Chapter 31
"So, you really want to go to the Dali Temple?"
Lao Lin sat in front of the counter, counting the few copper coins in the pen holder, and his face did not look very good.
"Well, Master Mu and Reviewer Sun have given me this opportunity with great difficulty. I must give it a try."
Old Lin sighed, looking at his daughter with shining eyes, his face full of worry, "That's not quite in line with the rules, is it okay?"
"Recently, things have been turbulent in Huichuntang, so it's good to be able to earn a little money at Dali Temple." Jian Xinyi patted Lao Lin's shoulder gently. "Don't worry, I'll be back once the case is over."
She looked at the several unsaleable bound volumes on the shelf in front of her and couldn't help but sigh.
She had been boasting to her nephew, but who could have imagined that something like this would happen. There was no one on the street, let alone buying her picture book.
Not to mention the small card with her carefully designed illustrations.
Forget it, I'm going to Dali Temple as an intern tomorrow. I'll calm down and finish the story properly in the next few days.
She turned back to the house, took out a pen and paper, and prepared to get to work.
After a scheming man proposed at a banquet, the heroine arrived at Concubine Li's palace to ask if she wanted to be his concubine. If she said no, the ending would be a happy one. The heroine disagreed, citing the complexities of the palace and her desire to spend more time with her parents. Furthermore, she couldn't be certain of his feelings. Shocked by her refusal, the scheming man plotted to invite her to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Though unconvinced, the heroine sought an opportunity to clarify matters.
It happened to be the Lantern Festival, and the two went out to the street together. The street was crowded with people. The heroine was thinking about how to start the conversation, but found that the sinister man was no longer around. The heroine actively searched for him, and sure enough, she found the injured sinister man in a dark alley. The two were about to get up and leave, when suddenly another group of people came, and the two dodged all the way to the valley.
Moonlight streamed down through the valley's woods. The two sat by a stream, healing their wounds. Countless fireflies danced around them. The heroine patiently bandaged the man's wounds. After struggling for a long time, the man couldn't find a way out. The heroine suggested she leave the valley herself and bring someone to rescue him. The heroine hesitated for a long time, but finally agreed.
She ran across the wet grass, where the dew reflected the moonlight, and ran out of the valley.
The warm sun slowly rose from the east, shining on her face.
The two were eventually rescued, but the scheming man was seriously injured and fell into a coma. The court was buzzing with rumors that he was doomed and many defected. The heroine knew that she and her family were now tied to the scheming man and that she had to help him recover if she wanted to survive. So she sent someone to find someone who looked like him and disguised himself behind a screen in an attempt to save the situation.
The heroine and Concubine Li stand on the same front and plan for the scheming man. Concubine Li also changes her opinion of the heroine at this moment. She just needs to wait for the scheming man's injuries to gradually recover so that the two can truly be together.
The sinister man's injuries gradually healed, and he completely eliminated the other princes who were against him in the court, and joined hands with the heroine to ascend to the throne of Zhigao.
Jian Xinyi didn't dare write it explicitly for fear of being exposed.
I estimate that after a day or two, when I finish writing the storyline of the cold-hearted man, I can let Lao Lin print the whole book.
After the story is finished, the remaining publicity and marketing also require some thinking.
When can I make big money?
She really wanted to lie down.
Jian Xinyi moved back and lay down on the small bed behind her.
Forget it, let’s just lie down physically first.
Before dawn, Jian Xinyi got up quickly, washed, found a better piece of rags in the closet, put them on, and went straight to the Dali Temple.
People from the Dali Temple were coming and going, and Jian Xinyi had to dodge back and forth to escape.
"Miss Lin is here. Please take a seat." Chief Clerk Mu raised his head from the pile of case files and offered the bench beside him to her. "This is what we will be doing today. It's all testimony in the case of Minister Song."
Jian Xinyi had just turned the first page when she saw Mu Zhubu suddenly grab her hand, his face very serious, "Remember, don't spread it outside."
"I understand. Don't worry."
Jian Xinyi opened several testimonies and began to copy them into the case file.
There was herself, the residents in the surrounding alleys, the older woman buying groceries, the older man fishing, and Minister Song's family, relatives, and colleagues, but there was no useful information at all.
It is said that Minister Song usually has a hot temper and offends many people, but no one can say who he has offended.
Her hands were sore from copying.
"Have some water." Sun Liqing quietly came up behind her and looked at the files she had copied, thinking, "Your handwriting is very neat."
Because she only knows how to write regular script and can't write cursive.
What a sin! God knows she is now working as a copyist.
If she could live her life again, she would ask her calligraphy teacher to teach her cursive writing first.
Jian Xinyi had no choice but to explain considerately: "Aren't you worried that you can't see clearly?"
"Let me see." Mu Zhubu quietly leaned over. "It's really neat, every stroke is connected."
She was in tears.
"Master Mu, the autopsy results are in. The coroner said it was poisoning, both of them were poisoned with Dragon Frost Powder."
A man rushed in from outside, and Jian Xinyi's case file almost flew up. Fortunately, Sun Liqing was quick-witted and used a water cup to press the paper down, so that Jian Xinyi's fifty cents were not destroyed.
"This is Wu Qian. Like me, he passed the exam and became a judge last year."
After Sun Liqing finished speaking, he looked at Mu Zhubu across from him and said, "It's just as the host expected."
"This headless corpse is indeed a cover-up. Since it was poisoned, we should start investigating the people closest to the two men." Mu Zhubu stood up and took the testimony that Jian Xinyi had just copied. "Let's start with these people: Minister Song's wife, servants, and housekeeper."
"Wu Qian, go with Guifang to Zhao Huazhong's house to see if there are any new clues."
"yes."
"Li Qing, come with me to Minister Song's house. Miss Lin should also come with us to ask about the Dragon Frost Powder."
Mu Zhubu quickly packed up his things and was waiting for them outside in a short while.
"I'll be right there."
Jian Xinyi had no choice but to quickly drink some water and ran out with Mu Zhubu and the other two.
"Zhao Huazhong and Minister Song are the two victims of this case?"
"Well, the Dali Temple is mainly responsible for the cases of officials in the imperial court. Minister Song's case is mainly under our jurisdiction, and Zhao Huazhong will be handled directly by the Jinwu Guard and the Ministry of Justice."
"Then what about this Dragon Frost Powder? Is it a common poison?"
"It's very common, but usually used to poison rats and pests. I didn't expect it."
Jian Xinyi asked all the questions she wanted to ask in one breath, but she still couldn't figure out the relationship between them.
There is no evidence to prove that Zhao Huazhong and Minister Song knew each other. Why would the murderer kill them in such a cruel way?
Moreover, either of the two methods could have killed the person, but he chose to use both.
Could it be that multiple murderers are working together to commit the crime?
"Why are you so engrossed? Are you thinking about the case?"
Sun Liqing's voice suddenly brought her back to reality. She looked at the uneven bluestone in front of her, a little dazed.
I can't change my habit of always thinking too much, even though it's clearly none of her business.
"Sorry, I'm used to it."
That was the only explanation she had.
Sun Liqing shook his head nonchalantly and said, "It doesn't matter. This is how a young detective should take cases seriously."
Mu Zhubu burst out laughing. "Do you believe it?"
"Why shouldn't I believe it?" Sun Liqing said seriously, "Miss Lin said it herself."
Young detectives and the like mainly want to make money.
Seeing Sun Liqing looking at her with burning eyes, Jian Xinyi didn't dare to say anything else. She nodded twice vigorously and looked at Mu Zhubu weakly.
Mu Zhubu coughed lightly twice, then immediately returned to his stern expression. He quietly approached Jian Xinyi and said, "Sun Liqing is not a man to be trifled with. You must remember that he takes everything he says seriously."
"ah?"
It’s over, I’m really going to become a famous young detective.
Jian Xinyi had a sad face throughout the whole process. She just wanted to make money, not to cheat.
There are fewer and fewer people on the streets. It should be a bustling time, but there are only a few people around.
Mu Zhubu looked at the deserted street and wondered, "Strange! Normally, people can hardly walk on this street. Why are there so few people today?"
"People on the street are saying it's a vicious dog causing trouble. No one dares to go out. Even my father's bookshop is deserted. The Spring Examination is coming soon."
When this was mentioned, Jian Xinyi looked really sad.
Now that the case has become such a big deal, the merchants on the street can no longer hold on.
Shops inherited from the family like Lao Lin's are fine as they don't have to pay rent. However, some shops that have to pay rent are not sure whether they can survive.
It's difficult.
"There are more and more rumors on the street about a vicious dog causing trouble. This case seems to be getting more and more difficult."
Sun Liqing lowered his eyes, nodded his head and supported his chin, not knowing what he was thinking.
The dark clouds covered the sky, making the streets seem even more deserted and cold, with a cold wind blowing everywhere.
Seeing him so dejected, Mu Zhubu patted his shoulder and consoled him, "Li Qing, trust us. Any crime will leave traces."
"Well, thank you, Chief Mu."
Not long after, they arrived at Minister Song's house.
The two large mahogany pillars at the door have long lost their former glory, and the gilded plaque has long been covered with white silk. White paper and copper coins are scattered on the ground in front of the door, floating freely in the wind.
Just as they were about to go in, they heard a quarrel coming from inside the door.
"You, now that the master is dead, do you want to execute Qingqing as well?"
"There's an order from above to take away any large dogs that injure people and deal with them uniformly. This one is no exception."
Upon hearing this, Mu Zhubu frowned unconsciously, "The Jinwu Guards are really unkind in their work."
"Jinwu Guard?"
When Jian Xinyi heard this word, her alarm bells immediately rang and she quickly hid behind Sun Liqing.
Meeting Qian Yuan at this time, I really couldn't explain myself even if I was right.
"Sun Pingshi, you are in front of me, please protect me."
It was the first time that Sun Liqing saw her so scared, and she held his sleeve tightly and refused to let go.
"What's wrong? Don't be afraid. Our relationship with the Jinwu Guards is pretty good, and they won't interfere with our investigation."
The sun sneaked out from the clouds, revealing a hint of colorful light.
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