insane

Liu Mu returned home with a futon on her knees and a water basin on her head. If Yu Wanran hadn't seen that the weather was too cold these days, she might not have bothered to give her the futon under her knees.

Liu Mu said, "There are so many people in the Shicai Building. Anyway, I am also a magistrate. The most dignified official in Jinling, it is embarrassing to be dragged down by her wife's ears from inside."

Yu Wanran said, "You still remember that you are the magistrate. A majestic magistrate is looking for fun in the brothel, isn't he afraid of being seen and losing the conversation!"

Liu Mu said with a mournful face, "Lady, you can't blame me. It's Xia Tong who insisted on making me drink flower wine, or he would say that I'm afraid of guilt..." Liu Mu hurriedly said, "Lady, I know I'm wrong... I won't do it again..." Went to drink flower wine..."

Yu Wanran saw that Liu Mu's arms holding the basin had started to tremble, so she said with a cold face, "This time, I'll punish you slightly this time, and whether there is a next time, you can think about it yourself."

Liu Mu hastily put down the water basin in his hand, and said with a smile, "I know that the lady loves me, and she will definitely not punish me severely."

Yu Wanran said with a cold face, "Who would feel sorry for you." Then she said, "You let Miao Yueling and the other two privately, aren't you afraid that things will be exposed? It is a capital crime to release a death row prisoner privately."

"I was also worried at first, and as an imperial court official, I always feel that it is unfair to the deceased to let the murderer go." Liu Mu approached Yu Wanran and whispered, "But Qi Siling and the two are not the real murderers!"

"You mean the murderer was someone else?"

Liu Mu nodded and said, "You know that Zhao Mansion is on fire in the city today, right?" Liu Mu told Yu Wanran everything in detail.

Yu Wanran sighed, "Unexpectedly, the beating of mandarin ducks back then would indirectly kill so many people now. The Zhao family, which once dominated for a while, was burned like this."

Liu Mu said sadly, "The two of them were childhood sweethearts, and Qi Siling came to Jinling because of Miao Yueling, and silently guarded her for more than [-] years. Let alone two women, how many men and women in the world can do that?" Do this. The two of them are okay, and now they can finally be together, and no one can stop them. In comparison, we are lucky. Although my identity is a bit tiring, it is justifiable With you." Liu Muhu looked sad again, and held Yu Wanran's hand, "If one day we also parted, would you always miss me like Miao Yueling?"

Yu Wanran leaned against Liu Mu's arms and said, "Will you be like Qi Siling, silently guarding my side for 20 years? Standing outside the deep house compound, just to know that the people inside are safe and sound."

"I..." Before Liu Mu finished speaking, he suddenly knocked on the door and said, "Master, a murder has occurred in the west of the city."

Liu Mu let go of Yu Wanran, just smiled, and said, "Wait for me to come back."

"The name of the deceased is Wang Da. The body was found by Wang Da's wife at home and reported to the government. According to the wound, it should have been pierced by a sharp weapon, but no murder weapon was found at the scene."

The deceased was lying on the ground, crawling forward with his body stretched forward, holding a writing brush in his hand. It seemed that he crawled to the table and held the writing brush when he was dying.Liu Mu looked at the corpse on the ground and said, "When he died, he was still holding a pen. Could it be that the deceased wanted to write who the murderer was at the end?"

He Yi said, "At first, my subordinates thought so too, but later I heard from Wang Da's wife that Wang Da had never read a book, and he couldn't write other words except 'one, two, three' and his own 'name'. The pen and ink on the table are for Wang Da’s daughter to write.”

Liu Mu pointed to a puddle of water on the ground and said, "Then what about this water, did you have it when you came in?"

Wu Zuo said, "There were water stains on the clothes and wounds of the deceased. It is very likely that the murderer splashed it on the deceased in order to clean up the traces of the crime."

Liu Mu said, "The water stains are so concentrated, it doesn't look like someone splashed them on it."

The neighbor who watched outside said, "Wang Da drinks heavily all day long, and often comes home drunk. When passing by the Dragon Mother Temple a few days ago, he smashed the statue of Dragon Mother with a stone by the strength of alcohol. I think it must be It's the dragon mother who appeared."

Another said, "It must be, look, there is still a puddle of water on the ground, it must have been brought by the Dragon Mother from the sea."

Liu Mu returned to the Yamen, frowned and said, "It's not surprising that no murder weapon was left at the scene, but the strange thing is what does the pool of water mean?"

Bu San said, "Master, do you think some cult worshiping the water god killed Wang Da, and then left a puddle of water for a number!"

He Yi said, "There is indeed a cult in the south that believes in the god of water, but I haven't heard of one that leaves a puddle of water after killing someone."

Liu Mu said again, "When Wang Da died, he was holding a pen in his hand, but he couldn't read. What kind of clues did he want to leave us..."

Bu Si said, "Do you think it was Wang Da who wanted to fight back against the murderer with the brush in his hand?"

Jia vinegar laughed and said, "Then Wang Da is a butcher, he is used to using knives in his daily life, how could he be so stupid as to use a brush to fight the murderer."

Suddenly, Bu San yelled, "I said that my trousers have been so uncomfortable all day long, as if there is something extra, where did the writing brush get into my cotton trousers, and there is still ink on it! "Busan said while taking the brush out of his pants with an unsightly gesture.

Jiaji laughed and said, "The four of us do not read the most books. We like to walk around with a brush on weekdays. This brush must belong to him."

"Brush..." Liu Mu said suddenly, "Could it be that Wang Da wanted to tell us that the murderer used a brush?"

"Master, you mean that the murderer might be a scholar?"

Liu Mu nodded and said with jealousy, "I always meet Wang Da in the gambling house. This guy is addicted to alcohol and likes to gamble. Rough man, where would any scholar know him?"

Liu Mu said, "He Yi, go and check to see if Wang Da had any enemies and had close contacts with anyone before his death."

Not long after, He Yi came back and said, "Wang Da used to be a gambler, he was not lucky, he had bad conduct, and he didn't have many friends. But Wang Da's younger brother, Wang Shugan, is the master of the 'Lantian Academy' in the city."

Bu San said, "So Wang Shugan may be the only scholar Wang Da knows!"

He Yi nodded and said, "Wang Shugan's original name was Wang Er. Later, he thought the name was too vulgar, so he changed it to Wang Shugan, which means the universe in the book. Every time Wang Da lost money in a bet, he would say that he was harmed by his younger brother's name. The word "lose money" has the same pronunciation as "lose money". Wang Shuqian once won the Juren, but he has been unwilling to become an official. He did some small business in the capital and earned a sum of money and returned to Jinling to open an academy. Wang Shugan is humble and has good conduct. It accepts a lot of students from poor families for free in the academy."

Liu Mu said, "How is the relationship between his brothers?"

"The relationship should be good. Wang Da idles, is addicted to drinking and gambling, and Wang Shugan bought the slaughterhouse and pork shop for him, and Wang Shugan even brought the three members of Wang Da's family to his house in the city."

Liu Mu took Yu Wanran to Ziwei Taoist Temple just after dawn.Liu Mu said, "I remember my father said that Ziweiguan is the best place to see the scenery. Dad said that he once saw a snow scene in the open space in front of Ziweiguan's gate when he was a child. It was the most beautiful snow scene he had ever seen in his life. "

Yu Wanran smiled and said, "I don't know how many years it will take Jinling to experience such a heavy snowfall. I wonder if I can see such a snow scene in Jinling again in my lifetime."

Liu Mu saw a Taoist priest in the Taoist temple who had solved the lottery, and said, "Let's go draw a lottery."

According to the number on the bamboo stick, the Taoist found the corresponding hexagram stick on the high wall at the back, and saw on the paper that it said "Life is like a dream with two Luan couples, and there are many times in life. After breaking through the ups and downs, it is difficult to get together. Dreams return to empty memories."

Although Liu Mu didn't quite understand it, he also vaguely felt that what was said in the hexagram sign was not a good flower.Yu Wanran's brows were already knit together.

Liu Mu said, "Daozhang, what does this mean?"

The Taoist said, "That is to say, the marriage between the two of you is nothing more than a mirror image. No matter what difficulties you have experienced or overcome, it will be nothing in the end. Floating life is like a dream with two luan..." The Taoist said "Shuang Luan is two females. Using the marriage of two women to describe your marriage, it can be seen that this is an absurd marriage and a marriage that will not bear fruit. I advise you two not to waste your efforts."

Liu Mu hastily wrote down the horoscopes of the two people's birthdays on the paper, and said, "Master Daoist, take a look at our horoscopes for birthdays, and see if they can be in harmony with this ominous hexagram."

The Taoist frowned and said, "These two horoscopes are incompatible. Even if you two get married, I'm afraid you won't be able to grow old together. This girl's horoscope is your nemesis. Sooner or later you will have a catastrophe."

Liu Mu said, "No, Daoist Taixu personally approved the horoscope for us back then, saying that this is a match made in heaven."

The Taoist said, "Impossible. How could my master make a mistake with such a contradictory horoscope. What's more, my master has rarely done divination and approval for people these years. When did my master approve the horoscope for you?"

Liu Mu said, "In the year of Guimao, it was probably at the beginning of March."

The Taoist said, "Nonsense, how is this possible. Just after the year of Kuimao, the old master went to travel around the world, and he hasn't returned to the Taoist temple until now. How could he give you a horoscope."

Yu Wanran said, "Could it be that 'a match made in heaven' was fabricated by my father in order to facilitate this marriage."

The Taoist said, "I think it's probably because someone lied to you. Those on the poor way dare not say it, but the poor way is the best at signing and approving these two things. Even my master Taixu said that I can approve That's right."

Liu Mu hurriedly said, "Master Daoist, we two really love each other, but we want to grow old together. I can worship this view all the year round, but I beg Master Daoist to break the theory of mutual restraint for the two of us."

The Taoist shook his head and said, "Do you think that Pindao is those magic sticks who cheat people's money and eliminate disasters? Pindao was sent to Ziwei to practice Taoism since he was a child. He learned divination when he was six years old. It's been ten years, and I've never seen such a horoscope as the two of you, not to mention my lack of ability to solve your problems, even if my master is here, I'm afraid there is nothing I can do."

Liu Mu said, "Young lady, don't take it to heart, how can you take the words of a sorcerer seriously."

The Taoist said, "It is said that 'it is better to demolish ten temples than to destroy one family'. Don't blame this young man for being talkative. The two of you are not meant to be husband and wife in this life. You should let go earlier."

Liu Mu said angrily, "What a cheater of money, since the two of us are already married, how could we not be destined for each other. See if I don't ruin your stall!"

Yu Wanran hurriedly grabbed Liu Mu and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Taoist priest." Then she pulled Liu Mu down the mountain.

After the two left, the Taoist shook his head and sighed, "These idiots hate women..."

The little Taoist behind said, "Master, do these two people's horoscopes differ? I've never seen you look like this after unwrapping the lottery."

The Taoist said, "This son is a rare man with a life of wealth and honor. He should have no worries about food and clothing, enjoy endless wealth and glory, and have a prosperous official career. The only shortcoming is that he is destined to have no sons or grandchildren. But that woman is a demon Gu Xing. If this young man meets this young lady, he is afraid that he will be unlucky, the evil spirit on this young lady is enough to restrain this young gentleman's fortune and prosperity."

"Sky Fiend Lone Star?"

"Destined to be alone all my life, at home to overcome my parents, married to overcome my husband, even if I have a child, she will also be overcome to death by her."

The little Taoist asked again, "Master, since these two are already husband and wife, how could they not be married? What's more, I think they are quite affectionate."

"As for their relationship between husband and wife..." The Taoist sighed, "Although they are already married, I think it's probably because this young couple is newlyweds and they haven't had time to consummate their marriage. I'm afraid these two people are in name only, and they haven't had time to consummate their marriage. It's time for Lao Yan to separate. The son is a wealthy man who enjoys his old age, but this girl is destined to die alone, so the two are destined to be separated. If the two are destined to go against the sky, I'm afraid this young master will not end well, he will die violently."

The little Taoist said, "It's such a pity if you are destined to suffer such a fate with such a talented woman and beautiful appearance. Isn't there a way to break it?"

The Taoist said, "This kind of heavenly secret is something that we ordinary people can't crack. Even if someone can crack the fate of these two people, I'm afraid it's an extremely high-ranking person."

When the two went down the mountain, Yu Wanran still looked preoccupied. Liu Mu smiled and said, "Maybe the Taoist priest misremembered the time. Besides, things like birth dates and horoscopes can't be trusted. King Wen of Zhou may have miscalculated the hexagrams too." What’s more, it’s too long.” After speaking, he stopped a passing hawker selling candied haws, took down a bunch of candied haws and said, “I have never encountered such cold weather since I was a child, and only this year’s candied haws are the best. It’s delicious. Let the dog Taoist’s bastard talk follow this candied haws to sacrifice to our Wu Zang Temple. If you can’t stand the cold weather, let’s go home immediately and hold the hand stove to warm up.”

The uncle selling candied haws said, "Madam is really lucky to be married to such a considerate husband-in-law."

Yu Wanran looked at Liu Mu and smiled.Liu Mu was a little embarrassed and laughed a couple of times.

Liu Mu just handed the copper plate in his hand to the peddler, "Monster! I want to do justice for the heavens!" Suddenly two j□j-year-old children accidentally bumped into Liu Mu while they were fighting.Turned around and ran away again.Liu Mu inadvertently saw two children holding icicles several feet long in their hands.Liu Mu was startled, and said to himself, "Could it be this?" He was about to leave.

Yu Wanran grabbed Liu Mu, "What's wrong?"

Liu Mu realized his gaffe, and smiled awkwardly, "It's nothing, I just remembered something."

"But what about that case?"

Liu Mu nodded and said with a smile, "It's not too late, you come with me." After speaking, he pulled Yu Wanran towards the mansion.

Liu Mu refueled and found a long icicle in the city.

He also asked Bu San to go to the butcher shop and buy a piece of the thickest and fattest pork belly.

Liu Mu picked up the icicle and pierced it fiercely on the pork. The icicle plunged into the pork in an instant, but broke off.Liu Mu stared at the pork pierced into the icicle, and said to himself, "It really is like this."

Adding oil and vinegar, the four looked at Liu Mu in puzzlement, "What's wrong, young master, can't you be bewitched?"

Yu Wanran also looked at the piece of pork, seemed to be thinking about something, and suddenly smiled, "Could it be that Mr. Gong knows what the murder weapon you are looking for is?"

Liu Mu smiled and hugged Yu Wanran, "My lady is really smart!"

Yu Wanran smiled and said, "So that's how the puddle of water on the ground came about."

Liu Mu said, "Although we have figured out what the murder weapon is, it's hard to say who the murderer is."

"Do you still remember how big the puddle of water was on the ground in the deceased's home?" Yu Wanran said, "From the puddle of water on the ground, it can be seen that the icicle that killed the deceased would never be as small as the one in your hand, let alone The icicle has penetrated the body of the deceased."

Liu Mu nodded and said, "An icicle that can penetrate a person's body must not be found under any eaves. The lady is really careful."

Liu Mu re-examined Wang Da's body, but he didn't find anything abnormal after looking at it for more than half an hour.Suddenly seeing Wu Zuo walking out with a bamboo basket, Liu Mu said, "What's inside?"

Wu Zuo replied, "My lord, they are all belongings of the deceased. The silver needle under Zhao Qian's feet, Zhao Shi's shoes, some clothes of the deceased, the murder weapon and so on."

Liu Mu saw a large knife for chopping meat on top of the sundries, and said, "Is that also a murder weapon?" Liu Mu was completely out of curiosity, and he didn't remember when there was a case related to this knife in the Yamen.

Wu Zuo said, "This is the pig-killing knife that hung on Wang Da's waist that day. They usually kill pigs with the knife close to their bodies. I see that this thing has nothing to do with the case, so I might as well throw it away."

Liu Mu hurriedly asked, "You mean the knife was in Wang Da's waist when the body was found that day?"

"Yes."

He Yi said, "How could Wang Da be killed by an icicle with such a sharp weapon in his hand when the case happened that day. Unless the person who killed him was a very high martial arts master, or..."

Liu Mu said, "Or someone who left him defenseless!"

Not long after, the four of them also returned to the yamen with added oil and vinegar, and said, "It's really hard to find anywhere, and it doesn't take much effort to get here!"

Bu San said, "Not long after I left the yamen, I saw a group of children running around outside with such a long icicle. I asked and found out that it was in the abandoned tower in the north of the city."

"tower?"

"Oh, it's not really a tower. It was a water dungeon in the previous dynasty, but it was in the shape of a pagoda, and it was abandoned later."

When Liu Mu came to the water prison, he saw that across the street from the water prison was Lantian Academy founded by Wang Shuqian.I saw Wang Shugan coming out of the academy, with a seven or eight-year-old boy sitting on his shoulders, and the boy said in an immature voice, "Second Uncle, you snatched away the big icicle I found a few days ago. , why don’t you go to the water dungeon today and help me find a bigger icicle. Or I’m afraid I won’t be able to beat the little voice next door.”

Wang Shuqian said dotingly, "Okay, Second Uncle will go over and find you one."

He Yi and others stopped in front of Wang Shugan, and said, "My lord invites you to go to the Yamen."

Wang Shugan was taken aback for a moment, panic flashed in his eyes, and then he smiled, "Okay, I can go to the Yamen with you, but I have to send Xiaobao home first."

Back home, Wang Shugan put Xiaobao in the yard, and Xiaobao said, "Second Uncle, you forgot to find me a big icicle to play with."

Wang Shuqian smiled dotingly, "Second Uncle will definitely make it up for you if there is a chance."

Liu Mu said, "You are her second uncle, so is this boy Wang Da's daughter?"

Xiao Bao said, "Father said I'm not a guy with handles, but a loser! I don't want to be a loser!"

Wang Da's wife heard the voice coming out from inside, but she also wondered why the magistrate in the yamen came at this hour, so she said, "Lord Liu, all the officials, are you here to interrogate the case again?"

Liu Mu said, "I'm afraid we are here to prepare to close the case."

"Close the case? Have you found out who the murderer is?"

Wang Shuqian walked over and shook Mrs. Wang's hand, and said, "Yun'er, the land deeds of the academy and the house are all in the iron box under my bed, and the silver that I have accumulated over the years is also in it. It is enough for your mother and daughter to live without food and clothing for the rest of their lives." worried."

Mrs. Wang seemed to realize something, and hurriedly said, "Shugan, where are you going?"

Wang Shuqian smiled, "Of course I have to pay for the sins I have done." After he finished speaking, he squatted down and said, "Xiaobao, Second Uncle may have to go on a long trip, and he may not be back for a long time. You must listen. Mother, you know."

In the courtroom, before Liu Mu could speak, Wang Shuqian said, "I killed my eldest brother. You don't need to ask, my lord."

Liu Mu said, "What is your murder weapon?"

Wang Shugan smiled and said, "My lord has been to the water prison, so he must have guessed what the murder weapon is."

Liu Mu said, "Wang Da is your own brother, why did you kill him?"

Wang Shugan smiled bitterly, "I hate him. My father and Yun'er's father are sworn brothers, and the two families are also neighbors. Yun'er has been by my side since I can remember. We can be said to be childhood sweethearts. In order to let Yuner I have a good life, and I vowed to study hard to get fame. At that time, my family was too poor and had no money for me to go to the academy. Yun'er knew that I liked reading, and I embroidered and spun yarn day and night, just to sell money for me. I was studying. Later, I was finally admitted to Juren, but the Minister of the Household Department at that time insisted that I marry her daughter. In order not to disappoint Yuner, I had to resign from office. To make a living is considered God's blessing, and I made a lot of money. I was full of joy, and when I returned to Jinling with a lot of banknotes, I didn't know that my father and Yun'er's father made a joke back then. Yun'er actually married my elder brother. My elder brother was addicted to alcohol, and every time he came back from drunk, he beat and scolded Yun'er. Unprepared, I killed him directly. But I didn't expect Master Liu to guess who the murderer was so quickly."

Mrs. Wang broke into the court, knelt beside Wang Shugan, and cried, "Shugan...why are you so stupid..."

Wang Shuqian smiled in relief, "I thought this matter would be perfect, and no one would find out who the murderer is. I want to take you and Xiaobao out of Jinling and marry you after the limelight is over. I'm afraid this will only happen in the next life." .”

Liu Mu sighed, and knocked down the gavel, "The prisoner Wang Shugan killed his elder brother and confessed to it. Someone, come and put him in prison, and choose a day to execute him!"

Liu Mu stood in a daze under the plaque in the courtroom, and He Yi said, "When did your lord become so sentimental, and still feel sad about the case of Wang Shu?"

Liu Mu sighed, "Is it because the world is too unreasonable, or are these idiots and resentful women too persistent."

He Yi also sighed, standing on the sidelines and looking at the people involved in the murder case, he would only feel sorry.But if one day I and Liu Ye reach that point, what will happen?Will I be as persistent as Wang Shugan or Qi Siling?As for Liu Ye, will she spend her whole life thinking about herself...

And at this moment, Liu Mu was also preoccupied.

The author has something to say: Your Ziyan is coming soon