Gongsun Ce and Bao Zheng

Seeing Bao Zheng answering, Cui Mingchong smiled, pointed to the small garden and said, "When I went to Beijing for the exam three years ago, I also came to Qianli Lake. At that time, the small garden didn't have this bridge, so I couldn't see it. The beautiful scenery of this small garden. Later, the small bridge was built, and I have never been to Qianli Lake because of my busy schedule. Today is the first time I saw this beautiful scenery. Speaking of which, this small garden is really interesting."

Bao Zheng listened intently, nodded slightly, and asked, "Brother Cui, do you know where the owner of this small garden is?"

Cui Mingchong sighed softly, "Speaking of it, it's really sighing. The owner of this small garden is surnamed Jia, who used to be a well-to-do businessman in the capital. The family has a lot of money, but they are willing to do good things. They have three sons. That's right, but the youngest son born in the concubine's room was weak since he was a child. He heard that he had died of illness three years ago. This Mr. Jia was very sad, so he moved his family to the south. Now only this small garden is left because it is said that it is not very good. It’s clean, and it still can’t be sold.” After a pause, Cui Mingchong chuckled, “If it wasn’t for the fact that fifteen corpses were salvaged from this garden, I would really like to buy this garden, but just now…” Cui Mingchong shook his head. Sigh, the topic is over.

Bao Zheng had been listening attentively. At this time, seeing that Cui Mingchong was no longer attacking, he asked solemnly, "Brother Cui, have you already investigated?"

Cui Mingchong nodded and said, "Since the body was found under this small bridge, Kaifeng Mansion and Six Gates have started to investigate, but it's a pity that there is no one else in this small garden except the gardener and his wife. And The keeper is deaf, and his wife is dumb. There is no other clue."

Bao Zheng listened and nodded thoughtfully.

"Let's go, Bao Zheng, I'll show you inside." Cui Mingchong said.

"Okay." Bao Zheng nodded, and took Bai Yutang and followed Cui Mingchong to the other side around the long wall. , and waited patiently, without the slightest irritability.Bai Yutang was puzzled, but seeing Bao Zheng's serious expression, he didn't dare to say much, so he squatted down curiously when Bao Zheng squatted down.

He stopped and walked, and finally came to the small garden.

Cui Ming rushed forward and knocked on the door, and after a long time, he heard a staggering sound of walking.

Immediately afterwards, the door was opened a small crack, and a frightened old man with wrinkled face poked his head out, looking at them timidly.

Cui Mingchong smiled slightly, slowed down his expression, and said softly, "Old man, I am Master Cui, do you still remember?"

The old man looked at Cui Mingchong timidly for a while, and then he suddenly stuttered and said, "Cui, Master Cui...you, you, please..." The old man opened the door while stammering. Door.

Cui Mingchong smiled, pointed at Bao Zheng, and gestured, "He, the investigator."

The old man nodded half-understood, stepped out of the way, and let Bao Zheng and Bai Yutang follow in.

After entering the gate, Bao Zheng couldn't help admiring. Now that he entered the small garden, he realized that this small garden is really exquisite and beautiful, and it is more beautiful and deep than what he saw standing on the small bridge.

After Bao Zheng entered the small garden, he bowed his hands to the old man, pointed to the corridor, and said to the old man, "Old man, let me go there and have a look."

The old man looked blankly at Bao Zheng and then at Cui Mingchong, as if he didn't understand what they were talking about.

But at this time, an old woman came out and gestured to the old man for a long time before the old man stammered suddenly, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes."

Bao Zheng then saluted the old man and the old woman, and walked towards the corridor with Bai Yutang.

Bao Zheng walked slowly along the corridor, while walking, while carefully looking at the lake below the corridor.I also began to think in my mind.

Why were the fifteen students rushing for the exam killed?

Did they die in Qianli Lake, or were they abandoned in Qianli Lake?

What is the motive for the murder?What's the point of having 15 players in a row?

What is the secret of this little garden?If it was murder and abandoned, why not abandon the corpse elsewhere?There are people playing and enjoying this Qianli Lake all the time, isn't it easy to be found here?No, wait!Why haven't these 15 people been mentioned by anyone near Qianli Lake? ?

Bao Zheng frowned. If it was a deterrent from the court, it would be too exaggerated, wouldn't it?No matter how great the deterrent power of the imperial court is, can it be compared with that of the people?Especially this Qianli Lake...

Most of the scholars rushing for the exam are well-educated people, and there are quite a few honest and pedantic people among them. If they know that some scholars died here, they will definitely become stiff and have to give an explanation from the court!

So... There should be other reasons here... But what is the reason?

Bao Zheng stood at the end of the corridor, staring at the small bridge not far away, thinking, now, what should be confirmed?

First, this small garden is not simple.

Second, the identities of the fifteen scholars and their actions after coming to the capital died in the same way and at the same place, so they must be related.

Third, what suppressed the news of the death of these fifteen scholars?

Fourth, what are the white marks on the necks of the fifteen scholars?

**********

When Bao Zheng was investigating the case at Qianli Lake, Zhan Zhao had already arrived at Lingguang Temple.

"No, Brother Gongsun, this is what Brother Bao asked me to bring, quilt, clothes, books. By the way, there is also this jade cake. When I came, Brother Bao ran to buy it and told me to have it. Bring it to you to eat." Zhan Zhao put it out in the same way, and muttered while talking, "It's really... Brother Bao is so long-winded."

Gongsun Ce looked at the things on the table, and couldn't help but bend the corner of his mouth. This kind of scene reminded him of his previous life, every time Bao Qingtian and Master Bao went out to investigate the case outside the capital, he would do the same thing. When I came out, I told you to remember to add clothes and bring books. If you don’t read some books at night, Master Bao Qingtian can’t sleep at all, and I am the same. If you don’t read some books at night, you won’t be able to fall asleep... This habit was brought out by Mr. Bao... Now, is it my turn?

Gongsun Ce lightly stroked the few books on the table. They were some medical books. He often flipped through the medical books. He thought that Bao Zheng would bring the books to him, and they must be the four books. Here it is... What I was reading was medical books, not the Four Books... Gongsun Ce's eyes softened.

Bao Zheng, did you always look at yourself?

And this jade cake...Gongsun Ce picked up a piece of jade cake, and the corner of his mouth curled up into a smile, remembering that the biggest achievement of taking the exam in the capital city in his previous life was knowing which one in the capital had the best jade cake...

"Brother Gongsun, are you alright?" Zhan Zhao, who had finally counted the things, looked at Gongsun Ce with a blink of an eye. It was strange, why did Brother Gongsun laugh at these things?is it funny?Is there anything funny about it?

Gongsun Ce came back to his senses, smiled awkwardly, patted Zhan Zhao on the shoulder, and coughed lightly, "Zhan Zhao, thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard." Zhan Zhao said very sincerely, "It's just, Brother Gongsun, are you feeling better?"

Gongsun Ce nodded with a smile, "Well, it's much better." Although it was only one night, the feeling of constant loss of energy and exhaustion disappeared.Now the vitality is gradually starting to gather, and I believe it will be able to recover in half a month. At that time, it will take another half month to recuperate, and there should be no problem.

"That's good." Zhan Zhao heaved a sigh of relief, carefully looked at Gongsun Ce's face, and said with a smile, "Brother Bao knows, he will be very happy."

Gongsun Ce smiled, feeling warm in his heart, "Then, Zhan Zhao, you must tell him that I'm fine, don't let Brother Bao worry about me, you understand?"

Zhan Zhao nodded heavily, "Yes, I know."

On the surface, Zhan Zhao nodded in agreement, but he was muttering in his heart, Brother Bao didn't let me tell Brother Gongsun about his investigation, because he was afraid that Brother Gongsun would worry, and Brother Gongsun wanted me to tell Brother Bao that he was fine. I don't want Big Brother Bao to worry about him, it's really...so long-winded, these two people.

But... Zhan Zhao looked at Gongsun Ce who was eating jade cake with a satisfied face, but he was envious. He also wanted Bai Yutang to worry about him and care about him... But, with Bai Yutang's appearance,... Er , he was more or less worried about the other party.

******

Bao Zheng walked around the small garden, but found nothing, so he left the small garden with a frown.

Leaving the small garden, Cui Mingchong looked at Bao Zheng, "Didn't you find it?"

Bao Zheng nodded, frowned and said in a deep voice, "Tomorrow I want to visit the places where those scholars stayed after they came to the capital."

Cui Mingchong hesitated for a moment, and said hesitantly, "Actually, Kaifeng Mansion and the six gates have already checked all these..."

Bao Zheng nodded slightly, of course he knew this, but he still wanted to see it for himself... "Brother Cui, don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't trust the police from Six Doors and Kaifeng Mansion, but there are some things I have to see for myself Making sure."

Seeing that Bao Zheng was very firm, Cui Mingchong nodded and said, "So, let's meet tomorrow at the Zhuangyuan Building."

"Zhuangyuan Building?" Bao Zheng was thoughtful. Isn't the Zhuangyuan Building the place where he and Gongsun Ce planned to live?

Cui Mingchong chatted with Bao Zheng again, Bao Zheng was about to leave, Cui Mingchong hesitated for a while, and then asked in a low voice, "Bao Zheng, is there someone named Gongsun Ce who came with you?"

Bao Zheng was startled when he heard this, Cui Mingchong asked Gongsun Ce what to do?But on the face, Bao Zheng said calmly, "Yes."

Cui Mingchong saw that Bao Zheng's answer was concise, and he didn't seem to want to talk about it, so he smiled wryly and said, "Bao Zheng, to tell you the truth, I have a sister-in-law named Pang Feiyan, you should know her, she knows you are investigating in the capital, so she keeps asking I have news about you and Gongsun Ce. But because after all, men and women are different, I have been avoiding talking about it, but she is spoiled by our family. Bao Zheng, if there is something wrong with her, please forgive me. Also...is Gongsun Ce engaged?" When he said the last sentence, Cui Mingchong looked helpless and embarrassed.