Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 39 Is he the murderer?

Rong Wanyin asked, "Where?"

After a moment, Rong Wanyin suddenly seemed to have an epiphany and exclaimed, "Where are you talking about?"

Yan Mingzhang nodded and said, "Yes! ... Do you think he might be hiding there?"

Rong Wanyin pondered for a moment and said, "It's not impossible that there's no one patrolling there."

Su Zhan protested, "What are you talking about? I'm a living person here, why is no one paying attention to me?"

Yan Mingzhang and Rong Wanyin exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Flower and Willow Lane!"

Yan Mingzhang grabbed Su Zhan's arm and said, "We're going to Hongxiuxiang. You lead the way! Hurry!"

Su Zhan turned around with a bright smile: "Cheng Xuan, have you figured it out? Investigating the case is too tiring, do you want to go to Hongxiuxiang to relax and have some fun?"

Rong Wanyin huffed, "What are you thinking about? My Lord is going to investigate a case! Let's go! It's too late, the murderer might have already escaped!"

Su Zhan curled his lips, looking like an incorrigible child, and turned away with disgust.

Yan Mingzhang said slowly, "Lead the way."

"What route do you need? Didn't we go there last time? Didn't he just want to catch me as a laborer... Besides, the murderer might have left the city long ago after killing people!" Su Zhan kept talking to himself, but his feet didn't stop.

Yan Mingzhang's face was solemn. "It's not impossible, but the city gates were opened this morning and the order was issued that only people could enter but not leave. He couldn't escape even if he wanted to."

Rong Wanyin shuddered as if she suddenly realized something. "Do you think he's not satisfied anymore and wants to kill more? So he's hiding?"

Su Zhan quickly made a "Puh, Puh, Puh" sound and spat three times: "Grandma, please be kind and stop saying those unlucky words!"

Yan Mingzhang didn't mind: "It's possible, we'll know when we go and see."

Su Zhan was overwhelmed and thought to himself: You two are really a perfect match. Despite complaining, Su Zhan still followed Yan Mingzhang obediently.

Yan Mingzhang turned around and was about to explain a few words when he saw Rong Wanyin, who looked eager to try. He asked in confusion, "What are you doing?"

"Aren't we going to the red-liu alley to arrest someone? Let's go quickly!" Rong Wanyin's eyes shone.

"Jing Jun, Mo Yun and Chang Feng, I will go. You wait here." Yan Mingzhang rolled his eyes at her and said.

"I'm just curious and want to go and take a look. Let me go! I can wear men's clothes." Rong Wanyin said with a blink of her eyes.

Yan Mingzhang shook his head and said, "Go back to the government office and don't go anywhere else."

Rong Wanyin curled her lips, looking disapproving.

Yan Mingzhang brought Changfeng and Mo Yun with him, and secretly sent some yamen runners to surround the entire Hongxiuxiang. He had previously gone to Su Zhan and learned about the courtesan Liu Meiqing's room. The four of them headed straight for the room.

The madam saw the four of them approaching and approached them, "Four gentlemen, which girl are you looking for? This Liu Meiqing has been kept for a month and is not accepting customers now."

Yan Mingzhang asked in a low voice, "Is that benefactor Xu Lizhun?"

The madam looked embarrassed. "No way! Although he used to come to see our Xiao Qing'er often, he has no spare money since he was kicked out of the Xu family. I even caught him several times, and he made our Xiao Qing'er pay for him! That girl is also stupid. She insisted on redeeming herself to follow him. There are no good people here who come here for fun!"

Yan Mingzhang's face was darker than the bottom of a pot: "Get to the point!"

The madam quickly wiped her forehead with a handkerchief. "It was dark last night, and the patron was dressed in black with a turban on his head. He only gave a large sum of money and a note. I really couldn't tell who he was. The note said that he would keep Liu Meiqing for a month, and just send her food every day, and not disturb her. So..."

Suddenly there was some noise from the room upstairs.

Mo Yun drew his long sword, and Chang Feng took out the token from his waist, motioning her to be silent. The madam froze in fear.

Yan Mingzhang pushed open the door. The room was dark and hard to see. The windows were wide open. Did he run away? No, he was still in the room!
Mo Yun and Chang Feng stood back to back, holding a sword in one hand and a candle in the other, and carefully walked into the house first. Su Zhan stood at the door, peeking in from a distance.

There was no one in the closet, behind the curtain, or on the bed. Changfeng and Mo Yun looked at each other and looked under the bed. Mo Yun bent down and passed a candle under the bed. Mo Yun was suddenly met with a pair of vicious eyes. Although he was prepared, he was still frightened.

Then, a handful of incense powder was sprinkled over, blinding Mo Yun for a moment. A dagger was swung out, but fortunately, Changfeng was prepared and blocked it with his sword. Mo Yun took the opportunity to step back and avoid the dagger. Someone rolled out from under the bed. Who else could it be but Xu Lizhun?

While they were retreating, Xu Lizhun retreated to the window and flipped out. He was surprisingly fast! Mo Yun and Changfeng ran to the window and saw that the roof of the first floor was just outside. No wonder this room was so easy to get into. He must have used this method many times when he was broke.

Changfeng and Mo Yun also climbed out of the window and chased after him. Yan Mingzhang and Su Zhan turned around, went downstairs and went around to the back door. Yan Mingzhang saw from a distance that Xu Lizhun was holding someone hostage. The person was petite and very familiar. Yan Mingzhang took a closer look and found that it was Rong Wanyin. Yan Mingzhang was anxious and angry. He glared at Rong Wanyin. They had agreed not to let her follow him, but she followed him anyway.

Rong Wanyin, dressed in men's clothing, was held hostage by Xu Lizhun with a dagger. The dagger was extremely sharp, but Rong Wanyin remained calm. With a look of disgust, Rong Wanyin tried to move the dagger away: "Oh my, it's cold! It's cold! Move it away!"

Changfeng and Moyun were so shocked that their eyes almost popped out of their heads. At this critical moment, Miss Rong actually had the time to complain about the coldness of the dagger! Her life was in danger!

Yan Mingzhang's face darkened. He collected his emotions and forced himself to calm down. "Xu Lizhun, the entire Hongxiuxiang area has been surrounded. You can't escape. Let her go. If you cooperate, maybe she'll be treated leniently."

Xu Lizhun snorted lightly with a look of disdain: "Do you think I will listen to your lies? You have let the yamen runners surround this place, which means you are determined to capture me. We will all die, but holding a hostage may give me a glimmer of hope. Even if I have to die, I will take someone with me! It's worth it!"

Yan Mingzhang took a step forward and said, "I'll switch with her."

Xu Lizhun became nervous and shouted, "Don't move forward, retreat! You officials, do you think the prisoners are stupid? Although she is wearing men's clothes, anyone with a discerning eye can tell she is a weak woman. I'm trading a woman for a strong man like you. Do I still have a chance to escape?"

Rong Wanyin chuckled softly, like a silver bell: "Are you sure? I think if you follow his suggestion, you might have another chance."

(End of this chapter)