The strange story of Huai'an Inn

Zhu Helan sat cross-legged on the bed, holding in his hand the collection of poems that the jailer had found for him to pass the time, and yawned slowly and exaggeratedly.

Going to prison...it's so boring...

To be precise, he can't be regarded as being locked in a prison, but more like being temporarily placed under house arrest for interrogation.It was too far from here to go to Zhaoning Road to find a prison officer, so Xu Hanke conscripted the county government's prison to lock him up.

Xu Zhixian is a person who loves cleanliness, even his prison is very clean and tidy.The walls are painted white, and there is not much dust on the floor. Apart from the shortcoming that the bed is too hard, it can even be said to be relatively comfortable.

It has been three days since I came in, and Xu Hanke has not shown up.Food and drink are provided for him, even if he asks for books to pass the time, he is satisfied one by one.

Zhu Helan knew that Xu Hanke was deliberately leaving him alone, making him anxious, making him anxious, leaving his worries nowhere to rest, and gradually becoming impulsive and chaotic.If it is for ordinary people, perhaps this trick will indeed have some effect.

It's just that Zhu Helan is not surprised by this fact.

It's like a rare vacation...

After turning over two more pages of the book, there was the sound of the cell door being opened suddenly, and the sound of fragmented footsteps coming from far and near.Zhu Helan didn't move his body, just raised his eyelids, and glanced at the two people who appeared outside the prison door from above the book.

Xu Hanke is wearing a vermilion official uniform and an official hat today, which is a little more solemn than the frail scholar's attire in the past.As soon as he stood still, an officer yelled at Zhu Helan in a rough voice, "Don't you kneel down and salute to your lord?!"

Xu Hanke frowned, as if startled by the officer's sudden burst of voice.He patted his chest and gave the officer a sideways look, "What are you doing so loudly, it scared me to death."

The officer hastily bowed his head obediently, feeling somewhat aggrieved.

Liu Sheng sighed and said, "Go down first."

The officers and jailers left one after another, leaving only Xu Han, Ke Liusheng, and shopkeeper Zhu who hadn't moved in the prison.

Xu Hanke looked at Zhu Helan and said politely, "Master Zhu, I'm really sorry. I was delayed on the road because of some chores, and I just arrived at Tianliang City County Office today, so I kept you waiting." Zhu Helan put down the book, but didn't speak, just turned slightly He shook his head and looked at Xu Hanke with great interest, making Xu Hanke feel a little hairy.He had no choice but to clear his throat uncomfortably, and said, "Your Excellency is arrested this time in the name of the suspects who murdered the loyal king and used sorcery to make profits and harm Zhaoning Road. In two days, he will be imprisoned." The trial has started, I wonder if Boss Zhu is ready?"

Zhu Helan chuckled a few times, looking at Xu Hanke's expression, as if he was looking at an ignorant child, "You can issue a search and arrest warrant, presumably because you have collected a lot of evidence. It's really hard for Mr. Xu."

Xu Hanke said, "Based on the personal and physical evidence in my hands... your prospects are not so good. The case of King Zhong alone is enough to implicate the nine clans."

After listening to the shopkeeper, he laughed loudly, "That's a good idea, I would like to know who my Nine Clans are."

"Indeed, your household registration is forged, and your origin is unknown. It is also a crime, but it is nothing compared to your other crimes." Xu Hanke narrowed his eyes slightly, "You are harmed by selling those dangerous items. With so many lives, you can take the money with peace of mind."

Zhu Helan tidied up her sleeves slowly, and said slowly, "Master Xu, let's make an analogy. Let's say that I am a rat poison seller. I clearly wrote on this pack of rat poison how to use it. How can I not use it, what are the possible consequences after using it wrongly, and how to effectively remedy it... But my customer just wanted to eat rat poison with rice, and he didn’t call a doctor after eating it. In the end, he died, am I guilty? " Liu Sheng frowned, "Absurd words! You clearly know that those items will kill people and cause riots, and you sell them on purpose. Is this the same as selling rat poison?!

Zhu Helan rolled her eyes lightly, as if she was too lazy to explain to him.

Liu Sheng felt a trace of contempt conveyed by the other party's expression, and his heart became more and more angry.But Xu Hanke glanced at him, signaling him to be calm.

"I admit that I haven't made any regulations on the category of filthy items in the law. If you use this to defend yourself, I will consider it as appropriate. However, I hope the shopkeeper knows those things... and People who can make those things or... other things, if there are no rules and no one to control them, in case something goes out of control, how will the government deal with it? Is it all up to you, the innkeeper, to deal with it?" Xu Hanke used An almost gentle tone persuaded: "If there is no discipline and rules, there will be chaos and out of control. Such a truth, a smart person like the shopkeeper must understand it?"

"Laws and regulations are not in your hands, it doesn't mean they don't exist." Zhu Helan said coldly.

"If it's not in my hands or in the hands of the officials, then in whose hands is it? Who will restrain such a power that can easily get out of control."

Shopkeeper Zhu raised his hands and asked with a smile, "Tao and filth are not man-made. They existed before the universe was born and the earth was not condensed. At that time, no one needed to care about it. Do you need it now?"

"It is precisely because no one knows and no one is in charge that we are helpless when the innocent people invaded 50 years ago. Now that the innocent people are about to move around again, if they join forces with several countries in the Western Regions to invade our dynasty again, what should we do?" Xu Hanke's eyes gradually froze, "Could Mr. Zhu have the heart to watch the hell on earth reappear 50 years ago?"

"Tianguren?" Shopkeeper Zhu frowned slightly, "Where did you get the news that Tianguren was moving again?"

"That's not something you can ask." Liu Sheng said.

Zhu Helan began to fall into deep thought. Seeing that he was silent, Xu Hanke thought he had been persuaded by him, so he took a step back and said softly, "I hope the shopkeeper will think about my words carefully. The trial in two days' time can also be changed to Secretly interrogated."

After finishing speaking, he turned around and wanted to leave with Liu Sheng.

But at this time, Zhu Helan suddenly said, "Master Xu, as the Secretary of the Constitution, you will inevitably have to interrogate prisoners. But don't forget, the beetles and miasma on your body can't see blood."

Xu Hanke just paused slightly, and left without saying anything more.

............................................................

Chongliu saw the news in the mansion newspaper that the shopkeeper would be tried in court two days later, and his heart immediately raised his throat again.

He and Master Liao had already been to the county government prison to visit, but the officers and soldiers said that the Secretary of the Constitution had issued an order that no one was allowed to meet with shopkeeper Zhu.Judging from the news that Chongliu was inquiring with a smiley face at that time, the shopkeeper should be safe for the time being.

But what about the court trial?Xu Hanke wouldn't be so insane as torture, right? !

Thinking that the shopkeeper might be injured, half of Chong Liu's heart seemed to be stuffed with ice, while the other half seemed to be filled with gunpowder that was about to explode.

Chong Liu went back to the inn with heavy steps. When he entered the door, he saw in the empty lobby, a Tsing Yi alchemist sitting sprawled by the window, drinking and eating vegetables, and Xiao Shun, Zhu Yi, Fu Zi Jiu Lang, lying on the counter, discussing something cunningly.

Chong Liu never thought that he would be so happy seeing Song Mingzi.He went over immediately, and asked without any approval, "My boss was taken away by Xu Hanke!"

Song Mingzi looked at him with a smile, "Hello Xiaoliu, I haven't seen you in half a month and you are still so energetic!"

Chong Liu didn't feel like arguing with him, so he pulled away the stool on his left and sat down, "Did the boss explain any arrangements to you?"

Song Mingzi said, "If there are any arrangements, don't worry. Your shopkeeper has seen a lot of markets, and this little prison disaster will come out in a few days."

"The trial will be in two days." Chong Liu said in a low voice.Although he had explained to the Dragon King mask under the ghost-haired willow the day before yesterday, he gave a few letters that he had prepared in advance.But after all, there are too many secrets in the capital, intertwined and intertwined, and a single hair can affect the whole body.If there is too much commotion and Mr. Qinglong, who is currently patrolling around Gyeonggi, notices and stops it, he will have to think of a last resort.

"Song Mingzi... Are you skilled in spells?" Chong Liu asked eagerly.

Song Mingzi raised his eyebrows, and patted his long axe without humility, "That must be strong! What's the matter? Do you need my brother's help?"

Chongliu couldn't care about the details of addressing "brother" and "Little Liu" with him, "Then...do you know such spells or martial arts as flying with a sword or walking on waves? ? It’s better to be the kind that officers and soldiers can’t catch up with.”

The corners of Song Mingzi's mouth twitched, "You want me to rob the prison?"

"Not necessarily...[-]% is not needed." Chong Liu glanced at the people who were far away behind, and said in a low voice, "But in case the [-]% is accepted..."

Song Mingzi put a melon seed in his mouth and made a click, "Prison robbery...the risk is too great. Xu Hanke is not a petty official..."

"... Or, let's go to the national teacher for help?"

"National teacher? It's better to go to my senior brother to find him. The national teacher is almost retiring."

"Then your senior brother..."

"Even if I went to look for it, it would be too late for him to go to the capital to beg the emperor. Besides, my senior brother is not familiar with your shopkeeper." Song Mingzi threw the melon seed peel in his hand into the peel tray, and said, "Xiao Liu, you Don't worry about it, did your shopkeeper ask you to save him?"

"No...but you can't leave me alone if he doesn't mention it?"

"You said that you are a small running hall, and you are very loyal to your boss." Song Mingzi giggled, "Okay, I think your boss probably has a second move. If it really doesn't work, I will help you."

Chong Liu breathed a sigh of relief, almost tearing up with gratitude.

Song Mingzi suddenly remembered something, and slapped his head, "Look at my memory. I remembered that I received a message on the way, saying that the fan ordered by a customer at Yiquan was completed, and your shopkeeper is not here. I'm afraid you'll have to fetch it."

Chong Liu was full of confusion, "Fan? What kind of fan, I don't know."

"It's been in the works for a long time, and you ordered it before you came. It took too long, so I said, take it quickly and notify the guests to sign the contract."

Chong Liu couldn't believe it, "What kind of business are you doing now?"

Song Mingzi shrugged, "Otherwise, why are you squatting in the room these two days and worrying?"

Chong Liu blinked and sighed secretly why this Song Mingzi is like the shopkeeper... thinking about doing business all the time?

Is this the so-called business mind?

"Then...can you go and get it? I don't know the fan maker either." Chong Liu didn't really want to leave Tianliang City, in case something happened that he needed to... deal with.

"I usually don't meet craftsmen. After all, morality and filth are different." Song Mingzi shrugged, "However, I can take you there. It's just that you have to bring a token from your shopkeeper." He said, Suddenly, I sniffed it in the direction of Chong Liu, like a large dog, "This smell, you wear the sachet he gave you? Well, this one is fine."

...It really is a dog's nose...

"...How long will it be?" Chong Liu hesitated to compromise.

Song Mingzi grinned, revealing a mouthful of shining white teeth, "I'll take you there tonight, and you'll be back early tomorrow. But... this craftsman may be slightly different from the ones you've seen before. "

"...what's the difference?"

"Hmm..." Song Mingzi approached him and said mysteriously, "It's not a human being."