Since meeting Zhang Shaofei, Shi Deren has been defeated by him several times, and of course he is unwilling to do so. In order to relieve the depression in his heart, he decided to go out and relax before making any plans.
At noon that day, Shi Deren swam to Chang'an. As soon as he stepped into Chang'an Street, he met his former colleague Guan Zhaoyun.
Guan Zhaoyun, also known as the Little Zhuge, has been having a hard time since the last time he failed to pursue Zhang Shaofei under the secret order of Guan Zhenjiang, the prime minister. After he returned to his hometown and returned to his hometown, he was ignored by Guan Zhenjiang and his life was not easy. When he saw Shi Deren on the streets of Chang'an, he knew very well what kind of person he was and what he had done in the past. Although he and I worked together in the Governor's Mansion, we had similar odors. But today is different from the past. Just as he was about to avoid him, Shi Deren recognized him at a glance, turned around and shouted loudly: "Brother Zhaoyun, I am Shi Deren!"
"Oh, is it Shi Deren? What kind of wind brought you, the master, to Chang'an today!" Guan Zhaoyun had no choice but to turn around and meet Shi Deren.
After talking, the two of them felt that they were in the same boat: they both had a hard time because of Zhang Shaofei. But when Guan Zhaoyun learned from Shi Deren that Zhang Shaofei was in Yunwu Mountain, Qiu County, he thought of his master going back to his hometown at noon, and mentioned that two businessmen from Shanxi came this morning, saying that groups of tigers were infested in the mountains, and dozens of people were injured. The commotion made people panic and the chickens and dogs restless. The local people all talk about the situation. They are so frightened that they are in panic all day long. They lock their doors and households every day, and they are miserable. Therefore, the county magistrate specially sent an official to the court to ask experts to eliminate harm to the people. But the master was also worried about this matter and felt unhappy.
Therefore, Guan Zhaoyun took Shi Deren back to Guan Mansion to see if he could share his master's worries.
This person is strange even if he is not strange. Shi Decai, known as the Niu Gui Master, happened to be Guan Zhenjiang's "secret guest" on the recommendation of his grandfather's protégé, Guangling Inspector Wang Weizhong, when Guan Zhenjiang was the governor of Huguang.
This has to start with the sudden disappearance of a young girl, Ding Yuli, in Shangsha Town, Huzhou 10 years ago.
Ding Yuli was the apple of her parents' eye, and she was usually obedient. This time, when her parents saw that their beloved daughter had been missing for many days without any reason, they thought: their daughter must have been murdered.
This makes the people where she lives live in fear and no peace.
This unjust case was uncovered after Guan Zhenjiang took office. Ding Yuli, who disappeared all because she was Guan Zhenjiang's niece.
After Guan Zhenjiang took office, he ordered that this iron case that had been sealed for 10 years must be investigated to the bottom of the case, so as to comfort his sister's tortured soul.
Huguang's investigation experts changed batch after batch, but they all came back empty-handed, complaining that no clues had been left behind in the case.
Guangling Inspector Wang Weizhong and Governor Guan Zhenjiang were eager to solve the historical unsolved case, so he strongly recommended Shi Deren, saying that although he was a private lawyer, he was quite scheming and had excellent analytical skills. If Shi Deren comes to investigate the case, he may be able to solve this historical unsolved case.
Therefore, Shi Deren, a lawyer who was not an official, "took office".
Guan Zhenjiang saw that Shi Deren was dressed like a mountain villager, but he had beautiful features and elegant manners, so he held a banquet in honor of him.
During the banquet, Corporal Guan Zhenjiang Lixian personally poured wine and served vegetables to Shi Deren...
Shi Derensu heard that Shi Deren was a Jinshi from Guan Zhenjiang. He was full of knowledge and talent. He was honest and upright, sympathized with the weak, and his power was for the benefit of the people. When he saw him today, he suddenly felt like he was standing on a high mountain.
He thought the governor must be very proud. And this Governor of Huguang has no airs at all. In conversation, he is always so approachable and affable.
After drinking for three rounds, when Guan Zhenjiang talked about the topic of "how to solve the case", Wu Zhaoyun stayed on the table like a deflated rubber ball, shaking his head and said: "Oh, this case is hard to solve."
But Shi Deren said firmly: "It can be broken!"
Guan Zhenjiang's eyes suddenly lit up with hope, and he asked: "Deren, tell me quickly, how to solve this case?"
"Where the case occurred, start from there. All investigations and evidence collection must be conducted quietly, and avoid alerting the enemy..." Shi Deren revealed his strategy for solving the case.
Guan Zhenjiang said loudly: "Okay! Let's proceed according to your plan."
This time, the governor of Huguang, Guan Zhenjiang, assigned Shi Deren as his assistant, inspector Su Jinwang with many years of patrol experience.
Inspector Su's first reaction when he saw Shi Deren was to shake his head helplessly and vent his grievances: "We in Huguang are full of talents and experts in solving crimes. They come here one after another with great ambitions and conduct a dragnet-style open and covert investigation in the Huzhou area. , and finally left in despair. After going back and forth, more than a dozen groups of people have been changed to investigate the case, but no clues can be found. You are a private lawyer from other places, unfamiliar with the people, and you want to solve the case and reward you with money. , but it’s even harder than climbing to the sky!”
This Shi Deren is not a vegetarian either. He has been very smart and talented since he was a child. When he was 17 years old, he took part in the imperial examination. The first, second, and third tests were the old rules - the college examination, the provincial examination, and the general examination. He passed it without any effort. pass. But when it came to the fourth level - the palace examination, things didn't go so well for him - the examiner was only interested in wealth. Therefore, no matter how talented you are, if you don’t invest some money, you will never get through.
Later, in order to appease Shi Deren, the examiner gave him a "transcript" position and allowed him to enter the Hanlin Academy.
However, the proud and arrogant Shi Deren was unwilling to take up such a copying position. He wanted to give it a try. He wanted to be a Jinshi, so he refused.
Another three years later, Shi Langjin came again.
In this palace examination, Shi Deren was very good at writing, as if he had divine help.
But the examiner found a typo on his answer sheet: the word "draw" for promotion was replaced with the word "dial" for guidance.
This time, it was a mistake of one word, a slight mistake, and a mistake of thousands of miles!
Jinshi has been the "ticket" to become an official in China's feudal society since the imperial examination. If you fail to pass the Jinshi exam, you will lose your chance to enter the officialdom.
For this reason, Shi Deren fell into depression and loss.
At that time, an eminent scholar in the capital felt this and looked up to the sky and sighed: "Although the mountains of cloud and mist tower into the sky, it is a pity that although there are nine bends and eighteen bends, Deren has the talent to be a Jinshi, but he has no destiny to be a Jinshi. What a pity, what a pity!"
Even if you become a high-ranking official after receiving the Jinshi title, you will be regarded as not coming from the "right path" and will be looked down upon by your colleagues.
For this reason, Shi Deren vowed not to get involved in the government (official) field anymore. He traveled among the people, helped people write petitions, and filed lawsuits. He had no worries about food and clothing, but he lived a leisurely life.
With his resourcefulness and resourcefulness, his extraordinary talent gradually emerged. He wrote well, spoke well, and often solved unsolved cases. He was known as the "Master of Twisters".
…
Besides, Shi Deren saw that Inspector Su looked down on him and said frankly: "I took this case not for money, but to make sure that the deceased was redressed and the murderer was severely punished. This is my duty as a lawyer."
Look, Shi Deren back then was quite upright! But later on, those who were close to Mo became black and learned to be cunning.
"I have been in this business for more than 20 years, and I have personally solved at least more than 500 cases. This is the third time that I have accompanied me to investigate this unsolved case. I have used all my connections to investigate, not to mention the real evidence, even Not even a single clue was found." Su Jinwang's face was as wrinkled as dried bitter gourd.
"If the investigation path is wrong, using more connections will be in vain." Shi Deren was full of confidence, "You are a veteran in handling cases. If I handle the case with you this time, it is very likely that I will solve this case."
Su Jinwang scratched his head and changed the topic: "So, what kind of people are we going to pretend to be to investigate this time?"
"Businessman." Shi Deren already knew this. "When we go to handle this case, we won't bring any entourage with us. This time I'm going to offend you and act as my assistant for the time being."
Su Jinwang spread his hands and said helplessly, "Okay then."
Huzhou is located on the edge of the Yangtze River Delta. The vast land and water network is criss-crossed, with lakes and fish ponds connected one after another.
Shi Deren put on a long gown and mandarin jacket, his hair was combed and shiny, he wore a gold and jade diamond ring on his index finger, and the leather shoes under his feet were polished, looking like a boss.
Su Jinwang was wearing a gray gown, flat light cloth shoes, and a black bag on his shoulders, pretending to be Shi Deren's entourage.
In the name of purchasing goods for a restaurant, Shi Deren and Su Jinwang first visited various villages near the disappearance of Ding Yuli in Shangsha Town, Huzhou, leaving early and returning late.
After walking for five or six days in a row, there was no clue at all.
In the evening, when he returned to the inn where he was staying, without even lighting the oil lamp, Su Jinwang fell on the bed and beat his calves with his hands: "Oh, I have been walking for several days, and my legs are numb even a little bit." No clues can be found.”
Shi Deren lit the oil lamp and said confidently: "I believe that hard work pays off. As long as we persist, we will always gain something."
Su Jinwang's face turned gloomy and he said dejectedly: "Well, times have changed. To solve this unsolved case that spanned 10 years, it is undoubtedly a matter of finding a needle in a haystack. All the evidence has been destroyed by the perpetrators."
Shi Deren explained: "Brother Jin Wang, all clues are found by people. It is not impossible to find a needle in the sea. I believe that since someone has committed a crime, it will leave traces. The most important thing is We have to think of more ways.”
Su Jinwang saw that Shi Deren was so determined to solve the case and had official duties, so he had no choice but to say: "Then, you should think of more ways."
For the past few days, the sun has been scorching in the sky, and the earth has been scorched with waves of overwhelming heat, making people feel hot and uncomfortable all over.
Shi Deren and Su Jinwang braved the scorching sun to secretly search for clues in the countryside.
At night, Shi Deren, who was deep in thought, lay in bed unable to sleep peacefully. Looking at the moon hanging high outside the window, he felt so pale...
The night was already very deep, and Shi Deren still had trouble falling asleep.
He got up, walked out of the inn alone, and walked up the stone steps on the hill in the backyard of the inn, breathing in the fresh night air and searching for his intestines.
Walking, walking, I came to the lotus pond in the middle of the mountain without realizing it.
The lotus is blooming, and the night wind brings bursts of fragrance.
Shi Deren felt a little tired and lay under the canopy-like Bodhi tree next to the lotus pond, with his hands behind his head and looking up at the vast night sky.
The bright moon is high, the wind has stopped, and there is not a single cloud floating in the sky.
The round moon, like a mirror, hangs high in the sky. Mountain peaks, towers, pavilions, trees, flowers and plants are hazy yet clear, illusory yet real.
Shi Deren was in this light and desolate night, and all he could think about was the case.
The night was already very deep and the surroundings were extremely quiet. A leaf falling and a drop of dew rolling could be clearly heard.
At this time, a dark cloud covered the moon and the night sky darkened.
Suddenly, Shi Deren seemed to hear several faint ringing sounds.
He was startled and listened carefully, but he couldn't hear it again.
He thought he was hallucinating, smiled mockingly, and said to himself: "It seems that I am too focused on the case."
However, the erratic sound of the bell rang again.
It is like a lonely voice squeezed out from the depths of the soul, like an affectionate call sliding down from the high moon palace, and more like some kind of sign from the gods in the dark...
Shi Deren felt that there seemed to be a mysterious force that pulled his soul out of his body and floated upward...
He knelt down involuntarily...
After an unknown period of time, the cloud drifted away, the round moon became bright again, and the sky and the earth became clear.
At this time, the ringing sound came very clearly from high places...
Only then did Shi Deren discover that the elusive sound of bells came from the wind chimes on the pavilion on the hillside!
He slapped himself in the face and said to himself: "I have been traveling among the people to solve crimes for many years, but I am also obsessed with ghosts! It's just that because the dark clouds covered the moon, I mistakenly mistook the wind chimes for the sounds of nature and the sounds of gods. Voice……"
Blowing in the breeze, the sound of bells and bells is extremely beautiful in the moonlit night.
Shi Deren looked at the full moon like a mirror on the top of the pavilion, and a spiritual light suddenly burst out deep in his heart...
