The bear child of the Red Chamber, Jia Cong

Chapter 966

Miss Ruan San was poisoned and died, and the mother of the little maid who was beaten to death by her earlier committed suicide by hanging herself. The suspect has been roughly identified.When people from the kitchen came over, Qiu Liang asked, and sure enough, the woman was joking with others beside the third girl's medicine jar, and accidentally pushed the daughter-in-law who kept the stove.At that time, the daughter-in-law was opening the lid of the medicine jar to look in, so she dropped the lid.A few people thought about it carefully, if the mother-in-law hid some powdered medicine in her hand, it was very convenient to sprinkle it in.It's just that I don't know where the woman got the poison.Because she was originally a gatekeeper, it was very easy to recognize outsiders.The origin of this medicine is not easy to handle.

The crown prince then ordered to investigate the files of pending cases across the country, and to collect all cases of death due to poisoning that could not be found, no matter whether they were solved or not.The old man Qiu Liang was interested and presided over it himself.

Seeing the young lady looking at Qiu Liang with great interest, the prince said, "Master Qiu is getting old, this young lady has a good memory, how about asking her to help you do some chores all the time?"

Qiu Liang was assassinated and injured in his early years, and it happened that Chen Ruijin was in Shu and saved his life, so he had no intention of looking down on women.Nai stroked his beard and said, "The Tong girl has a sharp mind, which just makes up for my old man's lack of memory."

Tong Niangzi hurriedly stepped forward to salute, her eyes glistening with joy.Qiu Liang then asked her name.Tong Niangzi's boudoir name is Buye, because she had an extremely wild temperament when she was young.Master Tong was afraid that she would not be able to marry in the future, so he specially chose this name.Mingduan listened and said in a low voice: "What's the use of naming, it's not wrong." Tong Buye just pretended not to hear.

From that day on, the old man collected files and looked up the case.Yicha was taken aback.This year alone, four people died of inexplicable poisoning in Chengdu Prefecture.Looking at the dossier, Qiu Liang trembled with anger, and called the magistrate to scold him: "Eating rice from the imperial court is not doing business! What's the use of wearing this black gauze hat!"

The magistrate was wronged all over the world: "I have done what I should do! It is really an unsolved case that no one knows what kind of poison the doctor used. It was a last resort."

Qiu Liang grabbed a paperweight from the desk and threw it at it. The Zhifu dodged sideways, and the paperweight flew past the wing of the hat and hit the ground with a "swish", and folded the wing of the hat by the way.Qiu Liang pointed at him and said, "Such an obvious and identical death from poisoning, pigs know that the case should be merged, and you act as if nothing happened! Sloppy and perfunctory, like a monk hitting the clock for a day! If you don't want to do it The magistrate should have made it clear earlier that the prince didn't ask you to do it, so he will naturally send someone else!" The magistrate was so frightened that his complexion turned pale, and he repeatedly begged for mercy.

Qiu Liangnai compared the four victims with Miss Ruan San to see if there were any similarities.After looking through the dossier, I realized that the five people were completely different.A scholar, a businessman, an idler, a housekeeper, and a young lady.One died in a restaurant, one died in a shop, one died in a flower building, and two died at home.The remaining four have nothing to do with the guerrillas.

Tong Buye stood before the case and thought for a long time, then said: "Master Qiu, let's find out if there is any murder case on these four—the kind of murder case that does not enter the government."

"Huh? How can there be a murder case that doesn't go to the government?"

Tong Buye said: "The maid who died in Ruan's mansion will not enter the government. Those who have no complaints will not enter the government."

Qiu Liang sounded reasonable, so he took her to check the house by himself.

The first one asked about the scholar.Both father and brother in the scholar's family denied that he had killed anyone.Tong Buye said: "You guys have figured it out. There is a person who is as poisonous as him, who killed the girl in the family and was avenged by the mother." His father still believed that his son was kind by nature and treated his servants very well. good.It was his elder brother who thought about it, and just in case, he called the book boy who followed his younger brother to ask.

The book boy thought about it for a long time, and said: "Second master got a little Xianggong in the Xianggong hall last autumn, and made him sick. I heard that he didn't survive the New Year. Is that counted?"

Tong Buye immediately said: "Of course. Even a young gentleman will inevitably have friends and even relatives." He immediately wrote it down.Qiu Liang glanced at her approvingly.

The scholar's father was shocked: "Who will take him to the Xianggongtang!" He called someone to the school to ask the teacher.

The next few companies followed this path to ask.Sure enough, everyone carries their lives behind their backs.The businessman kicked a beggar, and the beggar died soon after; the idle man begged a widow for help but spread rumors, the widow threw herself into a well, and the housekeeper got into a verbal dispute with the man, and urged the master to promise his 13-year-old daughter to a beggar. The violent-tempered nursing home and the girl died of illness within a year.

Now that there is a sufferer, Qiu Liang will be able to do the rest without breaking a sweat.The scholar died in the restaurant he used to frequent. Before his death, the restaurant recruited a new guy with extremely low wages, who was the one who delivered the wine to him.The guy quit his job not long after.Before the businessman died, a handyman was recruited in the shop, who only paid for food and did not pay.Half a year after the widow's death, the only son moved to unknown where. Someone once saw him in Huajie.Take a pair of portraits, and sure enough, he once worked as a laborer in the flower building where the idle man died.The uncle of the girl killed by the housekeeper's wife loved his niece very much. After her death, the niece had pursued a watery daughter-in-law in the kitchen, but now she had already run away.

Qiu Liang led the people out of the butler's wife's house, and took a look at Tong Buye. "Tong girl, what do you think?"

Tong Buye said: "There are people who send poison and medicine to those who hold grudges hard to avenge."

"anything else?"

"These things are not difficult to investigate. Because the people who died were ordinary people, the government didn't pay much attention to it."

"anything else?"

Tong Buye thought for a long time: "Not anymore."

Qiu Liang nodded: "It's fine if it's gone. It doesn't mean that the prostitute who accompanied County Magistrate Li to drink in Jiaofang six years ago hasn't left Chengdu yet." Tong Buye's expression changed.Qiu Liang said slowly, "It's easy for any guy or beggar to escape, but it's the most difficult for a woman from the Jiaofang Division to escape." Nai looked at her and said, "You must know it. If you don't tell me, my old man will check it out." It's not difficult."

Tong Buye said: "It may not be what they did."

"Why did I say they did it?" Qiu Liang said, "You will know the truth by asking."

Tong Buye also knew that since the old man thought of it, he couldn't hide it, so he had to tell the truth.There were three happy prostitutes at the banquet that day, and the one sitting next to Mr. Li was named Qi Yaoniang, who now lives in Qingyue Nunnery.So he and Qiu Liang came to Qingyue nunnery together.

Just after entering the nunnery, Aunt Liu greeted her and said, "Aye, do you know what relatives my mother has?"

Tong Buye was taken aback: "She has relatives, didn't they all die long ago?"

Aunt Liu said anxiously: "Just now a man came to her and said he was her uncle. My mother was at a loss when she saw him for a moment, and then she looked weird. But she said that man was indeed her uncle. The two hid After saying a few words, My Niang will follow him."

Tong Buye asked anxiously, "Where is she?"

"It's already gone! I brought a few clothes with me."

Qiu Liang listened from behind and asked, "What does that man look like?"

Aunt Liu glanced at Qiu Liang and said: "He is a thin man, more than eight feet tall, with a big beard on his cheeks, a plaster on the bridge of his nose, and a scar on his face. He is wearing a pink silk shirt, look I don't know what's wrong."

Qiu Liang said: "I'm afraid that the beard and plaster scar on the face are not real."

Tong Buye stumbled angrily: "It's only one step too fast! How did they know!"

Now that the matter has come to this point, the two of them did not linger in Qingyue nunnery, they turned around and went to Xianjiaofangsi.There are still dossiers of Jiaofangsilairen since the founding of Shu Kingdom.I found Qi Yaoniang's book and looked through it. It turned out that she was the niece of a general. His uncle was convicted of embezzling soldiers' pay and implicated the whole family.The place where the troops were stationed was exactly where the county magistrate Li was an official, seven years ago.

Tong Buye stared at the words on the book for a long time, and said, "My lord, could General Qi be wronged?"

"Huh?" Qiu Liang said, "How can I see that."

Tong Buye said: "No one has ever come to me. My grandfather was not wronged." She smiled wryly, "I think he was wronged. But legally he was not wronged."

Qiu Liang thought and nodded: "I understand what you mean. Judging from the five cases this year, the deceased had intentionally wounded others to death."

So he re-investigated the ink corruption case of General Qi six years ago.General Qi was completely kept in the dark when he found Li County Magistrate's confidant master for the first trial. The corruption of ink was deceived by Li County Magistrate and General Qi's first civil servant, and then pushed him out to take the blame.Looking for the clerk again, he was gone seven years ago—he died of poisoning.In addition to his niece Qi Yaoniang, General Qi also had a nephew who was sentenced to hard labor and ran away shortly after arriving at the labor camp.However, the officials handling the case were not at fault, and all kinds of evidence were made by General Qi himself.

The prince invited Qiu Liang to discuss and analyze these cases with his subordinates.Tong Buye said first: "These are the revenge of relatives and friends who have no place to sue and are beyond the reach of the law. The slowest time is no more than a year. And it is obvious that someone is helping. For example, the widow's son, who was originally a clumsy fool Boy, I went to Hualou to work as a small worker after three months. The old bustard in Hualou still remembers him, saying that he is very clever and his mouth is as sweet as honey. During these three months, someone must teach him How to speak and how to do things. The handyman in the store has also been recognized by a beggar, and he used to be a beggar. However, when he went to the store to ask for work, his clothes were old but very clean." She hesitated for a moment and said, "Although I don't know if the person behind it is a guerrilla Ordinary people will love them. Because these fair officials can’t give them.”

The prince pondered: "There is no justice that the government cannot give."

Tong Buye shrugged: "For example, that little husband."

The prince glanced at Qiu Liang.Qiu Liang shook his head: "It's helpless. Unless the law is amended according to the federation, the humble status will be revoked."

The prince frowned and said: "It is so difficult to abolish slaves, but it is not easy to cancel lowly status."

Tong Buye said: "Otherwise, all these things will be published in the newspapers, so that the whole country will know that someone will secretly help prostitutes, beggars, widows, etc. to take revenge?"

The prince and Qiu Liang said in unison: "No." Qiu Liang said: "Is that okay?"

Tong Buye was puzzled and said, "Won't everyone have scruples like this?"

Ming Duan coughed twice: "Then do the common people go to the government or the guerrillas when they encounter troubles? Or do they seek revenge by themselves?"

Tong Buye said: "But the government can't do anything, even the prince can't change the law. In this way, people can be vigilant, lest another ignorant young girl like Miss Ruan San lose her life. And that young master, how could he know how to play?" How could a gentleman be paid for his life after his death? If he had known earlier, he would not have dealt with such a ruthless hand."

Ming Duan said: "Don't think about it any more, it's impossible."

Tong Buye glanced at everyone present: "The face of the court is more important than the lives of the people, right?"

"Yes." Ming Duan said seriously, "The face of the imperial court is indeed more important than the lives of the people, and it has been like this since ancient times. Therefore, we can only think of other ways. For example, we should still publish these cases in the newspapers, and only mention the revenge of relatives and friends. Putting their deaths on the heads of gods and Buddhas can generally make people afraid."

Tong Buye sneered and said, "There used to be Heavenly Masters in the Kingdom of Shu, isn't Master Ming afraid that they will revive with this name?"

"This..." Ming Duan couldn't help being speechless.After thinking for a long time, he shook his head and said, "I can't think of a way for now."

Qiu Liang asked: "Young girl, do you think you have a good relationship with that Qi Yaoniang?"

Tong Buye said: "A friendship of life and death." Qiu Liang nodded.

The next issue of "Chengdu Weekly" published a missing person notice, it was Tong Buye looking for his good friend Qi Yaoniang.It is said that there has been no news since Jun left, and the sisters and aunts are very concerned.If you see this announcement, my mother, please send me a letter to report your safety.

On the second day after the notice was published, Qingyue Temple received a letter from Qi Yaoniang.The letter was her own handwriting, saying that everything was fine and that she would leave Shu Kingdom with her clan uncle to make a living elsewhere.Qiu Liang immediately said: "They are still in Chengdu!" Nai ordered the whole city to be searched, especially guarding the four city gates.The city gate of Chengdu Mansion has not been closed for many years, and it will be closed after nightfall from this day on.The city of Chengdu was in a panic for a moment, and no one knew what had happened.

I never dreamed that what Shu didn't report, was reported elsewhere!The state of Qin next door has a copy of "Chang'an Tianxia Bao", which specializes in reporting news from other countries.The new issue talks about the many poisoning cases in Shu in recent years.The newspaper published a special supplement detailing more than 60 cases, the most recent of which was the death of the niece of the Queen of Shu's direct relative who beat to death a little maid.The newspaper did not mention who the suspect of poisoning was, not even the little maid's mother hanged herself by hanging herself.

This newspaper had a sales office in Shu, and it was sold out in the blink of an eye, shocking the government and the public.

Qiu Liang took the newspaper and checked the files one by one, and there was nothing wrong.Nai sneered and said, "It must have been said by the people behind the scenes."

The king of Shu urgently summoned the special envoy of Qin State to inquire.The special envoy said: "Your official also bought a newspaper on the street yesterday. This newspaper is not the official newspaper of our state of Qin, but a people's newspaper. Your official has already sent people back to Chang'an Xingye to investigate the matter."

The son went straight to Situ Cen's mansion.She put the newspaper on Situ Cen's desk: "Third Uncle, this matter is yours."

Situ Cen said, "How come it belongs to me?"

"Your buddy is too hasty and too ruthless." Shizi said, "And secretly helping the guerrillas, and doing this again." She pointed to the newspaper and said, "Isn't this forcing us to abolish slaves and cancel low status? More than 60 cases I didn’t investigate the case, and I didn’t see them say anything. I just returned to China last year, so I have to work hard for a few years, right? It’s not like you don’t know what kind of temperament your second brother and my own father are. He doesn’t want to abolish slaves from the bottom of his heart.” She snorted, "Let's push it to the ministers, saying that there is no court discussion. There is no court discussion on the abolition of slaves in Qin State. King Qin called it sick, and Prime Minister Zhu Tong ordered it to be abolished immediately."

Situ Cen frowned.He knew that if he went to ask Jia Cong, the buddy would just push him and his niece to take down the second brother.But the military power of the Kingdom of Shu is in the hands of the king of Shu alone.