Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 38: Jiaofangsi, ordinary stuff

Two hours later.

Jiang Xuan and others took the portrait and the corpse and left in a mighty manner.

Yang Xu and the others all looked grim, but no one dared to stop them.

Everyone felt extremely aggrieved that the case was snatched away by someone else in their own jurisdiction.

But this man was the newly appointed centurion of the Northern Pacification Division, whose fame had recently soared, and since the case was assigned to him personally by the Pacification Commissioner, they really didn't dare to act.

"Humph!"

It was not until Jiang Xuan and the others completely disappeared that Yang Xu snorted coldly to express his dissatisfaction.

"Isn't it just because of Pei Lun, the former Thousand Household, that he became a Hundred Household? Why are you so proud?"

"You can't always rely on others to help you solve a case. Wait until I solve this case first, and then I'll see how you report to the Governor!"

After saying that, he led his men forward, looked at Mr. Wang at the door, and shouted, "What's going on with this case? Tell me everything in detail, don't miss a single word!"

"Ah? Still asking?"

"Stop talking nonsense. If you want to avenge your daughter, just say it!"

……

"Sir, I heard that Mr. Wang said that he would reward anyone who could avenge his daughter with a thousand taels of silver. I wonder if this is true?"

On the way back to the Pacification Office, Xu Longqing couldn't help but say.

"Even if it's true, do you think this money can reach you and me?" Jiang Xuan glanced at him.

"That's true." Xu Longqing sighed, and then he sighed with emotion: "A thousand taels of silver! These landowners are really rich!"

Jiang Xuan couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Even though he was promoted to a centurion at this time, his monthly salary was only four taels of silver, less than fifty taels a year.

But this mere official could actually casually offer a reward of a thousand taels of silver.

Even the reward offered by the imperial court could not be so high.

For ordinary bandits, the reward is at most two or three hundred taels. Rewards worth five hundred taels like the one for Tian Boguang are extremely rare.

The reward of one thousand taels of silver was so tempting that even Jiang Xuan himself was tempted, not to mention others.

But he knew that this was ultimately unrealistic.

After solving the case, even if Mr. Wang could really offer such a large reward, the bulk of it would be used to honor his superiors. For those low-level people who solved the case, it would be considered good if they could get a few dozen taels.

At this time, Lu Jianxing asked, "Sir, do you want to post the murderer's portrait and issue a city-wide wanted notice?"

Jin Yichuan's face changed slightly, and he quickly whispered, "Brother, you're stupid! We can slowly investigate with the portrait, and we'll definitely find the murderer before anyone else. Why do we still need to post it?"

"Post it."

Jiang Xuan glanced at Jin Yichuan and said calmly, "The guard has seen the murderer's appearance. We can draw the murderer based on his description, so others can do the same. There's no need to hide it."

"Posting it will allow people to see the murderer's appearance, take precautions in advance, and find the murderer faster."

"Also, we already know the murderer used a sword, not a knife. This is our biggest advantage. Even if the murderer changes his appearance, we can use this information to investigate all suspicious individuals and find the murderer before anyone else."

"Yes, sir, you are wise, and I admire you!"

Lu Jianxing bowed and then asked, "Sir, how do we investigate next?"

Jiang Xuan had no idea for the time being, so he asked, "Do you have any ideas?"

Lu Jianxing hesitated for a moment and said, "Since the murderer is a philanderer, he must be a lecher. Why don't we start by investigating the Jiaofangsi, brothels and other places of entertainment? Maybe we can find something."

Jiang Xuan pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, let's go to the Jiaofangsi and take a look."

Then he looked at Xu Longqing and ordered, "Take your men to return the body to the government office first, and arrange for someone to post a wanted notice. We will act separately."

"Yes, my lord."

……

Half an hour later.

Dongcheng District, Bensi Hutong.

The Jiaofangsi was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Almost all of this area belonged to the Jiaofangsi, and only high-ranking officials and dignitaries came and went.

The river between the inner and outer cities serves as the boundary. To the south is Yanle Hutong, which is a place for officials to listen to music and enjoy dancing. The geishas inside are mostly singers and dancers who sell their art but not their bodies. Sometimes, when the palace holds celebrations or receives distinguished guests, they will be asked to perform singing and dancing.

To the north is Goulan Hutong, which is the official brothel, but anyone with money can enter.

Even the streets around the brothels were mostly filled with brothels, and there were even many pleasure boats and brothels on the riverside. There were prostitutes soliciting customers at the doorsteps, and it was extremely lively.

Everyone came to Goulan Hutong.

Lu Jianxing suggested cautiously, "Sir, I heard there's a very famous courtesan named Zhou Miaotong in the brothel. Her father was a former Donglin Party official. Because he wrote a letter to impeach Eunuch Wei, his entire family was executed, and all the women in her family were sent to the Jiaofang Bureau to be prostitutes."

"It is said that this woman is a master of both singing and dancing, and is also extremely beautiful. Would you like to go in and take a look?"

Jiang Xuan glanced at him and said calmly, "Not interested."

As for Zhou Miaotong, he knew that the goddess that Shen Lian licked in the second part of "The Sword of Assassin" was also a green tea girl like Hokusai, and he had no interest in provoking her.

Although with his current status, he might not have to pay any money even if he entered the Jiaofangsi.

But Jiang has not got the habit of getting something for free.

"Let's walk around the perimeter first and see if we can spot anyone suspicious."

The capital city is not big, but it is not small either. It is not easy to find someone.

These days it’s not like in the past where we can install cameras, so we can only try our luck here and there.

Since they had to be on duty during the day anyway, patrolling the streets was no different from looking for someone. They walked along the moat.

But before he took a few steps, Jiang Xuan was stopped by someone.

"Oh, sir, are you here to have fun or to meet someone? Why don't you go in and sit down..."

A gorgeously dressed woman stopped me and said with a smile.

sigh~
A portrait was unfolded and placed in front of the woman.

Lu Jianxing's face was serious: "Have you seen this person?"

The owner of the pleasure boat froze, cursing inwardly, and quickly said, "Sir, we don't hide any criminals here. If you want to find someone, please don't come here."

Jiang Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly: "How do you know we are looking for the criminal?"

The lady boss of the pleasure boat said quickly, "You've already shown me the portrait, why would you even ask..."

Jiang Xuan said calmly, "Go in and take a look."

"Yes." A group of people filed in, broke into the houseboat and began to search.

"Hey... sir, please don't scare my guests!" The proprietress of the houseboat hurriedly chased in.

"My lord, no!"

"There's nothing here either..."

Soon, everyone turned around and did not find the target, so they came back to report.

"I told you, sir, we are running a legitimate business, how dare we hide a wanted criminal!" said the proprietress, patting the snow-white weapon.

Maybe it was just a coincidence that I was overthinking it.

Jiang Xuan glanced at her calmly, turned around and said, "Let's go."

"This lord."

But at this moment, a gentle female voice suddenly came from behind.

The lady boss of the pleasure boat looked back and quickly ran over waving her handkerchief: "Oh my dear, what are you doing out there? Come back quickly..."

"Aunt Qinglian, you are investigating this case for our safety, and it's very hard work. I would like to ask you to pour two cups for us. It's my treat."

The woman was wearing a lavender dress, with a pretty face, soft eyes and eyebrows, a gentle and quiet temperament, and a great figure, especially the pair of headlights, which were extremely prominent.

As he spoke, he walked up to Jiang Xuan and said in a gentle voice, "Sir, if you don't mind, why don't you come in and have a drink and listen to a song to soothe your fatigue before leaving?"

"Oh, sir, you are so lucky. Our Miss Yaozhi is a famous talented woman in this area. There are countless gentlemen in the court who want to get close to her, but they never have the chance!"

The lady proprietress of the pleasure boat praised him at the right moment.

Yaozhi?

Jiang Xuan looked at the woman, then lowered his gaze slightly, glancing at the bright headlights on her chest, and said lightly: "Naizi is nice, but her face is just average. I'm not interested."

After saying that, he turned and left.

"You..." Yaozhi's face froze, her heart was filled with anger, and she glared at Jiang Xuan's back hatefully.

……

Leaving the pleasure boat, Lu Jianxing glanced back and whispered, "Sir, there's something wrong with this woman. The other girls on the pleasure boats didn't even have time to hide when they saw us Jinyiwei, but she took the initiative to invite us in."

Jiang Xuan nodded: "It should have nothing to do with this case, so don't meddle in it."

"Yes." Hearing this, Lu Jianxing didn't ask any more questions.

Jiang Xuan sneered in his heart.

The reason why he didn't go in was because he had already thought of the identity of this woman, Gao Yaozhi, the heroine in "The Sword of the Assassin: Killing Evil", the daughter of Gao Bingzhong of the Donglin Party.

This woman's scheming is not simple. She conspired with Xu Panxing, the captain of the rear base, and has been opposing the eunuch party.

No matter what her purpose was in approaching him, Jiang Xuan didn't want to get involved.

If you get involved with the Donglin Party at this time and the truth is exposed, you will be doomed to fail.

And the facts were exactly as he expected.

At this time, inside the houseboat.

As Yaozhi walked into the room, a man in a red robe came to greet her. This man was none other than Xu Panxing, the captain of the rear headquarters.

"How is it? What did he say?" Xu Panxing asked.

"I'm furious!"

Yaozhi said bitterly, "He actually said I was just ordinary stuff. I even doubt if he is a man!"

"What? Even your beauty can't impress him?"

Xu Panxing frowned and asked, "Could he have noticed something?"

"I don't know, who cares!"

Yaozhi snorted coldly, "Master Xu, what's so special about winning over such a person? He's just a centurion, he can't help us at all!"

Xu Panxing sighed and said, "I have no choice. It was the order of the Lord. The Lord values ​​talent and insisted on recruiting him."

Yaozhi said angrily: "Anyway, I'm not going to do this anymore. This stinky man's words are so irritating. He actually said that I was... humph!"

Yaozhi couldn't bring herself to say Jiang Xuan's vulgar words.

Although it is true, can't you be more polite?

Xu Panxing was also helpless. He shook his head and smiled, saying, "Okay, since this plan doesn't work, I'll think of other ways to contact him."

(End of this chapter)