Pick up a withered flying flower from the wind and rub it a little to feel the last trace of vitality and charm. A gentle breeze blows, not cool, but a wave of heat.

The lush foliage rustled, and the originally vibrant scene was made a little terrifying by the tragic events of the recent past.

The body has long been removed, but there are still many clues. There was no rain in the moon, the bright red on the grass, and the splits on the trunks of the trees, silently telling the tragedy of the battle.

"Boom!"

With a slight force on his hand, the unknown petals turned into crumbs and drifted away in the wind.

"Someone!"

"Overseer!"

"Hasn't that county order from Ma Jiaji come yet?" Xu Ruyi's voice seemed to carry a hint of impatience.

"Uh... Fang Tianyou said in a low voice: "Before it arrives, my subordinates will send someone to urge." ”

"Forget it. Waving his hand lightly, Xu Ruyi smiled and said: "Before the hour comes, our family will wait a little longer, but we want to see when he can come and what reason he can give our family." ”

Xu Ruyi and Fang Tianyou stood silently facing the gentle stream.

Hua Pengfei was not here, although he said that he would take him out, but he was sent to Wu County by Xu Ruyi, and made an appointment to go back to Shaomu Mountain to meet.

The fans scattered in the small plum forest, from time to time to break through the grass, climb the trees, and even dived underwater, not letting go of any suspicious clues, but unfortunately for the time being, there is still nothing.

"My lord, my lord, you should take two steps quickly!" In addition to Meilin, Zhao Chong, the historian of Ma Jiaji, and Wang Ji, the county magistrate, urged Zhou Ping'an, the county official who was walking in the middle, with a hint of pleading in his voice. It's a pity that looking at the pace and demeanor of Ping'an this week, he is completely not in a hurry and not in a hurry, and there is a kind of grace of "the emperor is not in a hurry and the eunuch is in a hurry".

"My Lord Zhou~" Wang Ji's tears are about to fall: "Our sedan chair is down, and it's less than a mile away, let's hurry up." ”

"What's the hurry. Zhou Ping'an smiled and said, "Anyway, that eunuch has been waiting for so long, what's the use of us being in a hurry?"

"Your Excellency. Zhao Chong on the side asked a little puzzled: "That eunuch is deeply favored by the saint in Beijing, the fierce flames are monstrous, and there are countless lives and deaths on his hands, why is the adult looking fearless, the lower officials are really puzzled." ”

"Confused?" Zhou Ping'an chuckled: "So you can only be a pawn history, but my lord and I are the county commander." With a phlegm cough, Zhou Ping'an teased: "Although the eunuch is arrogant in the DPRK now, the situation in the DPRK and China, in the final analysis, is still the decision of the ministers. We officials all want to be promoted, but there are so many positions on the top, a radish and a pit, what does the promotion depend on?"

"Filial piety to silver!" replied Wang Ji without thinking.

"Phew!" Zhou Ping'an spat on Wang Ji's face: "There are many filial piety to silver, and you still need to say it!"

"That... Xia Guan really didn't know. Wang Ji scratched his head and was puzzled: "Ask the adults for advice." ”

"It's fame, prestige. ”

"Fame?prestige?"

"The eunuch had a bad reputation and killed a lot. If I can be rebellious to him, sir, I will offend one or two. If it spreads out, won't this fame and prestige come? If it can win the appreciation of the adults in the DPRK and China, won't it be just around the corner that promotion to official position is just around the corner?"

"It turned out to be famous. Wang Ji thought clearly.

Zhao Chong asked worriedly: "My lord, your idea is good, but you are not afraid... Unafraid... ”

"What are you afraid of?" Zhou Ping'an waved his hand indifferently: "The silver is thrown in this Merlin, if you want to solve the case, then the eunuch can't do without the cooperation of our Majiaji County Ya, he dares to move me? Give him a bold." ”

Even after talking and gesturing, the three of them came to Merlin's side. Before he walked in, a man suddenly appeared in the shadows, brown shirt and round hat, holding a steel knife, and his face was gloomy: "Who is coming, the common name is the surname!"

"Majiaji County ordered Zhou Ping'an, and came with Zhao Chong and Wang Ji of the county. Why don't you report it soon?" Zhou Ping'an flicked his sleeves with an arrogant expression.

"Zhou Ping'an?" Fanzi looked the three of them up and down, and nodded: "The overseer said, you can bring it in directly when you arrive, you don't need to interpret it simultaneously, come with me." ”

After speaking, he turned around and left, and the three people behind him hurriedly followed.

When the sound of the water came, Zhou Ping'an, Zhao Chong and Wang Ji also saw Xu Ruyi and Fang Tianyou standing quietly by the river. Although it is only the back, the factory man's Xuanyi python robe will not admit his mistake.

The corners of Zhou Ping'an's mouth twitched, and he was dissatisfied in his heart: "Cut." Grandpa Tai strictly ordered that eunuchs were not allowed to wear silk boots. But now don't talk about boots, even the python robe is on, I don't know what the emperor thinks!"

"Zhou Ping'an, right?" Before Fanzi could open his mouth, Xu Ruyi turned around first: "It's a long wait for our family." ”

Zhou Ping'an arched his hand casually, which was regarded as a salute: "Zhou Ping'an, the lower official, has seen the factory father." ”

"The aspect is big-eared, the heavenly court is full, and the earth is round, but it is a blessing to be an official. Xu Ruyi smiled slightly: "Our family has been waiting for you here for almost two hours, do you have an explanation to our family?"

"What explanation do you need?" Zhou Ping'an frowned, and his face was displeased: "This official handles the official affairs of the county, and he has every opportunity. Where can I get out of my free time?"

"Oh, that's no explanation. Xu Ruyi nodded, and asked again: "Do you have any clues about the case of salt tax and silver?"

"In order to prevent decay, the corpses have been transported back to the county morgue and handed over to the servants for disposal. There are more than 200 corpses, and there is only one person, where can you get a clue so quickly?"

"Oh, that's no clue. Xu Ruyi nodded again, turned his gaze to Zhao Chong and Wang Ji on Zhou Ping'an's side, and smiled: "Who are you two?"

"I... Xiaguan... Although Wang Ji and Zhao Chong had gone through Zhou Ping'an's guidance, they also wanted to show the arrogant and heroic posture of the scholars, but looking at the smiling expression on the face of the Dongchang Admiral in front of them, the cold hairs on the back of their necks stood up, and they only felt that the situation seemed to be a little wrong.

"What did the Overseer ask you, are you deaf?" Fang Tianyou said with a cold look in his eyes.

"Poof!"

"Poof!"

After two sounds, Wang Ji and Zhao Chong knelt on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "County Cheng Wang Ji (Zhao Chong of the Dian History), please see the overseer!"

"You! bastard!" Zhou Ping'an didn't expect the two of them to be so faceless, like kowtow worms, and suddenly felt disgraced.

At that moment, the two of them also figured it out. No matter how famous he is, it will be the county official's master, and he has nothing to do with him. This eunuch of Dongchang may not dare to touch Zhou Ping'an, but what if they take the two of them to be angry? Anyway, they think that being a small official in a county and a place is comfortable and decent, and it is better not to take risks.

"Well, get up. Xu Ruyi nodded with satisfaction.

"Thank you, Lord Governor. The two of them got up from the ground, but they bowed their heads, not as dead as before.

"Zhou Ping'an, Zhou Ping'an. Xu Ruyi read it softly twice, and then recited: "Originally from Songjiang Mansion, Hongwu twenty-one years of Jinshi and first, the second class seventeen. After that, he first entered the Hanlin Academy as a reviewer. In the 25th year of Hongwu, he was appointed as the county commander of Jishui County, Shandong, and then transferred to Majiaji in the 30th year of Hongwu, and he was still the county commander. The official position is neither promoted nor demoted, but one is far away in Shandong, and the other is located near the left of Beijing, but their status is different. I think Master Zhou also spent a lot of effort. ”

"I don't know. Zhou Ping'an said angrily: "This official is an official Qingming, and he will never use those drill camp paths. Today's position is thanks to the emperor's grace. You eunuch, you don't know the inside story, you speculate, aren't you afraid that the official will join you?!"

"Huh. Xu Ruyi smiled contemptuously, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "Join our family?" Originally, our family came here to respect you for the three points of the county order, just to be able to do the errand well. Who wants you to give face, play Beacon Hill with our family, really think our family is good-tempered?"

Reaching out, his round and white right hand grabbed Zhou Ping'an's neck, and he didn't see how to exert himself, and he had already lifted Zhou Ping'an in the air.

"You! Do... Zhou Ping'an was shocked and angry, his feet kicked wildly, his hands flapped indiscriminately, and he struggled hard, but it didn't have any effect.

"What are you doing?" Xu Ruyi smiled evilly: "Anyway, it seems that you are not ready to help with our family's errands, so I have to ask you to move your ass and pour out the place to change to an obedient one." ”

With a pull on his hand, the next moment, Xu Ruyi grabbed Zhou Ping'an's head and lowered his whole person into the small river in front of him like a strip.

"Ah!!h

"Gollum~"

"You eunuch!

"Gooo Dudu~"

Zhou Ping'an was shocked and angry, but before he finished speaking, he choked several mouthfuls in his mouth and nose.

"Our family is very busy, and we don't have the time to mess around with you. You want to make a name for yourself, right?"

His hands fluttered hard, his feet kicked wildly, and he desperately tried to get out of the water again, but the force on his head made him powerless.

"Don't you see that our family is actually not in a good mood?"

"Gollum~"

"When you get down, if Lord Yama asks, you can say that you died of blindness. ”

At one point, the struggling hands suddenly froze on the water, and then fell weakly.

A few traces of blood emerged from the water, and were quickly washed away.

The stream in the Merlin was still as clear as it could be, except that the corpse of a male in an official robe rose and fell.

Let go and get up.

Xu Ruyi clapped his hands indifferently and muttered: "Lord Zhou Ping'an Zhou works hard for state affairs and sleeps at night. As a result, he was in poor spirits, fell into the turbulent river of Merlin, and everyone stepped forward to rescue him, which is really sad. ”

The smiling eyes fell on Zhao Chong and Wang Ji again: "You guys are also sad, aren't you?"

"Father-in-law spares his life, father-in-law spares his life!" Wang Ji kowtowed like a chicken running into broken rice, and he was already a little scared and stupid.

Zhao Chong was still quick-witted, although he was also standing in two strands, but he swallowed his saliva and reluctantly spoke: "Small, the villain saw with his own eyes that Lord Zhou himself did not fall into the river very much, was washed away by the river, and had nothing to do with his father-in-law." Grief, the villain is grief-stricken!"

"Well, you're very clever. Xu Ruyi raised his hand and patted Zhao Chong's head: "Your name is Zhao Chong?

"Villain Zhao Chong, I am willing to serve my father-in-law!" Zhao Chong lowered his head as much as possible, so that the eunuch in front of him could shoot more comfortably.

"In the future, don't always be a villain, it's also the county order of Majiaji, and you should call yourself a lower official. ”

"Father-in-law Xie cultivates! villain... ”

"Huh?"

"Xiaguan, Xiaguan is willing to go to the soup for his father-in-law, and he will never give up!"

"Good. Nodding with satisfaction, Xu Ruyi also looked left and right: "Although the whole journey is fast, it has also wasted six days of hard work, and there is nothing to see in this Merlin." Let's go, go to the county government and tell our family everything you find. ”

。。。。。。

In the case of investigation, where human life is involved, the corpse is always the most direct starting point.

The identity of the deceased, the cause of death, etc., are all details that cannot be ignored.

Fang Tianyou led the fans below to settle down, while Xu Ruyi sat in the lobby, holding a booklet in his hand and flipping through it, and Zhao Chong, the new county commander of Majiaji County, was chattering about what he had learned.

"Father-in-law, a total of two hundred and seventy-nine corpses were found in Merlin, and they were wounded by swords. There are countless broken limbs, and they are still sorting out and splicing. ”

"Two hundred and seventy-nine?" Xu Ruyi raised her eyebrows and asked with interest: "There are only two hundred and seventy-nine people in the escort team?" or... ”

"My father-in-law knows everything. Zhao Chong flattered: "The official who went to Yangzhou yesterday to check has just returned, and Yangzhou said that a total of 200 soldiers and 50 soldiers were dispatched. Along the way, however, thirty more men were drawn from various post stations, so that by the time they actually reached Merlin, there should have been two hundred and eighty men in the procession. ”

"So there should be a live mouth. What about people?"

"No, I haven't found it yet. Zhao Chong lowered his head and whispered, with a frightened look on his face.

"What are you afraid of? Xu Ruyi smiled gently: "Our family is not an unreasonable person. Merlin is still some distance away from the Ma family set, and your Ma family is only two or three big cats and kittens. If you really have a whereabouts, of course, it's better, and if you don't, it's no wonder. ”

"Thank you, Gonggong Xie understands. ”

"400,000 taels of silver, the car pulled the person to pick, there should always be a trace. Where did they get the money?"

Xu Ruyi closed his eyes and thought, but Fang Tianyou walked in from outside the door.

"What's wrong?"

"The Overseer ... Fang Tianyou glanced at Zhao Chong and did not speak.

"Father-in-law, big stall leader, the lower official will retire first. If you have something to do, you can call me at any time, and the subordinate is on call. ”

When Zhao Chong retreated, Fang Tianyou said in a low voice: "Overseer, Ma Jiaji is a little uneven. ”

"It's not peaceful, what's the law?"

"The streets are full of people. The subordinates just inquired, and there was some bad news. ”

"These cows, ghosts, snakes, and gods are here for the 400,000 taels of silver. Xu Ruyi's voice was lazy, revealing a sense of contempt: "I don't know what I can do." ”

"More than that. Fang Tianyou said in a deep voice: "It is said that there are dark flowers downstairs in the smoke and rain, and someone paid 100,000 taels of silver to buy your head. ”