In the next few days, several branches of Tianxiang Yulu in Huangcheng were decorated and officially opened for business.
As expected, business was booming, with long queues forming at the door of every shop.
Because there were more shops and the volume of shipments was expanded, the money earned every day doubled several times.
The "main store" in Qifeng County has become deserted, because the nobles, nobles and ladies of the imperial city no longer need to make a special trip here.
Bai Yu, who was the "hands-off shopkeeper", lived a relaxed life. He made Yulian happy every day, took her around and visited the scenic spots and historic sites near Jingzhao Mansion.
The relationship between the two heated up rapidly, and without Bai Yu taking the initiative, Yu Lian had asked him again and again when Feng Han would be cured. Bai Yu felt hot in his heart, knowing that his Feng Han must be cured, and that he would not be able to survive anymore.
On this morning, Bai Yu and Tao Yulian had just returned to Qifeng County from the hot spring village where they had stayed for two days on the outskirts of the Dynasty, and saw a sea of people at the Yamenkou.
"The scar on the neck is so thin and smooth that I can tell without an autopsy that it was a sharp sword that sealed the throat."
"Our Qifeng County is right on the edge of the Imperial City, at the feet of the Emperor. How could any thieves be so rampant and dare to kill people in Qifeng County?"...
People were talking a lot.
The head catcher stood on the stone steps of the Yamen and shouted loudly, "This body has been on display all morning. Has no one identified it? Where are the family members?"
People looked at each other, no one claimed it.
Bai Yu asked Tao Yulian to stay in the carriage. When he was about to get off the carriage and go over to take a look, he suddenly heard someone say, "I remembered it. Why did I say it looked familiar? Do you remember the day Tianxiang Yulu opened? There were ten
There were many people beating gongs and drums, and this corpse was among them."
After hearing this, some people with good memories also remembered it.
"Yes, I also remembered that there was this person."
"I also had the impression that this man was tall and thin, and he stood out among the more than ten people playing gongs and drums."...
Bai Yu's face changed. At that time, when Tianxiang Yulu opened, weren't the more than ten people playing gongs and drums the sixteen government servants? Who died?
The arrester standing on the stone steps of the yamen also changed his expression. The person who died was a Tianxiang Jade Dew man. Now everyone knows that Tianxiang Jade Dew has a background that reaches the sky. Those who imitate perfume have been warned once. Someone
He didn't take it seriously and continued to imitate it. As a result, his house was ransacked and he was beheaded.
Bai Yu jumped off the carriage, squeezed into the crowd and came to the front. He saw a tall and thin corpse lying on a straw mat. It was already stiff. The scars on the neck were thin and long, and the blood stains stained the clothes.
.
He recognized it at a glance. He was indeed one of the sixteen government officials.
He couldn't remember the name, but he remembered that this person's old mother had died of illness, his wife had remarried with her several-year-old daughter, and there was no one at home. No wonder no one came to identify the body.
"what happened?"
Bai Yu asked the arrester with a gloomy face.
The head catcher hurriedly walked down the stone steps, came to him and saluted with clasped fists, "Sir, the body was found in an alley. The scene has been cordoned off and is currently being investigated."
Such matters as knighthood would be made public, and now the entire Qifeng County knew that Bai Yu had been awarded the title of Qifeng County Male. As the only noble in the county, his identity and status were transcendent.
A police officer had already entered the yamen to report. The county magistrate, chief clerk, and clerk all came out to greet him. Bai Yu waved his hand, "I won't go in. Do you have any clues?"
The county magistrate looked grim, "There are no clues yet, but I promise that I will do my best to investigate and bring the culprit to justice as soon as possible."
Bai Yu frowned. He really couldn't compliment the Qifeng County Yamen's case-handling abilities. "Do you mind if I investigate together?"
"Of course I don't mind. Your Majesty will investigate the case personally. I believe the case will be solved soon."
The county magistrate said quickly.
And he was secretly happy that Tianxiang Yulu had a terrifying background. If this case could not be found out in the Yamen, he, the county magistrate, would be under great pressure.
Now the "owner" of Tianxiang Yulu needs to personally investigate. If he can't be found out, he can't be blamed, right?
"Bring the body in first. He has no family members anymore. No one will come to identify the body."
Bai Yu said to the head catcher, "I have something to do. I'll be back in a moment."
The head catcher quickly asked people to carry the body into the yamen.
Bai Yu drove a carriage and sent Yulian home first.
Immediately afterwards, he rode to the workshop and called Gu Fei, "Who didn't come to work today?"
"How do you know someone didn't come to work today?"
Gu Fei felt strange and reported, "Huang Cheng didn't come today. I sent someone to his house to call him. The house was closed and I don't know where he went. I heard from his neighbors that he didn't come home last night."
Bai Yu said, "He is already dead. His body is placed in the yamen and no one recognizes it."
"What." Gu Fei was surprised, "How did you die?"
"Look at the wound, someone's throat was sealed with a sword."
Bai Yu asked, "When Huang Cheng went to work yesterday, was there anything unusual?"
Gu Fei thought for a while and shook his head, "My subordinates didn't pay attention, but I saw him talking and laughing with other people. It was no different from usual."
Bai Yu said, "Don't make any noise about Huang Cheng for the time being, so as not to cause panic. I suspect that someone is targeting Tianxiang Yulu. You should be more careful here in the workshop and send more people to patrol to prevent anyone from causing trouble."
"yes."
Gu Fei looked solemn.
Bai Yu left on horseback and came to the Yamen to watch the corpse being examined.
He was not idle either, his thoughts moved slightly, his eyes were cool and reconnaissance.
The entire corpse was visible to him, and the condition inside the body could be seen. Except for the scar on the neck, no other scars could be found, and there were no signs of poisoning. It seemed that the fatal injury was here on the neck.
After the autopsy, Wu Zuo washed his hands in the barrel. "Only the neck of the deceased was injured, and there was no sign of poisoning. The cause of death was that his throat was sealed with a sword. The frightened pupils showed that he was frightened before death. The money bag was still there, with a few taels in it."
The money is probably not a robbery; the preliminary judgment is that it is a vendetta."
This conclusion is similar to what Bai Yu himself saw.
Bai Yu waved to the head catcher, "Take me to the scene to have a look."
The head catcher got on his horse and left the Yamen with him.
When I came to a small alley, I saw several detectives groping around, looking for clues.
Seeing Bai Yu coming, several policemen quickly saluted.
Bai Yu jumped up the wall, stood on a high place, and checked the location of the alley. This alley was between Huang Cheng's home and workshop, which meant that Huang Cheng probably passed by here after getting off work last night.
He gave each of the sixteen government officials a courtyard, which was located in a relatively good location. After leaving the workshop, you could walk home on the main street. Huang Cheng probably took this alley to take a shortcut.
Bai Yu told the catcher, "Take someone to check the residents around this alley to see if anyone saw the murderer last night or heard any unusual noises."
"yes."
The head catcher led the agents away.
Bai Yu jumped down from the wall and looked at the long trail of blood on the ground, feeling angry in his heart.
He was the only one left in the alley, which was a bit eerie and quiet.
Bai Yu closed his eyes and imagined the scene last night.
Huang Cheng spent a day working on perfume in the workshop. He was exhausted, but he felt happy when he thought of thirty taels of silver a month. When he came out of the workshop, he saw that it was getting late, and he walked home humming a tune.
When he reached this dark alley, he hesitated for a moment. In order to get home quickly and take a hot bath, he walked in and took a shortcut.
While walking, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck, accompanied by warm liquid emerging. Huang Cheng looked around in horror, but could not see who was attacking him.
Because his trachea was severed, Huang Cheng felt suffocated, dizzy, and exhausted. He clutched his neck tightly with both hands in panic. He staggered and tried to rush out of the alley. After walking more than ten steps, he fell to the ground and could not crawl back.
Can't get up.
The next day, the person who found the body reported it to the Qifeng County Yamen, and the Qifeng County Yamen put the body on display for people to identify.
Bai Yu suddenly opened his eyes, scanning back and forth with his reconnaissance eyes.
He saw a thin thread of red light spreading from here to the other end of the alley.
The path the murderer took?
Bai Yu's face was solemn.
You must know that the colors seen by the reconnaissance eye are clearly classified: gray, green, cyan, blue, red, purple, and gold.
The energy level of red is very high, which means the murderer is very powerful.
He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and followed.
Fortunately, the red light was as small as a filament, so it was considered a small red light. If it had been a big red light, he might not even have the courage to chase it.
After following out of the alley, I found that the filament-like red light spread along the street, I don't know how far.