Chapter 70 The Smell of Formaldehyde
"Oh? Is that so?"
Qi Heng's voice was tinged with amusement.
"In that case, does Miss Tao want me to find someone for you, or do you want to do it yourself?"
Tao Tao turned her head and smiled, "To avoid suspicion, I won't go myself, nor will I use any people; I'll use dogs."
"With dogs?"
He looked at her, puzzled.
She nodded and said to Gao Shaoguang, "I remember the government office seemed to keep a big yellow dog."
Gao Shaoguang stared at her in surprise, wondering how she knew.
She seemed to sense what he was thinking and added, "There's a tuft of yellow dog hair on your belt."
He looked down and saw a jade buckle in the center of the leather belt, with a small tuft of yellow hair mixed in there.
The first thing he did when he got home that morning was to feed the six-month-old yellow dog in the backyard.
Perhaps he rescued it from someone else. The dog only recognized him and would bark incessantly whenever anyone else approached, so he was usually the one who fed it.
Gao Shaoguang cupped his hands and said to Qi Heng, "This humble official will bring the dog out immediately."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the backyard. A short while later, the people there heard a series of barking dogs.
Everyone turned to look and saw a large, plump, golden dog appear before them.
When the dog saw so many people, it got excited and tried to rush over. Its eyes were shining, and it was panting with its pink tongue lolling out. It was quite cute.
At least that's what Tao Tao thinks.
Gao Shaoguang gripped the ropes tightly with both hands and hissed angrily, "Quiet down! Calm down, why are you rushing in!"
The weak concubines, upon seeing the dog, immediately showed fear, and all huddled together for comfort.
Even the men kneeling on the ground showed some fear when they saw how fierce the dog looked.
"Miss Tao, what do you want to do? Just tell me, otherwise I'm afraid I might hurt you."
Gao Shaoguang spoke to Tao Tao while controlling the rope.
Seeing this, Shen Lin cautiously stepped forward and stood in front of Qi Heng to prevent the dog from breaking free of its restraints.
Chen Jinghe glanced at him, then looked at Duan Gan beside him, and stood up as well. Before he could get into position, he heard a lazy voice behind him.
"Are you blind? How dare you stand in my way?"
He stiffened and returned to his original position dejectedly.
Tao Tao bent down to look at the dog, then looked up and smiled, "Let me try to get to know it and see if it works."
"Tao Tao, you'd better be careful."
Qi Heng's voice came from behind her. She turned around and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that reckless."
Duan Gan across from him raised an eyebrow and subtly tugged at the corner of his mouth.
The big yellow dog had calmed down and was sitting on the ground, tilting its head and looking at the person in front of it with a puzzled expression.
Gao Shaoguang exclaimed "Hey!" and after noticing that the big yellow dog had stopped barking and quieted down, he fell silent and watched the two of them warily, afraid that the big yellow dog might suddenly pounce on her and hurt her.
Tao Tao squatted down and tentatively reached out her hand to it: "Don't bite me, little puppy, sweetie..."
The big yellow dog wagged its tail, its eyes were bright, and it was panting heavily, looking very friendly.
Gao Shaoguang was very surprised. So many people from the government office couldn't get close to it, yet it was taken down by a young woman.
Finally, she slowly placed her hand on its head. The big yellow dog did not resist; it even rubbed its head against hers, wagging its tail incessantly. It even walked to her legs and patted her with its tail.
"Oh, you're so good. Come on, help your big sister out."
Tao Tao took a handkerchief from her sleeve and put it on the dog's nose, saying, "Smell carefully and help your sister find out who among them has this smell."
Big Yellow sniffed the handkerchief with its nose and then rubbed its mouth against her palm, as if it wanted her to pat its head.
Having owned dogs in modern times, she naturally knew what it meant and could tell whether a dog was hostile towards her.
Otherwise, she must be crazy to go and meet a strange dog. This big yellow dog looks loyal, honest, and a bit silly, and it's especially cute.
She vigorously stroked its head and chin, then patted its back.
"Go ahead, I'll play with you later."
Da Huang stepped forward and darted among the kneeling Yang family members, sniffing their clothes with its wet nose.
The women closed their eyes in fear, stiffened their necks, and dared not move.
Yang Zhengxian had no expression, looking like he had nothing to hide. He grabbed Aunt Ye's small hand, but found that her hand was as cold as ice.
He turned to look at her, thinking she was frightened by the grand spectacle; her face was pale and pale.
He then patted the back of her hand with his right hand to comfort her.
Liang Yongsheng, kneeling beside Steward Wang, lowered his head and appeared expressionless at first glance, but in reality, his neck was covered in cold sweat, and he was only pretending to be calm.
One of the concubines was so afraid of dogs that she couldn't help but scream, but not very loudly, a restrained low scream.
The big yellow dog immediately set its sights on her, walked up to her, and sniffed her.
It quickly turned back, seemingly having failed to find it.
The Yang family owned a spice shop, and everyone wore a sachet. For the dog, its sense of smell might be confused, and it might not be able to smell it for a while.
Just as Gao Shaoguang was feeling disappointed, the big yellow dog suddenly stopped, turned around, and walked towards Liang Yongsheng.
Liang Yongsheng's heart, which had just been at ease, immediately jumped to his throat again. His heart was pounding, and his lips turned pale.
Duan Gan rested his face on his hand, casually crossed his legs, tilted his head to look at Liang Yongsheng kneeling on the ground, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.
The next second, the big yellow dog suddenly opened its mouth and barked loudly at Liang Yongsheng, each bark louder than the last.
"Good dog."
Tao Tao stepped forward and patted its head.
Liang Yongsheng looked up at the people around him and hurriedly shouted, "No, it's not me, it's me! I'm a funeral director, and my shop also has cosmetics for the dead."
"I also run a funeral shop, so it's normal to get involved with it over a long period of time."
Tao Tao coldly watched him babbling on, walked up to him, grabbed his arm, and sniffed it.
The smell of formaldehyde.
It really was him.
He hurriedly pulled his hand back, and seeing Gao Shaoguang approaching him step by step, he quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy.
"My lord, please understand that this matter has nothing to do with me. I am merely the funeral director hired by the Yang family to prepare the body for the First Madam's burial."
Sun Lanci and Sun Lanhuai walked over and looked at Liang Yongsheng kneeling on the ground. Their faces were ashen, and their eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"Liang Yongsheng, the cosmetics I use are only available to me. They are my own blend, and the scent is unique. How could you possibly have them?"
"The only explanation is that you took that paper figure, that you plotted to kill Madam Yang and her maid, and then framed me."
She stood up and looked down at Liang Yongsheng, who was now in a panic and had no idea where to go.
"I didn't! I have no grudge against the Yang family, why would I kill Madam Yang?!"
Liang Yongsheng argued vehemently.
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