I am imprisoned in Kaifeng Mansion

"Judge Wang is on vacation at home due to illness, how can I hold hands with her?"

Wang Siniang and Ping'er shook their heads, expressing that they didn't know, but they were sure that Zhang Susu was with Judge Wang.

Wang Siniang told Cui Tao that Zhang Susu used to cover her face with a veil, but because of the strong wind today, she was just blown down by the wind.The two of them just happened to enter and exit a jewelry shop near the Eight Immortals Building, when she and Ping'er watched them.

Cui Tao immediately took Wang Siniang and Ping'er back to the jewelry store to look for it, but it was too late, and the two had already left.

Cui Tao then asked the jewelry shopkeeper what jewelry the middle-aged man and the veiled woman had chosen.

The shopkeeper immediately apologized and said with a smile that it is inconvenient for him to say more about the guests.

"Let's take a look at the jewelry they bought, we want to buy it too." Ping'er said.

The shopkeeper immediately agreed to pick it up.

Wang Siniang couldn't help praising Ping'er: "Okay, you, your brain is alive!"

Cui Tao also smiled and approved.

"Having spent so long with Mrs. Cui, I should have learned something." After Ping'er finished speaking, she took a special look at Wang Siniang, "Otherwise, you'd be a stupid pig."

"Who are you scolding?" Wang Siniang immediately glared at Ping'er fiercely.

Ping'er: "I didn't mention my name, so you just recognize it yourself!"

"you--"

"Guest officer, here we come!" The shopkeeper joyfully brought over a blueprint.

Cui Tao and the other three immediately came over to have a look. The picture showed a crown of flower hairpins and a pair of bracelets.

The crown of the flower hairpin is decorated with peacock pearls and other objects. The craftsmanship is complicated and the materials used are expensive.

This kind of flower hairpin crown is generally used on grand occasions, and for ordinary women, it is usually used at the most important moment in life - big wedding.

"I don't know who the three ladies are going to be happy about?" The shopkeeper asked with a smile, looking at the three of them one by one.

Ping'er and Wang Siniang looked at Cui Tao at the same time, and took a step back.

The shopkeeper immediately enthusiastically introduced to Cui Tao how auspicious the meaning of each pattern of the flower hairpin crown is.

Cui Tao raised his hand directly to interrupt him, "How can you know if the materials you use are real just by looking at the pictures?"

"Hey, this shop of mine pays more attention to the business of duty, and I don't want to cheat people for a penny. I guarantee that the flower hairpin crowns are all made of real silver, and the effect is the best. This is originally a real thing, isn't it just bought by that person?" Did the two guest officers take it away?"

The shopkeeper immediately asked Cui Tao and the others if they knew the couple who had just picked up the goods.

If you know them, it would be convenient to ask them to take a look.

"Acquaintance is acquaintance, but it is an enemy. I came to ask you what they bought, just to avoid our lady wearing the same clothes as them when we got married."

Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Wang Siniang planned to dismiss the clingy shopkeeper, so that they would not really buy a flower hairpin crown like Zhang Susu's.

The shopkeeper's face collapsed when he heard this, "You and the three ladies are playing tricks."

"No, I really want to avoid it, but I will still patronize you when I need it."

Cui Tao just scanned around the store, and the workmanship is exquisite, which is pretty good.

Cui Tao found a pair of heart-shaped jade pendants in the corner of the counter on the east side, blue in color, flat, with a round hole in the middle, engraved with auspicious cloud patterns all around, and carved long-tailed birds on both sides.

Cui Tao asked the shopkeeper how much the pair of jade pendants cost.

"Two days ago, an old man bought it for me. He said that his son was sick and short of money, and he needed it for emergencies. I don't think the jade pendant is very good. I felt sorry for his age, so I gave him some money. This If he sells it at a pawn shop, he will definitely not be able to sell it for half the price I gave."

The shopkeeper told Cui Tao that he was a well-known kind-hearted person on this street, and often those whose families were in dire straits would come to him to pawn jewelry instead of going to the pawnshop for money.It was also for this reason that the old man came to him.

"How much?" Cui Tao asked.

The shopkeeper immediately raised a finger, "Three strings of money, no less."

Wang Siniang also raised a finger, and couldn't help but question the shopkeeper, "All three of your family gesture like this?"

"I think he collected it at the usual price, and wants to buy the third one," Ping'er said.

"It's so dark, I earned twice as much money, and said I'm a good person!" Wang Siniang couldn't help but spit.

The shopkeeper shouted that he was wronged, and hurriedly explained that this was not the case, "I made a mistake in the gesture, but to tell you the truth, I put up a finger to mean that I want to earn regular money, but I really didn't receive regular money. This jade pendant is for me. It’s from two pennies! I’m a businessman anyway, so I naturally want to earn some money.”

The shopkeeper immediately said that he could sell it for [-] yuan.

Cui Tao asked Wang Siniang to pay for Sanguan.Although Wang Siniang was puzzled and her expression was not very happy, she still listened to Cui Tao's words and gave as she said.

The shopkeeper was very happy and thanked Cui Tao again and again.

"Then the lady doesn't like the flower hairpin crown, there are other styles, or I'll take a few more drawings for the lady to choose?"

"I'll draw one myself later, and I'll order it from you."

The shopkeeper happily agreed, and happily sent Cui Tao and others away.

Seeing no one around, Ping'er said: "I'm not thinking too much, am I? Judging from the posture, Judge Wang seems to want to marry Zhang Susu?"

Cui Tao nodded: "Like."

If it's a normal relationship, naturally they wouldn't go hand in hand to the jewelry store to order this kind of corolla.

Wang Siniang was surprised: "But Judge Wang is a bit old. His son is about the same age as Zhang Susu, right? But it's true, Zhang Susu is an orphan who studies autopsy. How many people are envious of marrying an official as his stepmother?" Good luck."

"Heh, men will always like young ones, no matter if they marry or take concubines."

When Ping'er sighed, she couldn't help rolling her eyes, naturally thinking of her father.Yingying Yanyan, who crops up every three years, will always be the freshest and freshest woman.

"How can there be no women like this? I feel relieved after thinking about it!"

"Why don't we sisters try?"

Wang Siniang hooked Pinger's shoulder with great interest, and proposed excitedly.

Just as Ping'er was about to nod her head, her eyes straightened immediately.Wang Siniang followed her gaze in bewilderment, and saw Han Zong riding a horse with Li Yuan and others coming.

Wang Siniang immediately pulled Ping'er behind her, reminding her not to lose face, "Who said to let go?"

"Yes, let it go, let it go, let it go..." Ping'er lowered her head and kept repeating these words, but her hands were clasped tightly, obviously already nervous.

Han Zong didn't expect to meet Cui Tao on the way, he was a little surprised, and then said to her: "Just follow us to the scene."

Cui Tao was surprised: "This case has just been settled, so it's coming again?"

Han Zong nodded, "Someone reported that a woman was killed in Zaozi Lane ahead."

When the group arrived at Zaozi Lane, they were shocked to see a woman lying in a pool of blood on the side of the road.But apart from Han Zong, only Han Zong didn't know who the dead woman lying on the ground was.

"Why, you all know her?" Han Zong asked in surprise.

"Unexpectedly, we saw her alive and kicking just a moment ago, but now she is dead!" Wang Siniang's eyes widened, and she couldn't believe what she saw.

Ping'er was also very shocked, but she still couldn't help answering Han Zong's question.

Han Zong couldn't help being surprised when he learned that the deceased was actually Zhang Susu, the niece of Zhang Wenpo who had stayed in the Yamen.It is always surprising and embarrassing to know people around you who are killed.

"The body is still warm, the blood is still flowing, the fatal wound is on the neck, and the attack time is no more than two sticks of incense."

Cui Tao found that there was blood splattered on the ground, and there was a discontinuous blank area in the middle, indicating that when the deceased had his throat cut, there was an obstruction in front of him, and judging from the width of the blank area, the obstruction should be a person .

The reporter was Qian Niangzi, a resident of this alley.But she was not the first to discover the deceased. It was her eight-year-old son who was going to sneak out to play with the neighbor's children, but when he went out, he saw Zhang Susu lying in a pool of blood.

"When I came out, she seemed to be out of breath, she was motionless, and she was probably in front of a stick of incense at that moment." Qian Niangzi recalled.

Cui Tao looked at Mrs. Qian's clothes. There were horizontal and vertical folds on her body due to folding. After the clothes were neatly folded and pressed in the closet, it was inevitable that there would be such wrinkles when they were taken out to wear.

Cui Tao asked Mrs. Qian if she knew the deceased.

Lady Qian shook her head, expressing that she didn't know her.When she said this, she couldn't help but look at Zhang Susu lying in a pool of blood from the corner of her eye.

"It's a pity. At such a young age and still so pretty, why did I offend my enemies and was stabbed to death just like that." Mrs. Qian sighed, feeling sorry for Zhang Susu.

At this time, Wang Siniang and Ping'er leaned in front of Cui Tao, and they winked, as if they had something to say.

Cui Tao followed them to the side first.

Ping'er: "Could the murderer be—"

"It's him! Just now, less than two incense sticks ago, we saw Judge Wang still with her, and there is also the shopkeeper of the jewelry shop to testify. The person who turned around died here. The murderer wasn't him. Who is it?" Wang Siniang asked angrily.

Although she didn't like Zhang Susu very much, she didn't hate her to the point of killing her.Moreover, she hates the bastards who lie to women and kill women the most in her life. In the past, her lover Wang Dafa was counted as one, and now she is counted as Judge Wang, they are all bastards!

Ping'er nodded in agreement, and discussed with Cui Tao: "Should I report this situation to Judge Han? Can't I keep it a secret?"

Cui Tao agreed to let the two of them talk.Cui Tao turned her head and continued to ask Mrs. Qian how her son was doing.

"Children are easily frightened and disturbed when they see this scene, and they will not get better for many days. If Mrs. Qian trusts me, I can help take a look, and it will be useful." Cui Tao said.

Mrs. Qian quickly thanked, "The child was afraid of life, and cried hard after being frightened, and just fell asleep after crying."

Immediately, Lady Qian took Cui Tao to visit his son.After entering the courtyard, one could see a child lying on the bed in the west wing through the window, and it was just as Mrs. Qian said, that the child was asleep.

"When he wakes up, I'll lie to him that he had a nightmare and what he saw was not real." Madam Qian said.

Cui Tao nodded, this is also a way.

After taking the yamen servants to collect the corpse, Li Yuan went to question other people in the alley.At the time of laziness in the morning and afternoon, the residents in the alley, even if someone was at home, were resting to escape the heat.

In summer afternoons, the sun is like eating people, especially after a full meal at noon, if you don’t do anything, you will be sweaty and sleepy most easily, so no one will run out to bask in the sun.

Han Zong heard about the situation of Judge Wang and Zhang Susu from Ping'er, and immediately came to Cui Tao, saying that Judge Wang was very suspicious and should be summoned to Kaifeng Mansion for questioning.

Cui Tao had no objection.

Han Zong ordered Li Yuan to bring Judge Wang, but then he felt uneasy and ordered Wang Zhao to come along with him.After all, Judge Wang is an official in Kaifeng's mansion, so he was afraid that he would deliberately make trouble and put on airs, and these government servants would not be able to cope with his usual despotic power.

This case has a lot to do with it, so he immediately went back to Kaifeng Mansion to report the situation to Han Qi.

Han Qi was surprised when he heard about Zhang Susu's death, and when he heard that it was related to Judge Wang, his expression didn't show further surprise, but frowned.

After sending Han Zong to deal with the case first, Han Qi asked Cui Tao what he thought about the case.

Cui Tao frowned and thought for a while, "It's hard to say, it's a bit of a coincidence, a little subtle."

"However, these two are related, which can explain Zhang Susu's previous actions." Han Qi said.

Cui Tao never understood why Zhang Susu would go to such lengths, pretending to be a teacher with her, and slandering her and Han Qi's reputation.Hearing Han Qi's words, Cui Tao hurriedly asked him to explain his doubts.

Seeing Cui Tao use the word "please" to him, Han Qi took a special look at her, "Are you being polite to me?"

Cui Tao raised her eyebrows to indicate to Han Qi that there was a yamen servant waiting outside the door, so it was natural to do some superficial work.

Han Qi chuckled, and pushed the teacup in front of Cui Tao, but didn't speak, and only signaled her to drink with his eyes.

Cui Tao looked down, the color was like tea, but with the fruity aroma of plums, it was obviously not tea, it was lychee ointment, and it was chilled.I remember Han Qi said before that if he doesn't drink this, it must be specially prepared for her.

Cui Tao immediately laughed happily, picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp. As soon as the empty teacup was placed on the table, Han Qi immediately filled it up.

"Judge Wang has been an official in Kaifeng Mansion for some years, and has not moved from his position as a judge for nine years. Now there is a vacancy for an official position in Kaifeng Mansion." Han Qi explained while pouring water.

Cui Tao suddenly responded: "So Zhang Susu targeted us all because of Judge Wang?"

Han Qi nodded.

"But the vacant position is an official promotion. Liu Lang is already an official promotion, and he won't compete with him for another promotion position. Why bother?" Cui Tao finished speaking, then thought of something, and asked Han Qi in surprise, " Do you want me to separate from you and go to his side?"

Han Qi nodded again, "If it's a baby, someone will always come and grab it."

Cui Tao glanced at the yamen servant outside the door, and whispered to Han Qi, "Say it another way."

Han Qi didn't understand what Cui Tao meant, and looked back at Cui Tao.

"Just say I'm your baby." Cui Tao explained.

Han Qi was stunned for a moment, then tilted his head, covered his mouth and nose with his fist, and coughed lightly.

"It's okay for Liu Lang to be so shy, someone is going to grab your baby." Cui Tao teased him again, causing Han Qi to cough twice again, and his cheeks near the earlobe were slightly flushed.

After Han Qi drank tea and calmed down, he objectively analyzed the situation of Zhang Susu and Judge Wang with Cui Tao.

Judge Wang has been an official in office, and he has always been mediocre, without outstanding achievements, and his performance cannot improve, so naturally he can only squat in place and find it difficult to move.And since he took office in Kaifeng Mansion, with Cui Tao's assistance, he has repeatedly solved strange cases, and in just a few months, he has accumulated enough achievements to be promoted.Judge Wang, who has been eager to get promoted, will naturally be envious when he sees the situation on their side.

"Wang Judge wants to dig you to his side to help him investigate and solve the case, so that he can quickly accumulate political achievements like me, and it will be easier to be promoted in the future. Zhang Susu, because of his love affair with Wang Judge, wants to help Wang The judge gave me a helping hand, so I found you to be my teacher, and started to provoke the conflict between you and me. If it doesn't work, I will ruin the reputation of the two of us. In short, I will try my best to make us avoid each other and have to separate. Served under Judge Wang's command."

Cui Tao held her chin and stared straight at Han Qi's ears, which were about to lose their pink color, and lazily said: "People's hearts are sinister, and someone actually plots against your baby like this."

Han Qi laughed, but he didn't look at Cui Tao. He looked at the tea bowl in his hand. He had already drunk it to the bottom and hadn't poured it yet.

Seeing that Han Qi's ears were starting to turn pink again, Cui Tao smiled with satisfaction, and then told Han Qi about Song's finding him.

Han Qi's face suddenly became serious, "Did she offend you? What kind of ugly words did she say?"

Cui Tao shook her head, "Don't worry, no one can bully your baby."

Han Qi was stunned, and couldn't help laughing again, probably because he was molested several times by Cui Tao, now he was not as shy as before, but he was able to ask Cui Tao, "I can't make it through?"

"Well, if you don't call to listen, you will definitely have trouble." Cui Tao sighed.

"Then stop barking." Han Qi said immediately.

When Cui Tao first heard it, she thought that Han Qi refused because she was shy, but then she saw that he was looking at her with something special in her eyes, and then she suddenly realized that this guy wanted to continue enjoying the feeling of being molested by her, so she said no.

Cui Tao, who had been molested for a long time, was complacent and had a sense of accomplishment, but because of Han Qi, she suddenly felt that she was the one being molested.

This is just like you happily mopping oil, but after tossing around, you find that you have been wiped away with a thick layer of oil instead.Is there any joy in that?angry!

Cui Tao slapped the table and stood up, expressing that she would not mess with Han Qi anymore, "I decided to go to Judge Wang!"

"Judge Wang is nowhere to be found."

Because Cui Tao's last sentence was louder, everyone in the courtyard could hear it.Han Zong was about to report back and forth, but after hearing what he said, he responded in a timely manner, and then walked quickly into the room.

"Aren't you at home?" Cui Tao asked in surprise.

"No, I have already sent people to look for places where I might go, but there is no news yet." Han Zong said.

"Wang Siniang and Ping'er said that Judge Wang and Zhang Susu were in a carriage when they went to the jewelry store. Did you find the carriage?" Cui Tao continued to ask.

Han Zong shook his head, "Presumably he escaped in a carriage. Wang Zhao and Li Yuan have already gone to various city gates to inquire. It is not ruled out that he may have left Bianjing."

"This case is strange. Judge Wang is only a suspect at the moment and has not been convicted as a murderer. You must be careful when hunting down." Han Qi instructed.

Han Zong agreed.

Wang Zhao then came to report: "About half an hour ago, the guards at Nanxun Gate saw a carriage similar to Judge Wang leaving the city."

"It takes about a stick of incense to drive from Zaozi Lane to Nanxun Gate. It has been less than half an hour since we found the body. Calculating from the time, it just fits the situation of absconding in fear of crime immediately after committing a murder in the alley." Cui Tao analyzed.

Everyone was silent for a while, knowing that Judge Wang was very suspicious.But can the dignified judge of Kaifeng Mansion really commit murder in the street?And it's a blood-splattered killing method like cutting the throat.

As Judge Han said, why does this case look so strange?

"I really didn't expect that this piece of Susu would actually talk to Judge Wang—"

Before Wang Zhao could finish his emotional words, Zhang Wen's crying came from outside the courtyard, begging to see Han Qi and Cui Tao.

Han Qi allowed people to come in.

Zhang Wenpo immediately knelt down and began to cry, lamenting Zhang Susu's tragic death. She never expected to see her relative's corpse in the morgue after so many years of autopsy, still bloody.

Zhang Wenpo slapped herself regretfully, lamenting that she didn't listen to Cui Tao's words and took good care of Zhang Susu, which made her end up in such a miserable end today.

"I really didn't expect Judge Wang to be such a good guy!" Zhang Wenpo choked up several times, "My poor niece, her parents went away early since she was a child, and she finally survived until she was a young and beautiful age, and she suffered a violent death! In the future, I will If you die and go down below, how can you explain to my natal brother!"

Obviously, Zhang Wenpo knew about the relationship between Zhang Susu and Judge Wang long before today.Cui Tao told Zhang Wenpo how much she knew, and she told the truth.

"Since I brought Susu to work with Judge Wang, the two of them have secretly developed feelings for each other. The child Susu has suffered too much since she was a child, so she doesn't want to live a hard life. Ever since she found out that Judge Wang is interested in her, she has thought about being able to Married Judge Wang as his wife. But Judge Wang has been slow to give an answer because of her status. Susu knows this in her heart, and also knows that Judge Wang is eager to get promoted and coveted the vacancy of the judge for a long time. She wants to give it a go. Judge Wang negotiated the terms, if she can help him to sit on the post of judge, Judge Wang will marry her regardless of her background, Judge Wang even swore a poisonous oath at that time."

Zhang Wenpo then explained that she was able to understand these situations, all thanks to Cui Tao for reminding her.She deliberately observed Zhang Susu secretly, and only then noticed the anomaly between Zhang Susu and Judge Wang.

Zhang Wenpo asked Zhang Susu, and Zhang Susu told Zhang Wenpo her thoughts.But Zhang Wenpo is helpless, after all, she is her niece, lonely and helpless, and now her innocence is given to Judge Wang, what else can she do except choose to marry him?She can only indulge Zhang Susu and let her be willful.

Zhang Wenpo then kowtowed to Cui Tao to apologize, apologizing that she failed to follow the promise she had made to Cui Tao, "I have agreed that she has something wrong, and I will report it to Mrs. Cui. I kept it a secret. A few days ago Judge Wang had promised to marry Susu, and I was still happy for her. This hard life has finally come to an end. Who would have thought that someone would be killed! It must be that he didn't want to marry Susu, in a hurry, killed Susu!"

"It is reasonable to say that the matter was not done according to the previous agreement. Why did Judge Wang suddenly change his mind and agree to marry her?" Cui Tao asked Zhang Wenpo to explain this carefully.