Qi Junce asked General Ling to investigate the matter of the previous embroiderer. Everyone was sitting in the flower hall with a solemn mood, except for Jiang Heng, who was pacing back and forth uneasily.
Baozhu hesitated again and again, originally thinking not to take a trip into this muddy water, but thinking that it was a human life after all, he couldn't help but walked to Qi Junce's side and said.
"Master, I have made some new discoveries."
Qi Junce was a little surprised, "Oh? What a discovery."
Bao Zhu picked up the embroidered shoe again, took off some soil, and twisted it open with her fingertips. Then he came up to Qi Junce and motioned for Qi Junce to have a sniff.
Qi Junce frowned, but didn't seem to smell anything. The orb turned to Ma Dong and stretched out his hand. Ma Dong sniffed it vigorously and his eyes instantly glowed.
"Well! Sir, this soil has a bitter taste." Ma Dong said.
Hearing this, Jiang Heng grabbed Baozhu's hand, making Baozhu stagger in fright. But thinking that she would be confused if she cared, he cooperated silently.
"Yes, sir, there is a bitter smell that seems to be medicine." Jiang Heng said.
Baozhu withdrew his hand, turned to Qi Junce and said seriously: "I know some Qihuang techniques. This bitter taste is just called bone-changing medicine."
"Replace bones?" Qi Junce repeated doubtfully, "What is the use of this thing?"
Baozhu has already memorized all the medicinal effects Yue Nu told her. The fact that Yue Nu knows medical skills is a trump card, and she doesn't want to expose it.
"This thing is used for patients with fracture injuries. It has a miraculous effect on bone repair. However, the growth conditions are harsh, so it is hard to find." Baozhu said calmly.
Then he turned to Li Mu and said, "Li Fu Yamen, maybe we can find some new clues from here."
Li Fuya quickly said that what his wife said was true, and called his men to start investigating the drug stores in the city.
Not long after, good news came. The only drugstore in the city that had a rejuvenated plant was Liangji Pharmacy, and the only rejuvenated plant was bought by someone with a huge sum of money three months ago.
It happened that this person was a servant of the famous local wealthy businessman Huang Mansion, so the shopkeeper was deeply impressed by him.
General Ling Xiao, who went to investigate the dead Xiu Niang, brought back news about the woman. It turned out that the woman's surname was Hong and her name was Feng Niang.
No wonder he likes maple leaves so much, Baozhu said secretly.
She married into this sacred tree from somewhere else a few years ago. Her parents died early, leaving her with only one elder brother in the family. To say that she was married, it is better to say that she was sold by her brother.
She was sold to a ferryman in Shenmu, but the boatman didn't treat her well. People floating on the river can often hear the sound of beatings and curses coming from their boat, as well as the shrill cries of women.
But Feng Niang still devoted herself wholeheartedly to the family. Her embroidery skills were outstanding, and she set up a stall on the street selling handkerchiefs and embroidered shoes.
Because of its exquisite workmanship, it is well-known in Shenmu. But the good times did not last long, the boatman drowned in the Shenmu River, and Maple Mother cried in the boat every night.
Not long after, Feng Niang was also found dead by the river. Autopsies were performed on them, and they all found they died of drowning.
Qi Junce and Baozhu were all a little sad after hearing Feng Niang's story, and Yue Nu even said that she was really a miserable woman.
But Baozhu always felt that something was vaguely wrong, but the carriage had arrived in front of Huang's house, and Baozhu put back his scattered thoughts.
Although this sacred tree is not prosperous, it is fortunate that it relies on a large river that runs from north to south. Taking advantage of this, the Huang family has been carrying out water transportation since their ancestors.
Gradually, the Huang family became one of the few wealthy families in Shenmu.
The current head of the Huang family is Mr. Huang's second son. The eldest son has been sick all year round, and the younger son is a strong man. Mr. Huang is a man who likes to indulge in wine and meat.
For example, when Baozhu and his party arrived, he fished it back from Wanchun Tower, still smelling of alcohol.
Mr. Huang stumbled a little as he welcomed Qi Junce into the door. Li Mu's face turned green and he supported him.
Fortunately, after the group of people sat down in the flower hall, Mr. Huang remembered to ask: "I don't know what's the reason for your great presence at the humble residence?"
Baozhu gave Yue Nu a look, and Yue Nu secretly retreated.
"Mr. Huang purchased a bone-changing plant three months ago. Do you still remember it?" Qi Junce asked patiently.
"Bone-changing?" Mr. Huang sniffed his red nose, "Bone-changing grass people don't know, Huanniang grass-roots people know that she is Wanchunlou..."
Before Mr. Huang finished speaking, Li Mu anxiously covered his mouth, his face full of helplessness.
"Master Yan, seeing that he is drunk, he can't ask anything. Why don't we help Mr. Huang drink some wine first!" Li Mu said.
Qi Junce's patience was a little exhausted, and he said with an unhappy look on his face: "Come here, get some cold water for Mr. Huang to sober up!"
As soon as he finished speaking, another voice sounded from outside the door.
"Wait a minute," a tall man walked in from the door. "My father was drunk and disturbed the distinguished guests. Please be patient."
It seems that this is Master Huang's second son, Huang Xun.
Huang Xun bowed respectfully to Qi Junce, then signaled his servants to take the drunken and unconscious Mr. Huang out of the flower hall.
"I don't know what the officer wants to know, just ask me." Huang Xun said.
Qi Junce repeated what he just said, Huang Xun's face remained as usual, with a decent smile.
"Yes, I bought the bone replacement. I accidentally broke my calf three months ago and heard that this medicine has miraculous effects. It cost me a lot of money." Huang Xun admitted generously.
Bao Zhu was a little surprised. If what he said was true, the line would be broken.
"How did Mr. Huang hurt his leg?" Jiang Heng beside him continued to ask without giving up.
Huang Xun smiled slightly and answered Jiang Heng's doubts: "When I was supervising the workers unloading goods by the river, I was accidentally hit by a heavy object."
Then he bent down and tried to roll up his trousers. "Ma'am, would you like to check it out?"
Jiang Heng gritted his teeth, not caring that Qi Junce had not yet spoken, and firmly said what he wanted.
Huang Xun rolled up his trousers, and there was indeed a scar on his leg, but Baozhu couldn't tell whether it was a fracture.
At this time, Yue Nu came back from outside the hall, leaned close to Baozhu's ear, and told him that the smell of bone replacement was the strongest in a small courtyard in the west corner of the courtyard.
Yue Nu followed Baozhu's gaze and saw the scar on Huang Xun's leg, but told Baozhu that it was just a serious scratch, not a fracture.
Baozhu's eyes narrowed, looking at Huang Xun who was too calm in front of him, and felt that things were not that simple.
But because there was no evidence, Qi Junce and his party had to leave first.
On the carriage, Baozhu kept looking like he was contemplating. Qi Junce couldn't help but asked, "What's wrong? You always look like this?"
Baozhu tentatively asked Qijun if Cejue thought there might be something wrong with the Huang family?
Qi Junce nodded, "But Huang Xun's performance is flawless, and I can't search his home directly."
"The biggest flaw in this story is that the boatman drowned. How could a person who makes a living in the river not know how to swim?" Baozhu said.
Qi Junce looked at Baozhu's small and delicate face, and suddenly felt that she was not the charming and naive woman she usually was.
"And Feng Niang was tortured by the boatman. How could she be so sad that she died after the boatman died, unless she was crazy." Baozhu said angrily.
"Yes," Qi Junce said, "This is the biggest doubt. Moreover, Feng Niang is not familiar with those women, but some of them have bought things from her."
"But what's the use of talking about this now!" Jiang Heng, who had been tensing up his nerves, couldn't help but said. It had been more than half a day since Xiaoman was taken away. Baozhu could understand her anxiety.
"Your Majesty, please search the Huang Mansion directly!" Jiang Heng grabbed Qi Junce's arm and begged.
"No," Baozhu said, "This will expose His Majesty's identity, which is very dangerous. Sister, don't worry."
"How could I not be in a hurry!" Jiang Heng shouted towards Baozhu, with tears in the corners of his eyes. "That's the girl I grew up with."
"Okay, I will find a way." Qi Junce comforted Jiang Heng, while Baozhu's brain was spinning rapidly.
"But there's nothing we can do now, right?" Jiang Heng cried.
"No," an idea flashed in Baozhu's mind, "Since the enemy is hidden and we are clear, we must lure the snake out of its hole."
"What are you talking about?" Jiang Heng looked at the orb in confusion, as did Qi Junce.
"Everything started because of Maple Lady, so we can only use her." Baozhu said.
In the afternoon, notices were posted all over the sacred tree, causing a lot of discussion among the people.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, this Maple Lady is also pitiful, but she shouldn't cause trouble after death. It's really pitiful that she will end up with no bones left!"
"What a pity! She killed seven women. This kind of evil spirit should have been dealt with early!"
"That's right. I want to see the burning scene at noon tomorrow with my own eyes and spit on this witch."
Baozhu and his group were sitting in the restaurant, listening to the discussions downstairs. An announcement was issued by the government office that at noon tomorrow, Feng Niang's body would be publicly executed and burned.
The reason is naturally to deal with the evil spirits of these dead women, so that no one can fault them.
"Is this really useful?" Jiang Heng asked worriedly.
"Since he is killing someone for Maple Lady's purpose, he must be someone who is bound to Maple Lady. He will not just watch Maple Lady suffer such humiliation after her death. He will definitely show up." Baozhu said.
"But..." Jiang Heng couldn't bear it, "Wouldn't this make that poor woman suffer again?"
Qi Junce and Baozhu looked at each other and smiled, "Sister, naturally we will not dig up Feng Niang's body so cruelly, it is just a substitute."
Jiang Heng breathed a long sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good."
Near noon the next day, most of the people in Shenmu came. Everyone gathered at the execution ground, wanting to see with their own eyes how Yaoxie was burned to death.
Qi Junce sat high in the hall, and Li Mansion also changed into official uniform.
In the execution ground in front of her, lying on a pile of firewood drenched in kerosene, was the "Maple Lady" in a funeral robe, her face covered with yellow paper, and her body covered with talisman paper.
Baozhu also specially found a few experienced Taoists to chant sutras and act to the best of their ability.
When the sun was high in the sky, Baozhu looked anxiously at the crowd below, but he hadn't seen any movement.
"Execution!" Li Fuya followed the procedure and issued the order.
Just as the executioner threw the lit torch onto the pyre, a dark figure rushed out of the crowd and kicked the torch away.
Turning around and heading towards Feng Niang, Qi Junce rushed over and started fighting with the man.
Bao Zhu couldn't help but stand up and secretly cursed that Qi Junce couldn't sit still.
Qi Junce deliberately concealed his strength and allowed the man in black to gain the upper hand. After retreating after defeats, the man in black turned around and charged straight at Feng Niang.
He stretched out his hand to uncover all the talismans on Feng Niang's body, but at this moment, Feng Niang suddenly pretended to be dead, frightening the crowd to scream one after another.
Before the man in black could react, a short blade was stuck across his neck. The yellow paper on Maple Lady's face fell off, it was General Ling.
