Detective in the Red Chamber

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

But when Sun Shaozong went to Zhou's house to inspect the scene, the eldest wife of Ningguo Mansion, Youshi, also hurried to Wang Xifeng's house.

"Ping'er, Ping'er?!"

You Shi yelled as soon as he entered the door, and when Ping'er came out in a hurry, he couldn't help complaining, "Where's your grandma? That's good, I worked so hard to help her prepare for her birthday, but she left me behind." Down—the old lady kept saying that I wanted a birthday star, but where would I make one for her?"

After complaining all over this, You Shi realized that Ping'er's expression was in a trance, and there was something wrong with his complexion. Although he was facing himself, he seemed to be wandering away.

"What's the matter?"

Youshi asked suspiciously, "Look at you looking so out of your mind, I never heard of any little hoof pouring your wine?"

"No... nothing..."

When she learned that Jia Lian had a crush on Sun Shaozong, it wasn't just Wang Xifeng who was shocked, Ping'er was also shocked, and she still hasn't recovered from the shock.

However, seeing You Shi became suspicious, she was afraid that this matter would affect Sun Shaozong's reputation, so she cheered up and said, "Our second grandma just drank a few more glasses, and she felt a little uncomfortable when the wind blows her body, and now she has fallen asleep. I'm afraid I can only trouble you to take care of her in front of the old ancestor's wife."

After listening to Youshi, although she felt that the words were a bit incomplete, she couldn't find any faults at the moment, and besides, she actually had other matters, and she wanted Xun Ping'er to inquire into the details.

So he simply changed the topic, pointed to the hand-painted veranda, and said, "Your grandma can take a break from her busy schedule, so why don't you like me to rest at your house? Let's go, come and sit with me in the veranda, I just have something to do I want to find you to inquire about it."

With that said, he went to flatten his sleeves.

She is the master after all, how can Ping'er refuse?

He had no choice but to give in half-pushed, and followed Youshi to the verandah.

You Shi first pressed her against the railing, then sat down next to her, hugged Ping'er's slender waist, pressed her red lips together, and whispered happily, "I heard someone Said, Brother Lian gave you and that Xiaohong to the Sun family's Erlang envoy - this can't be true, can it?"

When Ping'er heard this, his complexion changed suddenly, and he was about to jump up from the railing, but Youshi held him firmly.

"Don't worry, I'm just listening to people talking nonsense, I'm afraid you will be kept in the dark, and you won't know if you have a bad reputation-if there is no such thing, I will have those low-spirited bastards sent away when I go back. !"

That's what he said, but seeing Ping'er's reaction, You Shi believed it [-]% in his heart.

After Ping'er calmed down, although his face was flushed, he felt a sense of relief in his heart - since the news had already spread to the East Mansion, it must have spread throughout the Rongguo Mansion long ago.

That being the case, why are you still hiding it?

Anyway, he has made up his mind to get out of Rongguo Mansion!

So Ping'er gritted his teeth, and blurted out, "This is not a rumor, the second master has indeed promised me to Mr. Sun, and Mr. Sun also promised to accept me as a concubine—it's just that grandma can't leave me for a while, so she's going to do it again." Stay with me for a while."

As soon as these words were spoken, Ping'er's heart sank immediately, but it was Youshi's turn to feel awkward.

She had heard that Ping'er was sent by Jia Lian to warm Sun Shaozong's bed, and felt a sense of sympathy for her - but she never thought that Ping'er would go to the Sun's residence to be his concubine!

At this moment, Youshi overturned the bottle of vinegar in his heart, regurgitated his acid, and smiled reluctantly, "Then I would like to congratulate you. Although Master Sun is not as good as our Rongning Second Mansion, he is first-class." He is a talented young man, and a master who can love others..."

The more she talked, the more uncomfortable she felt, and it seemed that someone had stolen something, and her heart felt empty.

Especially when it comes to the word "will hurt people", the lingering scene of that night's death immediately came to mind, and for a while, I felt lonely and cold, and I was upset.

In the midst of the two heavens of ice and fire, suddenly a maid came running over, chirping and shouting, "Eldest lady, eldest lady! Where did the aunt tell me that the old lady is not feeling well, please go and have a look." Take a look."

Stepmother unwell?

Would you like to invite yourself to take a look?

Right now she is living in the Sun's residence, if there is anything she needs to tell the servants of the Sun's family, why bother to find her?

After thinking about it for a while, Youshi guessed that the stepmother was probably afraid of delaying the marriage of the third sister, so she hurriedly called her over to explain something.

So he ordered: "You tell the person who came here, I really can't leave right now, and after I have dealt with the matter at hand, I will go and see the old lady."

Chapter 538

Another mystery!

After inspecting the scene of the arson and burning corpse case, Sun Shaozong took people to the neighbors to learn about the situation of Zhou's family, but the result can only be described as lackluster.

Just as inferred before coming here, it is basically certain that the person with the scorched face is the culprit who shot and killed Zhou Xi before.

But he killed Zhou's servant, committed suicide by taking poison in the study, and attempted to destroy the corpse, but he couldn't find out what he was trying to cover up.

And that Zhou Xi had been studying hard behind closed doors when he was a teenager, and rarely interacted with his neighbors as an adult, and even entrusted others to take care of his own store.

Therefore, the information from the neighbors was not as detailed and clear as Yun'er's confession.

However, Zhou Xiucai's parents and old neighbors still remember Zhou Xiucai's parents who died young.

It is said that when Father Zhou was young, he worked in the Jiaofang Division of the Ministry of Rites. Later, because he took the daughter of a criminal official as his wife, he was exposed by his colleagues in the Jiaofang Division. Most of it.

As a result, for two or three years, in order to make ends meet, Zhou's father had to work as a musician, wandering between brothels and brothels, suffering from the bitterness of the world.

However, Zhou's father did not anger his wife Zhao because of this, but became more and more affectionate with her.

In the autumn of the eighth year of Guangde, the Zhao family was unfortunately infected with the epidemic. Zhou's father waited on him for more than a month in front of the bed with his clothes untied. In the end, both the husband and wife died of illness.

"I think Zhou Xiucai is also because he is too sad, so he gets drunk outside all day, and even ruined his career in the imperial examination."

Thinking of the mournful appearance of the neighbor next door, Sun Shaozong was speechless for a while.

It seems that no matter what, as long as it can be connected with the word "good story", there is no taboo. Even going in and out of the romantic place during the mourning period, such outrageous behaviors, have become a clear proof of missing parents.

Seeing that the sun was setting to the west, Sun Shaozong called Qiu Yunfei over, saying that he would have court criminals to be tried tomorrow, so the ensuing investigation could only be temporarily entrusted to him.

"I don't know what secrets are involved behind this case. You must not take it lightly. Tomorrow, clean up the scene of the fire and see if you can find any clues."

"Remember, once you find anything, immediately send someone to Beizhen Fusi to inform me!"

Seeing Sun Shaozong's seriousness, Qiu Yunfei didn't dare to smile any more, and hurriedly straightened his fat belly, expressing that even if he dug three feet into the ground, he must find useful clues.

Sun Shaozong did not doubt his enthusiasm for investigating cases. After all, this kid has long been unwilling to be a low-level prosecutor, and now he is bound to win the post of procuring criminal names.

Seeing the opportunity to make meritorious service now, how could he miss it in vain?

What should be worried about is his safety instead - Lu Jianxing also has official errands, so it is impossible to guard him all day long.

Fortunately, this guy has a father who is a Taiwei, and he will send someone to inform Qiu Taiwei later, and let Qiu Taiwei take care of it.

After entrusting the investigation to Qiu Yunfei, Sun Shaozong originally wanted to call Xue Pan and others to leave together, but that idiot became stubborn again, saying that this matter was all caused by himself, and he insisted on staying. Come down and share joys and sorrows with Qiu Yunfei.

Although Feng Ziying and Liu Xianglian didn't want to wade into this muddy water, they couldn't leave Xue Pan here alone, so they had no choice but to stay with them to the end.

So in the end, only Lu Jianxing and Shen Lian left with Sun Shaozong.

But it was said that Sun Shaozong left Zhou's house first, beat his horse and whipped his horse without saying a word, and drove straight for two streets, then turned his horse's head around and turned into a remote alley.

Lu Jianxing and Shen Lian hurriedly urged their horses to follow in.

Seeing that Sun Shaozong reined in the alley, the two immediately rolled off the saddle, one knee and the other both knees, and knelt down in front of Sun Shaozong's horse.

Lu Jianxing, who was kneeling on one knee, earnestly said, "Thank you, Mr. Sun, for your protection!"

Shen Lian, who was kneeling on the ground, was expressionless, "Please punish me, my lord."

Sun Shaozong was sitting on the horse, without looking at his brothers. While combing the mane of the black horse under his crotch with a whip, he asked calmly, "Since I brought you to the banquet that day, has Xue Pan ever offended you?" you?"

Shen Lian lowered his head, "Never."

Snapped!

A horsewhip landed on his shoulder in response, and under the royal blue brocade clothes, a smear of blood suddenly bloomed, obviously he had been beaten to pieces!

Shen Lian's body trembled slightly, but he said in his mouth, "Sir Shen Lian, thank you for your reward."

"Don't be in a hurry to thank me, I haven't finished asking about this matter yet."

As Sun Shaozong said, he still asked calmly, "Did Yun'er have any affair with you before she was taken care of by Xue Pan?"

"Never."

Another bloody whip mark was branded on Shen Lian's shoulder.

"Have you ever revealed to Xue Pan that you like that Yun'er?"

"Never."

Snapped!

"Have you ever tried to persuade Xue Pan not to abuse that Yun'er?"

"Never."

Snapped!

Four horsewhips were drawn up in a row, until the tough brocade clothes were beaten to pieces. Shen Lian's forehead was covered with cold sweat, but he refused to utter a single moan from beginning to end.

It wasn't until Sun Shaozong stopped questioning that he knocked his head on the ground again, and said in a muffled voice, "Shen Lian, thank you again for your reward."

"Thank you, brother."

Sun Shaozong snorted and said, "Of course, if you have resentment, you might as well try to take revenge on this official."

"Shen Lian dare not!"

Shen Lian said in a deep voice, "If it wasn't for the recommendation of the adults, my eldest brother and I..."

"Because I recommended you, it is even more forbidding for you to attack Xue Pan!" Sun Shaozong's voice suddenly turned sharp, and he crouched on the ground and stared at Shen Lian viciously, "For your elder brother's sake, this time I will Forgive you, if there is another time, you may have the opportunity to review the methods you learned in Beizhen Fusi!"

After finishing speaking, Sun Shaozong straightened his back and rode off on his horse.

It wasn't until the sound of rumbling horseshoes faded away that Lu Jianxing got up from the ground and took out a small porcelain bottle from his waist.

slap~

Before Lu Jianxing could unplug the bottle, Shen Lian waved his hand violently and swept the porcelain bottle away.

珰~

The porcelain vase was also strong, knocked against the moss-covered wall, but it didn't break, rolled on the ground a few times, and reached Lu Jianxing's feet again.

Lu Jianxing attached himself to pick up the porcelain bottle, pulled out the cork, and as if he was okay, he carefully peeled off the rags from Shen Lian's wound, and poured the black and yellow medicine powder on it.

I don't know if it was pain, or because of Lu Jianxing's attitude, Shen Lian's cold face finally came alive again, the flesh on his face writhed a few times, exhaling foully, "Brother, I... um... !"

But it turned out that Lu Jianxing had poured half a bottle of medicine powder, and suddenly stretched out his hand to press it, kneading the bloody wound together with the medicine powder on it.

This time, as if countless steel needles had been stabbed into his flesh, Shen Lian heaved in pain, sweat poured down his forehead.

"Are you awake?!"

Lu Jianxing gritted his teeth and asked, "Didn't you say that one day, you will sit upright at the head of the court and let those yamen and princes flatter you like dogs?!"

"Is this how you fulfilled your oath?!"

"For the sake of a lowly brothel girl, you fed all your ambitions to the dogs?!"

Shen Lian became silent again, gritted his teeth, and finally squeezed out another sentence from between his teeth after a long while, "Let's go, go back to the camp for night duty!"

While saying that, regardless of the injury on his shoulder, he grabbed the rein and climbed onto the horse's back.

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

Not to mention how Lu Jianxing and Shen Lian returned to the barracks outside the city.

However, Sun Shaozong thought about the case all the way, and returned to his house. In front of the stable near the corner gate, he handed over the horse to Zhang Cheng to take care of. He was about to drive to the backyard, but suddenly saw two strange carriages parked inside.

After asking casually, I realized that Mother You was suffering from a sudden illness, so the eldest wife of Ningguo Mansion came to visit her specially.

Hearing this, Sun Shaozong was a little surprised again.

Since Geinnayou's mother entered the Sun's house, she didn't have to worry about food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and everything was the best choice. She had a big heart and a fat body in just a few months. How could she suddenly have an emergency?

Seeing that the setting sun was still hanging halfway across the sky, Sun Shaozong hesitated for a while, and then walked towards the west courtyard—although he was not a serious mother-in-law, but since he was sick at his own house, he should go there to put on a gesture.

When I arrived at the Xikua courtyard, I saw several maids guarding in front of the three main rooms where Youmu lived.

Seeing that Sun Shaozong had arrived, they hurriedly divided into two groups, one group went forward to greet them, and the other group went in through the curtain to report the news to the Youshi mother and daughter inside.

Not long after, Second Sister You's tall and plump figure rushed out from the inside, stepped forward to salute and said, "Master Pian Lao has made a note, and I would like to thank you for my mother."

Sun Shaozong saw that the servants of the Ningguo Mansion had already retreated two zhang away, so he lowered his voice and asked, "Isn't your mother still well before? Why did you suddenly become ill?"

Second Sister You covered her mouth and snickered, glanced back at the servants in Ningguo Mansion, then lowered her voice and said, "Mother's illness is really caused by you, Second Master."

This disease is born for oneself?

Sun Shaozong's heart was agitated, You's mother's age and identity, it must not be lovesickness for himself, right?

Thinking about the promise made by Second Sister You back then, the answer was ready to come out.

This mother and daughter are really a pair of 'good matchmakers'!