I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 304 Have to Die
From Zhang's other courtyard back to Qiu's mansion, Yang Xu was silent all the way, his not-so-high body had endured too many changes and pressures in a short period of time, and he no longer had the viciousness of the newborn calf in Shitou village that day And reckless, the whole person is listless.

"Teach and enlighten Xiao Xu, don't let him get into the wrong place." Although Qiu Zongxi has a bad temper on weekdays, he often scolds Yang Xu, but he watched Yang Xu grow up, and it was Qiu Zongxi who held a pen for the first time. Taught, said that his grandson is not far behind.

I taught Yang Xu to be strict before, and that was because the Yang family was about to recover, and Yang Xu had to grow up quickly, but no one wanted Yang Xu's young body to bear two lives, which was too heavy.

"Uncle Qiu, I know." Yang Shoucheng looked at his son who was walking ahead in a daze, even if Uncle Qiu didn't mention it, Yang Shoucheng would still talk to him properly.

"Go." Qiu Zongxi patted Yang Shoucheng's shoulder before striding away.

On the other side, Zhan Feiyu returned to the house, grilled the charcoal basin, drank hot water, and couldn't help but sigh after feeling comfortable: "If I didn't want to study, I wouldn't get off the kang all winter!"

Yin Wuyan looked at the little girl who spoke boldly and ambitiously, a smile flashed quickly in her long and narrow phoenix eyes, and she felt even more sorry for the little girl who studied hard every day in the cold window. Compared with those wealthy families in the capital, the little girl worked too hard.

But no matter how spoiled Zhan Feiyu was, Yin Wuyan never persuaded her to give up.

The secular world is harsh on women, even if they are relatives of the emperor, they can only rely on their husband's family for their glory after marriage. A wife is more expensive by her husband, and a mother is more expensive by her son. Women can only rely on themselves.

Zhan Feiyu's hardships in studying now will be the capital for her to settle down in the future, and no one can take it away.

He Nuan poured another cup of tea for Yin Wuyan, then turned around and retreated out, taking a look at the sky, it was almost time to prepare dinner.

In the room, Zhan Feiyu went through the events in Xiangwu County for more than half a month in his mind, took a bamboo stick and forked a piece of pear and started to eat it.

The sweet and moist taste of Sydney spreads in the mouth, which relieves the heat and dryness of grilling charcoal pots and sleeping on the kang all day, and it seems that the irritability in the bottom of my heart is also eliminated.

"Eat less, the cold will be better." Yin Wuyan reminded that the little girl is self-disciplined and sensible most of the time, but sometimes she is full of childishness, just like at this moment, eating a pear is like eating a flat peach, with curved eyebrows There are satisfied smiles all over the corner.

Yin Wuyan thought of those ladies who had met before, they all smiled without showing their teeth, their manners were decent but they seemed dull and boring.

After eating a piece of pear in two or three bites, Zhan Feiyu wiped the corner of his mouth with the handkerchief, and then got down to business, "Big brother, no one would bother to take off the earrings before committing suicide."

I'm going to die, I don't want my life, and I still care about the earrings being cut by scissors or stained with blood?
Zhou Shuyao's gold and jade earrings with jade rabbit pounding medicine patterns are a bit long, and she may touch the earrings when wiping her neck, so she took one earring off and put it on the dressing table in advance.

Although Zhan Feiyu didn't look at the corpse up close, but took a look at it from a distance. Before Zhou Shuyao died, he wore a crescent moon bun. The hairpin is fixed, just plug it in and shake it.

The rest of the hair is scattered from the shoulders, and then tied with a headband on the left and right sides, so that the scattered hair will not block the line of sight when the head is lowered, and it will also protect the ears and neck.

So many little girls like to wear crescent moon buns in winter.

It was also because of the cover of her hair that the person who killed Zhou Shuyao did not notice that she was wearing an earring on her right ear. Of course, Zhan Feiyu also deduced that the person who did it must be a man, so he ignored her bald left ear No earrings.

Yin Wuyan took the words, "There are only three masters living in the other courtyard, and the person who did the work was either Zhang Minhua or Zhang Minxian."

According to the situation at the scene, it must be Zhang Minxian who did it. If it was Zhang Minhua, it was her daughter who died. Even if she was ruthless enough to kill someone, she would definitely sort out her remains afterwards, and she would be able to find that there was something wrong with her ears. One earring is missing.

Moreover, Zhang Minhua really ordered Zhou Shuyao to be killed, so before Zhan Feiyu appeared, she would probably use grief as a reason to avoid it. After all, if she appeared in front of others, there might be clues, so avoiding it is the safest way.

"A tiger's poison does not eat its offspring, Madam Zhou's mournful expression is never fake." Zhan Feiyu thought about it for a while, in fact, there was no flaw in Zhang Minxian's behavior, he was just an elder who lost his niece and suppressed the pain.

From this point of view, Zhan Feiyu understands that it is normal for these officials to hide their emotions and anger. In the future, she needs to pay more attention to subtleties when interacting with people.

"What's the motive for the murder?" Yin Wuyan looked at Zhan Feiyu, hiding the complex and thoughtful flashes in his eyes.

The little girl's life experience is suspicious, she is not the daughter of Boss Zhan and the Zhou family, it's just that many years have passed, and there were no clues at the time, only the old lady Zhan said that she wanted to find the little girl who was in the baby that day. The two women brought to Shangsi County were no less than looking for a needle in a haystack.

But Yin Wuyan was worried that one day the answer to this mystery would be solved. At that time, the little girl would face her family members by blood, and the degree of calculation and danger in it would be no less than that of the Zhang and Zhou families at the moment.

So what if they are blood relatives?There are many filthy calculations and cruelty in the big family.

In fact, on the way back to the Qiu Mansion, Zhan Feiyu was thinking about the motive for the murder. At this time, thinking of Zhou Shuyao who died tragically, Zhan Feiyu still felt a little uncomfortable, "One of them is the case where the Zhang family, the Zhou family and Fu Langhuan were killed. Get rid of the relationship."

Xiangwu County is now full of rumors, and there are various theories about Fu Langhuan's death, but today the magistrate Zhu led Wu Zuo to open the coffin for an autopsy, which means that the case is about to come to light.

Zhan Feiyu knew that even though Zhou Shuyao was drugged, it was not her intention to strangle Fu Langhuan to death, but the fact is that Fu Langhuan did die in Zhou Shuyao's hands.

She is the eldest daughter of the Zhou family and Zhang Minxian's niece, and now she and Zhang Minxian are in Xiangwu County.

In the future, the enemies of the Zhang family can attack Zhang Minxian on the charge of being the messenger behind the scenes, and place Fu Langhuan's death on Zhang Minxian. He is the real murderer, and he is the one who ordered Zhou Shuyao to kill.

Therefore, for his own official career, Zhang Minxian must let Zhou Shuyao die. As long as she dies, it will be "killing for life". Moreover, Zhou Shuyao's murder is also because she was drugged. She has already paid for her own life. When the time comes, public opinion On the contrary, it is beneficial to the Zhang family and Zhou family.

Zhan Feiyu took a glance, saw Yin Wuyan nodded, and then continued: "Secondly, I'm afraid she came for the Yang family, or more precisely, for Yang Xu, because the time of her death was too coincidental, and she was the same as Yang Xu. After a quarrel, they broke up unhappy, and then committed suicide."

Yang Xu must think that he killed Zhou Shuyao, but Zhou Shuyao is already dead, Yang Xu can only make up for this guilt and self-blame to the Zhou family and Zhang family, and make up for Zhou Shuyao's relatives. With a relationship, as long as the two families do not commit crimes in the future, the full-fledged Yang Xu will definitely take care of the two families.

"One life in exchange for a bright and open future for two families, this business is a good deal." Zhan Feiyu Baozi had a mocking sneer on his face, no wonder everyone said that he was not poisonous and not a husband, and that a niece who had no value died worth it.

Because of Fu Langhuan's death, Zhou Shuyao was charged with the crime of murder. Even if the government will not convict her in the end, Zhou Shuyao will be like this for the rest of her life. It is absolutely impossible for her to marry a high-ranking official. Which official family or scholarly family is willing? Let a murderer into the house?
Even a scholar from a poor family would not marry Zhou Shuyao. Isn't studying the imperial examination just for fame and fortune, and marrying such a tainted wife is tantamount to cutting off one's official career.

Of course, with the influence of the Zhang family and the Zhou family, it is still possible to find a small official for Zhou Shuyao in Linzhou, but at most it is a master book or county lieutenant.

And there is no development in his life, just like Zhu County Magistrate who does not seek promotion and spends his life doing nothing with a meager salary.

But for the Zhang family and the Zhou family, the years of hard work in nurturing and teaching Zhou Shuyao were in vain, but her death would bring endless benefits to the two families. Zhou Shuyao had to die if he chose one of the two.

Yin Wuyan looked at the listless Zhan Feiyu who lowered his head after finishing speaking, and patted her head comfortingly, "The world is dangerous, such things are not uncommon in big families."

Feeling the warmth from the palm above his head, Zhan Feiyu shook his head, feeling a little unmotivated, "I know, but I still feel a little uncomfortable."

It's as if she knew that countless soldiers would be killed or injured in every battle at the border, but the feeling of knowing it and seeing it with her own eyes was completely different.

"Don't think too much." Yin Wuyan's cold voice was soothing, and he rubbed the little girl's head again, "I wasted a lot of time today, haven't you done your homework yet?"

His body froze, Zhan Feiyu raised his head slowly, and looked accusingly at the handsome Yin Wuyan. The way the big brother comforts people is really "unique"!
……

Zhan Feiyu didn't have the energy to regret Zhou Shuyao's death. If he had this sentimental time, he might as well write a policy question or a test poem, but the "supervisor" changed from Qiu Zongxi to Yin Wuyan.

On the other side, Yang Shoucheng was doing the same thing as Yin Wuyan.

Regardless of whether Zhan Feiyu and Yang Xu are smart or stupid, after all, they are still children under ten years old. Suddenly facing the death of people around them, and two people died one after another, as elders, we must enlighten them. .

"Father, I know what you said, but Fu Langhuan died because of me. I have an unshirkable responsibility for Cousin Zhou's suicide." Darkness and pain, without the glory of the past.

Yang Shoucheng has a taciturn personality. He is not good at comforting others, even if he wants to enlighten his only child.

Looking at Yang Xu who was still in self-blame, Yang Shoucheng said in a deep voice, "People cannot be resurrected after death, so what are you going to do?"

It's useless to say ten thousand or ten thousand, Fu Langhuan is dead, and Zhou Shuyao is also dead.

After being silent for a while, Yang Xu raised his head and looked firmly at his father who was sitting across from him. Although his face was still immature, his attitude was extraordinarily firm.

"I owe two lives to the Fu family and the Zhou family. In the future, as long as the two families do not violate the laws of Daqing, if they encounter trouble, I will do my best to help."

After finishing speaking, Yang Xu hesitated for a moment and said again: "If it's a matter of life and death, I'll only help you once, if it's a small matter, it's only three."

He and Zhan Feiyu have been studying in the Qiu Mansion for many days. It’s not that Yang Xu hasn’t made any progress at all. At least he knows that if he wants to help, he can’t violate the law, and he also knows that it’s impossible to help all the time. Therefore, helping once for big things and three times for small things is considered two wrongs. owed.

Yang Shoucheng didn't object, looking at Yang Xu who had already made a decision, he suddenly said: "For the time being, we haven't found out who was responsible for Fu Langhuan's death, but Zhou Shuyao's death may be because of your promise just now."

For a moment, Yang Xu almost thought that he had heard it wrong, and he was in a daze for a while before speaking, "Father, what do you mean by that?"

After Yang Shoucheng arrived at Zhang's other courtyard, he also went to the boudoir where Zhou Shuyao committed suicide, and then stood not far away to take a rough look at the corpse. He didn't know about the earrings.

But Yang Shoucheng roughly inferred the reason for Zhou Shuyao's suicide, and used her life to pave the way for the Zhang family and the Zhou family to gain a future.

Looking at the stunned Yang Xu, Yang Shoucheng spoke bluntly and rudely, "Zhou Shuyao was charged with murder, even if she escaped from prison, she would still discredit the Zhou family and the Zhang family, and implicate all the unmarried members of the family. Girl, even the elders who have left the cabinet will be implicated."

Zhou Shuyao also has a younger sister, cousins ​​in the family, and cousins ​​in the natal family, but in any discerning family, who wants the son of the family to marry the sister of the murderer as his wife?

He got up and poured a cup of tea, Yang Shoucheng took two sips, and when Yang Xu almost figured it out, he continued to make up, "She has been flattering you before, but why did she do the opposite and argue with you this time?"

"I..." Yang Xu stammered. Although the quarrel was out of the question, both of them felt guilty and blamed themselves for Fu Langhuan's death, and their emotions suddenly collapsed before they started arguing.

But if, as my father said, Cousin Zhou was arguing with me on purpose, then she committed suicide to plot against herself, to make herself feel guilty, and to help the Zhang family and the Zhou family in the future.

After a long time, Yang Xu shook his head violently, as if trying to shake his chaotic mind, "But she is only so old, and she likes Brother Qiu, how can she be willing to commit suicide?"

Although Yang Xu was a little blunt, he was not stupid.

Qiu Zongxi and Zhou Shuyao had a very happy conversation, and the two were the same age, and they were about to get married, so Yang Xu also saw some signs of it.

But there was no need for Yang Shoucheng to answer this question, Yang Xu figured it out. If Zhou Shuyao had the possibility of marrying Qiu Jinyu before, after Fu Langhuan's death, this might not be the case.

The Qiu family is an aristocratic family in Qianzhong Road. Although Qiu Jinyu was born in the middle class, he is also a scholar, and he is still a junior. Even if he is willing to marry Zhou Shuyao regardless of his future, the Qiu family will definitely not agree. Marrying a murderer as his wife, the whole The reputation of the Qiu family will be ruined.

Looking at the beaten Yang Xu, Yang Shoucheng was really not good at comforting others, so he could only say stiffly: "If you still don't understand, why not ask Xiaoyu, she is much smarter than you."

Zhan Feiyu's intelligence is only one aspect, and what Yang Shoucheng values ​​most is her transparency. The little girl is not very old, but she is so considerate in dealing with others that there is nothing he can find fault with.

What Yang Shoucheng admires the most is that Zhan Feiyu is a gentleman who loves money in a good way. Hundreds of thousands of silver have been sent to the border. Such a loyal, patriotic and intelligent girl, Yang Shoucheng feels that Yang Xu has learned a lot from Zhan Feiyu, You can't go wrong.

(End of this chapter)