"Unjustly accused, unjustly accused, sir, my brother is unjustly accused."
The girl was wearing a sky-blue jacket. She was panting as she ran. Her bun was all down. Tears mixed with dust, leaving traces on her face.
Han Changmu recognized this person. It was the girl who was crying on Zhuque Street just now. She should be Zhang Yan's sister Zhang Qing.
Zheng Binyuan's forehead twitched sharply, he slapped the crowd hard, and shouted: "Whoever is making noise in the court, bring him in."
Two government officials, one on the left and one on the right, held Zhang Qing between them and dragged her into the courtroom.
The girl fell to her knees with a pop and said sadly: "My lord, my lord, Zhang Qing, the daughter of the common people, is Zhang Yan's sister. The daughter of the common people and her brother set up a snack stall in Zhaoguofang. This person claims to be the boss of Wanfu. The steward has been eating and drinking at the stall for free. In the past two days, he claimed that he was sick from eating at the stall and asked the girl's brother and sister to pay for medical treatment. Since the girl's brother and sister had no money, he wanted to take the girl into the house by force. "
Zhang Qing finished the whole story clearly and kowtowed: "The Minnu brothers and sisters are unjustly accused. Please be aware of this. Early this morning, the chief steward came to the stall to find the Minnu siblings and asked us to accompany him. There was no need to pay for a visit to the medical clinic. As long as he went there, the matter was wiped out. The brother and sister of Min's daughter followed him without suspecting that he was fake. Unexpectedly, when they reached Tonghuafang, several people suddenly rushed out and wanted to rob Min. The girl, a civilian girl, refused to obey, and she and her brother got into an argument with them. I don’t know what happened, and I don’t know who stabbed the chief steward, so those people ran away."
As soon as this statement came out, not only Zheng Binyuan, but also the people who were watching knew that Wanfu's mansion was in Tonghuafang. Since Wan Youzhong had been thinking about this girl for a long time, going to the medical center was probably just a cover. , those people who rushed out to rob people were most likely his people.
But these are just everyone's speculations, and there is no evidence. On the contrary, the dagger stuck on the back of the big steward afterwards is a clear evidence.
Wan Youzhong, who was lying on the door panel, suddenly became anxious when he heard this, and he groaned weakly and pitifully: "Sir, sir, this villain is wronged, wronged, wronged, villain, I really pity them. It's not easy for them. , I just wanted to let them go, little man, cough, cough, cough," he coughed so hard that he could hardly breathe.
Han Changmu was lying on the wall and was stunned. He was coughing so hard, but the wound on his back still didn't ooze blood.
He frowned and sneered, this man was really thick-skinned.
Zheng Binyuan glanced back and forth at the three people in the hall. The case looked simple and clear, and it was clear at a glance what was right and what was wrong, but in fact it was a mess, with insufficient evidence, and it would be impossible to tell right from wrong for a while.
He naturally knew that Wan Youzhong was not a thing, so his mind turned toward Zhang Yan, and he coughed lightly and said: "I see that Manager Wan is seriously injured. Go, take my name card, and go to Huichun Hall." Please come over, Mr. Jiang, and let Manager Wan take a look at his injuries." As he spoke, he winked at the Yamen servant.
The yamen servant understood immediately, took the name card and walked out.
Unexpectedly, the fat man reacted very quickly. As soon as he moved, his two fat white arms protected the yamen servant's legs. He groaned and said: "No, no, I don't dare to work, sir. I, the little man, go back. Go back and you will know how to take care of your wounds." ."
His move was so unusual that it startled Zhang Qing. She pointed at Wan Youzhong's back and trembled in horror: "Oh, Chief, your wound has burst open and blood is spurting out." She exaggerated. He threw himself next to Wan Youzhong, his face turned pale with fright, as if he was bleeding to death in an instant, and screamed in a trembling voice: "Oh, boss, you can't die, you can't die. Can’t die.”
Zhang Qing cried and howled like this, Wan Youzhong was so frightened that he got up from the ground, touched his back and trembled: "Where is it, where is it, where is the blood spurting out."
Just as he stood up, the dagger deeply embedded in his back slipped and fell to the ground.
Only then did the onlookers see clearly that the dagger only had a handle and no blade. It was made of glue and was used to stand under his clothes. He was lying on his stomach in a fashionable and peaceful manner. When he stood up like this, with a big movement, he moved this dagger. The dagger shook to the ground.
The truth of the matter was revealed at this point. Han Changmu raised his eyebrows and smiled, patted the driver's shoulder and said calmly: "Let's go after watching the fun."
The driver was stunned for a moment, but before he could recover, Han Changmu jumped off the wall with him.
Taking advantage of the bright sunshine, the donkey cart rushed to the West Market. Han Changmu leaned against the wall of the cart and smiled slightly.
The girl named Zhang Qing is smart and lively, and looks like Yao Yao.
Zhang Yan's behavior is neither humble nor arrogant, but he has a sense of pride.
As for Zheng Binyuan, the county magistrate, after serving as Wannian County Magistrate for fifteen years, he has not turned into a slippery official, and he has his own character.
Since Sese was sealed, the door has been deserted. People coming and going in the West Market all walk around this place, which is unlucky.
This morning, there was another group of internal guards in front of the building. They all stood with swords in their hands, their anger rising into the sky, and people were so frightened that they even walked away from the wall.
Han Changmu pulled up the curtain and got out of the car, looked at the driver and said, "I think you should know my identity. If I want to hire your donkey cart for a long time, you are willing."
The driver was stunned for a moment, staring at Han Changmu with his bright black eyes, not understanding what he meant.
Han Changmu coughed slightly and said: "I'm not a bad person, but I'm just short of manpower. I think you're good at driving donkey carts. I'd like to come and practice driving a carriage. If you want, you can live in my house. , just serve the carriage, take care of food and shelter, pay fifty taels of silver a month, no need to sign any deed of betrayal, if you don’t want to do it, you can leave at any time.”
The eyes of the boy driving the cart shone brightly. He was driving the donkey cart under the stars like this, but he could not earn five taels of silver in half a year. This shows how wealthy this man is.
He thought for a while and nodded, agreeing with Han Changmu's words.
Han Changmu smiled and called to the guard next to him: "Hitch up this car." Then he said to the driver: "Let's go, follow me in and rest. When I'm done, you can take me back."
In fact, he wanted to keep this driver boy, and it was not a temporary idea. When he hired his donkey cart for the first time, he found out that he was mute, so he started to think about it. Although Jin Yu was an excellent driver, after all, there were many things in the mansion. , there are times when he is too busy.
But it was different with this driver boy. He was strict and silent and very clean.
Thinking of this, Han Changmu walked away and said, "Since you will drive my car specifically from now on, what is your name?"
The driver boy was stunned for a moment, and a trace of sadness suddenly flashed in his eyes, but it quickly dissipated, so fast that it was almost impossible to catch it.
He shook his head, took Han Changmu's hand, and drew a six character in his palm.
Han Changmu caught the sadness in the driver's eyes, but he didn't delve into it and nodded lightly: "Are you traveling at home?"
The driver nodded repeatedly.
Han Changmu smiled: "Okay, what's your last name?"
The driver bit his lower lip and wrote the word "Chen" in Han Changmu's hand.
Han Changmu didn't think anything of it, nodded and said: "Then I'll call you Chen Xiaoliu from now on."
The driver smiled, nodded, and clapped his hands.
After deciding the matter, Han Changmu called an internal guard over and took Chen Xiaoliu down to take a shower, change clothes and rest, while he walked straight to the lobby.
All the green bricks paving the floor in the lobby were pried up and piled in piles in the yard. They actually filled most of the yard, which looked spectacular.
The green brick lobby was opened, revealing the same dirt floor as ordinary people's homes, but it had to be tamped more firmly and it was more difficult to dig out.
He Zhenfu ordered the inner guards to dig a hole in shifts. When Han Changmu arrived, the hole was already half deep.
Han Changmu stared intently at the deep pit that occupied the entire lobby, frowned slightly and said, "What kind of magical weapon is it? How come it occupies such a large space?"
He Zhenfu saluted and said: "According to Kang Lianfu, there are eight Buddha statues. The largest one is as tall as a person, and the smaller one is half a person tall. They were buried according to certain precautions. I was afraid of damaging those positions, so I let the inside The guards dug up the entire lobby."
Han Changmu nodded appreciatively: "Have you found Li Dalang, the eldest son of Blacksmith Li's family?"
He Zhenfu nodded and said: "We found it. It's in an abandoned house in Xinchangfang. The body has been sent back to the Department of Internal Health. Sun Ying and Bao Cheng are doing the autopsy. I also ordered people to check on Li Tiejiang's family and neighbors. , there will be a reply soon."
Han Changmu turned his head and looked at the pit, feeling calm in his heart. The only thing missing now was the news from Prince An's Mansion. However, judging from the existing clues and evidence, I am afraid that the saint will soon have an edict to finalize this case. , asking him to switch from open investigation to secret investigation, loosen the outside and tighten the inside, and lure the snake out of the hole.
When Jin Yu hurried back to the mansion, there was a gray carriage parked in front of the side door. Qing Qian was holding up her skirt and getting into the car.
He was stunned for a moment, then remembered that Qing Qian was going to Jianfu Temple to burn incense today, but he didn't expect that she was in such a hurry and had to go in the morning.
The carriage swayed away, and he saw that the horse driving it was an old horse, and the pace was not fast, and the driver was Han Changmu's confidant. If he was told to go fast, he would be fast, and if he was made to go slow, he would be slower than a snail. Immediately relieved, he entered through the side door and bumped into Mrs. Liu who was rushing out.
He rubbed the sore chin, and also raised his hand to rub Liu's red forehead, and asked, "Why did Qing Qian leave without even taking lunch?"
Mrs. Liu gasped in pain and said bitterly: "I don't know what's so rare in Jianfu Temple. After the prince accepted her, she couldn't wait for a moment. I was about to follow her, why are you back?" , not serving the prince."
Jin Yu repeated Han Changmu's instructions just now, and said in a deep voice: "If you go to Jianfu Temple at this hour, I'm afraid you will have to eat fast in the temple. You go to Wannian County to find out the news, and I will follow Qingqian."
