Murder

"Go to hell!" The black-clad assassin suddenly appeared like a phantom.

The knife in his hand flashed coldly as he stabbed straight at a man in a crimson robe.

The man in red was agile and skillful, moving like flowing clouds and water. He skillfully avoided one fatal attack after another amid the chaotic clash of swords and sabers.

Suddenly, he felt a sense of emptiness in his arms, as if something had fallen to the ground.

He glanced sideways, and subconsciously reached into his collar with his left hand.

The assassin cleverly seized the moment when he was distracted and stabbed his sword into his right abdomen.

He couldn't help but groan, and stepped back, placing the sword in his hand firmly on the ground. He covered the bleeding wound with his right hand and slowly spat out a mouthful of blood.

The assassin stared at the blood dripping on the ground with a sinister smile on his face, "Prince Gu, stop struggling in vain." A hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes, "If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for insisting on investigating something that you shouldn't have investigated!"

Gu Huaizhi raised the corners of his lips slightly and calmly wiped the blood from the corner of his lips with the back of his hand.

Then, his figure soared into the air, passing through like a gust of wind.

A flash of sword light flashed by, and the sword tip pointed directly at the assassin's vital point.

Before the assassin could react, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. His cunning eyes were full of disbelief: "You..." He was kicked away by Gu Huai and covered his chest: "Are you pretending?"

As he was dying, he suddenly noticed the scent bag that had fallen to the ground, and then he said sinisterly: "But judging by the time, your pretty little lady should have died..."

Before he finished speaking, he closed his eyes and fell silent.

Gu Huaizhi retracted the sword swiftly and looked at the mysterious assassin with disdain.

What his little wife?

He frowned, and the girl's affectionate almond eyes suddenly flashed through his mind.

Could it be...

He didn't know why he was so nervous. He just quickly picked up the red sachet with a gold-rimmed edge and jumped onto the horse.

The sound of hurried horse hooves filled the night sky, just like the sound of his rapid heartbeat.

*

Ming Wah Court.

"Have you heard about the strange things that happened in Zuiyuelou recently?"

"But what about the demon?"

"Yes, I think I need to be more careful these days and not go out casually."

"Alas, is it possible that I can only come to Minghua Pavilion from now on?"

Zuiyuelou is the most prosperous restaurant in Wutong City.

All the rich and powerful in the city love to get drunk here.

The owner of this restaurant is a legendary woman who has established herself here all by herself and achieved her current status in just one year.

But recently, there have been rumors that...

The shopkeeper is a fox demon who eats human souls.

*

"aunt!"

"Mother!"

Qiao Qingsheng and Fang Ziweng looked at the woman in the yamen anxiously and hurriedly tried to break in.

"This is a restricted area of ​​the yamen, you are not allowed to enter without permission!" Two expressionless yamen runners shouted coldly, and the long handles of their swords blocked the two men outside the door.

Fang Ziweng's face wrinkled, and he was about to cry anxiously: "Cousin, what should I do!" He lowered his voice and said: "They were like this just now, why didn't they let me in!"

On his way home from school, he unexpectedly saw a crowd of people outside the government office, so he simply used his physical advantage to squeeze to the front.

He originally just wanted to join in the fun, but unexpectedly he saw his mother being interrogated inside as well!

At this time, the crowd in front of the yamen was still bustling. Seeing the anxious expressions of the two people, he couldn't help but turn his head to glance at them, his eyes full of inquiry.

Also coming with them was Mu Anning and his servant, who had followed Qiao Qingsheng in a hurry just now.

Mu An Ning stood at the back. As she was not tall enough, she stood on tiptoe and vaguely saw four or five women inside, as well as a young woman in a dark purple satin dress.

The crowd dispersed slightly, and Mu An Ning and Bao Qin walked forward a few steps together.

Suddenly, the woman seemed to notice the noise outside the yamen and slowly turned around.

When Mu An Ning raised his eyes and looked at her, his breathing couldn't help but stop.

Her collar was slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone and slender neck. Her cascading brown hair was slightly curled and fell on her slender shoulders.

The purple silk clings to her voluptuous curves, outlining her graceful figure.

"Hiss." Someone in the crowd exclaimed and whispered.

Mu An Ning, like everyone else around him, couldn't help but stare at the woman.

Even in Shangjing, where there were many noble ladies, she had never seen anyone as beautiful as her.

Suddenly, the woman's seductive eyes lazily swept through the crowd and met Mu An Ning's gaze directly.

Her slender hand lifted a strand of hair that fell by her ear and she smiled with her hands covering her mouth, instantly becoming so charming that it was soul-stirring.

Mu An Ning's throat tightened and her cheeks turned slightly red involuntarily.

Just now...was that woman smiling at her?

She looked away only after the woman turned around.

The brothers Qiao Qingsheng and Fang Ziweng were still asking for leniency from the officials, fearing that something might happen to Mrs. Fang.

Just as she was about to step forward, she noticed the slightly tired look on Baoqin's face.

She suddenly stopped, turned around and said, "Baoqin, go back and check if the doors and windows of your house are closed."

Baoqin frowned, as if she had not expected her young lady to say this suddenly. There was a hint of worry in her tone: "Young lady, I am worried about leaving you here alone."

Mu An Ning chuckled and said, "I'm not a child anymore." She patted Bao Qin's cold hands soothingly and said, "You go back first, I'll go back later."

Every time Baoqin approached the sun, although she was exhausted, she always tried her best not to show any discomfort.

She knew that Baoqin didn't want to make her worry, so she could only pretend not to notice.

Seeing Baoqin nod reluctantly, she slowly walked through the crowd and hurriedly grabbed the two brothers who were concerned about Zeluan.

Just now, she keenly noticed that the woman in purple should be the leader, and she was the only one who stood up to answer the county magistrate's questions.

The other women, including Mrs. Fang, stood silently behind her, with their heads down and not saying a word.

Mu An Ning signaled them to follow her to the side and said softly, "The situation may not be as bad as you think. Why don't we wait for Aunt Fang to come out before making any plans?"

After being comforted by her gentle voice, Qiao Qingsheng gradually calmed down. Thinking back to his previous behavior, a hint of red appeared on his fair face.

His aunt had never been good at speaking, and he was really worried that something might happen to her.

Fang Ziweng pulled Mu An Ning's sleeve and cried, "Sister An Ning, what if they chop off my mother's head?"

The storybook says that once you enter the yamen, you can never get out again!

Mu An Ning and Qiao Qingsheng looked at each other and both couldn't help laughing.

After all, they are still children, and they have a rich imagination.

In fact, Qiao Qingsheng lost his composure like that before because Fang Ziweng described it to him in an overly horrific way.

She said softly, "No." She touched his round head and said, "I promise you."

In Da Chu, even if someone committed a capital crime, they would not be executed immediately.

Besides, those women looked so obedient and docile, they didn't seem like people who would commit any serious crime.

And that woman...

Thinking of this, she frowned slightly.

The woman's words and actions were extremely relaxed and at ease, as if she had a full grasp of the current situation.

But...she felt something was a little off.

In the past, no matter how good-looking the other person was, she would not have developed a crush on him or her because of that.

However, just now, after she made eye contact with the woman, she felt a subtle feeling slowly spreading in her heart.

Could it be that...she has a habit of sharpening mirrors?

But... doesn't she already have someone she likes?

"Mr. Guan! You must help us!"

The sudden cry from the crowd interrupted Mu An Ning's thoughts.

She followed the crowd's gaze and saw a group of women in sackcloth and mourning on their heads slowly approaching.

"Sir, you must find out who murdered my husband!!"

"Zuiyuelou will definitely not escape the blame, sir!!"

"I hope you can seek justice for us and not let the murderer go unpunished!"

The sound of crying and shouting filled the entire yamen in an instant. Seeing this, the brothers Qiao Qingsheng and Fang Ziweng seemed a little at a loss, and a trace of worry appeared on their faces again.

Mu An Ning stepped aside and observed that many women brought their children with them, the oldest of whom looked no more than five or six years old.

From what they said...it seems that they are certain that it was someone from the government who harmed their family.

"Everyone, please judge! My husband started to act strangely after returning from Zuiyuelou! I didn't expect that he would be gone in the end!"

"My family member was the same. He was just a little uncomfortable at first, but in the end he bled to death!"

"It must be that fox demon!! Otherwise, why are all the dead men in their prime?!"

Everyone started whispering to each other, with more inquiry in their eyes.

There were more and more yamen runners outside the door, and in a flash, it was impossible to see the situation inside clearly.

Mu An Ning frowned slightly and whispered softly: "Zuiyue Tower?"

She had never thought that someone would die, and it seemed that there was more than one.

How could someone kill so many people without anyone noticing?

Qiao Qingsheng beside her saw her confusion and said slowly, "Zuiyuelou is the largest restaurant in Wutong City." He paused, his expression becoming more serious, "My aunt is the cook of this restaurant."

Mu An Ning nodded. If she guessed correctly, the purple-clothed woman was the owner of the wine shop. "Brother Qiao, has your aunt behaved strangely recently?"

Qiao Qingsheng smiled bitterly: "I am ashamed to say that my aunt has been looking restless these days, but when I asked her, she just said that the business in the building was too busy." He lowered his eyes and laughed at himself: "Now that I think about it, it was this matter that bothered her, and I didn't take it seriously. If something happened to my aunt, I really don't know how to face my deceased father and mother..."

Now, he only has two relatives left: his aunt and Fang Ziweng.

Seeing that he was distracted again, Mu An Ning hurriedly tried to comfort him, but when Fang Ziweng heard this, he burst into tears.

Mu An Ning had no choice but to say, "Brother Qiao, don't jump to conclusions so quickly." She paused, and systematically recounted the calm and composed behavior of the woman in purple.

Even if the murderer really came from Zuiyuelou, it would not be those powerless women.

"But..." Qiao Qingsheng looked around at the dozens of women and children in white.

With so many lives lost, the government will probably not let this go.

Mu An Ning could hear the uneasiness in his tone, and asked with a burning gaze: "Brother Qiao, do you think Aunt Fang is someone who would murder innocent people?"

Qiao Qingsheng was stunned by the clear almond eyes and shook his head repeatedly: "My aunt has always been kind-hearted, it's impossible!"

Mu An Ning smiled softly and said nothing more.

I believe Qiao Qingsheng should understand that those who are innocent will be cleared.

Sure enough, after a while, the bailiffs escorted all the women out.

Mu An Ning looked around and his heart suddenly tightened.

Why is that woman the only one who didn’t come out?

Could it be that...she is the murderer?