Chapter 76 Four and incense 16(1/2)
"How do you know?" Li Yuluo asked in shock.
Bo Ruoyou smiled bitterly for a moment, and did not explain much, but said, "Miss Li, may I tell you in detail about the situation on the pleasure boat that day?"
Li Yuluo looked at Bo Ruoyou in surprise, and was stunned for a moment before speaking, "That day...Wodan got off the boat, because the pedal was a little loose, she fell into the lake. At that time, there were sisters in the poetry club. Everyone was shocked. Fortunately, there was a boatman on the deck. The boatman jumped down and rescued Wudan. Wudan choked on the water, but it was fine, but her clothes were soaked."
"The shopkeeper was also shocked and quickly arranged Wodan to the guest room. It was already autumn and it became very cold as the sun set. Wodan took off all the wet clothes in the guest room, but there was nothing to hide. There were also many inconveniences on the boat. I was wearing a ru skirt that day, but Shu'er wore two pieces, so Shu'er took off her outer clothes and covered it with Wodan first."
"The shopkeeper has ordered people to go to the silk shop far away to buy clothes. We waited for half an hour before we waited for the dress. The shopkeeper in the middle also made ginger soup. After drinking it, I was fine. After buying the clothes, I changed the clothes and left. But after I went back, I got cold and it took a few days to get better."
Bo Ruoyou frowned, "Miss Xu took off her outer robe, what did she wear at that time?"
Li Yuluo thought for a while, "She has a 16-piece Hunan skirt underneath, and a short tulle jacket on her upper body."
Bo Ruoyou hurriedly asked, "Where is the cinnabar mole on her body?"
Li Yuluo looked at Bo Ruoyou with a strange look, pointed to her left arm, "Outside her upper arm."
Bo Ruoyou thought for a while and asked again: "But who was sending the clothes in? The shopkeeper said that there was no maid on the boat..."
"Yes, there are no maids on the boat. Except for Miss Lu and the others who are responsible for the arrangement and dispatch, the rest of us will not take maids, otherwise it will be too crowded. At that time, the person who brought the clothes in was a silk shop. A little girl, very handsome. After delivering the clothes, she saw that Wodan was wearing a good fit and left." Li Yuluo's memory was better than the shopkeeper, and she also knew the situation in the house. She thought for a while and said, "The dresses sent by the girl were quite complicated. She wanted to help Wodan change clothes, but Wodan had nothing and was not used to changing clothes in front of a stranger, so she changed clothes after the small screen in the house."
Bo Ruoyou was about to ask if he was dressing in front of the girl, but he didn't expect that he was through the screen. Bo Ruoyou had been to the room. Of course, he remembered that there was a screen in the room. The room was for guests to take a nap. The dressing table was set up in full. If there were many people on the pleasure boat, it could also be regarded as a private room. She frowned slightly.
"You said there was a cinnabar mole on the outside of Miss Xu's arm. It might be obvious through the gauze dress she wore that day?"
Li Yuluo thought for a moment, "You can't see it clearly. If you are familiar with her, you will probably know that it is a cinnabar mole. Those who are not familiar with her will probably not notice it."
Bo Ruoyou had not let go of his frowning brow. The murderer liked the cinnabar mole on a woman's body. Even if he couldn't see it through the gauze, he thought he could know what it was immediately, but the silk shop was a little girl.
Li Yuluo looked suspicious, "What's wrong? Why do you ask about cinnabar mole? Wodan was killed by someone, but Shu'er died of illness herself. What's the relationship with cinnabar mole?"
With a big man like Ning Xiao present, Bo Ruoyou kept asking about the cinnabar mole, which made Li Yuluo feel quite disgusting.
Bo Ruoyou's face turned solemn, "Miss Li, it seems that it is still unknown whether Miss Xu really died of illness."
Li Yuluo's face changed drastically, and Bo Ruoyou continued: "Because this time the deceased was not only Miss Feng, but the two deceased had one common characteristic. They both liked red skirts. Not only that, they all had cinnabar moles on them."
Li Yuluo's face turned pale for a moment, and her body shook, "You mean, Shu'er might have been killed by someone? But... But her family members reported the death toll and said she died of illness."
The House of the Ministry of Personnel, such noble families, have many taboos, and there are many possibilities for them to hide it but not report it. Bo Ruoyou sighed, "This is just a guess. Whether it is true, you have to ask about it before you know it."
After a slight pause, Bo Ruoyou asked Li Yuluo, "Miss Li, think about it carefully. Are there any abnormalities in these days with Miss Feng? Especially when you are in the poetry club, does Miss Feng have a good impression of which talented man, or is he close to whom? Even if you haven't seen it with your own eyes, it doesn't matter. What Miss Feng has mentioned occasionally or paid attention to."
The clues on Wei Ling's side were temporarily tied to Lu Wenhe. Bo Ruoyou only felt that the two of them, and even Xu Wanshu, were from the Lingxiao Poetry Club. Are they all related to a young talented man? Or are they related to the circle of literati in the capital?
When Li Yuluo was asked about this, her eyes flashed. She shook her head with her eyes closed, "No, I haven't heard her mention it. She... Her family made a marriage for her. Although she has not posted a marriage letter, his parents told her that it was a baby marriage that was made by the family family in the early years. If there is no accident, it will be a small deal next year."
If a person is sick, his mental power will always be weaker, especially if a person is not calm enough, it will be easier to reveal flaws. A moment ago, Li Yuluo was still questioning what she asked, but at this moment he answered but didn't even dare to look at her. Bo Ruoyou's expression suddenly sank. She looked at Li Yuluo for a moment, "Miss Li, do you have a brother, right?"
Li Yuluo suddenly raised her eyes, "...Yes, I have an older brother."
Bo Ruoyou pursed her lips and stared at her, but Li Yuluo covered the corners of her lips with her handkerchief and coughed lightly.
Even Bo Ruoyou could see that she was hiding something, so Ning Xiao was naturally sharper. His eyes turned cold, and his already gloomy face seemed even more compulsive. "Miss Li, I'm here to invite you today, but if you don't tell the truth, I won't invite you next time."
Ning Xiao's words made Li Yuluo tremble slightly, and the maid beside him was even more frightened and didn't dare to raise his head. Li Yuluo nervously held the handkerchief, her little face getting whiter and whiter, and she looked shaky. Bo Ruoyou sighed in her heart, "It's your friend who died. If you know something, you shouldn't hide it. The murderer must be not your brother, right? Then what are you afraid of?"
Li Yuluo showed gritting teeth and endurance, and Bo Ruoyou said, "Feng Wodan died pitifully. He was strangled to death by someone. We ask you about the cinnabar mole because the murderer was vicious and twisted. He not only killed Feng Wodan, but also peeled away the flesh of Feng Wodan's cinnabar mole on his back."
Li Yuluo raised her head in shock. Her eyes turned red. Soon there was a mist in her eyes. After blinking, tears ticked down. "Wodan is most afraid of pain and cherishes her most. How could it be..."
She said that her legs were weak when she bent. Fortunately, the maid was holding Cai Cai but she didn't collapse. Bo Ruoyou said, "Not only Feng Wodan is like this, but Miss Xu may also be murdered. You also recognize the second lady from Zhongqin Bo Mansion."
Li Yuluo's expression was shocked again, "Ling'er--"
Bo Ruoyou sighed, "The murderer not only harmed them, but also might murder others. Although I don't know what you are afraid of, anything you say now may become a clue and can help us."
Li Yuluo's tears fell, but she pursed her lips tightly and said nothing. Bo Ruoyou couldn't speak harshly when she saw her like this, and she was in a dilemma for a moment. Ning Xiao looked at Li Yuluo, and the impatientness on his face became heavier and heavier. Just when he was about to have an attack, an embroidered envoy walked in from outside, "Deputy Commander, the young master of the Li family has arrived."
Li Yuluo then opened her lips, "Brother——"
Ning Xiao raised his eyebrows and said, "Let him come in."
When Li Xiuwen came in, he looked worried. Seeing Li Yuluo crying, he showed a little distress in his eyes. He looked at Ning Xiao again, and felt a little afraid in his eyes. The embroidered clothes envoy said, "This is our direct commander Si Ning."
Li Xiuwen quickly saluted, and Li Yuluo burst into tears. Li Xiuwen looked at him again and finally plucked up the courage to say, "If you want to ask, ask me, I have seen her when the day something happened to Wodan."
Ning Xiao looked at him for a moment, "Tell me more details."
Li Xiuwen's back was stiff and his face was very bitter. "Our mansion has a good relationship with the Feng family. Wodan and his sister are close friends. They have come to our mansion for a lot of times. I... I like her a little, and she also has some feelings for me, but... my father wants to wait until I get my official wife after the scientific exam next year, and Wodan has also made a date early. We... we can't."
Li Xiu heard the voice hoarse, and then continued: "It was just that I couldn't help but provoke her. I think her marriage was from many years ago and there was no marriage letter. And I could make my father change his mind. This marriage was not impossible. She was moved by me. From the beginning of the New Year, we will occasionally meet in private."
"It's just that she was afraid of her father. Her mother was seriously ill. She didn't want to inform her about me and him earlier. On February 2, I knew she would go, so I waited for her on the banks of Weiyang Lake. After meeting her, I went to Chenghuang Temple with her. I originally wanted to be alone for a moment, but talked about my marriage with her. She said that I would go to the next year and then I would explain it to my family after the scientific examination. But I knew that she would be very likely to get engaged to that family next year..."
"We had a bad time for this. It was almost dark. I... I left in anger and left her there alone. She left her maid to meet me. I thought that she would go to find a maid anyway, and I wouldn't be able to send her back. Bento was really gone, I didn't expect..."
Li Xiu's eyes were covered with blood, and tears were revealed at this moment, and even more bloody tears were smearing. He choked softly, "She had not returned to the house that night, and the Feng family even found our house. I knew that it might be a bad thing at that time, so I followed him to search. I searched for it for a few days. I just wondered if she would go where to hide, but I didn't expect that she was murdered, and the place where she was murdered was near the City God Temple. It was not dark when I left that day, why did she stay there, and why didn't she go to find her maid..."
"I blame myself very much, but I dare not say it bluntly. Only my sister knows about this. When I meet her, I rely on my sister to send messages. When my sister comes to ask me, I will report it to the truth. But I will have to take the imperial examination next year. If I get involved in the official crime, I will do nothing. I... I will tell my sister not to tell her. I have never harmed her. The government will find the murderer."
Li Xiuwen lowered his head and his back became hunched for a while. Li Yuluo was sobbing and crying. Looking at the brother and sister, Bo Ruoyou didn't know what to say for a while. Ning Xiao was unmoved. "Is there anything else to hide? She only had a good relationship with you? But there are people who were close to others? Also, do you know that he has a cinnabar mole on his body?"
Li Xiuwen raised his eyes suddenly, "I don't know... We are in love and politeness, and have never done anything beyond anything. She is a good girl she loves herself, and she doesn't allow me to be Meng Lang. As for the people around her, she thinks she doesn't know. She and her sister went to the poetry club, but they are not the ones who compete for the limelight..."
"When did you separate that day?" Ning Xiao asked again.
"It's about the beginning of You hour to the middle of You hour. It's almost too dark today, but it's only dusk when I left." After Li Xiuwen said that, his head drooped heavily again.
Ning Xiao thought for a moment, "Let's just say that your words are true. If there is any falsehood, even if your father comes forward, you will not count your scientific examination next year."
Li Xiu didn't respond much when he heard this. Bo Ruoyou went to see Li Yuluo again, "Miss Li, can you describe the little girl who described the silk shop, who looks like?"
Li Yuluo wiped her tears and gestured, "I'm not tall, half an inch shorter than me. She is also very slim. She looks not old last year, and she looks... she can't describe her appearance. She is a very ordinary and simple look."
Bo Ruoyou couldn't help but say, "What is the eye shape? How do other facial features produce? It's better to say it is more specific."
Li Yuluo was a little distressed, "After a long time, and I was only caring for Wodan at that time, I couldn't remember it. He was a very ordinary person. Now I think there was almost nothing special about it."
Bo Ruoyou understood a little. She had met many people on the boat, but now she asked her to tell her where someone looked, but she couldn't describe it.
"Then do you still remember which silk shop you bought the clothes?"
Li Yuluo pondered for a moment, "I don't know this anymore. It took almost an hour to go. It should be from Weiyang Lake to Dongshi. The clothes I bought were made, and it seemed to be for someone else. I don't know why I was given out."
Bo Ruoyou nodded and went to see Ning Xiao. She had nothing to ask.
Ning Xiao asked: "You think you know Xu girl very well. Do she have other people close to you?"
Li Yuluo shook her head, "No, she doesn't even leave the door on weekdays."
Ning Xiao frowned, but it is still unknown whether Xu Wanshu was killed for him, so he didn't ask much, "Forget it, you will go back first. If you need it, you will find you. As for your concealment this time, even if the government does not pursue it, you should think about how to know the Feng family."
Li Xiuwen closed his eyes in a state of silence, "Don't worry, sir, this is the right one, I'll come to the door."
Ning Xiao waved his hand, and the brother and sister retreated just now.
Early in the morning, I realized that Feng Wodan had a secret message to go to the City God Temple, but I didn't want to see it was Li Xiuwen. If Li Xiuwen had not left that day, if he sent Feng Wodan back to Wanyun Pavilion, would all this be very different?
This question flashed through, but Bo Ruoyou was hesitant in his heart. The murderer had already set his sights on Feng Wodan. It was unknown after that. How did the murderer learn that Feng Wodan was going to see Li Xiuwen that day?
Thinking of this, Bo Ruoyou suddenly rushed out and chased her out. Ning Xiao didn't know what was wrong with her, so he raised his eyebrows and followed her. Outside the yamen, Li Xiuwen helped Li Yuluo onto the carriage.
"Mr. Li——"
Li Xiuwen turned around and saw Bo Ruoyou coming out and bowed, "What's the matter with the girl?"
Li Xiuwen didn't know Bo Ruoyou's identity, but she could act freely in the government. She thought she had a good status, so she was very polite. Bo Ruoyou asked, "Would anyone else know when you met Miss Feng that day?"
Li Xiuwen thought for a moment, "Only my sister knows it, but she won't tell others before her sister goes out."
Bo Ruoyou thought, Feng Wodan even hid his maid, so he naturally would not tell others about this easily. Moreover, she was a woman, so she was more cautious and reserved. Most of the promise between the two was revealed by Li Xiuwen.
"Then who have you ever met after you left?"
Li Xiuwen frowned and thought, "I have never met anyone. We made an appointment to meet in the north of Wanyun Pavilion. She wanted to release animals, so I went a little late. I didn't meet anyone here."
Bo Ruo's eyes were slightly darker, "Since that's the case, please come back by Mr. Li."
Li Xiuwen nodded and turned to the carriage, but just as he was about to get into the carriage, he thought of something: "Although no one knows what I did that day, there was originally a literary club in Chunfeng Tower that day, and some classmates invited me. I originally agreed to go, so the day before the literary club, I sent a book boy to Chunfeng Tower and left a letter, saying that I would not go that day, I wonder if this counts?"
Bo Ruoyou's eyes were slightly brighter, "Of course this counts!"
Li Xiuwen's eyes were filled with joy, and then he entered the carriage. Seeing their carriage walking far away, Bo Ruoyou turned around, "Deputy Commander, I'm afraid I'll send someone to Chunfeng Tower to ask, there's also the little girl in the silk shop that gave Miss Feng that night, and Miss Xu's affairs. The Xu family has not reported to the official position. It's very likely that we are all soldiers, but it's really a coincidence."
Ning Xiao frowned, "Miss Li said that the person who gave the clothes was a girl. She didn't look old. Could she be the murderer?"
Bo Ruoyou said: "The murderer killed Feng Wodan and Wei Ling one after another. Both of them were quite handsome. The murderer used such methods as le and pinch, which required some strength. That girl might not be the murderer, but she was the only outsider that day. If she accidentally told someone about the cinnabar mole on Miss Xu, that person might be the murderer."
After all, cinnabar moles grow in secret places, and there are very few opportunities for ordinary ladies to show their exposure. The accident on the pleasure boat is indeed an opportunity. Ning Xiao pondered for a moment, "Well, I have sent someone to check the silk shops they often go to, but I have not found any strange places. I will send someone to ask about the Huafang and Chunfeng Tower again."
It was still early at this time, and Bo Ruoyou asked again, "What should I do with the Xu family?"
The two were talking at the gate of the yamen. As soon as Bo Ruoyou finished speaking, Wu Xiang arrived. Seeing Ning Xiao and Bo Ruoyou were both there, he walked quickly with shame. He also heard that the Li brothers and sisters had come. He knew that Feng Wodan had an appointment with the Li family's son that day. When he was angry, "I knew that the boy had a problem. When he asked the first time, he was silent but wanted to listen. The Li family was sick and made it difficult to ask."
Bo Ruoyou said again: "Not only that, I'm afraid there is another victim in this case."
When she said that the girl Xu's family had a good relationship with Feng Wodan, Wu Xiang widened her eyes even more, "Are you saying that the girl Xu's family might have been murdered, but her family did not report to the official? Instead, she said that she died of illness and buried her like this?"
Bo Ruoyou nodded, and Ning Xiao said: "There is no evidence for this matter. I am afraid that they will not recognize it when I come to the door rashly. However, they dare not resist, but they still want to give the marquis a prophet. I will send someone back to the marquis' mansion. The marquis has not left the palace all night last night, and I still don't know if he has returned to the mansion."
Although Bo Ruoyou didn't say anything, he was slightly shocked. The palace was summoned in the palace yesterday, and Huo Weilou had never come back all night. I thought something extremely important happened, so she couldn't help but whisper: "Is the Marquis so busy?"
Ning Xiao ordered the embroiderer to look at Bo Ruoyou with a frown, "The Marquis has always been like this."
To be continued...