It was getting dark, and the city gate guards were at their most exhausted. They braced themselves and waited for their shift to change.
But at this moment, the shouts of patrolling guards came from the city wall.
"who!"
"Don't get close to important city defense areas!"
Something happened? The city gate guard suddenly lost his tiredness and hurriedly walked out and looked around. He saw someone squatting under the city wall in the distance...
The guards on the city wall were raising their crossbows.
"Ouch!" A guard slapped his leg, "It's Zhang Yuan!"
Another person also reacted, angry and anxious: "This kid is sick again!"
The two hurriedly ran outside and shouted to the guards on the city wall.
"It's one of our own——"
"Don't shoot the arrow—"
…
…
The city gate guard couldn't remember when Zhang Yuan started to suffer from this habit of squatting under the city wall.
I vaguely remember it was after a rainy day.
He first walked around the city wall every day, muttering to himself and touching here and there.
After wandering around for a few days, he suddenly yelled and laughed a few times, and then he always stood in a fixed place and stared at the city wall.
"Can't you see this mark?" He also asked them, pointing to the halfway point on the city wall.
There was a long scratch there.
The city walls of the capital have been around longer than the founding of the Zhou Dynasty. Although they have been repaired many times, they are still full of mottled marks. There is nothing strange about it.
Fortunately, Zhang Yuan was not too crazy. After being scolded by the superior several times, he stopped coming here and started running around.
Why did you suddenly go to see the city wall again?
Several people dragged Zhang Yuan back to the city gate, shouting and scolding him.
"Where did you go again?"
"General Wu said that he will drive you away and not let you guard the city gate anymore."
"Hurry up and say good things to him, and then talk to your second uncle and the others. Where is the old family relationship?"
Before they finished speaking, Zhang Yuan snorted: "I am willing to come here to guard the city gate to handle the case. Now I have a clue. I don't need him to rush me. I can just leave."
After saying that, he threw up his sleeves and strode away.
The few gatekeepers left behind are baffled.
"What case?"
"What case did he come to the city gate to handle?"
"Didn't he come here because he offended the governor and was dismissed from his post?"
After Zhang Yuan walked out, he looked back and saw that no one remembered the murder of Liu Xiucai.
But it doesn't matter, he remembers.
He will definitely bring the murderer to justice.
…
…
The gate of Jingzhao Mansion is majestic, but unlike other yamen that make people shy away and are solemn and solemn, it is in charge of thirteen cities in Gyeonggi and is very busy and noisy.
Officials, soldiers and guards came and went, some were crying or telling the people with angry expressions, and there were also prisoners being escorted by the police.
The past two days have been even busier. It was said that a massacre occurred in one city, with a large number of deaths. In addition, the killers and Mo disciples were involved, and the local officials immediately sent them to Jingzhao Mansion.
The Jingzhao Mansion did not dare to ignore it, because there was also the Ducha Si present at the time.
With the Du Cha Si watching over them, there was no way to pretend to be confused, otherwise it might become an excuse for the Du Cha Si to capture them in the future.
The gentlemen at the top are even busier than the miscellaneous officials below.
Several book offices were busy from early morning to noon that day, and they didn't even bother to drink tea.
"Is Mr. Lin here?" Someone raised the curtain and shouted.
An old official who was sorting out documents behind his back said angrily: "Not here."
Someone came up from behind and said, "Master Lin is so busy."
Lin Li turned his head and looked at the person. He was wearing old clothes, with an unkempt beard and a dark face...
He looks like an idle guy who would be kicked out if he stood at the door.
But he was able to walk all the way into the official hall...
"Zhang Canjun is here again." Lin Li said nonchalantly, "What are your orders this time?"
In the past, Zhang Canjun was an honorific title, but now it is an insult and ridicule.
However, Zhang Yuan was not angry at all, and he would not punch anyone who dared to tease him like before.
Now he was smiling all over his face and holding out a clay pot with both hands: "I came here to tell the officials to drink a bowl of licorice soup no matter how busy they are."
Lin Li smiled, and the other two people in the room also looked over and joked, "Zhang Canjun's command is awesome."
"This is Cao's store's iced licorice soup, which is the best for relieving heat and fatigue." Zhang Yuan said, taking out a paper bag from his sleeve, "There are also candied fruits."
Lin Li saw the name of the shop written on the candied fruit, which is also a famous product in the capital. The impatience in his eyes disappeared, and he put his hands in his hands and said, "This is not cheap. Zhang Canjun spent a lot of money."
Zhang Yuan poured a cup of licorice soup with his own hands and held the candied fruit in front of Lin Li in one hand.
"What are you talking about, Mr. Lin? Please tell me, what does it mean to waste money?" He said with a glare, then smiled, "And this is not a waste of money. When I really resume my duty as a soldier, then I will let everyone know what a waste of money is.
"
As he spoke, he lowered his body and handed it over again.
Lin Li did not refuse anymore. He took the tea with one hand, squeezed a candied fruit with the other, and said with a smile: "Then let's take advantage of Zhang Canjun's honor and enjoy it."
The other two officials also brought tea soup. Zhang Yuan invited them to eat candied fruits, and then supported Lin Li's arm and walked a few steps aside.
"Master Lin, I'm really troubling you." He said with a smile.
Lin Li drank tea slowly and glanced at him: "Why bother? Didn't I just open a letter for you and let you go for a run? Isn't that enough?"
Zhang Yuan smiled apologetically: "Not enough, not enough. I also want to look at the registration list of people who have come to our capital over the past year."
This matter is not trivial. Lin Li frowned and looked at him: "Why are you looking at this? Moreover, if you want to check the census register, you need to have the official to approve it."
Zhang Yuan put his shoulder on his shoulder, almost leaning against him, his beard almost piercing Lin Li's face: "Master Lin, Grandpa Lin, approving papers is not a big deal. When I make a comeback, I will just give you a patch of papers."
After saying that, he bowed again and again, and stuffed a money bag into the sleeve of Lin Li.
This is indeed not a big deal, and the records of Jingzhao Mansion are not as important as the Ministry of Personnel.
Lin Li was helpless because of being entangled. He touched Zhang Yuansai's money and pulled out a pair of cards from his sleeve: "Okay, okay."
Zhang Yuan grabbed the pair of cards and said, "Thank you, Lao Lin."
After that, he rushed out.
Lin Li was almost knocked down and sighed angrily: "Call Lao Lin when you're done."
An official next to him laughed and said: "Just be content, he used to call us old guys."
Lin Li shook his clothes: "No, who would have thought that we could still be called "Master" by Zhang Yuan and drink his tea and preserves."
"I didn't expect to see Zhang Yuan groveling and begging for mercy." Another official said, with disdain on his face, and curiously asked, "What on earth is he checking? He has no face and skin day and night? I heard that the city gates are all
If he doesn't guard it properly, the city gate guards will drive him away as well."
"It is said that someone was found hiding a forbidden weapon some time ago." Lin Li said, "I want to catch him, perform meritorious service, and then be reinstated."
One of the officials laughed: "What a dream."
Zhang Yuan was demoted not because he was unfavorable in his job, but because he acted recklessly and offended the governor.
If you want to come back, it's not enough to make a contribution.
Lin Li smiled and said: "It's pitiful to see him look so crazy. Let's just dream. It's just a thought."
The other two people shook their heads: "It's all your own fault."
While he was talking, someone came in again, raised his eyes and said in a long voice: "Get yesterday's newspaper brochure -" before he finished speaking, the person turned around and went out, and the lingering sound came from outside the door, "-send it to Counselor Luo.
"
Lin Li hurriedly said to the outside respectfully: "Send it over now." Then he stood up and looked at the two people, and glared, "Why are you still standing there in a daze? Let's get to work!"
Until dusk fell, the official who kept the treasury knocked on the door and window impatiently: "It's locked, it's locked. Please be early tomorrow."
Zhang Yuan flipped through the pages quickly and kept saying, "Come on, come on." Until he was dragged out by the clerk's sleeves and left with his shoulders hunched amidst the scoldings.
The lights were already lit on the street, people were returning home in a hurry, guests in restaurants and tea shops were laughing and singing, and even musicians and actresses were singing. Zhang Yuan walked through the hustle and bustle and came to a remote alley in the north of the city. The houses in the alley were short and there were no lights.
I heard footsteps and a voice in the darkness called "Boss?"
Zhang Yuan looked forward and saw someone squatting on the ground in front of a house. He stood up as he spoke.
"Shuanzi, why are you here?" Zhang Yuan opened the door and walked in, lighting the oil lamp in the room, and looked at the person who came in. He was a former subordinate of Zai Jingzhao Mansion, "I told you not to call me boss.
"
Shuanzi smiled and put a food box on the table: "My mother steamed the meat cakes and asked me to bring them to you to try. She said that you like her steamed cakes the best."
"Thank you, Auntie." Zhang Yuan said without being polite, he opened the food box and took out the steamed cake.
"It's cold..." Shuanzi was about to say, but seeing that Zhang Yuan was already wolfing down the food, he swallowed back his hot words.
Under the oil lamp, the man ate with oil residue all over his face. He ate five of them in one go and choked and burped.
Shuan Zi hurriedly picked up the teapot, but found that the teapot was empty. Zhang Yuan had already rushed to the water vat to scoop up some cold water and drank it. Half a ladle down, he finally took a breath, rubbed his belly and stood up straight.
Shuanzi looked at it with a complicated expression: "Boss, how are you living your life..."
It’s true that people are not like humans and ghosts are not like ghosts.
"None of this is important." Zhang Yuan waved his hand and said with excitement on his face, "The case of the ground dragon killing Liu Xiucai has finally made progress."
Shuanzi was stunned for a moment. He couldn't remember what Ground Dragon and Liu Xiucai were for a moment. When he remembered it, his expression was very complicated. It felt like it happened in a previous life.
"Boss," he said, "you haven't given up yet?"
"What are you giving up?" Zhang Yuan said with a smile, "The murderer of the case in my hands has not yet been brought to justice. I will never give up. Don't talk about it."
He swallowed the steamed cake.
"I have been able to confirm that the thief who robbed the Ground Dragon is in the capital. Since I discovered the sword mark on the city wall, I have walked the original escort route and questioned the people along the way, especially those who passed before and after me.
, and found that there is an identity that appears in both."
Shuanzi asked curiously: "What is your identity?"
Zhang Yuan looked at him: "Woman, Xiu Niang."
Xiu Niang? Shuanzi was stunned for a moment.
"Do you still remember the injuries that Zhao Wu suffered when he robbed the Ground Dragon?"
Zhang Yuan continued, reaching out and pressing his eyelids.
"The eyes are sewn shut. Sewing is exactly what embroidery ladies know how to do."
Shuanzi looked a little hesitant: "But people with high martial arts skills can use flowers, leaves, needles and threads as weapons."
To say that this thief is an embroiderer is a bit far-fetched.
As for the people passing by along the way, there are many embroiderers in the world, and it’s not like they don’t leave the front door and don’t take another step. It’s very common to walk on the road.
He looked at Zhang Yuan with some sympathy in his eyes. The boss was so obsessed that he was a bit crazy.
Zhang Yuan didn't care about his eyes.
"I know what I'm saying sounds ridiculous."
He looked excited.
"But her sword marks appeared outside the capital again."
"I have already found out from Jingzhao Mansion that there is an embroiderer from her hometown. She appeared when I asked questions along the way."
He took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and slapped it on the table.
Shuanzi looked through the oil lamp and saw that there were many names written on the paper. The lines were messy, but one of the names was heavily circled.
