Chapter 68 Painting Screen

No one expected that someone would suddenly come in and head straight for their hiding place. Ming Huazhang didn't have time to think, and immediately hugged Ming Huashang and hid in the corner between the wooden frame and the wall. He leaned on the wall with one arm and quietly pressed the short blade with the other hand.

The wooden frame formed a triangle behind it, which just blocked the light and vision from the outside world. The two women did not expect that there was anyone inside, so they just kept talking to themselves.

One of the women went into the compartment to look for something. It was dim inside and she couldn't even see the road clearly. She stumbled as she walked and complained, "Why are there so many things piled up in there? I can't see clearly at all. Go get a candle."

Ming Huazhang was nervous. If they took the lamp, they would be exposed. Fortunately, the other woman was too lazy to move and said, "It's just taking the dice. Feel around on the shelf and take it out. Prince Jiang is still waiting downstairs."

The woman cursed at him, "you lazy little bastard," but there was nothing she could do. She could only reach out and grope around. She soon found the wooden rack and searched through it.

The sound was so close that Ming Huashang could hear the woman mumbling to herself. The woman gradually came towards them. Ming Huashang was afraid that Ming Huazhang would be seen, so she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.

However, she was already leaning against the wall, and even if she shrunk herself, the space was still limited. With her pull, Ming Huazhang was almost pressed against her, and Ming Huazhang was not prepared, and looked down at Ming Huashang.

Their eyes met. Ming Huashang looked up into Ming Huazhang's eyes. It was such a tense moment, but at that moment all the sounds disappeared, and the world instantly moved away from her. The sound of the woman rummaging and the noise from the outside world seemed to be blocked out by an invisible barrier. She could only see Ming Huazhang's clear and bright eyes.

His appearance changed, but his eyes remained the same. His eyes were curved inward and outward, which gave him a domineering look, but his pupils were black and round, and they were full of water, like stars and galaxies. Even on a rather ordinary face, they did not diminish his aloof and elegant temperament.

Books describe eyes as piercing, looking and shining. Ming Huachang once thought that was an exaggeration. But now she suddenly realized that some people can really shine.

Dust floated in the light column behind them. Under the light and shadow, darkness seemed to flow. Ming Huashang could clearly hear the sound of his own heartbeat, boom, boom, boom, each beat faster than the last.

It seemed like it wasn't just her heartbeat.

Ming Huashang didn't know how much time had passed, maybe a moment, maybe just a breath. She was so stunned that she completely forgot to react. She thought Ming Huazhang would be the first to look away, but neither of them moved.

A faint bouncing sound came, and Ming Huashang was awakened from the illusion, realizing that things were getting more troublesome. The woman found the dice cup, but accidentally dropped the dice inside. The dice rolled and fell right next to them.

The woman cursed and reached along the wooden frame: "There's another one. Where did it go?"

Ming Huashang leaned against the wall in despair. Ming Huazhang's face was as cold as snow. He seemed to be suppressing something. He turned his eyes away, his fingers pressing on the hilt of the knife.

Ming Huazhang was about to make his move when suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps outside. A woman ran over quickly, saw the scene inside and shouted sharply, "Wait!"

Both the prostitutes were startled and turned around to look at the newcomer in surprise. Ren Yao calmed down and pretended to be casual, saying, "I asked you to get the dice, why are you taking so long? The prince is getting impatient waiting."

The two women became nervous when they heard this and hurried to please him. Ren Yao snorted condescendingly, waved his hand and said, "The prince wants to watch the dance, and we are still short of two people. You all go down. Where is the dice? I'll get it."

The two of them no longer cared about looking for dice when they heard this. They quickly handed the dice cup to Ren Yao, bowed, and hurried downstairs. Ren Yao stood at the door, watched them go downstairs, and then slowly walked into the compartment.

Practicing night vision is a basic skill for martial arts. She could tell at a glance that the area behind the wooden frame was a blind spot, perfect for hiding people. She walked slowly, looking for the fallen dice on the ground. When she reached the wooden frame, a hand suddenly stretched out from behind and placed a dice on the frame.

This scene was nothing short of a ghostly one. Ren Yao was silent for a moment, picked up the dice, and walked out as if nothing had happened. Before leaving, he even closed the door for them.

Ming Huashang: “…”

Ming Huazhang's shoulders slowly relaxed. He sheathed his knife, glanced at Ming Huachang, and whispered, "Let's go."

Only then did Ming Huashang realize that they were still close to each other. She let go in a hurry, not daring to look at him again, and nodded randomly.

Once something passes a certain situation, its taste changes. There was a lot of footsteps outside, so they didn't dare to go out and could only wait in the cubicle.

There was a silent undercurrent spreading in the darkness. The situation was clearly the same as before, but this time no one wanted to discuss the case. The two of them were silent. Finally, Ming Huazhang made sure that there was no one outside, so he stepped aside and said calmly, "No one is outside. You go first."

"Okay." Ming Huashang also frowned and said, "Be careful."

Only after going out did Ming Huashang realize that she had forgotten to call him brother.

Jiang Ling was about to cry when he saw Ming Huashang coming out. He stared at Ming Huashang eagerly, but Ming Huashang was as calm as a man and whispered in his ear: "Continue to have fun and enjoy yourself. I have something else to find out, and it's up to you to control the attention."

When Jiang Ling heard this, he felt a black screen before his eyes.

He had anticipated that after this mission, he would soon become famous in Chang'an. He hoped that his father would be healthy enough and not be pissed off by him.

Jiang Ling continued to enjoy himself with a tearful face, the sound of dice rolling mixed with the sound of stringed instruments, anyone who saw it would say that he was living a life of debauchery and pleasure. Ming Huashang watched Jiang Ling playing dice for a while, then quietly withdrew and looked for people to chat with in the lobby, looking for clues.

According to Ming Huazhang's arrangement, their next primary targets of investigation would be Yuqiong and the madam, paying special attention to their time and schedule.

Jiang Ling's throat was smoking and his eyes were full of stars from playing dice. At dinner time, he had the food delivered to his room in a dissolute and extravagant manner. As soon as the door was closed, Jiang Ling fell to the ground.

He looked at the quiet and refreshing room in front of him. There was no suffocating scent of cosmetics, and he didn't have to worry about being flirted with by disheveled women. He was simply speechless and choked with sobs.

Even the Heavenly Palace was no more than this. After this incident, Jiang Ling was left with a deep psychological shadow on brothels. He really couldn't understand why someone could linger in a brothel and even stay there for two or three months.

It was only one day, but he already missed Zhongnan Mountain terribly. He would rather go back and run laps than suffer in such a hellish place.

Ren Yao was also relieved. She drank two large bowls of water before she had the energy to ask Ming Huashang, "You guys weren't discovered, were you? I thought you guys were out, so I didn't notice they went to the second floor. I was almost scared to death when I saw you."

Ming Huashang was a little dazed, but when she came to her senses she said, "It was a scare, nothing serious. I'm fine."

"That's good." Ren Yao breathed a sigh of relief, wondering, "What did you find? Xie Jichuan had already left, and I thought you were gone, but you were still here. What was so interesting in that little dark room that kept you there for so long?"

Ming Huachang recalled what happened in the afternoon, and her ears seemed to be burning again. She pretended to be calm and said, "It's nothing. We were discussing the case and accidentally said too much."

There was a slight sound from the window, and a slender figure pushed open the window and jumped down with the evening breeze. Ren Yao saw Ming Huazhang and said, "It's just right that you are here. Tell us quickly, what were you and Ming Huachang talking about this afternoon? You even forgot the time and almost got caught in a jar."

Ming Huashang really didn't expect retribution to come so quickly. She was extremely embarrassed and hurriedly pulled Ren Yao's sleeve: "Sister Ren, it's nothing."

Ren Yao looked at Ming Huazhang, then at Ming Huashang, and instinctively sensed something was wrong: "What's wrong with the two of you? Could it be that only you and your sister can hear these whispers, and we can't?"

Xie Jichuan also jumped in from behind and asked, "What's the whisper?"

If this continues, there will be no end. Ming Huazhang spoke calmly, his appearance as clear as jade, and he was in control: "Second Mother was telling me about Yuqiong's doubts. It was my fault for being careless and not paying attention to the outside world. Thank you for helping me out today. It was my carelessness as a captain."

Ren Yao naturally didn't care about these little things, and waved his hand and said, "It's easy. Don't be too nervous and take everything on yourself. We are a team, and we should help each other."

Jiang Ling said faintly: "That's not what you said to me."

Ren Yaosha glared at him angrily: "Shut up."

With Jiang Ling and Ren Yao joking around, the topic just now seemed to have passed. Ming Huashang sat at the table and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Before she could completely relax, she suddenly felt someone sitting next to her, and a cold pine scent surrounded her.

Ming Huachang's back was stiff, and she didn't dare to look back. Ming Huazhang's voice sounded calm and rational, without any extra emotions, and he said calmly: "Let's talk about business first. What did you find this afternoon?"

Jiang Ling snorted unconvincedly: "I was stung by those women's perfume powder all afternoon, and I didn't find anything."

Ren Yao also shook her head. She was exhausted just dealing with the madam and others, and she really didn't have the spare energy to look for clues. Ming Huazhang knew this very well. Ren Yao and Jiang Ling were responsible for covering up. What he wanted to hear was mainly the evidence of Xie Jichuan and Ming Huashang.

The room was silent for a moment, and Ming Huazhang said, "Second Mother, you speak first."

Xie Jichuan looked over and said with a half-smile, "Why did you change to Second Mother again and not Shang Shang anymore?"

Ming Huachang was completely embarrassed, not knowing whether to take it as a joke or to explain. Ming Huazhang gave Xie Jichuan a cold look and said, "You are the one who talks too much. Since you can't be idle, then you speak."

謝濟川聳聳肩，慢悠悠道：“我查了老鸨前夜的行蹤。那天山茶要獻舞，這是早就定好的，老鸨在平康坊裏吆喝了很久，約了許多熟客來捧場。戌時左右，熟客們陸續到場，天香樓要迎客、布景、備菜，每個人都忙得團團轉，根本沒精力注意別人。其中老鸨一直在招待客人，看起來是最忙的，但我仔細查了他們每一個人的時間，并詢問他們有沒有見過老鸨。我畫了圖，大致推算出老鸨的軌跡，其中大概有一刻鐘的時間，沒人見過老鸨。”

明華章問：“什麽時候？”

“戌時二刻到三刻之間。”謝濟川說，“這個時候山茶已經落地了，紅綢原本落在舞臺上，是老鸨非說這樣會絆倒人，讓丫鬟将綢帶收起。”

謝濟川不愧是自小成名的天才，時間說得有條不紊，江陵這種最不耐煩聽數字的人都聽懂了。謝濟川說完後，不慌不忙擺出自己的結論：“前天晚上老鸨給張子雲送加了疊夢散的酒，有動機殺人；她故意将綢帶收起，也知道綢帶放在哪裏，有機會在紅綢上做手腳；她借着招待客人的名義四處走動，有時間去東二樓；小隔間的改造也是她主導的，她肯定知道暗門的存在，有條件制定整個殺人計劃。老鸨符合所有條件，兇手只會是她。”

明華章淡淡點頭，看向明華裳：“你覺得呢？”

明華裳呼了口氣，低低說：“相比于謝阿兄，我拿不出像樣的證據，但我仍然覺得是玉瓊。”

謝濟川說完後就目光灼灼盯着明華裳。風情思苑那番話是謝濟川長大以來，第一次被人嗆到無話可說。越是聰明人就越接受不了自己犯錯，明華裳說他先入為主，根據看法來尋找證據，那他就搬出足夠多的憑據來證明，他是對的。

他精心準備，等着明華裳來反駁，結果卻聽到如此簡陋的論證。謝濟川當然不同意，道：“你和景瞻在小黑屋裏磨蹭那麽久，就只有這些？”

“是啊。”任遙也道，“其實最開始我也覺得玉瓊不對勁，但玉瓊明明白白被叫到西樓了，我們也嘗試過，就算她長了翅膀也沒法從西樓來到東樓。從證據來看，老鸨的可能性更大。”

明華裳如何不知呢，她像在整理一團複雜的線，前面通了，後面也通了，唯獨中間卡了一個結，她怎麽都解不了。

明華裳沉默，謝濟川失望，問明華章：“你量的尺寸怎麽說？”

“僅從尺度來說，老鸨的腰身比氣窗小一點。”明華章說，“但人不是東西，具體能不能爬過去，得實際試驗。”

謝濟川道：“那就沒問題了。天已經黑了，第二天馬上就要過去。沒時間耽誤了，審問老鸨吧，是不是問一遍就知道了。”

明華裳冷不丁問：“如果錯了呢？”

一旦将老鸨抓走審問，他們的身份就暴露了。對了當然皆大歡喜，問題在于，如果錯了呢？

開弓沒有回頭箭，哪怕犯人堅決不承認，這個人也不能放走，那就只能殺掉了。

“如果錯了。”謝濟川聲音清晰堅定，不疾不徐，冷靜的讓人害怕，“就算錯了，她害了那麽多女子，也不虧。我看過他們天香樓的賬本，上面有很多來路不明的錢。你該不會以為，啞奴房裏那箱子藥，是用來對付青樓女子的吧？”

明華裳安靜了很久，她親眼看到啞奴床下沉甸甸的藥箱，親耳聽丫鬟訴說同伴如何殒命，她知道謝濟川說的是對的，老鸨這種人死不足惜。可是，這樣就能憑一句“差不多”定案嗎？

明華裳指尖不知不覺掐入掌心，就在她覺得是不是她太不知變通的時候，手腕上傳來一股涼意。明華章拿起她的手，展開她的手指，将她掌心熨平：“慢慢想，別為難自己。”

他的話仿佛擁有魔力，瞬間讓明華裳的心靜下來。她擡眸，還是道：“我反對。現場的冷靜、細致，告訴我不是老鸨。”

謝濟川不依不饒：“證據呢？”

“沒有證據，僅憑直覺。”明華裳不閃不避回視，說，“飛紅山莊，隗家大宅，我猜測兇手是什麽人時，靠的就是這份直覺。”

任遙和江陵面面相觑，一個是天縱奇才過目不忘的謝濟川，一個是破案以來從未失手的明華裳，隊伍中有這兩人無疑如虎添翼，但是，如果這兩人意見相左呢？

兩人針鋒相對，寸步不讓，該聽誰的？

江陵擠眉弄眼，任遙聳聳肩，兩人不約而同看向明華章。

其實任遙心裏也很搖擺，她聽謝濟川的推理時覺得有道理，聽明華裳質疑，也覺得應當三思。

她和明華裳認識這麽久，很了解明華裳對人心的洞察有多靈驗。明華裳說不對勁，說不定真有什麽地方弄錯了。

任遙無法判斷，她選擇聽明華章的。

可能，這就是韓颉派明華章過來的原因吧。

對任遙來說，承認一個男郎比她強，比殺了她還難，明華章卻是其一。

任遙也說不出為什麽，可能是因為每一次遭遇危機，明華章都能成熟冷靜地應對；可能是因為明華章頂着神都玉郎的名聲，被那麽多少女追捧，但每次出意外，他都能誠懇認錯，哪怕錯并不在他。

這些細節一點一滴累積起來，便成了信任。任遙對明華章的感覺便是如此，謝濟川發話她會猶豫，但如果是明華章，那任遙定二話不說照做。

江陵左右看看，認真說：“要不，我們先吃飯？”

蒼天可鑒，他都一天一夜吃不好睡不好了。可惜這些需求只有他關心，其餘人一動不動，最後還是明華章發話：“是啊，先吃飯吧。正好我也需要想一想。”

這頓飯吃得極其沉默，明華裳最先放下碗，說：“你們先吃，我去現場看看。有事暗號聯系。”

任遙試圖攔她：“你才吃多少，這就要走？”

江陵拉住任遙，說道：“讓她去吧，她找不到證據，心裏不會舒坦的。再說，她雖然吃得快，但吃的并不少。”

任遙瞥見明華裳的碗底，一時無言以對。江陵還在啧聲：“她真是我見過最心大的女娘了，哪怕心裏惦記着事也不忘把飯吃完，以後就算嫁人也不用擔心夫家欺負她。”

江陵被明華章橫了一眼，他摸摸臉，覺得莫名其妙：“怎麽了，難道你家妹妹不嫁人吶？”

明華章冷冷淡淡補充：“她現在在安定公主的道觀清修。”

江陵撲棱着眼睛，過了好一會才明白明華章的言外之意。

——他的妹妹可能真的不嫁人。

江陵噎住了，一下子不知怎麽回。任遙拎起個果子塞到江陵嘴裏：“閉嘴吧，就你多話。”

江陵呸呸呸趕緊吐出來，怒道：“這果子洗了嗎你就往我嘴裏塞？萬一上面有那些女人的脂粉呢？”

“那不是便宜你了！”

“放屁。”江陵和任遙待久了，嘴裏也開始爆粗話。他用力拿手帕擦果子，抱怨道：“我告訴你們，這次我犧牲大了。要是我爹知道，肯定得打死我。”

任遙笑了聲，道：“放心，你要是真被打死了，我去給你擡棺。”

“這可使不得。”江陵說，“擡棺的怎麽都得是我們江家人，你要真有這份心，不如給我磕個頭，我勉為其難收你當兒子。”

“你找死。”任遙怒了，掄起拳頭就要抽他。江陵被揍得多了，輕車熟路往旁邊躲。結果他自己沒事，反倒是把瓷盤帶翻落地，咔嚓一聲摔裂了。

空氣霎間凝滞，謝濟川長長嘆了口氣，認真思索自己做了什麽，才會讓韓颉将他和這夥人安排在一起。

明華章無奈道：“好了，安生些。你們繼續商量，我去看看她。”

明華章知道明華裳為什麽離開。她不同意謝濟川的意見卻又拿不出證據，心裏肯定不好受，所以明華章沒有攔她，而是給她空間施展拳腳，等她努力過後，便該安心了。

但外面全是人，也不能任由她亂跑，明華章打算去跟着她，他起身時，江陵還不安分，嘀咕道：“把這個盤子拼起來，也看不出裂了呀。”

“你瞎嗎，這麽明顯的裂紋都看不到。”

“它本來就是冰裂紋，再加一道又有什麽關系。噓，別聲張，我把它放遠了，天香樓的人肯定看不出來。”

任遙一臉看傻子的表情，江陵卻覺得自己很有道理。他起身，正要去藏盤子，沒想到明華章忽然轉身，一動不動盯着他，目光犀利的令人害怕。

江陵吓了一跳，差點又把瓷盤摔地上。他撓撓下巴，道：“我只是摔了個盤子，又不是不賠，你不至于用這種眼神看我吧。”

明華章還是不動，謝濟川感覺到不對勁，問：“景瞻，怎麽了？”

明華章沉着臉對江陵伸手：“把盤子給我。”

Jiang Ling looked at the broken porcelain pieces in his hand and handed them to him without knowing why. Ming Huazhang fiddled with them for a while, then raised his eyes, which were bright and surprising: "I know what's going on."