As the sun gradually shifted to the west, the light in the room gradually dimmed.
Xiao Chen took out the fire seal from his waist, twisted it slightly, and with a "bang" sound, a small flame appeared from the tip of the fire seal.
He reached out to light the oil lamp on the wall, twisted it again, extinguished the flames on it, and put it back on his waist.
Outside the door came waves of howling north wind, and a hint of coldness rushed in from the door.
Xiao Chen stepped forward and gently closed the heavy iron door.
This courtyard has a unique design. Every wall is much thicker than other ordinary walls.
It's not that the felons inside will dig through the wall to escape, but that there is a wall of fire hidden inside.
The fire walls in all the houses are connected together, and finally lead to the gate, where the gatekeeper of the East Factory is on duty.
As long as the stove inside is heated, the rooms where prisoners are held will not be too cold.
The purpose of this is not to create any welfare for the prisoners, but to prevent the prisoners who do not want to live here from freezing to death here due to the cold in the north before the results are known.
Duan Shixiong, who had lost his mind just now, gradually regained his sanity.
But there was no trace of arrogance in those gloomy eyes.
"Duan Shixiong, let me ask you again, how is your relationship as a couple?" Xiao Chen sat on the bed in the corner, tapping the bed board with his fingers.
The rhythmic "bang bang" sound was like a direct knock on Duan Shixiong's heart, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
"It's okay." Duan Shixiong didn't even raise his head, his eyes were staring at the ground in front of him, as if he had no soul.
"You're fooling yourself again." Xiao Chen sneered, "Do you know who put the poison in that bowl of herbal tea?"
"That's not important anymore. I don't want to know who administered the poison. Anyway, everyone has the same goal, which is to make me die."
"No, not everyone. At least, my purpose is not to kill you."
"You?" Duan Shixiong sneered, "You ran hundreds of miles and caught me here on New Year's Eve. You said you didn't want me to die. You thought I was a three-year-old child and a retard."
"It's not that I think you are retarded, but that you yourself are simply retarded." Xiao Chen sat up straight, put away his right hand that was tapping the bed board, took out an exquisite wine bottle from his waist, unscrewed the lid, and took a sip.
Take a sip.
"What I want is the mastermind behind the murder of my eldest brother. And you are, at best, a pawn at the mercy of others. Or, just a smoke bomb that can be released at critical moments to confuse others. I want you to die.
?You also overestimate yourself a bit."
"Chess pieces? That's of some value."
"What's the value? Accompanying others for entertainment and dedicating one's life to it?"
"No matter what the value is, if it can be used by others, it means that coming to this world still has some meaning."
Looking at him, Xiao Chen stood up: "Since you said so, I don't want to continue to persuade a dead person. Although you are an orphan like me, your new concubine who has not been married for a long time is also here.
In the courtyard, if the Nine Clans are to be killed, she will also be within the scope of the Nine Clans."
"Okay, if you are willing to carry it alone, then go ahead. You have been talking for a long time, and I am really getting tired. Let's go."
After saying that, he walked towards the door: "It's just that one body and two lives are really regrettable."
Duan Shixiong's drooped head suddenly raised, his eyes flashed with light: "Wait a minute. How do you know that my concubine is pregnant?"
"I'm not blind. I'm wearing a cotton coat and have such a big belly. I'm not pregnant, but I'm pregnant with a stone. When I came back last night, she was holding her stomach and her face was full of pain. I even had someone cook a bowl of black-bone chicken for her.
Here’s the soup.”
"Did you really make her a bowl of chicken soup?"
"Look at your bearish behavior. How can I lie to you about a bowl of chicken soup?" Xiao Chen turned around and looked at Duan Shixiong with eyes full of contempt.
"I want to know who put the poison in that bowl of herbal tea?" Duan Shixiong's raised face showed no sign of decadence, and he was almost completely different from before.
"I asked you how your relationship with Mrs. Huang is, and you said it was very good. If I said that the poison was caused by Mr. Huang, you would not believe it."
Xiao Chen spread his hands, looking helpless.
"This jerk!" Duan Shixiong closed his eyes and leaned against the warm wall behind him with a "bang" sound.
In fact, during this period, Shixiong also had his own unknown troubles.
In the first half of my life, in order to pursue a career, I had no intention of starting a family.
After marrying Mr. Huang, although I had grudges in my heart, thinking about my father-in-law, who was in a high position, I suppressed these dissatisfaction in my heart. I thought, having a son and a half daughter, my mind would be at ease.
For children, as time goes by, the grudges in their hearts will be completely forgotten.
Unexpectedly, after many years of marriage, there was no movement in Huang's belly.
Others have married wives and their children are already playing in front of the hall.
Seeing other people's families enjoying themselves happily, Duan Shixiong's heartache became more and more serious.
Up to this point, no matter how much Mr. Huang tried to find out what was going on, in his eyes, it was all pretentious and pretentious.
Mrs. Huang knew it well, but she didn't dare to have an attack.
What is the difference between a woman who cannot give birth and an old hen who cannot lay eggs?
Over time, the two have become inseparable. Except for some public occasions, in private, the two don't even want to touch each other.
Duan Shixiong, who had long been discouraged about having children, accidentally met his current concubine while walking on the street.
At that time, Duan Shixiong had a quarrel with Mr. Huang over a trivial matter. After breaking his tureen teapot that he had treasured for many years, he walked out of the back door.
Not far away, I saw a group of people gathered around the street and pointing.
If you are in a bad mood, watching the excitement may relieve your depression a little.
Thinking of this, Duan Shixiong walked towards the crowd.
In the middle of the crowd, a tattered reed mat was spread.
A girl in her early twenties was kneeling on it.
Full of tears and flowers, I have already cried so much that I am no longer human.
On the other end of the mat, an old man lay upright. His body was randomly covered with some straw. His gray hair leaked out from the gaps in the straw.
In front of the woman, there is an expired notice that was obviously torn from the government notice board. On the back, there are a few large characters written crookedly: Tattoo for ten taels of silver, sell your body to bury your father.
Although this girl's face is full of tears, she still has some beauty. Looking at her slightly chubby figure, she is definitely a good hand at giving birth to children.
Duan Shixiong's regret that he had no descendants suddenly rushed into his heart.
"Girl, are you really selling yourself to bury your father for just ten taels of silver?" Duan Shixiong pushed aside the crowd and walked in.
Although he is the magistrate of Changping Prefecture, he is usually either in the prefectural office or at home. How could ordinary people know that he is the magistrate of Changping Prefecture?
Before the girl could say anything, someone was already booing next to her.
"Ten taels of silver? If this girl hadn't requested to buy a coffin for his father to bury, would this good thing have been your turn?"
Ignoring the people who were making noises, Duan Shixiong directly took out a piece of silver from his waist and stuffed it into the girl's hand: "This is the money for selling myself, don't worry, I will buy the best coffin in Changping Prefecture for your father."
.”
Just like that, a yellow-flowered girl arrived at Duan Shixiong's house.
At first, Huang refused to obey. She argued with Duan Shixiong from morning to night. Seeing that it had no effect, she simply packed up her things and went straight to Yanqing Guard to complain.
After hearing what his daughter said, Huang Anliang was furious and wished he could kill the conscienceless Duan Shixiong with a knife.
But when you calm down and think about it, your daughter has not had a child for many years. Anyone would do this.
Then he sent one of his men to send Huang back.
Regarding Duan Shixiong's proposal to take concubines, he turned a blind eye and agreed.
Seeing that his father-in-law did not make things difficult for him, Duan Shixiong knew that he was in the wrong, so he had a scene where he first served Huang's food on New Year's Eve, and then served his concubine.
It is certain that Mrs. Huang is his first wife and cannot have children anymore. This status cannot be messed up.
However, he never thought that Huang would poison the herbal tea and take his own life.
Seeing Duan Shixiong's annoyed look, Xiao Chen knew that his interrogation today was already half successful.
He squatted down along the wall. He took out the wine bottle from his waist, shook it, and handed it to Duan Shixiong: "Want a sip?"
Duan Shixiong was not polite. He took the jug, raised his neck, and drank it all. Seeing that there were only a few drops left, he shook the jug with his hand, insisting that the last drop should be left.
A few drops of wine fell into his mouth.
He raised his left hand, wiped it on his mouth with his already dirty sleeve, and stuffed the wine bottle back into Xiao Chen's arms.
"Is it enough? Not enough for me to have another pot?" Xiao Chen asked.
"That's enough." Duan Shixiong put his hands in his sleeves, curled up his neck, and leaned against the wall again.
There was silence in the room.
Xiao Chen held the wine bottle with two fingers and shook it gently without any intention of asking questions.
"Ask." Duan Shixiong broke the silence.
"What are you asking? You don't know anything, so I still need to ask." Xiao Chen smiled lightly and put away the wine bottle in his hand.
Duan Shixiong seemed a little surprised and turned to look at Xiao Chen: "Then let me ask you, how did Huang poison the herbal tea?"
"Well, it's a long story, and we have to start with your father-in-law, who is the commander." Xiao Chen was not in a hurry, but instead kept it secret.
"Don't you know how to keep a long story short?" Duan Shixiong stared, seeming a little annoyed.
"Okay, then I'll keep it short." He straightened his back and twisted his neck, Xiao Chen said: "When your father-in-law, Huang Anliang, said he wanted to give you a ride, Huang quietly said
The tea bowl in front of me was put under the table. Although I didn't see what she was doing specifically, I am sure that she poisoned her at that moment."
Duan Shixiong's heart tightened: "Why?"
"Because when your father-in-law came in and talked to you, his body just blocked your view. At this time, everyone's attention was focused on Huang Anliang's scolding you. But I observed
Watch everyone in the hall."
"Huang, with great speed, changed the positions of the tea bowl in front of him and the bowl of herbal tea behind Huang Anliang. This is also why I only arrested you, but in the end I took your Huang, along with
Take your concubine with you?"
"Because she poisoned her?"
"Not only that. Because if I don't take them away, they may become corpses when we return!"
"Who would harm them?"
"The commander of the Yanqing Guard is your father-in-law Huang Anliang!"
"This is impossible." Duan Shixiong roared and stood up in chains.
