeling, it hurts!"

Xiao Jinyan took out a chicken leg from his arms, "Let's eat it first." The Master of Compassion was already extremely hungry and was about to eat, when Xiao Jinyan suddenly said, "Someone is coming." ”

Immediately afterward, the Master of Mercy felt a pain in his head and fainted again. When he woke up, it was the second half of the night, Xiao Jinyan was gone, he saw that there were swordsmen patrolling below, he didn't dare to move, stuffed the chicken leg into his mouth, and halfway through eating, he found that the chicken leg was too salty, and there was no water to drink, and he couldn't help but greet Xiao Jinyan's eighteenth generation ancestor in his heart.

The next day, Xiao Jinyan went to Li Chengcheng's private house, moved out a Taishi chair, and came to the No. 7 pawnshop.

When the man saw that he had brought the objects, he looked at this Taishi chair, which was made of golden silk nanmu, carved dragons and phoenixes, and the workmanship was very exquisite, and asked, "Where did you get it?"

Xiao Jinyan said in a low voice, "I picked it up on the street." ”

The guy didn't tell the truth when he saw him, and sneered, "This chair is old, it can't be a thief, right?"

Xiao Jinyan pretended to be angry and said, "It's boring to say this, I'll ask another one." "With that, go out the door.

The man was also a knowledgeable person, so he followed him out and said, "Brother, this chair, if you guess correctly, it should be given to a big family in the palace, right? Why don't we discuss it, I'll help you get a high price, how about you take some money out and make it mean?"

Xiao Jinyan asked, "How much?"

"If you guess correctly, the chair should be a tribute item from the Kingdom of Shanluo, how can it be worth one hundred and eighty taels on the market, I am very familiar with the Great Imperial Court, I will sell it to you for two hundred taels, and you will take fifty taels out. ”

Xiao Jinyan sneered in his heart, and when he took the chair, Qingcao told him that this chair could not be a thousand or two, and when he moved it, Qingcao was still quite dissatisfied. However, seeing that the other party took the bait, he also felt that it was worth it, but he said, "I asked someone to inquire, how can this chair cost three hundred taels, you give me two hundred taels, I don't want the extra!"

The guy was a little embarrassed, went in and talked to Chaofeng, and then came out and said, "Cheng, but, after you go in, don't say anything, Chaofeng will directly offer you an offer, die, take the money and leave." ”

"That's it!"

Xiao Jinyan moved the Taishi chair in again, and his eyes inadvertently looked at the old Taishi chair at the door.

The guy shouted, "Guest, be a Taishi chair!" ”

The man said to him, "You sit down and rest for a while." With that, he moved the Taishi chair inside.

Xiao Jinyan came to the door, sat on the Taishi chair, poured internal force into it, and indeed found that there was a hollow in the right back.

Seeing that the man and the great court were talking to each other, he held his head in his hands, leaned back, heard a fluttering sound, and the whole person lay on the ground.

The back and armrests of the Taishi chair were broken.

When the guy saw it, his eyes rolled and he said, "Ouch, guest officer, you're in trouble." ”

Xiao Jinyan said, "How? Isn't it just a broken chair? Big deal, when I become my one, I will compensate you!"

"How do you compensate?" said the man, "Do you know the origin of this chair? This is the chair that Qin Shi Huang's grandmother sat on back then, it has a history of 1,000 years, and such a precious thing will be destroyed in your hands, and if the shopkeeper comes back, you are afraid that you will be arrested and sent to see the official!"

"You just tell me how much, right?"

"How much? It's priceless!"

Xiao Jinyan stood up, "I know, you deliberately tricked me, your chair is broken!"

The guy sneered, "How's it, it's not bad sooner, it's not bad late, it's not bad for so many years, why is it bad as soon as you sit down today?"

He shouted, and several swordsmen surrounded him, looking at Xiao Jinyan with unkind eyes. Xiao Jinyan was suddenly discouraged, "What do you say?"

Seeing that his face was flushed, the man persuaded the swordsmen to retreat, and persuaded him with good words, "I don't think my brother is a local, and it's not easy here, so it's better to do this, the chair you brought should be used as compensation for this Taishi chair." ”

Xiao Jinyan shouted, "No!

"Then let's go to see the official!" the guy said, "You know, this is the pawnshop of the Li family in Jinling, the city official of the Five Cities Terracotta Division, but the second young master of the Li family, as the saying goes, the people don't fight with the rich, the rich don't fight with the officials, brother, I advise you, just forget it!"

Xiao Jinyan pointed to the broken Taishi chair and said, "Dare to be affectionate, I took a new Taishi chair and replaced it with an old one?"

The man persuaded, "Even if it's bad, it's an antique, you can be considered to make no money, be content, go back and find a craftsman to repair it, maybe you can sell it for a good price!"

Xiao Jinyan was dissatisfied, and while muttering, he moved the Taishi chair that was broken into several pieces and left the No. 7 pawnshop. When he came to no man's land, he split the hollow chair leg with internal force, and sure enough, he found an account book, hidden in it.

He found Qingcao and asked Qingcao to give Li Tingcheng a little bit of the account book, thinking in his heart, I hope this will be useful, and the rest will depend on Li Tingcheng.

Shan He Fang.

Li Chengcheng got the account book and flipped through it carefully, this bill recorded the income and expenditure of the No. 7 pawnshop in the past three years, and finally found the transaction record at the beginning of last year.

At the beginning of the year, the seventh pawnshop had a profit of 800,000 yuan, and on the fifteenth day of the first month, they bought 30,000 catties of tea from a firm in Lingnan.

On paperwork, there are no problems. But the loopholes are obvious, there are account records, there is no physical delivery, the people who inspect and withdraw are all three-room, and more importantly, the Qingliang Temple is all slums, where can I use tea? What's more, there is no excellent Lingnan tea, and there are seven or eight hundred Wen on the ordinary market.

Li Chengcheng gave the clue to Li Xiaohua, Li Xiaohua urgently transferred Mr. Accounts from Waizhuang, investigated for a day and a night, and after being convinced that he had the evidence of the three rooms, he issued a notice that the people of the three rooms and sixteen branches in Jinling went to the council hall to discuss the matter, and the theme of the discussion was the matter of burning the account books in the great sacrifice to the ancestors.

As the future heir to the head of the family, Li Tingcheng also obtained the qualification to attend. He had a quarrel with Li Xiaohua on the face because of Li Jinhua, so when he came to the council hall, everyone looked at Li Xiaohua.

Li Xiaohua looked unhappy, "Why are you here?"

Li Chengcheng said, "Three years ago, I was nominated by the Council of Elders as the next head of the family, so I am naturally qualified to participate in this meeting, even if I don't have the right to vote, but I can always observe, right?"

Li Xiaoshu in the third room also said, "Allure, how can you talk to your father?"

Li Chengcheng said, "I'm afraid that he will be confused when he gets old, don't miscalculate the account, burn it to the ancestor at the ancestor worship ceremony, fool the ancestor, isn't this deceiving the teacher and destroying the ancestor?"

Li Xiaohua was furious, "Li Chengcheng!"

Li Chengcheng clasped his hands to his chest, "Listen." ”

"Since I can propose your clan, I am also qualified to revoke your qualifications, don't forget, I am now the head of the family. ”

Several elders even persuaded, "It's all father and son, why do you have to make such a fuss? Spread it out and let others see the joke." ”

Li Xiaohua snorted coldly, "I'm afraid that now, in the eyes of some elders, has become a joke." ”

Li Xiaoshu said peacefully, "Okay, since Allure is here, let him sit down." He stood up, pointed to a stack of account books on the table, and said: "On the order of the head of the family, I took thirteen account rooms to calculate the accounts of the Li family last year, and it will be the ancestor worship ceremony soon. ”