It is almost dusk in Yunfu Courtyard. The setting sun and colorful clouds are dotted in the western sky, and the courtyard is sprinkled with orange light.
In addition to the depression of the scorching sun, the evening breeze is blowing, which makes it a little cooler.
Earlier, Yunqi took Lu Anran to sit under a tree and talk about a game. However, Lu Anran's chess skills were obviously not as good as hers with the lancet. After three defeats in three games, no one was interested.
At dinner time, because Lu Anran had difficulty with his legs and feet, Yun Qi simply asked Qiu Chan to set the dining table and sit outside to eat without having to run back and forth.
Lu Anran was holding his rice bowl, but in his mind he remembered the experience of playing chess in the Prime Minister's Mansion a while ago. For no other reason than the flash of his back, he always vaguely saw it somewhere.
"We're back just in time, we have food to eat." Lu Taotao climbed over the wall and came in, reaching out to grab a plate of braised meat.
Yun Qi tapped the back of her hand with his chopsticks, "Let you eat?"
Lu Taotao turned over and jumped briskly onto the chair, his eyes rolled to the sky, "Don't even think about starving me to death, or I'll hang myself at the door of the Criminal Division for you to see."
"Qiu Chan, give her a pot of meatballs." Yun Qi handled Lu Taotao easily.
Sure enough, when he heard the word meatballs, Lu Taotao almost vomited reflexively. He lost all appetite. He opened his eyes in disbelief and said, "Yunqi, you are such a stingy man."
The fight between the two was common for others. Mo Yan took the opportunity to catch several large pieces of meat. No one wanted to compete with him to eat the meat. He was very happy.
Lu Anran filled a bowl of fish soup and placed it in front of Lu Taotao. She almost jumped up in shock, "Did you put poison in it?"
"Did you go to Zhou's house today?" Lu Anran asked, ignoring her surprise.
Lu Taotao held his chin and nodded: "Ang."
"Go again tomorrow."
"I won't go, chanting sutras is not fun." He frowned and pursed his lips. Moreover, the old man named Zhou had a strange expression, and there might be something wrong with his brain.
Yun Qi cut off the last big piece of braised pork from Mo Yan's hand, put it in Lu Taotao's bowl, and said with a smile: "When you're full, go to the Zhou Mansion and squat."
Lu Taotao puffed up his chest and squinted at the attentive couple, "Please beg me."
Yun Qi raised his eyebrows, opened the jade bone fan and shook it gently, "It's almost done."
Lu Taotao finally seized the opportunity, how could he give up so easily? He said proudly, "Then I won't go. Who will go? They won't give me any benefits or anything."
"The Zhou family has hidden a big secret." Yun Qi hooked his fingers and asked Lu Taotao to come closer. "What we are digging in the watershed is not copper mines, but treasures."
Lu Taotao blinked: "Really? Why did you tell me."
Yun raised his index finger and raised his forehead, with a nonchalant look on his face, "Do you think I am a man who is short of money? I am not interested in treasures, but this case of the Zhou family still needs to be investigated. Why don't you go find the treasures and help me keep an eye on them? Watch Butler Zhou to see if he might kill himself for the sake of the treasure."
It's not that Lu Taotao must be the one, it's just that Yunqi's principle in life is not to use idle people in vain. After all, he has limited capable people at his disposal.
Lu Taotao's eyes rolled around a few times, and his interest became more and more intense. He poked the braised pork with his chopsticks and took a bite. "You two are too narrow-minded. I won't believe what you are saying."
After dark, a petite shadow flew out of the Yun Mansion Courtyard, followed by a man who walked out from the shelter of the trees and said to the back: "With Lu Taotao's lightness, it's impossible to stare at an old housekeeper. question."
The window was opened, and half of Lu Anran's face was outlined gracefully in the moonlight. His dark eyes were calm, and he whispered: "I hope the truth will not disappoint me."
—
The next day, the entire Zhou Mansion was still amidst the chanting of Master Ma and Xunqing. Housekeeper Zhou never left the door, and Lu Taotao stared at him with boredom. He wanted to tie him up and interrogate him several times.
At the county office, after Nangong Zhi finished arranging the escort for Princess Ding'an, he turned around and received a piece of good news——
The escort successfully found Qi Shang and Feng Qing in Shang County.
After this hunting, except for the injury to the prince, there was finally no other damage. As for the deaths of Du Man and Yang Xueer, as Princess Ding'an returned to the capital, Nangong Zhi's letter had been delivered in advance.
In private, Nangong Zhi met the prince.
After two days of rest, Zi Sangjin's complexion improved a lot. He was no longer as pale as snow. He had changed from being depressed in the previous two days and his lips became rosy. Looking at Nangong Zhi coming in, he said politely but calmly: "Please come here, young assistant." First of all, because I heard that something happened to some girls, did it originate from Princess Ding'an's subordinate Yao'an?"
Nangong Zhi was gentle and polite, always smiling. Now he raised his eyebrows and said hesitantly: "Yao'an committed suicide by cutting his own throat to apologize. I learned from other people's interrogation that Yao'an only did this to trap the beast so that Princess Ding'an could capture it." Prey, I didn’t expect that other ladies accidentally broke in and caused a big disaster.”
Zi Sangjin's eyes moved slightly, his dark jade eyes reflected a ray of skylight, and a cold smile gradually appeared on his lips, "Do you believe this reason, Shao Fu?"
Nangong Zhi was stunned, and his face was blank for a moment. He did not expect the prince to ask such a direct question.
In the past, Nangong Zhi didn't have much contact with the prince, but in his opinion, the prince was cautious, kept his emotions and anger secret, and acted in a low-key manner. He never seemed to be close to anyone.
Unexpectedly, a legitimate daughter of the Lu family could make the prince make an exception.
Nangong Zhi did not explore the reason behind it. He placed his palms on his knees and rubbed them gently, saying: "Yao'an is dead. Others have unanimously affirmed that this is the case. I have brought the interrogation record back to the capital with Princess Ding'an. All based on The Holy One decides.”
"This cousin of mine," Zi Sangjin turned his eyes and said without distinguishing his emotions: "It is said that she is willful, bullying, and arrogant. All of these are true, but there is also one thing that is true. Everyone in the king knows about her. I am determined to win you.”
Nangong Zhi lowered the corners of his mouth and said nothing.
Zi Sangjin smiled, but there was no smile in his eyes, "So, I want to ask Nangong Shaofu, will you spare the person in front of you?"
This conversation was about the romance of the world, but Nangong Zhi detected a deeper flavor from Zi Sangjin's tone and expression. There was clearly no accusation, but it was actually an allusion to him covering Princess Ding'an for private matters and concealing the truth.
"Prince." Nangong Zhi stood up and saluted respectfully, lowering his eyelids and said, "I do things according to orders, and I don't dare to have any selfish motives. I don't dare to be fair in what I say or do, but I do everything as stated above. What's the result? It is not within the scope of my authority."
Zi Sangjin's eyes deepened and he said slowly: "As I know, Shao Fu is open-minded and upright in his actions."
Nangong Zhi put down his hand, "I have something I don't know whether to say or not."
Zi Sangjin made a gesture, "Young Master, it doesn't matter if you say so."
The window was bright and clean, the shadows of the trees were swaying, and a few shadows were cast, making Qingjun's face cast a hint of gloom, "Your Highness may not be able to get the results you want."
Zi Sangjin clasped his hands in front of his chest, raised his eyes slightly, his arrogant face carried the dignity of a young prince, and asked with a smile: "Why don't I know what the desired result is?"
Nangong Zhi was a little unsure about Zi Sang Jin. Although this prince was young, his thoughts were deep and unpredictable. "Isn't your highness going to support Miss Lu's family?"
Zi Sangjin seemed to have heard a joke, he smiled and shook his head, "Young Master, it's better to understand that I care about my cousin."
After watching Nangong Zhi leave, the door opened again and Hua Jian came in with the medicine, "Your Highness, it's time to take the medicine."
Zi Sangjin frowned as he looked at the medicine bowl, but without saying a word, he picked it up and drank it in one gulp, then wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. It seemed normal, but no one knew that every time he drank medicine, he would always use a strong will to drink it. The nausea rising in his chest was suppressed.
Hua Jian poured a glass of water and handed it over, but stopped talking: "Your Highness, this matter has nothing to do with us originally. Fortunately, Nangong Shaofu is not a talkative person. Otherwise, people will inevitably become suspicious if word spreads. Your Highness is currently in a difficult situation. There is one more thing to worry about. It’s better to have one less thing to worry about.”
Huajian and Shi Shui have been together all the way, and they have already surpassed ordinary masters and servants. Zi Sangjin drank too much potion during this period, and did not want to drink any more water, so he asked her to put it back and said: "I have never met anyone like Lu Anran. people."
Hua Married said with a heart, "Your Highness will not be against her..."
Zi Sangjin waved her hand: "No, but I get along easily with her."
Hua Jian sighed quietly in her heart, with a brisk smile on her face, "There are various rumors about Miss Lu, it seems that she is really extraordinary."
Zi Sangjin couldn't tell what was so extraordinary about him. He just saw the woman who was calm and restrained, but quickly and calmly subdued a hungry wolf. This gave Zi Sangjin great shock and a pair of dark and clear eyes. When he touches someone, it actually makes him feel peaceful like never before.
—
Guanyue is still capable. After checking the information provided by the prince, he finally caught a clue.
"In addition to Zhu Afu, the other missing brothers are named Hu, the elder brother is named Hu Tian, and the younger brother is named Hu Lai."
Mo Yan pinched his chin and interrupted: "Should my brother be called Hu Di, Hu Tian Hu Di?"
Guanyue ignored him and said directly: "The land has not yet thawed before spring. When Zhu Afu and several other farmers were free, they heard that the Zhou family was in need of helpers, so they made an appointment to go together."
Counting the time, it was almost the time when the copper mine was discovered.
"Originally, my subordinates suspected that they were hiding copper mines and selling them, but they went to neighboring counties to find people who had participated in mining. He said that the Zhou family's management was very strict, and they determined that the local county office helpers could only stay outside, and You will be searched when you come in and out, and you cannot bring in any personal belongings.”
There is another reason, "That batch of copper ore was not highly purified and had little value, so the Zhou family gave up after persisting for a month."
As for Zhu Afu and the Hu brothers, it was indeed as the prince said, "Not only for fun, but also for the most luxurious restaurant in Diqiu during those few days. It can be said that a lot of money was spent."
Yun Qi turned the jade bone fan around in his hand, playing with the taste: "He became rich overnight. It would be a shame for him not to live and drink."
Lu Anran said: "A sudden release of one's nature after being suppressed by poverty."
Yun Di nodded and asked Guanyue: "Is that all?"
"One more thing, Zhu Afu is from Gusi Village in Monkey Mountain." Guanyue said: "In addition, the Hu brothers are from the same village as him."
Yun Qi stood up suddenly, his peach blossom eyes half-squinted, "Do you still remember what Ma Dan said?"
This sentence was asked to Lu Anran. She thought for a moment and said: "About half a year ago, two farmers in the village disappeared mysteriously. After that, rumors of a curse spread in the village. People in the whole village died and walked away. From then on, Shangsi Village became Guisi Village."
"When you performed the autopsy on the Zhou family, the red mud you found on the soles of Zhou Ting's shoes happened to come from Monkey Mountain." Yun Qi tapped his chin with his fan, his thoughts turning in his eyes.
Lu Anran tilted his head and said with a hint of certainty in his tone, "The Zhou family is related to their disappearance."
