"What a ruthless person …"
It was almost dusk. The two constables stood at the edge of the bamboo forest for a long time before Constable Chen muttered.
"What's wrong?"
"That person … He's sitting here …"
Constable Chen took a deep breath as if he was immersed in something. He squatted down and picked up a branch from the side. The surrounding area was mostly covered in bamboo. The branch in front of him was obviously broken from the side as the leaves were slightly wrinkled.
"He's probably waiting for someone to come over … He's sitting here … The stool or chair should have been burnt … He's been waiting for a long time. He's seriously injured, but he doesn't intend to leave. He's still waiting here … He might have killed Yang Yi and Yang Heng's entire family by now …"
As he spoke, he looked at the ruins of the riverbank. He plucked a leaf and thought for a moment before putting it in his mouth. His brows immediately furrowed.
"This isn't right. This can't be the style of the female assassin. If she's a martial artist, she wouldn't have been injured so badly …"
Deputy Constable Xu also frowned. "You're saying that someone else is responsible for Gu Yanzhen's case?"
"It's very possible. It's very possible. That person …" Constable Chen paused. "That person killed Yang Yi and Yang Heng's entire family for some reason. He's … seriously injured … He's still waiting here. Then, Gu Yanzhen and his servant will come over and kill Gu Yanzhen and his servant. Look at the ground … "
Constable Chen pointed at the woodland in front of them. There were mostly fallen bamboo leaves here, and some small things were hidden in the leaves. Under the dusk light, they couldn't be seen clearly.
"He's chewing this kind of leaf. It tastes bitter and he keeps chewing it. Why is he doing this? Because here, here … He vomited twice. Although he didn't vomit much, he didn't cover up the traces when he left … Why is he staying here? Why did he vomit? Why is he chewing this kind of leaf? It can't be some kind of special hobby … "Constable Chen paused." He's injured, and it's a serious injury. He needs this leaf to keep him awake. Such a serious injury even caused him to vomit twice. He's sitting here waiting not because he has the confidence to kill, but because … he must see who's coming … "
Deputy Constable Xu looked at the remains of the chewed leaves and vomit. "Now there's more trouble."
"I know it's troublesome too." Constable Chen spat out the leaf in his mouth and threw the branch in his hand away. "I really don't want to chew another leaf … Yang Yi and Yang Heng have been kidnapping people for the past few years. Some kidnap pigs, some kill people for revenge, and some kidnap women they like. Gu Yanzhen's visit at night means that he isn't a good person either. I'm afraid he hired someone to kidnap people … I don't know if the person sitting here was kidnapped or if his family member was kidnapped. That's why he had to wait here for the mastermind to show up …"
"The person who killed Yang Yi and Yang Heng's entire family is probably a ruthless person. I don't think he was kidnapped, right?"
"That's too ruthless …" Constable Chen sighed. "He was seriously injured after killing the Yang Clan, but he could still wait here quietly until the mastermind arrived. He even killed Gu Yanzhen and his servant … Old Xu, we've been constables for so many years. How many fugitives can do this?"
"He killed Gu Yanzhen and his servant despite being seriously injured. Could it be the female assassin? Let's say someone important to her was kidnapped and Yang Yi and Yang Heng used it to threaten her, causing her to be seriously injured. In the end, she still killed the entire Yang Clan. Then, she was bold and skillful. She waited here for Gu Yanzhen and his servant to appear and killed them … "
"That can be considered as a deduction. However, when she appeared the next day and killed the two servants from the Gu Clan, she was still alive and well … "Constable Chen shook his head." She might not know martial arts, but she's extremely ruthless. She's ruthless to others and herself. She risked her life just to see the mastermind because she doesn't want anyone watching her from behind. However, she doesn't know that such a person is too terrifying … "
"Then … there's a change in the case. How do we report it?" Deputy Constable Xu asked tentatively.
"How do we report it? Sir has already said so much. Do we have to tell him that this might be another case? Moreover, what can this little bit of evidence prove? It's hard to prove anything. After the rain, there shouldn't have been anything left. "Constable Chen patted the bamboo beside him and shook his head." Combine the cases. Confirm that the female assassin is the culprit and issue an arrest warrant. Yang Yi and Yang Heng have probably killed more than ten people. That means that Gu Yanzhen, who came to kidnap people, isn't a good person either. If my family is kidnapped, I'll kill them all! Before everything is clear, we'll just investigate in secret. "
In many folk stories, it was said that someone was upright and selfless and was praised by the people. However, in reality, being upright also required a method. It was fine to be upright in small matters, but if one was as stubborn as a cow all the time, then one would never be able to reach this position. This was especially true when it came to matters that could result in a scolding and a reduction in political achievements. If one dared to make things difficult for them the next day, they could only be satisfied after a thorough investigation.
After Constable Chen finished speaking, Old Xu nodded and said, "That's how it should be."
Not long after, the rain started to fall.
*****
After mid-June, the effects of the flood in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River began to show. By the time Ning Yi returned to Jiangning, disaster victims were arriving from the west. This was just the beginning. The atmosphere in the city was slightly tense, but it wasn't obvious. However, anyone who had this kind of experience would probably know what was going to happen.
He met up with Elder Qin, Elder Kang, Li Pin, and the others. Everyone expressed their greetings about the burn on his left hand. When asked about the process, Ning Yi naturally gave a perfunctory excuse that it was for the Su family to hear. Su Chonghua originally told him to rest for a few more days, but it wasn't good to rest for half a year. After a few days, he went to Yushan Academy to attend classes.
The high alcohol distillation experiment had basically been finalized. Without Lu Hongti living in the small courtyard, Ning Yi didn't mind going there every day to do the experiment. Therefore, in the afternoon, he basically went to the Qinhuai River to play chess and chat with Elder Qin. During the time he was not in Jiangning, Li Pin basically took him to teach those children. Therefore, when he came back, she also treated him to a meal as a reward. Li Pin was similar to Elder Qin and Elder Kang. Recently, she was also concerned about the disaster victims.
"… Up to now, four places in the upper reaches have been flooded, and the Yellow River has burst its banks. After July, the disaster victims will come like a tide. I'm afraid we'll have to close our doors again. Today, the price of grain has skyrocketed. Alas, I don't know how many people will die this autumn …"
Many people would probably die this autumn. This was already a consensus. Of course, there weren't many traces of turmoil in Jiangning City. Life went on. The business of the brothels and painted pleasure boats was still good. The officials and scholars sang and sang every night, worrying about the country and the people. There were some good poems that expressed their concern for the country and the people. These days, grain carts could be seen entering and leaving the Su Mansion. Based on the trajectory of each time such a disaster broke out, many large families had already stocked up on grain. Su Tan 'er was also worried. Of course, the direction of her worry was also different.
"Recently, business has been declining everywhere. When the city gates are closed in the middle of July, it's estimated that the shops in the city will also be closed … We have to go to the city to distribute porridge and rice, and we have to donate a large amount to the government. We don't have many carrier pigeons at home. If they fly out and are shot down and eaten by people, it will be even more troublesome. At this time, it will be even more expensive to hire messengers and fast horses. I'm afraid that the next few months will all be delayed …"
That night, she and Ning Yi were chatting in the corridor on the second floor. They talked about these things while eating. She had been quite busy recently. However, even though she was complaining, she seemed to be in good spirits. It was likely that there had been some good progress in the matter regarding the royal merchants.
At the end of June, when he went to Takeshi's main restaurant to eat, he met Yuan Jin 'er. She probably had nothing to do and came to play with her Sister Yunzhu. When she saw Ning Yi coming over, she volunteered to bring a bowl of century egg and lean meat porridge out and slammed it on the table in front of Ning Yi, giving Ning Yi a fright. When he saw the familiar figure, he laughed. "Waiter, you're so unprofessional. Be careful of being reported."
"If you want to complain, so be it!" Yuan Jin 'er put her hands on her hips and stuck out her tongue to make a hateful face. Then, she turned around and walked inside. Not long after, Nie Yunzhu came out with a smile. She followed and sat down at the table with Nie Yunzhu. After a while, she said with a straight face, "Talent Ning, write me a poem."
Ning Yi ate the century egg and lean meat porridge and nodded. "Sure."
"Ah?"
Ning Yi's straightforward answer shocked her. After a while, she said, "You're really going to write it for me?"
"Last time, you helped promote the century egg. Now that you've asked, there's no reason to refuse."
"Hmph, last time, I was helping Sister Yunzhu." Yuan Jin 'er held her chin and thought for a while. Her fingers tapped on her cheek. "But didn't that Taoist only write two poems?"
"This time, I'll say it was written by a monk."
Yuan Jin 'er held back her laughter. "But I'll sing it when I go out. I'll say that Ning Liheng wrote it for me. I'll say that Ning Liheng wrote it' specially 'for me!"
Ning Yi spread his hands.
Yuan Jin 'er looked at him for a while, then looked at Nie Yunzhu. "You're not a bad person, but I still hate you. Sister Yunzhu, let's go. I don't want his poem, and I don't want to talk to him!"
She took Nie Yunzhu's hand and walked away. Nie Yunzhu called out "Jin 'er, Jin' er" a few times, but finally, she was dragged away by force.
Ning Yi had heard from Nie Yunzhu earlier that Yuan Jin 'er was dissatisfied with him. It was probably because he supported Qi Lan in the Top Beauty Competition. There was no way to reason with this matter, and of course, there was no need to reason with it.
At the end of June, the weather was still hot. However, because of the flood and disaster upstream, the atmosphere of Jiangning was a little dull and bleak.
The flood, the victims, the students in the school, and the occasional discussion with Li Pin. He occasionally paid attention to the movements of the government. After Gu Yanzhen died, he seemed to have looked for Li Pin and Nie Yunzhu to inquire about the situation. Takeshi's business was already very good. The Su family was busy preparing for the disaster. Su Tan 'er continued her plan. One day, she brought back a small piece of very brightly colored silk the size of a palm. At night, she secretly showed it to Ning Yi. "Is it beautiful?"
That day, after eating porridge at noon, she went down to the Qinhuai River in the afternoon. She met Elder Qin and Elder Kang. The flood season was actually approaching the end, but there might be one last wave. The two elders had recently been talking about disaster relief after the flood and other things.
"Shaohe is in Jiangzhou. I'm afraid he will be very busy in the future. Disaster relief is different from other things. For such an urgent matter, Siyuan should give more advice." Kang Xian was talking about Qin Siyuan's eldest son, Qin Shaohe, who was now an official in Jiangzhou. At this time, Qin Siyuan also nodded at this time. "I have sent a few letters to him two months ago. Most of what should be said has been said. The situation over there is basically known from the letters he sent back."
At this time, it was basically Elder Qin and Elder Kang talking. Ning Yi was thinking about something in his heart. After a long time, Elder Qin asked. He smiled and said, "I just have some ideas … Well, I will sort it out tonight and bring it over tomorrow. If it is useful … Heh, I will give Elder Qin two things."
*****
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