Princess Jinyang of the Tang Dynasty

After Li Mingda said goodbye to Yuchi Baoqi, he went to Changsun Mansion first.Changsun Wuji suddenly suffered from diarrhea in the past two days, at first it was not a hindrance, and he went about his business as usual.But it has been like this for a long time, so that my body is exhausted, my legs are sore and weak, and I can't live a normal life, let alone handle official duties in the morning shift.Now I have asked several imperial physicians to prescribe medicine, but it still doesn't work.When Li Mingda left the palace today, he was instructed by Li Shimin to specially bring some medicinal materials and nourishing things, and went to condolences on behalf of the emperor.

Brothers Changsun Chong and Changsun Huan welcomed Li Mingda on behalf of their father.

Li Mingda first sat in the Dayi Hall for a while, and asked about Changsun Wuji's illness.Knowing that he hadn't eaten for two days, only drank water, and still had intractable diarrhea, Li Mingda was very worried.

"Doctor Gao and the others didn't find any clues?"

"Diarrhea due to chills and diarrhea. After the medicine was prescribed, I followed his advice and only ate porridge, water and medicine every day, but it still didn't improve." Changsun Chong replied.

"I'm going to see my uncle."

Li Mingda then went to the bedroom of the eldest grandson Wuji. Generally, in the room where the sick lived, Li Mingda would more or less smell some medicine.But Changsun Wuji's place is not the same, there is only a faint fragrance, just like the smell of new rice dumplings just right, it smells very good.

Changsun Wuji was wearing a white silk tunic and half leaned on the couch, his face was much lighter, and even his previous domineering and sharp spirit also lost most of it.When he saw Li Mingda, a happy smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, thanking her for coming to see him.

"Uncle doesn't seem to be active anymore." Li Mingda sat in front of Changsun Wuji's bed, and told him the saint's worries and instructions to him.

"It's the minister who deserves to die, but he was so disturbed by a little diarrhea that he couldn't go to court and delayed the military and state affairs. I feel so guilty." Changsun Wuji smiled wryly.

"Diarrhea is not a trivial matter. Seeing how uncle is now, you can see its strength." Li Mingda looked around at the furnishings in Changsun Wuji's room. There were not many items, but each item was an extremely rare tribute. The layout seems simple, but it is luxurious and atmospheric.

Li Mingda walked to the gold vase inlaid with pearls and gemstones as a tribute from the Western Regions, and smelled the lotus in the vase. The lotus has no fragrance, only the faint fragrance of lotus leaves.Li Mingda immediately thought that the fresh smell he smelled just after entering the room seemed to be more like the fragrance of lotus leaves, but stronger than it.

"Uncle's room smells good, but what kind of special incense did you use?" Li Mingda asked.

When Changsun Wuji heard this, he looked at his two sons and laughed.

"I'm a rough guy, how can I live a delicate life like you girls. I don't use any incense, but I like the smell of lotus leaves and I like to be clean, so I let the servants at home clean the room with lotus leaf water every morning and evening. Maybe after a long time, there will be some lotus leaf fragrance in this room." Changsun Wuji explained with a smile.

"Lotus leaf water?" Li Mingda asked.

Changsun Wuji said yes with a smile.

Li Mingda glanced at the white jade bowl on the small table beside the bed, there was unfinished water in it.

"Is this what uncle drinks?"

Changsun Wuji nodded, looked at Li Mingda curiously, and asked her why she asked this question.

Li Mingda took the jade bowl to his nose and sniffed it, "Does uncle usually like to drink lotus leaf water?"

Changsun Wuji was stunned, "Yes, I always drink like this."

"Lotus leaves cure thirst and thirst. My father would drink lotus leaf water in summer." Chang Sun Chong explained to Li Mingda gently.

"Drinking some in moderation is good, but it is cold in nature and hurts the spleen and stomach. If my uncle has diarrhea after eating it before, but he continues to drink it, it must be difficult to understand, and he will not be able to recover."

"Look at me, I forgot about this incident. I said that I am in a strong body, but now I greedily ate a few ice grapes, and I was about to have diarrhea and collapsed on the bed. It was because of this. It was because the imperial physician said It is best to drink porridge and eat less greasy meat, so I drank more water, probably because I drank too much, and the antidiarrheal medicine was washed away." Changsun Wuji listened to his son these days I was so happy that I found a way to understand the miscellaneous diseases that were entangled in my body, and my whole body became more energetic in an instant.He smiled and sighed that Sizi was his lucky star.

"Thanks to my obedient niece coming, otherwise my life would be buried on this lotus leaf."

"It's because the sons were careless and didn't notice this, which caused father to suffer." The eldest grandson hurriedly saluted and apologized.

Changsun Huan also felt guilty, and followed suit, then scratched his head and said, "I only thought about eating, but forgot to drink. We really should fight!"

"Forget it, compared with me, you guys are not as careful as I am. There is no woman in this house to support her. It seems that it is really impossible to take care of it." Changsun Wuji sighed helplessly, and looked at Li Mingda.

Changsun Chong and Changsun Huan brothers heard this, their hearts skipped a beat, and they both went to observe their father's expression.Their mother has been gone for many years, is it possible that their father intends to remarry?

Changsun Chong turned his attention to Changsun Huan, "It's time to find a marriage for you."

"Oh," Changsun Huan's heart sank when he heard that his father was not looking for a step-sister, but then he realized that his father was talking about himself, and immediately panicked, "This, this is not appropriate, my sister-in-law just left, and then Wait for a while, don't rush."

"It can be decided later, but in private, you can make a fuss. We don't have your mother to make decisions for you. You can look for it yourself, and if you find something suitable, tell your father. I will get rid of my old face later and help you ask for it in person. " Changsun Wuji instructed.

Although Changsun Huan was a big man, he was still a little shy when his father talked about his marriage in person, blushing uncomfortably and perfunctorily: "Furthermore, anyway, my son hasn't taken a fancy to anyone yet."

Changsun Wuji sighed, then looked at Li Mingda, smiled and asked her for one thing.

"Uncle, please tell me." Li Mingda said.

"I heard that the Wei family's second wife is a good one, elegant and generous, beautiful and intelligent. If you have time, please help us see if this girl is as good as the legend. If so, I can rest assured to help you as a second cousin Brother asks to marry."

"I like to join in the excitement. It's about my second cousin's lifelong affairs. Don't worry, I'll take care of it for you." After Li Mingda finished speaking, he raised his eyebrows and glanced at Changsun Huan.

Changsun Huan was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, but he had to hold back and dare not spread the word.He winked at Li Mingda, hoping she would not agree, but it was obviously too late.

Changsun Wuji was very happy, and then he lay down as he said.After Li Mingda and others withdrew, Chang Sunchong immediately told the servants in the mansion that he could no longer prepare lotus leaf water for sending, and only use ordinary mountain spring water.

"I still need to eat something to restore my strength and cook some nourishing porridge."

"I persuaded him a long time ago. It's not that he didn't dare to eat because of his stomach agitation later on. He said that eating made him feel even worse. His temper is as fierce as fire, and we can't afford to offend him." Changsun Huan was mixed with concern. keep complaining.

"Just say I ordered him, and he must listen." Li Mingda said.

"Just wait for your lord's words, okay!" Changsun Huan was happy, and immediately ordered to the servants in the mansion, "I remember clearly, this is the princess's order, I must persuade the old man in the house to drink porridge well If he eats, if he doesn’t drink, let him talk to the princess himself.”

Li Mingda smiled, raised his chin slightly, and raised his eyebrows to look at Chang Sun Huan, "Thinking about me? You wait, I will take care of you for you. The important things of life are in my hands, and I have a lot of opportunities to revenge you."

Chang Sun Chong couldn't help laughing when he heard this.

Changsun Huan immediately changed from an arrogant face to a flattering one, and hurried to Li Mingda to salute and beg, "Help me, I have to trouble the princess to forgive me for this matter. I am not interested in Wei Erniang and Tuesday mother." .I have to find someone I like to marry in, just like a saint's love for his aunt. He raises his eyebrows and has a deep affection, which is so enviable."

Li Mingda stopped laughing suddenly, and looked at Changsun Huan seriously.

Changsun Huan was so terrified by the sight, he looked left and right, and after confirming that the princess was looking at him, he hurriedly asked Li Mingda what he meant.

"Second cousin can tell me what kind of woman you hate the most."

"Hypocritical, cunning, vicious inside." Chang Sun Huan then added, "I don't want anyone who is too thin."

"Write it down, I will help you find it according to this, and then introduce it to uncle."

"Wait, did you say something wrong? It's because you 'won't' help me find it like this." Changsun Huan hastily corrected.

"That's right, I'll find you according to this!" Li Mingda said in a bright voice, "Don't pretend that I don't know your little thoughts. You just deliberately mentioned the saint and the queen in front of me just to make me feel sympathetic. Heart, I have sympathy for you. I don't like this."

After Li Mingda finished speaking, he nodded goodbye to Changsun Chong, and then left with his hands behind his back.

Changsun Huan panicked, and hurriedly chased after Li Mingda and bowed to Li Mingda, "My lord, please forgive me, you can't just ignore death, just now I was barking, I shouldn't talk nonsense, please forgive me. Don't just because This little problem between our cousins ​​has affected the big things in my life."

"It's a good attitude to admit mistakes." Li Mingda said with a smile.

"I sincerely beg my cousin to help me, and I refuse to entrust my father. I dare not mess with the second wife of the Wei family, and I will marry no one." Changsun Huan said nervously.

"Why is this?"

"It's still a little unclear to you, anyway, I just don't like her, please help me, cousin."

"Talk to father yourself." Changsun Chong said.

Changsun Huan looked helpless, "What should I say, you don't understand our father's temper. If I say I don't like it, and I can't explain the reason clearly, he will definitely scold me and think I'm just looking for trouble. If you don’t want to get angry and let me marry that Wei Erniang, then you say I’m not unlucky.”

"Why did Erniang Wei recruit you and steal your food?" Li Mingda asked with a smile.

Chang Sun Huan moved his lower lip, looked at Chang Sun Chong over there, hesitant to speak.Then he motioned for Li Mingda to come over to him and talk alone, "I'll tell you when I have time, but this matter can only be known to you and me, and it cannot be spread. It doesn't matter if you like it or not, but I'm not the kind of little girl who ruins the reputation of other girls." people."

"Okay, let's talk another day."

After Li Mingda said goodbye to the two brothers, he went straight to Liang Guogong's mansion.

Tian Hanxi sent the little eunuch to come to inform him in advance.

When Mrs. Lu heard about this when she was delivering soup to Fang Yi, she didn't even bother to deliver the soup, and hurriedly pushed it to the maid, and hurried back to the house to clean it up.

Lu fiddled with the mirror for a while, and changed into the most formal clothes.Considering that the princess is now ordered to investigate the case, and she travels in light men's clothes, it seems too grand and inappropriate for her to wear it.Instead, Mrs. Lu changed into an everyday dress, which was a little newer.The swearing on the head was also tidied up again, it looked dignified and solemn, not so serious, but very amiable.

Lu Shi smiled at the mirror a few times, pulled the corners of her mouth with her fingers, and adjusted her smile to the most friendly state for her.

At this time, it was rumored that the princess was coming.

Lu Shi quickly got up maintaining this smile, went out to greet her, and gestured again, instructing the maids to instruct the cook to deep-fry the snack "Snow Baby" she had prepared earlier and serve it while it was hot.

After Li Mingda met Lu Shi, he asked Fang Yizhi for the book.

At this moment, "Snow Babies" came up.Li Mingda saw 'babies' about the size of three fingers placed on the plate, with arms and legs, fried until golden, and looked crispy and delicious.

"What kind of food is this?" Li Mingda asked curiously.

"Call it Snow Baby, Princess, try it."

Li Mingda couldn't resist the food. After thanking Mrs. Lu with a sweet smile, he took a piece with his chopsticks and wanted to put it in his mouth.

Lu Shi hurriedly said: "Be careful, don't burn yourself."

After Li Mingda took a bite, he saw that the meat wrapped inside was snow-white, it tasted crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, but it was really delicious, so he asked Lu Shi how he made this stuff.

Just as Lu Shi was about to open his mouth to explain, Fang Yizhi spoke up suddenly.

"You can read and eat the book the princess asked for." Li Mingda nodded his head as soon as he listened to the book, took it to read, but forgot what he said before.

Received Fang Yizhi's signal, Lu tactfully shut up.She forgot that this is also considered wild game, the princess may not be able to eat it after hearing it, after all, this meat is good for nourishing the body.

Lu Shi happily watched the princess use up half of the plate, feeling satisfied.

Li Mingda was a little embarrassed about the food he had left, "I could have eaten it all, but because I just used some snacks in the palace when I came out, I can't go down now."

Lu Shi was rather panicked, and while admiring the princess's quality of not wasting food, he hurriedly explained: "It doesn't matter, it can't be ruined,"

"I haven't eaten yet." Fang Yizhi said suddenly at this moment.

Lu Shi was startled, and swallowed the second half of the sentence in a daze.

Li Mingda was also taken aback, put down the tea in his hand, and after thinking about it, he pushed the plate towards Fang Yizhi, "Then if you don't mind, eat it while it's still hot."

"Yeah." Fang Yizhi really took the chopsticks from the maidservant's hand, and ate with his head down.

Lu Shi: "..."

She seemed to have seen something extraordinary.

After Fang Yizhi finished using it quietly, he gently wiped his mouth with a white silk handkerchief, and Fang asked Li Mingda if he sent Yuchi Baoqi to Qujiang Village.

"Yes, we can just wait for the news here, and I told him to meet here."

"Then you guys talk about the case first, just, I just happen to have some family matters to deal with. Your lord, please let the concubine take her leave first." Lu Shi said.

Li Mingda nodded, and then continued to read the book with great interest.

After Lu walked out the door, she took a few steps slowly, then looked back cautiously, then quickly walked away, and while walking, ordered the followers to call Lang Jun back immediately.

"It's rare for Mr. Lang to meet friends today, and he just left for a short time, and he suddenly called back, I'm afraid..."

"Something happened at home, so he must come back." Shi Lu stared.

The servant girl was so frightened that she shrank her neck and agreed, and went to pass the message.

After returning to the room, Mrs. Lu waited patiently for a while, but when no one came back, she asked: "What happened to Dalang, are you still waiting for Baoqi with the princess?"

The servant girl agreed.

Lu Shi was relieved, and then continued to sit at the table and wait for her husband.

After two sticks of incense, Fang Xuanling came back, thinking that something important happened at home, rushed into the back of the house, and saw his wife sitting there, there was nothing to panic about, so she was a little unhappy.

"What's worth making a fuss about?" Fang Xuanling asked.

"This is not a big deal, it's a big deal, a big deal for your eldest son. In the past, we just talked casually and didn't take it seriously, but now you really have to take it seriously, and you have to work hard, otherwise our son will die for the rest of his life." I will be lonely forever." Lu said solemnly.

"Lonely old? Are you kidding me? Although Yizhi may not be the best among children of the same age, he is not the worst. It is not shameful to say that our family background is not ashamed. Why can't we marry a wife? You are just talking nonsense." Fang Xuanling glared at Lu Shi, but there was still a hint of pampering in her reproachful tone.

"Our son is not bad, and there are still many women who want to marry him."

"It's good that you know, why worry so much." Fang Xuanling felt that she had come back from all the futility, and sighed helplessly.

"But you never thought about those women outside, our son doesn't like him at all. Let me ask you, if you force him to marry someone he doesn't like, you say he will be obedient and let you have a big fat grandson Hug?" Lu asked back.

"It's...it's really possible," Fang Xuanling was stunned for a moment, and his originally helpless face turned serious, "I'm spoiling you!"

Lu Shi: "I am not used to my son, who is not used to him? Besides, you are not used to him. Two days ago, who told me to give my son ginseng soup every day to nourish his body, saying that he lost weight."

"Did I say that?" Fang Xuanling didn't want to admit it.

"It's not who you are. Besides, does the child follow me in temperament, does he follow me?" Lu Shi asked fiercely.

Fang Xuanling pouted, "Okay, follow me."

"Follow your dream of spring and autumn, he will just let you go with his stubborn temper, and the rest, such as looks, erudition and talent, are all like me." Lu said unceremoniously complacent.

Fang Xuanling gave her a dissatisfied look, and asked her where the problem was.

It was only then that Lu Shi realized that he was wrong, and quickly said to Fang Xuanling seriously: "I mean our son is excellent here, others can see him, but he doesn't like others, ordinary girls can't catch his eyes .”

Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment, then remembered that when he first entered the mansion, the butler seemed to have told him that Princess Jinyang was here today.

"You mean the only person who can get into his eyes is Princess Jinyang?"

Lu Shi nodded.

Fang Xuanling thought for a while, and said with a smile: "I thought about it a long time ago, but I just think that this kind of thing is just a matter of thinking about it. It's a bit difficult to really think about going on the serious road."

"I know, that's why I was in a hurry to discuss it with you. Please make arrangements early." Lu Shi said.

Fang Xuanling frowned and pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice: "It's not that it can't be solved, but it's just a little more troublesome. You know how wise and powerful the saint is. You have to take this matter slowly and think long-term. It’s easy to say anything.”

"Agreed." Mrs. Lu agreed with Fang Xuanling's words, and then asked him if he had any specific ways to deal with it.

"I haven't figured it out yet. The child is still young. According to the saint's temperament, we will definitely keep her for a few more years. We don't have to worry too much, take our time. Remember, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Take it easy. Just like you are now It's not advisable to be surprised." After Fang Xuanling finished speaking, she nodded her head when she saw Lu's approval, got up and was about to leave.

Lu Shi: "Hey, where are you going?"

"The food is half served, and I'm still waiting for me to go back. Let's talk at night." After Fang Xuanling waved to Lu Shi, he left in a hurry.

Lu Shi didn't care about her, and just sat there alone, thinking about the future of his eldest son and Princess Jinyang. If the two of them could really be together one day, they would have the same looks and talents.Then the two of them will give birth to a fat baby together in the future, what kind of smart and beautiful appearance will they have?Thinking that one day he would hold a smart and good-looking grandson or granddaughter in his arms, Lu Shi couldn't help the smile from the corner of his mouth.If there is such a day in the future, she will wake up laughing from her dreams.

"Lady, Erlang is back." The servant girl said.

When Lu Shi heard that Fang Yiai had returned, his eyebrows immediately tugged and knotted, "Where's Princess Gaoyang?"

"Princess Gao Yang didn't come back, but Erlang seemed to be in a bad mood and reeked of alcohol."

"There is a distinguished guest in the mansion, don't make him look ugly, just pull him away quickly."

The servant girl shivered for a while, nodded and said to Lu in a distressed tone: "Madam, it's late. Erlang seems to have bumped into Dalang and the princess."

"Why does it still seem, is it true or not." While speaking, Lu Shi hurriedly got up and went outside.

The servant girl hastily explained beside Lu Shi: "When the nose was talking back and forth, Erlang just entered the mansion, and Da Lang and the princess were about to leave the mansion, so they should bump into each other."

"Didn't they wait for Baoqi to come? Why are they leaving all of a sudden?"

"A letter came from outside, and I don't know what was said, so the two decided to leave." The servant girl said.

Lu Shi asked Fang Yi'ai how much wine he had drunk. Hearing that he was already shaking from drunk, he had a bad idea, so he hurried to find someone.When Mrs. Lu arrived, there was already a commotion.

Fang Yiai blushed from drinking, shaking from side to side, laughing and crying, as if she had been greatly stimulated.There were four or five attendants trying to pull him, but he was tall and powerful, and they didn't dare to pull Fang Yiai too hard, so Fang Yiai threw him aside with a strong force.Several people fell to the ground, yelled twice in pain, and then got up to stop them again.

Lu Shi strode forward, stretched out his hand and grabbed the skirt of the house's widowed love.Because Fang Yiai was much taller than Lu Shi, Fang Yiai had to bend down because of this pull.Although Fang Yiai was already drunk, he was startled when he opened his eyelids in a daze and saw that it was his own mother, and then he was half sober from the wine, and became much more honest.

Lu's eyes were on fire, and he stared at Fang Yi'ai fiercely, telling him to go with him, and turned his head to apologize to Li Mingda.

Li Mingda nodded, indicating that Mrs. Lu doesn't need to worry about her.

Without further ado, Lu dragged Fang Yi'ai into the main hall, and then ordered everyone else to retreat and close the door.

Afraid!Snapped!Snapped!

Three slaps in the face.

"What's wrong with you now? I've never seen you so indulgent, unrestrained, and ignorant of etiquette before. If I see you like this a second time, I will immediately send your father to report and sever the father-son relationship with you." , I won't recognize you either." Lu immediately lowered her voice and warned Fang Yiai fiercely.

Fang Yiai didn't say a word, he didn't expect Princess Jinyang to be at his house, it seems that he listened to Lu Shi's reprimand.

Li Mingda heard all these clearly.But looking at the puzzled and curious expressions of those servants, it seems that none of them heard these voices.Going to see Fang Yizhi again, his face was indifferent, without any strange look, as if he heard the noise in the room just like him.

"Aren't you curious what your mother brought your second brother into the house for?"

"After hearing this, your lord, if you trust Yizhi, you will naturally tell Yizhi." Fang Yizhi glanced at Li Mingda inquiringly, and saw that she looked a little embarrassed, and made a clear guess in his heart, "Second brother, he used to No, it's the first time that I've become addicted to drinking after I got married."

As soon as Fang Yizhi finished speaking, Li Mingda heard crying from inside the room, and then the crying grew louder, even the people outside the room heard it.

Mrs. Lu: "Look at what you're up to. You're an imposing seven-foot man. Every day you just drink away your sorrows and weep. What's your deal? Do you want to embarrass me!"

"Mother, what can I do, it's Princess Gaoyang—"

"What's wrong with her?" Lu asked eagerly.

"She found a monk at home, and the appearance of that monk is very similar to that of my elder brother!" Fang Yiai shouted unconvinced.

"Shut up! You're drunk." After Lu Shi finished speaking, she raised her voice and called out, telling Fang Yiai to be more honest, and at the same time asking her servants to help him go back to the room to rest.Seeing that the princess and Fang Yi hadn't left yet, Mrs. Lu came over to salute and apologize.

"Madam Lu, don't get too angry. There are always times when people don't like it. If the concubine is going through it, ask more and be considerate of him." Li Mingda comforted him.

Lu Shi was taken aback, he didn't expect such a shameful thing to be eased by the princess with such two words of understanding.

She really deserves to be the princess of Jinyang who was taught by a sage herself. She has an extraordinary bearing, is very gentle and considerate.

Mrs. Lu gave Li Mingda a big salute.Thank her for saving face, and then leave.

Li Mingda also said straight to Fang Yi: "Then let's go."

He got on his horse and left Liang Guogong's mansion.

Fang Yi Zhifang asked Li Mingda what his mother and second brother said in the house just now.

"Do you really want to listen?" Li Mingda hesitated.

"Let's talk, I didn't expect it to be a good thing." Fang Yi said straight.

Li Mingda drove his horse forward for a while, and let Zuo Qingmei and Tian Hanshan follow far behind.

Fang Yi followed straightforwardly.

Li Mingda whispered to Fang Yizhi the conversation she had just heard.Seeing that Fang Yi's face was not shocked, but he always felt that there were turbulent waves under his calmness, so Li Mingda told him again, don't let her mouth slip out and let out the fact that her ears are good.

"Don't worry, no." Fang Yi turned his head calmly and assured Li Mingda, his tone was still flat, as if he didn't hear any amazing words just now.

Li Mingda admired Fang Yizhi's patience.But think about it, if she were herself and knew that her brother-in-law had found a woman who looked similar to her to be raised in the mansion, she would probably be shocked and didn't know how to express herself.

But this kind of thing, the more you think about it, the more you feel a little nauseous.

Li Mingda was silent for a while, and seeing Fang Yizhi also remained silent with a cold face.Afraid that he would think too much, I told him about the Qujiang Village case.

"The person involved in this case is very cunning. If he escapes the trap designed by the princess this time, then this case must be a big one."

Li Mingda: "Oh?"

"Just wait and see, if it's as I said, there must be a conspiracy behind it. If that's the case, I'm afraid the murderer may not be caught in a short time. We must be patient and make long-term preparations." Fang Yi Zhi continued to hypothesize.

Although Li Mingda listened to his words with rigor, but listening to his tone, he felt that Fang Yi had probably confirmed that this was the answer.

How could it be such a coincidence that she encountered a big case just after returning to Beijing?

Li Mingda asked Fang Yizhi again, what was the basis for his judgment.

"Just relying on the princess to check, the 'ghost' will not show up."

"Oh?" Li Mingda looked at the room even more puzzled.

Fang Yizhi suddenly seemed to be in a good mood at this moment, he nodded slightly to Li Mingda and smiled, "Why don't you leave a suspense and let the princess keep some interest."

Li Mingda moved his eyeballs, and stared at Fang Yizhi, "I found that you have been very fond of whetting people's appetites recently, starting with the autobiography written by the old farmer."

"Your lord is aware."

Is this a frank admission?

Li Mingda frowned, his heart sank, "If it's what you said, I'll wait and see. I'm very curious about this case. I want to see what new things will happen in the Qujiang Pond at the foot of the emperor. Come on."

Fang Yi let out a "hmm".

The boy's hair fluttered in the breeze, and a few imperceptible sharpnesses flashed from the bottom of his deep black eyes.

……

Yuchi Baoqi's ambush and evacuation of Qujiang Village on behalf of the imperial court really caused a commotion to everyone.

Qujiang Village remained quiet for two nights, and at midnight on the third night, a "water ghost" finally appeared, but it was a mad cow that ran out of nowhere, causing Cheng Chubi and others to make a false alarm , but also exposed the fact that they are still lurking in Qujiang Village.

Li Mingda doesn't think the appearance of this cow is a coincidence. It seems that the matter is really as Fang Yizhi said before. The people involved are too cunning. The cow came to test.Of course, this also shows in disguise that the person involved in the water ghost case is very cautious, but for some reason, he wants to act urgently.

Since this water ghost is so shrewd, sticking to it must not be a solution.It is better to take a step back.Li Mingda immediately ordered Cheng Chubi and others to retreat and take a rest.For the next seven days, Qujiang Village was still extremely peaceful, and the legend of the water ghost gradually dissipated, and people almost forgot about it.

However, Li Mingda did not forget that in addition to recharging his energy and reading books to pass the extra time these days, Li Mingda's main attention was still on pondering over the testimony of witnesses and sorting out the facts of the case.Since the direct and straightforward method would not work, she could only start with the details and think about it bit by bit.

According to the testimonies of three witnesses, it can be found that the "water ghosts" have some similarities.The head has horns, hair, purring sound, and water marks.

The testimony of the first witness also said that the water ghost passed through the wall and had a huge figure.In view of his state of insanity at that time, Li Mingda held a dubious attitude towards him.

So Li Mingda sent people to the No.1 witness's house to do a careful investigation.The night when the incident happened was the fourteenth day of the lunar calendar, and the moon was shining brightly.In the courtyard of this witness’s home, there is a century-old jujube tree with a very thick trunk, divided into two main branches on the upper side, as if standing alone, with his hands stretched out to the sky.At the time of the incident, judging from the orientation of the tree and the house, the shadow of the tree could just be reflected on the window, and because the branches were luxuriant, the upper part was already in contact with the roof. When the wind blew, the tree would scrape the roof. the sound of.

"It can be seen from this that the first witness said that the water ghost pierced through the wall, stood outside the window, and made that swishing sound. It was all because he was too frightened and lost his mind, so he made a misjudgment." Cheng Chubi explained road.

"It seems that the testimonies of the three witnesses are more or less fictitious. But the common points of the three of them are worthy of reference." Fang Yi said straight.

"In the place of water, their testimonies have different descriptions. I remember that Fu Sheng said that the water ghost he saw was dripping water from his body, while the other said that when the water ghost appeared, his feet and the road were wet. watermark."

"The watermark must be real, because at that time, when many people got up early in the morning, they also witnessed wet water marks on the road." Fang Yizhi added.

"Compared to the other two witnesses, Fu Sheng is calmer and more sober. On the contrary, it means that Dick Shui's testimony is not credible?"

"Not necessarily, maybe the water ghost he saw was indeed dripping water. The other two witnesses may not have noticed, or there may be no one on the water ghost, but there is water on the road." Fang Yizhi made a comprehensive guess. .

Li Mingda took a deep breath and frowned slightly, "It's just the testimony of three people, the truth and the false are mixed together, it's very difficult to distinguish."

"I still have a list of the people the two Taoist priests met during their lifetime. It may not be complete. I have tried to fill in the names of the people I know from the investigation." Fang Yi said bluntly, and handed the list to Li Mingda.

"It's still your thoughtfulness."

Li Mingda immediately looked through the so-called incomplete roster, and found that there were no less than a hundred names in it, which was still incomplete.It's hard for Li Mingda to imagine how much time Fang Yizhi spent investigating this.

Fang Yi seemed to see Li Mingda's doubts at a glance, and explained directly: "It happens that this case has dragged on for a long time, so I ordered someone to investigate it, it's not troublesome."

The two Taoist priests have been to many dignitaries' mansions because of exorcising ghosts during their lifetime, and they know a lot of people.

"The two really knew a lot of dignitaries before their lives." Li Mingda sighed, and then she shivered, looking at her roommate who was also looking at her, "If these two people are really awake If someone kicks you out of the gazebo, you should be very caught off guard, if so, it is really possible that you are an acquaintance who can get close."

"Yi Zhi's guess is the same. This can also explain why the two of them did not practice at the incense table that was already set up, but ran to the pavilion on the other side of the river so far upstream. Since they are holding ghost incense in their hands, it is likely to be something The acquaintances used some excuses to tell them that there was something strange there."

"Then why did the two of them drown after falling into such shallow water?"

"That's where the oddity lies."

"I think your thinking is too serious. The body was found [-] feet downstream from the incense case. It is very likely that the two people fell into the water not in the octagonal pavilion at all, but on the bridge and fell from the bridge. The place where the water is deep, if you don’t know how to use water, you will drown in no time.”

"Unfortunately, these two Taoist priests can swim." Li Mingda was flipping through the back page of the booklet that Fang Yizhi had just given him, and found that there were some testimonies from the acquaintances of the two Taoist priests at the back of the list.Among them was a sorcerer named Wu Taoist, who was the same disciple of the two, and said that both of them knew how to swim. "

When Yuchi Baoqi heard this, she still didn't believe it. She took the booklet in Li Mingda's hand, and after seeing the testimony clearly, she immediately shrank her neck and widened her eyes.

"Two big living people who could swim were pushed into the river, and they were probably pushed into the shallow water up to their knees, and they were drowned. Look, is this reasonable? You still insist that it is man-made, This is clearly—something only ghosts can do.”

"Since there is no injury... is it possible that it was drugged?" Li Mingda asked ponderingly.

"Prescribe medicine?" Fang Yi thought for a while, "It depends on what kind of medicine it is, at least it's not poisonous. Wu Zuo didn't find any traces of poisoning on the two of them."

"It must not be poison. If it was poison, the two of them would have no way to drown."

"What could that be?" Yuchi Baoqi asked.

"It may also be a drug that causes people to have some hallucinations. Only this drug can explain why the two of them drowned when they fell into shallow water."

"possible."

"The prisoner who killed the Taoist is probably a woman." Li Mingda said.

Fang Yi nodded his head.

Yuchi Baoqi didn't expect the conclusion to jump here, and asked puzzledly, "Why?"