Mr. Hou said: "The old slave personally delivered it this morning." Then he said: "We are always very careful about the food in the Governor's Mansion. We will check the food of the Governor and his wife before sending it in. This bowl was delivered this morning. After I brought the white fungus soup, Chuntao tasted it before sending it to the house."
Qi Ning nodded slightly. Manager Hou looked up at the naked Mrs. Shen and said with a sore nose: "Madam must have wanted to follow the Governor, so she treated herself like this."
Mrs. Shen was dressed in clean white clothes, and she was lying on her bed in a very calm and calm posture. From Mrs. Shen's face, there was no sign of any pain, and she looked extremely calm. Qin Ning actually knew in his heart that if he was someone else, Poison death, Mrs. Shen's death state would never be like this.
Everything before her eyes truly proved that Mrs. Shen had been prepared to die.
Although there was indeed no other flaw in the scene where Tantai Zhilin and Mrs. Shen committed suicide, the couple successively committed suicide to understand their own lives, which really made Qining feel a little weird. Deep down, he always felt that something was wrong. It's not as simple as it seems.
"Snapped!"
A crisp sound suddenly sounded, but Shen Liangqiu suddenly raised his hand and slapped him in the face. Qining was startled, but Shen Liangqiu had already sighed: "I didn't protect the Governor well, and now Mrs. Lian... even Madam is not optimistic about it either. How can I have the face to see the Governor." He turned around and walked to Qi Ning, looked at Qi Ning and said: "Master Marquis, you did not protect them well. It is a lowly general who has neglected his duty. I beg you, Master Marquis, please do this." Return to the capital and escort the humble generals to the capital together."
"General Shen, what do you mean?"
"Back then, the humble general made an oath that he would live and die with the Grand Governor. If a knife struck him from behind, the humble general would definitely stand behind him." Shen Liangqiu shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "But now the Great Governor has The governor and his wife have gone, but the humble general is still alive. The humble general must first apologize to the old marquis, and then...!" The next words were not spoken.
Qi Ning could see the hidden pain in his eyes.
After seeing Shen Liangqiu yesterday, Qining discovered that Shen Liangqiu had actually been restraining his emotions and seemed relatively calm.
Tantai Zhilin died, and the navy's top general was Shen Liangqiu. Under such circumstances, it was reasonable for Shen Liangqiu to remain calm.
However, Tantai Zhilin and his wife committed suicide one after another, and Shen Liangqiu was obviously unable to control his emotions.
"By the way, Mr. Hou, please ask a maid to come over and see if there is anything left on Madam." Qi Ning pondered for a moment before softly ordering: "This is Madam's room, we can't stay here. Stay for a while and talk about it after we go out."
Mr. Hou got up and went to find Chuntao. Several other people also went out. After going out, Shen Liangqiu took a deep breath and turned to Mr. Hou, "Where is the young master?"
"A wet nurse is taking care of you." Manager Hou wiped away his tears and said in shock, "General Shen, what should we do next?"
"The young master cannot stay here and must be sent back to the capital as soon as possible." Shen Liangqiu said calmly: "The governor's body cannot be left like that...!" Xiang Qining asked: "Master Marquis, we must return the governor's body as soon as possible. The governor is laid to rest, and his wife...!" He muttered.
"Is General Shen planning to send the two bodies back to the capital?" Qining asked.
Shen Liangqiu sighed: "It's just that this matter is a bit difficult to handle."
"Oh?" Qi Ning asked curiously, "How do you say this?"
"The Marquis is unaware of something. A long time ago, the Commander-in-Chief once said that if one day...!" Shen Liangqiu paused for a moment before saying, "If one day he really leaves the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, he would rather Let himself sleep in the sea forever, he said that he has made the sea his home for half his life, and even if he leaves, he will still lie on the bottom of the sea."
Qi Ning was startled, and Shen Liangqiu shook his head and said: "Many generals of the Navy were there at that time. Everyone thought that the Governor was just talking casually, so they all said that if they really died, they would stay in the sea. The humble general and the Commander I am sworn to Jinlan and know that the Grand Governor did not just say what he said, and he also said that after his death, he will follow the Grand Governor and sleep together at the bottom of the sea...!"
"So, the Governor hopes that he can be buried at sea after leaving?"
"Not just the governor, many people who have called the sea their home all year round will have this kind of thoughts." Shen Liangqiu explained: "Many fishermen are buried at sea after their death."
"I see." Qining asked, "If that's the case, wouldn't Madam also have to be buried at sea with the Governor?"
Shen Liangqiu smiled bitterly and said: "The Governor and his wife have a deep love for each other. My wife took poison and committed suicide for the sake of the Governor. She originally wanted to follow the Governor. How can we break them up if they are so affectionate?"
Qi Ning was thinking about how to deal with the funeral affairs of Tantai Zhilin and his wife. This was a matter of the Tantai family. He didn't need to say anything. He just nodded slightly and didn't say much.
At this moment, Chuntao, who had entered not long ago, hurriedly came out with a letter in his hand and said to Shen Liangqiu: "General Shen, here... here is a letter, which is in Madam's arms."
Shen Liangqiu immediately reached out to take it, and was about to open it, but stopped and presented it to Qi Ning. Qin Ning shook his head and said, "Has General Shen seen Madam's handwriting? Let's first see if it was really left by Madam."
Shen Liangqiu immediately opened the letter, glanced at it a few times, and then said to Mr. Hou next to him: "Mr. Hou, you have also seen Madam's handwriting. Do you think this was written by Madam herself?"
Manager Hou came over, looked at it carefully, and said with certainty: "Yes, this is Madam's handwriting."
Shen Liangqiu nodded and read the letter carefully. After a moment, he sighed and said with a bitter smile: "Madam committed suicide, it turns out... it was my fault!"
None of them understood. Shen Liangqiu explained: "Last night, I reported to Madam that the Marquis led officials from the Criminal Department to investigate the matter of the Governor. It was roughly confirmed that the Governor did commit suicide." After a pause. , then continued: "Previously, Madam never believed that the Governor would leave her and the young master. She only thought that the Governor was being harmed, so she waited for the court to send someone to investigate the matter every day, but she found out last night After the Grand Governor committed suicide, he...!" His voice was already slightly choked with sobs.
Qi Ning said: "Madam knew that the Governor committed suicide, so she had no other attachment, so she committed suicide by taking poison and followed the Governor. Is this what General Shen meant?"
Shen Liangqiu nodded and blamed himself: "If I didn't report to Madam like that last night, maybe... it wouldn't be like this."
"Did Madam mention anything else in her letter?"
"My wife said in the letter that the Governor was a little unusual in the days before he committed suicide." Shen Liangqiu said: "The Governor was in a trance, and he mentioned several times that if he leaves one day, he will be buried at sea. ." Shen Liangqiu presented the letter to Qi Ning with both hands, and waited for Qi Ning to take it before continuing: "Madam asked us to send the young master back to the capital. She will stay in the East China Sea and be buried at sea with the governor."
Qining took the letter and scanned it for a few times. The handwriting was beautiful and it was indeed written by a woman. Mrs. Shen's suicide note was concise and concise. Her ultimate purpose was obviously to accompany her husband to be buried at sea.
Qi Ning folded the suicide note and put it into his sleeve, saying: "This is the suicide note left by my wife. Although I was appointed by the imperial court, I was actually entrusted by the old prince. This suicide note will be waiting for me." After returning to Beijing, handing it over to the old Marquis in person can be regarded as an explanation to the old Marquis... General Shen, what do you think?"
"It's best to do this naturally." Shen Liangqiu nodded slightly, "Master Marquis, my wife has also left. It's best that no one knows about this... right now."
"Of course." Qi Ning said: "The remains of the Governor and his wife can be buried as soon as possible, but... the imperial court is discussing the replacement of the Governor. Before the decree is issued, if the news of the death of the Governor is spread, , I'm afraid it will cause an explosion in the East China Sea." He frowned slightly and said, "But if we keep it like this, I'm afraid...!"
He didn't say anything, but everyone knew what he meant.
Although the hottest period has passed, the weather has not cooled down yet and the temperature is still high. If the body is not buried for a long time, the body will always be damaged.
"If the Governor really wants to be buried at sea, we must not act hastily." Shen Liangqiu said in a non-negotiable tone: "Master Marquis, I will properly arrange the remains of the Governor and his wife without any problems."
Seeing what he said, Qi Ning knew that he had an idea. He nodded slightly and said, "I will write a note and submit it. General Shen can also write a note. The governor and his wife committed suicide. This has already happened." There is no doubt, but... we still have to think about the reason why the Governor committed suicide, and always give an explanation to the court."
Shen Liangqiu's lips moved slightly, but he stopped talking.
"What does General Shen want to say?" Qining asked, staring at Shen Liangqiu.
Shen Liangqiu then said: "I have been thinking about it for a long time, the Governor...!" Halfway through his words, he still shook his head and said: "That can't be the case. Even now, I still feel that it is impossible for the Governor to be confused because of the black tiger shark. .”
"General Shen has to think carefully about how to present the report." Qi Ning said, "I will only report the truth based on what I know." Seeing Shen Liangqiu's haggard expression, he comforted: "General Shen, don't go too far. I'm sad, I'm sorry, the Navy still has to rely on you for now."
Shen Liangqiu cupped his hands, and Qining said: "I will wait here for the court's orders. If anything happens to General Shen, just go to the post house to find me." He patted Shen Liangqiu's arm gently. , without saying much, turned and left.
Shen Liangqiu personally walked to the gate. After leaving, Wu Dalin and others were already waiting outside the Governor's Mansion. They mounted their horses and walked for a while. Wei Yujiang suddenly asked: "Master Marquis, is this the end of the matter?"
Qi Ning rode his horse slowly, turned to look at Wei Yujiang and asked, "Why would Chief Judge Wei ask this?"
"Bizhi... I just think it's strange." Wei Yujiang approached Qining, and the two horses rode side by side: "The Governor of Tantai committed suicide. We just arrived yesterday, and Mrs. Shen also committed suicide today. This... This thing is so weird. , I feel that there must be something hidden inside."
"You also saw the scene where the Grand Governor and Mrs. Shen committed suicide. The Grand Governor of Tantai died in a secret room, and Madam Shen not only took poison after cleaning up, but also left a suicide note." Qi Ning said slowly: "The two of them When people die, can you find evidence to prove that they didn’t commit suicide?”
"This...!" Wei Yujiang suddenly became embarrassed. Just as Qining said, he had personally seen both scenes, but found nothing wrong with them.
"Motive!" Qi Ning said: "If both of them committed suicide and no evidence can be found to refute it, then we can only find the motive for Governor Tantai to commit suicide. For such a person, what on earth caused him to commit suicide." He raised his head. Looking at the sky, the blue sky was clear, and he murmured: "What on earth is the Governor of Tantai afraid of?"