It was cold at night, so Eunuch Sixi made a pot of hot tea and brought it in, then bowed his head and exited the bedroom.
Duan Baiyue closed the window casually: "It's already very late, why don't you want to sleep?"
Chu Yuan replied, "Wait for you."
Duan Baiyue: "..."
Chu Yuan put down the book in his hand, looked up at him, and said in a teasing tone: "Why, you are only allowed to send people to monitor me, and you are not allowed to place eyeliners in the Southwest House?"
Duan Baiyue raised her eyebrows: "After the king returns this time, he must do a thorough investigation to see who is so bold."
Chu Yuan smiled and shook his head, poured a cup of tea and handed it to him.
"It's so good, why did you suddenly come to Dayan City?" Duan Baiyue sat at the table.
"Have you ever heard of Tiansha's teaching?" Chu Yuan asked.
Duan Baiyue was stunned for a moment: "Tian Brat?"
"Located in the southwest, you should know something." Chu Yuan said.
Duan Baiyue nodded: "The leader's name is Lan Ji, who has a knack for making poisons, and the way of martial arts is extremely evil. Why do you suddenly think of asking this?"
"This Dayan City belongs to Ziyun Prefecture, with dense mountains and forests, a lot of rare wood, and many carpenters." Chu Yuan said, "Even if an ordinary pear flower wood chair is said to be produced in Dayan City, if it is placed in a Wangcheng store The price can also be at least 30% higher.”
"So?" Duan Baiyue was still puzzled.
"It's not just about making some tables, chairs and benches here." Chu Yuan said, "The Hidden Weapon Wooden Sword Linglong Pagoda, those old people sitting in the alleys gossiping, can't tell which one is the master of the mechanism, it is said that the Jiu Xuanji that you destroyed, The original drawings also came from here."
"Does Fen Xing like it?" Duan Baiyue asked.
Unexpectedly, he would suddenly mention this, and Chu Yuan was obviously taken aback.
Before being kicked out, Duan Baiyue retracted the topic in time: "I heard rumors before that the craftsman who allegedly made Jiu Xuanji was named Old Man Mu Chi, but he didn't know he was from Dayan City."
"I received news a few days ago that the old man Mu Chi had returned to Dayan City, so he came here on the pretext of Chazheng." Chu Yuan said, "It was only after I came here that I found out that Tianshajiao has already taken the lead to take people here. Kidnapped, his life and death are still unknown."
"Lan Ji tied up Mu Chi old man?" Duan Baiyue rubbed her chin, "I'm still a demon girl who can only tie up young and strong handsome men."
Chu Yuan looked at him.
Duan Baiyue said calmly: "I haven't tied me." But she has been coveting Yaoer.
"I have already sent someone to inquire about the news near Tianshajiao." Chu Yuan said, "There will be a reply in a few days."
"Why do you want to find the old man Mu Chi?" Duan Baiyue asked, "Do you want to build a hidden weapon, or is there an organ in the palace to solve?"
Chu Yuan staggered his gaze: "This matter has nothing to do with Duan Wang."
Duan Baiyue touched his chin: "What if the Southwest House can help?"
"If you really want to help me, then stay away from the Tiansha teaching." Chu Yuan said.
Duan Baiyue thought for a while: "Afraid that this king will be kidnapped by a demon girl?"
Chu Yuan accidentally knocked over a cup of tea.
"Your Majesty?" Eunuch Sixi heard the movement and cautiously tried outside.
"It's okay." Before Chu Yuan spoke, Duan Baiyue said first.
Father Sixi was relieved and continued to stand back with his hands in his hands.
Chu Yuan: "..."
The room was a little too quiet, and Duan Baiyue picked up a plate of snacks on the table: "Can I eat it?"
Chu Yuan replied, "Poisonous."
Duan Baiyue smiled and took a bite, then shook his head: "It's a bit sweet, you won't like it if you think about it."
"Hungry?" Chu Yuan frowned.
"I've been driving for three days without sleep, what do you think?" Duan Baiyue filled himself with tea.
Chu Yuan asked Si Xi to pass on some food.
In the middle of the night, the cook in the post house naturally couldn't make fresh seafood, but two bowls of plain noodles with some side dishes seemed quite appetizing. It's just that Duan Baiyue's chopsticks didn't stir twice, but Father Sixi reported at the door again, saying that the person sent out to investigate had a reply and was waiting outside.
Duan Baiyue picked up the bowl, squeezed a bun again, went all the way to the screen and continued to squat to eat.
Chu Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and asked Sixi to pass the person in.
"Your Majesty." The name of the person who came back was Xiang Lie, who was Chu Yuan's close bodyguard. Qinggong was extremely good. "My subordinates received news today that the prefect of Ziyun Prefecture, Xu Zhiqiu, seems to be secretly involved in the Tiansha Religion."
Chu Yuan's expression froze when he heard the words, and Duan Baiyue also frowned slightly. Xu Zhiqiu is the eldest son of Mr. Xu Ran Xu of the Ministry of Industry, and is also a well-known romantic talent in Wangcheng. Chu Yuan originally wanted him to practice locally for a few years, and then recalled to the DPRK to entrust him with a heavy responsibility, but he did not expect that he would be related to Tianshajiao.
The court officials and the Southwest Demon Cult are unclear, and it is a capital offense to spread it out.
"My subordinates found half a burnt letter in the brazier of Xu's study, and signed it to Tianzha. I don't know what it is, and I don't know if it was forged by others. It's not conclusive evidence. It's just that the emperor ordered it. Any clues must be reported immediately, so I don’t dare to slack off.” Xiang Lie said, “Nowadays, the magistrate’s yamen is surrounded by great masters, and there are people secretly guarding the city gate.”
Chu Yuan nodded: "Continue to stare, and if there is any news, report it immediately."
"Yes!" Xiang Lie took the order, turned around and strode out of the bedroom. I was just puzzled. Listening to the sound of breathing, there was obviously another person behind the screen, but I didn't know why the emperor was so calm, and he didn't even give himself a look that he wanted to cover.
Duan Baiyue came out from behind the screen with an empty bowl.
Chu Yuan: "..."
"Do you want me to stare at Xu Mansion?" Duan Baiyue asked.
"I brought enough people this time." Chu Yuan said, "No need."
"Alright." Duan Baiyue sat at the table, still not intending to leave.
The inn bed is huge.
…
Chu Yuan took the booklet on the table and continued to look down one by one.
Duan Baiyue leaned against him with her cheeks supported, drowsy.
Chu Yuan: "..."
After a while, Chu Yuan couldn't help it: "When does King Duan plan to go back?"
"Lan Ji is used to doing evil things, and there is danger in the city, so this king naturally wants to stay." Duan Baiyue answered calmly.
Chu Yuan said: "Will I be afraid of a mere demon girl?"
"Emperor Chu is naturally not afraid." Duan Baiyue said, "This king is afraid."
Chu Yuan wanted to beat him out.
"Your Majesty." Father Sixi said outside, "It's late at night, do you want to boil some hot water and bring it in?"
Duan Baiyue said: "Thank you."
Chu Yuan had given up the idea of opening his mouth, only pretending that the two did not exist.
Father Sixi smiled and ordered to go on, and after a while, someone brought hot water.
Of course, when the tub was brought in, Duan Baiyue had to temporarily squat on the beam.
Chu Yuan was full of complicated emotions.
But it didn't take long for new troubles to arise in the city.
A fire broke out in a shantang in the west, almost illuminating half of the sky. The fire was unstoppable. When the government and the villagers finally put it out, the original spacious and exquisite compound was burned to a mess, even the neighbors. Houses were also affected.
"Your Majesty!" Xu Zhiqiu hurriedly brought people over, his legs softened after seeing the tragic situation, and he fell to his knees on the ground.
The surrounding people also bowed their heads and did not dare to say anything, but they felt sorry in their hearts. All the people living in the shantang were old people who were more than a few years old. When encountering such a fierce fire, even young people may not be able to escape. Also bad luck.
Sure enough, after a while, the guards reported that there were many corpses under the burnt beam, all of which were beyond recognition.
"Xiaguan is negligent, please forgive me." Xu Zhiqiu's face turned pale.
"This matter is handed over to Commander Xiang, so Master Xu doesn't have to intervene." Chu Yuan said lightly.
"Yes yes yes." Xu Zhiqiu nodded again and again.
The sky was about to dawn, and Chu Yuan glanced at the charred wood that was still smoking, and turned back to the inn.
"How's it going?" Duan Baiyue asked.
"Someone did it on purpose." Chu Yuan said, "Xu Zhiqiu should also be able to see the clue, otherwise he would not panic."
"Why are you so sure?" Duan Baiyue said, "Even if the fire is raging, this is originally a wooden house, and no one can stop it from burning."
"Because it is a wooden house, we paid special attention to the position of the water dragon when building it to avoid fire." Chu Yuan said, "The house next to Shantang was also made of wood, but only half of the partial room was burned down. Only people doused it with water. The kerosene will burn so uncontrollably."
Duan Baiyue frowned: "Facing a group of lonely and widowed old people, if they are so vicious, it can be regarded as a loss of conscience."
"Xiang Lie originally worked in Dali Temple, so he shouldn't find it difficult to investigate the case." Chu Yuan said, "It seems that there are a lot of weirdness in this city, I'm afraid it will take a while."
Duan Baiyue stretched out his hand.
Chu Yuan was stunned for a moment, but did not dodge.
Duan Baiyue wiped a bit of dust off his face with her thumb, and the corners of her mouth curved: "The prince of a country, running around like a little cat?"
Chu Yuan's ears turned red, and he slapped his hand away.
"It's almost dawn, rest for a while." Duan Baiyue said, "Even if you want to go to the government office, you can't sleep without sleep."
"Could it be the Tian Bra Sect?" Chu Yuan asked.
"According to the behavior of the Demon Sect, it is possible." Duan Baiyue withdrew his hand, "But knowing that you are here, you still want to anger Tianwei. What is the purpose?"
"To frighten Xu Zhiqiu, or simply to give me a disarming power." Chu Yuan said.
"It makes sense to shock the prefect, but if it's aimed at you, Lan Ji shouldn't be so clueless." Duan Baiyue shook his head, "It's just a little demon, so he shouldn't cause trouble for himself."
"You know her well?" Chu Yuan raised his eyelids.
Duan Baiyue said calmly: "Forty or fifty years old, it's enough to be my mother."
Chu Yuan: "..."
Duan Baiyue called the hot water in again, and then said, "I'll go to the prefect's yamen to see, maybe I'll find something."
Chu Yuan nodded: "Okay."
Father-in-law Sixi watched Duan Baiyue climb over the wall and went out, feeling that the King of Southwest was quite strong.
Chu Yuan coughed twice in the back.
Father Sixi immediately turned around with a smile on his face: "Your Majesty."
"A lot of things!" Chu Yuan slapped him on the head fiercely. When it comes to not doing a proper job, it is comparable to Liu Dajiong.
When something happened in the city, the people naturally wouldn't laugh and cheer like they used to, and the atmosphere was much more solemn than usual. The government office was even more deadly. Xu Zhiqiu sat in the study, sighing and moaning all the time. When he became impatient, he circled around the room, and even the servants who served tea were kicked out.
Duan Baiyue leaned on the beam and reviewed the layout of the study. Compared with other buildings, the design is really more sophisticated. The same size house can hold twice as many books.
There are dark spaces everywhere... The corner of Duan Baiyue's mouth is curved, it's really a good place to hide things.
Xu Zhiqiu stayed in the study for half a day, and it was not until a visitor came at noon that he sorted out his clothes and went out. After he left, Duan Baiyue jumped down from the beam and checked it out. All the books that could be put outside were ordinary books, so naturally there would be no problem. As for the mezzanine... Duan Baiyue tried to push the darkness slightly. Grid, not moving as expected.
There were footsteps outside the house, Duan Baiyue dodged and hid behind the screen, but just a servant came in to get the account book, holding a lot of them in his arms, and he would fall down if he ran in a hurry, and there should be no secrets inside.
At the other end of the shantang, Xiang Lie also brought people out of the embers to lift the corpses of the old people out of the embers, covering each one with a white cloth. There are young descendants who came to help, and they sighed when they saw it. The people who lived here were all lonely old people, without children and daughters. When they were sitting on the street and basking in the sun on weekdays, they would always smile and give the little doll some candy. Dim sum, but now it has ended up like this, naturally no one feels bad.
After a while, the guard who was in charge of counting the corpses reported back, saying that a total of 26 old people had died unfortunately, their bodies were charred black, and it was impossible to tell who was who.
"Twenty-six?" Xiang Lie frowned, if he remembered correctly, when he looked at the roster in the morning, there should be twenty-five old people here, why would there be an extra corpse for no reason.
Shantang had such a tragic disaster, and the steward also sighed with regret and blamed himself for why he didn't hire more nursing homes in the first place. Hearing the guard saying that he had a request to the commander this afternoon, he quickly wiped away his tears and ran over. After hearing what Xiang Lie said, he was stunned for a while, and then he patted his head and said that twenty-six people were right.
"There were indeed twenty-five people before, but in the early morning yesterday, another old man who was kicked out of his home by an unfilial son came here and was sent to a shantang by a kind person. I was too flustered and forgot about it, the number is correct."
"So it is." Xiang Lie nodded and said again, "This matter is too strange. I'm afraid that the deceased cannot be buried in the ground for the time being. Please forgive me."
"Naturally." The steward sighed, "The people in this city are also looking forward to the emperor to find out the truth, so that everyone can feel at ease."
Most of the house was burnt down, and the charred wooden beams were so brittle that they could be broken with a single foot. Xiang Lie went to the backyard to check by himself, picked up a window lattice that was still a little red paint, and put it close to his nose, with a strong smell of kerosene.
Duan Baiyue left the mansion, and then took a detour to Zhishantang to take a look from a distance. Seeing that there were Royal Forest troops everywhere, he didn't intervene, and turned back to the post house.
The sky will be dark, Chu Yuan is still sitting at the table.
The King of the Southwest is still the same... through the window and entered.
Father-in-law Sixi stood at the door with his hands in his hands, smiling and looking very rich with a big belly.
"How?" Chu Yuan asked.
"There was a tragic incident last night, and the government was expected to be solemn." Duan Baiyue said, "Xu Zhiqiu stayed restless in the study all morning, and then discussed the trade between the two places with the Huizhou Business Gang, it sounds like The appointment was made a month ago, and there is not much difference. As for the study, there are quite a few hidden compartments in it, but the mechanism lock is exquisite, if you use brute force to open it, I am afraid that the other party will notice. "
"This prefect's yamen was built nearly a hundred years ago. I'm afraid the craftsman at that time is no longer alive." Chu Yuan said, "Now the best carpenter in Dayan City is named Tianyu."
"The killer of the Southwest House will arrive in the city tonight." Duan Baiyue said, "If you are afraid that the Royal Forest Army will be too conspicuous, you can leave some things to them."
Chu Yuan nodded: "Thank you."
"Why thank you." Duan Baiyue smiled and poured herself a cup of tea.
"It's been the night." Chu Yuan took the teacup out of his hand, let Sixi come in with a new pot of tea, and then passed on dinner. There are fish and meat, which is a lot richer than last night.
Duan Baiyue picked a small bowl of fish soup and put it in front of him.
Chu Yuan frowned.
Duan Baiyue raised the corner of her mouth: "Since he is the emperor, he naturally needs someone to serve him when he eats."
Chu Yuan stirred it up with a spoon, the bottom of the bowl was oddly long with a sharp fishbone.
Duan Baiyue coughed twice.
After all, this kind of thing is not often done, and it is inevitable to be unfamiliar.
It will be cooked a few times.
Halfway through the meal, Duan Baiyue Shao said that he also added more than a dozen salt and pepper to the bowl, and finally even scraped the jar clean.
The chefs in Dayan City are really indifferent to cooking.
Chu Yuan: "..."
Father Sixi made a report outside the door, saying that he would ask the commander to see him.
Duan Baiyue said in her heart that he was alive, but this person would pick the time, and he would always come to the door while eating.
Chu Yuan said: "Go to the front hall and wait."
"Yes!" Xiang Lie ordered to leave the courtyard. Duan Baiyue handed over a bowl of meat soup: "Let's go after eating."
Chu Yuan stood up: "I have no appetite."
"A bowl of noodles, a bowl of soup, and a plate of green vegetables, who's emperor would eat so lightly." Duan Baiyue pressed him back, "At least half of it."
Chu Yuan reluctantly ate two spoonfuls, feeling greasy and worried, so he stuffed the bowl back to him, turned around and walked out the door.
Duan Baiyue ate the remaining half of the bowl by herself, and by the way, after returning to the southwest this time, should she find a cook to send it to the palace.
The scene of a stick of incense passed, but the hospital was still quiet, Duan Baiyue opened the door, and Eunuch Si Xi was strolling outside—the imperial doctor in the palace thought he was fat and told him to move around more on weekdays.
"I'm afraid the king of Southwest will have to wait for a while." Seeing him coming out, Sixi said fair, "The emperor just sent the old slave back to rest first, saying that the other end will be finished in about an hour."
"It's okay." Duan Baiyue sat on the steps, "Come out and breathe."
Father-in-law Sixi asked again, "Is the dinner still delicious? The emperor specially instructed to cook it lightly and avoid beef, sheep, and seafood. I'm afraid he is still worried about the internal injury of the prince."
Duan Baiyue was surprised to hear that, is it true
Father-in-law Sixi continued to play punches in the courtyard calmly.
Looking at the expression on the southwest king's face, he knew that he must be extremely satisfied with his meal.
About this cook to be rewarded.
When Chu Yuan came back, it was already late at night, but Duan Baiyue was not seen after pushing the door.
Father Sixi hurriedly said: "Duan Wang just left not long ago, and said that the people from the palace should be here. Let's go and see first."
Chu Yuan patted his stomach: "Have I asked you?"
"I didn't ask, I didn't ask." Father Sixi laughed, "It's the old slave who talks too much."
After taking a rest after washing, the blanket was warm, but it was a piece of warm jade when I touched it.
Chu Yuan leaned against the head of the bed, took out a book as usual, and fell into a deep sleep after flipping through a few pages.
Father Sixi carefully removed the candlelight and covered Chu Yuan with a quilt. He said that since the King of Southwest China came here, the emperor looked a lot more relaxed.
Really good.
In the shantang, Duan Baiyue lifted the white cloth to cover, and saw that the corpse was beyond recognition. Due to the sudden fire, most of them were hunched together. After examining all the twenty-six corpses, it seemed that something was wrong - one of them looked like a young man, not an old man. After reading the experience of the deceased again, Duan Baiyue shook his head, got up and went back to the inn.
Early the next morning, Chu Yuan just opened his eyes when he heard Eunuch Sixi talking to someone outside: "The emperor is still resting, Duan Wang is afraid that he will have to wait for a while."
"It's okay." Duan Baiyue said, "Then the king will go out first."
…
The quilt was so warm that I didn't want to move.
Chu Yuan was rarely lazy, and lay down inside for a while before he got up.
Duan Baiyue just opened the door with a cold air, carrying two food boxes in his hand.
"I'm not afraid of being seen when I go to the street in a big way?" Chu Yuan asked.
"I'm naturally measured." Duan Baiyue took out the same thing earlier, steamed meat patties, hot and sour soup, and a few plates of side dishes.
"Are you tired of it?" Seeing his expression, Duan Baiyue smiled, "It's all a local specialty, try it and see, I have something to say after eating."
"What's the matter?" Chu Yuan asked while drinking the soup.
Duan Baiyue handed a meat pie to his mouth.
Chu Yuan instinctively stepped back.
Duan Baiyue laughed: "What are you afraid of?"
Chu Yuan slapped him away with a slap, his eyes a little annoyed.
Duan Baiyue closed his voice with interest, and only spoke after eating breakfast with him: "I went to Shantang last night."
"What did you find?" Chu Yuan asked.
"Those corpses don't look like the old people in the shantang." Duan Baiyue said.
Chu Yuan was surprised: "All?"
Duan Baiyue nodded: "All."
"However, Xiang Yan took the scorpion to check, and the deceased is indeed old." Chu Yuan said.
"The corpse is beyond recognition. Even Commander Xiang can only make inferences by looking at the unburned skin and bones. But if you want to turn a strong man into an old man, you can do it with a few Gu worms." Duan Bai Yuedao, "If I'm not mistaken, the corpses in the shantang are almost all young people killed. In a few more days, I may be able to find Gu worms from them."
As soon as the voice fell, another guard reported outside, saying that someone went to the government to report the case, and that a person was mysteriously missing in this city.