When Xia Zhangshi came to the government office at 3:00 a.m., Chi Taishou looked at him with a very unhappy look. His nose was not a nose, and his eyes were not eyes. He first found a bunch of things that were not there and scolded him for an hour, and then stuffed them. After receiving an invitation and telling him to hand it over to Hua Canjun, he suddenly and unilaterally announced that he would not take a bath today and hurried back to Houya.
Xia Changshi was confused and hurriedly found a government official to ask, and then he understood the whole story.
It turned out that last night, Taishou Chi was arrested by Huajia Shilang for interrogation. He didn't sleep for half the night. It was all the pent-up anger when he woke up that was released on him.
Taking another look at the invitations pushed to him by Prefect Chi, Xia Changshi was one big and two big. It was actually a message from Su Yongfeng, the head of the Su family in Suizhou, inviting Shiro of the Hua family to a banquet at the Su family's ancestral residence.
Even the dogs in Yidu City know that the Su family of Suizhou and the Yangdu Hua family are not willing to deal with each other, especially Mrs. Lin. It is said that she was once engaged to a descendant of the Su family of Suizhou, and later broke off the engagement for some reason. Somehow he got together with Shiro Huajia - the love and hatred in this relationship is almost impossible to explain - how come this post about killing a thousand swords was sent to the hands of Taishou Chi, how come he did it again He has become a victim. Alas, if I had known earlier, I should have stayed at the government office yesterday and worked overtime with my immediate boss.
Xia Changshi walked into the Judicial Department with heavy steps.
There are six Cao Cao in Yidu Fu Yamen, Si Gong, Si Cang, Si Hu, Si Bing, Judicial and Si Shi. The main offices are located in the third courtyard of Yidu Fu Yamen. In front of the main hall of Yidu Fu Yamen, there are cloisters and the fourth The courtyard's inner hall, flower hall, study room, document hall, corpse collection hall, and passing room are connected to each other, which facilitates communication among colleagues and reporting work to superiors.
The judicial officers of the Fa Cao were in charge of laws, orders, formats, jailing and sentencing, supervising the arrest of thieves, and correcting criminals. They dealt with extremely vicious criminals all year round, which was quite special, so a separate courtyard was set up as the Judicial Department.
In the past, when Wu Zhengqing served as a judicial officer and joined the army, Xia Changshi often came here, so he was familiar with the people. But when he entered the Judicial Office today, Xia Changshi's first reaction was that he had gone to the wrong door. He confirmed that the name Judicial Office was indeed hanging on the door. After reading the plaque, I walked in with confidence.
In just one day, the Judicial Department has been transformed. Although the basic layout has not changed much, the furniture and furnishings in the department have been completely new. What surprised Xia Changshi most is that the original couches and tables are all gone. Became——Hu Shi?
No, it's not a Hu stool, it's more like a combination of a Hu stool and a Pingji. It's taller than a Hu stool, with a backrest similar to a Pingji at the back, and armrests on both sides. There are soft and thick cushions on the Hu stool, and there are also cushions under the backrest. The cushion is flat and round, like a pillow.
Xia Changshi was so curious that he looked around and saw no one around. He held up his robe and sat on it, leaning back. Hey, Shutan!
It was spacious and soft under the buttocks, and the backrest could support the entire back. The pillow-like cushion was originally used to support the waist. The most important thing was that the legs could be stretched and the feet could land on the ground. Xia Changshi stretched happily. My waist and legs feel 30% better.
The wooden halo of the armrests was moist and felt very good. It was actually precious rosewood, and the seat cushion was made of the world-famous Sichuan brocade. Xia Changshi felt a little hot on his buttocks, and stood up reluctantly. He also discovered a novelty, the original table The desks and desks have also been replaced with tall ones, which match the height of the new stool.
Xia Changshi couldn't resist the temptation, so he sat behind the writing desk and tried it again. It fit so well that he no longer had to bend his waist and legs to write. There were also four treasures of the study on the desk, each of which was expensive: flowers. The top-grade Shu paper from Shi Zhifang, the top-grade purple gold jade inkstone from Fengwu Jiangshanfang, the top-grade spring mist ink stick from Hua Shi Xingfang, the top-grade langhao pen, the top-grade mahogany pen stand, the top-grade celadon pen mount, and the top-grade black catalpa paperweight - Xia Chang Shi touched it all over with trembling fingers, almost crying with envy.
"What are you doing?!" A cold voice suddenly came from above his head. Xia Changshi looked up in excitement and saw Fang Ke holding a small white porcelain bottle. His face was as white as the porcelain bottle, his eyes were as black as the abyss, and his red clothes were splashing with water. It's like bleeding, comparable to a vicious ghost walking at night.
Xia Changshi was so frightened that he almost couldn't breathe. He held his chest for a long time and couldn't catch his breath.
Fang Ke said "tsk" in disgust.
"Hmm, um—Xia came here to find Hua to join the army." Xia Changshi stood up and said.
Fang immediately turned around and left.
Xia Changshi was stunned and hurriedly chased after him, "Isn't Hua Canjun here?"
"Out." Fang Ke shook the small porcelain bottle and turned around to enter the side room of the Judicial Department. This side room was originally a warehouse for storing sundries. Now it has been cleared out and the same high stools as outside are placed. There is a large black wooden box on the table. There are several layers of partitions inside the wooden box, and there are all kinds of strange tools.
Behind the desk is a wall of medicine cabinets. On the left are three rows of tall wooden shelves similar to book shelves. One row of wooden shelves is filled with strange knives, hammers, saws, hammers, awls, etc. The second row is colorful porcelain altars, Porcelain vases, porcelain jars, and the last wooden shelf are all white porcelain vases and porcelain altars, reflecting the sunlight from the side window, making them look white.
For some reason, Xia Changshi thought of Leng Sen's bones, and retracted his foot as he was about to step forward, "May I ask where Hua Canjun went?"
Fang Ke: "I went to fight with Lin Sui'an."
"Eh?!"
Xia Changshi was stunned, watching Fang Ke sitting behind the desk, pouring the liquid from the white porcelain bottle onto a piece of white paper. There were seven or eight open small porcelain jars in front of the desk. Fang Ke took out a small brush, After being dipped in the powder in the porcelain jar, the liquid on the paper was coated section by section. Miraculously, the colorless liquid changed color, first red, then green, and finally dark blue.
Fang Ke's face also darkened into dark blue, and he let out another "tsk".
Xia Changshi was frightened by what he saw. He really couldn't stay any longer. He took out the hot potato invitation from his sleeve and said, "Doctor Fang, please forward this post to Hua Shenjun——"
Fang Ke suddenly raised his eyes and said, "Are you doing embroidery?"
Xia Changshi: "Hey eh eh???"
I don’t know if Fang Ke misunderstood and actually invited Xia Changshi to go to the side room with him. The sunlight was divided into small grids by the window lattice and fell on the ground. Under the window was an embroidery frame with hanging There are half-embroidered Begonia flowers, and next to the embroidery stand are two large black wooden boxes. In the wooden boxes are also Begonia flowers embroidery.
Xia Changshi looked familiar at the big wooden box, and suddenly remembered that it was the same box that contained Xiaoshuang's body yesterday.
"This is the embroidery from Lian Xiaoshuang's home. These are all her relics, especially this half-finished product," Fang Ke pointed at the begonia flowers on the embroidery stand, "It should have been embroidered before she died."
Xia Changshi: "Xia knows nothing about embroidery——"
Fang Ke said "tsk", this was the third time.
"Xia is ashamed!" Xia Changshi wiped his sweat, "Xia is really a hindrance here, please ask Fang Wuzuo to forward this post to——"
Fang Ke: "Is it a post from a dead person?"
Xia Changshi: "...No."
"Then don't look for me, I only care about the dead."
Fang Ke turned around and left the side room, sat on the big bench of the Judicial Department, motioned to Xia Changshi to sit with him, and even politely scooped a cup of tea from the steaming tea cauldron and handed it to him.
Xia Changshi originally thought it was Hua's world-famous flower tea, but when he brought it over and smelled it, he almost couldn't pass it. What is this black and sticky thing? Fang Ke stared at him intently, the pressure was terrifying, Xia Changshi I couldn't stand it any longer, so I drank it and my soul suddenly turned white.
This Fang Zuo was so terrible. He should have gone to the Document Hall to seek help from the talkative Ling Sizhi with thick eyebrows and big eyes.
After spending almost half an hour alone with Fang Ke, Hua Canjun finally arrived belatedly. The moment he saw Hua Yitang and Lin Sui'an, Xia Changshi almost cried and rushed towards him, "Hua Canjun , you are back, there is a post, Taishou Chi asked Xia to be sure to——"
"Wow!" Lin Sui'an shouted in surprise, "It's the Grand Master's Chair! Hua Yitang, you made it!"
As he said that, he spun around and sat on the "Grand Master's Chair" and couldn't put it down and touched it all around. "It has a backrest, legs can be stretched, a cushion, a lumbar support and armrests, wow -"
Jin Ruo also tried to sit down and was very satisfied, "This height is good, I can eat two more bowls of rice!"
Hua Yitang shook his fan with a happy expression on his face, "It's all Mu Xia's credit."
Mu Xia was very modest, "It was Shiro and Mrs. Lin who made the best designs. Hua's craftsmen all praised that this thing is very practical and comfortable, and it will definitely fetch a good price in the market in the future."
Hua Yitang looked at Xia Changshi with a smile, "I have been tired of Xia Changshi for a long time. To express my apology, how about Hua also give Xia Changshi and a set of chairs and desks?"
Xia Changshi was overjoyed. He immediately forgot about the invitation from Lao Shizi and thanked him repeatedly.
Fang Ke sighed: "Hua Yitang, where is the person I asked you to find?"
"Hua will naturally take Dr. Fang's words to heart." Hua Yitang turned sideways and made way for a middle-aged woman, "This is Shen Xiang, the second elder of the Yidu Jingmen Branch. People give him the nickname Yidu Know-It-All. I am best at embroidery."
Shen Xiang spent a whole stick of incense looking through all the embroidery left by Lian Xiaoshuang and came to the conclusion, "This is an unfinished screen pattern. The begonia flowers in the lower part are indeed Lian Xiaoshuang's." It's embroidered, but the upper part -" Shen Xiang pointed to the half-embroidered crabapple flower, "it's not Lian Xiaoshuang's embroidery work."
Lian Xiaoshuang's crabapple flower is different from others. It is not a single branch, but a cluster of flowers with bright colors, which looks very lively. The cluster pointed by Shen Xiang has flowers embellished with leaves and leaves supporting flowers. The pattern is almost the size of two palms. The stitching method is very complicated. At this time, there is only half of the pattern and the other half is blank. It looks like it has been cut diagonally with a knife. Average.
Hua Yitang: "Did someone embroider it after Lian Xiaoshuang died?"
Jin Ruo: "Who is it? When did you embroider it? Why did you embroider this?"
Lin Sui'an suddenly had an idea, "Could it be that the murderer embroidered it after he killed Lian Xiaoshuang?"
Jin Ruo rubbed goosebumps and said, "You can still embroider after killing people. Who is this person?!"
"No, let me look at it again," Shen Xiang held up the embroidery and looked it up to the sun. "This cluster of begonia flowers has been embroidered before and was dismantled. This half was re-embroidered on the dismantled pattern. .”
Everyone: Huh?
Xia Changshi: "Why, why?"
No one can answer this question and now everyone is confused.
Only Fang Ke had the calmest expression. He stepped forward and pointed at the embroidered half of the crabapple, "There's something weird here."
Shen Xiang was startled. He pasted the entire piece of embroidery on the window paper and rubbed it carefully with his fingers. He was shocked, "There is something hidden under the flower."
Fang Ke: "Can it be taken apart?"
"Yes!" Shen Xiang took out a piece of light yellow paper and a charcoal pen from his robe. He covered the embroidery pattern with the yellow paper and lightly painted it with the charcoal pen. He made a simple rubbing and took out another Use small scissors to separate the embroidery threads one by one.
"By the way, I found the dregs of medicine that I found in Lian Xiaoshuang's room before," Fang Ke said, "it's abortion medicine."
Xia Changshi: "Eh?"
Hua Yitang frowned: "Lian Xiaoshuang had an abortion?"
Fang Ke: "If one month has passed since the abortion, the body cannot be examined, but this possibility cannot be ruled out."
Lin Sui'an: "If the abortion medicine belongs to Lian Xiaoshuang, then who is the father of the child?"
Shen Xiang paused with her scissors, "Jingmen asked the neighbors during the last investigation. Lian Xiaoshuang lives in seclusion on weekdays. Apart from going to the embroidery workshop to deliver goods once every half month, she rarely goes out and doesn't interact with her neighbors much. , I’ve never seen anything like her.”
"No, she still goes out occasionally." Hua Yitang said.
"Go to Wu Zhengli's family to teach Wu Zhengli's wife embroidery," Lin Sui'an said.
The two of them looked at Xia Changshi at the same time.
Xia Changshi took a breath and said in a loud voice, "Invite Wu Zhengli and his wife to the government office immediately for questioning!"
The official outside the door responded and ran away.
Jin Ruo: "Where's the package of abortion pills?"
Fang Ke went to the desk to get it. Jin Ruo took it, smelled it, turned it over, looked at the paper wrapping the medicine, turned and went out, "I'm going to check and see if I can find a pharmacy that prescribes the medicine."
Lin Sui'an: "By the way, check out those embroidery workshops that even Xiaoshuang goes to."
"okay."
The Begonia flowers were embroidered with fine workmanship, and Shen Xiang also dismantled them very carefully. Everyone looked at them for a while and realized that they might not be able to finish them in a while. Hua Yitang and Lin Sui'an asked Xia Changshi to go back to the main hall and sit down first. Mu Xia Duan When the tea and snacks were served, Xia Changshi felt lingering fear. He took a closer look and found that it was indeed the flower tea, so he took a sip with confidence. He took a long breath and took out the invitation from his sleeve, "Hua joins the army, this is the head of the Su family——"
Hua Yitang suddenly widened his eyes, and Lin Sui'an said "Huh", and saw Ling Zhiyan walking in carrying a big baggage, with a sullen look on her face. She bowed to Xia Changshi first, then turned and walked to the desk. , unpacking the baggage, it was filled with dossier scrolls, seventeen of them.
"These are the seventeen files on the Peach Blossom Murderer's serial murder case. Ling went through them carefully and discovered something incredible."
Xia Changshi swallowed his saliva, "W-what's the matter?"
"Of the seventeen dead, fourteen are confirmed to have been killed by the Peach Blossom Demon. Of the other three, there is still doubt whether the real murderer of two of them is the Peach Blossom Demon. Only the last one is confirmed to have been killed by the butcher Tu Yan."
Xia Changshi took a breath, "Impossible! That Tu Yan confessed his crime in person! He still has Taohua Brand at home! I saw it with my own eyes!"
"Xia Changshi, don't worry, let's listen to Ling Sizhi's analysis first." Hua Yitang said firmly.
Ling Zhiyan took a deep breath, "Ling's analysis is that Tu Yan is not the Peach Blossom Murderer at all. This is a wrong case, and the real Peach Blossom Murderer is still at large."
small theater
Lin Sui'an: The ball is over. From what I hear, I have to work overtime again! :,,
