Shen Huaixu took it and opened it. The person who drew this mark obviously didn't have enough skills. She asked hesitantly, "Is this... a bird?"
"I can't tell what kind of bird it is, but it's roughly like this."
Shen Huaixu nodded helplessly, looking at the few strokes on the note, which seemed too rough.
She pondered this carefully, and suddenly remembered a book she had read about anecdotes from the previous dynasty. It said that in the early days of the previous dynasty, the crane was used as a totem, considered an auspicious symbol. However, something unknown happened in the intervening years, and this totem was gradually abandoned by the royal family, and was almost no longer seen at the end of the previous dynasty.
"Where did you find him?"
"He sometimes appears in a courtyard in the west of the city. His whereabouts are erratic and he acts very cautiously. The person Grandpa is looking for only glanced at him a few times before he spotted him. Fortunately, he is a beggar so he can get away with it."
Shen Huaixu has already determined that this person's identity is definitely not simple.
“Can you take me there?” she asked.
Ying Changming pursed his lips and said, "Of course I can. Do you want to go alone?"
"Yes." She stood up, opened the door, and looked at the sky outside. "I have to tell the shopkeeper first. Please wait here for me."
The owner of Jishitang, surnamed Zheng, looked serious, but he was actually very kind. Every year, he would order his staff to cook seasonal medicinal soups and set them outside for the poor to drink. A few days ago, there were rumors of plague, so he instructed every doctor to remind patients to fumigate the house with moxa leaves after treating them.
Shen Huaixu felt that it was because of these small actions that Jishidiang became the best medical clinic in the capital.
When she found Manager Zheng, she asked for ten days' leave.
After spending some time with Shen Huaixu, Manager Zheng knew that Shen Huaixu would not take such a long leave unless it was something urgent.
"Why is it taking so long? What happened?"
Shen Huaixu nodded and said honestly: "There are some things that I need to solve."
Shopkeeper Zheng sighed, "If you could concentrate on studying medicine, you might become a famous doctor in the future. Mundane things can only lead to mistakes, mundane things can only lead to mistakes!"
He turned sideways with the account book and waved at Shen Huaixu, signaling her to leave quickly.
When Shen Huaixu went to the west of the city, Shen Su went straight into the palace to meet the emperor.
"My dear minister, why are you in such a hurry?" The emperor was slightly surprised, because Shen Su knelt down as soon as he saw him, without wearing his official hat.
Shen Su repeated the prisoner's words to the emperor verbatim, concluding, "I know I have nothing to do with this matter, and my words are unfounded. At this point, I should not investigate the Zhongli Bridge case any further. Your Majesty, please understand that my old illness has recurred and allow me to remain unemployed."
Someone had already informed the emperor of what had happened in the Heavenly Prison. Suspicion was a common problem among emperors, and he was no exception. For a moment, he doubted whether Shen Su was really as the prisoner said. After all, many court officials had had such concerns in the past, but in the end, reason prevailed.
Seeing Shen Su's expression of wanting to resign and return home immediately, the emperor felt a mixture of laughter and tears. He deliberately did not want to let him go. He said, "Mr. Shen, you are worrying too much. As the Jingzhao Yin, you have other government affairs to attend to if you don't investigate the Zhongli Bridge case. How can you stay at home idle during such a troubled time? Please stand up."
Chen Su stood up and paused, "I'm afraid it will be difficult to silence the gossips."
The emperor snorted, "Those who follow the crowd are fools. Hurry and investigate the Zhongli Bridge case. Then the truth will be revealed."
The sky gradually darkened, and the gorgeous sunset glow draped the nearby clouds in a colorful coat. Shen Huaixu and Ying Changming walked on the street heading west of the city. Feeling Ying Changming's occasional gazes, Shen Huaixu turned his head to look at him and said, "Just say whatever you want to say."
Ying Changming averted his gaze uncomfortably and said softly, "I heard that the female doctor at Jishidiang is the daughter of a marquis and was even made a county lady...is that you?"
"I said I had no problem finding you guys. You really do know a lot."
When Ying Changming heard this, he knew that the person he was talking about was the person in front of him.
He licked his chapped lips and asked, "You are of such noble status, why did you go to Changyufang in person to look for someone?"
"Because I trust my own judgment. Also, you can't tell anyone about this, or you might bring disaster upon yourself. I won't go into detail. When I'm done with this, I'll give you some money—not for you, but for your grandfather and the other beggars who helped me. Forget about it; you can't just accept their help for nothing. Please help me distribute the money to them and tell them not to spread this story."
Chen Huaixu was not sure about the distribution of the remaining forces of the previous dynasty in Tanyuan City, nor was he sure how many people they had, so he could only be extremely careful.
Ying Changming did not refuse this time.
He thought for a moment and then said, "If you need me later, just let me know."
Shen Huaixu smiled and nodded.
After walking for another cup of tea, the two of them hid in a small alley. Ying Changming pointed to the village across the street and whispered, "That's the family."
Shen Huaixu leaned against the wall, only revealing a pair of eyes as she looked across at the other side. After observing for a while, she lowered her voice and said to Changming, "Can you do me another favor?"
Ying Changming nodded quickly.
Pulling out a gold-inlaid jade from her bosom, she said to Ying Changming, "Go to the back door of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and ask the gatekeeper to call Xiaoman out. When she sees Xiaoman, show her this. Then tell her to take a few skilled men and ambush around this farm."
Feeling the danger in the words, Ying Changming agreed without a second thought. Before leaving, he asked again as if to confirm, "Will you wait here for me to come back?"
Shen Huaixu didn't even blink, "Yes, hurry up."
What Ying Changming didn't expect while running on the long street was that Shen Huaixu's small figure disappeared into the alley not long after he left.
The night enveloped everything, but Shen Huaixu was like a fish in water in the dark. She sneaked into the villa quietly. The villa was big enough, but no lights were on. It was obvious that the owner did not stay here.
Arriving at the main courtyard, the doors of the houses were tightly closed. Picking the locks was no big deal for Shen Huaixu, but she was wearing a cloak. If there were outsiders there, they would have heard a rustling sound in the huge courtyard, and then the door locks clicked open, and the door was opened by an invisible force.
There happened to be a person who witnessed all this. Zhai Santianyihei could not wait to come to the villa and hid on the roof of the side room.
It was a little early, so he had to wait a while to make sure nothing had happened before taking action.
He had been to this place several times and was sure that the owner of the villa would not be here today. There was only an old servant guarding the door, so when he heard the movement in the courtyard, he was so scared that he loosened his grip and almost slipped off the roof. He cursed in his heart, and then wondered if the owner of the villa had returned. He stretched his neck to look down.
Under the dim moonlight, he could vaguely see the situation in front of the main door. Because he could see it clearly, Zhai Sandou's big eyes widened to an unprecedented extent. He screamed and fainted.
Shen Huaixu, who had already walked into the house, heard the scream and looked in the direction of the sound. Then she heard the sound of something heavy falling to the ground. She thought about it, ignored it, and raised her hand to close the door.
While she was searching for useful clues in the house, she heard an old servant in the other courtyard walking hurriedly towards the main house.
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