Gongsun Ce and Bao Zheng

The next day, just after dawn, Bao Zheng pulled Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang up.

When Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were pulled up by Bao Zheng, they both looked sleepy and yawned. Zhan Zhao was fine, but Bai Yutang muttered in direct dissatisfaction, "What are you doing up so early!"

Bao Zheng handed Zhan Zhao the clothes he had prepared overnight and some books that Gongsun Ce often flipped through on weekdays, and urged, "Zhan Zhao, go to Lingguang Temple early after breakfast to see how your big brother Gongsun is doing. , remember not to tell us about our case investigation, if your big brother Gongsun asks me what I am doing, you will say that I am studying and preparing for the exam, you know?"

Zhan Zhao nodded ignorantly, took the package, and planned to go directly, but was grabbed back by Bai Yutang, who glared and said, "Idiot bald, you haven't eaten yet!"

Zhan Zhao let out an oh, smiled naively, stroked his bald head and said, "I've got something to eat on the way."

"No! You are not allowed to go until you have finished your breakfast!" Bai Yutang said domineeringly, grabbed Zhan Zhao's clothes and walked towards the front yard.

Bao Zheng also said seriously, "Zhan Zhao, you have to finish your breakfast." He felt embarrassed, he seemed to be in a hurry just now, and if Zhan Zhao went to Lingguang Temple without breakfast, he would feel very sorry.

Zhan Zhao had no choice but to follow Bai Yutang to the front yard for breakfast.

But Bao Zheng shouted to Bai Yutang, "Yutang, go to Qianli Lake to find me after breakfast."

Bai Yutang paused, turned around with a frown, looked at the back of Bao Zheng who had already opened the back door and left, scratched his head and asked in confusion, "Brother Bao is always like this when he investigates cases? You don't even need breakfast..." Are you too anxious? ?

Zhan Zhao shook his head, "Brother Bao was not like this when he was investigating cases." When he was in Luzhou, although Big Brother Bao was always investigating cases day and night, he definitely would not be like this.Since the investigation started yesterday, Brother Bao...Although he is still as good as ever, he is still a little weird.

After thinking about it, Zhan Zhao said uncertainly, "Maybe... you are worried about Big Brother Gongsun?"

Bai Yutang was very skeptical, is that so?Bai Yutang tilted his head and thought for a while. It seemed that Brother Gongsun and Brother Bao had a very good relationship. They were very good brothers. Well, if Zhan Zhao fell ill, he would definitely be worried.

******

Bao Zheng left Baijia Tavern and walked towards Qianli Lake.Along the way, Bao Zheng paid attention to the gossip and rumors in the streets and alleys, but it seemed that the case of the dead body in Qianli Lake was not mentioned much. Is this the power of the imperial court?Or... people really don't know about the Qianlihu case?

After all, Qianli Lake is such a place, beside the lake is a brothel with singing and dancing, and there are often painted boats on the lake, and 15 people died in a row, how can there be no rumors?

When he came to the bank of Qianli Lake, Bao Zheng saw a stone tablet by the lake, many scholars were pointing there, Bao Zheng frowned slightly, stopped to look for a while, but instead of going forward, he walked to the teahouse not far from the bank of Qianli Lake, Going up to the second floor, I ordered a pot of tea and a plate of peanuts and poured it myself.

The location Bao Zheng chose was right next to the window on the second floor. When he turned his head, he could see the scenery of Qianli Lake. From this point of view, Qianli Lake seemed small, but on the west side of Qianli Lake, there was a small bridge connecting the two banks of the lake. And the connection of the small bridge is hidden in the long wall, which is really unique. If there are people living in the long wall, this bridge will greatly facilitate the gentlemen on the beam.

Bao Zheng tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully, and when Xiao Er came to add water, Bao Zheng asked, "Xiao Er, I have a question."

Xiao Er was stunned, then looked Bao Zheng up and down, smiled, and leaned over mysteriously, "My lord, you are definitely not a candidate for this year."

Bao Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly, "What? Did you see it?"

Xiaoer smiled and pointed out the window. The stone monument not far away was really lively. "If the young master is an examinee of this year, he would have already solved the riddle below, so it would be so leisurely."

Bao Zheng smiled slightly, without explaining, just changed the subject, "Xiaoer, I'm asking you something."

"Sir, please tell me." Xiaoer said with a smile, but stretched out his hand in front of Bao Zheng.

Bao Zheng couldn't help laughing, shook his head, took out dozens of copper coins and put them in the small second hand.

Xiaoer's eyes lit up, and then he smiled, very courteously, "Young Master, what do you want to ask? As long as I know, I will know everything!"

"I want to know, does that bridge have an owner?" Bao Zheng pointed to the small bridge and asked.

Xiaoer looked up, and then he laughed, very proud, "Master, you are really asking the right person! My eldest aunt is guarding the garden at that family's house!"

Bao Zheng couldn't help but his eyes lit up slightly, "Oh? Let's hear it."

Xiao Er explained to Bao Zheng in detail, "That family existed a long time ago. It is said that a wealthy family in our city built a small garden five years ago. When the weather is hot, they come here to escape the heat. I will also come over during the festival. Don’t underestimate the size of the small garden, it’s beautiful. However, the small bridge was only built three years ago, and many people who come here will go to the small bridge to see the scenery. Of course, there are also some blind people who want to climb into the garden, but they are all beaten away by my aunt and uncle." Speaking of this, Xiaoer was very proud, "My aunt and uncle are amazing .”

Bao Zheng smiled, nodded to Xiao Er to continue talking, and pushed a teacup over, "Drink some water, and speak slowly."

Xiao Er also drank it in one gulp without any politeness, and then continued to talk, "However, five years ago, I heard that a big accident happened to the rich family's family. It seems that their son died in an accident. It was also vacant, but my eldest aunt and uncle still guarded there, and I heard that their son was buried there." Speaking of this, Xiaoer shuddered, "And since then, the garden Sometimes weird things happen.”

Strange thing?Bao Zheng raised his eyebrows, and asked in a slow tone to appease Xiaoer, "Can you tell me something?"

Xiao Er swallowed her saliva, still seemed to be very scared, glanced around, then leaned over cautiously and said, "There are ghosts over there!"

ghost? ?Bao Zheng was puzzled, "What ghost image?"

Xiao Er was a little nervous but seemed to be very frightened and said, "A ghost is a ghost! You can't say that!"

Bao Zheng was stunned, seeing that Xiao Er seemed to be trembling because of recalling something terrible, and such a terrified expression... seemed to be very similar to those fifteen corpses...

Bao Zheng turned around and smiled, with a comforting smile, "Don't be afraid, I'm just asking casually. Since it's so scary, then I won't ask any more." After Bao Zheng finished speaking, he changed the topic, pointed down and returned The scholar who was circling around the stele asked with a smile, "It's been so many days, has anyone solved the mystery?"

Seeing that Bao Zheng no longer asked about the garden, Xiao Er was also relieved, and said with a smile, "How can it be so easy! This is a puzzle that Miss Yunshang came up with!"

Bao Zheng smiled and jokingly said, "Xiaoer, do you know Miss Yunshang?"

Xiaoer was very proud, "Of course! Miss Yunshang often came here three years ago, and she liked to come to our teahouse to drink tea and discuss poetry with those scholars! By the way, Miss Yunshang likes cloud cakes the most, especially in our teahouse Every time Miss Yunshang goes boating in the lake, she will send people to our teahouse to buy cloud cakes. And... Also, Miss Yunshang likes to go to the small bridge to see the scenery .”

Bao Zheng listened and nodded thoughtfully.

After chatting for a while, Bao Zheng saw Bai Yutang bouncing around, got up, paid the bill and left the teahouse.

When he arrived at the teahouse, Bai Yutang saw Bao Zheng at a glance, and hurriedly waved his hand while saying hello, and ran over, "Brother Bao!"

"Let's go there and have a look." Bao Zheng pointed to the small bridge in the distance. For some reason, that small bridge always had a strange feeling in his eyes.

"Yes. By the way, Brother Bao and Master Cui Mingchong are here too, but they are all surrounded by those candidates." Bai Yutang curled his lips and said, hum, those candidates are only there to study the stele, so superstitious, what else are they taking the test for? No. [-]!

Bao Zheng nodded, glanced at the figure in blue robes surrounded by candidates, and pulled Bai Yutang towards the small bridge.

Bao Zheng admired Mr. Cui Mingchong, but after all, he was the chief examiner, and he was an examinee of this year, so it was better to avoid suspicion.

When he came to the small bridge, Bao Zheng stood on the small bridge and looked to the left. It really was a very beautiful small garden.

Although the garden is small, unknown white petals are blooming in the rockery pond, flying in the air and falling to the ground. In the depths of the garden, a tree with pale yellow petals is slowly stretching, swaying endlessly by the wind The most ingenious thing is the corridor, which bends and spreads, connecting the pond and the tree, and those unknown beautiful flowers and plants surround a small attic, quiet and beautiful.

Bao Zheng stopped and stood. Yesterday, Mr. Fu Yin said that the fifteen corpses were all found under this small bridge.Bao Zheng frowned and thought, if this is the case, then this small garden must be suspected.

Taking a closer look at the small garden, Bao Zheng couldn't help but widen his eyes in amazement. After a while, he couldn't help admiring, the person who designed the garden is really a genius!It turns out that there is still a small gap in the pond, and the corridor is suspended, and the corridor is officially Qianli Lake!The small gap in the pond was opened just to bring in the water from Qianli Lake.

And behind the pond and the corridor should be the shore of Qianli Lake, and the small attic is on the shore.But the tree is in the middle of the shore and the lake, which is really exquisite.

"This small garden is very interesting, right?" A gentle voice with a smile sounded behind Bao Zheng.Bao Zheng turned his head, and Cui Mingchong stood behind him in a blue robe with his hands behind his back.

"Bao Zheng has met Mr. Minister Minister." Bao Zheng took Bai Yutang and bowed his hands respectfully.

"Bao Zheng, now I am assisting you in handling the case. If you respect me, please call me Big Brother Cui. How old am I? I will call you Bao Zheng. How about it?" Cui Mingchong waved his hands and smiled.

Bao Zheng was slightly taken aback, but then he responded calmly, "Yes! Then Bao Zheng would be more respectful than obedient."