Criminal investigation in ancient times

The convoy set off early the next morning. There was an autumn rain last night, and the road was still muddy when we got up in the morning. The green weeds on both sides of the road turned yellow overnight.

Zhang Rui was sitting in the carriage. He had already changed into a cotton robe, and the cloak was tightly wrapped around him, so he didn't feel cold.Uncle Han was counting money at the side, why should the two of them change into new clothes when they arrived in the capital, otherwise they would not only lose their own people, but also the old man's face when they went to the Lin Mansion!Although the Zhang family is now in ruins, it cannot be looked down upon.But the money in my hand is a little nervous again...

Zhang Rui said suddenly, "Uncle Han, if we arrive in the capital, how about we not live in uncle's house?"

Old Han was stunned and said, "Of course it's better not to live in my uncle's house, but the prices in Beijing are high, and the rent is even more expensive. I'm afraid..."

Zhang Ruidao: "Forget it, I'm just talking, but I'm not used to being under the fence."

Old Han said sternly: "What the young master said is that even if you come to the Lin family, this old slave must not let the young master suffer a little bit!" He sighed in his heart, the young master has never suffered a little bit since he was a child, and he is not familiar with the twists and turns in this house. I understand, Madam pampered him as much as possible when she was alive, now there is only him as an old slave with no one to support her, how difficult it will be in the future!

Zhang Rui nodded, and took out a book of theory from the package. He would never read such a book before. It doesn’t matter what it is. Some flashy truths would make his head hurt after reading it for a while, but now he can’t stop reading it. If you want to take the road of imperial examination in Dazhou, you must read these books, not only to understand, but also to read thoroughly.

Unknowingly, the convoy had been driving for nearly two months, and it snowed lightly on the day it arrived in Beijing. The icy snowflakes melted as soon as it fell on the body. After getting out of the carriage, because caravans and ordinary people have to pay taxes at different gates, they parted ways.Before the caravan arrived in the capital, the He family brother and sister found an excuse to leave. Zhang Rui didn't know the two very well, and he didn't ask where they were going. It was just that the younger sister of the He family quietly walked away before leaving. She stuffed him a note, then smiled and left.

There are a lot of people entering the city, and the two of them lined up behind the others, waiting to check the road guides. Only after checking the road guides can they be released. The road guides are similar to modern household registration books. Outsiders cannot enter without the guides. Fortunately, Uncle Han had already prepared a guide for the two of them, and let the officers and soldiers in after inspecting it.

The inside of the city and the outside of the city are two completely different worlds, the outside of the city is desolate, and there are many refugees who have built many small straw huts at the foot of the city.These people are people who have no way to bring in and go to the city.

The city is full of people, and it is very lively. Various vendors selling groceries are yelling at the entrance, attracting these people from other places.It was also the first time for Uncle Han to come to Beijing, and he was startled when he saw the scenery in front of him, and he was a little dazzled without realizing it.

A man in a blue jacket ran over and put his hands in a padded sleeve and bowed to the two of them, "Do you want a traveler?" This is similar to the current meaning of whether to take a taxi up.

Uncle Han was a little dazed, Zhang Rui nodded quickly and said: "My uncle and I came from other places. I don't know where there is a place that sells ready-made clothes when we first came to Beijing. I wonder if this master can take us there?"

The man opened his mouth and laughed, showing his jagged teeth, and said: "Those two have found the right person. I can find the ready-made clothing store in the capital with my eyes closed. The small ox cart is right in front of you." , the two of you don’t mind going to the car, don’t freeze my young master in this cold weather.”

Only then did Uncle Han realize that this man was a master who pulled his feet, he nodded hurriedly and led Zhang Rui into the bullock cart.

The bullock cart was covered with a small shed, with old quilts on both sides of the shed, which looked like people could sit on it, and a piece of linoleum cloth was hung in front of the shed, and when the bullock cart started to drive, the wind blew the cloth loudly. .

The coachman looked young, in his early twenties, his two faces were red and purple from the cold, and he wore a cotton hat on his head. He yelled at the cows and talked to the two people in the car.

"Are you two from the south? Are you going to Beijing to take the exam? Many students have come to Beijing to prepare for the Spring Festival next year."

Zhang Ruidao: "The two of us came to Beijing to look for relatives. Does the master know where Taichang Shaoqing Lord Lin's residence is?"

The coachman smiled and said: "Oh, I don't know this little one. If you two want to find this lord, you'd better go to Luzi Hutong and ask. There are all high-ranking officials and dignitaries living there, and ox carts are not allowed. The little one has never been there."

Zhang Rui smiled and said again: "Master just said that there are a lot of students going to Beijing for the exam this year?"

The coachman said: "That's right, this morning, the young ones pulled three of them. Most of them are from the south. They don't know the weather in the north. The cold ones are miserable~"

Uncle Han sighed: "The capital city is really cold enough. If we didn't add more clothes halfway, I'm afraid we would be frozen into icemen in the capital city."

On the way, the coachman met another driver, he yelled heartily twice and said to the two people in the car: "No, you two look fine, don't catch the wind and cold, I really don't like the cold weather, A few days ago, an old man who was driving with us caught wind and cold and didn't survive... Hey, why did I say this, my lord, the front is coming, the ground is slippery, be careful."

After speaking, they arrived at the door of a shop selling ready-made clothes. The two got out of the car and gave the driver twenty Wen to enter the shop.

As soon as he entered the room, he was greeted with hot air, and the snowflakes on his head and body melted away, and the snow water flowed down Zhang Rui's neck.The two looked at each other a little embarrassed.Lao Han sighed secretly, fortunately he was going to buy clothes, otherwise the two of them would have gone to Lin's mansion just like that, and they wouldn't be looked down upon.

The store is very clean, similar to the clothing stores of later generations. All kinds of men's and women's robes and skirts are hung in a row. It can be seen that the boss is very particular. The room is incensed, and even the clothes have a faint fragrance.

The boss is a woman in her 30s, wearing an apricot-colored skirt. Seeing the embarrassed two people, she didn't show any contempt, and greeted them with a smile.

"The two guest officials want to choose ready-made clothes? We have all kinds of clothes, and they are all popular styles in Beijing and China."

Uncle Han said: "Choose a good material for our son, thicker clothes, it doesn't matter if they are more expensive."

When the boss heard this, he added another three points of his smile and said: "The guest officer has chosen the right one. We have added a few mink tails a few days ago, and they are all in good condition. They are great for collars." However, it just so happens that the embroiderer in my shop has a small body, and I think it should be about the same size as the young master, and if it is not suitable, I will correct it after a while." Saying that, he asked the shop assistant to take the clothes. come out.

The clerk took it out from the back room. He was wearing a snow-green long gown. Outside the gown was a small gown of the same color. The gown was surrounded by a circle of white mink fur. How about Zhang Rui.

In fact, Zhang Rui is not picky about clothes, as long as they are warm enough, but most men in ancient times wore long robes, and generally only peasants wore short shirts.

Zhang Rui took the clothes and went to the inner room to change. The clothes are fat and thin, but the cuffs are a little too long. When Zhang Rui came out from the inner room, the boss clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Only young masters can wear this clothes, young masters." Fair skin, this Xueqing is the most picky." Uncle Han also looked at it and nodded, although the material is not comparable to what the young master wore before, it still looks better than the one he wore just now.

Zhang Rui blushed a little: "The clothes fit well, but the cuffs are a bit long."

The boss said: "It's okay, I'll ask Xiu Niang to change it for you, and it will be ready in half an hour." Zhang Rui went back to the inner room to change the clothes. The brown robe was simple in style, and the fabric was not high-quality, but the size fit it well.

After a while, the embroiderer changed the clothes, Zhang Rui changed them again, this time it looked like it was custom-made, the two came out of the shop, the old clothes were already packed in the bag.Such a suit of clothes cost another 20 taels of silver.Before leaving, I asked the boss about Luzi Hutong. The boss was an enthusiastic person, so he called the shop assistants to call a bearer.

The bearer was probably in his thirties, and when the two of them talked too much about Mrs. Lin, the bearer smiled and said, "Mr. Lin knows very well that in this Luzi Hutong, there are officials of the third and fourth ranks, and those of the sixth and seventh ranks." There is no one who doesn’t know about the younger ones, young master, you get on the sedan chair first, and the younger ones will talk to you later.” Because Old Han was dressed as a servant, the bearer was not too warm with him.

Another bearer also followed, and the two lifted the sedan chair and started to walk steadily. Uncle Han followed beside the sedan chair with his burden on his back.

Zhang Rui opened the windshield curtain of the sedan chair window and said, "Uncle Han, what should I say when I arrive at the Lin's house later?"

Uncle Han: "Don't be nervous, young master. Your uncle knows about the changes in the Zhang family. Just rest assured when you arrive at the Lin family. No matter how bad Uncle Han is, he still has some face in front of your uncle. He will definitely not make things difficult for you." "He stretched out his hand to put down the curtain, "Master is weak, so we can no longer blow the cold wind. This place is no better than Xuzhou. If you get sick, it's not convenient for me to take care of you."

After walking for less than half an hour, he stopped at the side door of a mansion.The bearer said: "Young master, this is the mansion of Taichang Shaoqing Lord Lin."

Uncle Han settled the money for the two of them, and pulled Zhang Rui to knock on the door of Lin Mansion.