Chapter 30 Living Together
Xiao Liulang didn't even enter the study before being picked up by the shop assistants of Huichuntang. He then went directly to Huichuntang to get medicine. The entire Huichuntang could testify to this, so naturally no one suspected him.
Gu Dashun was different; someone saw him go up to the second floor, where the owner's room was also located.
The owner happened to be out at that time, and there was no one on the second floor except for Gu Dashun.
Anyone who has visited the study knows that the second floor, apart from the accounting office, is the private room for nobles and is not open to everyone. A poor scholar like Gu Dashun should not have been on the second floor.
Gu Dashun cried out in protest: "A gentleman asked me to pick out a few books and send them to him! He said he wanted to discuss poetry and philosophy with me!"
Gu Dashun was also an ambitious student. He knew early on that his status as a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the county level) would bring him many advantages in the future, and that people would even come to befriend him. So he did not doubt it at the time.
"Who is this master you're talking about? Bring him out!" the person in the study said.
Gu Dashun said anxiously, "He was already gone when I went upstairs!"
"Has any of you... seen the master?" the people in the study asked the group.
Everyone shook their heads.
They could only notice Gu Dashun because he was wearing the uniform of Tianxiang Academy, and students of Tianxiang Academy are always very eye-catching.
Unfortunately, Gu Dashun's conversation with that gentleman happened on his way to relieve himself, a stretch of road with no eyewitnesses.
Therefore, everyone only saw Gu Dashun carrying the books upstairs, but did not see Gu Dashun being invited.
This is really dangerous.
The owner's servant said, "I never expected that a student from Tianxiang Academy would do such a despicable thing. My young master's bag contains very valuable items. If you take the silver notes inside, my young master can let it go, but you must return that letter! Otherwise, we will report it to the authorities!"
Gu Dashun died unjustly. The only solution now is to find that master, but the master seems to have vanished into thin air and cannot be found no matter what.
Gu Dashun had a sudden inspiration: "You say I stole something, so where is the stolen goods? I'm not going to eat them!"
The chief constable narrowed his eyes: "Search his house!"
Gu Dashun wasn't worried about being searched. He was upright and had nothing to hide. Even if they turned his house upside down, they wouldn't find any stolen goods!
As a result, Gu Dashun was slapped in the face.
When the constables stormed into the Gu family home, Zhou and Liu had just arrived and were digging a pit in the backyard to bury silver.
The constables quickly recognized that these were the official silver coins lost by the owner.
In Gu Jiao's dream, Xiao Liulang deduced from the footprints on the backyard lawn and the outer wall that the murderer climbed in through the window, committed the crime alone, and was six feet tall. The right footprint was deeper than the left footprint, suggesting that the murderer had a slight limp in his left leg, but it was not serious, otherwise he would not have been able to climb the wall to the second floor, and the murderer was also quite skilled.
Some of the footprints at the crime scene contained fine gravel mixed with lime and sandalwood. This is the kind of gravel road found only in casinos, originally used to ward off evil spirits.
Therefore, thieves are either employees of gambling dens or gamblers; sooner or later, they will go to the gambling dens near the market after taking the silver.
Gu Jiao only needed to guard the only way to the market.
Unfortunately, Gu Dashun was not Xiao Liulang. He could not solve the case or prove his innocence. He could only watch helplessly as he, Zhou, and Liu were arrested and imprisoned.
"Oh dear." Inside the accounting office of Huichuntang, the second owner was leisurely drinking tea, looking quite pleased with himself.
Shopkeeper Wang glared at him and said, "You're so happy after ripping someone off?"
That's right, the second boss is the mysterious old man who tricked Gu Dashun into going upstairs.
The second boss grinned and held up three fingers: "Not one, but three."
Manager Wang shuddered: "That girl is really ruthless. She doesn't even blink when she's scheming against her own people. Shouldn't we be... more careful when cooperating with someone like that?"
The second landlord looked at the bustling street and said, "What do you know? Don't easily advise others to be kind if you haven't experienced their suffering."
Manager Wang didn't quite understand what he was saying. Although he was the second boss's subordinate, he didn't know much about the second boss. He only knew that the second boss was the eldest son of the Hu family, but he didn't seem to be highly regarded by the old man.
The second boss chuckled and took a sip of tea: "I'm really growing to like this girl more and more."
——
Since this matter had nothing to do with Xiao Liulang himself, he didn't inquire too much. He only knew that Gu Dashun had stolen something, but he had no idea who it was or what it was.
However, he did go to the study after all, and the dean still called him to the Zhongzheng Hall to inquire about Gu Dashun's situation.
"Did you see Gu Dashun when you went to the study?" the dean asked.
Xiao Liulang said, "I saw it, but I left for Huichun Hall at noon, and I don't know anything about what happened after that."
That's the absolute truth.
The dean paused, then asked, "Did you see Gu Dashun talking to anyone in the backyard?"
Xiao Liulang shook his head: "I didn't go to the backyard."
The dean rubbed his temples, looking exasperated. "Alright, I understand. You can go back to your classroom now."
Xiao Liulang turned to leave, but just as he reached the door, the dean spoke again: "Do you really think Gu Dashun would steal?"
Xiao Liulang said calmly, "This doesn't seem to be something I can decide."
Yes, the victim reported it to the authorities, and the case has been opened. Whether or not theft occurred depends on evidence, but all the evidence points to Gu Dashun...
After Xiao Liulang left Zhongzheng Hall, he was summoned and questioned by Teacher Chen from Class A of the Heavenly Division. After Teacher Chen finished questioning him, Teacher Zhang from his own class also questioned him, mostly inquiring about Gu Dashun's situation.
After all this commotion, it was already getting late.
The heavy snow began to fall.
It actually snowed.
Xiao Liulang looked at the snow-covered sky and walked towards the entrance of the academy. As soon as he came out, he saw a slender figure.
Wearing an apricot-colored floral jacket and carrying a small basket on her back, she bent down and played with the pebbles on the ground with her feet, looking rather adorable.
Xiao Liulang's eyes flickered slightly, and he walked over, leaning on his cane.
Gu Jiao saw him and smiled slightly: "School's out?"
"Um."
Thinking of something, Gu Jiao said, "I couldn't wait for you just now, so I asked Uncle Luo and Xiao Shun to go back first."
“It’s alright, I’ll go hire a car,” Xiao Liulang said.
Gu Jiao gently tugged at his sleeve with her soft fingertips: "The snow is getting heavy, it's not safe to drive. Let's find an inn to stay for the night."
Xiao Liulang looked at the slender white fingertips on his sleeve: "...Okay."
Perhaps because the end of the year was approaching, all the inns were full, and the two asked at several places before finally finding one where they could stay.
Xiao Liulang said, "Bring two guest rooms."
The waiter said, "Sir, there is only one room left."
Will I stay here or not? Will I stay here or not? Will I stay here or not?
(End of this chapter)
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