Northern Song Dynasty: The City of Qingquan Mystery Case

Nyx?

Xiangquan sneered, but said nothing.Ganqing knew that he didn't believe in ghosts and gods, so he didn't ask, but his throat was choked and he felt uneasy.

"It was very cold at that time, and the lake was frozen. It was frozen solid at the very edge, but when you look at the center of the lake, it is not good. The closer to the center of the lake, the thinner the ice. However, the ice surface extends far away, and the surrounding area is very cold. Complete, with nothing broken."

Xiang Quan stretched out his hand to open the window a little, and stared blankly out of the window: "No damage? That's where you can see it."

"Yes, but that's pretty telling, the tourmaline didn't fall into the lake! In other words, it couldn't have happened. The intact ice speaks for itself."

Xiang Quan said without emotion: "There should be no ice in the center of the lake."

Qianqing was impatient: "We thought that the tourmaline was walking on the ice, the ice was very thin, and she fell in - but there must be a gap? No. I tried it myself, it was just a few feet away from the shore The ice cannot support a person. If you walk by force, within a few steps, the ice will be damaged."

Xiang Quan frowned when he heard this.

Not in the building, not on the land, and not in the lake—a big living person, where did he go?

"Is it possible that she jumped into the lake from the west building?"

Gan Qing sneered: "Impossible. The distance is too far to jump to the center of the lake."

"Could there be a hole in the lake, but you didn't find it?"

Qianqing shook his head vigorously: "My eyesight is very good, how could I not notice it? There is no damage - I will guarantee it with the head of the item."

Hearing what he said, Xiang Quan just looked out the window, as if thinking about the mistakes: "Is this the end of the matter?"

His tone was flat and indifferent, annoying, and Gan Qing tried his best to ignore his annoying attitude: "No, the matter is not over. We found the jade pendant of tourmaline, on the ice not far from the shore. That day , we searched everything we could, but...no one. At daybreak the next day, we sent boats to search the lake, but there was nothing under the ice on the lake. The search lasted for several days. If she really disappeared Entering the lake, it stands to reason that the corpse would float up, but... nothing!"

Ganqing went on to say: "In the next few days, strange legends began to appear in Yongcheng: the tourmaline was pulled into the lake by the water demon."

Xiangquan finally turned his head to look at Qianqing, and said with interest, "Water demon? What kind?"

Gan Qing snorted and said, "You...everyone asks if the water demon is harmful to people, but you are the only one who asks 'what is the water demon'. It is rumored that the water demon is similar to Nuwa. People in the Central Plains believe in the emperor Fuxi, Miao Xinjiang believes in the land emperor Nuwa. Some people say that the water demon has the head of a man and the body of a snake. The upper body is the appearance of an overwhelmed woman, and the lower body is the tail of a snake."

"That's interesting."

"Half of the water demon can't get out of the water, and her lower body is very long - she lives in the black lake. If it is dark night, when she sees a beautiful girl by the lake, she pokes her head out from the center of the lake. Her body is long and powerful, and she volleys the girl on the shore. People pull it into the water and eat it directly.

Gan Qing squinted his eyes, pretending to be mysterious and continued: "There are also people who say that water monsters don't harm men, only beautiful girls. When a man meets a water monster, it means that he will have good luck; on the contrary, if a woman sees a water monster, she will die. Many young women in Yongcheng are afraid of the water demon, precisely because of this legend. However, I guess," Qianqing sneered, "the business is still so good after such a ghost thing happened in West Street, it is because of this rumor. No Harm men, only women—this rumor must have been spread by Shui Niang and the others, otherwise which man would dare to come to this West Street to have fun? Shrewd, shrewd."

Xiang Quan regained his stiff expression: "Is this the end of the matter?"

Ganqing kept shaking his head: "No! The most surprising thing happened in the summer of the following year. In the midsummer, there were red lotuses in the center of the Black Lake, which bloomed luxuriantly. However, that year was different. It is a rare species. After the nasturtium appeared, Yang Fuyin sent people to search for it in the Black Lake. Do you know why? It is said that before the tourmaline disappeared, Shuiniang once gave the tourmaline nasturtium seeds, so that she could directly sprinkle them on the lake when she was bored Side, relieve fatigue."

Xiang Quan pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

Now it's interesting.

"You must think that if Tourmaline puts lotus seeds on her body and falls into the center of the lake that night, then next summer it may be in the middle of the lake—"

"Golden lotus flowers grow. That's the truth! Don't you think it's wrong?" Qianqing was a little annoyed, "Everyone thinks so. On the day the lotus was discovered, the officers and soldiers began to search the entire lake thoroughly, digging three times. Ruler, we all thought we would find the body."

"Judging from your tone, it seems that you have gained nothing." Xiang Quan's tone was slightly mocking.

Qianqing was angry: "You guessed right, there is no corpse in the lake! We almost searched the lake, but we found a tourmaline hairpin and a shoe by digging mud at the position of the Changjinlian."

Xiang Quan didn't speak, and slowly closed his eyes.

"Since then, people have believed in the legend of the water demon even more. You think, the jade pendant is on the ice, and the lotus flower, the hairpin and the shoe can all show that the tourmaline once fell into the lake-but how is that possible? The distance is not far away. Said, there is no trace of ice around the lake, how did the tourmaline fall into the center of the lake? Where is her body?"

Xiang Quan crossed his fingers and folded his chest: "Were there boats on the lake at that time?"

"No. When Tourmaline's accident happened, there was nothing on the lake. Later, we went to search in the lake and got the boat."

A living person, just gone.

Qianqing wanted to drink tea again, but there was no drop.He kept talking, his vigor and spirit seemed to be back, his head was no longer dizzy, and he continued to talk eloquently: "Last night, another girl disappeared. It is difficult to find peace in Yongcheng. The water monster itself It's unbelievable, as far as I can see, the problem lies in West Street. There are many women, and there are many right and wrong."

Xiang Quan laughed and said, "You know it very well."

Ganqing said disdainfully: "It's a good place to inquire about news. In the past few days when the city was banned, there was a general living in West Street. Mr. Zhao and the others didn't know about this matter. If the trouble became serious, Yin Yang's black hat would not be safe. "He gloated a little.

Xiang Quan also knew his temper well, and said with a smile: "Have you never thought about explaining this matter to Mr. Zhao?"

"Why do you have to explain?" Gan Qing stretched his waist, not caring, "It has nothing to do with me, and it has nothing to do with Mr. Zhao. Look at Mr. Zhao's calm appearance, even if the emperor comes, it will not affect him to catch the thief. Why should I remind? As for Mr. Zhao, I think he is quite strange."

Xiangquan creaked and opened the window again.The sun is rising gradually, as if pushing away the heavy dark clouds.After the autumn rain, even the pavilions seem to have a chill.There are merchants and hawkers coming and going on the street again, but the number is scarce, after all, the city gate is not open.

"Actually, everyone is very strange." Xiang Quan looked into the distance, but no waves could be heard in his voice.

Gan Qing ignored him.He felt much better after drinking tea.Probably he was just overtired last night, and the stick seemed to have no effect on Qian Qing's head.

But... who hit him?

Just when Qian Qing was in a trance, Xiang Quan suddenly said: "Since you are familiar with West Street, then...do you know Hong Xin?"

Xiang Quan asked abruptly, but Gan Qing was taken aback, and replied fluently: "I know but I don't know. Shui Niang wanted to promote her as the top card, but she was taken down after a short time. Why do you ask?"

"She's missing," Xiang Quan said with a blank expression, "It was she who fell from the building yesterday, Hong Xin."

Gan Qing was stunned for a while, his face was pale, and it took a long time before he opened his mouth slowly.

"Red letter... I remember, she was originally Tourmaline's personal maid."

The author has something to say: