Chapter 66: Secret Chamber

After breakfast, Ren Yao went back to bed to catch up on his sleep. Jiang Ling was supposed to be staring at Tianxiang Tower, but as he was looking, his eyes inexplicably fell on Ren Yao.

Ren Yao was aggressive during the day, but surprisingly well-behaved and harmless when she was asleep. She lay on her side, with her legs slightly curled up on her chest, like a baby in amniotic fluid.

This is a very insecure posture. Is she afraid of something in her dream?

Jiang Ling didn't realize that he had been staring at Ren Yao for a long time. His mind was wandering. He thought that the peonies in Luoyang should be in full bloom now, but it was a pity that they couldn't see them this year. At the same time, he thought that Chang'an also had many famous temples and historical sites. He wondered if Qujiang Lake would be fun...

There was a sudden noise at the door, and Jiang Ling came back to his senses. He subconsciously stood up with his knife in his hand. The door opened a crack, and a man nimbly came in from outside. When he looked up and saw Jiang Ling with his sword drawn, he was stunned: "What are you doing?"

Jiang Ling saw Ming Huashang and then slowly realized: "It's you."

"Yes." Ming Huashang looked at him in surprise, "My second brother just blew the signal, didn't you hear it?"

Jiang Ling's breathing was slightly choking, and Ming Huashang knew it from his expression: "No way, at such an important moment, you were actually distracted? We are still carrying out the mission, what are you thinking about?"

Jiang Ling was embarrassed. He didn't know why he was so distracted just now that he didn't hear anything. He said, "Speak softly, she's still sleeping."

However, Ren Yao had already gotten up in a daze when he heard the noise: "Who is it?"

After hearing Ming Huazhang's signal, Ming Huashang immediately told his brother Xie Jichuan to test the medicine. Ming Huazhang went to find Xie Jichuan, and Ming Huashang went to Jiang Ling and Ren Yao's room to wait, and told them what happened in the morning.

"Did the dumb slave put drugs in the wine?"

"Not just dumb slaves." Ming Huashang said, "The real mastermind is the madam."

Ren Yao didn't know whether she had just woken up and her mind was not clear or the turn of events was too bizarre. She was stunned and couldn't understand: "Why would the madam do this?"

Ming Huashang shook her head. "It's hard to say. Let's wait for the results from Second Brother and Brother Xie. If the autopsy proves that Zhang Ziyun died of Duimengsan, then we can catch the madam and ask her the reason in person."

"Unfortunately, we can't do that now." A cold and sarcastic voice suddenly came from outside the window. Ming Huashang and the other two turned around and saw that the window had been pushed open at some point. A figure was sitting on the windowsill, looking at them with a smile.

Another dark figure jumped down from the gap, landed lightly on the ground, and said lightly: "Don't waste time, hurry in, be careful not to be seen by passers-by on the road."

Ming Huashang was overjoyed: "Second brother!"

Xie Jichuan put away his long legs, landed lightly on the ground, and said, "Second sister, I'm still here, why do you only have him in your eyes?"

Ming Huazhang didn't even bother to look at him. He sat down at the table and said, "Ignore him. I went to Yizhuang and saw Zhang Ziyun's body. The autopsy will take a long time. Xie Jichuan, you go ahead and tell your story first."

Xie Jichuan closed the window, found a place to sit down, and said, "I asked the pharmacy, and the medicine in the dumb slave house is commonly used in brothels. One of them is called Diemengsan. This is a powerful drug. After taking it, the body will be hot, unconscious, and dizzy as if in a dream. It works best with wine. The doctor originally used this medicine to prepare Mafeisan, but after it was introduced to brothels, the original intention was completely changed. Brothels often use this medicine to confuse women and force them to submit. Of course, there are also some customers who have special hobbies and use this medicine to add to their pleasure."

Xie Jichuan's words became more and more outrageous. Ming Huazhang coughed and glanced at him coldly. Xie Jichuan waved his hands: "Okay, then I have nothing to say. This is all I know."

In fact, Ming Huashang knew all about it. She had said much more explicit things when chatting with the maids. But now that Ming Huazhang was there, Ming Huashang felt a little embarrassed. She pretended not to understand and changed the subject, "Why did the madam give Zhang Ziyun the drug?"

"It's not clear yet." Ming Huazhang took over the leadership and said, "According to the file records, when Zhang Ziyun died, a three-inch-long dagger fell to his right hand and there was a knife wound on the right side of his neck. There was no trace of a third person at the scene, so Jingzhao Prefecture judged that he committed suicide. I have seen Zhang Ziyun's body. Although the wound on his neck pierced a blood vessel, the edge of the wound did not shrink, and there was no purple-black blood clot under the skin. In theory, cutting the middle carotid artery would cause heavy bleeding, and the surrounding area should be red and swollen, but his wound was very smooth."

Ming Huashang, Jiang Ling, and Ren Yao were relatively new to the subject and had never learned wound identification, so they were stunned. Xie Jichuan understood a little: "You mean..."

"The wound on his neck was faked after his death, deliberately made to look like suicide. There must have been a third person at the scene."

"That means someone must have entered Fengqingsiyuan between the hours of 11 p.m. and 15 p.m. on that day," Xie Jichuan asked. "Have you found out the real cause of his death?"

"His face was cyanotic, his eyes were punctately hemorrhaged, and his lips and fingernails were purple-red. He must have died of suffocation." Ming Huazhang saw the other three people staring with their eyes wide open like woodchucks, and considerately changed the explanation, "In other words, he was suffocated to death."

Ming Huashang and Jiang Ling said in unison, "I understand now. Zhang Ziyun is still a man after all. If they wanted to smother him to death without anyone outside hearing, the murderer must be a young and strong man."

"Not necessarily." Ming Huashang suddenly said, "Xie Axiong, how long will the effect of Diemeng Powder last?"

Xie Jichuan thought for a moment and said, "About an hour."

Ming Huashang nodded thoughtfully: "That's right. Don't forget that the madam added Duomengsan to Zhang Ziyun's wine, and the wine was delivered at the time of the dog hour. If he drank this wine, he would probably still be in a coma when the murderer entered."

Ming Huazhang nodded gently: "I specifically asked Yuehu, he said that when he entered the house that day, he saw wine vessels on the table and two wine jars on the ground, one of which was half drunk. The onset of the dream disorder is very fast. Although it is not certain when he drank, at least before the hour of Hai, Zhang Ziyun was in a coma. In other words, during this period of time, no matter whether it is a man or a woman, young or old, he could easily be suffocated to death."

Very good. After discussing for a long time, the scope of the murderer has not been reduced at all. Ren Yao was a little disappointed: "After so much trouble, I don't know how the murderer entered the secret room, and I don't know who the murderer is. It's been a day, and there is no progress at all."

"Who said that?" Ming Huashang said, "In fact, the murderer has already revealed a lot. The more complicated the murder method, the more it shows that he is a coward."

"Timid?"

"Yes." Ming Huashang stared at one place, as if recalling someone he knew. "He created the murder in a closed room, which shows that he is meticulous but timid and cautious. After suffocating Zhang Ziyun to death, he used a dagger to fake suicide, which shows that he was afraid of being implicated. His position must be very weak. It is certain that he is not a killer sent by the court, ministers or a prince."

After Ming Huashang's explanation, Ren Yao also thought it made sense. Imagine if she was sent to assassinate Zhang San, she would definitely take the painting and run away immediately after success, and would never waste time and effort to fake suicide. Ren Yao suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "He is in Tianxiang Tower!"

"That's right." Ming Huashang said, "He needs to continue living in Tianxiang Tower, so he is so restrained and cautious. We can rule out the guests and temporary servants that day. The murderer must be a girl in Tianxiang Tower or a slave who signed a death contract."

Finally seeing hope, Ren Yao's mood cheered up. Jiang Ling patted her on the shoulder and said, "Don't be anxious. You see, we will find a way after discussing it."

Ming Huazhang had also thought of this, but there were too many women and servants in Tianxiang Tower, so they could not make it public and had to further narrow the scope. Ming Huazhang asked: "What conditions do you need to give a more accurate portrait?"

Ming Huashang said truthfully: "It's hard to say, we have to look at the crime scene. But I still can't figure out how the secret room was formed. I originally thought that poison or drugs were used to kill people from a distance, but you said that Zhang Ziyun was suffocated to death. This is strange. During that time, Fengqing Siyuan was watched like an iron barrel by the people of Xuanxiaowei. How did he get in?"

This was also the question that troubled Ming Huazhang all night. Ming Huazhang had specially surveyed the terrain yesterday and found no blind spots for surveillance. Ming Huazhang remembered something and said, "Oh, there is one more thing that may be useful to you. I found red threads in the cracks of Zhang Ziyun's fingernails, but there was no similar color on Zhang Ziyun's clothes. Maybe the murderer was wearing a red shirt that day."

Xie Jichuan asked: "What material is it made of?"

Ming Huazhang said: "It's too small to be seen. It should be a kind of silk or gauze fabric that can be spun."

Ren Yao and Jiang Ling immediately recalled the person in red in Tianxianglou. Jiang Ling tried to ask, "Madam?"

Ren Yao added: "Shancha also likes to wear red skirts."

Ming Huashang thought it was strange: "Would a person who is so meticulous and can deceive dozens of eyes wear red silk clothes to kill people? It is conspicuous and expensive, and it is easy to leave traces at the scene. I am afraid that only Shancha would like this kind of clothes."

Speaking of camellia, something vaguely crossed Ming Huachang's mind. Ming Huachang just said that this thin thread was found from the cracks in Zhang Ziyun's fingernails?

Ming Huashang suddenly had an idea and said loudly, "I remember that I also saw a red thread on the third floor stairs. At that time, I thought that some unlucky person had his clothes hooked like me. Is it possible that these two things are related?"

Ming Huazhang became noticeably serious and said in a deep voice, "Take me to see it quickly."

"No problem. But..." Ming Huashang glanced outside, looking embarrassed, "But now almost everyone in Tianxiang Tower is awake. If we block them on the stairs, it will be too conspicuous."

這倒确實，尤其三樓住着衆多青樓女子，上上下下不會消停。明華章沉吟不語，江陵有些餓了，但大家正在商量任務，他不好意思提出吃飯，便抓了個果子先墊墊。

他咔嚓一聲咬開果子，才吃了兩口，就發現明華章朝他看來。江陵這一口果子吃的不上不下，他有些發毛，問：“怎麽了？”

快到午時，嬌生慣養的江世子總算睡醒了。他一醒來就讓老鸨将全樓姑娘都叫過來，陪他尋歡作樂。老鸨當然不敢推脫，除了腿受傷的山茶，其他人都被她趕下樓，在大堂裏唱歌跳舞彈曲，務必讓江世子盡興。

江陵臉上帶着笑，享受着幾十號姑娘圍着他一人轉的豪華待遇。他再一次躲開不明不白的手，僵笑着問任遙：“他們還要多久，我堅持不下去了。”

任遙同樣如坐針氈。要不是江陵哭爹喊娘一定要留一個人陪他，任遙才不想扮演“寵婢”，她更想跟明華章他們去查案。

事實證明，剛才她應該心硬一點的，任遙忍着嗆鼻的脂粉味，艱難說：“再忍忍，大概快了。”

所有人都在大堂伺候世子，三樓顯得尤其冷清。山茶躲在自己屋裏生悶氣，她合着門窗，自然也不會發現，此刻東樓樓梯格外熱鬧。

明華裳、明華章、謝濟川三人圍在樓梯上，明華裳循着記憶找到那截木板，說：“二兄，謝兄，你們來看，就在這裏。”

明華章屈膝半蹲，手又緩又穩，從木刺縫裏拔出一縷細絲。謝濟川站在另一邊，問：“一樣嗎？”

明華章舉在眼前看了看，很确定地點頭：“一樣。”

這條絲比較長，明華裳湊過去看，說：“這好像是從絲綢上抽出來的。”

三人對視一眼，馬上想到：“山茶跳舞用的紅綢布。”

明華章讓謝濟川将證據收好，他伸手扶着明華裳從樓梯上站起來，說：“看來我的直覺沒錯，那條莫名變短的紅綢布，和殺人案脫不了幹系。兇手為什麽要剪一截綢布呢？”

明華裳看到樓梯下黑洞洞的縫隙就害怕，沒留神晃了一下，明華章忙上跨一步攬住她：“小心。”

樓梯裏狹窄，站了三個人後更是連騰挪空間都沒有，明華裳像是完全挂在明華章臂膀上。她有些尴尬，小心翼翼往旁邊挪了一步，說：“我沒事，我扶着牆壁就好。”

明華章不贊同道：“牆上連個着力的地方都沒有，你還是抓着我……”

明華章突然頓住，明華裳好奇地順着他的視線看去，上方只是一個通氣窗而已。明華裳問：“二兄，你怎麽了？”

明華章臉色十分冷淡，對謝濟川說：“你看着她。”

謝濟川往明華裳身邊站了站，也問：“你發現什麽了？”

明華章沒有回答，三步并作兩步走到樓下，果真看到二樓同樣的位置也有一個通氣窗。明華裳感覺不對，小心翼翼追過來，說：“二兄，這扇窗戶有什麽問題嗎？我進去看過，裏面是間小隔間，和風情思苑沒有通道。”

“不，一定有。”明華章臉色白得生寒，眼中是沉沉的黑：“不好，昨夜犯了大錯，我們可能放跑兇手了。”

“什麽？”

明華章指着二樓牆壁上方方正正的小氣窗，說：“昨夜他能從這裏進入命案現場，極可能已經銷毀了重要證據。”

謝濟川從後面跟過來，上下打量了一眼，擰眉道：“這個大小倒也能穿過一個普通身量的女子，可是，窗戶這麽高，牆上又沒有着力點，她爬不上去的。”

“能。”明華章看向方才發現細絲的地方，說，“你們還記得山茶是如何跳舞的嗎？只要把綢緞搭在三樓木板上，她站在二樓樓梯，拽着綢帶，可以爬入通氣窗。”

謝濟川打量樓梯木板和通氣窗的位置，越看臉色越冷：“看起來可以，但最好找個女子試試。”

所有人下意識看向外面。大堂上，任遙陪坐在江陵身邊，周圍圍滿了輕薄曼妙的年輕女子，正熱情地喂他們吃點心。

好像很忙的樣子。

謝濟川表情有些微妙：“恐怕吹暗號他們也聽不見，我去叫她過來？”

明華裳上下丈量距離，忽然說：“二兄，讓我試試吧。”

明華章一驚，本能反對：“不行，太危險了，萬一摔着怎麽辦？”

明華裳也知道任遙的身手比她好得多，讓任遙來探路更合适。但現在江陵和任遙被許多雙眼睛盯着，如果貿然叫走任遙，很可能會節外生枝。

明華裳活動活動手腳，說：“沒關系，我可以的，再說還有二兄呢。”

謝濟川幽幽道：“有他在摔下來是不疼了還是怎麽着？”

為什麽明華裳處處将“我二兄”挂在嘴邊，仿佛有明華章在，天塌下來也不足為慮。

“閉嘴。”明華章冷冷瞪了眼謝濟川，“你去那間小隔間裏，從裏面接着她。”

謝濟川雖然陰陽怪氣，但還是趁人不備，溜入隔間替明華裳開道。明華章拿出随身軟繩，系在剛才挂着紅絲的木梯上，再次囑咐道：“注意安全。”

明華裳朝外張望，趁沒人看這邊，一溜煙跑到二樓樓梯上，接住明華章抛下來的軟繩：“我知道。”

明華章望着她拽着繩子艱難爬牆的模樣，欲言又止，最後他嘆了聲，去後面扶住她的腰，将她半抱到通氣窗前：“小心。”

她甚至都沒有來看三樓的繩子是否系結實了，只因為他一句話就親自上陣嘗試。他何德何能，能被人這樣信任？

明華裳在明華章的幫助下爬入氣窗，還不等她想明白下半身要怎麽進來，裏面便探來一雙細長微涼的手，握着她的胳膊将她抱下來。

明華裳暈暈乎乎回到地面，下意識扒着身前人的手臂：“謝兄等一等，我有點暈。”

這時候旁邊的門輕響，明華章閃身進來，看到他們的姿勢頓了頓。

明華章靜靜望了謝濟川一眼，謝濟川平靜放手，說：“看來你的猜想是可行的。”

雖然明華裳演示的一塌糊塗，但至少證明這條路徑行之有效。如果換成一個腰腿力量比較強的女子，應當可以靠着繩索支持，從樓梯爬上氣窗，進入這間小屋。

明華章不動聲色圈住明華裳手腕，将她拉到自己身邊，說：“你去找暗道，我陪着她。”

這個隔間是用來給奴仆臨時歇腳的，空間十分有限，明華章扶着明華裳坐下，給謝濟川騰出走路空間。

謝濟川在黑暗中摸索，明華裳緩了一會，回過神後很不好意思：“我又給你們添麻煩了……”

“不麻煩。”明華章說，“是我麻煩你才對。”

隔間關上門後非常黑，明華裳都看不見自己的腿，明華章像是感覺到她害怕，手慢慢握緊她掌心，無聲告訴她他在。

黑暗裹挾着未知和恐懼，但他氣息平穩，手掌有力，給人強烈的安全感。明華裳的心莫名就安寧下來，外面不知道是哪個姑娘唱曲，青樓這種地方自然不能指望唱雅樂，靡靡之音順着門縫飄進來，明華裳聽到裏面的內容，指尖尴尬地蜷了蜷。

她手指無意碰到了明華章的掌心，明華章以為她害怕，愈發用力地握緊她。一片混沌中，唯有身邊的少年存在感十足強烈。

明華裳不好意思再沉默下去，沒話找話說：“所以，命案那日，兇手就是用這種方法進入二樓房間的？”

低沉清越的聲音從旁邊徐徐傳來：“沒錯。從時間來看，應當是戌時左右老鸨給張子雲送酒，沒過多久山茶獻舞，從三樓跳到舞臺。綢帶被丫鬟随手塞到帷幔後，兇手悄悄躲在後方，趁人不備割下一截綢帶，躲入樓梯。他将綢帶懸在頭頂的樓梯上，借助綢帶的力量從氣窗爬入這間隔間，再通過暗門進入隔壁風情思苑，捂死昏迷中的張子雲。”

明華章很确定地說：“所以，這裏一定有去風情思苑的通道。”

“你倒也別光說不幹。”黑暗中傳來一個涼幽幽的聲音，“二妹妹這麽大的人了，應當能自己休息吧。你能過來幫忙嗎？”

明華裳不好意思，忙站起來道：“我也來找。”

明華裳看不見，全憑感覺尋找，她仿佛摸到一堵涼絲絲的牆，正要仔細探索，不妨被人抓緊了手腕。

謝濟川似笑非笑的嗓音響起：“妹妹，是我。”

明華裳忙尴尬退後，撞到了另一個懷中。明華章扶住她的手臂，将她帶到牆邊，說：“這類粗活用不着你，你安心等着就好。”

“喂。”謝濟川語氣不善地開口，“做粗活的人還在這裏呢。”

明華裳道：“二兄，你不用管我，快去幫謝阿兄吧。”

明華章嗯了聲，但身體紋絲不動。謝濟川發出不滿的聲音，明華章為了應付謝濟川，随手翻動身邊的木架，好歹敷衍一下。

明華章突然問：“三樓最北那間房間是誰住的？”

"Are you referring to the room closest to the stairs?" Ming Huashang looked up and said, "I specifically asked, and it turns out that Yuqiong lives there."

According to the layout of Tianxiang Tower, Yuqiong's room is just above this compartment. There is also a ventilation window on the wall, and one can climb out and directly enter the stairwell.

Ming Huazhang responded slowly, saying, "Then we have to consider one more person. It is very likely that Yuqiong also went out last night, but we didn't see her."

Although Shancha was the only one who could perform the flying dance in Tianxiang Building, Yuqiong grew up in the Jiaofang Department and might not be unfamiliar with dancing. With her body shape, she was fully capable of climbing out of the air vent in her room, landing on the stairs, then jumping from the third floor to the second floor, climbing into the compartment air vent without alerting the outsiders, and opening the secret door to enter the scene.

If it was really her, then she could have come and gone without anyone noticing last night, and no one would have known what evidence she had destroyed.

This is really detrimental to their investigation.

"I've thought about this question too." Xie Jichuan's voice suddenly rang out in the darkness, "But on the day of the murder, she was in the west building, and to get to the east building she had to go through the lobby, so the murderer couldn't have been her."

Ming Huazhang sighed softly and said, "But someone came here last night."

Xie Jichuan was stunned for a moment, then immediately responded: "Did you find the secret door?"

"I guess so." Ming Huazhang pointed to the wooden shelf on the south wall. "I thought this wooden shelf was a bit strange when I came in. The space in the compartment is so small, why not make a high shelf? Now I understand, because the outline of this wooden shelf just blocks the door."

Ming Huashang reached out to touch it. Yes, she only cared about finding cracks on the wall and the ground, but ignored the most obvious place. Xie Jichuan came over and did not even check whether it was real or not. He said sourly, "How did you find it?"

"It's mainly to accompany my sister." Ming Huazhang said slowly, "I flipped through it and saw a light here. If there is light, there must be a gap."

Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan moved the wooden frame away, and Ming Huazhang tried to push it, and it opened.

Ming Huazhang had a calm expression and walked in first.

Fortunately, the loud singing and dancing outside blocked their movements. Ming Huashang finally entered the room and saw the familiar layout and the rough ground in front of her. She knew that this was the scene of the murder - Fengqing Siyuan.

Their previous assumption was completely correct. The murderer was very likely to have returned to the scene for a second time and destroyed some clues. The person who went out last night, the madam, Shancha, the dumb slave, and Yuqiong who had a special geographical advantage, were all possible.