twenty four
"Ah! Quick! Get someone to take it down!"
A terrible scream woke Wan Quan up.
What kind of depressing howl was this? Didn't he even understand the rules of Pinfang Pavilion? Enduring a headache, he turned over and opened his eyes impatiently.
A bloody object caught my eye. It was a dog's head, eyes wide open, fangs protruding. Someone had chopped it off at the neck. Large pools of blood flowed from the hideous face, soaking the bed.
It was so close that Wan Quan could even smell the blood and stench coming from the dog's head.
"Ah!!!!" Wan Quan screamed, his hands and feet flailing, and he rolled off the bed.
Unexpectedly, there was still a large area of red under the bed, with blood everywhere, as if someone had killed the wild dog in his room.
His throat rolled and he vomited, his whole body trembling and his legs shaking.
If they can butcher a dog by his pillow, wouldn't it be easy to kill him?
Oh, right, the one who just called out was his cheap uncle! Wan Quan only then remembered that County Magistrate Zhang had come with him and was sleeping in the room opposite. He immediately didn't care about the dirt on his body and crawled to ask for help.
However, as soon as he looked up, he saw the dead chicken hanging on the corridor, its head half drooping and its neck very long, like an evil creature hanging in the air.
Large pools of blood covered the ground, just like the scene beside his bed.
Wan Quan made two gurgling sounds in his throat, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
On this side, County Magistrate Zhang was also shaking all over.
He had originally come here to eat, drink, and sleep with the young woman, but when he woke up, the house had been transformed. Not only was the floor covered in blood, but there was also a dead chicken hanging from the beam! Who had done this?! County Magistrate Zhang was shocked and angry, and wanted to have the disgusting thing removed, but unexpectedly, Wan Quan's screams came from next door.
His heart tightened and he didn't even bother to get dressed. He hurried around the screen and was immediately shocked by the scene before him!
He saw a dog's head placed right next to the pillow, with dirty blood scattered all over the floor. His cheap brother-in-law was lying in a pool of blood, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.
Frightened to the point of his legs going limp, County Magistrate Zhang staggered to his feet, holding onto the door frame. He felt dizzy, his chest was stuffy, and he couldn't breathe.
Just at this moment, he caught a glimpse of a line of handwriting out of the corner of his eye.
It was written on the wall, with silver hooks and iron paintings, breaking the white wall with force, but it was written in blood.
"Whoever harms my brothers will be killed!"
Unable to hold on any longer, County Magistrate Zhang sat down on the ground. What kind of immortal had he offended?
…
"Do you want to dress up?" Daya almost suspected that her ears were broken.
The handsome man who helped her escape from the devil's cave is actually going to change into a hairpin skirt and dress like a woman?
"What? Don't you know how to put on makeup?" Cheng Xi asked in surprise.
"No, you, you are not a woman!" Daya was a little anxious, her face flushed red.
It's not that he's not good-looking, it's just, why does he have to pretend to be a woman...
"Who said I'm not?" Cheng Xi smiled, not caring about the little girl in front of him, and got up to change clothes.
When the man took off his outer shirt and began to untie the cloth belt on his chest, Daya's jaw almost dropped.
This, this definitely wasn't something a man could have! But how could a woman kill someone in the night? How could she escape on her own? How could she convince those seemingly ferocious men to obey her orders?!
Daya felt as if her head was splitting and stars were appearing in front of her eyes. Was this a dream?
"Wake up and help me put on my clothes." Cheng Xi didn't have time to let this little girl adjust her worldview. She didn't even know how to tie the straps of this complicated women's clothing. Of course, she needed someone to help her take care of it.
Only when her name was called did Daya come to her senses and hurriedly went over to help her tidy up her clothes.
This skirt was bought at a clothing store. The material wasn't particularly good, but the bright colors made it look even more slender. It wasn't until she smoothed out the wrinkles on the belt that Daya came to her senses. "You, how could you pretend to be a man?"
If you don't figure it out at this point, you'd be a fool. She didn't change into women's clothes today, but she had always dressed in men's clothes in the past.
"We usually have to train and go out to sea, so it's more convenient to change into men's clothes." Cheng Xi had never had anyone help him put on his clothes before, so he found it a bit novel and answered with a smile.
"Are you serious? We are really from the sea..." Daya didn't know how to say "pirates" and she was almost stuttering.
Cheng Xi took over the conversation: "They are sea merchants, called the Red Flag Gang. They came to the city this time because someone was framed and imprisoned, and they came to rescue him."
Daya looked up again in shock. Imprisoned? They were here to break out of the prison?!
Although she didn't say it out loud, the meaning in the little girl's eyes was very clear. Cheng Xi shook her head: "I won't kill anyone or break into the prison. I just want to talk to someone. That's why I have to change my clothes."
They did want to find someone to talk to, but the person they were looking for was not a simple one.
Originally, Cheng Xi had thought about changing into women's clothes, but she didn't know how to put on makeup in this world, and forcing herself to dress up would not achieve the desired effect.
I didn't expect to pick up a little girl who knows how to dress up. In this case, it would be better to change into women's clothes. The identity of a woman can make people relax their vigilance, and if used properly, it can also make people feel wary.
Faced with a crisis, she doesn't mind making some temporary changes as long as it can increase the stakes.
Her expression was the same as last night, seemingly calm, but containing something indescribable that made people want to believe it involuntarily.
Daya nodded vigorously, and felt that the awkward feeling in her chest suddenly dissipate.
So what if such a person is a woman? On the contrary, it makes people envy her even more.
Seeing the little girl's eyes shining, Cheng Xi smiled and reminded her, "But I still dress like a man on weekdays, so you can't call me sister in front of outsiders. By the way, my last name is Cheng Mingxi. What's yours? Do you have any family?"
Daya's expression darkened. "My last name is He. My father sold me when my mother gave birth to my younger brother a few days ago."
She said it calmly, but the weight of her words was not slight at all. Even if they couldn't support their daughters and had to sell them, it was rare for them to sell them directly to a brothel. How cruel would that father be?
A little girl of eleven or twelve was about to be beaten and bullied. How many people could survive it? Yet she was willing to risk her life just for a chance to survive.
Cheng Xi sighed softly and touched the top of her head: "Follow me from now on. Daya is not a serious name, why not change it..." After thinking for a while, she asked, "How about calling her He Ling? Ling means clever. You are a smart and courageous girl, so this name suits you well."
Daya was stunned on the spot, tears streaming down her face. Do they deserve to be called by names? Even in Pinfang Pavilion, only the top courtesan has a real name; the others are just names used to sell their company.
She also said that the word "ling" means "clever" and praised her for being smart and brave. No one ever praised her. Her parents called her a money-loser, the madam called her an ungrateful little bitch, and even Tao'er would call her a jinx.
But this person who only knew her for one day praised her and gave her a name with great meaning!
The tears couldn't stop flowing. Daya—no, should I call her He Ling?—covered her face and dodged backwards. She was crying so ugly, and her nose was running. She couldn't let the new clothes get dirty...
A handkerchief was handed over, Cheng Xi squatted down and said to the little girl who was crying inconsolably: "Be good, don't cry, I'm counting on you to do my makeup for me."
Although the words were a bit sarcastic, there was a reassuring smile in his eyes.
He Ling choked up, tears streaming down her face even more fiercely, but she also grabbed the handkerchief and wiped her face vigorously: "What kind of makeup do you want?"
Cheng Xi tilted her head and thought for a moment: "How about a more seductive makeup?"
He Ling: “…Ah?”
…
It took some time for County Magistrate Zhang to realize that Wan Quan had just fainted, not died.
It took him a lot of effort to get someone to wake this guy up.
After changing rooms and clothes, and no longer seeing the blood-soaked room and the terrifying threats, County Magistrate Zhang finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to angrily scold his cheap brother-in-law: "What the hell is going on? You were just enjoying a good meal, and how could someone sneak into your house and try to assassinate you? The dog's head is right next to your pillow, and you still don't know it? Aren't you afraid that they will take your dog's head!"
Wan Quan's face was pale and he was still shaking. He said tremblingly, "I, I don't know. This is fine. Even the guards next door didn't hear anything. Who knows who did it! Uncle, uncle, this is obviously coming for us. You must send someone to investigate!"
County Magistrate Zhang almost wanted to spit in his face.
What do you mean they're coming for us? They're clearly coming for you! However, the "lose all" and the blood all over the ground were so terrifying that County Magistrate Zhang still summoned the madam of Pinfang Pavilion.
Having learned of the tragic situation in the private room, the madam was terrified and said hurriedly, "My lord, please be wise! We rely on the girls to make a living in this small building. How could we do such things? We had security guards watching yesterday, but we didn't hear any noise! My lord, my lord, this really can't be caused by someone in the building. Maybe it's some bandit...ah..."
She seemed to remember something and her expression suddenly changed.
Seeing the thief's appearance, County Magistrate Zhang slammed the table and said, "Have you remembered something? Confess it now!"
The madam shuddered for a moment, then trembled and said, "Yesterday, yesterday a group of wealthy people came. I thought they came from the sea..."
County Magistrate Zhang and Wan Quan's faces paled. Dahao? Could they be pirates?! Pirates have appeared in the county again? Why would these people come after them?
"Ah! That Li family? Aren't they the sailors?" County Magistrate Zhang was the quickest to react. He slammed the table, pointed at Wan Quan, and cursed, "Is it you who caused this trouble? No wonder they said 'brothers', it was all you who did! How dare you do this without even investigating first?"
Wan Quan was also panicking. "Uncle, I really haven't heard of that! They were just a group of fishermen, not pirates! Besides, if they were really bandits, the county should have sent people to suppress them! We can't just let them act so arrogantly that they even dare to threaten the county magistrate, right?"
"You know shit!" County Magistrate Zhang wished he could slap that fat guy in the face. Now that the Zhenhai General has been killed, who would dare to talk about suppressing bandits? Didn't you see that the seashore is in trouble again, and several villages have been attacked.
The county magistrate is now only thinking about how to make money and leave office, who cares about these things!
Seeing that County Magistrate Zhang was acting slippery and trying to stay out of the matter, Wan Quan became anxious: "Uncle! You can't help us with the Li family's matter. If we get scared, who knows how much trouble will come. Have you seen their people? Quickly ask them and have them arrested! It's only been one night, maybe we can catch them!"
"Can you catch one? Can you catch the whole bunch?" County Magistrate Zhang slumped down on a stool, breathing heavily. "They said, 'Those who harmed my brothers,' do they only refer to the Li family? How many lives do you have left to wait for them to come to your door in the middle of the night?"
Wan Quan felt cold all over, as if he saw the dog's head with a broken neck again.
But if I don't fight, am I just waiting to die? With bloodshot eyes, Wan Quan raised his voice, "No matter what, we have to investigate! And as for the Li family, aren't there any dead bodies yet? Maybe there's still a chance for a turnaround..."
This actually cheered up County Magistrate Zhang. "Yes, no one's dead yet!" Otherwise, why did they only kill chickens and dogs and not hurt anyone? If they left this one line open, they might be able to talk it over.
Thinking of this, County Magistrate Zhang immediately shouted, "What did that group of people look like yesterday? Who served them? When did they leave? Tell me everything!"
The madam's heart trembled at these words. Was she not planning to report this to the authorities? The thugs were already at her doorstep, and if the authorities didn't intervene, who would protect them? However, since the county magistrate had spoken, the madam didn't dare to offend. She hurriedly called for help, and Tao'er, who had served her last night, was dragged up.
After being slapped twice, her hair was all messed up. Tao'er cried out, "Master, I really didn't know they were such bad people! And they let me go after I played a little music!"
"How many people came in that group? What did they say? Did anyone enter or leave the room? When did they leave?" County Magistrate Zhang asked repeatedly.
Tao'er's face suddenly changed drastically, and she stammered, "At first, only three people came, and then one more came. I didn't hear their conversation, and I don't know when they left..."
Upon hearing this, the madam flew into a rage and rushed over to slap her in the face: "Don't you know when they left? Could it be that they ran away from their job?"
When a guest comes, she has to wait on him from beginning to end, so how could she not know when he left? She stayed up too late last night, so she went straight to bed after seeing the guest off, without asking the little hoof.
Tao'er staggered from the beating and covered her face, howling, "Mother, I had diarrhea last night. I had no choice but to let the maid next to me take care of me. Maybe that girl knew..."
The madam just wanted to beat up the bitch, but with County Magistrate Zhang watching her, she couldn't do anything, so she had to send someone to find the little girl again.
Now the news that came back was that the person was nowhere to be found.
County Magistrate Zhang's face darkened immediately. "How could you not find her?! What's the origin of that girl?"
The madam's legs were weak at this moment, and she trembled as she said, "She was just a little girl who was sold. She has just been trained and has not seen any guests yet. No, she couldn't have been killed..."
After a night, there was no trace of the person alive and no body found. This was even more terrifying than killing him on the spot.
She was the one who personally sent someone out yesterday. If something went wrong, she might have lost her life.
Sold? Or a newcomer? Was there a traitor in the brothel, or had the girl stumbled upon something and been quietly disposed of?
"Tell the guards to search thoroughly to see if they can find the body. Also, check the Ya Ge carefully to see how the person got in." County Magistrate Zhang frowned and ordered.
Wan Quan hurriedly said, "What can these guards tell? How about sending an experienced constable from the yamen to take a look?"
When it comes to murder cases, the detectives are more experienced and might be able to figure out something!
County Magistrate Zhang was so angry that his teeth were itching. He slammed the table and said, "What the hell! Aren't you tired of the chaos? If you make another big noise, I'll see how you end up!"
Wan Quan shrank back, not daring to say anything more. County Magistrate Zhang gathered his composure and said, "Let's get to the bottom of this quickly. I'll go back to the county office and interrogate the Li family. Maybe we can get some information out of them."
I definitely can't offend people again, but it's also a bit inappropriate to be frightened by them like this.
He still needs to plan carefully and solve this mess.
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