spring cloud warm

Chapter 25 The Floating Corpse
Chen Sijing did not expect to meet Xu Chunjun on the street, and he was delighted in the accident.

But before the official business, we must first ask the reason.

Xu Chunjun and Jiang Nuan explained the situation to him, Chen Sijing said: "You two girls, don't worry, I will bring someone to look for it."

So he brought his subordinates into the teahouse for questioning, and went upstairs to search again, but still did not see Liu'er.

Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Sijing said to Xu Chunjun and Jiang Nuan: "It's getting late, you two ladies, let's go back home! Leave the driver of Jiang's mansion here, and we will look for it along the street. If we can find it, we will Tell her to go back with the coachman."

Jiang Nuan went home in Xu Chunjun's carriage, and got off in front of Jiang's house.

Xu Chunjun stopped her and said, "Ah Nuan, I'll go in with you and tell your wife what happened today."

Xu Chunjun was afraid that Jiang Nuan would go back alone, and her stepmother wouldn't believe it, so she went in with Jiang Nuan. This was because she had considered everything well and didn't want Jiang Nuan to be reprimanded.

Jiang Nuan's stepmother, Mrs. Meng, was checking her son Jiang Hui's homework. Hearing that the young lady had returned with guests, she told her son to avoid it for now. "It's so late, and the eldest lady has brought guests here. It's really confusing." said the woman beside Meng.

"I think there is something wrong," said Meng Shi to the maid beside her, "Please invite the eldest lady and the guests in! The etiquette must be thoughtful."

Xu Chunjun saw that Jiang Nuan's stepmother, Mrs. Meng, was only in her early thirties, with a pale complexion and a medium build.Although the appearance is not very good, it is better than the gentle temperament.

I remember Jiang Nuan said that her mother had a strong and aggressive personality, and I thought that the Meng family and her were two completely opposite types of people.

The clothes on Meng Shi's body are half new and not old, and there are only two hairpins on his head.With a smile on his cheek, his attitude is very kind.

After meeting each other, Xu Chunjun explained his intention.

Meng didn't blame Jiang Nuan, but said: "Liu'er is usually steady, but it's hard not to be playful. She probably went somewhere, and she should be back in a while."

He also said to Xu Chunjun: "I have to work on such a small matter. Miss Xu came in person. I'm really sorry. Since I'm here, I'll stay and have dinner before going back! But I don't know if there are guests coming today, the meals will inevitably be casual. I think Miss Xu is so easy-going." People will not dislike it."

After hearing this, Jiang Nuan also grabbed Xu Chunjun's hand and tried to persuade him to stay: "Sister Xu, you can stay! After dinner, I will send you back."

Xu Chunjun replied with a smile: "Thank you Madam for the meal, but I have not been out for a short time, and I have not reported to Madam Hou. I am afraid that Madam will be worried, so I will not stay for dinner, and I will visit another day."

Jiang Nuan was reluctant to part with Xu Chunjun, and didn't want to say much, knowing that she, a junior, couldn't say much in front of her stepmother.

Even though she was already very careful, she was often disliked by her father for not being ignorant of the rules.

It was the stepmother who always defended her in front of her father.

Then Meng said: "Miss Xu's words are reasonable, and it is inconvenient for me to force you to stay. It will be the same when I come back another day. Ah Nuan came to the capital for a short time, and I don't have many acquaintances. Since I hit it off with you, then Just communicate more, don't see outsiders."

Xu Chunjun saw that Jiang Nuan's stepmother had done a good job on her face, and she was even more impeccable in her words.

He also replied a few polite words, and then took his leave and went out.

Jiang Nuan sent Xu Chunjun outside the door in person, and Xu Chunjun told her: "If Liu'er comes back, you can send someone to tell me. Besides, you don't have to worry too much about this matter. I will ask you out to relax some other day."

When Xu Chunjun returned to the Hou Mansion, he had already lighted the lamp.

First, I went to see my wife to explain the reason. After hearing this, Mrs. Hou said, "You should eat first! How can a living person say that he is gone? Hearing the news tomorrow is probably a false alarm."

Xu Chunjun agreed, but the doubts in his heart were not dispelled.

The next day, Xu Chunjun helped his wife prepare things for going out. After being so busy for two days, no one was sent by the Jiang family to report.

On the third day, Mrs. Hou Ye went out with her two sons, and Xu Chunjun sent them outside the city.

Seeing his wife on the road, he got back in the car with Mother Ye.

It's midsummer now, and the heat is already uncomfortably hot in the morning.

As soon as the front foot entered the door, before he had time to drink tea, a family member reported that the inspector from the Zhenfu Division came to the door.

"It's fine, what are these officials here for?" Mama Ye wondered.

"Since we're here, we have to see him. If it's something important, we can't make up our minds, so we tell him to wait for Madam Hou to come back." Xu Chunjun said.

Xu Chunjun is now housekeeper for his wife, so naturally he wants to come forward.

Unexpectedly, it was Chen Sijing who came with a few subordinates.

Mother Ye accompanied Xu Chunjun and received him in the guest room.

Chen Sijing was wearing a black official uniform. He was tall and had an elegant face. Even the clothes of a low-ranking military officer also looked dignified and straight on him.

"Master Chen, please drink some tea," Xu Chunjun said to Chen Sixing after seeing the ceremony, "Master Hou and Madam are not at home now, what is your lord's business?"

Chen Sijing said: "I came to look for Miss Xu. The Jiang family's maid went missing that day, and now she has been found."

Xu Chunjun said: "Has Liu'er gone back yet? I was about to send someone to ask, so it will save trouble, thank you for letting me know."

Chen Sijing coughed lightly and said: "Miss Xu, don't be afraid, let me tell you the whole story. Although the maid was found, she is already dead."

"How come?!" Xu Chunjun was shocked.

You must know that this is at the feet of the emperor, and it is daytime, how can a person who is alive and kicking can say that he will die if he dies?

"Last night, a boatman salvaged a female corpse on the Qingping River. It was already swollen. But in terms of clothing and age, it was very similar to the missing Liu Er. We invited the housekeeper of the Jiang family to identify it. The birthmark is exactly the same as Liu'er, so it is judged that she is Liu'er, the Jiang family's maid."

"How did Liu'er drown in the river? What was she doing by the river?" Xu Chunjun was surprised and suspicious.

"Although her body was found in the river, she was not drowned. Instead, someone covered her mouth and nose and strangled her neck to death, and then threw her body into the river." Chen Sijing had already asked Wu Zuo to conduct an autopsy.

After hearing this, Xu Chunjun didn't speak for a long time. He frowned and said with a little hesitation: "That day she took the handkerchief and returned to the teahouse, and no one saw her come out again. And we searched several times before and after. I didn't see her. The north window of the teahouse is facing the river, but if the body is thrown away during the day, someone will definitely see it."

"Miss Xu's doubts are exactly what she has doubts about. But anyway, the suspicion that she was killed in the teahouse is the biggest. I came here today to ask Miss Xu to think about it carefully. Did any suspicious personnel appear that day? ?"

(End of this chapter)