Chapter 118: Old Things
Ming Huazhang was silent for a while, then lowered his eyes and said, "Shang Shang, I am touched by your kindness, but I am the one who was ambushed, and I am also the one they suspect. Judging from the King of Wei's performance, he still doesn't know that the Twin Bis are actually two people. You are safe, and there is really no need to get involved."
Ming Huashang knew he would say this, and said rather unhappily, "Do you think I'm greedy and afraid of death, or do you think I'm stupid and will cause trouble for you, so you don't want me to get involved in your affairs?"
"Neither." Ming Huazhang knew she was picking on him, but he stopped in front of her, looked her in the eye, and said, "I am your brother, and it is my responsibility to protect you. How can I ask you to take risks for me? If you get hurt because of my mistakes, I will never be able to forgive myself in this life. I know everything about the traitor, so you don't have to worry about it. Just do what you like."
"But this is what I like." Ming Huachang puffed up her cheeks, not knowing why she was angry. She looked up at him and said, "I used to think that everyone will die sooner or later, and that living a stable and comfortable life is the most important thing. But now I find that death is not difficult to accept, but it is the regrets before death that are the most regrettable. Do the things you like right away, and treat the people you like well. I don't want you to get hurt."
Ming Huazhang was startled and obviously paused. He looked at Ming Huachang's clear and bright eyes, which were as clean as the sky after rain, and was hesitant in his heart. Was he up to something and thought bad about his sister? After Ming Huachang finished talking about the person she liked, she followed him?
Ming Huazhang's heart began to beat rapidly, beating against his eardrums like drumbeats. He even suspected that he would disturb Ming Huachang. He clenched his palms tightly to calm his uncontrolled heartbeat, and said with a half-smile: "Shangchang has grown up and has someone she likes."
"Yes." Ming Huashang agreed immediately and said cheerfully, "Second brother is so good to me, of course I like him. But it's a pity that I was just being sentimental, and it seems that second brother doesn't care about my sincerity."
Ming Huazhang frowned silently, feeling a subtle sense of being teased. Her voice was too straightforward and frank, which made Ming Huazhang unsure. What did she mean? Was this kind of liking for her brother or for the opposite sex?
Ming Huazhang's eyes moved uncontrollably, and he tried to maintain his composure and said, "It depends on how sincere Shang Shang is, whether she is only like this to me or to every brother."
"If I remember correctly, I only have one brother." Ming Huashang said slowly, "I wonder who the brother you are referring to is?"
Ming Huazhang choked. He looked at the little rascal in front of him who was still pretending to be nice to him, smiled softly, and said slowly, "That's too many. There are at least five people you've called brother, if not ten. Two days ago, there was also a brother named Cheng, who even ranked ahead of me."
Ming Huashang looked at him, quite speechless. Men always had some strange desire to win that she couldn't understand. Cheng Xun was the eldest in the family, and it was normal for her to call Cheng Siyue "big brother" according to his seniority. Could it be that she changed his seniority?
Ming Huashang sighed softly. She just wanted to talk about this matter, so she took the opportunity to explain it today: "Mr. Cheng is a good man, but unfortunately I can't do what the Chengguo Mansion wants. I am not worthy of him. I made it clear to him on the Lantern Festival that we will just be friends in the future and go our separate ways. He has already agreed and will make it clear to the Chengguo Mansion after returning."
Ming Huazhang raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes lit up, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he looked very proud: "Really?"
"Of course I take it seriously." Ming Huashang snorted and said, "I told my father a long time ago that it was inappropriate, but he insisted that I go to see him. This meeting is my filial piety. Whoever loves to go can go. I will not go again. If I have a man I like, I don't need him to arrange it. I will go to see him even if I have to climb over the wall."
Ming Huazhang was in high spirits at first, but his mood suddenly dropped after hearing the last sentence: "My favorite husband? And you want to climb over the wall? It seems that the wall of the Duke's Mansion is still too low. Listen to what you are saying."
"What's the matter?" Ming Huashang glared at him unhappily and said in a gloomy tone, "I just like dealing with abnormal things, exploring what the murderer was thinking and why he became like this. A girl as strange as me, ordinary people would definitely not want to let me in. If I can find someone who understands my thoughts, supports my hobbies, and is willing to accompany me in my weirdness, let alone climbing over the wall, I am willing to go with him even through mountains of swords and seas of fire."
Ming Huazhang looked helpless, and he understood what she was worried about. After talking for so long, she was still scolding him in a roundabout way. Ming Huazhang said helplessly: "It's not that I don't support you, but it's too dangerous."
"You can choke to death if you drink water, so what can you do that is not dangerous?" Ming Huashang said angrily, "The only thing that is not dangerous is staying in the back house and waiting to get married, so should I go back and embroider my wedding dowry?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"That's what you mean!"
Ming Huazhang looked at her bright eyes, raised his eyebrows, and tactfully gave up the argument. He sighed and backed off, saying, "Okay, it's up to you. But testing the traitor is too dangerous. You must discuss this with me before you do anything."
Ming Huashang was finally satisfied and nodded mercifully: "Okay."
Her promise didn't enter his mind. Ming Huazhang pursed his lips, still looking worried. Seeing him so serious, Ming Huachang deliberately joked, "If I hadn't reminded you that the haunted house in Wei was haunted, you might have gone in the wrong direction. I also have half the credit for finding the Daming Palace Map. Maybe the one that King Wei is so angry about is actually me. Since Shuangbi is two people, no matter what happens, we should face it together. King Wei and the traitor don't know that Shuangbi is two people. This is our chance. You have been suspected by King Wei and can't come forward again. Let me do it next. It's better for us to cooperate with each other than to fight alone. Don't worry, I'm definitely better than you."
Ming Huazhang was silent. Ming Huashang looked at him and tried to hook his hand: "Second brother, if you don't object, does that mean you agree? I'll count to three. If you don't answer, I'll take it as your consent."
Ming Huazhang was about to speak when Ming Huashang quickly called out "three" and took his hand and hooked his fingers together: "Okay, you've agreed. A gentleman's word is as good as gold. You are not allowed to go back on your word."
Ming Huazhang was extremely helpless: "I didn't say anything."
Ming Huashang pretended not to hear and said, "Now let's find out the cause of the explosion in Jinxiu Building first. We can't let you get scolded for nothing."
She was skipping in front, and Ming Huazhang could see her profile as long as he looked up. She was obviously not an adventurous person, and she liked safety and stability the most, but for him, she was willing to do such a risky thing.
How could he deserve such treatment from her?
Ming Huashang was thinking about how to solve the case and how to lure out the traitor in the Konghe prison. He vaguely heard a sigh from behind him. Ming Huashang was stunned for a moment and turned around without any preparation: "Second brother, what did you say?"
Ming Huazhang looked at her with his dark eyes, wanting to say something but stopping himself. Finally, he touched her bun and whispered, "You are worthy of anyone. My Shang Shang is the most beautiful lady in the world, worthy of all the treasures in the world."
Ming Huachang was stunned for a moment before she realized that he was answering her words. Earlier, she had said that she was not worthy of Cheng Xun just to be polite, but Ming Huazhang told her seriously that she was worthy of him.
Ming Huachang's eyes were filled with tears, and she lowered her head quickly. For these sixteen years, no, now it's seventeen years, she has been a complete waste. Even her father felt that he was not doing justice to her future aunt by raising her to be such a waste. Only her brother always believed that she was the best and that others were not worthy of her.
She also knew that plotting against the Hejian was courting death, but she couldn't bet that the next time the traitor set a trap, Ming Huazhang would be able to escape with injuries, and she would be able to find him in time and cooperate with him. It would be best if she could find that person, but even if she couldn't find him and it backfired on her, she would be happy with it.
In the dream, she died at the age of seventeen, and this year she is seventeen. If her death is inevitable, then at least let her death be worthwhile.
He has been bringing her gummies for so many years, this time, it's her turn to protect him.
Ming Huazhang saw that she kept her head down, and his expression became serious. He leaned over and asked, "What's wrong?"
Ming Huashang quickly held back the tears in her eyes, raised her head and smiled at him, pretending to be cheerful and said, "The room where the shopkeeper's wife is recuperating is just in front. I have to go and get busy now. I'll tell you later. I'm leaving now."
Before Ming Huazhang could say anything, she had already rushed to the door, crossed hands with the maid, and lifted the curtain to go in. Ming Huazhang stood by the pillar and watched quietly, and he remained motionless for a long time until her figure disappeared.
He found that she had really grown up and was no longer the lazy and well-behaved sister he had in mind. She had her own hobbies and pursuits, and could even admit that she would take the initiative to pursue a man she liked. On the other hand, he became more and more cautious and cautious.
She said she wanted to find someone who understood her thoughts and could share her weird experiences. Ming Huazhang hoped so much that person was him.
A voice called "Shao Yin" came from behind him. Ming Huazhang looked at the door again and turned away expressionlessly. The official ran up to him and saluted him: "Shao Yin, everyone in Jinxiu Tower has been called. What do you think we should do next?"
"Take them to the guest room and I will question them one by one."
"yes."
"Keep a close eye on the room of the storekeeper's wife. If the second lady comes out, report to me immediately."
"Yes, sir."
Before Ming Huazhang left, he looked back again and saw a silhouette of a woman by the window. Her eyes were like clear spring water and bright like spring flowers, and she was talking softly to the shopkeeper's wife.
Ming Huazhang could imagine that her comforting voice must be gentle and naive, like the return of wind and flowing snow, a trickle of water, which could win everyone's favor unknowingly.
For example, him.
Inside the room, Ming Huashang was comforting the storekeeper's wife: "Madam, I am the younger sister of the Junior Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture. My brother is not convenient to go near the concubine's room, so he asked me to come and see you. Madam, how are you and your son's injuries?"
Jinxiu Tower is a medium-sized restaurant, insignificant in Chang'an, but the annual income is enough for a family of three to live comfortably and decently.
The shopkeeper of Jinxiu Tower was named Qian, and his wife was named Liu. She was graceful and charming, and I felt pity for her when I saw her. She was a rare beauty. The couple had a son last year, and they lived in the courtyard behind Jinxiu Tower. When the business was busy, Qian would go to the front to entertain guests, and when the business was slow, he would come back to play with his son. Mrs. Qian did not need to show up in public, and she also hired two maids to serve her personally. Before the Shangyuan tragedy, her life was perfect.
But now her husband was killed in the bombing, her son was still crying for food, and she was left with a restaurant that she didn't know where to go. Mrs. Qian cried for several times, feeling uneasy, not knowing where her fate would go.
Mrs. Qian's eyes were still red, and she said through a handkerchief, "I'm fine, just some flesh wounds. But Bao'er was frightened, she cried all night last night, and even cried in her dreams today."
Ming Huashang looked to the side and saw a child sobbing while sleeping with his hand in his mouth. Before he was conscious, he witnessed his father's death. Ming Huashang sighed and said, "Madam, please accept my condolences. Jingzhao Prefecture will never let go of any evil deeds. You have to cheer up, and everything will pass."
Madam Qian nodded sullenly, looking unconvinced. Ming Huashang did not explain that the Jingzhao Prefecture had a new chief and everything was different. She directly proved it with her actions and asked, "Madam, on the Lantern Festival, the 100-year-old lantern that the storekeeper Qian placed was for your son's blessing. Why did it suddenly explode?"
Moreover, the power of gunpowder was too great. Ming Huachang had seen people accidentally injured by fireworks before, but the most serious injuries were just burns. This time, the person was killed on the spot, and the body was burned beyond recognition. It was really abnormal.
Mrs. Qian's eyes were red again, and she wiped her tears and said, "I don't know. The head of the family said he wanted to pray for Baoer, so he specially asked a lamp maker to make a 100-year-old lantern. It was obviously fine, I don't know why it broke down."
Ming Huashang hurriedly asked, "Who is the lamp maker? Did you just find him randomly or was he introduced by someone?"
Mrs. Qian told the lamp maker's name and said, "He is the most famous lamp maker in this area. After the lamp was made, the shopkeeper lit it up on the spot and checked it. It was fine and did not explode."
It's not the lamp maker's fault, so someone must have tampered with the lamp after it was returned. Ming Huashang asked, "When was the lamp brought back? Where was it placed? Who touched it?"
Madam Qian raised her narrow eyebrows and said in a low voice, "I remember that the lanterns were brought back on the eighth day of the first lunar month. There was a big scene that day and the neighbors all saw it. The head of the family had previously arranged a buffet for Baoer, and many people knew about it. After the lanterns were brought back, many people came to see them. I am not involved in the matter, so I don't know who came. If you need it, I will ask the accountant to make a list later."
Ming Huashang thanked them and asked about the daily routine of Jinxiu Restaurant. Mrs. Qian said that she was not in charge of the restaurant, but she was very familiar with the restaurant. She knew when to open the door to welcome guests, when to change shifts, how to purchase in the kitchen, and where the key to the warehouse was.
Ming Huashang kept the Jinxiulou schedule in mind and asked, "Madam, have you and the shopkeeper ever made enemies with anyone?"
Mrs. Qian's eyes flickered and she looked down. At this moment, the child suddenly woke up and opened his mouth to cry loudly. Mrs. Qian hurriedly held the child in her arms and coaxed him softly. Ming Huashang didn't want to ask any more questions, so she accompanied Mrs. Qian to coax the child. She noticed that there was a longevity lock on the child's chest and asked in surprise, "Madam, is your son born in the year of the horse?"
This year is the Year of the Tiger. How come this child, who looks only a few months old, is wearing a longevity locket with the zodiac sign of the horse?
Mrs. Qian glanced at it and said, "Oh, this was given by someone else. There were so many guests at the banquet, and I don't know who left this gift. I thought it was well made, so I put it on him."
Of course, who would be so crazy as to throw away a pure gold longevity lock of such great weight?
Ming Huashang actually wanted to ask more questions, but the child couldn't stop crying. Seeing that Mrs. Qian was in a state of panic and had no intention of dealing with outsiders, she tactfully took her leave and planned to go see Ming Huazhang first.
As soon as Ming Huachang came out, an official greeted her and took her to a guest room. You can eat on the first floor of Jinxiulou and stay upstairs. Now that the owner of Jinxiulou was killed in an unknown explosion, all the guests checked out, and the upstairs was empty, which was convenient for Ming Huachang to interrogate.
He randomly found a spacious guest room and called in the waiter, cook, accountant, and servants of Jinxiu Mansion one by one to ask questions. When they arrived at the door, Ming Huashang waved to the officials, indicating that they did not need to report, and she walked in quietly.
Ming Huazhang glanced at her, his face expressionless, but he stretched out his slender hands towards Ming Huashang.
Ming Huashang approached on tiptoe and heard a woman who looked like a cook with her hands folded, saying disdainfully: "You really thought they were dead, and didn't know about the shitty things they did. Now you are acting like a bodhisattva. Pah, I think it was the spirit of Feng the shopkeeper who took away Qian Yi, but it's a pity that he let that bastard go. Feng the shopkeeper loved Liu the most when he was alive, why didn't he take her with him?"
Ming Huashang was a little surprised when she heard this as soon as she came in. Isn't Mrs. Liu the Madam Qian whom I just met?
Ming Huazhang stretched out his hand, but she didn't hand it over for a long time. Ming Huazhang was dissatisfied, so he simply held her wrist and pulled her to his side. Ming Huachang was too shocked to care about Ming Huazhang's overly strong actions, and asked: "Are you talking about Mrs. Qian? She looks well-educated, gentle and graceful, how can you say that about her?"
This was naturally Ming Huashang's deliberate provocation. Madam Qian looked weak, but after a few more words with her, it was discovered that this woman was very scheming and had nothing to do with being well-educated and well-mannered.
As expected, the cook was furious when she heard this. She sneered and said, "That's right. Now that they are in power, they have sent away all the old people in Jinxiulou. Naturally, things are different. If it weren't for my signature dishes that Jinxiulou couldn't do without, I'm afraid I would have been sent away too! Bah, when we were doing business with Feng the shopkeeper, Liu was just a fishmonger. If Feng the shopkeeper hadn't been blinded by her beauty and married her, she would still be selling fish on the street now!"
Ming Huashang approached Ming Huazhang and asked quietly, "Who is the manager Feng?"
"The last manager of Jinxiulou was the one who opened this restaurant," Ming Huazhang explained succinctly. "After Manager Feng died of illness, Madam Qian, also known as Liu, remarried to Manager Feng's apprentice Qian Yi, and Jinxiulou changed hands."
The cook was a commoner, used to it, and didn't care that Ming Huazhang was a high official in the imperial court. She put her hands on her hips and scolded him, "What do you mean he died of illness? In my opinion, he was clearly killed by Liu and Qian Yi!"
Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang looked at each other calmly. Ming Huazhang remained calm and asked, "Human lives are at stake. You cannot speak nonsense. You will be sued for slandering the master. Do you have any basis for what you said?"
Seeing this, the cook was furious and spitted, "I slandered her? Manager Feng was always in good health, but he died of an acute illness less than two years after marrying her. She didn't wait for the Feng family to come and held a funeral for Manager Feng. She didn't notify anyone she knew and hurriedly buried him in the coffin. I had long discovered that she was having an affair with Qian Yi, and sure enough, not long after Manager Feng died, she took her family property and remarried Qian Yi. This couple lived in Manager Feng's wine shop, squandered his family property, and gave birth to a son. Do I need to slander her for such a shameless act? You guys are not biased towards her because she looks pretty, are you?"
The Jingzhao government official's face darkened when he heard this, and he drew his sword and shouted, "How dare you!"
Ming Huazhang raised his hand to stop the yamen runner, and said calmly, "Your so-called affair and murder are just one-sided statements. Do you have any evidence?"
The cook hesitated and said rudely, "Once the door is closed, who would know about this? But they must have a relationship. Feng the shopkeeper and Liu the old man and his young wife, and Qian Yi the young apprentice hangs around the master's wife every day. How could they not have a secret relationship?"
Ming Huazhang frowned and glanced at Ming Huachang quickly, feeling somewhat unhappy. His eyes showed a slight chill, and then suddenly he glared at her with a fierce look, and said, "That's enough. I tolerate you because I'm afraid of missing an unjust case, but I don't let you mess around. If you continue to mess around and talk nonsense, don't blame me for being merciless."
Ming Huazhang had a sturdy build and fair skin. When he had no expression on his face, he looked like gold and jade, extremely noble. But when his face turned cold, he looked like a god showing his power, making people both respect and fear him, for fear of offending the gods.
The cook was frightened, and her voice immediately dropped a few degrees, and her tone became much more reasonable: "Please calm down, sir. I am sorry for offending you. But I am also angry that the shopkeeper Feng died in an unclear manner. I hope you can understand!"
Ming Huashang shook Ming Huazhang's hand secretly. Ming Huazhang slowly calmed down and said, "Tell me the truth, and I will do justice. Why do you suspect that Liu and Qian Yi colluded and deliberately drugged Feng?"
The cook's tone was much more restrained, but her expression was still angry. She said, "Manager Feng occasionally suffers from heart pain. He had been well treated before, but after she married in, she insisted that the original prescription was ineffective and wanted to invite Doctor Chu from Huichuntang for Manager Feng. The doctor was very arrogant. After he came, he only pressed the pulse and said that Manager Feng had heart pain. He used his secret prescription to guarantee that the medicine would cure the disease, but the medicine was not to be passed on to others. We could only take the sign to their pharmacy to get it. We all thought that this was a scam, but Liu said that if we were to use medicine, we should use the best one, Huichuntang They are famous for curing heart diseases. Their prescriptions will definitely cure the disease. Shopkeeper Feng believed it and gave Liu a lot of money to buy medicine. Liu went out to get the medicine herself every time. She never let others take over when she boiled the medicine. kitchen out, saying that she was afraid of destroying the medicine. We all looked down on her hypocritical attitude, but Shopkeeper Feng was fooled around. As a result, one morning, Liu suddenly ran out crying and said that Shopkeeper Feng died of a heart attack in the middle of the night. She found out in the morning. We went in to see that Shopkeeper Feng was cold. "
Ming Huashang listened very carefully, but there was no doubt so far. She asked: "If Feng the shopkeeper had a heart disease, he might have died suddenly. Why do you think Liu and Qian Yi were the ones who harmed him?"
"Because someone saw Liu and Qian Yi meeting in private the previous afternoon. Qian Yi handed something to Liu, and the two looked evasive, as if they were plotting something. In the evening, Liu chased out and boiled medicine in the kitchen. Manager Feng drank the medicine Liu brought over, and died the next day."
Ming Huazhang asked: "Since you suspected that she and Qian Yi were plotting murder for money, why didn't you report it to the authorities?"
"It was reported," the cook sneered, "but the police came and pricked the tongue of Feng the shopkeeper with a silver needle, saying that she died of illness. Oh, what do you mean by death of illness? In my opinion, she must have bribed the police secretly."
The cook scolded without mercy, completely forgetting that the official who "took money to settle the case" was actually from Jingzhao Prefecture. This was tantamount to scolding the Dragon King, and everyone present looked unhappy.
The yamen runner had a dark face and was about to say something, but was stopped by Ming Huazhang. Ming Huazhang still had that expressionless look on his face and asked, "Did you hand over the drug residue to the Jingzhao Prefecture back then?"
The cook was embarrassed. Perhaps it was only after Ming Huazhang mentioned it that she realized that the medicine residue was also evidence: "This... there are so many people coming and going in the kitchen, who would pay attention to the medicine residue? I'm afraid it has already been dealt with by Liu."
"Someone saw Qian Yi meeting Liu and handing her something. How does he explain it?"
"He said he was going to the West Market to buy something, and what he handed to Liu was something his master asked him to bring. Oh, they killed the shopkeeper Feng, not because of their arrangement."
After the cook left, Ming Huazhang pressed his forehead, feeling a headache from the cook's nagging. Seeing this, Ming Huachang rubbed his temples caringly and asked, "Second brother, what do you think of what she said?"
Ming Huazhang's eyes quickly cleared up, and he sat down holding Ming Huachang's hand, saying, "Everything is speculation. No matter how suspicious Liu and Qian Yi's actions are, they cannot be convicted without solid evidence. I'll look through the files when I get back to see if I can find other evidence."
"Do you think the death of the treasurer is related to this incident?"
"It cannot be ruled out." Ming Huazhang said, "No matter what the truth behind the death of Shopkeeper Feng is, at least it is certain that the old man of Jinxiu Tower and the Feng family suspected Qian Yi and Liu. In this case, it cannot be ruled out that they wanted to fight violence with violence and secretly tampered with the lamp."
Qian Yi loved to show off, and the news of the 100-year-old lantern had been publicized long ago, and many people knew that he would light the lantern himself. If someone wanted to kill him for money or revenge, this would be a good opportunity.
Killing Qian Yi by blowing him up in front of the Jinxiu Building, which was built by Feng, in front of many guests, would not only relieve his anger but also clear himself of suspicion. It was really a win-win situation.
Ming Huashang nodded and said, "I got a list from Madam Qian. Manager Qian once took these people to see the Centennial Lantern. Perhaps this is also a breakthrough point."
Ming Huazhang took the list and said, "Thank you for your help. Next, we will split into two groups. One group will check the people on the list, and the other group will check the relatives and friends of the Feng family. The murderer knows so much about Feng's past, so he must be close."
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Su Yuji went out to buy things as usual, but today, not long after she left, she suddenly felt like there was a thorn in her back.
She remained calm, and suddenly quickened her pace as she turned into the alley. Unexpectedly, the person behind her had no intention of hiding anything, and kept getting closer and closer. Finally, he cried out in a sobbing voice, "Miss, please stop! It's the old slave!"
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