After hearing this, Han Changmu's face turned completely gloomy.
The scene here is exactly the same as the death of Princess Rong.
He shouldn't take any chances, thinking that that group of people still had a kind heart that could be redeemed, but they didn't, they were already crazy.
He turned to Leng Linjiang and said: "Yun Gui, in two days the holy driver will leave the capital and go to Yuhua Mountain. Anning Marquis Mansion and Anchang Marquis Mansion are also accompanying him. If so, the whereabouts of the Crown Prince's wife are still unknown. , once these people leave the capital, it will be more difficult to find her whereabouts in the future."
Leng Linjiang knew this very well. The one who died was the daughter of Princess Rongzhen and his cousin. Although they did not interact with each other or be close to each other on weekdays, blood ties were ingrained in their bones and could not be changed. Yes, he didn't want her to live without seeing anyone or die without seeing her body, so he said solemnly: "Sheng Siyuan means that he doesn't want to make it public. I also feel that the holy driver is about to leave now. Regardless of whether the deceased is An Jinyu or not, this matter will not be easy. Check it out in a big way.”
Han Changmu looked troubled: "It's not difficult to keep this matter secret. It's rare that most of the people in the Internal Security Department have to rush to the palace first. I'm afraid there will be a shortage of people."
Leng Linjiang naturally knew Han Changmu's difficulties. The safety of Emperor Yong'an must be the most important, but this case also involves a human life. The longer it is delayed, the harder it will be to find out the truth. If An Jinyu is still alive, the later it will be to find out the truth. , her chance of survival becomes slimmer.
After a moment of silence, Leng Linjiang thought to himself: "Let's do this. In the past two days, I will take people to inspect the Anning Marquis Mansion and the Anchang Marquis Mansion. The bodies still have to be sent to the Internal Security Department. Please ask Sun Wu to conduct another inspection. ."
Han Changmu glanced outside. In the deep night, the narrow alley became increasingly narrow and dark.
"There are mostly narrow streets and alleys in Xiupingfang, and carriages cannot be used. The murderer had to carry people in. There are also traces of walking with heavy objects in the narrow alley. Although it was in the middle of the night, there is no guarantee that he will be killed. Someone has seen the murderer, and how they avoided the secret sentry of the night guard also needs to be investigated in detail." Han Changmu paused and looked up at Leng Linjiang: "There are also many people living near the deserted house. The murderer's whereabouts cannot be completely hidden. In addition to checking the Anning Hou Mansion and Anchang Hou Mansion, we also have to arrange for manpower to check Xiupingfang."
He said this, but in his heart he had already determined that Fuxiang was responsible for this matter, and Xie Liangzhan's handwriting must be indispensable.
But there is no evidence, and the name Xie Liangzhan cannot be spoken easily.
Leng Linjiang naturally knew that there were thousands of things going on, and people were indispensable everywhere, but when the Holy Driver was traveling, there were not enough people no matter how much he counted. He sighed: "You are right, He Denglou acted cautiously. Since he is tight-lipped, let him lead people to inspect Xiupingfang."
Han Changmu nodded in agreement: "There are still some clues in Princess Rong's case. I will arrange for people to investigate them together." After saying that, he looked up and saw that before he could give his orders, Yao Yao had already Holding a pen and paper, he carefully traced the runes painted on the wall.
He paused slightly: "After tracing the runes, I handed them over to Bao Cheng and asked him to check as soon as possible. Yao Yao was injured a little, but it's okay to find someone to check. She has always been as meticulous as a hair. You check the An Ninghou Mansion and When we go to the Anchang Hou Mansion, take her with you."
"A Yao will definitely be tired." Leng Linjiang raised his eyebrows and said, "I'm familiar with Jian Yi of the Jin Wu Guard, so I'll leave it to him to investigate the night patrol."
"Jian Yi," Han Changmu was very familiar with this name. He went through his life in his mind and asked calmly, "Is it Jian Yi, the commander of the right guard?"
Leng Linjiang nodded and was about to speak when a loud noise suddenly came from outside, interrupting his thoughts.
Han Changmu didn't ask any more questions. Jian Yi's background was very clean and innocent. He came from a poor family. He rose to prominence in Jinwu Guards eleven years ago. Leng Linjiang was only ten years old at that time. Thinking about his past experience, It won't be very familiar.
In the past ten years, Jian Yi has been promoted extremely quickly, from the rank of twelve branch captains to the commander of the left guard of the fourth rank. It would have been impossible to achieve this without the guidance and support of noble people.
Han Changmu had a vague feeling that the person who promoted Jian Yi and the person who trained Yao Yao should be the same person.
Suddenly, He Denglu shouted loudly from next door, and the noise suddenly became mute, as if someone had strangled his neck.
Within a moment, questions came from the empty room next door. They were clear and organized.
Han Changmu felt relieved and ordered Yao Yao and Zhang Youli to search the room carefully again and not to miss anything.
He himself was not idle either. He put one hand behind his back and held a dim lantern in the other. He asked Qiao Yanda to follow him to the outside of the house and started patrolling carefully.
It was extremely dark at this time, and the curved crescent moon was hidden behind the clouds. The already dim moonlight became increasingly faint and sparse.
It was dark all around, and wherever the dim light shone, it was suffused with a layer of yellow halo.
There is still a narrow alley behind the house. The wall on one side is the back wall of the row of deserted houses. There are several narrow and small windows. The wooden carved window lattice is somewhat decayed and most of it has fallen off, and the window paper is also damaged. It was torn and swaying in the night wind.
The wall on the other side is the back wall of another row of houses. There are still a few small windows on the wall, but the dark windows are still intact. The bed is covered with thick plain paper. Maybe it has become dark over the years. The hair has turned yellow, and there are a few patch patches in some places.
Under such circumstances, there are obviously people living in these houses.
But there was such a loud movement in the deserted house, and no one in the house responded at all, and even the lights didn't turn on. This was obviously something wrong.
He waved, called Qiao Yanda, and asked in a low voice: "Who lives in the row of houses in front of you?"
Qiao Yanda raised his head and glanced with a complicated look on his face. He whispered with difficulty, "That's Ramie Lane."
"Ramie Alley?" Han Changmu heard the hesitation and difficulty in Qiao Yanda's words. Seeing those dark windows like black holes, staring silently at the broken windows of the abandoned house, he couldn't help but frown slightly: "What's wrong? ?”
Qiao Yanda's voice became lower and lower: "That winding alley is full of people who have lost their husbands."
What he said was difficult, but Han Changmu could understand it and said calmly: "They are all women?"
Qiao Yanda nodded silently: "Sir, they also have a hard life, the world is difficult, and there is nothing they can do about it." He paused: "Please show me your noble hand."
Han Changmu stared silently, making no comment. He finally understood why there was so much movement in the deserted house, but there was not even a light on in that row of houses.
Without him, I am afraid of getting into trouble and the government will investigate.
After a moment of silence, he told Qiao Yanda: "Go and ask Yao to join the army."
Not long after, Yao Yao came out full of suspicion and asked blankly: "Sir, what did you find?"
Han Changmu raised his chin towards the dark windows: "Ramie Lane, you go and check."
Yao Yao was stunned for a moment. Who doesn't know about Ramie Alley? No, it should be said that among the few neighborhoods in the south, who doesn't know about Ramie Alley? Although she has never been there, she has long been familiar with this alley.
Not only the common people know about this Ramie Alley, Fangzheng knows about it, and the government also knows a little bit about it. It's just that the people living in this alley are hard-working people who are trying their best to stay alive, and are willing to use the lowest and most despised means. In order to make a living, they were not willing to commit adultery and break the law, so the Wannian County Government Office raised their hands and said that as long as there was no big trouble, they could turn a blind eye.
But in the middle of the night, as long as you knock on the door of a house, the people nearby will be alerted. The noise is too loud.
She asked thoughtfully: "It's so late, I guess everyone has rested. Is it a bit disturbing to knock on the door at this time?"
Hearing this, Qiao Yanda glanced at Yao Yao in surprise. This girl came with the Major Envoy of the Internal Security Department. Although she did not introduce her background, she must be from the Yamen. How could she be so naive?
What kind of place is Ramie Alley? It’s busier at night than during the day!
If you go to bed so early, you want to starve yourself to death.
Hearing Yao Yao's words, Han Changmu also glanced at Yao Yao. He didn't believe that Yao Yao didn't understand anything. He said sarcastically: "The government is asking, you have to get up even if you sleep!"
Yao Yao naturally knew that she had asked a stupid question, but she had a confused look on her face and her calculations were rattling in her heart.
Ramie Lane, a place soaked in bitter water, should be allowed to Han Changmu to see with his own eyes and see the dirty alleys covered by this pile of gold and jade.
She made careful calculations, with a hesitant look on her face: "Well, it's not convenient to take a humble job."
"They are all women, so it is most convenient for you to go." Han Changmu said calmly.
Yao Yao shook his head with a sly look on his face: "My lord, I don't understand. It's not easy for women to talk to women. It's best for men to talk to women."
"..." Han Changmu was dumbfounded, and for a moment he saw Yao Yao hurriedly walked back to the deserted house, and quickly pulled Leng Linjiang out. Leng Linjiang was still struggling, but why It looks like he's giving it half a try.
"I won't go, I won't go to a place like that. I don't have enough money." Leng Linjiang said coquettishly.
Yao Yao smiled narrowly: "No, just ask me, what's the matter with the money?"
Leng Linjiang said calmly: "Don't hit rich people."
"..." Yao Yaoyu choked, and raised his hand to slap Leng Linjiang: "Then I will follow suit, you go or not."
Leng Linjiang pursed his lips, pretending to be helpless, and slowly moved towards Ramie Alley.
Yao Yao smiled silently and turned back to the deserted house without saying anything to Han Changmu.
Still, finding things is far more interesting than asking questions.
After watching the tacit understanding scene just now, Han Changmu felt a little astringent in his heart. He smiled self-deprecatingly and followed Leng Linjiang's back.
Qiao Yanda hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, and followed the two of them into the night.
Three yellowish lanterns moved gently at the entrance of the winding alley, illuminating a narrow and winding alley with great depth.
As soon as they reached the entrance of the winding alley, a black shadow suddenly passed under the lamp, causing the lantern to shake violently. The dim flames flickered a few times, and one of them was extinguished in an instant.
Leng Linjiang was so frightened that he staggered back two steps. When he met a pair of green eyes in the darkness, a layer of white sweat suddenly appeared on his back.
The pair of green eyes blinked and let out a "meow". It turned out to be a dark wild cat.
"Ouch, I'm scared to death." Leng Linjiang patted his chest twice and let out a long sigh of relief.
Qiao Yanda often walked this road. Even so, he was still startled by the cat. He turned around and saw that Han Changmu still had a calm and indifferent expression on his face. He didn't look frightened at all. Somewhat sarcastic: "Here, there are many wild cats and dogs in the alley, which scares the adults. I will lead the way. You two adults, please be careful where you step."
On the walls on both sides of the winding alley, the doors and windows were tightly closed. Under the dim light, the dark doors and windows were old and stained with paint peeling off, but they were kept spotless.
Along the way they walked, most of the other winding alleys were very muddy. Even if they were paved with bluestones, sewage flowed freely, garbage was everywhere, and they were filled with a disgusting stench.
But the ground in Ramie Alley was clean and tidy. When the lights fell on the ground, even the cracked stone patterns on the bluestone were clearly visible. A thin layer of dew floated on the bluestone, giving off a light blue light.
There is still a faint scent of powder lingering in the air. Although it is cheap, it is not rich and not so unacceptable.
Walking into the alley, Han Changmu whispered: "Qiao Yanda, tell me about this Ramie Alley."
Qiao Yanda knew very well that if she didn't say anything today, she would be in trouble, so she simply calmed down and said in a low voice: "All the people living in Ramie Lane are women. Some have lost their husbands, and some have been abandoned by their husbands' families and can't go back." My mother-in-law, in order to survive, does something," he hesitated: "I do some flesh and blood business, but I haven't issued a voucher from the government."
Han Changmu nodded, which meant that the people living in Ramie Alley were prostitutes, and they started a sex business without the permission of the government.
He asked softly: "How many families live in the alley, are they all there?"
Qiao Yanda hesitated and said: "There are a total of forty-three families living in Ramie Lane. I can't say all of them, but it's probably nine out of ten."
Han Changmu asked again: "Wannian County, haven't you come to check?"
Qiao Yanda's heart skipped a beat, and she pursed her lips tightly, thinking that after dawn, she would have to quickly notify these people to go out and get away.
"I know about this." Leng Linjiang was quiet for a moment and suddenly said: "Magistrate Lin of Wannian County told me about this."
After hearing Leng Linjiang's words, Han Changmu stopped asking any more questions and walked straight into the depths of the crooked alley.
Qiao Yanda didn't know if this matter was settled, and she didn't know if Han Changmu would still seek to take the blame. She looked at Leng Linjiang cautiously, with a hint of pleading in her eyes.
Leng Linjiang shook his head slightly and chased Han Changmu over.
Han Changmu walked to the middle of the winding alley and stopped. The back windows of the two west-facing houses were facing the back windows of the deserted house.
The doors and windows of the two rooms were closed, and thin indigo curtains were hung on the doors, which had been washed and turned white.
Han Changmu raised his arm and the light flickered on the door curtain: "Qiao Fangzheng, knock on the door."
Qiao Yanda said "Hey" and patted the wooden door a few times. She didn't dare to shout loudly, and her voice was suppressed and deep: "Ms. Zhao, open the door. Open the door quickly."
After a moment of silence, there were very light footsteps in the house. He hurriedly walked to the door, but did not open the door rashly. He only asked in a low voice through the door: "Who is it?"
Judging from the voice, the person behind the door was not young, and it didn't sound like he had been woken up suddenly. There was no sleepiness in his voice.
Han Changmu and Leng Linjiang looked at each other, showing that this was indeed the case.
He knew that such a big movement in the deserted house, even if it could not be heard in other houses, the people in these two rooms should be able to hear it. After hearing such a big thing, there is no reason not to see it.
Qiao Yanda lowered her voice and said, "Ms. Zhao, it's me, Qiao Yanda."
The person behind the door was stunned for a moment, hesitantly opened a crack in the door, and saw in the vast night, it was Qiao Yanda standing at the door, and behind him, there were two extraordinary men.
The man behind the door dodges his eyes, presses against the door, and says in a low and earnest voice: "Fang Zheng, I am not feeling well today, so I will not do business."
Qiao Yanda held the door with her hands to prevent her from closing it, and said in a low voice: "This is a noble man. He's here to ask some questions. Don't be confused!"
The man behind the door thought for a moment, then slowly opened the door, lowered his head, his black hair was loose and hanging down, and his smooth and shiny hair covered the side of his face: "Then, come in." As she said that, she He turned sideways and got out of the way, and confessed in a timid voice: "The house is in chaos. Noble man, please don't mind me."
Several people entered the house, and Mrs. Zhao quickly closed the door and lit an oil lamp.
Oil smoke curled under the window, and a faint fishy smell drifted away.
Madam Zhao quickly burned another stick of incense in the incense burner to dissipate the peculiar smell slightly.
By the dim light of Yidou, Han Changmu silently looked at the room.
The ground is paved with green bricks, but these green bricks are of different sizes and shapes. They are obviously scraps picked up from outside, but the advantage is that they are laid neatly, and the soil in the cracks of the bricks is also cleaned.
A food table was placed against the wall. A dark yellow bamboo vegetable cover covered the food table. Through the sparse holes, several plates of leftover food could be seen inside.
There was a small plate of roasted pork, a large bowl of shrimp stewed with eggs, and a few steamed pork with cherry balls.
There was only one bed in the room. Leng Linjiang let Han Changmu sit on it, and he threw his butt on the earthen kang beside the wall. The mattress on the kang was quite soft and made no sound.
When he sat like this, he startled the little girl lying on the kang. The child turned over, muttered something sleepily, turned over again and fell asleep.
Only then did Leng Linjiang realize that there was a small person lying on the kang, and he quickly sat down quietly, fearing to scare the little person awake.
The little girl was the hardest to coax, she cried endlessly.
Han Changmu took another look at Madam Zhao. She looked like she was nearly thirty years old. Her appearance was not very good, but she had fair skin and black hair, and the hand that just lit the oil lamp didn't look like life. Hands that are tired and have worked all year round have no fine lines or calluses, and the joints are extremely slender.
Madam Zhao was extremely embarrassed when she was looked at. She held her clothes tightly with both hands and lowered her head, not daring to raise her head to look at the three people.
Han Changmu stared at the lantern shadows dancing on the earthen wall, and asked in a deep voice: "At midnight tonight, Mrs. Zhao, can you hear any movement from the back window?"
This room was not big, and the back window faced the back window of the deserted house. The narrow winding alley could not block any sound at all. Even a slight cough in the deserted house could be heard clearly in the house.
What's more, the earthen kang is placed under the window. Lying on the kang, you can hear it even more clearly.
Now, the footsteps in the abandoned house were particularly clear, and Han Changmu could tell that they were the sounds of Yao Yao walking around, looking for evidence in the abandoned house.
Mrs. Zhao shook her body as if she was frightened, pursed her lips, and hesitated to say a word.
Qiao Yanda felt something was not good and hurriedly coughed: "Ms. Zhao, these two are the Secretary of the Internal Security Department and the Shao Yin of the Jingzhao Mansion. If you have anything to say, just say it directly. Who is the secretive one? I can’t save you either.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhao was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground with a bang and kowtowed her head: "Slave, I didn't hear anything. I'm tired today. I'm going to bed early. I'm going to bed early." Yes, I didn’t hear anything, I didn’t see anything.”
She kowtowed heavily and repeated those words over and over again, with a look of panic all over her body.
Han Changmu and Leng Linjiang looked at each other in surprise. They just asked one sentence. Are they so scared?
Of course, Han Changmu didn't believe that Mrs. Zhao didn't hear or see anything, but it was rare to lie in such a panic and full of loopholes.
The little girl on the kang was startled awake by the sound of Madam Zhao's kowtow. She sat up immediately. When she saw that there were so many people in the room and Madam Zhao was still kneeling on the ground, she cried "Wow" .
Leng Linjiang closed his eyes helplessly.
The little girl was crying and couldn't be coaxed. I was afraid that she wouldn't be able to ask anything.
Hearing the little girl wailing, Mrs. Zhao didn't even bother kowtowing, and rushed to the kang to pick her up and coax her gently.
Leng Linjiang glanced at Han Changmu.
Han Changmu also looked back at Leng Linjiang helplessly, stood up and gave instructions: "If Mrs. Zhao thinks of anything, please tell Qiao Fangzheng."
Mrs. Zhao held the child in her arms and hid her face behind the child's body. It was not possible to see the expression on her face. She could only hear a low "hmm" from her.
The three people walked out of the house, and Mrs. Zhao immediately closed the door tightly, obviously frightened.
Leng Linjiang touched his nose, full of confusion: "Jiuchao, are we so scary?"
Han Changmu glanced at Leng Linjiang lightly: "It's not us, it's you."
"..." Leng Linjiang snorted.
Han Changmu stood in the crooked alley and was quiet for a moment. He saw the dark windows in Ramie Alley. The knock on the door just now was not deliberately concealed, but none of the rooms had lights on.
There was deathly silence in Ramie Alley, and the slightest movement was particularly clear. There were low coquettish sounds coming from several houses, which made people's scalp numb.
Leng Linjiang showed an expected expression and turned to look at Han Changmu.
Han Changmu's face darkened and he ordered Qiao Yanda to knock on the door of the next room.
