Chapter 39: No Good Banquet 18: Waiting for the Rabbit
The sky was fading and dark all around. The coroner had already left with the body, and the rest of the people also walked out of the woodshed and stood in the wide area outside the door.
A last ray of flaming sunset glow lingered on the horizon, its reflection etched across the water, tinting half the pond crimson. Ripples cascaded down the water, spreading far into the distance before dissipating where they hit the riverbank. The rockery on the riverbank was blurred in the twilight, looking more and more like a grave. Behind the grave, dark shadows loomed. The forest, colorless in the night, swayed left and right in the wind, like a ghost, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Xun Shu stood by the pond, exhaled, and gently shook his stiff surroundings, feeling a lot more relaxed.
Qu Zhubu and Bi Xianwei were still arguing, which made Li Song increasingly impatient. He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to take the two away and lock them up in their respective rooms, not allowing them to leave without permission.
County Magistrate Bi was about to protest when, meeting Li Song's eerie smile, he remembered that the man before him was from the Dali Temple, not just an ordinary official. However, Chief Clerk Qu was delighted, as if being locked up in the room had given him absolute safety, his life no longer in danger.
Who is good and who is evil is clear at this moment.
He Xuan walked over to her and handed her a small red flower he had picked from somewhere: "Here, these flowers are neatly picked. I'm giving them to you."
The flower was so small, only about the size of a thumb, that it was hard for He Xuan to see it. Xun Shu placed the flower in his palm, stared at it for a moment, and whispered, "It looks like a miniature milo flower."
"When I picked the flower just now, I thought that although it was small, it dared to compete with the weeds that were several times taller than it, and it could be seen at a glance in the dim twilight. It was very eye-catching and dazzling. That's why I wanted to give it to you. I didn't notice that this flower looked like a milfoil..." He Xuan reached out to snatch the flower back, "It's unlucky, I'd better throw it away."
Xun Shu dodged his movement sideways, carefully put the small flower into her purse, and then stuffed the purse into her shoulder bag.
"Now that you've picked it, don't let it go to waste. Just don't do this again. This flower looks like it's fighting with the weeds, but it could be hiding in the grass, wanting to live a peaceful life. It's better to let nature take its course and not interfere with the cause and effect of this little flower."
He Xuan fumbled with his sleeves, deep in thought. When the wind came and went and the weeds returned to calm, he finally spoke: "Okay, I'll do as you say."
He Xuan's tone was noticeably down, and Xun Shu looked at him curiously. Just as she was about to ask him why, she caught a glimpse of Li Song approaching with a lantern. She took a half step back, her eyes wary, staring intently at the unfamiliar Dali Temple official.
Li Song naturally noticed her actions.
He has a good memory. Today is the first time they meet. He doesn't know what has irritated the girl... Is it because he looks ugly and scary?
He touched his cheek, thinking that this face was popular among countless young ladies in Beijing, so it shouldn't scare this country girl like this, right?
He Xuan couldn't bear to look at Li Song's self-doubt. He Xuan cleared his throat and said, "My Lord, is there anything else?"
Li Song then remembered his purpose: "I want to remind you guys to stay in your rooms tonight and don't walk around casually."
Xun Shu reacted quickly, hesitated for a moment, and then asked cautiously, "Is something going to happen tonight? Is it related to the murderer who killed General Yang?"
He Xuan turned his head to look at her, his eyes full of amazement. Under the dim light of the lantern, she looked particularly gentle. If it weren't for the people from the Dali Temple who were all around him, he would have applauded and encouraged her. "How did Ah Shu come up with this idea?"
Xun Shu lowered his eyelashes, pinching the corner of his clothes, and said slowly, "General Yang definitely didn't commit suicide. Of the remaining people, only that person arrived last, so he had time to kill. Unfortunately, we have no evidence at the moment. We can only wait until he can no longer hold back and act again, then catch him in the act, and then we can convict him."
"How did Ah Shu know that he would definitely do it?"
"That man must have come here because of the missing disaster relief silver. He tied General Yang to the woodshed, tortured him with a wooden stick, and then killed him. After County Magistrate Feng's death, General Yang was the last person in this house who was related to this case. He wanted to get the whereabouts of the disaster relief silver from General Yang. If he got the answer he wanted, he would definitely take the money away as soon as possible. If not, now that someone has appeared in the house who may be related to the events of that year, that man will definitely go find this person." Xun Shu pursed his lips and said with certainty, "No matter which one it is, this man will definitely strike again."
He Xuan stood with his arms folded, his chin slightly raised, his eyes full of the youthful spirit. "I think these people don't know where the money is hidden. After County Magistrate Zheng died, the house was vacant for a year. It wasn't until County Magistrate Zhao took office that it welcomed a new owner. If anyone among these people knew the whereabouts of the money, they would definitely find a way to transfer the money to an easily accessible place before the new residents moved in. Otherwise, it would be very inconvenient to withdraw the money after the house was occupied. Not only would you need a legitimate reason to enter the house, but you would also have to be careful to avoid other people's eyes. But now, looking at the behavior of these people, it's clear that the money is still in the house and no one has taken it yet."
Xun Shu hesitated a bit, "Perhaps they were afraid of being discovered by the guards around them? They wanted to be safe, so they haven't moved the disaster relief money for many years."
He Xuan didn't argue with her, but just smiled and said, "How about we make a bet? If he wants to get the hiding place from General Yang, he will definitely go find that person before the Dali Temple inquires about it and try to force him to tell the whereabouts of the disaster relief money."
Xun Shu readily agreed, "Alright. If he finds the hiding place, he'll definitely go get the silver, or he'll just hold his ground and wait for us to leave before going. Since this is a bet, there has to be a stake. What do you want to bet on?"
He Xuan looked at the crowd watching the excitement and swallowed the words he was about to say: "I'll tell you after we leave here."
Can you place a bet after knowing the outcome? Xun Shu was puzzled, but he didn't say much, just nodded in agreement.
Li Song stood aside, taking everything in. During this time, he received He Xuan's warning glances from time to time, and felt disgusted in his heart.
When this man was in Beijing, he always looked aloof and looked down on everyone. Now that he has come to this small rural place, he has become so worthless.
He should really ask a painter to paint this scene on paper, and when he returns to Beijing, he should post the portrait in the most conspicuous place in the capital for everyone to see.
The moon was high in the sky, and it was already late. Li Song waited until the two men across from him finished discussing their inexplicable bet before speaking, "Since you two want to help the Dali Temple, how can I not agree? However, the murderer's actions are unpredictable. No one can predict whether he will act tonight. If you still want to join in the fun, then I will be waiting for you at midnight."
-
The night is cool and much more comfortable than the day. Occasionally, the night breeze blows on your face, making you feel sleepy and wanting to fall asleep.
Xun Shu and He Xuan hid in Bai Xing's courtyard, holding their breath and carefully standing behind the door. Flying mosquitoes and insects swarmed around them, but they couldn't make any noise to shoo them away, so they could only endure it silently.
The gate has not been renovated for many years and the paint has long been peeling off. You have to be extra careful when approaching it. If you touch it accidentally, the creaking sound can tear the quiet house apart. Not to mention alarming bad guys, even the people sleeping at the other end of the house may be woken up.
Xun Shu approached cautiously and looked out through the narrow gap.
Outside, there was complete silence; no one passed by. The moonlight was dim, illuminating the passageway in front of the doorway with every detail. The gate to the adjacent courtyard was also tightly closed, and there was no sound, as if no one lived there.
They had been waiting here for two hours. Seeing that the night was already halfway through and they still hadn't seen the "rabbit" they were waiting for, Xun Shu couldn't help but feel a little frustrated and whispered, "It seems..."
Xun Shu had just said two words when He Xuan covered her mouth. He Xuan shook his head at her, and only put his hand down when she nodded and understood what he meant.
His palms were warm, and Xun Shu's heart suddenly started beating faster. He stared blankly at the person beside him in the night, and an indescribable itch spread all over his limbs.
She was a little confused, not knowing whether it was because the day was too hot or because the "rabbit" was about to arrive that she was so nervous and at a loss.
The thumping of my heart and breathing grew stronger, mingling with the chirping of cicadas, gradually eroding the silence. Before it could completely overtake the night, a different sound finally emerged. It came from the other side of the door, like the rustling of a large bird's wings, the fluttering of its wings creating a rustling sound, or the soft, creaking sound of a cat running across tiles.
Xun Shu suppressed his restless mood, turned his head, looked through the crack in the door, and looked outside again.
A dark shadow passed over the layers of roof tiles, rising and falling, approaching from afar. It fell on the silvery-white bluestone tiles, like a continuous shadow play. Xun Shu watched the figure flash by, tumble into the courtyard, and disappear again, his heartbeat intensifying.
The man was always perceptive. Xun Shu didn't dare to look at him any longer. He took a half step to the side and hid himself behind the door. He Xuan, standing by, didn't seem to be curious about what was happening outside. He lowered his head and stared at his palm, wondering what he was thinking. He didn't show any of the sharpness he had just shown when he covered his mouth.
"You win." Xun Shu mouthed to He Xuan.
He Xuan clenched his fist, locking the soft touch in his palm: "I win."
As soon as the words fell, Zheng's screams echoed from the opposite courtyard, accompanied by the sounds of fighting and struggling, which were particularly obvious in the silent night. The moment the sound rang out, countless people emerged from all directions and jumped into Zheng's courtyard.
He Xuan pushed open the courtyard gate and, together with Xun Shu, walked straight through the two courtyard gates and into the courtyard opposite.
People from the Dali Temple filled the small courtyard, with a lantern every three steps, lighting up the entire courtyard, making sure that no crime could escape detection.
Li Song personally pushed Qiu Anping out of the house and raised an eyebrow at He Xuan standing in the crowd: "It's done."
Qiu Anping was wearing a nightgown and his eyes seemed to be poisoned, which reminded Xun Shu of the poisonous snake spitting out its tongue that he had seen in the mountains. Just one glance made his scalp tingle and he didn't want to look at it again.
"It's you." Xun Shu said softly.
Qiu Anping didn't say anything, his expression was cold and distant, as if everyone in front of him was a dead object.
Zheng Shu followed the others out of the room, neatly dressed, her hair tied back in a simple bun, clearly having received the news earlier. Supported by her maid, she slowly walked out. The door to the east wing also opened at this moment, and Madam Zheng walked out with Zhao Yuanan. They took in the situation, their eyes wary and panicked.
The Dali Temple's men bound Qiu Anping's hands and feet with iron chains and kicked him in the knees, forcing him to his knees. The crisp sound of kneecaps colliding with bluestone was particularly eerie in the dead of night. Li Song circled around him, drew the sword from his waist, and pressed the tip of the blade to his chin. With a slight pressure, he was forced to raise his head and gaze at the crowd in the most humiliating posture.
"It's inappropriate for Young Master Qiu to enter a widow's room in the middle of the night dressed like this, isn't it?"
Qiu Anping sneered, "Since when have people from the Dali Temple started getting involved in such trivial matters?"
"No matter how big or small the crime is, I cannot stand idly by when someone from the Dali Temple passes by. Otherwise, how can I be worthy of wearing this official robe? Tell me, why did you come to see Zheng?"
"I saw that Zheng was beautiful, so I came to pick flowers late at night, but I didn't expect that the Dali Temple also took a fancy to this flower... I came a step late and missed the opportunity." Qiu Anping raised the corner of his lips, with obvious sarcasm.
Seeing that this man was talking nonsense and none of his words were believable, Li Song no longer wanted to waste time with him and turned to ask Zheng Shu: "Auntie Zheng, are you acquainted with this man?"
Zheng Shu stared at the man for a long while and said hesitantly, "I have never seen him before, but my late husband mentioned before he passed away that this man was a distant cousin of Governor Ouyang. He traveled to Chaozhou and brought a letter from Governor Ouyang, hoping that my late husband could take care of him." It was Governor Ouyang again.
When a name is mentioned frequently, that person is inevitably involved in the recent events. Li Song paused, his expression becoming serious, and continued, "Do you know why he came to see you tonight?"
Zheng Shu sighed, "It's probably for the disaster relief money. Although I don't know much about what happened back then, I always believe that my father is innocent. He has been a kind person all his life and has done a lot of good for the people of Chaozhou. How could he steal the disaster relief money? He must have been framed or coerced! That money was not stolen by my father, so I naturally don't know where it is hidden now. But I have said these words countless times, and no one believes it...
"After Madam left, many people came to my house quietly, trying to find out where the money was. Fortunately, I had the master's protection, so I could feel a little safe... Now that the master is gone, I'm afraid that this peace of mind is gone..." She raised her head, glanced at Li Song, then looked at He Xuan and Xun Shu not far away. "It's been five years, and I still haven't found the money. I'm afraid I won't be able to find it in the future... My son is still young. If anything happens to me, I wonder if you gentlemen can take care of me?"
No one spoke for a moment. Everyone's eyes were focused on the orphan and his widowed mother, and they couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for them.
Zhao Yuanan bit his lip, his grape-like eyes filled with tears as he looked at his mother, stubbornly not crying out loud. Xun Shu looked at Zhao Yuanan, as if she saw herself many years ago. She softly agreed, "I may not be a noble person, but if you need me, I will do my best to help you."
Zheng Shu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: "Thank you."
"Don't worry, Aunt Zheng. Perhaps the lost relief money will be found in the next few days, relieving you and your son of your worries," He Xuan suddenly said. He glanced at Madam Zheng and said, "This is your aunt, Madam Zheng, right? I heard that before County Magistrate Zheng's accident, his brother broke off relations with your family. Now it seems like they've reconciled."
He Xuan spoke in a sarcastic tone. Old Madam Zheng frowned and looked at the young man who was dressed simply, her displeasure evident in her words. It was a pity that this was not Zheng's house, so no one cared about her displeasure.
Zheng Shu spoke calmly, telling the truth without concealing anything: "My aunt came to see me to ask for disaster relief funds, but she didn't expect her arrival to be inopportune. An unexpected incident occurred in the mansion, and the house was sealed off by the government officials, so she couldn't leave for a while."
"Oh? Five years have passed. Why did Madam Zheng suddenly remember this? And how did you know that Concubine Zheng was hiding in the Zhao residence?" Li Song was surprised and looked at Madam Zheng meaningfully. "But what happened? Or did someone find you and tell you everything?" Before Madam Zheng could answer, he added, "Madam Zheng, this matter is of great importance. Countless people have died. If you don't tell the truth and bring the criminals to justice, you and your family may be in danger, or even be silenced. You must think carefully."
Isn't this a threat? Madam Zheng swallowed, the drooping flesh on her face trembling slightly. After a while, she gritted her teeth and spoke, her voice trembling slightly: "I heard from the servants that County Magistrate Bi has been arrested by you?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
