When everyone had dispersed, I was still stunned. The deceased, Feng Liulang, had just accused Old Man Wang of eating carp a few days ago. Fortunately, Xiao Mu used the "white cat to solve the case" to solve the problem of Magistrate Xu. Today, he
But he died...
"What, have you figured it out?" Lin Sheng arrived in front of me at some point and handed me a cloth bag: "The wages the county magistrate promised you, one hundred cash, count?"
I took the bag and felt it was heavy, just like my mood at the moment. The sight of Madam Feng leaving with an old man and a young man just now deeply hurt my heart. During this Chinese New Year, every household is celebrating the New Year together.
, but they are separated by yin and yang.
"Did you send someone to do it?" I glared at Lin Sheng, and I really wanted to shout and ask the government officials to tie him up.
"We don't talk secretly between people. Yes! But what can you do to me?"
"Why?" I shouted as low as possible.
Lin Sheng looked at the door of the county government office: "Because he is not doing things well, Lord Xiang is very unhappy. Letting him live until the New Year is already a gift."
"What do you mean?"
A sinister smile appeared on Lin Sheng's lips: "This Feng Liulang is one of ours. Of course, like you, he is a native of Xiangzhou."
"What? He..."
"Three years ago, when I first arrived, according to the orders of Lord Xiang, we needed to form a secret agent organization belonging to us as soon as possible, codenamed: Ghost Face Man.
I walked around the streets and secretly observed many people, and finally selected a few people from ordinary people who could be sent by me to gather information for me, and Feng Liulang was one of them."
I was greatly surprised: "He is a meticulous craftsman!"
"Well, you can call him that, but for us, I call him a spy. At that time, I didn't know that Lord Xiang was already lurking in Xiangzhou City. In order to get familiar with Xiangzhou City as soon as possible, I asked Feng Liulang to inquire
There are many local customs and customs in Xiangzhou City, which make it smooth for me as the chief administrator."
Since he wanted to say something, I would simply ask for clarification. So I then asked: "A few days ago, Feng Liulang was also ordered to report to the official by you?"
"That's right, I saw that his neighbor, Old Man Wang, was old and loved to catch fish, so I took advantage of his unpreparedness and asked Feng Liulang to replace the crucian carp in his pot with carp, and then reported it to the county government.
I just want to see how Xu Luo will resolve the case. Should he beat Old Man Wang sixty times according to the law, or forgive him? No matter which Xu Luo chooses, I have reasons to ruin his reputation. Who made him the county magistrate of Xiangzhou City?
, Mu You’s favorite official. I just want to see how Mu You slaps him in the face."
Lin Sheng said and sighed softly: "It's a pity that a good case was messed up by Mu You. Humph, I pretended to let someone bring a white cat to distinguish whether it is a carp or a crucian carp. In the end,
The cat ate all the fish in one go, and Mu You even drank the soup."
I couldn't help but laugh: "Does the chief secretary want something to happen to Magistrate Xu so much because he wants to replace him?"
"Hey, blah blah blah. Being a county magistrate is too tiring. Although the county magistrate helps to inspect everywhere, you still have to do all the big and small things in this city yourself, and you have endless worries.
Even though the county magistrate is young, he is not so easy to serve. Peng Lun of Yongqing County was directly dismissed from his post by Mu You, wasn't he? This made all of us officials in danger!
I think back then, I had to work hard to get this position as chief registrar. Having this official position was enough, and it was just an identity to hide from others. Haha."
I was puzzled: "Then why are you still making things difficult for Magistrate Xu?"
"Mu You dotes on him too much, which makes people feel very unfair. I heard rumors from the government officials that they once saw Mu You beating Xu Luo's back in person. Some people even said that Mu You sneaked into Xu Luo's home many times.
, got under his quilt and chatted with him... This is a treatment that ordinary people cannot enjoy. Look at how hard our county magistrate is working now! Hey, even I was moved!"
Listening to Lin Sheng's sour words, I thought about the secret I just heard from Du Xiuzhen, and became confused again. Doesn't Xiao Mu like handsome men? A middle-aged uncle like Magistrate Xu, who would be his cup of tea?
Oh, no, no, no, Li Jianghu, what are you thinking? When did you feel so dirty? Maybe Xiao Mu just wanted to talk to him about official business. As for why they were in the same bed, um... maybe it was just cold.
, the quilt is so warm.
Hey, little Muna has something wrong with his brain. How can we ordinary people understand the way he behaves?
"Okay, I have told you so much, do you understand now? Since you are cooperating with us, you must show your sincerity and your strength. Otherwise, you know too much and do not accomplish enough.
Of course I have to meet the fate of Feng Liulang." Lin Sheng patted me heavily on the shoulder twice and walked away.
Have I boarded a pirate ship? What should I do? I put my arms on the tree trunk and bumped my forehead against it, hoping to come up with a good plan.
"Well, I'm not smart enough in the first place. Wouldn't it make me even stupider if I hit him like this?"
I looked back: "Xiao...Xiao County Lieutenant."
"You must know my identity, right?"
"Yes."
"I heard what Lin Sheng said just now. What Captain Li means is, don't alert the enemy first, just let Lin Sheng be rampant for a few days. When he makes an appointment with the Xiang Lord, we will take it down in one fell swoop. Capture the thief first and capture the king!"
I looked around and said, "But that Xiangzhu is very skilled in martial arts. How easy is it to capture him?"
County Lieutenant Xiao tightened his grip on the saber in his hand: "It is easy to block an open gun, but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow. Even if we cannot defeat him, we must at least find out his identity and expose his disguise."
I nodded: "I also want to see who he is. Based on my feeling, I think he must be someone I know, but he is not too familiar with me."
"Don't act rashly first. What you have to do is to protect your own safety. If Lin Sheng takes you to see Lord Xiang next time, remember to leave a mark secretly." Xiaoxian Lieutenant said, handing me a small bag.
"What's this?"
"A few handfuls of flour were stolen from the Lu family just now."
"Ah?" I looked at him in disbelief: "When did County Lieutenant Xiao behave like this? You are a county lieutenant, stealing other people's flour...is this...appropriate?"
Lieutenant Xiao smiled slightly: "I secretly packed this small bag. How much is it worth? Is it enough to get a slap on the wrist? Okay, you can leave quickly."
I suddenly felt a lot more relaxed. At least now it seemed that I was not fighting alone. There were countless agents secretly helping me in places I couldn't see.
But I didn’t want to go home right now, so I ate something casually on the street. I asked the man who worked in the Lu family about the location of Feng Liulang’s house. I happened to bump into Old Wang who was going out next door. After asking, I found out that Feng Liulang’s body had been buried.
was sent up the mountain.
"Let's go, this way." Old Man Wang, carrying a basket of paper money, led the way with unsteady steps.
After walking along the road for a quarter of an hour, I finally saw the newly built tomb. Because I was in a hurry to bury it, I didn't even have time to put up a tombstone.
An old woman was slumped on the ground, leaning against the grave and crying until her heart broke. She vented her sorrow for the white-haired person who sent the black-haired person away. Feng Liulang's wife and her son, who looked about five or six years old, were burning in despair.
The paper money and the white robe on his body were blown by the wind, making a "whirring" sound, like mourning.
"Um...I'll burn some paper for Liulang..." Old Man Wang said carefully.
"Oh, Uncle Wang, thank you very much." Mrs. Feng stood up quickly and got out of the way. She took her son and bowed deeply to Mr. Wang, and then her eyes fell on me.
"Oh, I...I also come to pay my respects to Mukuro."
I quickly took a few steps forward, knelt down in front of the grave, and kowtowed three times seriously. The deceased was the most important person, and even though I didn't know him, it didn't matter if I bowed to him.
"Thank you."
"My condolences, Madam! I...I am Rokuro's friend. Although this money is not much, it is still a little bit of my heart. Please don't dislike it, Madam." I said, stuffing the cloth bag into the child's arms.
One hundred pennies is really not much. I don't know how long it will last for the three of them, and I don't know how much the Lu family gave them for burial expenses.
The Feng family's wife took the bag and smiled coldly: "I have money, a lot of money... Since you are Liu Lang's friend, tell me how much Liu Lang's monthly salary is?"
I was a little embarrassed: "This... I've never heard him say it."
Madam Feng glanced at the old man on the side, hugged the child tightly in her arms, her eyes were a little distracted, and she murmured to herself: "We have been husband and wife for seven years, I thought I already knew him very well, but I didn't expect...
But it’s so strange…”
"Strange?" I pondered her words: "Are you talking about Rokuro's identity?"
"you know?"
I didn't know whether I should tell the truth, so I was stunned for a moment before replying: "Perhaps, everyone has times when they have no choice but to do so."
"A last resort? Just for that box of shady jewelry?" Madam Feng asked softly, her eyes so red that they looked like they were about to bleed.
Jewelry? A box? Could it be the "sweetness" that Lin Sheng gave to bribe him over the years?
I wanted to ask for more information, so I continued: "He deserves all those things. Now that he is gone, you should hide your things and raise your children well."
"No, those jewelry are too dirty. They have already killed Liu Lang. How could I still keep them? I have heard rumors that there are spies from the enemy country in our Xiangzhou city, but... I didn't expect that my husband
that is.
When I packed up his belongings, opened the hut that he never let me in, and found the box under the straw behind the door, I thought it was a dream. But... these are all real..."
I looked at the poor woman in front of me, and for a moment I didn't know how to comfort her. I stood up and nodded to her, preparing to leave.
"Wait a minute."
"Um...is there anything else?"
"You forgot your money bag. You are a good person. This bag of money is enough for you to sell dozens of bowls of bean curds."
My heart trembled: "You...you know me?"
"Two months ago, I took my child by Jianghu Inn. He was hungry and went to your stall to eat bean curd. For two cents, you filled a bowl with it. My child and I were both full. From then on,
From now on, every ten days, I will buy you a piece of tofu to improve my life.
It's ridiculous to think about it now. If I had known that there were so many jewels hidden at home, they would have been used so poorly. Unfortunately, Rokuro didn't dare to say it, and he didn't dare to take it out for use... Then why did he bring it home? "
The woman turned to look at the grave: "As a last resort? Who forced you?"
In an instant, I seemed to see the shadow of Wang Jiajia in her. If I also stepped into Feng Liulang's future...
I put the money bag next to her respectfully and whispered: "The imperial envoy already knows about this. Don't worry, he will find out the person behind the persecution of Liu Lang and avenge Liu Lang."