Daoist Zhang ate a big meal, wiped his mouth and went to the wing room to find a bunk before falling asleep. Before going to sleep, he only told Zhan Yang not to wake him up before dark. Zhan Yang looked at this Taoist in amazement, but he didn't As soon as I told Zheng Baishi about the method, Zheng Baishi cursed secretly in his heart, but he had to wait for dark.
The more Daoist Zhang acted without scruples, the more Qin Wan wanted to know what he would do, and Yan Chi's thoughts were similar to Qin Wan's, so he stayed in the yamen and did not leave until evening, and had dinner in the yamen Seeing the night fall, Zheng Baishi asked Zhan Yang to call Taoist Zhang. He thought that Taoist Zhang would be lazy and play tricks, but he didn't expect Taoist Zhang to wake up and see that it was completely dark, so he stood up and got up——
After eating and drinking enough and having a good night's sleep, Daoist Zhang went outside refreshed and wiped his face with cold water, Zhan Yang looked at him like that and said in a low voice, "Does Daoist Zhang still need to eat?"
Taoist Zhang smiled when he heard the words, and waved his hands, "One meal during the day can last two days, so there is no need to eat, you...your name..."
Zhan Yang cupped his hands, "I'm Zhan Yang, the prefect's yamen will arrest you."
Daoist Zhang chuckled, "Zhan Butou, you only need to bring four or five people, not many."
Zhan Yang said, "His Royal Highness and Princess are still waiting outside."
Daoist Zhang’s eyes lighted up slightly when he heard this, and he strode outside. When he arrived at the front hall, he saw Yan Chi and Qin Wan were there. It’s too late to bring more yamen, and please take the poor Taoist to visit some places where the crime happened.”
Zheng Baishi looked at Yan Chi, who nodded.
Zheng Baishi frowned slightly and asked Zhan Yang to prepare the chariot and horses. Not long after, a group of people left the magistrate's yamen in the dark.
Wu Qian died in a dark alley in the south of the city, and the carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley.
At this time, the sky was completely dark, there were no people in the market, and this dark alley in the south of the city was very remote, so when I walked to the entrance of the alley, I felt that the wind in the alley was very creepy.
Zheng Baishi followed Zhan Yang who was holding a torch, followed by Taoist Zhang, Yan Chi and Qin Wan followed, and Bai Feng and others guarded the last.
Taoist Zhang looked around the alley as he walked, and he didn't know what he was looking at. After a while, several people arrived at the place where Wu Qian's body was found. of the first dead body."
Daoshi Zhang nodded, knelt down and touched the mud on the ground, and then looked up at the sky.
This alley is very narrow, looking up, you can only see a very limited piece of the sky, Taoist Zhang frowned slightly, took out a roll of paper and a pen from his sleeve, and wrote something on the paper What.
Those pens and papers were used in the yamen wing to handle official business, but at some point they were taken by Taoist Zhang, Zhan Yang frowned, and shook his head speechlessly.
After Daoist Zhang finished writing and drawing, he stuffed a roll of paper and a pen into his sleeve.
"Okay, let's go to the next place-"
No one could understand what Daoist Zhang was looking for. Hearing that he wanted to leave, everyone naturally left the dark alley together, got into the carriage, and went to the west of the city where Zhao Jiaxu's body was found.
Zhao Jiaxu's body was found by the moat, and it was on an extremely remote side of the moat. When everyone arrived, the night was even darker, and the cold wind was blowing by the moat, like the gloom of a ghost. Zhan Yang walked under the moat with a torch Go, just took two steps, but saw a ray of sparks flickering at the place where the dead man was.
Zhan Yang frowned suddenly.
Daoist Zhang slapped Zhan Yang on the shoulder, "Is Zhan Butou scared?! Do you think it's a will-o'-the-wisp?!" As he spoke, he smiled loudly, walked around Zhan Yang and walked under the moat.
Zhan Yang frowned, followed with a cold face.
When he reached the place where the corpse was found, he saw that there were some paper money with sparks. It turned out that someone had come to worship just now, Zhan Yang frowned, and looked around. It was so late, who was the person who came to pay homage to Zhao Jiaxu
Thinking in this way, Taoist Zhang stomped out the paper money, and took out the scroll to write and draw something.
Zhan Yang looked around vigilantly, the night was like black ink, it was fine that someone came to pay homage to Zhao Jiaxu just now, but for some reason, the darkness around him made him a little uneasy, as if someone was hiding in the dark and watching them.
Yan Chi and Qin Wan didn't go down the embankment, Qin Wan said, "I always feel that Daoist Zhang is a bit powerful."
Yan Chi twitched his lips as he watched Daoist Zhang squatting on the ground writing and drawing, "It really doesn't look like he lied to us to leave the prison."
Zheng Baishi sighed, "It would be great if he could really help. Now that three people have died, the Holy One will be furious again tomorrow."
Speaking of His Majesty's anger, Yan Chi's eyes darkened slightly, "The Holy Majesty is currently worrying about the Northwest issue, and the case in Beijing may be more lenient."
Speaking of this matter, Zheng Baishi hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, do you have any clues about the matter in the northwest?"
Yan Chi said casually, "Father also sent people from the army, and several transfer envoys have been arrested. We still have to wait for the interrogation over there. The inspectors of the Ministry of Punishment just set off from the capital this morning and traveled day and night. It will take half a month to arrive."
Zheng Baishi sighed, "This time, I don't know what to bring up. They dare to neglect corruption in the matter of military rations. These people really don't want to live."
Yan Chi didn't answer, but Taoist Zhang had already stepped up, "Go! Go to the third place of the dead!"
Zhan Yang came up from the bottom, "My lord, it seems that someone came to worship Zhao Jiaxu just now."
Zheng Baishi raised his eyebrows, "Is it his wife? Or that Miss Zhong?"
Zhan Yang shook his head, "Tomorrow, my subordinates will send someone to inquire."
Zheng Baishi nodded, and the group headed towards the ice cellar in the west of Zuixianlou.
The place where Zhao Jiaxu died was in the west of the city, so it is not far to go to the ice cellar of Zuixianlou, but the time for two sticks of incense has come, and the house where the ice cellar is located is also very remote. There was a flash of fire in the room, Zhan Yang saw it and yelled, "Who's in there?!"
As soon as the voice fell, a figure flashed past the window, Zhan Yang frowned, and rushed up quickly. He quickly stepped into the door, and soon pulled out a person with long hair and a cloak covering his face.
It turned out to be a woman! Qin Wan and the others hurried forward!
"Zhanbutou! It's me, it's me—"
Seeming to be hurt by Zhan Yang, the woman couldn't help making a sound, Zhan Yang let go of her hand when she heard it, and the woman took off the cloak, looking annoyed and blushing at so many people who suddenly appeared.
Zheng Baishi raised his eyebrows, "Zhan Yang, who is this..."
Zhanyang felt helpless, "She is Hu Dequan's daughter."
This woman knew that all the dignitaries came, but she didn't expect that there was another woman among them. She sized up Qin Wan for a moment, her eyes were amazed, and then she blessed her body and said, "Little girl Hongxiu, I pay my respects to all the adults."
Zheng Baishi understood, "Are you here to pay homage to your father?"
Hongxiu snorted softly when he heard the words, "I was afraid that his ghost would haunt me, so I came here to burn some ghost money."
Hongxiu is Hu Dequan's only daughter. Zhanyang had gone to Hongxiu during the day, but Hongxiu didn't care about Hu Dequan's death at all, and she didn't feel sad when she heard the news of Hu Dequan's death. Death had nothing to do with her, and she was very impatient with Zhan Yang, so she quickly excused herself to accompany the guests and left. Zhan Yang had no choice but couldn't help that Fengqi Tower was full of women, so she quickly left Fengqi Tower. Both Baishi and Qin Wan knew about it.
Hongxiu was wearing a crow-blue cloak, and a pink skirt with wide sleeves, and powder on her face. It really didn't look like she came to worship her deceased father sincerely, but she had a stubborn expression and no sadness on her face. When she mentioned Hu Dequan, she still Faintly angry.
Zhan Yang said, "Aren't you afraid to come here as a woman?"
Hongxiu sneered, "There's nothing to be afraid of. He could beat me and scold me when he was alive. Now that he's dead, why should I be afraid? These ghost money are the last bit of father-daughter friendship between me and him. After I burn it, I can feel at ease." .”
Zheng Baishi raised his eyebrows, "Your father's body is still in Yizhuang, don't you plan to bury him?"
Hongxiu turned to Zheng Baishi, "My lord, I was sold by him, so I'm not his daughter anymore. After you finish the case, you can deal with him whatever you want. I don't want to see him, and I don't want to see his body either." arrive."
Selling one's own daughter is indeed embarrassing. With Hongxiu's attitude, Zheng Baishi can't say anything. After thinking about it, Zheng Baishi said, "Perhaps your father has regretted it for a long time..."
When Hongxiu heard this, he sneered even worse, "You don't have to say such a thing, I know him too well! I knew who he was when my mother was seriously ill, but she was reluctant to buy her medicine with wine money. He Killed my mother and sold me into a brothel. I have long since broken up with her. The money is just for my own peace of mind. The elder may think that I am cold-blooded and heartless, but there is a father like him in the world , there will be a daughter like me."
Speaking of which, Hongxiu swept the crowd around, "The Eldest Master is here to run a business, right? Hong Xiu dare not disturb the Eldest Master's work, so I will resign."
Hongxiu was blessed again, turned around and walked away. After walking a few steps, Qin Wan said, "Are many people aware of the fact that you were sold into a brothel by your father?"
Hong Xiu turned around and looked at Qin Wan, "The whole Fengqi Building, except for the newcomer, everyone knows about it."
Qin Wan nodded, Hongxiu saw this, and then walked towards the gate of the courtyard.
Originally thought that there were not many relatives and friends of Hu Dequan, and there might be clues from the investigation of Zuixianlou, but when Hongxiu came, everyone knew that the scope of the matter had expanded. Fengqilou had countless benefactors every day, and the girls knew that The benefactors may also know, let alone those buddies, servants and maids, who told the murderer about it? Or, is the murderer one of them
As soon as Hongxiu left, everyone couldn't help but sigh.
Daoist Zhang sighed, "Good and evil will be rewarded in the end. This Hood is completely inhumane, and it is no wonder that no one dies after death. Zhan catches the head. Where did Hood die?"
Zhan Yang immediately led the way to the ice cellar, walked into the wing room, Zhan Yang pointed to the stairs going down.
It was late at night when the dew was heavy, and standing at the top of the stairs felt that it was very cold underneath, Yan Chi pulled Qin Wan from behind, "You wait up there." After speaking, he glanced at Bai Ying who was following Qin Wan.
Bai Ying nodded, and Yan Chi followed Taoist Zhang down the stairs.
Qin Wan wanted to go down, but when Yan Chi said that, he stopped, Bai Ying stepped forward and said, "Miss, it's too cold down here, you'd better wait up there, anyway, they'll come up soon."
Qin Wan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Daoist Zhang and the others walked down the stairs. Zhan Yang lit a torch and followed Daoshi Zhang to the front. Seeing that the door was closed, Zhan Yang stepped forward a few steps to open the door, but as soon as he reached the door, Daoist Zhang made a loud noise , "Stop! Wait!"
Zhan Yang stopped for a moment, Taoist Zhang went forward to take the torch, and carefully looked at the closed door, and after a while, he took two steps back, looked around the door from left to right...
Soon, Daoshi Zhang smiled loudly, "Not bad, not bad, this place is good, what a cold hell!"
Although Zhang Daoshi was talking with a smile, when he said those words, even Zhan Yang felt a chill down his back. The ice cellar was originally underground. Zhang Daoshi said it like it was really some kind of icy hell.
Taoist Zhang didn't say much, he raised his hand and opened the door.
The ice cellar was dark and cold, but Zhang Daoshi was not afraid at all, he strode into it, Zhan Yang followed behind with a torch, and walked all the way to the innermost part.
"Zhang Daochang, it is Hu Dequan who was found here..."
Zhan Yang pointed to the corner at the end of the alley, Taoist Zhang squatted down and took a look. After a while, he came out and walked to the door. After walking to the door, he looked at the dark sky. After a while, he took out a pen and paper to write Write and draw.
After he finished writing, he took a closer look at the pattern on the door, then closed the door, turned around and walked up.
"Okay, after reading it, let's go back now."
Then he turned and looked at Yan Chi, "May I ask Your Highness, where am I staying tonight?"
Yan Chi turned to look at Zheng Baishi, Zheng Baishi hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will make arrangements."
Daoist Zhang snorted softly, seemed dissatisfied, but didn't want to say anything more, so he shrugged his shoulders and responded. Seeing Daoist Zhang's appearance, Zheng Baishi raised his brows and snorted softly.
Yan Chi said, "In that case, I will send the princess back to the mansion, and Daoist Zhang will trouble Mr. Zheng."
Zheng Baishi responded again and again, several people walked out, Yan Chi looked at Taoist Zhang, "What happened today?"
Daoist Zhang pointed in the direction of the sky, "This dojo is arranged according to the eight trigrams of the horoscope. I looked at the place, and only then did I know what that person was going to do, and only then did I know where his next crime would be."
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, "When will it be calculated?"
Daoist Zhang hurriedly said, "I can't guarantee this. It can be calculated in one night at least, or three days at most. However, only three people died at the moment, and the calculation is not very accurate. We have to see later... If there are more deaths... "
Daoist Zhang said something so-so, but felt it was inappropriate, so he swallowed the rest of the words, looked at a few people, and said with a serious face, "Anyway, please rest assured, I will definitely do my best."
Yan Chi nodded, and they parted ways.
Yan Chi's horse was outside, Qin Wan got into the carriage, and they all headed east to Xinglefang.
After walking a little farther, Qin Wan opened the curtain and looked at Yan Chi, "Have you been busy with the Northwest military rations these two days?"
Yan Chi nodded, "The rations of the Shuoxi Army are the most important in the Ministry of War, but there is still such a problem, so there must be problems in several other places. Unfortunately, the capital is thousands of miles away to the northwest and I can't go there."
When Yan Chi said this, his voice was full of anger. He was the young commander of the Shuoxi Army. He was naturally angry when something like this happened. The soldiers on the front line fought bloody battles, but the rear dared to tamper with the rations. How crazy is this!
"This matter has a lot to do with it, and there must be a lot of involvement. However, as long as you investigate, you will be able to find out. Don't worry, as long as the supplies from the rear are delivered as soon as possible, it will be fine if it doesn't affect the Shuoxi Army's operations."
Yan Chi sighed, "Don't worry, I understand, you went to Dali Temple yesterday?"
Although Yan Chi didn't see Qin Wan, he knew everything about her. Qin Wan said, "It was because of the dossier, but I went there and still couldn't find it, so I came out again."
"I can't keep following this case these two days. You must be careful when you go in and out. Mr. Zheng is a down-to-earth person, so don't worry..."
Qin Wan bent her lips, "Don't worry, I'm just doing what I can. Qin Shuang is getting married, and I have to accompany her. I haven't seen the Taichang Princess and the Queen Mother for a few days. I planned to go today, but something happened again. See you tomorrow when you have nothing to do."
"I'd rather you spend more time with the two old men."
The two talked while walking, and it took three sticks of incense to reach the gate of Hou's Mansion.
It was already very late at this time, and as soon as he arrived at the door, he saw Qin Ye guarding the door, and when he saw Qin Wan coming back, Qin Ye hurried forward, "My Highness, Your Highness!"
Yan Chi waved his hand, Qin Ye anxiously looked at Qin Wan who got off the carriage and said, "Ninth Sister, you are finally back!"
Qin Wan explained something, and Yan Chi said, "Come into the house quickly, I'll take my leave first."
As he spoke, he nodded to Qin Ye and rode off on his horse.
Qin Ye bowed his hands and entered the mansion together with Qin Wan, "Father and mother are worried about you, why have you been here all day?"
Qin Wan was worried that Qin Ye would think too much when he saw Yan Chi sending her back, but she didn't expect that Qin Ye would not be surprised at all, so she talked about today's autopsy...