Before a row of vehicles came over in the distance, the strong smell of medicinal herbs was spread by the breeze. In the car in front of him, a foreign minister was sitting. The foreign minister was wearing a foreign minister's hat and a beige coat.
He is wearing a long gown, white socks, and a pair of husband's shoes embossed with the Chinese character "Yuan Shou". He is about forty years old, with light and slender eyebrows, but very bright eyes.
He has a blessed double chin, but his two handlebar mustaches add a bit of dignity to him, making the slightly stout middle-aged man look less bloated.
He was looking left and right when he suddenly saw Xia Xun. He was secretly startled. He turned his head hurriedly, raised his sleeves to cover his face, and coughed, hoping to avoid Xia Xun's sight. However, when he smelled the medicinal smell, Xia Xun
Xun had already glanced this way. If this person sat down calmly, Xia Xun might not be able to recognize him, because although Xia Xun had seen his portrait, after all, he was not as good as actually having a relationship with this person. Those information were forced
If you don't think about it deliberately, it will be difficult to use it freely in your mind.
But this man looked guilty, which caught Xia Xun's attention. The moment he raised his sleeves and hurriedly covered his face, Xia Xun saw his appearance. After comparing it with the portraits painted by Zhang Shisan, Xia Xun realized
Already remembered his identity: Mr. Geng Xingeng, the owner of "Shengchundang Pharmacy"!
"Something weird!"
Xia Xun's heart moved, and he immediately greeted him with a smile: "Executive member Geng, long time no see."
As soon as he saw Xia Xun approaching, he quickly reined in the mule. The officer had no way to escape, so he had to pretend to see Xia Xun. He put down his sleeves and shouted with surprise and joy: "Mr. Yang
!Ah, what a coincidence, hahaha, you and I really haven’t seen each other for a while, where are Mr. Yang going?” After saying that, he jumped out of the car and greeted him happily.
The doubts in Xia Xun's heart suddenly worsened: "You can't be so lucky, right? I just wanted to find out who was behind the assassin, and I found the culprit all of a sudden? But... this person's expression and behavior are so abnormal, it's just a shame on his face
It says 'I have a ghost in my heart'. He is my second suspect. Since I met him here, I might as well explore his true identity first."
Thinking of this, Xia Xun laughed and said, "What a coincidence. My brother is planning to go to your mansion to visit Yuan Geng. The outside of Geng Yuan is so dusty. Where did you come back from?"
There is nothing wrong with these words, but for some reason, Geng's face turned red when he heard these words, and he seemed to be furious. Xia Xun couldn't help but was surprised, but saw Geng hesitate for a moment, his anger gradually subsided, and he responded calmly: "
Oh, I...I went to Jinan Mansion to buy a batch of medicinal materials and have been busy for more than ten days. I have just returned to the city. I didn't want to meet the young master here. It is really a coincidence..."
"Going to Jinan Prefecture for more than ten days?"
A strange look appeared in Xia Xun's eyes, and he said with a smile: "That's strange. I was not at the house a few days ago. When I came back, I saw Brother Geng's greetings, so I want to go to your house. Then please
Post the date..., let me think about it...well, it was nine days ago, yes, it was nine days ago. Brother Geng invited me to have a banquet nine days ago. Why did I go to Jinan more than ten days ago?"
"Is it?"
Geng Yuanwai's complexion had just returned to normal, but after a moment of relief, it immediately turned as red as a chicken's blood. Fortunately, his complexion was red instead of purple, otherwise his complexion would change like this.
Xia Xun almost suspected that Yuan Geng had practiced the secret skill of Huashan School: Zixia Magic Kung Fu.
Xia Xun felt even more strange in his heart: What happened to this Geng Yuanwai? If it was a lie that I exposed, he should panic, otherwise he should force himself to be calm. Why did he change his face twice, always with an expression of shame and anger?
, Xia Xun couldn't help but ask again: "Brother Geng, what's wrong?"
"oh……"
Geng Yuanwai lowered his head, took a deep breath, and slowly raised it again. The extremely shameful and angry look in his eyes had disappeared, and he said with a smile: "Yes, yes, it was nine days ago, you
Judging from my memory, I planned to go to Jinan to buy medicinal materials more than ten days ago. I didn't plan to leave in such a hurry, so I sent a message to the young master and invited him to come over and have a drink. Who knew that the invitation had just been sent and he accepted it?
When I got to Xin'er, I said that there was a big drug dealer in Jinan who was eager to sell a batch of medicinal materials. I wanted to get an advantage for my brother, so I left in a hurry, haha, haha..."
He was smiling, but the smile contained a kind of helpless sadness and anger. Although he tried to suppress it, he could still see that his body was constantly trembling. Looking at his somewhat nervous smile and movements, Xia
Xun's confusion deepened. He suddenly smiled, grabbed Mr. Geng's arm, and said happily: "I see. In that case, I have nothing to do today, how about I go to your mansion to make trouble for you now?"
"This..., this..."
"Why, members of the Geng community are not welcome?"
"How is that possible?" Officer Geng's face twitched, and he forced a smile and said, "Master, please, please..."
Xia Xun looked back at Peng Ziqi, smiled and said, "Let's go."
Peng Ziqi didn't say a word, just turned her head. Xia Xun found that her attitude at this moment became as bad as when she first met him. There was clearly a trace of disgust and disdain in her eyes, which was strange.
, what is going on with this girl? She has not yet reached the age of menopause, and she is so moody.
The Sun Mansion is located in Liuer Hutong, South Street. The mansion is not small, with a medicine shop in front and the family's residence in the back.
When they arrived at the Sun Mansion, Officer Geng asked the steward to unload the truck and move all kinds of medicinal materials into the store. After hearing the news, the storekeepers and clerks also rushed out to help. Officer Geng accompanied Xia Xun inside and entered the lobby.
, there was an old man sitting on the chairs on the left and right walls. An old man with gray hair on the left stood up as soon as he saw Yuan Geng, smiled and bowed: "Yuan Wai is back."
He glanced at Xia Xun again, a strange look flashed in his eyes, but he also saluted: "Ah ha, Mr. Yang is here too."
The old man on the right was a little weird. He was sitting near the eaves with his disheveled hair. The sun was slanting in and shining right on him. When he saw the owner of the shop entering the door, he was still sitting there with a big palm in his hand.
He held a small teapot, took a slow sip of tea, and glanced at Xia Xun with a hint of cold hostility in his eyes.
Geng Yuanwai quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the old man and said, "Father, the child is back."
It turned out that this man was Geng Yuanwai's father. Xia Xun looked at it and saw that the old man was vaguely similar to Geng Yuanwai, except that he was much older and thinner. He didn't have a hairpin, and his hair was covered with hair.
Cheeks, according to the saying at that time, dressing like this was disheveled, and it was very impolite to show off to others. It was a bit strange for the venerable owner of the Sun Family Pharmacy to dress like this, but judging from the reactions of other people in the store
, but seems to be a habit.
The old man glanced at Geng Yuanwai coldly and said: "You are still a member of the Communist Party of China now, not a handyman in Shengchundang. Shengchundang has been buying medicinal materials for so many years. All you need to do is choose old customers to trade and send someone with a good eye.
Go to the shopkeeper, how can you possibly buy counterfeit medicines? You, the head of the house, need to run around in person, and you will be away for more than ten days..."
When Geng Yuanwai heard "more than ten days", his cheeks trembled slightly. He glanced at Xia Xun and saw that Xia Xun didn't seem to pay attention. He hurriedly smiled and said: "Yes, it's only been a few days in fact. The child is still young.
, you should work more diligently."
The old man slapped the armrest with both hands and said angrily: "Diligence? The head of the family goes to do the work of the boy. Is this called diligence? Spend more time with your wife when you have nothing to do. We have been married for so many years and you don't even have a shit."
When you are born, you will know how to hang out with a bunch of friends all day long! Those who make friends with each other based on benefits will lose their friendship; those who make friends with others with power will lose their friendship; those who use sex with others will fall in love with you;
Friends are old as time goes by. Be careful when making friends, don’t bring some shady friends into your home..."
Huh? This weird old man talks in the same way, and it looks like he has some ink in his belly.
He pounded the chair a little louder in anger, his hair was slightly parted to the side, and there seemed to be a tattoo on his cheek, but he couldn't see clearly what the tattoo was. Xia Xun's heart moved, Father Geng... could it be a man?
Prisoner? If so, there is a reasonable explanation for the strange appearance of his disheveled hair. Next to him, Peng Ziqi heard the old man pointing out mulberry trees and cursing mulberry trees, and couldn't help but cough twice, with a smile of gloating in his coughs, and Xia Xun was stunned.
When she saw her, Peng Ziqi immediately raised his chin.
Geng Yuanwai's face turned red and white when I said it, and he quickly responded: "Yes, yes, what father taught me is that the child has been taught. The child will accompany Mr. Yang to sit in the back, and then talk to father again."
As if his butt was on fire, he pulled Xia Xun up and left. Geng's father snorted loudly from behind and cursed in a low voice: "It's useless! It's useless, it insults the ancestral tradition!"
Peng Ziqi stood aside, silent for a moment, and then sighed softly.
The small study is located inside the flower hall, which is a small suite outside. Generally, this kind of reception room in the inner house of a large family has such an architectural layout. It can be used for people to rest temporarily during banquets, and also for the host to write a letter.
Letters, accounting books, or when you are in high spirits, reciting poems and composing poems with guests can also be done here, so there is a desk and the Four Treasures of the Study in the study, and there is a bed next to it that does not need to be separated by a screen.
After the two sat down in the study, the servant immediately brought tea in. This servant looked to be quite old, in his forties, with a green beard under his chin, a thin and lean face, but a limp when walking.
When he turned around, he seemed to be lame.
"Does this Yu Yuan run a charity hall? Such a person will stay in the house and serve tea and water in the back house?"
Xia Xun glanced at the servant curiously, only to hear Geng Yuan say: "Da Yin, go and tell the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous banquet. The master wants to have fun with Young Master Yang."
"Yes, Master!" The servant named Dayin took a deep look at Xia Xun, then dragged his remaining leg out step by step.
"Something weird!"
Xia Xun couldn't remember how many times he thought something was strange. Ever since he met Geng Yuan on the road, everything seemed weird. Outside Geng Yuan, there was a doctor sitting in the hall, Geng Weng, and the servant Da Yin. Everyone in this family had
It looks a bit weird, what is going on?
Xia Xun was confused, but couldn't guess the key point. He stirred the tea foam with the tea lid for a while. He suddenly raised his head and said to Geng Yuan in a cold voice: "Brother Geng is not in Qingzhou these days.
You must not know about the assassination of your younger brother at home, right?"
Geng Yuanwai was startled for a moment, then he said in shock: "What? You were assassinated? Who is so bold that he dares to enter the Jin gentry's mansion to assassinate the master?"
After Xia Xun finished speaking, he stared at his expression closely, and couldn't help but be startled when he saw him acting like this.
Ever since he met the Sun family, everyone in the Sun family was acting strangely. Xia Xun's suspicions became deeper and deeper. He intuitively felt that Geng Xin had serious suspicions, so he went straight to test them.
The assassination of him two days ago was a play he directed and acted in. If Geng Yuanwai was really the mastermind behind his murder, he would not take the murder of Zhang Shisan on himself. For this case, he
He will only feel confused. Then his expression should only be frightened but not panicked. This fright is already known in his heart. Even if he is deep in the city and the frightened look on his face can be faked, his eyes will never be frightened.
Slightly shrinking, this kind of subtle psychological and physiological changes is not enough to determine whether Geng Yuanwai is the real culprit behind the scenes, but it can provide considerable help to Xia Xun's judgment.
But Xia Xun was disappointed. Geng's expression was indeed what a person who heard about this incident should do. Could it be that the assassination really had nothing to do with him? No, not necessarily. Assuming that he was indeed the real culprit behind the scenes, before committing the crime
In order to avoid suspicion, he went to Jinan in public. He rested for a night on the way and planned a murder case in Yunhe Town. Then he continued on the road and showed off in Jinan for many days. Now he has just returned to Qingzhou. During this period, this person was very cautious.
In order to avoid suspicion, he never inquired about what was going on in Qingzhou after Yang Wenxuan was assassinated. So he was indeed "unaware" and his suspicion still cannot be shaken off.
Thoughts were racing in his mind, and Xia Xun said again: "Yes, I don't know who I offended, and I actually entered the house to assassinate him in broad daylight. Fortunately, my companion was Zhang Shisan's loyal savior, and the assassin killed ten people."
Sanlang, seeing that the people in my house had been alarmed, he ran away."
Officer Geng was surprised and said: "How could this happen? In broad daylight, with everything clear, he actually entered the house to assassinate me. This murderer... this murderer is really brave. My dear brother was not injured, right? Is there any loss to the property in the house?"
Xia Xun couldn't see any flaws in his expression, so he shook his head and said: "My little brother is not injured. The servants in the nursing home are very alert. The assassin escaped in a hurry and did not cause any property damage. Forget it.
Putting aside this disappointing incident, tomorrow is the birthday of King Qi, and we and the Qingzhou gentry are all going to pay their respects. I wonder if Brother Geng has made preparations?"
Geng Yuan said: "It is for the birthday of King Qi that Brother Yu hurried back. I have prepared the gifts for King Qi's birthday. Are you ready, Brother Xian?"
Xia Xun said: "Little brother..."
"Master is back?"
As soon as Xia Xun opened his mouth, he heard a clear and melodious female voice coming from outside. Then the door opened, and the fragrance hit his nostrils. With the skirt swaying and the rings jingling, beautiful and enchanting women walked in one after another.
The woman wears a jade-coloured blouse and a crimson gauze skirt. She holds a goose fan in her hand and has a graceful figure. She looks like a beauty appearing in a painting of a lady.
"Ah, Madam." Member Geng stood up immediately, with a very strange look on his face.
Xia Xun listened to their words and knew that this woman was Miss Sun Xuelian, the wife of the Geng Yuan, so she stood up and saluted: "Wenxuan has met Mrs. Sister-in-law."
"Ah, Mr. Yang is here too, please be polite." The beautiful woman smiled sweetly and used her fan to support her. Her robe slipped off, and the emerald bracelet on her wrist reflected her slender white wrist, which was stunningly beautiful.
Xia Xun stood up with the support of the fan. When he saw Mrs. Sun looking into his eyes, his eyes watered and he was embarrassed to speak. His heart suddenly thumped: "There's something weird..."