Chapter 7474 Cheng Mansion
The day Cheng Jian was murdered was the day Xiyan agreed with him to leave the capital.
Cheng Jian will hide Xiyan in the suburbs of Beijing. He cannot leave the Cheng Mansion, and Xiyan does not ask for too much.
As long as she could hide and not be found by Manager Xu, she would be content.
But that day, they were discovered by Shopkeeper Xu.
Manager Xu was furious, and he took out all his anger on Cheng Jian.
When Cheng Jian was murdered, Xiyan was right next to him.
Blood splattered on her old clothes, and Xiyan took it as a warning.
From then on, she gave up the idea of leaving.
Xiyan doesn't like Cheng Jian, she knows that Cheng Jian's love for her is only temporary. But someone died for her, Xiyan can't pretend nothing happened.
Every night, she would meet Cheng Jian in her dreams. Covered in blood, Cheng Jian would ask her why he was dead while she was still alive.
Every moment she spent with Cheng Jian would replay itself in her dreams. No matter how gentle Cheng Jian was, he would eventually turn into a hideous evil ghost and come after her.
"Dad was the one who dumped the body. He didn't say where he dumped it. Later I heard that it was all in Yujing River. Dad watched me very closely, and I didn't dare to disobey him again. I was also afraid that others would know that I was the one who killed Cheng Jian, so I didn't dare to tell you."
Liang Yi advised: "You didn't know that Manager Xu would kill someone, don't blame yourself."
Shi Er nodded, "I really can't blame you."
"Alas, it's rare for Minister Shi to say something fair."
Shi Er: "I have always been fair."
"You and Zhao Mingde..."
The two exchanged glances.
Su Yan left the two useless men aside, took Xiyan's hand and asked alone: "Miss Xiyan, do you know about the two murders that happened in the capital before? The deceased were officials in the court. When the news of their deaths came, did Cheng Jian react?"
Xiyan's thoughts were in a mess. She shook her head blankly. "Although I have met some people in the teahouse, I didn't dare to talk to them much. I have never heard of these two people. As for Cheng Jian..."
Xiyan suddenly grabbed Su Yan's sleeve and said, "He seemed to have really mentioned it!"
"What did Cheng Jian say?"
Xiyan said, "I remember one time when I met him, his servant came to report this matter. I didn't know which official was killed, but I knew that he looked nervous and urged the servant to take the things away as soon as possible."
Liang Yi said excitedly: "He really hid something?!"
Xiyan said: "I don't know about that either. I just heard him mention it, but I don't know what it was specifically."
"What should we do? We can't ask Cheng Jian now." Liang Yi said distressedly, "If we know what it is, maybe we can expose their conspiracy."
Shi'er's heart sank.
Although Manager Xu was arrested, there are still many doubts that remain unsolved.
Liang Yi looked at Su Yan eagerly, "What should we do?"
Xiyan glanced at Liang Yi, not daring to look at him closely.
A prince actually humbles himself to a coroner?
Shi Er also looked at Su Yan, "Su..."
"Don't," Su Yan stopped him, "Minister Shi, I'm just a coroner."
Thanks to these two people, she doesn't even have to wait until she goes to investigate the Shi Mansion, otherwise she will be noticed and targeted by everyone!
Su Yan asked Xi Yan: "You said that the servant went to report to Cheng Jian. Do you remember the servant's name?"
Xiyan shook her head, "I saw Cheng Jian's servants, and they were almost always different people each time."
Su Yan said, "Minister Shi, we have to go to Cheng Mansion to find him."
*
The Ministry of Justice has taken over four homicide cases, and investigating the cases is the Ministry's job. Su Yan is at most a coroner without formal documents, so it is not very convenient for him to move around, so he returns to the house first.
Shi Yangui sent her some clothes and jewelry. Su Yan didn't want to accept them, but she was very interested in the person who sent her the jewelry.
This man has a handsome appearance and a heroic demeanor. One can tell at first glance that he is the one who followed Shi Yangui to fight on the battlefield.
Su Yan pulled him aside to chat about family matters: "Have you ever been to Shi Mansion? What is the atmosphere like in Shi Mansion? I have no other intentions. It's not that the general wants to invite me to Shi Mansion as a guest. I want to learn more about it in advance."
Le Sheng was very frightened.
He always felt that the general had a crush on this girl. Seeing that she always rejected the general, the general was depressed many times.
I originally thought that the girl was pretending to be reserved, but now it seems...she has a crush on me!
He has a handsome appearance and indeed has an irresistible charm, it’s not Su Yan’s fault!
Le Sheng said tactfully: "Miss, the general has the final say on my marriage.
Su Yan: “?”
In ancient times, people would discuss marriage matters as soon as they met.
Su Yan: "I'm asking you about Shifu..."
Le Sheng said: "It's impossible for the two of us."
Su Yan: “…”
Su Yan reached for the scalpel.
Le Sheng: "But I am willing to answer the girl's questions!"
Le Sheng was picked up by Shi Yangui at the border.
Today's Changwei Army is brave and invincible, all thanks to Shi Yangui's years of management. At the beginning, the Changwei Army was just a group of old and weak soldiers who couldn't even get cotton clothes, and Zhao Mingde and the Hu people didn't take it seriously.
Le Sheng was born in a poor family. He had to rely on robbing because he had no food to eat. When he was being chased by a local rich man, Le Sheng met Shi Yan Gui.
"This is my first time in the capital too. Shi Mansion is really beautiful. If that local rich man's house was in Shi Mansion, none of the servants would live there! Of course, if I were to live there, I would still be happy to do so... Well, I'm getting off topic. What do you want to ask? I've been to Shi Mansion, and I'll tell you everything I know."
Su Yan: "..., I don't really want to ask."
Le Sheng had just arrived in the capital, so naturally he didn't know much about the Shi residence. Su Yan didn't expect that Shi Yangui would come back with someone who was completely unfamiliar with the capital.
But since we are soldiers on the battlefield...
Su Yan perked up again and asked, "Do you know Anping Town? I heard that you fought with the Hu people in Anping Town?"
Speaking of the war, Le Sheng's expression was heavy, "We lost a lot of people."
"Why would the Hu people attack Anping Town?"
With the Changwei Army there, Anping Town has always been considered one of the safest places in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Le Sheng said in confusion: "I am a soldier. I will obey the general's orders. You ask me why..."
Su Yan sighed in frustration.
Seeing this, Le Sheng tried to comfort him: "In fact, you should just ask the general directly. The general looks cold, but he has a kind heart. He eats and lives with us in the barracks, and he even gave me his share of rations when he ambushed the enemy. He is the best person I have ever met."
Su Yan had no words to express his pain.
If Shi Yangui could tell her the truth, her hostility towards him would not have grown deeper.
Le Sheng didn't know how to beat around the bush. Seeing that Su Yan was in trouble, he gave her another suggestion, "In fact, the general has quite a few counselors around him. They know the most about fighting. It would be more direct for you to ask them."
Su Yan asked curiously, "Did he also bring a counselor back to the capital?"
Le Sheng said: "There should be. Oh, there is a guy called Chu Feng, who seems to be from Anping Town. You can go ask him."
Su Yan had been away from Anping Town for too long, and was in a trance for a moment when he heard Chu Feng's name.
How could Chu Feng come to Beijing?
He had indeed always wanted to achieve fame and fortune, but since he had already planned to marry Qin Wanyue, why would he follow Shi Yangui?
Su Yan found that there were too many things she didn't know.
Le Sheng didn't know where Chu Feng was now, so Su Yan asked him to pass a message to Chu Feng. She wanted to know whether Brother Zhao and his family were safe.
After seeing Le Sheng off, Su Yan looked at the room full of jewelry and felt worried.
She came to find the murderer who killed her parents. The money was enough to cover her expenses. She didn't want to owe Shi Yangui a favor.
Su Yan found the hairpin Yun Xing gave her and put it on, then put away all the other jewelry and returned them later. She also found two little maids and discussed with them what to eat in the evening.
Both of them were maids who had signed indentures to sell themselves in Liang Yi's mansion. They were too cautious to respond, but when they saw that Su Yan seemed really easy to get along with, they went happily.
Su Yan made a fire with them and tried his best to live a life similar to that in Anping Town.
After dinner, Feng Tu sent a message asking Su Yan to go to the teahouse.
Feng Tu is a man of few words. When Su Yan asked him about the progress of the case, he would only answer with the three words "I don't know".
Su Yan was very curious. Did the teahouse have new discoveries? The most important thing now was to find Cheng Jian's servant. Why did they have to go to the teahouse again?
The entire street where the teahouse is located has been blocked off, and all entrances and exits are guarded by armed soldiers.
Feng Tu then explained: "This is the Flying Eagle Army, Zhao Mingde's men."
When Zhao Mingde's power was at its peak, he was in charge of the capital's imperial guards.
The prince was intelligent. During the two years of confrontation with Zhao Mingde, he managed to take away one third of the imperial guards from Zhao Mingde. Now, they are nominally the emperor's guards, and are under the command of the prince.
Zhao Mingde was unwilling to share power, so he found an excuse to establish the Flying Eagle Army. Now all the members of the Flying Eagle Army obey Zhao Mingde.
If Shi Yangui wants to overthrow Zhao Mingde, he has to be wary of both the Imperial Guards and the Flying Eagle Army.
The Flying Eagle Army’s leather armor, shoulder pads, and muskets are all the best, but their soldiers are not as spirited as those of the Changwei Army.
Su Yan took a few glances and walked forward faster.
Feng Tu admired in his heart that Miss Su knew how to prioritize.
Su Yan’s inner thoughts: Run, run, or they will hear my complaints!
The military posture of the Changwei Army is like the era in which she lived, a mysterious oriental country.
The standing posture of the Flying Eagle Army also resembles that of some mysterious oriental country.
All the lanterns in the teahouse were lit, and Feng Tu brought Su Yan into the yard.
The brightest room in the courtyard is the study, where Manager Xu usually checks accounts and reads. It is said that no one else is allowed to enter, so Xiyan has only been there a few times.
There were five officials on each side of the bluestone path in front of the study, holding torches and looking into the side rooms.
Before Su Yan approached, Shi Er and Liang Yi came out, supporting each other, their faces grim.
Su Yan: "You guys..."
Shi Er immediately pushed Liang Yi away.
Liang Yi snorted angrily: "I'll throw you away after you're done with me, humph."
Su Yan: “…”
Respect different preferences.
Su Yan reminded himself in his heart and asked with concern: "But what did you find in the study?"
Shi Er straightened his official uniform and said, "Come in and take a look."
Liang Yi leaned against the door and retched.
Seeing this, Su Yan walked into the study. Behind the antique shelves and cabinets that had been moved away, there was a secret door, which had been opened.
Su Yan walked in.
Liang Yi said disdainfully: "Are you comfortable letting her go in alone?"
Shi Er wanted to say something but stopped.
Liang Yi said: "You should go in with her."
Shi Er: "...I wonder if she will be scared."
Liang Yi: “!”
I didn't expect him to be such a Shi Er!
Liang Yi said: "Su Yan was helping you after all, but you pushed her into danger for your own selfish desires. You are such a mean person!"
Shi Er looked at Liang Yi who came close to him, "Why don't you go and accompany her?"
Liang Yi: "Oh, I also want to see if she will be scared."
*
Walking into the secret door, what comes into view is the dark grey stone wall. In the middle of the secret room, there are five coffins placed side by side.
Before he got close, Su Yan smelled a strong smell of decay. The coffin lid had been opened by Shi Er.
Su Yan walked to the coffin with the strongest smell and heard the sound of flies flapping their wings.
She leaned over and saw a half-rotten face.
Outside the secret room, Liang Yi and Shi Er made a bet, "Su Yan will definitely not be scared. We have seen more horrible scenes. She can even sit on the bones and count them."
Shi Er insisted: "This matter is really horrible, and it is difficult for ordinary people to accept it. Su Yan is just an ordinary woman."
"I'll bet a tael of silver."
"You are wasting your time on playing with things." Shi Er was unmoved, "I won't fool around with you."
After he finished speaking, Su Yan walked out calmly, with no fear on his face.
Shi Er took out two taels of silver and gave Liang Yi.
Su Yan: "Why did you give him money?"
Shi Er said calmly: "I owed you money a few days ago. Have you seen the body?"
Su Yan said, "There are five bodies. The time of death ranges from five years to three months. The genders and ages are different. The one who died the longest has completely turned to bones, and the one who died only three months ago shows signs of poisoning. The specific situation needs to be further examined."
"The secret room has been built for many years. Manager Xu usually doesn't allow Xiyan to get close to the study. It seems that Manager Xu killed these people." Shi Er analyzed, "Our previous inference that someone wanted to frame someone and force a confession may be wrong."
Su Yan said, "It is precisely because of the discovery of these bodies that we can conclude that someone tried to frame Manager Xu. It may not be accurate to say that someone wanted to blame Manager Xu for the deaths of the imperial physician and the chief."
"Why do you say that?"
"The silver needles taken from the back of the head by the imperial physician and the chief official are extremely hidden. If you don't examine the body carefully, you will never see them. Before I came, Jingzhao Prefecture didn't even have a proper coroner. The silver needles were not the cause of their death. This must be a way of forcing confessions. The deaths of the two are also fundamentally different from those of Cheng Jian and Cen Da. If we hadn't found the bodies in the secret room, we couldn't explain why the murderer wanted Manager Xu to take the blame. He had no connection with the imperial physician and the chief official. But if Manager Xu himself regarded killing as a hobby to satisfy his selfish desires, then it can be explained."
A murderer has two more murders on his hands. Who can find out?
"The murderer must know the secret of Shopkeeper Xu, and also know that he killed Cheng Jian and Cen Da. The murderer first paid attention to Shopkeeper Xu because of Cheng Jian. At that time, both of them were targeting Cheng Jian, but for different purposes. One wanted Cheng Jian's things, and the other was because Cheng Jian wanted to elope with his daughter. The white porcelain fragments we found on Cen Da were probably placed there intentionally by the murderer. I have already asked Xiyan, and she only bought a can of rouge, which was in her room. The fragments I found on Cen Da were forged."
The more Liang Yi listened, the more confused he became. He concluded in a pretentious manner, "These two people...are not good people."
Shi Er asked: "Why did Manager Xu kill so many people?"
"The Minister will investigate this, but there is another important matter now," Su Yan said, "Find what the murderer is looking for, and check the area near the teahouse. If the murderer can find a chance to get close to the bodies of Cheng Jian and Cen Da, he must observe the teahouse more. Maybe someone will notice him."
Shi Er said, "I have taken Xiyan to Cheng Jian's mansion to identify the servants in the mansion. The servants who usually follow Cheng Jian are all there, and none of them followed Cheng Jian that day. Only one servant left before Cheng Jian was killed, saying that he was going to deliver a letter to Master Cheng's hometown, and he hasn't come back yet."
Su Yan asked: "Did Cheng Jian disappear when he left?"
“Is this important?”
Su Yan said: "If he left after knowing the news of Cheng Jian's death, there may be a reason."
Shi Er was silent for a while, then said, "I'll order someone to chase him."
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