Chapter 64 Seeing the corpse with his own eyes, Zhou Congxian went mad!
"Your Highness!"
Wei Xun grabbed Zhou Congxian.
He had walked through every street and alley of the capital like a madman.
In just one night, stubble had already sprouted on his face.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body exuded a chilling aura.
He brushed Wei Xun's hand away and muttered to himself, "Shi Yao, where are you hiding? Where are you hiding?"
"Your Highness, wake up! Lady Jiang is dead!"
Zhou Congxian slowly turned to look at him, as if he couldn't understand what he was saying.
"She's hiding."
Looking at his lifeless, zombie-like appearance, Wei Xun felt a pang of pity.
He reached out and chopped at the back of his neck, knocking him unconscious.
I wonder if it's because it rained.
Inside the capital's government office, a faint, lingering odor made people even more sensitive.
A faint, almost imperceptible, burnt smell.
Wei Xun glanced at the prince, whose eyes were closed, on the bed, then turned and went to the morgue.
The room, however, reeked of something nauseating.
The guards had long been fed up; if this case wasn't tried soon, the entire capital's judicial office would be in turmoil.
In the center of the room lay two large and one small charred corpses.
He couldn't bear it and looked away.
He froze when his gaze fell on the dagger on the table.
"Where did this dagger come from?"
He threw this dagger when he helped Shuangjiang scare away the swindler who was bullying her.
The guards immediately replied, "This was found and brought over by the firefighting team at the fire scene yesterday."
Wei Xun paused for a moment, then picked up the dagger.
He interacted with Shuangjiang more than he had with Mingyu before, but he paid extra attention to this somewhat clumsy maid.
His gaze then turned to the three charred corpses, and his vision blurred.
"How could you be so stupid..."
Seeing the grief on his face, the guards couldn't help but ask him softly.
"Lord Wei, do you...know these people?"
After a long while, Wei Xun slowly nodded.
"They are..."
"No, they are not."
Zhou Congxian's cold voice came from behind him.
He woke up in no time at all.
"Your Highness..."
Wei Xun gripped the dagger in his hand tightly, staring at the figure, unsure how to offer any comfort.
Zhou Congxian took two steps forward, walked to the door, but couldn't bring himself to step inside.
The three charred corpses were burned beyond recognition, and could only be barely identified as human beings.
His fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
How could this possibly be Jiang Shiyao?
"She lived so hard that she dared to scheme against and retaliate even against Song Jiyun."
"How could she be dead?"
"She loved Fu'er so much, how could she bear to die with Fu'er?"
Zhou Congxian stood at the door, gazing into the distance.
His eyes were dry, as if they were filled with sand.
His heart felt as if it had been torn open.
Hollow.
Jewelry salvaged from the fire was placed on a small table by the door.
The red gold bracelet that was half burned.
Zhou Congxian stretched out his hand, but it stopped in mid-air; he couldn't extend it no matter what he did.
He seemed to see a slender, porcelain-white finger stroking the remaining patterns on it.
"Jiang Shiyao, how dare you..."
How could I leave him?
How dare you!
His voice was deep and hoarse, as if she were standing right in front of him listening.
He gripped the bracelet in his palm; the pure gold, after being melted, had lost its original round shape.
Even the edges and corners have become sharp and prickly.
He was completely unaware.
The light that was always lit for him has gone out.
So this is what a cold and gloomy world without lights is like.
He walked step by step into the morgue.
Wei Xun's alarm bells rang loudly, and he rushed forward to stop them.
"Your Highness, the dead are gone, but the living must go on. How can Lady Jiang rest in peace with you like this!"
"Get out of the way!"
Zhou Congxian's eyes were bloodshot as he gripped his arm, as if he no longer recognized anyone.
"Your Highness! Lady Jiang is dead!"
"Even if you don't admit it, she's already dead!"
Wei Xun gripped Zhou Congxian's arms with both hands, trying to rouse him from his increasingly frenzied emotions.
"She's not dead!!"
"This isn't her!!"
Zhou Congxian's pupils contracted and then dilated, his eyes bloodshot, as if he had lost all reason.
"I won't allow you to talk about her like that!"
He clenched his fist and swung it at Wei Xun.
After taking a punch, Wei Xun raised his hand to catch the next punch.
The two started punching and kicking each other in the cramped morgue.
He spoke as he made his move.
"Your Highness, don't forget how many things still await us!"
"Are you trying to squander the gains we've made after years of lying low?"
Zhou Congxian's consciousness returned at this moment.
He released Wei Xun, and the two of them took two steps back at the same time.
He accidentally knocked over the table where the little corpse was.
"careful!"
Zhou Congxian's heart skipped a beat, and he turned around to catch it, but his hand grasped at empty air.
The small corpse fell heavily to the ground, its arm breaking under the weight.
He was stunned.
The small corpse revealed relatively intact skin under its armpits.
There is a birthmark the size of a baby's fist.
His lips trembled violently.
"Fu'er doesn't have a birthmark!"
Wei Xun was also stunned.
Zhang Shi was dug out of his bed.
"Take a look."
Zhang Shi examined it thoroughly and said, "This body was burned several days after it died."
Zhou Congxian's pupils contracted sharply.
Wei Xun looked at Zhang Shi, "You mean... this was a fire staged by a dead body?"
Zhang Shi glanced at him sideways and said, "If you don't believe me, then call your coroner here."
Wei Xun didn't have time to argue with him now, "Then can you see any more information?"
Zhang Shi suddenly twitched his nose and leaned closer to the corpse to sniff it.
The guards, standing far away, watched his movements, and their expressions changed.
It's so disgusting, yet I can still smell it.
Zhang Shi frowned. "This is my master's medicinal powder."
"Medicinal powder?" Wei Xun pressed. "What's it for?"
Zhang Shi said, "If the body is left for two more days, it will smell. The master prepared a powder specifically to cover it up."
Wei Xun: "This is a corpse bought from the mortuary."
Zhang Shi looked up at him. "Didn't I already say that someone bought a corpse and brought it to Wutong Lane? Didn't you investigate?"
"When did you say that..."
Wei Xun's face turned pale. He had left in a hurry that day, leaving the matter to his subordinates.
His breath caught in his throat; things had gone wrong!
Zhou Congxian stood silently to the side the whole time.
At this moment, a storm was brewing in his eyes.
The gold bracelet in her hand was deeply embedded in her palm.
He stared at the three charred corpses, his voice as sharp as a biting wind.
"Order the city to be sealed off!"
*
Jiang Shiyao's group is packing their luggage at the inn, preparing to leave the city.
There was no trace of panic or fear in Fu'er's eyes, only anticipation and excitement for leaving the city.
"Mother—"
She covered her mouth with her chubby little hands, then smiled and her eyes crinkled before she changed her words.
"Father!"
Jiang Shiyao, now using the alias Yao Shisan, picked up her daughter and said, "From now on, call me Daddy and you'll get chestnut cake."
Fu'er's eyes immediately widened, "Daddy! Daddy!"
Shuang'er chuckled and poked her little bottom. "You ate pastries all day the other day, weren't you full yet?"
Yao Shisan: "Let's go, the car is waiting."
The two had no luggage, only two changes of clothes.
As we left the inn, the innkeeper gave us a sidelong glance and a snort.
"Sir, you haven't stayed for another day, so our inn won't give you a refund."
Yao Shisan had taken two bites of the peach beforehand, and his voice was now so hoarse that it was impossible to tell if he was male or female.
"The capital city is full of shady establishments! And the people there are shady too!"
The shopkeeper immediately slammed his hand on the table, his eyes wide open, "Say that again!"
Yao Shisan was so frightened that he immediately grabbed Shuang'er and left.
The shopkeeper sneered as he watched them flee in disarray, "Is that all you've got? Trying to freeload?"
Once outside the inn, Yao Shisan started scratching his neck repeatedly.
"It itches so much!"
If she hadn't already appeared before the shopkeeper in the guise of Jiang Shiyao, she wouldn't have bothered to torture herself like this.
Shuang'er took out the medicine for him, "Take it quickly!"
"It'll be fine once we're out of the city!"
The convoy is already waiting.
The three of them sat on the last cart.
She was somewhat displeased; it was far too conspicuous!
"Manager, aren't there carriages up ahead? We'd like to ride in one."
The manager said, "The price you paid is for this car."
"We'll add."
"It's not a matter of paying more money now, it's that there are no seats left. If you want to take a carriage, you'll have to wait another five days."
"Five days... never mind then."
Staying in the capital might lead to unforeseen problems! It's better to leave as soon as possible.
After a long and arduous journey, the convoy finally arrived at the West Gate, only to find a long queue forming at the gate.
Yao Shisan felt a little uneasy. "Why is the line so long?"
The man in the car in front turned around and said, "I heard they're arresting corrupt officials!"
Another person chimed in, "Yes, I heard they arrested half the city's officials yesterday! It was that heir of the Duke's mansion."
The man said, "The heir of the Duke of Ying's mansion! I heard that halfway through the wedding, His Majesty issued an imperial decree, and the heir abandoned his new wife, grabbed a sword, and went to kill corrupt officials!"
The two began to talk.
Yao Shisan, however, was uneasy; surely he wouldn't see through her so quickly...
She was about to leave the city when a strict check began.
Shuang'er also grabbed her hand anxiously.
Yao Shisan patted her hand, "I'll go take a look ahead."
The movement at the city gate was extremely slow.
From a distance, one could see officers and soldiers holding portraits and checking them one by one.
She didn't dare get too close, so she grabbed an older woman who had just entered the city and asked, "Auntie, what are they checking at the gate? Why are they taking so long?"
The woman waved her hand, "I don't know, I only saw the soldiers holding a portrait of a woman."
Holding a portrait of a woman...
Her heart sank.
Although she changed into men's clothing and her voice, her appearance remained the same. How could she possibly escape such a rigorous investigation?
Two fast horses passed each other.
She glanced at it only once before quickly turning her back.
It was Zhou Congxian and Wei Xun!
She took a deep breath and quickly returned to the back of the convoy.
Zhou Congxian suddenly tightened the reins, but when he turned around, he saw nothing.
Wei Xun, "The Crown Prince?"
Without turning his head, he said, "You go ahead, I'll go take a look."
Zhou Congxian dismounted and walked step by step to the end of the caravan.
The convoy was full of people, each carrying large and small bags.
Until the very last car, it turned out to be completely empty!
Zhou Congxian suddenly felt his throat tighten, and he forced himself to keep his voice from trembling again. "Where is the manager?"
The steward trotted over, "Sir! What are your orders, sir?"
Why is there no one in this car?
"Huh? Where's this family of three?" The manager was completely baffled.
"Sir, there were people in this carriage, but I don't know where they went."
Zhou Congxian's breath trembled slightly. "Do you know what it's called?"
The steward said, "I don't know..."
Seeing the official's face grow increasingly grim, he quickly said, "Sir, when the escort agency books a caravan, they always pay a deposit and sign a document!"
"Once we find today's tickets, we'll know what it's called!"
Zhou Congxian said, "After you get the tickets, verify the personnel before you leave."
The manager assumed the escaped person was a fugitive and immediately ordered the accompanying bodyguards to hurry and get the ticket!
The entire convoy was stuck at the entrance and couldn't move.
Zhou Congxian stood guard like a statue.
From Jiang Shiyao's disappearance to seeing the charred corpse, and then to Zhang Shi saying that the corpse was a fake self-immolation, it all started with the events of the incident.
Only then did a glimmer of hope rekindle in his dead heart.
The steward, wiping his sweat, jogged over with the reservation ticket in hand. "Sir, only this person is not here."
The ticket booking only had one word written on it.
Zhou Congxian's gaze fell on the "Jiang" on the ticket, his fingers trembling slightly as he traced the delicate handwriting.
The signature and fingerprint on the ticket were made half a month ago!
He suddenly laughed until two tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.
"Jiang Shiyao, why go to such lengths..."
Just to get away from him.
"What?" The steward didn't hear clearly.
Zhou Congxian put away the tickets, and his gaze turned cold. "You can leave now."
Wei Xun was secretly sweating.
Jiang Niangzi is too bold, she actually faked her death!
No wonder he smelled a familiar scent that day.
It was the smell of medicine that Zhang Shi sprinkled on the corpse to prevent it from rotting!
She used to just cry when she was bullied, but now she's got some nerve buying corpses!
Zhou Congxian looked at the bustling street and said, "Hold the city gates tight and strengthen patrols."
His voice was sinister, "Let's see how long she can hide."
Yao Shisan held Shuang'er's hand, trying to suppress his trembling; his palms were sweaty!
"What should we do..." Shuang'er's voice was choked with sobs.
They've put in so much effort, how could they have been found out so quickly?
The city gate was right in front of them, yet they couldn't get out!
Yao Shisan gritted his teeth and leaned against the wall, "I refuse to believe I can't break out of this cage!"
"Let's go find someone!"
Horse Market.
It still smells as bad as ever.
There were a lot of people.
She Erniang's stable was still as clean as ever, and the young girl who was brushing the horses was still working diligently and without complaint.
“It’s you.”
She Erniang recognized her at a glance.
Yao Shisan cut to the chase, "How much does it cost to leave the city?"
She Erniang smiled and said, "There's never been a road pass that I, She Erniang, couldn't get through."
Yao Shisan: "Is there any other way?"
She Erniang narrowed her eyes slightly, "You want to change your appearance."
Yao Shisan said, "If there were such a skilled doctor, money would be no object."
She Erniang pondered for a moment, "I can ask for you, but I don't know if it will work."
A glimmer of hope instantly appeared in her eyes.
"Thank you very much, Second Madam!"
She Erniang walked straight to the small building at the back.
Yao Shisan turned around and comforted Shuang'er, "There will be a way. We won't be trapped in this capital city."
Shuang'er stared in the direction of the small building, but froze.
She frowned slightly, and when she turned around, she was stunned.
"Shopkeeper's wife..."
Lady Wen never imagined that it would be her who wanted to disguise herself and leave the capital.
"you……"
Seeing that they knew each other, She Erniang shrugged and said, "It's best if you know each other yourself."
She turned and went to the stables ahead.
She recognized Zhou Congxian at the White Horse Temple last time. The two were so intimate that she must be from the Duke of Ying's mansion.
The jewelry business run by Madam Wen is different from that of a rough person like her; she deals with beauties from the inner quarters of the house.
Such a beauty was naturally someone that Lady Wen knew.
It seems that the master and Zhou Congxian are still enemies.
Whether or not to help this woman is up to her.
Lady Wen was somewhat puzzled, "Lady Jiang, what's going on...?"
"My name is Yao Shisan."
The name has changed, but the attitude remains firm.
Madam Wen readily agreed, "Yao Shisan, isn't life at the Duke's mansion good?"
In her opinion, Zhou Congxian had already been very good to Jiang Shiyao.
On several occasions when he came to Yubaolou, he would generously send the latest jewelry to the Duke's mansion.
However, Jiang Shiyao was very cautious and did not choose too many.
Yao Shisan smiled and said, "Second Aunt has asked me this question many times. Perhaps you two can discuss it."
Wen Niangzi nodded, then looked at her men's clothing.
"But I don't have the ability to turn a woman into a man."
Yao Shisan's eyes lit up, "Then the shopkeeper's wife..."
“My name is Wen Xi,” Madam Wen corrected her, mimicking her.
"Miss Wenxi, you can change your appearance!"
Wenxi smiled and nodded, "You can give it a try."
She gave up her seat.
Yao Shisan followed her into the small building.
Wenxi is very skillful; she can not only draw pictures, but also comb hair.
She painted with great care, and Yao Shisan looked at himself in the bronze mirror, gradually changing his appearance.
It's like he's transformed from one face into another.
She now understood that anyone who could follow King Cheng must have real skills.
Shuang'er was so shocked she couldn't speak. "This...this is...a different person!"
Yao Shisan bowed with her hands clasped, saying, "This humble servant is Yao Shisan."
Shuang'er returned the greeting with a smile, "Madam Yao."
"This time, we should be able to get out of the city!"
Wen Xi raised an eyebrow. "As long as we don't speak, there won't be any flaws."
Yao Shisan laughed and said, "Then I'll pretend to be mute for once!"
As the three were preparing to leave the city again, Wenxi stepped forward and said, "The three of you in one car will be too conspicuous. It would be best to split into two cars."
"You sit in the front carriage, and Shuang'er and the child will sit in the back carriage."
She turned to look at Shuang'er, who hugged Fu'er tightly. "I will protect Fu'er!"
She gritted her teeth and said, "Fine! Let's break up then!"
When the two carriages arrived at the city gate and waited in line, her heart was in her throat.
She was afraid of being exposed, and she was also afraid that Shuang'er in the car behind her would be exposed.
"Inspect, lift the curtain."
The coachman said, "Sir, this is our lady, not a wanted criminal."
"Enough with the nonsense! Just lift it up when I tell you to!"
The officers and soldiers pushed the man away.
He suddenly flung open the car curtain.
Yao Shisan's heart was practically on his lips.
The officers and soldiers glanced at it and then compared it with the portrait.
Let's go.
She had just breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, a cold voice rang out.
"Wait a moment."
A clearly visible hand reached out from beside the car door, and Yao Shisan felt his heart was about to jump out of his chest.
"Madam, please don't be angry. We've already bought it."
Only half of the arm was visible when a young man in a dark red brocade robe pushed aside the people next to the carriage and squeezed in.
Yao Shisan stared blankly at the person who had suddenly appeared.
Was this also arranged by Wen Xi?
He brought the roast chicken to her and said, "I've been waiting in line for a long time, my dear wife, please don't be angry."
His features were so faint that he seemed easily forgotten if thrown into a crowd.
He had a smile on his face, but his eyes were deep and unfathomable.
The aroma of roasted chicken wafted into her nose.
A wave of nausea washed over her.
"vomit--"
She covered her mouth and turned her head away to avoid it.
The young man realized what was happening and immediately handed the roast chicken to the driver outside the carriage.
While skillfully rummaging through the nearby chest to retrieve a water pouch for her, he continued to chatter on and on.
"Everyone says you can't eat now, but you still insist on eating, making it seem like I'm forbidding you from eating."
He sighed helplessly before looking at the people outside the car.
“My lord, my wife is from Yuzhou. She has morning sickness and can’t get used to the food in the capital. So I’m taking her back to Yuzhou for a short stay.”
The soldiers guarding the city sighed, "Back then, my wife couldn't eat either. Our son was born smaller than others, and he's still weaker than them now."
The young man nodded in agreement, "This official is right, the pest control is extremely important."
The hem of clothing by the car door disappeared, followed by a cold, clear voice.
"Let them through."
The carriage curtain was lowered.
The carriage started moving again, and the small curtains in the windows billowed in the wind.
That half-face suddenly came into her view.
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