She fell out after crying at the wrong grave

As Ah'an and Qin Shengguang were determined to catch the mastermind behind the poisoning of the river water, Hengzhi ordered Duan Can to lead a team of patrol soldiers to spread the word throughout the city that only by drinking the water and decocted medicine from Changqing Tower could the strange disease be cured.

Once the rumor started, it caused an uproar.

Some people cursed Zhang Hai, saying that he had colluded with the government and was waiting to take advantage of the predicament to make money.

The merchants were also cursing Zhang Hai, saying that he was relying on his reputation as the head of the Chamber of Commerce to become more and more arrogant. Then what was the difference between the water in Changqing Tower and that in other places?
Zhang Hai is also an ordinary person. When he goes out, he is hated by everyone and feels very angry.

It was Su Lan who made this matter clear to him, saying that the state government now wanted to catch the thief, and we ordinary people naturally had to cooperate.

If they were caught, everyone would be happy, the current situation could be calmed down, and it would be a great achievement for the entire Changqing Building.

Even if we can't catch him, it can be considered that you, Zhang Hai, have contributed money and effort. Fortunately, the source has been found. Everyone has seen the application of pesticides in Changqing Building, so there will be no loss. It is Changqing Building that gains reputation.

As for some people who are cursing nowadays, just let them curse. They are just quick words. Why should you take it to heart?

If your ears are blocked, the world will be at peace.

Zhang Hai thought about it and realized that the fact was exactly as his wife said, so he felt much more relieved.

Moreover, the scolding did not last for a few days, and the situation changed further.

The patrol battalion was led by Duan Can, who guarded all places where water could be drawn from the moat, and banned all homes that drew water from the moat.

There were already many people queuing up to get medicine in Changqinglou, and after the rumor spread, there were even more people. The lights were on every day, and people were constantly drawing water from the well.

In addition, another team was sent to the upper reaches of the river to clean up the corpses. The progress became faster and the number of people falling ill gradually decreased.

By the time everyone knew about it, the trap had been set.

That night.

The crowd gradually dispersed after the pesticide application lasted until midnight.

The court soldiers who were ready to capture the person who came to poison had already ambushed in the kitchen in the backyard of Changqing Building.

It was late at night and everyone was asleep, with only a little moonlight pouring down on the bluestone slabs.

In the small woodshed opposite the kitchen, Hengzhi and A'ao had already blown out the lights and were quietly waiting for the fish to take the bait.

Through a deliberately scratched hole in the window, Hengzhi's figure and movements could be vaguely seen.

Ah-yi lay beside him and whispered, "If we catch someone tonight, will you be gone tomorrow night at the latest?"

With her hands on her knees, Ah'ao inadvertently grasped the skirt under her palms.

"Yeah." In the darkness, Hengzhi relied on his blurry night vision to look down at A'an who was half bent over.

The subtle fragrance of her facial cream wafted through his body, making Hengzhi unable to help but recall the peaceful moments he had experienced falling asleep with A'ao in his arms a few nights ago.

Since he came back from Louguan, the small couch in the bedroom has been removed.

Ah'ao was so sleepy that she was unconscious. She didn't want to sleep on the small couch, nor did she want Hengzhi to be unable to sleep after returning from a long journey. So the two of them lay down together and slept together.

Many things in a relationship happen naturally, just like that night, when the quilt that was originally placed between the two of us was quietly kicked away after we had sex. When the day dawned, we were already arms around each other, with backs pressed against our chests.

Let’s talk about sleeping together. It’s like that the first time is new but the second time is familiar.

On the second night, Hengqi came home late. When he took a shower and went to bed, feeling cold, A'ao was sleeping with her back to him, and she mumbled his name in a daze.

Hengzhi's hand froze when he lifted the quilt. He responded softly, and then he realized that she had fallen asleep again.

A's hair spread out on the bed was soft and smooth, like brocade.

Hengzhi moved them aside carefully, fearing that they would hurt her.

In the area not covered by the pajamas, there is a bit of fair neck and faintly visible earlobes.

Ah's earlobes were not pierced, and they looked lovely and smooth when I touched them with my fingertips.

So the man couldn't help himself and approached her and held her in his arms, as if she were a treasure that he was afraid of losing.

The defenses between men and women were easily established here time and time again.

Heng Zhi was distracted, but he still agreed with her softly, "If they catch him and the news spreads, Louguan won't be able to hide it anymore."

Ah'ao said nothing, feeling somewhat sad and unhappy in her heart.

Except for Mrs. Cui and Huai Chengbai, she had rarely had such thoughts when they were separated in her life.

Or in other words, in her eyes, there are few people who are so important that she cannot bear to part with them.

Now Hengzhi also occupies most of this one acre and three mu of land.

A'an stood up straight and changed her posture to lean against the window.

In the darkness, I could put down all the burdens in my heart. I pinched and pinched my fingers again and again, and finally I couldn't help but reach forward, touching Hengzhi's clothes, and moved forward.

Until she felt warmth, she held his hand.

Hengzhi was startled, then turned around and held her.

The weather was getting colder and colder, especially at night. Ah-yi often cooked medicine by the fire, so she wore little and her fingertips were cold.

"I'll be back soon, very soon." He didn't say anything reluctant. He didn't want to say it, and A'an didn't want to mention it either.

The most compatible thing about them is that no matter where the other person is, they can concentrate on doing their own things.

It's like they are leaning on each other as shields, and they are always comrades-in-arms standing shoulder to shoulder.

Ah-yi curled her lips, suppressing the uneasiness in her heart, "The war in the front and the stability in the rear, both are more important than our reunion. If we indulged in love, we wouldn't end up like this."

Hengzhi nodded slightly.

"A'an." After a while, Hengzhi solemnly read her name, "I have never promised to be with you for life before, and I will not do so tonight. If you die on the battlefield one day, you can do what you like without any worries. I have already made arrangements. Kezhou will not reveal a single word of your identity."

After a moment's silence, Hengzhi realized that his voice was a little unsteady.

Fortunately, it was a breathy voice, so Ah-yi could not hear his sobbing. "But, please do not return to the capital. Youbei is far away and hard to endure. You don't... don't marry Youbei."

Day and night, it almost became his nightmare. Ah-yi did not blame him for saying unlucky words. The emperor was unkind, and dissent gradually arose in various places. In the chaotic situation, anyone could die in an untimely manner.

But he said, don’t marry You Bei.

This bitter tone made A'ou truly feel that there were still people in the world who cared about her, Cui'ou, more than Princess Xuancheng.

Ah-yi smiled and said, "No. From the day I met Zhao Hou, he killed the traitors with his own hands and tied me up with his own hands. Amid rumors, he is as calm as a mountain in the face of wind and rain, so how can he not be able to guard a small tower?"

Ah-yi looked at him with determined eyes. Although her voice was soft, it was as heavy as a mountain. "I believe that you, Hengzhi, will definitely return victorious. When I meet you at the city gate, I will also share in the glory."

The words sound easy and people feel relaxed.

He almost forgot that he had the important task of surveillance tonight. He pulled her into his arms, keeping an eye on the movements outside the window.

After a moment of tenderness, Ah'an quickly broke free, determined to catch the person who did it tonight.

Before the hour of Chou, there was finally movement in the courtyard.

"Someone is coming." Ah'ao reminded quietly, "with a black cloth bag."

The voice became even lower, and only Hengzhi, who was whispering next to his ear, could barely hear it.

Hengzhi picked up the knife from the table and hunched over the door, ready to rush out at any time like a nimble leopard.

Through the gap in the window paper, Ah'ao saw the man standing by the well. He first looked down, and then prepared to throw the things in the bag down.

Ah'ao nodded slightly, and Hengzhi pushed the door open, rushed forward a few steps, and caught her red-handed.

Ah-yi followed closely behind, and when she ran out, she was pinned to the ground by two soldiers. Duan Can took Heng-chi's knife, and the blade flashed, coldly stabbing the man's neck.

Ah'ao picked up a stick and opened the cloth bag, and a fishy and rotten stench spread immediately.

"You've got the right guy." Heng Qi said coldly, lighting the torch and looking at the man's face. "Who sent you?"

The black cloth covering the face was removed, revealing a completely unfamiliar face as expected.

The man knelt on the ground without saying a word.

Hengzhi stared at it for a few seconds, then suddenly turned up his sleeves. Under the light, the light-colored embroidery was very eye-catching.

Ah's eyes widened; this person turned out to be someone from Beitang.

As expected, no one in the underworld can be trusted.

Walking up to the person with a condescending look in her eyes, Ah-yi asked, "Are you related to Chu Hui?"

The man on the ground snorted.

Ah-yi bent down, grabbed his hair and pulled it back hard, forcing him to raise his head. "It's better not to talk. I will peel off your skin and draw your blood, then make a mummy and hang it on the tower. Whoever comes to collect the body can hang it on the wall together. How about that?"

Anger suddenly filled her heart. It was she who asked Hengzhi to protect Chu Hui when Beitang made the deal with her.

Now that the other party has gone back on their word, it is hard for Ah'an not to feel that everything that happened in the city was caused by the innocent people she had harmed in order to achieve her own goals.

The one who is more angry is myself.

The death of even one person will become her karma.

Hengzhi asked people to step back a little, crossed his arms, and admired A'ao's fierce look.

He even smiled slightly, as if the Ah'ao who wanted to be skinned and bled was just a rabbit kept in the yard that would bite people.

Duan Can looked at the young marquis' wife in front of him, and then looked at Marquis Zhao who was watching the fire from the other side, and became more and more confused.

Every second of silence means the blade digs an inch deeper into your skin.

"I, I don't know Chu Hui. It's just that the higher-ups sent me here, I don't know anything!"

Not long after, the man became scared and blood flowed down his collar. Only then did he feel that the woman in front of him was not lying.

"Who is your superior?" A'an continued to ask.

He covered the wound on his neck and gasped, "It's Pingzhou, Pingzhou Chen Lan!"

Chen Lan and Heng Qi listened and frowned slightly.

This man was a declining nobleman in Pingzhou who lived off his savings. His grandmother was the Princess of Pingzhou.

Originally he was a person who just sat back and waited for death, but now it seems that is not the case.

Judging from Ah's expression, it doesn't seem like she knows Chen Lan's identity.

"Did he instruct you to dump corpses in the moat of Kezhou so that people would drink the rotten water and die?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Ah'ao asked.

The man lay on the ground, a little confused due to blood loss. "The superiors only told us to poison the water, saying that this way Kezhou would not receive reinforcements. I don't know anything else."

After saying that, he passed out.

As expected, Hengzhi thought.

Ah'an turned around and looked at him, her eyes questioning what to do next.

How can I find a way to help Ah'ao get rid of her obvious guilt?

It's like a poor rabbit kept in captivity.

Hengzhi ordered Canjiang Duan to put the man in jail and keep an eye on him, and also bandage his wounds carefully.

Man cannot die yet; he will still be useful when the day of reckoning comes.

(End of this chapter)