The first work of the imperial prison

In the dark and gloomy way, in the dark way, people who disappeared in time are buried in the wall of the way that no one cares about.

Qiu Yiqing didn't pry around to destroy it, but only pressed a few points, the bones were not fully exposed, and the things that could be seen in the field of vision were limited, but no one could misread this skull.

White and black, silently 'looking' at the person in front of him, as if talking about something.

"Bring the lamp!"

Xu Kai didn't dare not listen to the commander's words, so he quickly brought the oil lamp over to illuminate the wall in front of him.

"Is that okay?"

"how about this?"

"Looks like my sleeves are blocking the light..."

Xu Kai tried his best to raise the lamp to cooperate, but Qiu Suiqing's action of digging the wall is not static. During the process, he needs to observe and think, and re-plan the new starting point. Xu Kai can't keep up. , Qiu Xunqing's actions were repeatedly interrupted.

Ye Baiting simply grabbed the candle, walked up to him, and said loudly: "I'll come."

One point higher, two points shorter, three or four points sideways, five points diagonally, he can always find the right angle, which is convenient for Qiu Suqing to do things, the two have no communication, and Ye Baiting will never block the passing light, Qiu Suqing Just keep your eyes on the wall and follow your plan.

Where is the next move, whether the area needs to be expanded, up or down, left or right, how many hits, light or heavy, what angle to use, needless to say, they can think of going together , The tacit understanding is very good.

Soon, the wall was chiseled down a layer, revealing more bones.

Skeletal head, thick ribs, hanging arms, long lower limb bones... This is a human skeleton.

Xu Kai seemed very surprised, and muttered to himself: "This...what's going on? How could it be? Here...how can there be human bones?"

Ye Baiting held the lamp and looked at him indifferently: "The housekeeper doesn't know about this?"

"How would I know?" Xu Kai quickly waved his hand, "You don't think I killed people, do you?"

Ye Baiting narrowed his eyes slightly: "I just found a skeleton. No one knows why it got into this wall. Did I ever say that it was murder and throwing away the corpse? Why is Steward Xu so nervous? I really don't know anything about it." Is it?"

Xu Kai: ...

He wiped his sweat and said, "It's the villain who is in a hurry, and he judges the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain." He paused, and then said, "The villain really doesn't know that there is a... person hidden here."

Ye Baiting: "But I remember, this secret passage was dug by Housekeeper Xu himself watching others."

"This……"

"Why, can you forget what you said yourself yesterday?"

Xu Kai frowned, with an anxious expression on his face: "The villain didn't lie, the secret was indeed six years ago, the villain followed the old master's order and watched the digging in person, but the villain is not an iron man, there is always a rest in the middle to leave How did this 'person' get in, the villain really doesn't know... If the villain knew, the commander should have stopped him from going down, and if he lied, he would have prepared for it early, why did he make himself so messed up Embarrassed?"

Ye Baiting: "Didn't you stop it just now?"

Xu Kai: ...

"This...is just a moment of anxiety. I don't want the secret channel to be destroyed. In the end, the masters will blame the villain."

Qiu Xunqing put the shovel aside: "You said you didn't come in through a secret passage to get there, but to clean it?"

Xu Kai: "Yes."

"From the top to the bottom of Ying Gonghou's mansion, it is said that the secret passage has long been sealed and has not been used. Even the eldest lady only used it once or twice a year ago. Since no one comes and goes here, what can be cleaned?"

Qiu Yiqing stared at Xu Kai: "You really came in to clean?"

Xu Kai: ...

One or two are not easy to fool.

He sighed: "...the master needs to be cleaned up, doesn't he? Our servants do it, isn't it just this job, and everything has to be thought out beforehand, just in case... The villain really doesn't know about the inside of the wall." , I was taken aback just now..."

Ye Baiting looked at the butler standing in front of him. He had a long face, narrow eyes, and ordinary appearance. There was sweat on his forehead and panic in his eyes. It seemed like a normal reaction, nothing wrong with it, but he just felt something was wrong.

He always felt that this person had lied, must have done something, or knew something.

In the current situation, it is impossible for the other party to say that Ye Baiting is not in a hurry, there will be more time later, just now when Qiu Yiqing was knocking on the wall, he had already sent a secret message, and the Jinyiwei team will come over soon, someone is watching, Xu Kai thought I can't even run.

He simply went back to the wall and carefully looked at the bones inside.

While watching, he quietly approached Qiu Yiqing and asked in a low voice, "Yesterday...why didn't you move?"

Now that I found it, why didn't I dig it yesterday?

Qiu Yiqing also followed his example, and his voice was low, almost falling into his ears: "At that time, I just felt that something was wrong... When I went back to Beizhen Prefecture at night, I just remembered that there is such a possibility, so I asked you to come with me."

This time Ye Baiting didn't carry the lamp, but Qiu Yiqing picked it up earlier. He is tall, with long arms, and he adjusted his distance to stand properly, so his vision is clearer.

Ye Baiting observed for a moment: "Do you feel that..."

Hatred and green jaws: "This person's posture is a bit strange."

Ye Baiting nodded: "Why is it sitting?"

If a person is conscious, it is impossible to be buried alive obediently. He will always struggle. This kind of obedient sitting posture is not right; in similar case experience, the deceased has a high probability of losing consciousness, coma, or death. Throwing it casually, or building it into the wall is the same. The posture of the deceased may vary to a certain extent, whether lying down or lying down, and the overall feeling will not deviate too much.

This is very strange.

Qiu Yiqing: "Maybe we can tell when it was buried?"

"It's hard." Ye Baiting shook his head. Without modern precision instruments for analysis, he could only rely on experience and carefully observe the brickwork soil he brought back. "I will try my best. But..."

He stretched out his hand to caress the wall: "It's like a whole here, there is no obvious division mark at the edge, and you can't see anything wrong without careful observation. Such a seamless unity cannot be formed in a short time."

There are only two possibilities for corpses appearing in this kind of mud wall. One is that the wall is being repaired and the corpse is buried in it at the same time. , bury people in it, and then fill it up again.

The latter is more difficult to implement, and it is not convenient. It is difficult to restore the damaged things as new, and the same is true for the dug holes. Even though the same soil is used, the color angle will also change slightly Changes, for a long period of time, will look very inconsistent, definitely not a seamless one.

And to achieve the existing effect——

"The secret passage is underground, and it will take at least two years."

In other words, this person died at least two years ago.

It is known that there are now two "accidental deaths" in Ying Gonghou's mansion. At that time, they could only identify the corpses by their clothes. One was Ying Baisu's husband, with a historical name, and the other was Ying Puxin, the second master of the family. Could the skeleton found in the cave be one of them?

"clothing……"

Thinking of this, Ye Baiting looked at it again and felt even more strange: "Where is this man's clothes?"

When a corpse is buried in an earthen wall, it will rot and oxidize, and insects and mosquitoes will walk through it. Over the years, the flesh and blood will be completely destroyed, leaving only the bones. This is normal, but what about the clothes?It's all rotted and decomposed, and there's not a piece of clothing left?

Ye Baiting didn't believe it, he had never seen such a scene, unless...

This person was thrown in naked?

"There," Qiu Yiqing lowered the lamp and reminded him, "Look at the soles of your feet."

Ye Baiting lowered his head and saw a ring shape with a thickness in the middle.

It has been buried for many years, so things like stones will not break. This ring-shaped 'stone' looks dusty and not good-looking at all, but its shape is smooth, delicate and small, and it is obviously something that has been carefully polished. , Even if it is covered with a layer of soil, it can be seen that it is different.

"What is this? A decorative jade buckle? A jade ring?"

"Pull the finger." Qiu Yiqing pointed to the position of the thumb, "When drawing the bow and shooting arrows, it plays a protective role. Many of them are exquisitely crafted and have unique styles. Some people wear them every day."

"Then this is an important physical evidence to determine the identity of the deceased..."

The two were discussing, Shen Jiang ran over from the entrance, and saw the skull built in the wall, which seemed to be saying hello to him, and jumped back in fright: "Hey - I won't be here for a while, what did you find! Don't bring such a scary one!"

Ye Baiting patted the land on his hands, and looked at him calmly: "How about you? How is the investigation going?"

Shen Jiang calmed down, and while leaning closer to look at the human bones in the wall, he said: "Don't mention it, the servants here are not very cooperative, and they probably don't dare to say anything when they ask them. If they really want to be rejected by the Patriarch, they will be kicked out. Now, how do you live?"

"How about a cryptic question?"

"Don't worry, young master, I understand! It's not easy to ask them directly, just ask other directions, trivial things are also fine, as long as I can put together the information, I will be considered successful, let's analyze and think carefully later, but it will take time It's useless to worry, you can only take your time..."

Shen Jiang looked at the bones in the wall, and now he is not afraid anymore: "Who is this person? It looks scary... Could it be one of the two that the commander mentioned last night?"

Ye Baiting: "I don't know yet, I need to check carefully."

Now the whole skeleton is still embedded in the wall, obviously it cannot be seen by inspection. The Jin Yiwei who came over looked at the scene and prepared their own tools, but the traces of the scene are extremely important. They need to be very careful when digging out, not missing any details. a certain amount of time.

The finger puller on the bottom of the deceased's foot was very convenient, and it didn't take long to clean it out.

Chou Yiqing used a handkerchief as a cushion, picked up the small ring-shaped thing, glanced at it, and handed it to Ye Baiting: "There are words inside."

Ye Baiting leaned his head over and touched the inner wall of his fingers. Although covered with mud marks, the deep handwriting was still obvious. He only took one look and frowned: "Seal script?"

Sorry, he doesn't know.

He is illiterate, so he is an illiterate here, but he is not sad at all, and asked the leader confidently: "What is this writing?"

Xiao Wuzuo's straightforward request made the commander very useful. The commander put his fist in front of his nose and coughed: "It's 'Pu Xin'."

Pu Xin... should Pu Xin.

Ye Baiting raised his eyebrows: "Second Master of the Hou Mansion?"

Shen Jiang was also stunned: "So the person in the wall is him? But didn't he die in the river outside? How could he be here?"

"Go and have a look?"

"it is good."

After the commander spoke, the young master nodded, and the two of them walked out, their footsteps were neat and their movements crisp.

Only Shen Jiang was left scratching his head: "Where are you going, you should tell me!"

He yelled, he didn't hesitate at all, and just followed.

Ye Baiting: "Second room."

Qiu Yiqing: "Ask Mrs. Cai."

……

Cai was walking around in the room, picking up things all the time. As a person with amnesia, she really worked hard, trying to get her memory back, wanting to know who she is and what the situation is now.

She has turned over almost all the rooms in the yard, and she has not gained much. What she is holding in her hand at this moment is still a small portrait, the same light pink background with flower notes printed like crescent moons, and the same red skirt. The back view of the beauty, but this time, the beauty covered her entire head and shoulders with an umbrella, without revealing any skin. In the painting, only the black hair on the back and the slim waist are the only things that make people think.

This time there is also a poem in the blank space - the wind and rain are like darkness, and the rooster crows endlessly.Seeing a gentleman, Yunhu doesn't like it?

In contrast, the crescent moon on the flower paper is outlined by fine brushstrokes, hidden in the clouds, and the lingering rain in the painting wets the beauty's cuffs.

This poem is too familiar. It comes from the "Book of Songs". It probably describes the joy of reuniting a lover after a long absence.As long as this person is around, everything around is beautiful, okay.

But the emotions conveyed in the painting are not so joyful, but faintly sad and sad, as if they have offended others, being happy is happy, even if they don’t know how to coax others to be happy.

When Ye Baiting and the others came in, she saw Mrs. Cai holding the small portrait and gently stroking the beauty in the painting with her plain fingers, her expression dazed.

"Why are you crying madam?"

Cai turned her head and saw a person with a similar temperament, Ye Baiting was the same as yesterday's Qiu Yiqing, standing here, tall and tall, with clean eyebrows and eyes, and asked the same question.

She raised her hand and touched her face, which was slightly wet: "I really cried again..."

Ye Baiting pointed to the small portrait: "This small portrait makes you feel bad?"

"No." Cai shook her head, as if she didn't know how to describe her mood at the moment, and said after deliberating, "I just want to know something. Seeing this little elephant, I don't seem to hate or hate anyone, but I feel a little sad, a little Jealous of the people in the painting... being deeply loved and longed for by others."

Ye Baiting: "Why don't you think this person is me?"

Cai frowned: "I don't like red, I never did. If I didn't have amnesia, I probably wouldn't wear it."

Qiu Yiqing opened the veil covering the finger and showed it to her: "Do you know this thing?"

Cai stared at it for a long time, without any fluctuations in his expression: "I don't remember, I don't know."

She even covered her nose with a veil, and stepped back slightly, as if she disliked this dirty thing and didn't want to approach it.

"Take a closer look."

Only now did Mrs. Cai get closer, and took a closer look: "'Pu Xin'...is this my husband's property?"

"But you don't know."

Cai's expression was a little embarrassed: "I... I really don't remember much, where was this found? The deceased husband's relics seem to be stored in this yard, and there are no other places..."

Qiu Yiqing: "There is a secret passage underground in the Hou Mansion, do you know?"

Cai lowered her eyes: "I didn't know at first, but what happened to Jin Yiwei yesterday...I know now."

"A skeleton was found in the secret passage, and this finger fell by its feet."

"The skeleton... is my husband?"

During the entire speech, Ye Baiting had been observing Cai. Her eyes were slightly red, and she was crying from the front. When she heard what appeared to be her husband's skeleton, she didn't feel any emotion, and she didn't cry any more.

Seeing the small portraits of other people painted by her husband, and the love poems she wrote for others, she would feel sad and would say she was jealous. Knowing that someone died, she didn't feel so uncomfortable?

Cai: "Do you need me... to identify it? Although I don't remember anything now, I may not be able to help."

Qiu Yiqing said, "That's fine too. Ma'am, please."

Ye Baiting gave Shen Jiang a wink by the way.

Shen Jiang, don't understand too much, the young master and the commander took Cai to the secret passage, and the yard happened to be vacant, so he didn't stay where he was and checked it out, looking through it, what are you waiting for?

When the three of them left the courtyard, he immediately summoned two Jinyi guards: "Search carefully for me, search carefully, and while the master is away, ask the servants carefully to see if you can squeeze anything out!"

Except when seeing the small portrait, Cai Shi is very calm at other times. In fact, she is also very calm when looking at the small portrait. If it is not for tears, others will not notice the turbulence in her heart.

This time was the same, she calmly followed Ye Baiting and Qiu Yiqing all the way to the secret passage, in front of the bones that Jin Yiwei was digging.

Seeing this scene for the first time, Xiao Xiao was startled, but after realizing it, she still looked strange: "You said... this person is my husband?"

Ye Baiting: "There is a possibility."

Cai: "Then my husband didn't die by accident, was he... killed by someone?"

Ye Baiting: "If the identity can be determined, the possibility is very high."

Cai fell to her knees with a 'plop'.

This kneeling was unexpected, Ye Baiting didn't even have time to stop him.

"If my husband died unexpectedly and was murdered by the wicked, I ask you to enforce the law impartially, find out the murderer, and avenge my husband!"

"You get up first..."

"Everyone running for the dead, you deserve to be worshiped by the concubine, even if the concubine kneels to death, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, it's not worth it!" Cai kowtowed her head.

The scene was full of men, out of suspicion, it was not easy to reach out to help, Cai couldn't get up by himself, and could only let her kneel for the time being, Ye Baiting was very surprised by this scene: "Didn't you forget your husband?"

Cai raised her eyes: "I don't dare to hide it, I really forgot everything, but I forgot about the past, and I never lost my heart. If my husband died in vain, as a survivor, I should seek justice for him and help him say that he said no. If it comes out, do what he can't do."

Her expression is very straightforward, there is no anger, sadness, or resentment, there is only a firmness in her eyes, no matter who she is, who her husband is, whether she recognizes her or not, and whether she has any old grievances, at this moment, she just learned that her husband was killed His wife, she has to shoulder this matter and seek justice for her husband.

No matter Ying Puxin or Cai Shi, the people in the second room of the Hou's Mansion seem to be very persistent people.

……

Ye Baiting didn't stay in Ying Gonghou's mansion for too long this time, after speaking with Mrs. Cai, he went back to Beizhen Fusi.

The bones excavated from the secret passage were also quickly sent to Wu Zuofang, including part of the excavated earth wall.All the work was ready, and Ye Baiting took Phytophthora together for the first examination of the skeleton.

The secret passage is dug underground, and it probably won’t take too much trouble to change to an ordinary house, as long as you can walk. Something like lime mortar was used, which was of no help to the preservation of the corpse, so the skeleton was just a skeleton, with no flesh, only undecomposed hair.

The scene was imaginative, there was a finger-wrench engraved with the word "Pu Xin", it seemed that the identity of the deceased had been determined, but Ye Baiting could not be disturbed, and still had to conduct the inspection from beginning to end based on his professional knowledge.

The first is gender.

The bones were embedded in the wall and preserved intact. They were cleaned with a small brush and cleaned again. Some features can be seen clearly: "The pelvic cavity is high and narrow, the longitudinal diameter of the pelvic entrance is larger than the transverse diameter, and the angle of the pubic arch is about the size of the index finger. The angle between the middle finger and the middle finger," Ye Baiting said in a clear V-shape, "The deceased is male."

Then there is age.

"The pubic tubercle was completely healed, and there were mung bean-sized ossified nodules on the symphysis surface, with different degrees of bulge... The basilar suture of the skull base was basically healed. The deceased was about 22 to 27 years old."

"There was a fracture in the upper three inches of the right arm joint."

Ye Baiting inspected the bones in the same way, and when he inspected the inside of the skull, his eyes suddenly stopped: "...Regardless of whether this person is in love or not, the cause of his death is probably not drowning."

Shang Lu couldn't see the bones in front of him, and he looked surprised: "Can this kind of bones be tested to find out the cause of death?"

"Maybe not otherwise, but look at this—"

Ye Baiting pointed to the skull, the position inside the skull.

The deceased was buried in the wall, and the skull may be hit or accidentally. It is normal to have cracks, but the marks in the skull are abnormal. There are traces of being scratched by sharp objects, and there are puncture-like residues in the cavity. Like a very long nail.

This kind of thing must have been nailed in artificially, it can't be so straight, so deep, if the person is dead at that time, the other party just throws the body, there is no need to do anything extra, unless this is the murder weapon.

"Did you find any nails at the scene?"

"Not found yet."

"Where's the soil?"

"There are quite a lot, and there are some big clods, which I haven't had time to break open."

Ye Baiting saw the clods of soil placed near the wall of the workshop, took a small hammer, and knocked them open one by one...

"found it."

Sure enough, there are nails.

Over time, the corpse was decomposed, and the nails in the cranial cavity gradually became unstable, and when insects and ants passed through, they fell and fell elsewhere.

Now the question is coming, everyone knows that Ying Puxin was drowned, and the place is on a river bank outside Beijing, far away from Ying Gong, why did his skeleton appear in the mansion, and why was it sealed in a secret passage?

Everyone is dead, so what's the point?It seems a bit difficult to transport the corpse back without being discovered.

and many more.

Ye Baiting carefully looked at the skull of the deceased: "Shen Jiang seems to have said that this second master was very handsome?"

Shanglu: "Can you tell by looking at the bones?"

"People have beautiful skin, beautiful bones, beautiful bones, good-looking bones, ugly bones, ugly bones, it is very difficult to look good..." Ye Baiting looked at the skull and decided, "Make a skull." Recover."

"Skull recovery?" Shang Lu didn't understand, it was the first time he heard these four words.

"That's right, the skull has been restored."

Ye Baiting touched the skull with his slender fingertips, his eyes were bright: "I'll find out what he looks like, and let you see it too!"