"This is a ruthless person..."

It was near dusk. Two constables stood at the edge of the bamboo forest. After a long while, Constable Chen murmured these words. Search: \(¨Complete¨ Book¨ Divine¨ Station¨) to read high-quality literature for free.

"What is it?"

"That person... he was sitting here..."

As if empathizing with something, Constable Chen took a deep breath, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. He squatted down and picked up a tree branch from the side. The surrounding area was mostly bamboo. This branch was clearly broken from elsewhere, and its leaves were slightly wrinkled.

"He was probably waiting for someone here... sitting here... the stool or chair must have been burned... he waited for a long time. He was injured, seriously injured, but he didn't plan to leave. He kept waiting here... At that time, he might have already killed Yang Yi and Yang Heng's family..."

As he spoke, he looked at the ruins of the riverbank. He picked a leaf, thought for a moment, and put it in his mouth. His brow immediately furrowed.

"This is wrong. This isn't the female assassin's style. If it were a martial arts expert, she wouldn't have been so severely injured..."

Deputy Constable Xu frowned, too. "Are you saying that Gu Yanzhen's case was done by someone else?"

"Very likely, too likely. That person..." Constable Chen paused, "That person killed Yang Yi and Yang Heng's family because of something. He... was injured, seriously injured... He still waited here, then Gu Yanzhen and his servant arrived, and he killed them too. Look at the ground here..."

Constable Chen pointed to the forest in front. The ground was mostly covered with fallen bamboo leaves, and some subtle details were hidden among them. The light of dusk made it difficult to see clearly.

"He was chewing on these leaves. They taste very bitter. He kept chewing. Why would he do that? Because here, here... he vomited twice. Although he didn't vomit much, he couldn't cover up these traces when he left... Why did he stay here? And why did he vomit? Why chew these leaves? It's not a particular habit..." Constable Chen paused. "He was injured, seriously injured. He needed these leaves to refresh himself. Such a serious injury even caused him to vomit twice. He sat here waiting, perhaps not with the certainty of killing, but... because he had to see who was coming..."

Deputy Constable Xu looked at the remnants of chewed leaves and vomit. "This complicates things."

"I know it complicates things." Constable Chen spat out the leaf in his mouth, then threw away the branch in his hand. "I really don't want to chew a second one... Yang Yi and Yang Heng have been kidnapping people these past few years, kidnapping 'meat pigs.' Some were revenge killings, some were accepting commissions from wealthy households to kidnap certain desired women. Gu Yanzhen came at night, which means he wasn't a good person either. He probably commissioned them to kidnap someone... The person sitting here, I don't know if it was a family member who was kidnapped, or if he himself was kidnapped. That's why he had to wait here, waiting for the mastermind to appear..."

"Anyone who can kill Yang Yi and Yang Heng's family is probably a difficult and ruthless character. It shouldn't be him who was kidnapped, right?"

"Too ruthless..." Constable Chen sighed. "Seriously injured after killing the Yang family, yet still able to wait here quietly, enduring until the mastermind came, and then even killing Gu Yanzhen and his servant... Old Xu, we've been constables for so many years. How many desperate criminals have we handled who could do something like this?"

"After being seriously injured, he still killed Gu Yanzhen and his servant. Could it be the female assassin? Suppose someone important to her was kidnapped, and Yang Yi and Yang Heng used this to threaten her, causing her serious injury. But she still killed the entire Yang family. Then she was bold and skilled enough to wait here for Gu Yanzhen and his servant to appear and kill them..."

"It's a plausible theory. But the next day, when she appeared to kill the two servants of the Gu family, she was still full of energy..." Constable Chen shook his head. "This person might not know martial arts, but he is ruthless to the extreme, ruthless to himself as well. He was willing to risk his life to see the mastermind here, because he didn't want someone watching him from behind without him knowing. This kind of person is too terrifying..."

"Then... the case has changed. How should we report this?" Deputy Constable Xu asked tentatively.

"How can we report it? The magistrate has already said those words. Do you want to tell him that this might be another case? Besides, what can this little bit of evidence prove? It's hard to solidify. Originally, this rain would have washed everything away." Constable Chen patted the bamboo next to him and shook his head. "Merge the cases. Confirm that everything was done by the female assassin and issue a wanted poster. Yang Yi and Yang Heng probably have more than ten murders on their hands. And that Gu Yanzhen, who commissioned the kidnapping, isn't a good person either. If my family were kidnapped, I would kill their whole family too! Before things are clear, you and I will investigate secretly."

Many folk performance stories say that so-and-so is upright and selfless and is praised by the people. But in reality, so-called uprightness also requires rules. It doesn't matter if you are upright on small matters, but if your temper is as stubborn as a bull at all times, then you will never reach this position, especially when it comes to things that can cause your superiors to be scolded and have their political achievements and evaluations reduced. If you dare to go against them, don't be surprised if they make things difficult for you the next day. This matter can only be reported after a complete investigation so that everyone can be happy.

After Constable Chen finished speaking, Old Xu next to him nodded: "That's how it should be."

Soon after, the heavy rain began to fall.

******************

It was past mid-June, and the impact of the floods in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River began to become apparent. When Ning Yi returned to Jiangning, disaster victims were also arriving from the west one after another. This was just the beginning. The city atmosphere was slightly tense, but not obvious. However, those with such experience generally knew what was going to happen.

He met with Old Qin and Old Kang, and also reunited with Li Pin and others. Everyone expressed their concern about his burnt left hand, and when asked about the process, Ning Yi naturally used the reasons he told the Su family to get by. Su Chonghua originally instructed him to rest for a few more days, but he couldn't just rest for half a year, so a few days later, he went back to Yushan Academy to attend classes.

The highly concentrated alcohol distillation experiment had basically been finalized. Without Lu Hongti living in the small courtyard, Ning Yi didn't care about going there every day to do experiments. So in the afternoon, he basically went to the Qinhuai River to play chess and chat with Old Qin. During his time away from Jiangning, Li Pin had basically taken him to teach the children, so after returning, he treated him to a meal as thanks. Li Pin, like Old Qin and Old Kang, was also concerned about the disaster victims recently.

"...To this day, four places in the upper reaches have been flooded, and the Yellow River has even burst its banks. After July, disaster victims will surge in like a tide. I'm afraid we will have to close the four gates again. Today, grain prices are soaring. Alas, I don't know how many people will die this autumn..."

Everyone basically agreed that many people would die this autumn. Of course, there were not many signs of turmoil in Jiangning City. Life continued as usual, and the business of brothels and pleasure boats was still good. Officials and scholars sang and danced all night long expressing their concern for the country and the people, and some good poems expressing their feelings of concern for the country and the people came out. These days, grain carts could be seen entering and leaving the Su mansion. Referring to the trajectory of previous disasters, many wealthy households were already hoarding grain. Su Tan'er was also worried, of course, her worries were also in different directions.

"Recently, business in various places has already been declining. By mid-to-late July, when the city gates are closed, it is estimated that the stores in the city will also have to close... We have to give out porridge and food inside and outside the city, and we also have to donate a large batch to the government. There are not many homing pigeons prepared at home. If they are shot down and eaten, it will be even more troublesome. During this time, hiring messengers and fast horses to enter and exit will cost even more. For several months, I am afraid that everything will be delayed..."

In the evening, she and Ning Yi were talking on the second-floor corridor, eating something while talking about these things. She had been quite busy recently, but although she was complaining, she seemed to be in good spirits, probably because there had been some good progress regarding the Imperial Merchant matter.

When he went to the main Zhuji store at the end of June to eat something, he met Yuan Jin'er once. She was probably bored and came to find her Sister Yunzhu to play. Seeing Ning Yi coming over, she volunteered to bring a bowl of century egg and lean pork congee, slammed it on the table in front of Ning Yi, scaring Ning Yi. When she saw this somewhat familiar figure, she smiled: "Waiter, so unprofessional, be careful of being complained about."

"Complain if you complain!" Yuan Jin'er put her hands on her hips, stuck out her tongue and made a terrible face, and then turned and walked inside. Not long after, Nie Yunzhu came out with a smile, and she followed her out. She sat down at the table with Nie Yunzhu and sulked for a while, then said: "Talented Ning, write a poem for me."

Ning Yi ate the century egg and lean pork congee and nodded: "Okay."

"Ah?"

Ning Yi's straightforward answer startled her. After a long pause, she said: "Are you really helping me write it?"

"You helped promote the preserved eggs last time, and since you have opened your mouth, there is no reason to refuse you."

"Hmph, last time I was helping Sister Yunzhu." Yuan Jin'er thought for a while, resting her chin on her hands, and tapping her cheek with her fingers. "But didn't that Taoist only write two poems?"

"This time, just say it was written by a monk."

Yuan Jin'er suppressed her laughter: "But I will take it out and sing it, oh, I will say that Ning Liheng wrote it for me, oh, I will say that Ning Liheng 'specially' wrote it for me, oh!"

Ning Yi spread out his hands.

Yuan Jin'er looked at him for a long time, then looked at Nie Yunzhu: "You are not bad, but I still hate you, Sister Yunzhu let's go, don't want his poem, and don't talk to him!"

She took Nie Yunzhu's hand and left. Nie Yunzhu called "Jin'er, Jin'er" a few times, but finally, she was dragged away by her.

Ning Yi had heard Nie Yunzhu talk about Yuan Jin'er's dissatisfaction with him some time ago, which was probably because he supported Qilan in the courtesan competition. There was no way to reason about this, and of course, there was no need to reason.

It was still not the hottest period of summer at the end of June, and the weather was hot. However, due to the flood and disaster in the upper reaches, even the atmosphere in Jiangning was a bit dull and bleak.

Water conditions, disaster victims, the scholars studying in the school, and occasional discussions with Li Pin. He occasionally also paid attention to the movements of the government. After Gu Yanzhen's death, it seemed that they had also looked for Li Pin and Nie Yunzhu to inquire about some situations. Zhuji's business was already very good, and the Su family was busy preparing to deal with the disaster. Su Tan'er continued her plan. One day, she brought back a small piece of brightly colored palm-sized silk and secretly showed it to Ning Yi at night: "Isn't it beautiful?"

This day, after drinking porridge at noon, he went to the Qinhuai River in the afternoon and met Old Qin and Old Kang. The flood season was actually nearing its end, but perhaps there would be one last big tide. The two old men were talking about matters and methods related to disaster relief after the floods.

"Shaohe is in Jiangzhou. I am afraid he will be busy next. Disaster relief is different from other things. For such urgent matters, Siyuan should give more advice." Kang Xian was talking about Qin Siyuan's eldest son, Qin Shaohe, who was now an official in the Jiangzhou area. Qin Siyuan nodded at this time: "I have sent several letters home in the past two months. Everything that should be said has already been said. The situation there is basically known from the letters he sent back."

At this time, Old Qin and Old Kang were basically chatting, and Ning Yi was thinking about some things in his heart. After a while, Old Qin asked him, and he smiled: "I just have some ideas... Well, I will organize them tonight and bring them over to see tomorrow. If they are useful... ha, I will give two things to Old Qin."

***********

Sleeping at two o'clock in the morning and getting up at four o'clock in the afternoon, I slept for more than six hours for the first time in half a month, and I am energetic and resurrected. I feel good! The next update will be at dawn, strive to be before two o'clock ^_^ (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in, there are more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)

Support (Complete Book Divine Station) and share this site with those in need! Please leave a message if you can't find the book!