Dragon Pattern Roll Set

Zhan Zhao was investigating cases in the palace, and came across another suicide case.

No matter how you look at the two cases, they are involved, Zhan Weiwei had no choice but to put them together for investigation.

Nangong called a few court ladies who knew Granny Liang for Zhan Zhao, and asked Zhan Zhao to ask questions.In fact, there is no need for Nangong to look for it. The maids have already lined up, and the girls are of course happy to have a chance to chat with Zhan's guards. Unfortunately, only Zhan Zhao is here today, and Bai Yutang is not here. no regrets.

Zhan Zhao asked around, and the ladies of the court all said the same thing, let me sum it up...

This Granny Liang has always been doing heavy work in the harem, doing laundry and cooking.None of these young maids knew about her past, and she seldom mentioned her own affairs. The only clue was provided by a few older court ladies, saying that Granny Liang’s family members had passed away. As for the reason, there was no clue. people know.

As for her character evaluation, everyone is unanimous, whether it is the eunuch in charge, the cook, the maid, the guard, etc... as long as they know her, they say that she is very kind and nice.

As for why she committed suicide, everyone shook their heads, expressing that they couldn't figure it out.

But when Zhan Zhao asked Granny Liang what was unusual recently, no one noticed, so what should I say... This grandma has a good relationship with many people in the palace, but not particularly good. Everyone knows that she is kind, but no one understands her... To put it bluntly, everyone is a casual acquaintance.

Zhan Zhao felt that Granny Liang was deliberately keeping a distance from the people around her.

Finally, Zhan Zhao and Gongsun arrived at the palace residence of Granny Liang.

The maids live in the West Courtyard of the palace, and apart from the maids who are resident in the palace, some of the helpers are older, and they all have their own homes outside, and the palace is just a temporary residence.

Granny Liang had a room by herself, the room was poorly furnished, and it looked like it was just a temporary sleep.

Zhan Zhao looked through it, but couldn't find any clues, so he asked the steward to bring the registration booklet.After all, they are helpers in the palace, and each of them has been investigated by a special person from the management office. Not to mention the address, all the energetic people of the three generations are recorded in the book.The home of this Granny Liang outside the palace is not far from the palace, and in the column of relatives, there are parents and younger siblings... But Zhan Zhao looked at the year, it was registered 35 years ago... In other words , She entered the palace when she was a teenager.

Zhan Zhao rubbed his chin. It's unlikely that he entered the palace as a teenager to do rough work. Maybe he served some concubine or princess. I don't know if anyone remembers her.

Regarding matters in the palace, Zhan Zhao asked Zhao Pu to help find the Queen Mother to investigate, while he and Gongsun went to the nearest residence outside the palace of Granny Liang.

It was getting late at this time, Zhan Zhao and Gongsun found an old house according to the address registered by the management office.

As expected by Zhan Zhao and Gongsun, the house is old and dilapidated, and Granny Liang's family is poor... That's right, if the family is rich, no one would be willing to send their daughter to be a servant.

After patting on the door for a long time, there was no one at home, but it woke up the people in the house next door.

The door of the next room opened, and an old man came out with his clothes on.

Most people in Kaifeng City know Zhan Zhao, and this old man is no exception. He recognized him immediately, "Isn't this Mr. Zhan?"

Zhan Zhao said hello to the old man, and asked, "Is the owner of this house here?"

The old man shook his head and said, "This house has been empty for a long time, Qiao Niang seldom comes back."

"Qiao Niang?" Zhan Zhao asked, "Is she helping in the palace?"

"That's right!" The old man nodded, "Her real name is Liang Qiaoyu, the older ones call her Qiaoniang, and the younger ones call her Granny Liang..."

Speaking of this, the old man frowned slightly, and asked Zhan Zhao, "Master Zhan, isn't something wrong with Qiao Niang?"

Zhan Zhao briefly explained the matter.

"Oh!" The old man stomped his feet, looking very sad, "She still can't think about it!"

The old man was arguing at the door, the old lady came out, and the doors of other neighbors opened. Some people came out to ask what happened. When the old man said, everyone felt very sorry, and felt that Granny Liang was really suffering.

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun looked at each other, feeling puzzled, and asked about Liang Qiaoyu in detail.

This Liang Qiaoyu used to have both parents and younger siblings. Her parents were not in good health and her family was poor. On, into the palace.Liang Qiaoyu is very capable, serving the concubine in the palace, she is very fond of the concubine, she often brings some rewards back to supplement the family, and the life of the family has gradually improved... But probably when Qiao Niang was in the palace, she was entering the palace About three or four years ago, the whole family passed away.

Zhan Zhao sounds fresh, a family, father and mother plus three younger siblings, a total of five people, how can you say that if you die, you will die?

"Could it be that someone murdered him?!" Zhan Zhao was horrified.

The old man smiled wryly, "Master Zhan, you don't know that about 30 years ago, there was a big case in this neighborhood!"

Zhan Zhao was slightly taken aback, "What case?"

"Someone distributed poisonous candies to the children nearby." The old man shook his head.

Gongsun frowned, "Who is so hateful?!"

"Oh..." the old man sighed, "Master Zhan, do you know which candy shop is the biggest in Kaifeng Mansion?"

"Manji?" Zhan Zhao asked, Manji sugar shop can be said to be famous all over the world.

"More than 30 years ago, besides Manji, there was also Xuji." The old man said, "I remember that year, the emperor's birthday was going to be celebrated, and a shop was needed to make candy. Whoever accepts the errands in the palace is equivalent to It was a sugar shop for the queen, so Xu Ji and Man Ji fought over the head. Xu Ji's boss didn't know if it was a ghost, but he came up with such a trick to destroy Yin and morals, and filled Man Ji's sugar cake Put poison on it and distribute it to children from poor families... The dolls of Liang's family took sugar cakes home to eat with their parents, and the whole family died in the end."

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun were stunned on the spot, unable to believe it.

"Several children died on the street during our trip." The old man shook his head, "After the case was finally found out, the emperor personally sentenced Xu Ji to be executed."

Zhan Zhao frowned... He seemed to have read in the case files that the Song Dynasty did not impose heavy punishments, and there were very few cases where the whole family was sentenced to be executed. There was indeed a family named Xu, so it was because of this reason... …

Gongsun also frowned, "I've never heard of this..."

"Is it the child of a poor family who was poisoned to death? Naturally, no one cares." The old man sighed quietly, "If you don't believe it, if you poisoned a family member of the royal family, this case will probably be known to the world. This world is so unlucky." To be fair, the children of poor families are so sensible, but they suffered a tragic death. Some second-generation ancestors are domineering, but they live a long life and enjoy a lifetime of blessings."

Both Zhan Zhao and Gongsun felt depressed, so they asked the old man if Granny Liang had anything unusual recently.

"Abnormal?" The old man found it funny, "She hasn't been normal since her family died. She has never married in her whole life. She lives in seclusion and rarely talks to us. She only comes back every two or three months. She talks again and again. Come back, what are you doing back? There is no one at home."

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun thanked the old man, but decided to visit Liang Qiaoyu's house anyway.

Gongsun held back his anger, he was a father after all, and when he thought of someone poisoning the sugar cake, he felt heinous, so he walked with Zhan Zhao, muttering, "It's so irritating!"

Zhan Zhao picked the door lock of Granny Liang's house, and said helplessly, "The old man is right, sometimes a good person doesn't live long enough to cause trouble for thousands of years."

With a "creak", the door opened.

The house is very messy. There are peas planted in the yard, but they have not been taken care of for a long time. They grow like weeds, and most of them are dead. The lanterns at the door are also dilapidated, and the gate is even more dilapidated.

Gongsun sighed, "What a poor family."

Zhan Zhao opened the door, entered the room, lit candles, and looked around.

The hut is not big, there is one room for adults and one room for children, and there is a kitchen or something in the back.

Zhan Zhao and Gongsun split up to look for clues that may be related to Granny Liang's death, so as not to rummage through the box, the two try to be careful not to mess up the things at home...

After digging around, he didn't find anything. Gongsun sat on the edge of the bed and felt that there was something under the quilt.

Lift the quilt to check the bed board.

Zhan Zhao also came over, the two of them groped around, and found that one of the bed boards was uneven, so they pried it open... and took out a box from it.

This box is not small, very heavy, with a lock.

Zhan Zhao weighed it, thinking what is so heavy inside?

The two of them didn't find the key either, so Zhan Zhao twisted it lightly with internal force, and the lock was unscrewed, and he opened the box to take a look... Dumbfounded.

I saw a box full of gold in the box!

Gongsun was horrified, "There must be a few hundred taels, right?"

Zhan Zhao nodded.

The two went to look at the wooden lattice again, and found that there was still something inside.

Zhan Zhao simply lifted the whole bed board, and found that there were still four boxes inside.

Take out all the boxes and open them, there are three boxes of gold in total, and two other boxes are full of jewelry.Gongsun picked it up and appraised it, then frowned, "Everything is worth a lot!"

Zhan Zhao frowned, "Is this little money enough to buy a big house?"

Gongsun raised his eyebrows, "It's more than that! It's enough to buy a big house and live a few lifetimes of happiness!"

Zhan Zhao picked up a phoenix hairpin in the jewelry box, frowned, "This doesn't look like the usual phoenix hairpin..."

Gongsun turned Fengchai over, and saw that there was a word "Gong" in a relatively hidden place.

Gongsun was surprised and looked at Zhan Zhao, "This is a tribute!"

Zhan Zhao also nodded, "Looking at the luxurious style, it doesn't look like ordinary people can use it!"

"And it has some western style!" Gongsun frowned, "It should be a tribute from a foreign race!"

Reminiscent of Granny Liang's work in the palace, Zhan Zhao couldn't help raising his eyebrows, "Isn't there too much reward? Is this Granny Liang a snitch?"

"No way..." Gongsun had a hard time connecting this ill-fated court lady with the Snitch, then thought of Concubine Ye, and asked Zhan Zhao, "Could she have hidden it for Concubine Ye?"

Zhan Zhao stroked his chin, looked at the treasure in front of him again, shook his head, and said, "Have I stayed with Yutang for a long time? I always feel that there is not much money here. If it was Concubine Ye, she should have stolen more treasures." Bar?"

"Hmm..." Gongsun scratched his head, and he was a little uncertain. They were indeed too familiar with Bai Yutang, especially when the Baifu settled accounts and counted money. up.

……

In Kaifeng Mansion, Bai Yutang, who was sitting in the courtyard with a pen and drawing a picture, turned his head and sneezed.

Standing at the table helping him sharpen his ink and watching him draw, the fourth son put his chin in one hand and yawned, "Why haven't Daddy and Maomao come back yet? Did Jiujiu go to Grandma Huang's?"

Bai Yutang rubbed his nose, guessing that if Zhan Zhao didn't come back so late, maybe something happened again, he put down the brush and shook his head, picked up the portrait he had drawn, and asked the fourth son, "Does it look like it?"

The fourth son stroked his chin and nodded, "Well...it seems to be about the same..."

"...You say you kid, why don't you paint landscapes or beauties and paint an old lady?"

Bai Yutang and Xiao Sizi turned their heads when they heard the voice behind them, and saw Tianzun standing behind them holding a wine jar.

Outside the door, Yin Hou also strolled in. The two of them had just returned from staying in Nan'an Temple for a day.

Yin Hou looked around, "Where is Zhao?"

"I haven't come back from the palace yet." Bai Yutang put down the portrait, recalling the old lady he saw just now, what other characteristics are there.

"What did you draw?" Tianzun reached out and picked up the portrait to look at.

Bai Yutang told about the old man he met when he and his fourth son came back just now.

Yin Hou compared the two portraits and asked, "Is it similar?"

The fourth son nodded, "It looks like it!"

Tianzun also touched his chin, "Well...she is good at kung fu?"

Bai Yutang nodded, "But I can't think of such a famous person in Jianghu."

"Did she say anything?" Yin Hou asked.

Bai Yutang told the old lady what she said before she left, "The world is not fair, she lived well with her old bones, but the person in the painting died at a young age", and told the elders.

Tianzun suddenly touched his chin and raised his face, "Oh? I seem to have heard this sentence somewhere."

Both Bai Yutang and the fourth son looked up at Tianzun.

After a long time, Tianzun shook his head, "I can't remember!"

Bai Yutang was powerless.

Yin Hou said, "There is nothing special about the words themselves, there are not a few people who can say such words."

"That's true!" Tianzun agreed, "I would feel the same way if I saw some children die. I have lived well for more than 100 years. How can some children die before they grow up? The world is really unfair. "

Bai Yutang frowned beautifully, staring at the portrait in a daze.

Yin Hou was not interested in the case, so he went to wash up and go to bed, while the fourth son ran to soak his feet.

Tianzun sat down beside Bai Yutang and patted him, "I say."

Bai Yutang looked up at his master.

Tianzun seemed very curious, "Although you have always cared about the matter of the cat, but you seem to be very caring about this case, what's so special?"

Bai Yutang looked at his master in surprise, but he was quite careful.

Bai Yutang put down the picture of the old lady in his hand, picked up the portrait painted by Gongsun, and said to Tianzun, "I don't know this person."

Tianzun blinked, tilted his head to look at Bai Yutang - and then?

Bai Yutang said, "But...that skeleton gave me a feeling of déjà vu."

"Huh?" Tianzun opened his mouth, "Do you know a friend who is so thin?"

Bai Yutang was speechless, and gave Tianzun a sidelong glance.

Tianzun smiled, stopped teasing his apprentice, and asked with interest, "There is only a skeleton left. How do you know you know it?"

"I feel..." Bai Yutang said helplessly, "But all the skeletons in the world look similar, I may have seen too much."

Tianzun made Bai Yutang amused, reached out and patted his apprentice on the head, "You say you, you raised a cat yourself but was led away by the cat."

Bai Yutang was also helpless.

The two sides looked at each other, and there were footsteps outside.

Turning around, I saw Zhan Zhao and Gongsun running in carrying some boxes, and behind them were shadow guards helping to carry the boxes.

The fourth son ran out of the mansion, called his father and found that Zhao Pu was not there, so he asked Zhe Ying who was walking behind, "Where is Jiujiu?"

Zhe Ying spread her hands, "Just now I went to the Empress Dowager's Palace to help investigate the case, but I didn't expect the Empress Dowager to be there, and she was arrested and went home."

……

Zhan Zhao put the box on the table, reached out and took the teacup in front of Bai Yutang to drink.

Tianzun opened the box curiously, "Hey... have you picked up money?"

Zhan Zhao shook his head, drinking tea, and told Bai Yutang about Liang Qiaoyu.

Bai Yutang took a look at the jewelry in the box and frowned, "It's indeed very valuable."

"Although it is hidden in Liang's house, it may not be Liang Qiaoyu who stole it." Yin Hou said, "Stealing in the palace requires skill, and it is difficult for her to do it as an ordinary court lady."

Both Zhan Zhao and Gongsun nodded, obviously they thought so too.

Seeing the portrait painted by Bai Yutang, Gongsun picked it up to look at it, and said that he thought it resembled the man in that portrait, but Zhan Zhao was also like Bai Yutang, so he didn't see the resemblance... In this regard, everyone still believes in Gongsun judge.

Hearing what Bai Yutang said just now, Zhan Zhao suddenly felt a little emotional, "Well... when I meet an old man here, I feel that good people don't live long enough to cause a thousand years of trouble. When you meet an old lady, I feel that the world is impermanent. Send people to send black-haired people..."

It was getting late, everyone collected their things and prepared to check them tomorrow, and went back to their houses to wash and sleep.

……

When Bai Yutang took a shower and returned to his room, he saw Zhan Zhao had also washed, wearing a white undershirt, sitting at the table, eating a piece of shrimp cake. There was a plate on the table, almost half eaten.

Seeing Bai Yutang come in, Zhan Zhao pointed to the shrimp cakes, "The lady in the kitchen made the supper."

Bai Yutang closed the door, walked over, looked at Zhan Zhao who was seriously eating shrimp cakes, and suddenly wanted to laugh, "This world is indeed unfair."

Zhan Zhao looked at Bai Yutang with puffy cheeks, "Huh?"

"Someone eats one meal a day and gets fat into a ball. If you eat ten meals a day, you still don't gain weight. Do you think it's unfair?" Bai Yutang asked.

Zhan Zhao narrowed his eyes, came over to get under the bed with the shrimp cake in his mouth, pushed Xiao Wu who had jumped onto the end of the bed to rub against him, and leaned against its soft belly.Zhan Zhao lay comfortably, crossed his legs and asked Bai Yutang, "Yutang."

Bai Yutang looked at him, "Huh?"

"Do you think the man in the portrait looks familiar?" Zhan Zhao asked suddenly.

Bai Yutang shook his head, stared at Zhan Zhao, and asked, "Does this look familiar to you?"

"Oh, not really." Zhan Zhao shook his head, "It's strange to say, I've definitely never seen the person in the portrait, but for some reason, I always feel like I've seen that skeleton somewhere."

Bai Yutang stared at Zhan Zhao in a daze.

"There's more!" Zhan Zhao sat up and said to Bai Yutang seriously, "That fishtail pillow looks familiar to me too."

Bai Yutang was slightly surprised, "The pillow looks familiar too?"

"The pillow is alright, it's in the shape of that fishtail!" Zhan Zhao patted his head, "Where did I see it?! I can't remember!"

Bai Yutang raised his hand, turned off the light, and said, "Forget it, don't think about it, go to bed early."

Zhan Zhao was writhing on Xiao Wu's pillow, his mind was buzzing.

Bai Yutang played with the fourth son for a whole day today, despite the fact that the fourth son usually lay on his stomach like a little quail, it was pretty crazy to play, so... Fifth Master soon felt sleepy, and when he wanted to Before he fell asleep, he heard Zhan Zhao's sudden "Ah!".

Bai Yutang opened his eyes suddenly, thinking that Zhan Zhao was having a nightmare or something, but the cat jumped up and lay down on his chest, grabbed his collar and shook it, "I remembered! Where did I remember?" I've seen that pillow!"