Detective Di Renjie: The Mysterious Dynasty

Chapter 355 Intrigue and deception
In the small city of Wuping, everything changed overnight. Countless people suffered from insomnia for various reasons and sat there until dawn.

The joy of successful revenge makes people toss and turn; the fear under the shadow of revenge makes people uneasy; some people are even more anxious about not completing their mission and scratching their heads over unfinished tasks.

As long as people are alive, emotional ups and downs will follow like a shadow, and worries will be like threads, entangled in the heart.

However, Jiangzhou Sima Ge Bin had a brilliant idea. Like his sixth brother Huang Wenyue, he no longer had to worry.

Since Di Renjie had promised Jinniang to bury Wu Si, he prepared to go to the county government to explain the matter to Lin Yongzhong and retrieve Wu Si's body.

But before everyone left the house, Lin Yongzhong came uninvited. He shouted loudly and trotted along: "Sir Governor, Mr. Huai!"

Di Renjie quickly comforted him and signaled him to calm down: "Don't worry, tell me slowly."

Lin Yongzhong ran to Di Renjie and Wen Kai breathlessly, took a breath, and said, "Yes...it's like this, there was a murder in Pingyang Inn last night!"

"The identity of the deceased is unknown. According to the waiter, he came from Jiangzhou. I led a team to investigate the scene and found this on the deceased's body."

As he spoke, he handed over a small wooden sign in his hand.

Wen Kai hurriedly took it and looked at it carefully, and was shocked: "This... This is the entrance and exit token of the Governor's Mansion!"

Wen Kai handed the wooden sign to Di Renjie, who examined it for a moment and nodded slightly.

Lin Yongzhong observed the expressions on his face and suggested, "Sir, I dare to guess that the deceased may be a public servant of the Jiangzhou Governor's Mansion. Would you and the old gentleman like to go to the scene to check it out?"

Wen Kai was startled when he heard this and looked at Di Renjie, while Di Renjie's eyes fell on Ruyan and Jinniang beside him.

Seeing this, Ruyan took charge and said, "Uncle, don't worry, leave the matter to me and Zhang Huan."

Di Renjie winked at Ruyan and said, "Okay, I'll leave this matter to you."

After saying that, he, Wen Kai and Lin Yongzhong hurried towards Pingyang Inn.

Seeing this, Jinniang was no longer anxious. She said to Ruyan gently, "Sister Ruyan, if you are busy, don't worry about me. I can do it by myself!"

Ruyan smiled slightly: "That won't work, don't worry, they are busy with their own things, we will do our own things, sister will accompany you!"

After hearing this, Jinniang smiled, but she felt touched and helpless in her heart.

She thought about it and came up with a plan: "How about I go back to the village and ask some elders to help?"

Funerals always involve the elders in the clan, and Ruyan couldn't refuse this request: "Okay, then sister will go back with you."

Jinniang looked embarrassed: "No... no need, I can go back alone, Xiaopu Village is not far away."

Ruyan shook her head firmly: "That won't do. What if Xue Qinglin has evil intentions again? It's safer for me to go back with you!"

Jinniang could only nod helplessly.

Seeing that Jinniang had no objection, Ruyan quickly arranged the tasks: Zhang Huan went to the government office to negotiate and ask for Wu Si's body, Li Lang went to the street to buy coffins, paper money, candles and other funeral objects and offerings, and she took Jinniang back to Xiaopu Village.
-
Xiaopu Village is located not far from the river. Most of the villagers have the surname Hu, and only Wu Si has the surname Wu. He also settled here many years ago, so he has no relatives.

Wu Si's home is located in the northeast corner of the village. His neighbor Aunt Hu is drawing water from the well and looking after the house for Wu Si as usual.

Ruyan happened to bring Jinniang back to the village. When Aunt Hu saw them, she was so surprised that she even knocked over the bucket.

"Oh, Jinniang! You're finally back. Where's your father?" Aunt Hu hurried to greet her.

These words touched Jinniang's heart, and tears fell from her face again: "Dad... Dad was beaten to death by those damn beasts in Pingnan Marquis's Mansion!"

Aunt Hu was horrified when she heard this: "Then why did you come back? Hide quickly and don't let those damned people catch you!"

Ruyan comforted Jinniang and explained to Aunt Hu: "Auntie, don't worry, the new county magistrate and the governor of the state know about Jinniang's case and have already brought the murderer Du Er to justice!"

"This time I am accompanying Jinniang back to Xiaopu Village to bury the old man properly so that she can show her filial piety. Do you think you can find someone to help with the funeral arrangements?"

After hearing this, although Aunt Hu was skeptical, she finally nodded and said, "Okay, you guys sit down for a while, I'll ask my old man to call someone."

After seeing off Aunt Hu, Ruyan followed Jinniang to Wu Si's house.

This is a small fenced courtyard with three thatched houses. It is really simple. There are some vegetables planted in the yard. The owner takes good care of them and they are growing well.

When I walked into the room, I saw a full jar of rice next to the stove, a new iron pot, and some brand new bowls and spoons.

In the main hall, there was a complete set of tables and chairs, also newly made, which seemed out of place with the three thatched houses. Ruyan could not help but frown, with a hint of doubt in her eyes.

Jinniang seemed to see through her doubts and explained, "These were given by Xue Qinglin to please me."

The two men walked into the inner room, where a packed bundle was placed on the bed.

As soon as Jinniang saw the bundle, she immediately went forward and opened it. There were several hundred dollars in cash and a few pieces of clothing inside. Two of them were new silk, and the other two were made of linen. They did not look well made.

She grabbed the two pieces of clothing and burst into tears, because she had made them herself.

Ruyan was a very smart person and could guess the situation, so she could only hug Jinniang gently and comfort her in a low voice.

Soon, there was a commotion outside the door. Aunt Hu invited several elders from the village to come and arrange the funeral.

But Jinniang just cried bitterly and looked extremely sad. She was unable to interact with others, so Ruyan could only receive these elders on her behalf.

A crowd of people went out to discuss the matter, leaving Aunt Hu in the room to accompany Jinniang.

Jinniang cried for a long time, and finally stopped crying: "Auntie, I'm thirsty, can you get me some water?"

Aunt Hu quickly agreed and went home to get some water.

The room was empty for a moment. Jinniang quickly wiped her tears and began to search.

At this moment, someone took advantage of the situation and attacked Jinniang from behind the head.

Jinniang seemed to sense the movement behind her, but when she wanted to turn around to check, she had already been knocked unconscious to the ground.

It was Xiaoyun who took action. She had inquired about the location of Jinniang's home early in the morning and was waiting for the opportunity.

Xiaoyun took a deep breath, reached into Jinniang's arms and searched around, but still found nothing.

She turned her head to look at the place where Jinniang had searched, but suddenly heard the voice of Aunt Hu outside the door, so she had to run away immediately.

Aunt Hu walked into the room carrying a clay pot and a bowl of water. When she saw Jinniang fainted on the ground, she immediately shouted, "Jinniang! What happened to you? Someone come! Someone come quickly!"
-
At the Pingnan Marquis Mansion, it was almost lunchtime. Xiaoyun, with a gloomy look on his face, returned to the mansion with Lanxiang.

This time he was away from home for a long time. Xue Qinglin did not sleep last night. He took a nap during the day, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy, wondering if Xue Qinglin had woken up.

So Xiaoyun went straight to Xue Qinglin's bedroom to check, but did not find him. When she asked the servants, she found out that he had gone to the back hall.

She went to the back hall to look for Xue Qinglin again, but when she arrived at the door, she was not in a hurry to go in, but just peeked through the crack in the window.

In the study-like room in the back hall, Xue Qinglin was pretending to open an old letter.

Xiaoyun's eyes immediately lit up and she looked at Xue Qinglin nervously.

Xue Qinglin folded the letter and put it in his arms. Then he turned on the bookshelf like Xiaoyun and walked in.

"Turns out it's still in his hands!" Xiaoyun smiled, breathed a sigh of relief, then turned and left.

However, what Xiaoyun had not expected was that Zhang Yi had been secretly observing her not far away. After she left, Zhang Yi appeared and entered the study.

Xue Qinglin also quietly returned, muttering to himself viciously: "Humph, one by one, you two are planning to take over the Marquis. Sooner or later, you will be in trouble!"

Zhang Yi cupped his hands and said, "My Lord, the letter has been sent to Liang Wang's Mansion in Luoyang. Xiaoyun has also made arrangements, and we can close the net at any time!"

When the time came, Xue Qinglin did not dare to act rashly.

There was a hint of fear in his eyes. He swallowed his saliva and said with lingering fear: "No hurry, no hurry... Wait for two days, wait until the storm has passed."

At this moment, the servant came to report: "Mr. Feng Wanchun, Mr. Zhang Xiangong, and Mr. Wu Shun want to see you!"

Xue Qinglin was startled: "Why are you here again? Come in!"

When Feng Wanchun saw the three people, his first words shocked Xue Qinglin: "Fifth brother, something terrible has happened! Last night, your fourth brother was killed in Pingyang Inn!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Qinglin couldn't help but gasp and took two steps back.

(End of this chapter)