The coroner and the concubine doctor pursue the murderer in the Dali Temple

It was not until two days later that Baiyu and Heimu brought news one after another. They had already separated, one to keep an eye on Zhang's house and the other to keep an eye on the pawnshop. Baiyu had just reported that Mr. Zhang Jichen had returned from outside, and right after that Heimu came to report that the pawnshop owner had gone to Zhang's house.

"It seems to be going more smoothly than we thought." Chu Yunxi said with a smile.

In fact, she had come up with the idea of ​​selling herself to bury her father in order to create the character of an orphan girl. The Zhang family must like this kind of person the most, and there would be no subsequent trouble. Moreover, two days were enough time for the matchmaker to inquire about Zi Han's background and send people to find out about the affairs of Jumu Village. Now she must be certain that Zi Han was indeed a helpless person who escaped from southern Xinjiang, so she started to work on the buying and selling.

As soon as Zhang Jichen came back, the matchmaker went to see him. It turned out that the Zhang family and the matchmaker had a long-term trading relationship. As long as there was a suitable person, the matchmaker would sell it to the Zhang family, a stable and wealthy client.

Sure enough, on the third day, Hei Mu brought news that Zi Han had entered Zhang Mansion.

At this time, news about Lang Rui also came.

The county government office was divided into five courtyards, the front two being the prison cells and the offices and accommodations for the yamen runners. The lobby was located in the center of the second courtyard. The third courtyard was where the county magistrate and the chief clerk worked. The fourth courtyard was the inner residence, where Magistrate Zhu lived. The county government's silver vault and tax vault were also in this courtyard. The last courtyard was where Magistrate Zhu's wives and concubines lived.

Lang Rui and his team were very reliable. They drew out the topographic maps of the first four entrances and sent them to Xiao Mubei along with the news. They couldn't get into the last entrance, so they only had the topographic map of the outer area. They were not very clear about the situation inside for the time being.

According to the topographic map, there are eleven exits of the county government office, located on the left and right sides of each courtyard, each with a side door, and a back door at the back of the county government office. Lang Rui said in the letter that it has not yet been discovered whether there are secret passages or other secret doors inside the county government office, and more time will be needed to investigate.

Chu Yunxi and Xiao Mubei read the secret letter together and couldn't help but exclaim, "With so many exits, this county government office can be entered and exited freely like a vegetable market. Who has so many doors?"

Xiao Mubei pondered for a while and said, "I went to the county government office during the plague. I remember clearly that there were not so many exits at that time. This must have been remodeled after County Magistrate Zhu took office. His purpose was to be ready to escape at any time."

"He's too cunning." Chu Yunxi shook her head. "A cunning rabbit has three burrows. County Magistrate Zhu has built more than ten doors. He must have other places outside. If he escapes from the county government office, it will be difficult to find him again. So, once we take action, we must make sure to block him in the county government office and not let him go out."

"That's right. By then, ambushes will be set up at more than ten gates. I will make it impossible for him to go up to the sky or enter the earth." Xiao Mubei slapped the topographic map hard.

Zi Han entered Zhang's house smoothly. As soon as she entered, she observed the surrounding environment vigilantly, but did not find anything unusual. The matchmaker signed a contract with a slightly fat middle-aged man, and then said to Zi Han with a smile: "Xiao Cui, you should work hard in Zhang's house in the future. Mr. Zhang is the richest man in Wushan Town. You will have no worries about food and clothing here, and you will never have to starve again. It is a hundred times better than following your dead father."

Zi Han frowned slightly and responded, "Yes, thank you Granny Min."

Granny Min took the silver and left happily. Zi Han watched Zhang Jichen approaching step by step, pretending to be nervous and lowered her head. She heard Zhang Jichen ask, "Your name is Xiao Cui?"

Zi Han hummed softly, and Zhang Jichen smiled and said, "Don't be afraid. With me, as long as you listen to me, you can have whatever you want. But if you don't listen..."

His voice turned cold, "Then don't blame Zhang for being ruthless."

Zi Han knelt down hurriedly and said, "Master, Xiao Cui will definitely be obedient."

Zhang Jichen smiled with satisfaction, reached out to help her up, handed her a pill, and said, "Take it."

Zi Han's heart trembled, and she looked at the black pill that was only the size of a fingernail with caution, and forced a smile and said, "Master, what is this?"

"Don't worry, the master spent money to buy you and he won't harm you. You just said you would be obedient, are you not being obedient now?" Zhang Jichen smiled, but the smile obviously did not reach his eyes.

Zi Han's brain was working fast. The imprisoned women have not been found yet. If they are exposed at this time, all the previous efforts will be wasted. This medicine is just to control her and make her obedient. It should not be a poison, but most likely a hallucinogen, because the woman rescued before was not poisoned. Even if it is poison, with the princess's medical skills, she should be able to save her.

They could only take a gamble. Zi Han took the medicine, closed her eyes, and swallowed it in one gulp. Zhang Jichen laughed and said, "Okay, you are really obedient. Come on, take her away."

As soon as Zi Han took the medicine, she began to feel dizzy and as if the world was spinning around her. She felt as if someone was pulling her arm and blindfolding her. She could only follow the person mechanically. She tried to gather her internal energy but couldn't.

After staggering for about a quarter of an hour, she felt someone push her hard. She lost her balance and fell down. Someone supported her and helped her untie the black cloth covering her eyes. Zi Han opened her eyes and found that she was in a dark dungeon.

She turned her head with all her strength and saw that the person who was helping her was a young girl. There were about a dozen other girls sitting or standing in the corner beside her. They showed no expression when they saw her, and it was obvious that they were used to it. Zi Han just felt dizzy and unable to get up. She only heard the girl next to her say, "Lie down and rest first. The effect of the drug will take a day and a night to wear off."

One day and one night? Zi Han had not forgotten that Yan Mingzhu had said that every captured girl would be sent to Mr. Zhang's bed that night. She couldn't muster up her internal strength now, and she was dizzy and couldn't even stand up. What would she do if she was really thrown into Mr. Zhang's bed?

But there was no other way now. Zi Han could only lie down and close her eyes, trying to mobilize her internal energy to regulate her breathing, hoping to quickly get over the effect of the medicine. However, Zhang Jichen didn't know what medicine he fed her. The drug was very powerful, and her consciousness became more and more blurred. Finally, slowly, she lost all consciousness.

I don’t know how long it had been, but Zi Han was awakened by a jolt. She seemed to be carried by two people. She did not forget what she was doing. She was startled and finally became a little sober.