It was a small house on the outskirts of Yongling. When Yan Li arrived, he heard a sorrowful cry coming from inside.
"Junyi, my Junyi … Why didn't you listen to your father …"
When he walked in, he saw Fang Xianhuai kneeling on the ground. His fat body was constantly trembling, and he was wailing in grief.
There was a rope hanging from the beam in the house, and a bloody woman was hanging from it.
It was Fang Junyi.
Yan Li took a look and couldn't help but gasp. Her skin, except for her face, was peeled off, and the blood had solidified into a dark red color. Her face was as hideous as a devil's, and even her soul was distorted. It was obvious that her soul was not at peace after her death.
There was a bed in the corner of the house, and from the mess on it, it was not difficult to infer that the woman had been humiliated before her death. On the other side, there was a pot of salt, a bamboo whip, a bucket of asphalt, and a small stove with a bucket.
"Junyi!" Fang Xianhuai suddenly couldn't breathe, and his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
"Let your men take him away." After Yan Li said that, he suddenly felt a chill. It was a murderous intent, from Li Yixiu, who was next to him.
Unlike murderous intent, murderous intent was an emotion from the heart.
Yan Li found that he was wrong. Li Yixiu not only had a personal experience, but it was also unforgettable.
Since the discovery of the body, Li Yixiu had not spoken a single word. The details of the scene investigation were all handled by Yan Li.
When they left the house and walked into a tavern, Li Yixiu's face recovered a little.
"The coroner said that the victim was beaten with bamboo, poured salt water, and then peeled with asphalt."
It was late at night, and the tavern was about to close. The tavern manager saw two guests coming in and wanted to drive them out, but when he saw that they were wearing official robes, he said carefully, "The tavern is closed, what can I do for you two lords?"
"Drink, the strongest wine in your tavern." Yan Li said.
The tavern manager didn't dare to say no, and quickly went to prepare.
The wine was served. Li Yixiu took a big gulp and said angrily, "How can someone be so cruel? This kind of person deserves to die!"
Yan Li said, "I don't think it's just for Fang Junyi."
He did not believe that a person like Li Yixiu would fall head over heels for a pretty face like Fang Junyi.
Perhaps it was because the wine had entered his heart, the memories of the past flooded his mind. Li Yixiu picked up the wine jar and took a big gulp. Then, he let out a long sigh. "My mother passed away when I was five. The way she died was exactly the same as Fang Junyi."
As the old saying goes, "Happiness is all alike, misfortune has its own misfortune."
"Let's drink." Yan Li also picked up a jar.
When one person is down, it is easy to get drunk, let alone when two people are down.
"That's right … It's my father's birthday tomorrow night. Remember to come, Brother Yan …"
…
When Yan Li woke up, his head still hurt a little. The feeling of hangover was unbearable even for cultivators.
He sat up on the bed and carefully recalled last night's events. He didn't expect Li Yixiu's alcohol tolerance to be so much higher than his. In the end, he was still sent back.
Although he hadn't reached the level of being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, he had grown up with Yan Chaoyang, the kind of person who had the ambition to open a tavern. How could his alcohol tolerance be bad? For Li Yixiu to be able to suppress him, his alcohol tolerance was truly one in a million.
"Master, you're awake." Fu 'er pushed open the door and walked in with a cup of tea in her hand.
"Teacher was right. You've really grown up. You've become so considerate." Yan Li was feeling unbearably thirsty and happily said.
Fu 'er handed the tea to Yan Li and sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching him.
Yan Li didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. He opened the lid and drank. He drank tea like a bull, gulping it down in a few gulps.
Only when he finished and put the cup to the side did he notice that Fu 'er was looking at him with a strange expression. He touched his face and said, "Why do you keep looking at me? Is there something on my face?"
"Master, you're so pitiful." Fu 'er said sympathetically.
"How am I pitiful?" Yan Li rolled his eyes.
Fu 'er's eyes were red and she sadly reached out her hand. Unfortunately, she was too small and couldn't reach it. She moved her butt a little and patted Yan Li's shoulder, comforting him, "Master, you have to pull yourself together."
"Do I look that bad?" Yan Li rubbed his chin again. Perhaps it was because he was late in puberty that his beard was still in its embryonic form.
Fu 'er patted him again and comforted him, "Master, you don't need to pretend. Everyone knows."
Yan Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Why should I pretend? What do you know? "
"Master, not only did you go to get drunk last night, you didn't even go to morning court. It must be …" Fu 'er raised a finger and said mysteriously.
"What is it?" Yan Li was stunned by her words.
"It's …" Fu 'er purposely dragged out her words and then proudly said her guess, "He was dumped by a woman."
Yan Li crooked his finger at her.
Fu 'er thought she was going to get a reward and happily leaned over.
Yan Li pinched her cheeks with one hand and stretched them to both sides, "I'm the one who dumped others. When did others get to dump me?"
Fu 'er said miserably, "Wuwu … I'm just guessing …"
Yan Li let go of her and said, "What time is it now?"
"Bad master, it's noon." Fu 'er rubbed her cheeks and said angrily.
"Morning court has already passed." Yan Li was startled. He immediately lay back down and covered himself with the quilt.
"Master, don't give up on yourself. Sister Empress won't fire you." Fu 'er said.
"It's past noon anyway. I might as well sleep a little longer." Yan Li curled up in the quilt and refused to get up.
"Master …" Fu 'er suddenly called out.
"What?" Yan Li asked in confusion.
Fu 'er was really sad this time, "Did you already know that Sister Cui' er would die?"
This time, Yan Li didn't speak for a long time.
"Yes." But he still answered her question.
"Why? Why did Sister Cui 'er have to die?" Fu' er couldn't understand.
Yan Li said slowly, "Because she never had a choice. Some people are always wavering between what they live for and what they live for. The former is painful for themselves, and the latter is painful for others. "
"Sister Cui 'er is so pitiful." Fu 'er sighed faintly. The melancholy at the corner of her eyebrows indicated that she had reached the age of first awakening of love.
At this time, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Yan Li turned his head and looked.
It was the housekeeper Zhou Zheng who came in. He bowed and said, "Master, the Situ Residence has sent an invitation."
"I already know about Li Boyong's birthday celebration. Help me prepare gifts and clothes." Yan Li said.
"Yes." Zhou Zheng immediately went to do it.
"Wait." Yan Li stopped Zhou Zheng.
Zhou Zheng turned around respectfully and said, "Master, do you have any other orders?"
"What is Li Boyong's birthday celebration?" Yan Li asked.
"Fiftieth birthday," Zhou Zheng said.
"Fifty?" Yan Li said.
Zhou Zheng smiled and said, "Master, this is Yongling's custom. Other places have a birthday celebration, but Yongling celebrates the whole year. Anything above thirty is called a birthday celebration, and anything above fifty is called a big birthday."
"I see." Yan Li nodded.
"If Master has no other orders, I will take my leave." Zhou Zheng said.
"Go." Yan Li said.
Zhou Zheng left, closing the door behind him.
"Master, Master, I want to go too." Fu 'er said.
Yan Li said, "It's not convenient. Even if you come with me, you can't sit at the same table as me. You can only sit in the side hall as a follower and sit with a group of people you don't know. Are you sure it's okay?"
"I'm just going to join in the fun." Fu 'er shook his arm and acted like a spoiled child.
"Then you should change your attire. Otherwise, you will be taken back to be a concubine," Yan Li said.
That night, Fu 'er turned into a burly man and disguised herself as his follower. She followed him to the Situ Residence.
Before nightfall, the Situ Residence was already crowded. The street where the Situ Residence was located was filled with endless streams of horses and carriages. It was like a night market.
Of course, not many people were actually invited. At least more than half of the people came to give gifts. It was not easy to get the chance to curry favor with the most powerful person in the dynasty.
So halfway there, cars could not pass, so they could only choose to walk.
"Wow, so many people!" Fu 'er loved to join in the fun. She looked around and said, "Wow, Master, look at that fatty. He's so big, but he's carrying such a small gift. He must be a stingy miser … Wow, Master, look at that. That person is so thin, but he's carrying such a big gift. He must be a greedy guy …"
Yan Li looked at the gift box in her hand, rolled his eyes, and said, "Big is not good, small is also not good. What is your standard?"
"Of course it's our best," Fu 'er said with a smile. Suddenly, she pointed in a direction and said, "Wow, that big sister is so beautiful … Hey, she's not big sister? Ah, then who is she? "
No matter how Yan Li looked at it, it was a woman. However, she was indeed very beautiful. She had a unique charm. Her figure was slightly plump, but her every movement carried the charm of a mature beautiful woman.
"Little Brother Yan." Perhaps it was Yan Li's attention that attracted the attention of the man beside the woman. This person was dressed luxuriously and had an extraordinary appearance. Moreover, he had a mustache that gave people a fierce feeling.
In addition, there was another man beside him. He looked to be about 45 or 46 years old. His face was fair and beardless, and he wore light clothes. He had a gentle smile on his face. "Brother Wei, you can't call me little brother now. Lord Yan is an official of the same court as us."
Yan Li cupped his hands to the two of them and said, "This lowly official Yan Li pays his respects to the two lords."
Grand Director Wei Qiong, the man in luxurious clothes, looked at Yan Li with a burning gaze. "I heard that Lord Yan has solved another strange case. The Chancellor of the Supreme Court appointed by His Majesty does have some skills."
"I wouldn't dare," Yan Li said.
"That's right, this is my wife, Deng Xinyuan." Wei Qiong pointed to the beautiful woman.
Yan Li cupped his hands again. "Greetings, Madam."
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