I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 560
It's night, Xiang's family.

Perhaps it was because Xiang Changshou's coffin was still in the mourning hall, and Dou's family died in the well, so the entire Xiang family looked extraordinarily bleak, and the paper money that was blown up by the night wind suddenly made people panic.

"Brother, what are you guys doing?" Qiu Huaixin twitched the corners of his mouth, seeing Zhan Feiyu squatting on this thick and towering tree was already surprising enough, the key was that his gentle and elegant brother was also standing beside the branch superior.

Qiu Huaixin raised his head and continued to look up. Jiao Lianping, a dandy, was also wearing night clothes, and then he was sitting on a thinner branch, holding the thick trunk with both hands, so as not to fall.

Fortunately, the tree in the front yard of the Xiang family was strong enough for two or three people to hug it with open arms, otherwise the tree really couldn't support four people standing on it.

Jiao Lianping was a little afraid of heights, and his voice trembled a little, but he still couldn't hold back his words, "The night is dark and the wind is high, killing people and stealing money."

"Wait and see." Qiu Bingde glanced at Qiu Huaixin, who was standing still, and looked at the well not far away through the thick branches and leaves.

Qiu Huaixin also followed his gaze, but across a wall was Xiang Changshou's mourning hall, with white lanterns hanging under the verandah, and there were servants guarding Xiang Changshou's spirit at night, so not only could he smell the burning yellow The smell of paper and ghost notes, and the faint cries of the spirit guard made Qiu Huaixin panic.

In addition, looking to the side, it is the moon gate leading to the backyard, and then the well where Dou Shi stumbled and died. When the night wind blew, the leaves rustled, and Qiu Huaixin felt a chill on his back.

There were footsteps and voices in the silence. The people on the tree stood high and far away, and they were not Lian's sons, so they could only hear the voices but could not make out what they said.

"Are you crazy? You dare to steal things at this time. You are not afraid that the master will sell you if he finds out." The speaking boy lowered his voice and looked around warily.

Now the Xiang family is in pieces, there are not many servants left, and it's midnight, so I really don't have to worry about being heard and seen.

"Steal a fart! Madam said that the master is kind when she is at home, but in my opinion, the master is the most stingy, not only locked all valuable things in the warehouse, but even locked the guest room, He said it was to prevent the members of the Xiang family from stealing the sheep, but I am afraid that we servants will also steal things."

The speaking boy snorted disdainfully, with resentment in his voice, he glanced at the direction of the mourning hall and couldn't help but quicken his pace, and when he got to the well, he continued: "This is what the housekeeper missed before, it's not worth anything Things, besides, the guards guarding the gate are all master's confidantes, no matter what they take, they can't take it out."

This is true, there was a money-grubbing man in the front yard before, because he was thin, so he wore a few more clothes, tied a green and white jade screen to his stomach, and wanted to sneak out of the house to pawn, but But the nursing home saw it at a glance, and then searched the things out.

Because it was a child born in the family, Master Xiang held the deed of selling his life. After the housekeeper told him, he went straight to find Ren Yazi and sold him to the mine. It is estimated that if he went there, he would not be far from death.

"You know you still dare to steal?" The companion frowned. Although the Xiang family had accidents one after another, they are not stupid at the moment. Thirty guardians guard the house, while the master takes care of the outside affairs, everything is in order and stable.

The boy opened the big wooden barrel he was carrying, and his companion took a closer look, and couldn't help being stunned, but there were pieces of white ice-like things in the barrel.

The companion was startled and finally remembered, "Is this saltpeter?"

This year is a hot summer, and the son’s health is getting worse day by day. In order to do good deeds and want the Buddha to bless the son, the wife bought a lot of saltpeter and came back. After making ice, each room will put a basin of ice cubes at night to let them feel grateful The son's kindness.

The servants are four people living in one room. With this ice cube at night, I can finally sleep soundly. It is hot and tossing in the night, and I have to get up and work again before dawn. Saltpeter is expensive, and these servants can't afford it. In summer and winter, those who have no ice or charcoal can only suffer.

The boy walked directly to the well with the wooden bucket, "In July, I used a little more saltpeter to cool off, but my wife found out and fined me ten boards, bah, I'm going to waste these saltpeter now, see Who can beat Laozi!"

At the same time as the voice fell, a wooden bucket of saltpeter was poured into the well by the boy. This is because he hated Mrs. Xiang for punishing him before, and he also hated Mr. Xiang for being stingy, so he wanted to ruin the property of the Xiang family. You can't steal it and you can't change it into money.

Across the yard, Qiu Huaixin and Jiao Lianping, who were standing on the tree, were both confused.

"Brother, what did they pour into the well?" Qiu Huaixin asked inexplicably, only one person died in the well during the day, and now two servants poured things into the well secretly, the more Qiu Huaixin looked at it, the more something was wrong .

Qiu Bingde ignored it, and still discussed a strategy in a low voice with Zhan Feiyu who was standing on the other side of the tree trunk.

Qiu Huaixin had no choice but to look at Jiao Lianping who was sitting on the tree branch, "Why are you here?"

Having lost so much face at Xiang's house during the day, it stands to reason that with Jiao Lianping's arrogance, he would have stayed in Jiao's house for at least three to five days. Who knew he would show up at Xiang's house in the middle of the night.

Jiao Lianping has always been annoyed by Jiao Lianyu's friend, so when he met Qi Changlin, Jiao Lianping must have ridiculed him.

It's a pity that Qiu Huaixin is the young son of the Qiu family, Mr. Qiu is a second-rank official of the imperial court, and Jiao Zhifu is only a fourth-rank official, and his value is not as high as that of the other party. So when Jiao Lianping saw Qiu Huaixin, he snorted coldly, then turned and left.

"Why should I tell you?" Jiao Lianping raised his chin triumphantly, as if he was glad that Qiu Huaixin also suffered from depression.

In fact, Jiao Lianping had lost face at Xiang's house in the morning, and was reprimanded by Jiao Zhifu after returning to Jiao's mansion. Jiao Lianping left Jiao's mansion in a fit of anger.

Dou died in Xiang's house during the day. If Jiao Lianping went to find those dandy companions, they would definitely be asked by their family what happened to Xiang's house during the day. In the end, Jiao Lianping had to go to the other courtyard of the Qiu's house to find Zhan Feiyu. When he was there, he would not chase after himself to ask questions.

Because Zhan Feiyu was a lot younger than himself, Jiao Lianping decided to stay overnight in the other courtyard of Qiu's house. He Sheng woke him up in the middle of the night, and then went all the way to Xiang's house. Also met Qiu Bingde and Qiu Huaixin.

A large bucket of saltpeter was poured into the well, and the two servants turned around and left. After a while, they suddenly heard the sound of water, and watched a figure leap out of the well.

"Damn..."

Jiao Lianping and Qiu Huaixin, who were arguing, uttered terrified screams at the same time. In panic, the two slipped their feet, shouted again, and fell from the tall tree.

In the dark, He Sheng flew out, and before they landed, he grabbed the clothes of Qiu Huaixin and Jiao Lianping with each hand, and then let go of his hands, with two plops, the two landed at the same time, fortunately, they were only halfway from the ground. how tall are people,

"There's a ghost!" The shouts changed, and Jiao Lianping and Qiu Huaixin hugged each other in horror, forgetting the pain of being slapped on the ground.

On the tree, Qiu Bingde and Zhan Feiyu looked at the two trembling people sitting on the ground speechlessly. Although it was a bit scary in the middle of the night, it was not so frightening.

He Nuan hugged Zhan Feiyu and jumped down from the tree.

As for Qiu Bingde, although he was a scholar, he also practiced with his master in his early years. He is not a master, but jumping from a branch less than two feet away is not a problem.

"Someone has already followed." He Nuan said in a low voice. The murderer who came out of the well knew he had been exposed as soon as he heard the shouts. Unfortunately, he had been soaked in the well water for about seven or eight hours. Even if there were accomplices outside to help escape.

The guards in the mourning hall did not hear the sound of water breaking out of the well, but Qiu Huaixin and Jiao Lianping's screams could be clearly heard. The servants ran out of the mourning hall with a whimper, and then looked around.

He Sheng and the guards of the Qiu Mansion carried Qiu Huaixin and Jiao Lianping in each hand, and several figures left before the servants came over.

(End of this chapter)