North Street.

Yanyu Tower.

The Yanyu Tower, which used to be a bustling place for singing and dancing, suddenly closed down today to avoid customers. Everyone was wearing sackcloth and mourning, crying loudly, and paper money was flying everywhere.

Pedestrians who heard the commotion gathered around and kept talking.

"What happened? Why are everyone suddenly wearing sackcloth and mourning? Are they crying so miserably?"

"I don't know, it seems like someone died."

"When did it happen? Why didn't you hear about it?"

Not long after, dozens of people gathered in front of Yanyu Building, all looking inside.

A brothel girl mourns in mourning. This is a spectacle that is rare to see in a century.

At this moment, the proprietress Du Qiniang walked out of the building tremblingly, covering her face with a handkerchief and sobbing.

"Masters, I'm really sorry. Someone died in the building. Starting today, Yanyu Building will be closed for half a month."

Du Qiniang said sadly while crying.

"Qiniang, when did it happen? Who passed away?"

"Yeah, why haven't you heard any news before?"

Someone in the crowd poked their head and asked curiously.

"Oh, to be honest with you gentlemen, we originally didn't want to make any announcement today, but the deceased is the most important person, so he must be buried in peace, right? If we keep it down like this, the remains will probably stink, so I made up my mind, even if it is

I admit that I offended that big shot!"

"Xiaoqian has grown up in Yanyulou since she was a child. She and I are sisters. I really...can't bear to see her die without even a grave...wuwuwu..."

As Du Qiniang spoke, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

"What big shot? What's going on?"

"Yes, who is Xiaoqian?"

Someone else in the crowd asked.

"Xiaoqian is a cook in the back kitchen of Yanyu Building. She is about the same age as me. Although her appearance is a bit different, she can make good wine. It's a pity...it's a pity that she and I have been separated from each other since then.

..."

Du Qiniang cried even harder as she spoke.

"Could it be that she was harmed by the big shot you just mentioned?"

"It's so unreasonable! Is there any royal law?!"

After listening to Du Qiniang's words, everyone continued to ask questions.

The wine at Yanyulou is indeed good. Many people here have tasted it. I can't help but feel a little angry when I think that I may never be able to drink it again.

"Now, I won't hide anything from you guys! We can't let Xiaoqian leave like this..."

"A few days ago, Yushi Zhongcheng came to Yanyulou. He thought the wine here was good, so he insisted on going into the wine cellar to check it out. Who would have thought... Who would have thought that after meeting Xiaoqian, he took advantage of the drunkenness and gave Xiaoqian...

Defiled by force..."

"Although Xiaoqian is from Yanyu Tower, she is not a prostitute. In addition, she has a strong temper and was killed on the spot. She is only in her early forties..."

"But Yushi Zhongcheng actually refused to admit it and fell out on the spot. Fortunately, Mr. Hu from the Prime Minister's Mansion was also in the building at that time. He felt sorry for Xiaoqian's misfortune, so he argued with Yushi Zhongcheng, and finally made Yushi Zhongcheng compensate Xiaoqian for five thousand taels.

..”

"If it weren't for Mr. Hu, Xiaoqian would probably die with her eyes closed... My poor sister, you died so miserably..."

"Previously, Xiaoqian's body was never buried because of fear of being criticized later by Yushi Zhongcheng. But today I have made the decision. Even if Zhongcheng's Mansion arrests us all, we must let Xiaoqian be buried in peace and finish her last journey on earth.

Procedure..."

Du Qiniang looked at everyone present and said with tears. At the end of the sentence, because she couldn't bear it for a while, she couldn't help but fainted and fell to the ground.

"You are so inhumane! You can actually attack a cook!"

"Qiniang! Don't worry, if anyone dares to accuse you, we will all speak a fair word for you. I didn't expect that the dignified censor Zhongcheng would actually do such a bad thing!"

"This capital master follows the law of the king, and there will definitely be someone who will uphold justice for you! Don't think that just paying for the money will solve the problem! Let's go, everyone, go to the Military and Horse Department of the capital to sue him now!"

Looking at the sad Du Qiniang, some bloody people in the crowd yelled and cursed while heading towards the capital's army and horse department together.

Du Qiniang squatted on the ground and couldn't stand up for a long time. Her tears couldn't stop flowing.

After a while, a coffin was carried out, put on a flatbed carriage, and pulled out of the city.

The crowd of onlookers could not help but have wet eyes as they looked at the people in the Yanyu Tower who were gradually disappearing.

"Who said actors are heartless?!"

"Yes, Du Qiniang is really affectionate and righteous!"

"I didn't expect that she would be such a sincere person..."

In the crowd, Lieutenant Mao frowned and looked at Yanyu Tower, then at the carriage going away, turned around and left unwillingly.

...

Royal Palace.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

"What did you say?! This is totally unreasonable!"

Zhu Yuanzhang knocked over a cup of tea on the table and shouted sternly.

Lieutenant Mao stood in the audience with a look of displeasure on his face.

He had just reported all the information he had found out truthfully, but he felt a little unwilling in his heart. He thought he could use this matter to drag Hu Fei into trouble, but he did not expect that there was such a secret behind this matter.

"The dignified censor Zhongcheng, not only visited a brothel privately, but also forcibly defiled a civilian woman in her early forties! The court has lost all face!"

"In order to compensate for the trouble, he actually robbed himself and embezzled a total of three thousand taels of silver. It is simply lawless!"

The more Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it, the angrier he became. He blew his beard, glared, and got furious.

He remembered the doubts he had when he learned that the Yushitai was stolen that day. If it was really a robber, why didn't he steal all the money instead of keeping half of it?

By now, he was convinced that Tu Jie was greedy for ink.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Tu has always done his duty. Does this matter require further investigation?"

Lieutenant Mao gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice.

"What else are you investigating?! Didn't you just say that the people in the city have voluntarily gone to the Capital Military and Horse Department to seek justice for Yanyu Tower? Don't you think I have lost my face enough?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Colonel Mao and asked sternly.

Captain Mao hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to say another word.

"Come here, issue an order immediately! Order the Army and Horse Division of the capital to arrest Tu Jie and bring him to justice! Seal the Zhongcheng Mansion, and put all the family members and servants into custody! Pending trial!"

The furious Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Pang Yuhai and shouted hysterically.

"yes."

Pang Yuhai hurriedly agreed and walked out quickly.

...

Tufu.

"Master, master, it's not good! Something happened! Something big happened!"

Just when Tu Jie was hiding in bed and sleeping in a daze, Qi Yu stumbled into the bedroom and shouted in a panic.

"Why are you so panicked?! Are you crazy?"

After being awakened, Tu Jie weakly climbed out of bed and asked with a dissatisfied look on his face.

"Master, someone died in Yanyu Tower, and they said it was the master who caused it. A large number of people gathered outside the Military and Horse Department in the capital, claiming to seek justice for the dead Xiaoqian!"

Qi Yu said breathlessly.

After listening to Qi Yu's words, Tu Jie was stunned for a moment, his face full of confusion.

Someone died in Yanyu Tower?

Xiaoqian?

Did I do it?

It does not make sense?!

"Explain what's going on clearly!"

Tu Jie stared at Qi Yu with a blank look on his face and asked dissatisfiedly.

"This morning, Yanyulou suddenly..."

"My lord! My lord! It's not good!"
To be continued...