Chapter 96: Liquor Offering

The fallen leaves rustled, the sun set in the west, and the trees rustled quietly. Before it got completely dark, Ming Huazhang finally arrived in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Ming Huazhang took Ming Huashang to pay respects to the wife of Duke Cheng and Duke Cheng, thanking them solemnly before leaving. When the two of them left, Ming Huashang asked in surprise, "Second brother, why did you take so long?"

She thought Ming Huazhang would come to pick her up in the afternoon at the latest, but he didn't show up until almost dark.

Ming Huazhang walked in the chilly autumn wind, his tone cool and calm, and said: "The Imperial College has almost finished asking questions at 5 p.m. I was planning to come pick you up, but the palace summoned me at short notice, so I was delayed."

Ming Huashang was surprised to hear that Ming Huazhang had just left the palace: "You just left the palace?"

Ming Huazhang nodded. They had already walked out of the Duke Cheng's mansion. People were coming and going on the street. Ming Huazhang didn't want to talk about the palace anymore, so he said, "You get in the car first, and we'll talk about the rest when we get back."

Ming Huachang also knew that walls have ears, so she suppressed her worries and held Ming Huazhang's hand to get on the horse. Ming Huazhang waited for her to sit down before walking to the other side, sweeping his long legs and sitting on the horse neatly and calmly.

Ming Huashang endured all the way, and finally the carriage drove into the Duke of Zhen's Mansion. Ming Huashang didn't even have time to return to his own yard, and chased after Ming Huazhang: "Second brother, wait for me!"

Zhaocai jumped out of the car at the back and said hurriedly, "Madam, where are you going? You haven't had your meal yet!"

Unfortunately, the figure in front of him didn't show any sign of lingering and said without even turning his head, "Send you to Qinghuiyuan."

"Qinghuiyuan again." Zhaocai couldn't help but say, "She's in Qinghuiyuan during the day and at Qinghuiyuan at night. Now she even has to go to Qinghuiyuan for meals. I think Qinghuiyuan is more like my wife's residence!"

Ming Huashang had no idea what the maid was saying to her. At this moment, all her attention was focused on Ming Huazhang. She asked hurriedly, "Second brother, what did the palace say?"

Ming Huazhang sighed barely audibly, his brows showing a rare trace of fatigue. "The serial murder case has been reported to the palace. When the empress heard that the granddaughter of Duke Cheng was murdered, she took it very seriously. She ordered the Yulin Army to patrol the city and assist Jingzhao Prefecture in protecting the safety of Chang'an and calming the people. At the same time, she also ordered the crown prince to supervise the case and ordered Jingzhao Prefecture to solve the case before the end of the year."

Ming Huashang uttered a low "ah", and her first reaction was, "Sister Ren and Jiang Ling are in the Yulin Army, right? When we catch the murderer in the future, can we ask them for help?"

Ming Huazhang glanced at her calmly and said, "You're already thinking about how to catch someone when you haven't even figured out what to do yet?"

Ming Huashang smiled, jumped up and down and threw herself on Ming Huazhang's arm: "Of course you can. I believe that you can solve the case in time and catch the real culprit."

Ming Huazhang sighed: "I wish I could be as optimistic as you."

As they were talking, the two of them had already walked into the courtyard. Ming Huashang had been looking at the files these days, and had basically stayed in Ming Huazhang's room all day. Ming Huazhang was not on guard against Ming Huashang, and even gave her the key, so she could look through whatever she wanted. After entering the room, Ming Huashang hurriedly took off her cloak and ran to the desk.

Ming Huazhang followed her into the house and sighed when he saw her throwing things around. He leaned over to help her pick up her cloak, folded it carefully, and changed her coat and shoes before walking back slowly.

Ming Huashang was lying on the table, halfway through the portrait she was painting. Ming Huazhang stood to the side, watching for a while before saying, "Is that Cheng Siyue?"

"Yes." Ming Huashang dipped the brush into the ink and continued to write on the rice paper. "Doesn't it look like it?"

Ming Huazhang was silent for a moment, looking at the calligraphy that could only be understood but not expressed in words, and said tactfully: "Very straightforward."

Ming Huashang put down her brush, lifted up the rice paper and looked at it. She was very satisfied with her painting. "I think it's a good painting. I stayed in the Duke Cheng's mansion for a day and learned a lot about Cheng Siyue. I'm sure I can paint her charm."

Indeed, although Cheng Siyue's facial features in the portrait are crooked and difficult to describe, there is a unique temperament between her eyebrows. Ming Huashang took out Chu Jun's portrait and placed it side by side with Cheng Siyue, and asked: "Chu Jun and the previous cases are all missing leg bones, but Cheng Siyue is missing fingers. The constable said that it was not done by the same person. What do you think, second brother?"

"This is ridiculous." Ming Huazhang sat down beside her and said, "Whether it is the same murderer depends on the characteristics of the method. How can it be simply divided into body parts? There are many extremely vicious murders, but this is the only case of bone extraction. The Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice all agree that it was done by the same person."

Ming Huashang shared this view, but she had some small doubts: "Is Chu Jun the same?"

Ming Huazhang raised his eyebrows and asked, "What do you think?"

In fact, Ming Huazhang also had this feeling. According to Ming Huachang's description of Cheng Siyue's body, the murderer could cut the tendons of the fingers and remove the finger bones intact. How could he use brute force to break the kneecap when killing Chu Jun? A person's knife-wielding habits cannot change so much.

Ming Huashang didn't say anything final, but just said, "We have to see Huang Caiwei before we can decide. Has the Imperial College's chief priest agreed that we can go and question her?"

Ming Huazhang sighed softly: "Never."

"Ah?" Ming Huashang was surprised. "Another murder has happened, and the murderer may be in their Imperial College, and he still doesn't agree?"

Ming Huazhang was helpless: "After I checked the place where I saw the murder, I immediately went to visit the chief priest, but he was very angry and said that the murderer had no connection with the Imperial College. As for the matter of Lady Huang, he was unwilling to say anything more."

Ming Huashang sighed, unable to understand a father who, for the sake of his own reputation, did not even care about the cause of his daughter's death. Ming Huashang said, "Forget it, let's not talk about him. Second brother, did you gain anything from the Imperial College today?"

Ming Huazhang said in an orderly manner: "Yesterday at 9:00 pm, the Imperial College was dismissed, and Cheng Dalang saw Cheng Siyue when he went out. Many people can testify to this. At that time, Cheng Siyue was alone, without any maids. The servants saw that she was the wife of the Duke's Mansion, so they did not dare to stop her and let her in. Cheng Dalang said that he was very surprised when he saw Cheng Siyue. His third sister was spoiled by the family, but he did not expect Cheng Siyue to be so bold. He scolded Cheng Siyue, but the Imperial College did not allow students to leave the school without permission during classes, and it was not worth asking for leave from the Supervisor for such a small matter, so Cheng Dalang asked someone to hire a carriage to send Cheng Siyue back to the Duke of Cheng’s Mansion. He watched Cheng Siyue get on the carriage at the door and then went back. I asked the supervisors in his dormitory, and the time and itinerary were consistent. "

Ming Huashang asked hurriedly, "Where is the driver who took her away? Have you asked him?"

"I have asked him." Ming Huazhang said, "He has his own horses and drives around Chang'an, picking up passengers for long and short distances. He specifically picks up passengers and their wives who don't have carriages but need to go out. He said that he was looking for business near the Imperial College that day when he was stopped by a servant of the Imperial College and asked to take a lady home. When he walked to the East Market, the lady said she wanted to go to the East Market to buy cloth and asked him to stop at Qinrenfang. The driver didn't take it seriously and dropped the lady off and left."

Cheng Siyue got off the bus? Ming Huashang asked, "Has anyone seen her since then?"

"Not yet." Ming Huazhang said, "I sent people to inquire along the way to see if they can find any witnesses. Also, the driver's words cannot be trusted. I have sent people to inquire at the East Market Carriage and Horse Shop today. I estimate that there will be news tomorrow."

Ming Huashang was really impressed by what he heard. Look at Ming Huazhang's efficiency. He didn't say a word, but many things were already done. What was especially rare was that as the chief judge, he had a fair and humble heart.

Even if the person is a witness, he will be suspicious; even if the person is a bad guy, he will wonder if the other person has been wrongly accused. Such a smart, hardworking but not arrogant person, who practices more than he speaks, is truly reliable.

Ming Huashang said sincerely: "Second brother, it's great to have you."

Ming Huazhang disagreed: "The court handed such an important case to me. As the chief official of Chang'an, I can't even catch the murderer after such a long time. How can I be good?"

Ming Huashang said nothing more. When she was young, she thought that she must find someone who was cute, handsome, funny, or someone who could accompany her and spoil her every moment to spend her life with. Later, as she grew up, she saw all kinds of men and all kinds of marriages. Suddenly, she felt that being reliable was the highest compliment for a man.

He is not a god, and he cannot call the wind and rain, make everything go smoothly, or protect his wife from any wind and rain, but he is worthy of trust and entrustment. As long as you are with him, you will believe that no matter what storms they encounter in the future, they will be able to get through them together.

Such a person, whether as a brother, husband, superior or subordinate, will make people feel at ease. They dare to entrust important matters to him, and dare to trust that he will not betray them no matter what happens.

If there were such men around Huang Caiwei and Cheng Siyue, why would their wronged souls remain unable to see the light of day for so long?

Ming Huashang looked down at Cheng Siyue's portrait and said, "This is the second time the Imperial College has been involved. Huang Caiwei is also the daughter of the Imperial College's chief academic officer. Isn't the Imperial College appearing too often?"

"I also think the murderer is related to the Imperial College," Ming Huazhang said. "Students cannot leave the Imperial College at will, but officials such as the chief clerk, doctors, and teaching assistants can. There are also slaves serving in the Imperial College. They are all possible perpetrators. In addition, students cannot be completely ruled out. Although the Imperial College is strictly managed, there are still ways for them to leave. These people must be carefully investigated."

Ming Huashang frowned as she listened: "This is too offensive."

The Imperial College was different from ordinary schools. It was the highest institution of learning in the imperial court. The students there were all sons of dukes and high-ranking officials, as well as students from Japan, Silla and other countries. If you investigate these people, you will get into trouble if you are not careful.

Ming Huazhang lowered his eyes and grinded ink. His profile looked like jade in the candlelight, cold and clear like porcelain. "What's the big deal about the tree enemy? If the murderer is in the Imperial College, this is already the best case scenario. What I'm really worried about is that the murderer is someone along the way who found Cheng Siyue alone and decided to kill her on the spur of the moment."

前一種只要慢慢查，還能鎖定疑犯，但如果是後一種，那就真是大海撈針。而女皇給京兆府的最後通牒就在年前，京兆尹不要臉地将這件事全部推到明華章身上，成了是京兆府的功勞，不成有明華章頂罪。

明華裳抿着唇，她不能接受那些女子凄慘死去，而殺害她們的兇手竟還逍遙法外，洋洋得意；她也不能接受，明華章這麽好的人，他分明可以成為一個有功于國、有利于民的好官，卻要因為官場的醜風惡習，早早就折戟沉沙，淪為犧牲品。

如果能縮小嫌疑人範圍就好了，重點觀察，總好過一個個問話，平白給明華章樹敵。明華裳意識到兇手畫像刻不容緩，但目前只有兩個樣本，還是太少了。

她需要黃采薇的信息。

第二日，明華章照例天一亮就出府。明華裳沒有借口再跟着，只能待在府內，但她并沒有閑着，她汲取江陵的經驗，給長安城內的乞兒銅錢，讓他們幫她盯着黃祭酒家，尤其注意黃夫人。

祭酒如此油鹽不進，連明華章都無法說服他，明華裳更無可能。再死磕祭酒沒什麽意義，不如另辟蹊徑。

她就不信，父親為了名聲，不願意讓人查女兒死因，母親也能如此鐵石心腸嗎？

明華裳的運氣十分好，才第三天，她就接到消息，說黃夫人出門了。明華裳連忙讓人套車，去東市和黃夫人“偶遇”。

這些天因為連環殺手的事，長安裏人人自危，許多女眷都不敢出門。可是日子總要繼續，大家躲了兩天後，該出門營生的還是得出門，黃夫人也帶了許多丫鬟侍衛，去東市采買布匹。

天越來越冷，府中該換冬衣了。黃府上上下下這麽多人，從小姐妾室到粗使奴仆，換季衣裳都得她操心。黃夫人正在綢緞店裏看料子，身後傳來店小二殷勤招待的聲音。黃夫人回頭掃了眼，見是一個年輕娘子，沒當回事。

東市靠近宮城，達官權貴雲集于此，一個衣着講究的娘子帶着丫鬟逛街再尋常不過。沒想到那位小娘子在店中看了看，慢慢朝她這個方位走來。

黃夫人沒擡頭，往旁邊挪了挪，然而那位小娘子并沒有遵守長安心照不宣的社交距離，她停在黃夫人跟前，驚喜問道：“夫人可是國子監祭酒，黃岳大人的夫人？”

黃夫人詫異地擡頭，望了明華裳一眼，敷衍地點點頭：“是我。”

她并不欲深交，然而對方像看不懂人臉色一樣，拉着她不斷說話。如果這是個攀交情的婦人，黃夫人就直接甩冷臉了，但對方是個年輕嬌俏的小娘子，妙語如珠笑聲清脆，黃夫人能怎麽辦？

黃夫人被纏得沒辦法了，無奈問：“娘子是走岔了路嗎？如今長安不太平，你親人在何處，我遣人送你回去。”

黃夫人自認逐客令說得很明白，她卻不知，明華裳就等着她這一句呢。明華裳立刻說道：“多謝夫人慈心。這兩天城裏鬧得風風雨雨，大家都說那個惡徒專盯着權貴人家的女眷殺，甚至有人說那個惡人有妖術，別管是多懂事守禮的大家閨秀，只要被他盯上，就會想着魔一樣自己跑出去，被殺死取骨。我聽丫鬟們說了後吓得不行，寧願來人多的地方沾沾陽氣。”

黃夫人面具般的笑微微凝滞，臉上露出些諱莫難言的表情。明華裳注意到了，依然裝作無知無覺，抱怨道：“不知道京兆府什麽時候能把兇手抓住？前一個案子因為京兆府長官被牽連，官員走馬燈一樣換，結果耽誤了四年還沒查出來。這次若還是這樣，兇手還要逍遙多久？”

黃夫人終于意識到不對，她收斂起笑意，冷着眼看向明華裳：“小娘子好利的嘴。敢問閣下何人？”

明華裳也不裝傻充愣了，擡眸不動如山對她笑了笑，說：“我是現任京兆少尹之妹，明華裳。程三娘子、楚君姑娘以及令媛的案子，就由我兄長負責。”

黃夫人明白明華裳的意圖，臉色驟變，都不管布料了，轉身就走。明華裳在背後叫住氣沖沖的黃夫人，說：“夫人，已經四年了，您的女兒受盡折磨死去，直到現在都要背負羞辱罵名，而始作俑者還逍遙法外。您知道程娘子的屍體是怎麽發現的嗎？就被扔在城門前的巷子裏，明晃晃地挑釁官府。夫人，您甘心嗎？”

黃夫人肩膀緊緊繃着，從背後都能看出她情緒極差，但她沒有繼續往外走。

明華裳進店的時候就讓招財、如意将人攔住了，現在閣間裏只有她們兩人，明華裳也不怕被人聽到案件細節。其實明華裳并不知道黃采薇的死狀，但她曾親眼看過程思月，明華裳按照她對兇手模模糊糊的構想，大膽猜測，豁出去賭一把。看黃夫人的表現，她賭對了。

明華裳慢慢走上來，說道：“我兄長幾次想和黃祭酒聊聊，但都被祭酒拒絕，我們實在沒辦法了，只能出此下策。黃夫人，我想幫我兄長，也真心想幫程娘子、黃娘子平冤。你我皆有所求，可以達成合作。夫人，可否帶我回黃家，容我了解一下采薇當年的行蹤？”

·

黃家。

黃夫人帶着一個小娘子入府，自然沒人敢置喙。黃夫人将明華裳帶到黃采薇的閨房，打開鎖，說：“這就是她住的地方。她父親是國子監祭酒，門生滿天下，卻出了她這麽一個死得不明不白的女兒。她父親一直視她為污點，平時從不許我們提起她，一說起四年前的事就要勃然大怒。也算是因禍得福吧，她的閨房完整保留了下來，裏面的東西都沒人動過。”

明華裳道謝，忍着灰塵和寒冷，踏入門檻。自從黃采薇死後，這個院子就徹底被遺忘了，一年四季挂着鎖，平時連掃地婆子都不敢靠近。

時光帶走了這裏的顏色，原本柔軟明亮的帷幔變得灰暗破舊，玉堂金閨再不聞少女的歡笑聲，風鈴上積了厚厚的灰。

明華裳拿起一串由貝殼穿成的項鏈，問：“這是黃娘子自己做的嗎？”

黃夫人時隔多年再次看到女兒的遺物，眼睛忍不住發酸。她回頭用力拭去眼中的淚，說：“是她。她以前最是喜歡擺弄這些小玩意，叮叮當當挂了一屋，後來不知怎麽對禮佛感興趣，一天到晚往外面跑。要是我當時嚴厲一點，不許她去青山寺，如今，她就已經成婚嫁人，說不定孩子都有了。”

明華裳和黃夫人坐在黃采薇的閨房裏，說了很多。黃夫人說黃采薇的性情、經歷、行蹤，這些年她刻意回避，原本以為自己已經忘了，如今開口才發現，那些畫面像烙印一樣牢牢刻在她腦海裏，從無一刻遠去。

明華裳借助黃夫人描述，描繪黃采薇的形象。等放下筆後，明華裳尴尬地搓了搓手，第一次對自己的畫技生出慚愧。

她發誓，等回府後就好好練習字畫，省得在祭酒夫人面前丢人。明華裳像醜媳婦見公婆一樣，小心翼翼遞過去，問：“夫人，是這樣嗎？”

黃夫人身為祭酒夫人，這些年見過多少才子佳人、名作好字，她看到明華裳的畫，頓了良久，說：“很有采薇的神韻，不似，卻很像。”

明華裳聞言默然。她看着畫紙上神采飛揚、不可一世的明豔大美人，不知道該喜還是該憂。

喜的是祭酒夫人兼死者母親都認可她畫出了神韻，憂的是，黃采薇的長相和程思月、楚君都大相徑庭，完全是不同的風格。

這給明華裳本來都快成型的兇手畫像予以重重一擊。兇手殺人既然是為了滿足幻想，那為什麽會喜歡截然不同的三種長相呢？看他作案時的手法，理應是個頭腦清醒、心思缜密，精神世界非常穩定的人才對。這種人，幻想對象為何會出現這麽大的跳躍？

明華裳心裏很挫敗，她好不容易才進黃家一趟，絕不甘心就這樣離開。黃夫人說了很多，有些累了，明華裳送走黃夫人，自己待在屋裏，還想再找線索。

黃夫人走前留了丫鬟，明華裳在屋裏翻翻看看，丫鬟束手在一邊站着，惶恐又茫然，實在不知道明華裳想做什麽。

丫鬟壯着膽子問：“娘子，您想找什麽，奴婢來代勞？”

其實明華裳也不知道，她站在滿是灰塵的閨閣裏，問：“你和黃娘子熟嗎？”

丫鬟面露為難：“小姐金尊玉貴，奴婢不過草芥，不敢高攀。”

明華裳換了個問法：“那你對她身邊的人和事了解多少？”

這個就好說多了，丫鬟道：“小姐在世時十分受寵，祭酒最看重她，任何東西都先緊着小姐。因而小姐從小就活潑膽大，哪怕祭酒待客她也敢闖入。夫人怕她闖禍，特意把她身邊的婢女都換成了文靜乖巧的……”

Ming Huashang was shocked when she heard this. She actually overlooked such an important thing! Ming Huashang asked hurriedly: "Are you talking about swifts?"

The maid nodded: "Yes. Yuyan is good-looking and gentle. The young lady likes to take her with her wherever she goes."

Ming Huashang quickly looked for a pen: "Do you remember what a swift looks like?"

Ming Huashang was about to paint the portrait when a maid ran in from outside and said hurriedly, "Mrs. Ming, hurry up! The master is back! He heard that Madam had opened the young lady's private room and was very angry. I'm afraid Madam won't be able to stay for long."

Ming Huashang stood up in surprise, and at this time the sound of the argument outside was rapidly approaching. Mrs. Huang could not hold it for long, she could not hold it at all!

The maid hurried over to pull Ming Huashang away, but the portrait of Ming Huashang was not finished yet, so how could she be willing to leave like this? As she was pushing and pulling, the door was heavily opened, and the chief priest came in.

Well, no one can leave. Ming Huashang was fearless. She was not afraid when she saw the hostile-looking chief priest, but she was shocked when she saw the young man from a noble family beside Huang Yue.

"Thank you, brother?"

Xie Jichuan stood with his hands behind his back, his peach blossom eyes that looked warm on the outside but cold on the inside showed a rare genuine smile, and he greeted Ming Huashang leisurely, "Second sister, long time no see."