female catcher

Mingyufang, Piaoxiang Pavilion.

As one of the 24 big brothels in Mingyufang, Piaoxiang Pavilion is not small.The ring corridor, Cui Pavilion, and the Baishuan staircase are all exquisite and meticulous, and their style is slightly different from that of Fengyue Tower.Above the central stage on the ground floor, there are glazed lanterns hanging, which are more dazzling than the zenith of Fengyue Building.

The three of Nangong Biluo stood in the Piaoxiang Pavilion, looking around, only feeling that a small building is big, and looking up, one knows how small it is.In particular, Chen Hu had never been in the Goulan Courtyard before, he was young and reserved, and became the target of the menglang women in the building who whispered, chuckled, and teased him, causing him to go straight to Nangong Biluo and Qushui.

"Huzi, be good, they can't eat you." Qu Shui muttered softly, and the two stood behind Nangong Biluo and exchanged glances.

Nangong Biluo has sharp eyes and ears, and she can understand their small movements even without looking at them.The female arrester, who had always been gentle, restrained her smile this time, and looked up. Her bright and sharp eyes made the onlookers shiver in shock, and the girls leaning on the stairs and railings left quite a bit.

"Boss Liu hasn't come out for so long, why, you want me to invite him in person?" Nangong Biluo looked at Honggu, who was in charge beside Liu Yizhi.That Honggu was also old and had seen many things in the world, but she was a little scared when Nangong Biluo saw it.

"I'll call again, Nangong catcher is waiting a moment." Hong Gu smiled and bowed, and hurriedly left from under Nangong Biluo's nose.The brothel girls who were curious to look at them went a little more, fearing that they would be caught by Nangong Biluo's eyes, and they just hid and peeked.

Chen Hu immediately relaxed a lot, shook his shoulders, straightened his chest, and Qu Shui laughed at him: "I said don't be afraid, the Nangong arresters are the ones who should be afraid of them."

Chen Hu looked at Nangong Biluo's tall and straight back, and nodded.Qu Shui couldn't help laughing again, Nangong Biluo glanced back at her, Qu Shui restrained his smile, and stood up seriously.

After a while, Liu Yizhi, who had been reluctant to show up for a long time, came out with Honggu, and wiped the corners of his mouth with Hongjuanzi in his hand, and immediately put on a smile.

"Hey~ Isn't this Nangong Catcher? What kind of wind brought you, the famous goddess, to Piaoxiang Pavilion?"

Nangong Biluo didn't answer, Liu Yizhi saw her staring at him with a half-smile, not sure what Nangong Biluo was thinking, and said again: "I know that there has been a lot of trouble recently with human skin paper, and there is a female corpse in the back alley of my yard. , but this official has come back and forth several times, so he should have finished asking all the questions he should ask, why is Nangong Butou worried about his brothers, so he has to ask again?"

"Routine, isn't Boss Liu cooperating?"

"How dare you."

Nangong Biluo smiled, "The back alley of Piaoxiang Pavilion was the first scene where the female corpse was found. What does Boss Liu think about this?"

"Huh! How else can I look at it? I don't know which god damn it is the fault, but it just found my bad luck in Piaoxiang Pavilion."

"Then, does Boss Liu know the female corpse?"

"The woman's body has been stripped off, I dare not even look at it, it's bloody, how can I recognize it."

"Then, has something strange happened in Piaoxiang Pavilion recently?"

"Your yamen have asked these questions several times, and I have said them several times. The strangest thing is that first the prostitution ban cut off my way of life, and then there was a female corpse parked in the back alley. This year is not good for Piaoxiang Pavilion."

Nangong Biluo saw that Liu Yizhi's expression was normal when he spoke, and he also knew that these old bustards were all good men, so he asked again: "Is Liu Ying a girl from your courtyard?"

Liu Yizhi frowned, and wiped the crowd with a handkerchief, "Liu Ying is from my courtyard, but she disappeared a few days ago."

"Since someone is missing, why didn't you report it last time?"

"Recently, I have been so busy with the work of Piaoxiang Pavilion that I have neglected the discipline in the building. I only found out about her disappearance. It's not to hide it. You won't be punished for delaying the report. Daming Law doesn't have this rule. And It’s not that my brothel is the only one that has lost people, we are a legitimate merchant with a license, and have nothing to do with criminal cases.”

"The identity of the female corpse is that of Liu Ying. Does Boss Liu still say it's okay?"

Liu Yizhi's expression changed slightly, and he soon regained his composure. He murmured, "Liu Ying. I treated that dead girl as sneaking away with the wild man behind my back. It turned out that something happened to me." Suddenly the topic changed, "But This doesn't mean that I have anything in Piaoxiang Pavilion. So many brothels have found human leather products, and some people are missing. Can't just because the corpse is parked in the back alley of my house, and it happens to be from my family, Nangong catches the head Come to my Fragrance Pavilion."

"Since Boss Liu is a serious businessman, why should you be afraid?" Nangong Biluo's eyes were burning like a torch, "I said it was just a matter of routine, so naturally I wouldn't target anyone. Whatever I asked, Boss Liu would answer truthfully, unless, Boss Liu wanted to go around in circles with me." .”

Liu Yizhi pursed her lips, Nangong Biluo was not easy to fool, she was discouraged, "Nangong Butou is here, please. Come, let's have tea."

Nangong Biluo followed Liu Yizhi to her room. After some inquiries, she found out that Liu Yizhi had the largest business in the homestay, and more than one of her girls had accidents.In order to make money, the red men under her hand picked up all kinds of people. One girl was maimed and another was disfigured. Even Liuying's sole was injured when she was picking up customers.The bigger the business, the more disputes there will be. Liu Yizhi is afraid that things will get bigger and bigger, alarming the government and blocking the way of making money, so he doesn't tell Liu Ying about his disappearance.The other two people who had an accident were also sent away by her. They sometimes do some cruel things in their profession.

But the news still leaked out, and Liu Yizhi never thought that the missing Liuying would become a female corpse parked in the backyard. She also contacted Liuying because she heard that the female corpse had an injury on the sole of her foot, and she chose to remain silent because she was afraid of causing trouble. Nangong Biluo came to the door.

"Since Nangong Catcher has found out that the female corpse is Liu Ying, I must have learned about Liu Ying's characteristics from the two girls I sent away. I didn't want to hide it, but I just took advantage of some loopholes to make money to support Piao It’s just a large group of people in Xiangge, and it really doesn’t have much connection with the skinned murderer you want to catch.”

"I will judge whether there is any contact. Boss Liu knows that the government has issued a ban on prostitution, and he still wants to instigate the girls under his command to solicit clients to pick up private jobs. Doesn't he take the government seriously?"

"Heh." Liu Yizhi sneered, "Nangong arrests the head, and Ming people don't say dark words. We only take private jobs to save face for the government. We must give them a way to survive. Private prostitutes also have to eat, not everyone is like Fengyue Buildings are as big as trees and are not afraid of the wind. Besides, among the hundreds of Goulan courtyards in Mingyufang, which one is really clean? Nangong Tuotou and Fengyuelou are close, so be careful not to be blindfolded by some people."

Nangong Biluo did not refute Liu Yizhi, but said: "It seems that Boss Liu's news network is wider than I imagined. I asked here today. If there is any progress, I need to bother Boss Liu. I hope Boss Liu will still cooperate."

"Naturally. Come and see off."

The three of Nangong Biluo left Piaoxiang Pavilion and then went to Yingchunyuan. Lu Sanniang and Liu Yizhi were exactly the same, they cooperated even if they said they cooperated, but their attitude was cold.Although Lu Sanniang didn't hide Liu Xu's disappearance, she didn't care much about Liu Xu's life and death. After a few words, she turned to Fengyue Tower.

"Captain Nangong, I have already withdrawn the business in the homestay, so stop talking about the prohibition of prostitution. Liu Xu, I really don't know where I went. I answered honestly what you wanted to know Speaking of it, so many of our brothels have accidents, and the old bustards in every courtyard are frowning. Only Boss Feng's is as usual. I find it strange, why don't you check Fengyuelou more, maybe the harvest is better than ours. .”

Nangong Biluo and the others left the Yingchun Courtyard, and Lu Sanniang's eccentric appearance was still in their minds.

Chen Hu said angrily: "Everything is judged by the nostrils. We are not investigating cases for their safety, but they don't want to see us."

Qu Shui was also a little angry, "These brothel bustards are really dark-hearted. They let the girls under their hands sell themselves for fun and make money. When the girls were disfigured and their legs were broken, they were kicked out of the courtyard. They didn't care about the lives of the girls under their hands. He regards human life, and always targets Fengyuelou. Compared with them, Boss Feng is so much better. Miss, they have violated the ban on prostitution, why don't you arrest them, even if they are locked up for a few days."

Nangong Biluo shook her head, "So what if they are caught? They are all backed by powerful people, and besides, the girls under their hands are all in their hands, so it's up to the madam to decide how to deal with it."

"But after asking for a long time, I just got angry. Liu Yizhi and Lu Sanniang are both smart and smart." Qu Shui was a little annoyed.

"Actually, it's not like I've gained nothing. At least I know more details about Liuying, and I know more about the missing persons. Liu Yizhi is more experienced than Lu Sanniang, and she won't let go of what she has to say. Shui'er, Xiaohu, you two People go to follow the two lines of Liuying and Liuxu respectively, and come here with their ears."

Nangong Biluo explained to Chen Hu and Qu Shui's ears, and the two of them left in a hurry, leaving Nangong Biluo standing in the alley alone. She raised her eyes and swept the Flower Street and Willow Lane in Mingyufang, her eyes stopped at Fengyue Tower , shaking the sword in his hand behind his back, and then left Mingyufang.

Nangong Biluo walked through the streets of the capital alone. She temporarily put down the case in hand and went to Chongwen Lane.

Chongwen Lane is rich in wine shops, and there is a smell of wine all the way. It is also where Li Heng's house is. She made a jar of wine and went to the front of Li Heng's house. There is a small courtyard, a black door tin ring, and a piece of Li Heng's house. Plaque, Nangong Biluo knocked on the door.

The person who opened the door was a woman in her thirties, with a small stature and a delicate face. When Nangong Biluo saw her, she called out: "Sister-in-law, let me come and see Mrs. Li."

The woman sighed, "Come in."

As soon as Nangong Biluo entered the yard, he felt a sense of depression. Half of the flowerbeds and plants in the yard were withered and no one took care of them. The boy ran out of the house and held the woman's hand obediently, not even calling her.

The woman led Nangong Biluo into the living room, pointed to the left, "All the servants in the family have been dismissed, and there are only three of us in our family. My husband is in the study. Go find him, and I'll cook something for you."

Nangong Biluo nodded, and the woman led the child out of the living room.It was not the first time Nangong Biluo came to Li's mansion, and soon found that the door was open, but Nangong Biluo still knocked on the door.The paper in the room was scattered, full of waste paper from practicing calligraphy. Li Heng stood in front of the desk, waving the writing brush, forcefully penetrating the back of the paper, and his movements were full of resentment.

He raised his head when he heard the knock on the door, and the high-spirited Master Li became scruffy and haggard.

"It's you, come in and sit down." Li Heng put down his pen, sat down at the round table, and picked up two empty glasses.

Nangong Biluo went in and sat down, uncovered the wine jar, and filled the empty glass with wine. Li Heng lifted the glass in front of him, drank it all in one gulp, and before he could open his mouth, the wine was filled again.

Li Heng laughed, "Ha, Nangong, you finally don't have to bother me with my rigid and clumsy Zuofu Du Yushi."

Nangong Biluo smiled, "Without you arguing with me, it's not a lot of fun."

"Hahaha, you," Li Heng laughed a few times, then fell silent, picked up another glass of wine, and sighed. "Ten years of hard work, seeking to be an official and a half-job to honor the ancestors, but he didn't expect to be dismissed from office and repatriated when he was in his prime of life. What have you planned for all these years?"

"Nangong, tell me the truth, am I a failure?"

"There is more than one path in life, and heroes are not judged by success or failure." Nangong Biluo picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and held it up, "However, you are indeed a failure, and the failure is not enough to rape your opponent. Mr. Lin of the Criminal Ministry said that corrupt officials If you want to be treacherous, a good official must be more treacherous than them, otherwise you won't be able to beat them. The thousand-year-old fox has become a spirit, Mr. Li, you just don't have enough morals and deeds, and the depression is really over."

"What do you call Mr. Li? I'm just an ordinary person now. Nangong, I don't want to be depressed, I just——ah!" Li Heng clinked glasses with Nangong Biluo, "I'm angry in my heart. I have never achieved anything in my political career. I lost to the eunuchs. , I hate it!"

"I failed Lord Wang, I failed the common people, I failed my ancestors. When I think of the faces of Wang Jin and Liu Futong, I can't wait to recommend the emperor in blood, so that he can see clearly the faces of these bullying people."

"Your temper is more suitable for learning martial arts, but you just messed up. You will be tricked, half of which is to blame for your bad temper." Nangong Biluo said to Li Heng again.

Li Heng waved his hand, took the wine jar and poured the wine himself. Li Heng's wife brought the appetizers and left again.After drinking a few cups, Li Heng said, "Thank you Nangong for coming to see me. I'm leaving tomorrow, so don't come see me off, so as not to get caught up in others. From now on, Mr. Wang will trouble you to take care of me."

Nangong Biluo sighed slightly, "I know. You understand the situation in your heart, but you are too anxious after all. Mr. Wang wants me to take time to see you, but in fact, I also want you to tell me more details. Tell me. .”

"I don't need to say more about Liu Futong and Wang Jin. They are old opponents for many years. Wang Jin is a scheming, secretive man. He has been favored for many years. One person is under one man and ten thousand people. He is dictatorial and dictatorial. He can cover the sky with one hand. It is impossible to bring him down." It's as good as heaven. Liu Futong is appreciated by Wang Jin. Although he is also a sinister and cunning person, he lacks Wang Jin's restrained and rigorous, arrogant and domineering, full of loopholes. If Wang Jin didn't protect him and secretly destroy the evidence of his crime, he would have been eliminated long ago. So I think he has many sons under him, and there will always be a breakthrough, so he can't escape, so..." Li Heng talked about secretly tracking and investigating Liu Futong's son.

At the beginning, he proceeded very secretly, and no one noticed, not even Wang Rui. He gradually found out all the godsons Liu Futong had taken in secretly, and the collection of evidence was considered smooth, but he didn't know How did the rumors leak out? Liu Futong took advantage of the plan and took over the army instead.

"You mean, there is another force in the dark, waiting for us to fight more fiercely with Wang Jin?" Nangong Biluo muttered to himself, lost in thought.

After a while, someone from the yamen came.

Li Heng's wife led a yamen servant into the house, and exclaimed as soon as they arrived: "Nangong arrests the head, something happened!"

"what happened?"

"There were skinned corpses again, but—" the yamen servant seemed a little unsure how to organize his words.

Nangong Biluo frowned, but did not hurry to urge.

The yamen servant swallowed, "The body was found at Eunuch Liu's place, but it's because someone assassinated Eunuch Liu today. When hunting down the assassin, a new body was found."

Nangong Biluo's pupils shrank, "Liu Futong?"

The yamen servant nodded, Nangong Biluo didn't even say goodbye to Li Heng, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.The yamen servant chased him out from Li's mansion, and Nangong Biluo had already rushed towards Liu's mansion.

Liu's mansion was surrounded by officials and envoys, and there were also masters of Jin Yiwei among them.There were people coming and going in the hall of Liu's Mansion, Feng Piaoxu and Yao Hong stood quietly in the corner, looking coldly at the furious master of Liu's Mansion.The living room was full of tall and burly officials, surrounded Liu Futong and no one could be seen, only a sharp thin voice hoisted up and shouted: "How courageous!"

Feng Piaoxu and Yao Hong stood in place peacefully, and in the gap between the officials' feet, they could see two corpses in the living room.