Chapter 373: 112. Yue Girl Picking Lotus by the Autumn Water

112. Yue Girl Picking Lotus by the Autumn Water

"If the second possibility, Lady Historian means...

"The killer is actually already among the people we investigated, and almost muddled through?"

The middle-aged female official asked gravely.

Rong Zhen nodded, then shook her head, and suddenly asked:

"Could it be that both possibilities exist?"

The middle-aged female official was slightly startled. Before she could ask, the cold palace-attired young woman walked to the window with her sleeves tucked, stood in the position where someone had stood before, and looked down at the bustling street below.

She whispered to herself: "How exactly was it done... The bustling crowd in the busy city, target surrounded by guards, only saw the head fall... Was it a mythical object, or some kind of sorcerer."

The middle-aged female official also glanced at the street where a certain man died, and could not help but ask:

"Does Lady Historian feel that this person's cultivation level is at what grade, Mid-grade Qi Refiner?"

"The cultivation level is not important. What is important is his way of killing and that sharp weapon." She paused and asked without looking back: "Also, why kill Zhao Zhao Rushi in the busy street?"

The middle-aged female official frowned.

Rong Zhen lowered her eyes. There was one thing she actually did not say in detail.

Zhu Zhu Lingxu fled and was intercepted and beheaded by Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan at the city gate.

But according to Rong Zhen's meticulous investigation afterward, Zhu Zhu Lingxu actually received two messages within an hour before fleeing, one after another.

One was the defection of Zhu Zhu Yuheng leading the vanguard army, which was known to everyone in the Jiangzhou main hall.

This was also the direct reason that almost everyone thought prompted Zhu Zhu Lingxu to flee.

Only Rong Zhen knew that there was another message that followed the previous one and reached Zhu Zhu Lingxu's ears.

That was the assassination of Zhao Zhao Rushi in Longcheng.

Looking back afterward.

Although it was unclear what Zhu Zhu Lingxu's specific mood was at the time, this message that followed closely might have prompted Zhu Zhu Lingxu to make the decision to flee in women's clothes on the spot without hesitation, regardless of the authenticity of Zhu Zhu Yuheng's affair.

Even to the point of not bringing anything, he had to flee regardless of his own safety, fearing that he would be half a beat slow. As a result, he was indeed right, and his speed was faster than the reaction of Rong Zhen and others who were unprepared. If the city gate had not been blocked, he would definitely have been able to escape.

So there should be a connection between the two messages, and it was a connection that made Zhu Zhu Lingxu think of it immediately, panic, and take a desperate risk.

Rong Zhen had been in contact with Zhu Zhu Lingxu and knew that this person was not stupid, but very steady, and even old and cunning.

The one who could force such a smart person to death must be another smarter person.

Rong Zhen did not quite understand this game.

But she smelled the taste of experts fighting.

Because she witnessed the chain reaction caused by the Zhu Zhu Lingxu father and son affair—the Wei Clan suffered repeated defeats in the court, and that Prince Wei returned to Shenjing Luoyang in a dejected manner. The attempt to expand through military merit was thwarted again, making all parties gloat.

From the perspective of stance, the Prince Xunyang Wang Fu and Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan in Jiangzhou, the Xiang Wang Fu in Shenjing Luoyang, and even the Baoli faction headed by Master Di all had the suspicion and motive to promote this matter.

Especially the Prince Xunyang Wang Fu and Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan who were closest.

After all, the secret conflict between Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan and Zhu Zhu Lingxu before was known to everyone in the Jiangzhou officialdom.

Even that day, Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan ignored her and directly beheaded Zhu Zhu Lingxu, who fled in fear of punishment and attacked the garrison official, without giving Rong Zhen any face at all.

This suspicion was of course not small.

However, from the subsequent results, after the incident fermented, this Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan refused the fragrant position of Registrar of the Marching Camp after the cake was redistributed.

The entire Prince Xunyang Wang Fu only got a nominal position of Jiangzhou Bieja, and in the eyes of discerning people, this was not necessarily a blessing or a curse for the heir Li Li Fusu. After all, except for the princesses and countesses, the Li Clan royal male descendants who were heavily "cared for" by the Empress seemed to have a bit of bad luck, with blessings and curses depending on each other.

And when Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan handled the follow-up aftermath with the main control of the Jiangzhou main hall, there was no sign of hurting Zhu Zhu Lingxu's concubines and servants at all. Even for most of the generals and trusted subordinates appointed by Zhu Zhu Lingxu, he handled them leniently without taking the opportunity to clean up the "remnants."

There were quite a few summoned to inquire, but very few were imprisoned.

The whole process of the aftermath was loud thunder but small rain.

Except for Zhu Zhu Lingxu and his son who died the most miserably, it did not implicate a few people, and it was not even a fraction of what our colorful-clothed female officials handled.

It could be said that it did not fit the murderous atmosphere of an "eventful autumn" at all.

This did not look like public revenge at all.

It looked more like... helping to wipe the butt and cover up.

What's more, if inferred from the perspective of the biggest beneficiary and the biggest suspect.

The biggest suspect should be Qin Qin Jingqin, who was rushing to Jiangzhou.

The Wei Clan suddenly lost face and left their posts, and with the recommendation of the Master, obtained the position of Jiang Nan Circuit Marching Grand Commander, which attracted worldwide attention.

This old general who had been idle at home for many years successfully rose again, implicitly sitting and reaping the benefits.

He won completely.

So, if it was really Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan who did it, being so thankless, and taking the suspicion of being watched by them, the court, and the palace investigation agencies, getting into trouble, and making wedding clothes for others, what was it for?

Just because his hands were itchy, he wanted to kill the old fox Zhu Zhu Lingxu for fun, and for this plate of vinegar, he wrapped a meal of dumplings, and also fed other passersby?

Or was it... some kind of belief and reason that Rong Zhen could not understand?

By the window, the palace-attired young woman looked coldly at the bustling street below and shook her head.

She did not believe that anyone had no selfish desires.

Just like Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan's vigorous actions in Longcheng County, disaster relief, and flood control,

The outstanding political achievements, were they not also the other way around to fulfill him, making him famous in the world, becoming a water conservancy expert recognized by the court and the public, promoted to Jiangzhou Registrar across grades, and even clinging to the Prince Xunyang Wang Fu, which had the opportunity to rise?

But looking at it this way, Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan's suspicion was much less.

Rong Zhen frowned slightly, nodded slowly, glanced at the five pieces of paper scraps in the red cloth bag, and directly asked the middle-aged female official:

"What discoveries are there about this new paper scrap clue?"

The middle-aged female official shook her head with some guilt:

"The subordinates are not skilled enough, the paper scraps still cannot trace the killer, and there is also the aura of an unknown sharp weapon.

"However, these paper scraps with residual ink marks are clearly part of a certain piece of paper. Although we cannot find the whole thing, the subordinates still sent people to investigate the source of the corresponding paper and ink. This can be traced, but it will take time...

"This time I asked Lady Historian to come, it was to let the Lady try... to see if we can catch the fox's tail of this cunning guy."

Rong Zhen did not speak, stretched out her white palm, and took the red cloth bag.

Five pieces of paper scraps fell into her palm.

Only the palace-attired young woman by the window held her fist, closed her cold eyes, did not speak, walked around the table, paced silently, and followed a certain rule.

The middle-aged female official did not dare to urge and waited honestly.

At a certain moment, Rong Zhen suddenly stopped, turned her back to the middle-aged female official, and shook her head:

"Cannot trace the aura. This person is likely to have a secret method of hiding aura, and that sharp weapon for killing also has no residual aura, like an ordinary object."

The middle-aged female official heard this and immediately showed disappointment. Even Lady Historian, who was Grade 6 and a jade girl, could not do it...

"However."

Rong Zhen opened her mouth suddenly, turned her head, only to see that she did not open her eyes, still holding her fist, her cold face closed:

"This palace saw something else."

"What object?"

"Literary spirit... It's a poem."

After speaking, the palace-attired young woman immediately opened her eyes, one hand still holding the five pieces of paper scraps, and the other hand spread the empty red cloth on the table, lowered her head and flattened it, she focused her attention, did not look back and ordered:

"Get ink."

She did not want a brush.

The middle-aged female official was energetic, her figure disappeared, and after a while, she brought the inkstone.

The five pieces of paper scraps had been placed in different positions on the red cloth flattened by Rong Zhen.

The middle-aged female official looked closely, but did not see how the cold palace-attired young woman in front of her moved.

But the ink in the inkstone was reduced by more than half.

And on the red cloth, there was a poem, the ink was fresh.

"This is... Die Chu Lian Hua?" The middle-aged female official finished reading quickly and exclaimed in surprise.

Rong Zhen was also startled, frowned and read lightly:

"Yue girl picking lotus by the autumn water, narrow sleeves and light gauze, revealing golden bracelets... Reflecting the shadow and picking flowers, the flowers are like faces, the fragrant heart only shares the chaos of silk... The wind and waves are late at the Jiuchi beach, the fog is heavy and the smoke is light, not seeing the companion when coming... The faint singing voice returns to the distant oar, the sorrow of parting leads to... the Jiang Nan shore."

The table was silent.

The two women had different expressions, silently appreciating the poem.

"The sorrow of parting leads to the Jiang Nan shore... The poem is not bad." The cold palace-attired young woman savored it silently, her voice not so cold: "The poem is not bad."

The middle-aged female official's face was curious, capturing the key word: "Yue girl?"

Rong Zhen was calm, pointing to the red cloth: "Handwriting, the handwriting of the owner of this Die Chu Lian Hua."

The middle-aged female official's eyes lit up.

But when she looked carefully at the sample restored according to the ink characters, she gave a light "eh": "What kind of handwriting is this? What kind of pen was used to write it?"

Rong Zhen frowned slightly: "Actually, having characteristics is better, it is easy to identify directly. In addition... this palace will try again to see what kind of sacred person it is."

She suddenly reached out, her fingers brushed over the strange ink characters on the red cloth, and the other hand quickly pinched the formula under her wide sleeve.

She closed her eyes tightly, as if deducing some kind of heavenly secret.

The middle-aged female official saw that the crimson light flowed over the snow-white skin of the neck of the youngest "Jade Girl" of the Si Tian Yunmeng Jian in front of her, and the palace skirt sleeve of the girl pinching the formula was colorful... As if knowing that Rong Zhen, whose eyelashes were trembling, was doing something, she was energetic, smiled, and looked forward to it.

"Hmm..."

But the next moment, the cold palace-attired young woman groaned in place, and a line of bright red blood slowly flowed from her lips.

"How is it possible!" Rong Zhen's figure was unsteady. She, who had a cleanliness obsession, was forced to press on the greasy table edge in front of her. She opened her eyes and lowered her head, staring at the strange handwriting on the red cloth, her small face full of surprise and incomprehension: "Unknowable, unviewable, undeducible object?"

This was the first time Rong Zhen had encountered such a situation since she was promoted to a Yin-Yang Qi Refiner with monstrous talent.

The reaction was even more unbelievable than discovering that this calm suspect possessed a secret method of hiding aura and was also a literary and talented poet.

Rong Zhen touched the corner of her lips with her finger, lowered her head, and looked at the bright red blood on her fingertip with a slightly dazed face.

First time.

She was a bit dry-mouthed, turned her head and stared at the middle-aged female official who was also shocked, and the latter swallowed her saliva silently.

Just at this moment, at the corner of the busy street downstairs, a team of blue-clothed head catchers appeared vaguely.

It seemed to be the criminal police of the Longcheng County government, led by an old county lieutenant surnamed Yan.

Glancing at it, Rong Zhen by the window silently wiped the blood from her lips, took a deep breath, and restored her cold expression. She folded the red cloth, handed it to the middle-aged female official, and ordered in detail:

"You stay, first re-examine the suspects who have stayed in this seat and are registered in the wine building, and identify them by handwriting. If there is no clue, then expand the scope and investigate the handwriting.

"In addition... this time do not bring people from the local government, even if they are experienced old head catchers, do not let them join, our people will investigate alone."

The middle-aged female official said in a low voice: "Does Lady Historian mean..."

Rong Zhen's expression was very serious, not negative to the previous three points of indifference: "Just in case."

Thinking for a while, she asked again: "Where is Zhao Zhao Rushi's corpse?"

"Mount Dagu Mountain, Donglin Temple."

Rong Zhen nodded.

The next moment, the beautiful shadow in front of the table disappeared.

Night, Donglin Temple, Sanhui Courtyard.

From the moment she saw Magistrate Ouyang Rong.

Ah Qing did not ask Magistrate Ouyang Rong what he was doing when he came back from beginning to end.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong did not take the initiative to speak.

The two were tacit.

Ah Qing carefully put away the autumn clothes bundle.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong wandered around Sanhui Courtyard for a while and helped Yun Niang do some heavy housework.

After a while, Mother Liu woke up, and Ah Qing and Yun Niang immediately surrounded her and became busy.

Seeing the arrival of Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was equivalent to "half a son," Mother Liu was naturally happy and was about to get up tremblingly, but was gently pressed down by Magistrate Ouyang Rong.

They chatted for a while.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong accompanied them and had a meal together.

Mother Liu liked to ask about family affairs, and Yun Niang was a bit restrained,

Ah Qing buried her head in eating rice, pricked up her ears to listen to Mother Liu and Magistrate Ouyang Rong talking. Today, she seemed to have a great appetite and was exceptionally able to eat, which made Magistrate Ouyang Rong laugh and frequently put food in her bowl.

At the dinner table, the atmosphere was harmonious.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong asked a few questions about whether Magistrate Official Diao often came to visit them.

Yun Niang answered immediately:

"Hmm, Magistrate Official Diao comes to visit every half a month, but these two days are an exception. He came one more time, the day before yesterday. I heard that he sent some corpse up the mountain, and the mountain wanted to hold a dharma assembly, so Magistrate Official Diao visited Mother-in-law on the way."

"Corpse?" Mother Liu seemed to hear about this for the first time and looked curious.

Yun Niang nodded, sighing:

"A few days ago, on the side of Di Gong Street in the county, an official from another place passed by and lost his head on the street. It was a real loss of head. The person was still riding on the horse, and the head fell to the vegetable stall. I don't know the reason or who did it. The county government couldn't investigate it clearly, delayed for a few days, and people began to suspect whether there were ghosts and gods at work.

"Since the Liu family fell and the evil sacrifices were cleared, our county doesn't hold dharma assemblies anymore. However, people in Jishui County still believe in it very much.

"So the family members who rushed over discussed with the county government and decided to send the official's corpse up Mount Dagu Mountain, let the high monks of Donglin chant sutras to transcend him first...

"The corpse seems to be lying in the Buddha Hall now. Fortunately, it is autumn and cold. If it were hot, the dharma masters who transcend him would suffer. Abbot Shan Dao is busy with the ritual of transcendence, and it seems he will be buried in these two days."

"So that's it."

The old woman patted Magistrate Ouyang Rong on the shoulder lightly, her face worried:

"Fighting last month, and this thing again this month. These years are becoming more and more restless. Be careful when you are outside."

"Good."

Yun Niang talked with great relish. The matter of ghosts and gods made Ah Qing shrink her neck, while Mother Liu listened with a solemn face.

Only Magistrate Ouyang Rong ate rice calmly.

Brothers who saw the previous chapter "111" still repeating the chapter content, re-enter that chapter and refresh it. It seems there is a bug, some brothers did not refresh in real time...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 374 =====