Chapter 26 Taihe Academy
Su Yan wiped away the excess debris, revealing the loose bricks and stones inside.
She picked up the firewood piled next to the stove and knocked it hard a few times, and the bricks and stones fell down.
Su Yan took away the bricks and stones, dug out all the soil inside, and found a wooden box inside.
The wooden box was rectangular and its edges had been worn and dulled.
There was a lock on the box. Su Yan took out the iron hook and opened it.
Su Yan opened the wooden box, and a smell of earth hit him in the face. There was a handkerchief in the box.
Su Yan unfolded the handkerchief and saw the bloody words on it.
The long street has returned to its former tranquility.
Su Yan finally found a constable who was investigating a case, but learned that Captain Zhao had been called to the yamen, presumably because of the matter of the county magistrate.
If the county magistrate went to the yamen, Su Yan should not have interfered, but the information left by Sister Chun was crucial, and she had to tell Captain Zhao.
Be careful and you won't disturb the county governor.
Before Su Yan reached the county government office, he met Qin Wanyue and Chu Feng in front of the rouge shop.
Qin Wanyue changed into a coral red brocade skirt embroidered with crabapple flowers. During the few times Su Yan saw her, she changed into new clothes almost every day.
Based on the salary of County Magistrate Qin and the situation in Anping Town, it is probably impossible for Qin Wanyue to live such a life.
Qin Wanyue was choosing rouge. The shopkeeper, with his back hunched, was introducing the products enthusiastically, but Qin Wanyue seemed uninterested.
Chu Feng was still wearing the same blue shirt. He didn't dress it in the same way, but his posture was upright. Even in the simple blue shirt, one could tell that he had an extraordinary bearing.
He stood with his hands behind his back, keeping a proper distance from Qin Wanyue. Although he was accompanying Qin Wanyue shopping, his brows were furrowed.
A lot of things happened in the academy these few days, and Chu Feng was one of the suspects. Normally, he was not allowed to move around freely, but no constable dared to disobey Qin Wanyue's request.
Cheng Wenshan was murdered, and now the detective has doubts about his identity. Chu Feng has been depressed.
He really didn't want to look at these rouge and powder, so he looked away in annoyance and happened to see Su Yan.
Su Yan was just an ordinary citizen, and his clothes were much simpler than Qin Wanyue's. His clothes had no embroidery and were not brightly colored. He didn't even have a single decent piece of jewelry on him.
But in the crowd, Chu Feng is always the first to see her.
Seeing Su Yan, Chu Feng's restless heart was slowly calmed down. He did not greet her, but just looked at her from a distance.
Qin Wanyue had no intention of buying rouge. She went out to find Chu Feng just because she wanted to stay with him for a while.
She said a few perfunctorily to the shopkeeper, put down her rouge, and as soon as she turned sideways, she noticed Chu Feng and Su Yan on the street.
Qin Wanyue believed that her family background and appearance were no worse than Su Yan's. Judging from her family background alone, the difference between her and Su Yan could be said to be like heaven and earth.
But the way Chu Feng looked at Su Yan was always more tender than when he looked at her.
Qin Wanyue could even show regret and annoyance.
Qin Wanyue's face turned cold.
Chu Feng is attracted to her, right? He can't be so blind that he doesn't like her and likes Su Yan instead, right?
Qin Wanyue glanced at Chu Feng and strode towards Su Yan.
She likes to slightly raise her head when she walks. In the past, she didn't care about anyone, but now she can only see Su Yan.
"Where are you going?" Qin Wanyue asked, "The case hasn't made any progress yet? Come with me for a walk. I often come to this rouge shop. If you don't have enough money, I can give you some."
After saying that, she looked at Su Yan with a smile and raised her hand to call the shopkeeper over.
Su Yan knew very well what Qin Wanyue's intention was. In name, she was giving Su Yan rouge, but in reality, she wanted to emphasize the difference between herself and Su Yan.
Su Yan did not expose her, but said sincerely: "Miss Qin, I am a coroner. Odor is also an important part of autopsy. It would be bad if the smell of rouge and powder covered up the clues."
Qin Wanyue only wanted to show off her bulging wallet in front of Su Yan, and indeed did not think about the autopsy.
Embarrassment flashed across her face, and the corners of her mouth twitched twice. She continued stubbornly, "You should dress yourself up, too. How old are you, and you're still unmarried? If you continue like this, what will happen if you really become an old maid? No one will want you."
Chu Feng walked over quickly and happened to hear Su Yan's words. He refuted on Su Yan's behalf: "Miss Qin, rouge and powder can only be applied to the face, not the heart. Su Yan performed the autopsy and dissection to give justice to the deceased. Although Su Yan is a woman, she has her own ambitions, which is really admirable."
Chu Feng is cautious and mild-tempered. He has never had an argument with Qin Wanyue, but now he speaks out for Su Yan.
Qin Wanyue actually felt a little aggrieved.
Su Yan didn't want to argue with Qin Wanyue, so he changed the subject and said, "I was just about to go to the government office. I made some new discoveries in the case."
Qin Wanyue immediately forgot her grievances and pestered Su Yan, "But have you found the murderer?"
"Not yet, but I think it will be soon."
"Hey, do you think Master Cheng is really a bad guy? He has been to my house many times and looks very kind. He also brought me snacks and candied fruits, which were delicious."
Su Yan said softly: "I'm afraid that Master Cheng has a side that is unknown to the public."
"I'll go with you!" Qin Wanyue said, "My father said that an important person from the government office will come today. He is said to be the county governor, and my father has to go and serve him well. Oh, by the way, there is also a general, I don't quite recognize him, he might be from the Changwei Army."
Anping Town is just a small border town. Even if Cheng Wenshan is quite famous in the local area, it would not alarm the county magistrate.
Su Yan originally thought that Cheng Wenshan was colluding with other officials and the county magistrate was involved and had to come to deal with it, but if the Changwei Army also came, things would not be so simple.
Nowadays, the Zhou Dynasty is weak, and the Changwei Army is stationed on the border all year round to confront the northern Hu people. The affairs handled by the Changwei Army should all be related to the Hu people.
Qin Wanyue's focus was completely different from Su Yan's. She kept chattering and even took Su Yan's arm, insisting on gossiping with her. "Have you heard of the general of the Changwei Army? The one with the surname Shi, he fought many battles and won many battles. We have a peaceful life now because of him. Moreover, he is handsome and suave, and he has not married yet. He is already in his twenties, how could he not have married yet?"
Su Yan had only heard of the Changwei Army, but he didn't know that the Changwei Army also had a young general.
She was not interested in the general's marriage. She only knew that under the current circumstances, he must have paid a lot to be able to defend the border.
Su Yan said: "Perhaps he is focusing on state affairs and has no spare time."
"A man should start a family first and then a career. Of course, getting married is very important," Qin Wanyue glanced at Chu Feng secretly, "My father always wants to marry me off, but I think clearly that instead of marrying those so-called dignitaries, it is better to find a man who shares the same mind, support each other, and spend the rest of my life together."
Chu Feng frowned but did not respond.
Su Yan agreed with Qin Wanyue's point of view, "That's true. As long as you have enough food and clothing, living a carefree life is the happiest thing."
——I didn’t expect that the young lady also has such an impressive side.
Qin Wanyue: “…”
Is this a compliment or an insult to her?
The county governor came to Anping Town in the name of inspection, and even the county government office became more solemn than usual.
Nearly twice the number of officials were patrolling near the county government office. The officials in front of the gate were neatly dressed and looked straight ahead.
Su Yan walked to the front of the Suanni in front of the county government office and stopped. Seeing this scene, he hesitated. "The county magistrate came to Anping Town. Could there be something important? If we go in rashly..."
Without waiting for Su Yan to finish expressing his concerns, Qin Wanyue walked over with a swagger, not even paying attention to the bailiff at the door.
As expected, before Qin Wanyue even reached the threshold, the yamen runners reached out to stop her, "No trespassing!"
"Open your eyes and look carefully," Qin Wanyue pointed at herself, "I am Qin Wanyue, and County Magistrate Qin is my father!"
The yamen runner was unmoved, "Miss Qin, this is the order from County Magistrate Qin, please don't embarrass us."
Qin Wanyue suddenly got angry. Just as she was about to explode, Su Yan and Chu Feng walked up and held her back.
Qin Wanyue was still unconvinced, "How could my father stop me? We have something serious to discuss with him. Such a big thing happened in Anping Town, doesn't he want to solve the case as soon as possible? If he hadn't stopped me from going to the academy, maybe I would have found the murderer by now!"
The yamen runners remained unmoved.
Su Yan thought for a moment, handed Qin Wanyue to Chu Feng, and said with an apologetic smile: "My two brothers, I am the coroner who came to help. We do have some new discoveries to report to Captain Zhao. I know the rules of the government office. We will not go in. Can you please help us pass a message to Captain Zhao?"
The yamen runners looked at each other and were about to drive him away when they heard Su Yan's voice, not too loud or too soft - "Gambling, visiting Fuxianglou, the yamen has been very quiet lately!"
Yamen runner: “…”
"Well, I'm doing this because of your help in the government office! Wait, I'll ask someone to talk to Captain Zhao, but I can't guarantee that you can get in!"
Su Yan breathed a sigh of relief. She turned her head and said with a smile, "See, the yamen runner is still easy to talk to."
Qin Wanyue: “…”
She felt that that was not the case.
Qin Wanyue said angrily: "They are stupid and won't listen to you."
The three of them waited for a cup of tea at the gate of the county government office, and then a yamen runner came out to welcome Su Yan and the other two in. "Don't run around after you go in. Captain Zhao will be here soon. Remember not to walk around."
Qin Wanyue's face became more and more sour, "My father knew I was here, so he asked you to take us in, right?"
The yamen runner was very tactless, "No, he knew that Miss Su might bring new clues, so he asked us to bring her in."
Qin Wanyue: “…”
She doesn't care, it must be like this!
The yamen runner took the three men to the classroom and told them to wait quietly.
Qin Wanyue was still sulking with him, so Chu Feng took the initiative to pour her some tea. Su Yan didn't want to be caught between the two of them, so he went to the yard in front of the classroom.
The classroom was in the corner of the county government office, with only two side rooms. Some torture instruments were placed on both sides of the yard. There were weeds growing between the bluestone slabs, and it looked like it had not been repaired for a long time.
The gate of the yard is a bit old. It is not closed on weekdays and it makes a creaking sound when it is moved slightly.
Su Yan stood by the gate, feeling increasingly heavy-hearted.
Before the world becomes truly in chaos, she still needs time to find out the truth about her parents' murder. She hopes that the county magistrate and the general came to Anping Town only for Cheng Wenshan's matter.
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