Li Nanke was also surprised by the other party's appearance, and the corners of his lips raised a slight arc, "Master Qianhu is very smart, he found the Lichen Temple so quickly."
"I'm asking you a question!"
Dong Wankun took a step closer, murderous aura bursting out of his body.
"I asked him to come."
Nie Ying's familiar cold voice suddenly floated over.
The woman walked to Li Nanke's side, slightly raised her smooth chin, which looked like it was made of white jade, and said calmly: "Dong Qianhu, do you have any objections?"
"It's you?"
Dong Wankun was startled, looked deeply at Nie Ying, turned around and led people into the temple.
"This Dong Wankun is quite powerful. He was able to find Lichen Temple." Li Nanke watched the other person's back retreating and couldn't help but frown.
If the other party is not as stupid as imagined, it will be difficult to deal with.
"New clues found last night."
Nie Ying handed a note to Li Nanke.
The man took it and looked at it with a strange look: "Which part of He Panjun's game is he taking the initiative to reveal clues?"
"have no idea."
Nie Ying shook her head, not bothering to think deeply. After all, there was someone smarter than her around her who would give the answer.
"Let's go and take a look first."
Li Nanke was not sure what kind of medicine the woman was selling in her gourd, so he entered the Lichen Temple.
Devastated by heavy rains and mudslides, Lichen Temple has completely lost its former prosperity. The collapsed buildings, trees and destroyed main halls have made every monk in the temple look sad.
Even the most basic food and accommodation have become a problem.
Not to mention relaxing and chanting sutras and chanting Buddha’s name.
The usually strong smell of incense is now much lighter, which seems to indicate the decline of the temple.
However, today is the day when Master Yongming, the governor of the city, is buried. Although the monks are in low spirits, they still stand in front of the bodhi tree in the prayer courtyard in an orderly manner.
The Bodhi tree stands tall, and a big hole has been dug in front of the tree.
The large, dark coffin was placed on one side.
The coffin lid is covered with sutra symbols.
A circle of eminent monks from the temple were sitting around, praying sutras and mantras under the leadership of a sad-looking host, and bidding farewell to Master Yongming.
Master Yongmo of the Supervisory Court carried out the complicated procedures of burning incense, worshiping and so on in an orderly manner.
Chang Ming and Chang Yu exchanged porridge, rice, tea and soup in front of the coffin.
During this period, Chang Ming glanced at the coffin from time to time, and then looked at the presiding officers who were chanting the scriptures, showing a trace of anxiety, as if he was looking forward to the coffin being buried soon.
Finally, with the last ceremony completed, Master Yongmo signaled the monks to carry the coffin into the pit.
Chang Ming also quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
But at this moment, Dong Wankun suddenly came with a group of shadow guards, breaking the solemn and silent atmosphere.
Seeing the shadow guard who appeared inexplicably, all the monks looked confused.
Yongmo's heart sank, and he quickly stepped forward and saluted: "Amitabha, may I ask why you came to my Lichen Temple? If you want to burn incense, please wait a moment, poor monk——"
"Stop talking nonsense, I'll investigate the case!"
Dong Wankun interrupted the monk impatiently and said coldly, "I suspect that someone in your temple has colluded with the imperial criminals being investigated by the court. Come forward honestly, otherwise... don't blame me for not giving you these.
Monk, show mercy!"
What!?
As soon as these words came out, the monks immediately exploded.
The abbot of Lichen Temple, Hui Hai, looked solemn. He stood up and came to Dong Wankun and said softly: "Sir, is this a misunderstanding? We at Lichen Temple have always abided by our duties and did not interact with any forces outside the temple, let alone
He colluded with the imperial criminals."
"Yes, sir, the monks in our temple are all innocent, and the county magistrates also know it."
Yongmo defended hurriedly.
"Is this a misunderstanding? It's not up to you to decide!"
Dong Wankun glanced at the monks and said in a cold voice, "I will not come to trouble you for no reason! Someone saw a monk in your temple having contact with a woman wearing a white hat. Who it is, tell me immediately
get out!"
Tingdong Wankun didn't seem to be talking nonsense out of thin air. The monks present looked at each other with surprise on their faces.
Chang Ming was trembling and his face turned pale.
He tried to calm down and lowered his head slightly, trying not to attract the attention of the shadow guards.
Li Nanke and Nie Ying stood not far away.
Seeing the coffin that had not yet been buried, the man was thoughtful.
Nie Ying also saw the coffin, which was much larger than usual. Recalling the man's previous judgment, she asked: "Could it be——"
"Shh."
Li Nanke stopped the woman from speaking, "Watch first and then talk."
Immediately, he shifted his gaze to Chang Ming, and looking at the little monk's unusual micro-expression, he became even more confused.
Obviously, the monk who had contact with He Panjun was Chang Ming!
"How does this kid know He Panjun?"
Li Nanke had previously investigated the monks of Lichen Temple. This Chang Ming had been living in the temple without any hidden identity.
A woman of He Panjun's status would never be in the same relationship.
"Why, you don't dare to come out?"
Seeing the unresponsive monks, Dong Wankun laughed angrily and said sadly, "Okay, I like people like this. It doesn't matter, I have the means to find him out!"
The cold and sinister voice made people shudder.
"Sir, it is really impossible for the monks in our temple to collude with the imperial criminals."
Yongmo realized that the situation was not good, gritted his teeth, took out a stack of banknotes from his arms and tried to secretly stuff them into Dong Wankun's arms, "Sir, do you think we should investigate again?"
"Get away!"
Unexpectedly, Dong Wankun kicked him away.
Banknotes were flying in all directions.
Yongmo, who was kicked out, lay on the ground and vomited blood. Two monks quickly stepped forward to help him.
The host frowned, his long silver beard fluttering slowly in the wind, sighed slightly, and said in a gentle voice:
"Since your Excellency insists that someone in our temple is colluding with imperial criminals, the poor monk will cooperate with Your Majesty in the investigation.
But please allow me one thing, sir. Today is the day when the former superintendent of our temple, Elder Yongming, will be buried. Can you please allow our temple to hold the funeral first, and then cooperate with your Majesty’s investigation?”
"What the hell, it's none of my business who you bury!"
Dong Wankun, who only wanted to solve the case as soon as possible, did not tolerate the other party. He spat directly towards the coffin and cursed casually, "I still suspect that you have stolen goods hidden in this coffin. Open it for me!"
Hearing this, all the monks showed angry faces.
Several eminent monks stood guard in front of the coffin.
There was a cold look in the host's eyes: "Sir, don't bully others too much."
"Deceiving?"
Dong Wankun sneered, "I came to investigate the case to apprehend imperial criminals. This is also called bullying. Huh, I think your Lichen Temple is not clean at all. Since you are unwilling to cooperate, I will arrest you all, one by one.
This is an interrogation, and my shadow guard has plenty of ways to make you tell the truth!"
Dong Wankun's words were like piercing steel thorns, making the monks present suddenly change their expressions.
Only then did they realize that these were extremely cold-blooded imperial executioners. Once they were caught in prison, what awaited them would be inhuman torture and even death!
Some monks were so frightened that they wanted to run away, but were stopped by the shadow guards.
For a moment, everyone was extremely uneasy.
"Catch them!" Dong Wankun waved his hand and shouted coldly.
"It's him!"
At this moment, a panicked voice suddenly sounded.
It was actually the young monk Chang Yu.
I saw him pointing at Chang Ming, his fearful face full of resentment, and shouted to Dong Wankun: "It must be him! It must be him!"
All the monks present were stunned by this sudden scene.
First of all, I don’t believe that Chang Ming would collude with the imperial prisoners.
Secondly, Chang Ming and Chang Yu have always had a good relationship, why would they suddenly slander their good friends at this time?
"You...what are you talking nonsense about?"
Chang Ming was shocked and angry, with sweat from his forehead covering his pale cheeks. He pointed at Chang Yu, his voice almost distorted by nervousness, "You...why do you slander me!"
Dong Wankun tilted his head and looked at this scene, a little surprised.
Looking at Chang Ming's obviously wrong reaction, Dong Wankun laughed twice, stepped forward and patted the other person on the shoulder: "Little monk, why are you so excited? Is there something wrong in your heart?"
"I...I really don't..."
Chang Ming's legs felt weak when he smelled the blood on Dong Wankun's body.
Dong Wankun stared at Chang Yu who was also sweating with deep eyes, and asked in a low voice: "Why do you think that he colluded with the imperial prisoners? Could it be that you saw it with your own eyes?"
"No...no." Chang Yu shook his head.
Chang Yu's answer made all the other monks breathe a sigh of relief.
Dong Wankun was stunned, stepped forward, grabbed the other person's collar, and lifted him up: "Are you kidding me?"
Chang Yu almost cried out of fright, and there was even a filthy smell coming from his crotch.
Facing Dong Wankun's fierce and wolf-like eyes, he explained hurriedly: "It rained heavily the night before yesterday. All the other brothers and sisters in the temple went to block the muddy water. I originally went to call Chang Ming, but I found..."
"Tell me what happened!"
Dong Wankun realized that he was about to gain a big harvest and shouted angrily to urge him.
Chang Yu stuttered: "I found Chang Ming...he carried a sack into the Zen room where Master Yongming's coffin was placed. What was in the sack seemed... to be a person."
Dong Wankun was stunned.
Gradually, a surge of ecstasy surged into my heart, and my whole body was trembling with excitement.
Could it be——
He threw Chang Yu aside, then picked up the earth-colored Chang Ming who had collapsed on the ground, with a strange, excited, and cruel smile on his face: "Tell me! What are you carrying in the sack!?"
"Nothing! Nothing!"
Chang Ming was so frightened that he cried, "He is lying to you, he really has nothing!"
Dong Wankun raised his head and looked at the huge black coffin like a rock in front of him, his eyes were blazing, and he shouted to the shadow guard: "Open the coffin!"
Several shadow guards stepped forward to open the coffin, but were stopped by the temple monks.
"Whoever dares to stop him will be shot to death!"
Dong Wankun roared ferociously.
Now, the monks did not dare to stop him. They were all so frightened that they stayed where they were, at a loss.
Chang Ming wanted to stop him, but Dong Wankun stepped on the ground and stopped him from moving.
When Nie Ying, who was outside the crowd, saw this scene, her face turned ugly: "I didn't expect He Panjun to actually put the body of Princess Shanyun in the coffin, and planned to take the opportunity to secretly bury it underground."
Next to him, Li Nanke frowned, seeming to have unresolved doubts in his heart.
He stared at Chang Yu, then looked at Chang Ming, and murmured: "This doesn't look like He Panjun's method. Why would such a smart woman make such a fatal mistake?"
"But Chang Ming did put a corpse into the coffin."
Nie Ying said.
Li Nanke rubbed his eyebrows and tried to sort out the clues in his mind one by one, trying to find the violation.
Why is this happening?
This Chang Ming is obviously a timid and cowardly person.
Why did He Panjun lend his hand to put the body of Princess Shanyun into the coffin?
She is fully capable of secretly letting it go.
What on earth is this woman playing?
Nie Yingmei looked at the frowning man next to her, sighed slightly, and said: "If Dong Wankun finds the body of Princess Shanyun, he will be guilty of meritorious service. Trying to bring him down... is impossible."
Li Nanke ignored her and tried to think about the mystery.
The talismans on the coffin have been peeled off.
The heavy coffin lid was slowly pushed open by the shadow guards, revealing the situation inside the coffin.
"Step aside!"
Dong Wankun stepped forward quickly.
Sure enough, inside the coffin, in addition to the mummified monk, there was also a large sack obviously containing a person!
Ha ha!
Dong Wankun suddenly wanted to laugh.
He now understands the plan of Ghost Spear,
He planned to use the opportunity of Master Yongming's burial to secretly hide Princess Shanyun's body so that no one else could find it.
Really clever!
What a pity, I met him Dong Wankun!
Dong Wankun signaled his men to take the sack out of the coffin.
The monks who saw this situation were all in an uproar, and they all stared at Chang Ming, which was particularly complicated.
"Chang Ming, what's going on?"
Master Yongmo looked in disbelief and felt cold all over.
His most respected and favorite disciple would actually do such a thing secretly.
"sorry……"
Chang Ming closed his eyes and collapsed on the ground, facelessly facing the shocked host and master and brothers.
When he was about to untie the sack, Dong Wankun suddenly raised his head and looked at Li Nanke.
There was no concealment of pride, provocation, or hatred in his eyes.
Will the case be solved?
very smart?
Humph, it wasn’t thanks to me that we found Princess Shanyun’s body!
And you, Nie Ying.
It's not good to ask for help. I have to find an embroidered pillow. You deserve to be stepped on by me forever!
Li Nanke naturally saw Dong Wankun's provocative eyes.
But a smile appeared on his face.
"why are you laughing?"
Nie Ying looked at him puzzled.
Li Nanke half-turned to face Nie Ying, as if he was trying hard to hold back his laughter, but finally couldn't hold it in any longer and rested his head on the woman's shoulder, shaking his body.
Nie Ying looked puzzled.
Seeing a man put his forehead on her shoulder was very uncomfortable for her who usually resisted men.
Especially the hot breath of the other person's breath blew on her delicate neck.
Somewhat itchy.
But what she wanted to know more was what the other person was laughing at.
Li Nanke did not explain, but pointed at the sack that was about to be untied, suppressing a smile and said: "See for yourself, this woman He Panjun has fooled everyone."
The sack was untied.
A pale, jade-like slender arm then slipped out.
Dong Wankun's smile bloomed like a chrysanthemum, but the next second, the bright smile on his face froze.
…
"What's going on, please tell me quickly."
Nie Ying's curiosity was completely aroused, and she pinched the man's shoulder angrily.
I didn't notice at all that the two people's behavior seemed like a couple having a fight.
Li Nanke suppressed a smile and said: "I investigated a case before, which was about the Lin Mansion. One of the victims was named Wen Jin'er, and she had a brother named Wen Xiucai."
"Does this have anything to do with it?" Nie Ying was confused.
Li Nanke said: "This literary scholar once bought a doll from a businessman from the Western Regions. The doll was not easily damaged. It was made of special material, extremely difficult to burn, and had a tough internal structure.
Later, in order to destroy the evidence, he placed the doll in Wen Jin'er's coffin.
At that time, he accidentally revealed a piece of information.
It is said that there was once a monk from Lichen Temple who also bought a doll."
Nie Ying was confused at first, but when Li Nanke said the last sentence, her beautiful almond eyes widened.
Immediately, the corner of his mouth twitched a few times, and he bit his lip with his teeth.
Hold it!
Can't laugh!
I'm very cold.
"He Panjun's mother is from Gulan, so she is of mixed race and has lived in the Western Regions for a long time."
Li Nanke said, "I am very sure that she was pretending to be the businessman at that time. It can be seen from the ghost gun that this woman's disguise skills are very strong.
Although I don't know her purpose of pretending to be a businessman, it also explains why Chang Ming met her and was so panicked that he wanted to destroy the doll.
It is completely predictable that He Panjun frightened him and hinted that he could be put into the dead man's coffin.
Thereby deliberately leaving loopholes to achieve the purpose of teasing everyone!"
Nie Ying couldn't help but sigh: "A terrifying woman."
…
Looking at the extremely realistic dolls in the sack, Dong Wankun was dumbfounded.
His eyes were almost as big as his fists, and a vein on his forehead bulged out and throbbed.
Others were also stunned on the spot.
"you!!"
Dong Wankun turned his head and glared at Chang Ming, roaring like a wounded lion.
Chang Ming collapsed.
The looks in everyone's eyes made him so embarrassed that he wished he could find a crack in the ground and crawl into it, and start crying.
"Chang Ming, what on earth is going on!?"
Yongmo asked with a frown.
Under the master's questioning, Chang Ming finally revealed the reason.
As Li Nanke speculated, last year he was in a hurry and bought a doll from a merchant in the Western Regions to chat about life and relieve his teenage desires.
Who would have thought that the businessman from the Western Regions would have intercepted him on the way a few days ago.
After being threatened, Chang Ming was afraid that the matter would be exposed, but he could not destroy it in a big way.
After all, once discovered, your life will be completely ruined.
So under the hint of the businessman, he put the doll into the uncle's coffin and planned to destroy the evidence.
——
In addition, the doll foreshadowing in this chapter is in Chapter 23