MTL - Perfect Encounter-Chapter 46
"You see few people." Jing Yuan said indifferently. "If you don't need to kill, you can go. When you want to kill someone, according to the old rules, write the name, time and place, press it in the lantern candlestick, and hang it up."
"Liu Ze, the owner of Zhaofu Restaurant on Xiping Street, and his wife Zhao Jiahua." Mr. Min handed over a piece of paper, on which was a map of Liu's residence and Zhaofu Restaurant, and the names of Liu Ze and Zhao Jiahua, as well as their appearance characteristics.
Jing Yuan took the paper, opened it, took a look, and asked, "When?"
"Three days later. Do it on the night of the eighteenth. I will make sure they are in the mansion."
"Okay." Jing Yuan was very forthright, she didn't ask about the relationship between these two people and Young Master Min, she didn't ask the reason for killing them, and she didn't even ask the price. She folded the paper and put it in her sleeve, and asked, "Is there any more?"
"It's gone." Mr. Min pursed his lips, the two of them still didn't like it or something.
"Then you go. I'll hang up the lantern when I'm done." After saying that, Jing Yuan picked up the bucket and turned to leave.
"Wait, I still have something to ask you."
"I only care about killing people, I don't care about talking to people." Mrs. Jing Yuan has already walked to the door.
Mr. Min shouted behind her: "Just one question."
Jing Yuan stopped and turned to look at him.
"I told you last time, when I went out to beg for alms and do divination, I asked someone by the way. A beautiful girl of twelve or thirteen years old, surnamed An, from Zhonglan City, have you met?"
"No."
"I haven't heard anyone mention it? She left home on October 15th. After that date, has anyone mentioned it?"
"No."
Mr. Min frowned, and was about to say something more, but Mrs. Jing Yuan said coldly: "There are three questions. I won't send them." After saying that, he turned and went back to the nunnery.
Mr. Min watched her disappear behind the nunnery door, and listened to the sound of the bolt being snapped behind the door. After waiting for a while, he turned his head to look at the jujube tree again, his face turned cold. After thinking about it, I lifted my feet and went down the mountain.
Jingyuan entered the nunnery, bolted the back door, put the bucket away, washed her hands by the well in the backyard, then walked quietly to the door, listened for a while, then pulled the latch and opened the door, went out to see glanced.
There was no one outside.
Master Jingyuan went back to the backyard without haste, bolted the door, and then went to the door of a small side yard between the backyard and the front yard.
The small side yard was originally used for storing sundries, but there was a lock on the door at this time. Master Jingyuan unlocked it and walked in.
A small table was set up in the yard, and on the table was a small plate, which contained washed winter dates. A very beautiful girl of twelve or thirteen years old was gnawing on the dates. When she heard the movement, she turned her head to look, and then revealed With a joyful smile, she called sweetly: "Master."
Sitting in the room, An Ruochen suddenly thought of Fourth Sister. She remembered that when she and An Ruofang met for the last time, An Ruofang told her that she would grow up, and she would come back to pick her up.
An Ruochen covered her eyes, suppressing the tears.
In fact, what she was thinking about was Zhao Jiahua, how could she think of Fourth Sister. Perhaps it was recalling Liu Yin's pitiful appearance standing alone on the side of the road and being abandoned by others, or perhaps it was because Zhao Jiahua said that although he admired her, he still couldn't fully trust her.
But she made a point of making her remember every word she said.
An Ruochen took out the case record and read it again. Zhao Jiahua didn't just talk to her alone.
Looking at it, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
According to the case record, after Zhao Jiahua heard the maid came to report her daughter's disappearance, she took the maid to search inside and outside the house, and also searched in Zhaofu Restaurant and Jubao Casino, but found nothing, so she decided to Report to the official.
Jubao casino?
This word only appeared once in this long case record, because it is really irrelevant. Where did I go to look for the child but did not find it? The yamen didn't even ask anyone from the gambling house to ask questions. Zhao Jiahua never mentioned this location again. But why did she mention it here? Why did you tell the prefect that she went to the casino to find the child. Although they are on the same street, it is almost impossible for a two-year-old child to go there by himself. If you suspect that someone in the casino has robbed the child and stolen the child, you should talk to the prefect.
But Zhao Jiahua didn't. It felt like she just casually mentioned "I went to see Mrs. Zhao's house next door, and left without me", as if she was visiting. In this situation, there is no need to talk nonsense with the prefect in the yamen hall.
Jubao gambling shop, Xu Matchmaker likes to gamble in this gambling shop, and owes a lot of debts.
An Ruochen stared at the name for a while, then she went out and went to the Zhao Mansion.
Liu said that if Zhao Jiahua agreed to see the guest, he would send someone to notify him. Since there was no news in a day, it would not be considered impolite for her to ask again.
This time the concierge of the Zhao residence did not reject her immediately, but only asked her to wait. An Ruochen breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that Zhao Jiahua had not lost her freedom, she would like to see her, the situation might not be as bad as she imagined.
After a while, the concierge came out and led her into a yard, and another girl came over and led her into a main room. Someone in the room was waiting for her, not Zhao Jiahua, but Liu Ze.
An Ruochen immediately became vigilant, but still had a friendly expression as usual. She asked Liu Ze and Zhao Jiahua if she was feeling better, if she could see her.
Liu Ze apologized: "My wife is sicker than yesterday. She was dizzy and unconscious, and she only called Yin'er's name. It's only been two days, and she has become much haggard. She always respects her appearance and saves face. I definitely don't want to be seen by outsiders in such a distressed appearance. I also wish Miss An Haihan. When my wife recovers from illness, I will let her go to the girl's house in person..." There was a pause here, as if remembering that An Ruochen's residence was not Ordinary house, hurriedly changed his words: "When she recovers from illness, I will definitely invite the girl to have a light meal in the humble house, and thank the girl for her concern."
What she said was decent and polite as always, An Ruochen couldn't find any faults.
Liu Ze looked at her expression and said, "my wife and the girl are also destined. She is quite arrogant and rarely interacts with others. She has never seen someone who hits it off at first sight like a girl, and has a conversation when they first meet. I don't know what kind of speculative conversations she and the girl have had, but the girl told me that after I learn a thing or two, I can please her."
Was this to find out what Zhao Jiahua had revealed to her?
An Ruochen said with a smile: "Boss Liu is busy with business, so it's rare to be so considerate and caring for his wife. But we only talk about women's gossip, and Boss Liu may not need to please her. She mentioned it, Boss Liu has a deep relationship with her, and husband and wife respect each other like guests, I am quite envious."
Liu Ze laughed when he heard this, and looked a little happy.
An Ruochen took the opportunity to ask: "Speaking of which, who are her friends, who do she usually hang out with, and where does Boss Liu know? Did you ask them about Ling Qianjin?"
Liu Ze smiled wryly and said, "My wife likes to be quiet. She rarely visits her house, and rarely has guests. She really doesn't have many friends in the city."
"Is there anyone familiar at the Jubao Casino?"
Liu Ze was a little surprised, with surprise on his face: "Why does the girl ask such a question?"
An Ruochen observed Liu Ze's expression, and said: "I heard that Matchmaker Xu was a bit fond of gambling before she was alive, and she is the only relative of Madam Zun in Zhonglan City. She might know someone there. She said she went there to find her daughter."
Liu Ze couldn't help frowning, and then he remembered that he was reading the case file in the Yamen yesterday, it was indeed written that Zhao Jiahua went to the gambling house to find his daughter, but he didn't pay attention to this at the time. He thought for a while, and said: "I'm really not very clear about this. But I have never seen her interact with the gambling house. Although Xu Matchmaker loves to gamble, my wife doesn't like it. And after my wife married me, She is virtuous and respectful, and would not go to those places. And although Xu Matchmaker is her distant relatives and aunts, the relationship is not close, not as close as the girl imagined. If you compare it, I am more familiar with the gambling house It’s right. After all, it’s not far away. My restaurant is also a place to eat and drink. Boss Lou of the casino is a frequent visitor to my place. I don’t care if I come by myself, and I often invite some friends to get together. The girl also knows that doing this People in the industry have to eat well, and socializing and entertaining are indispensable. So they really come and go with me here often, and they talk like brothers. Besides, the gambling house is not far from my restaurant, but my place is facing the street. It is behind the street, and it takes a long circle to get to the main street. It is a shortcut from the backyard of my restaurant through the hall to the main street. The general plan of the gambling shop guys is to take a few steps less. I think it is for the sake of their boss. I don’t care about it, so they often come and go in and out of my place. Maybe it’s because of this, my wife thought that I took the child to the casino, or maybe there are too many people in the casino, maybe someone who sees the child can recognize it and help Pay attention."
An Ruochen nodded: "I see." Sure enough, it was just like what the general said, and the explanation was too detailed. Is this Liu Ze's speaking habit, or is it because of his guilty conscience?
An Ruochen said: "Could there be a gambler who owes too much debt, knows Boss Liu, thinks that Boss Liu has money in his family, and has a good relationship with the gambling shop. So he robbed the child and wanted to make money. The gambling shop customers Could it be a clue too?"
Liu Ze shook his head: "I haven't thought about this level. I'm talking about making money, but I haven't received a letter of extortion." He paused, thinking, "But Miss An is right, maybe it's true. I robbed my child and wanted to make money, but I didn't expect my wife to report it to the government so quickly. Seeing the government's strict investigation, she didn't dare. In this way, this matter is worth investigating. I have to go to the gambling house to find out Boss Lou asked if there were such suspicious gamblers."
An Ruochen was about to say something, but Liu Ze had already bowed to her: "I hope the girl will keep quiet about this matter, and I will ask in secret first, and if there is any suspicious person, I will ask the government to investigate quietly. Otherwise, Jie will be alarmed." Bandit, Yin'er was hurt, I can't explain to my wife. She is seriously ill now, I'm afraid she won't be able to bear the blow."
What she said was reasonable, An Ruochen naturally agreed. She expressed her willingness to help Liu Ze investigate the case and find her daughter, but Liu Ze refused.
"The girl is concerned, I am grateful. But there is danger hidden in this matter, I really dare not bother the girl. The girl has helped me a lot by giving me some clues. Besides, this is a private matter in my family, and the girl has no deep friendship with us. Such concern makes people panic. Last time when the girl picked up Yin'er, my wife became suspicious, and the prefect also asked me a lot of questions. If the girl joins in again, it will inevitably cause trouble."
An Ruochen was choked, logically speaking, it was true, it was indeed suspicious that she insisted on making a fuss.
Liu Zedao: "I still have to deal with this matter. If I can't greet the girl, I won't send her away."
An Ruochen was politely "knocked out".
In the Zhaofu Restaurant across the street from Liu's Mansion, Mr. Min, also known as Mr. Xie, was sitting in a private room drinking tea, and a man was sitting opposite him, talking to him.
