Fu Ling nodded and shared with Song Yihuan the information she had gathered.
"That's right. I heard that the eldest young lady is going to fast and pray in the Changyue Nunnery for three days to bless and absolve the souls of those innocent women who died in the city. This news has spread, and now people outside are saying that the Princess of Prince Ning is kind - hearted and as merciful as a Bodhisattva, and she is a perfect match for the Prince."
Song Yihuan gave a soft laugh.
Kind - hearted and merciful as a Bodhisattva. Her elder sister really knows how to build a good reputation for herself. But who among the common people knows that her elder sister is not an ordinary person.
While Song Nanxin was out of the mansion, Song Yihuan told Chun Xing and Fu Ling to take good care of Song Yixuan, and then quietly left the Prince Ning's Mansion again.
She neither went to the bookstore, nor the embroidery workshop or the medical clinic. Instead, she bought a roasted chicken in the market, carried two jars of Nu'er Hong wine, and headed towards Yongning Lane in Shangyang Fang in the south of the city.
The Qi family in Yongning Lane, Shangyang Fang.
After applying the last layer of paint, the dowry dressing case was finally finished. The dressing case made by Qi Lei was delicate and small, looking no different from those sold in the market.
He lowered his head and carefully examined the dressing case in his hand. After confirming that there were no problems, he put it aside to dry, then picked up another piece of wood and continued to plane it with his head down.
As the wood gradually took shape in his hand, the door suddenly knocked.
Qi Lei looked up towards the door, put down the tools in his hand, got up and replied, "Coming. Wait a moment."
When he opened the door, he saw Ji Lingchuan and Gu Yunzheng standing outside.
Qi Lei was a bit stunned, looking surprised. "My lords, why are you here?"
Ji Lingchuan put his hands behind his back, looking indifferent and didn't say a word. It was Gu Yunzheng beside him who smiled and said, "Hero Qi, we're here today because we still have some questions to ask you. Can we... talk inside?"
Qi Lei's house was different from what Ji Lingchuan had expected. The interior was clean and tidy, with all the necessary furniture, and it even exuded a touch of elegance. There were several pieces of furniture that were clearly made for women.
However, those furniture seemed to be quite old and not newly made. In a single man's house, it looked rather strange.
Ji Lingchuan's eyes quietly swept over those furniture, then he lifted his robe and sat down on the arhat bed in the room.
Gu Yunzheng sat on the other side, with a tea table separating them clearly.
Qi Lei took out the tea set and poured a cup of tea for each of them. With a somewhat obsequious smile, he asked, "My lords, what brings you here today? Has the case encountered some difficulties?"
Gu Yunzheng lowered her eyelashes and played with her sleeves, waiting for Ji Lingchuan to speak.
After they left here yesterday, Ji Lingchuan immediately ordered the government yamen to go back to the crime scene for investigation. He led the people to investigate and indeed found an old canal in each victim's house, and there were traces of moss being scraped at the canal mouth.
However, just when they were wondering how the murderer could commit the crime with such a narrow canal mouth, Ji Lingchuan discovered new clues again.
He said that the murderer was very likely a dwarf of short stature. Early this morning, he sent people to several acrobatic troupes in the capital city to look for clues.
It could be said that this case was now completely under Ji Lingchuan's control, and their government yamen had completely become a foil.
Ji Lingchuan didn't know what was on Gu Yunzheng's mind. He explained their purpose today to Qi Lei.
"There are a total of five registered acrobatic troupes in the city, but dwarfs like this are rare. There are only five of them. Unfortunately, two of them died of illness two years ago, another two left the capital to go back to their hometown to farm last year, and one was accidentally washed away by the water during the construction of the canal and his whereabouts are unknown."
Ji Lingchuan's words reminded Qi Lei of the memory of the canal construction. He nodded and said, "Yes, I remember this. There was indeed one person who was washed away in the chaos. They couldn't find his body for a long time, and later the foreman judged him dead."
But if all the dwarfs who participated in the canal construction were dead, then who was the murderer who used the old canals to kill wantonly in the city?
Ji Lingchuan said, "Since that person can move freely in the canals, it means that he is very familiar with the distribution of the old and new canals in the city. Hero Qi, we're here today to ask you for a favor."
"You're good at swimming, familiar with the waterways in the capital city, and you once participated in the construction of the new canal. You must be very familiar with the distribution of the old and new canals in the capital. I hope you can join us to catch the murderer. After the matter is done, there will surely be a generous reward."
When Qi Lei heard the words "generous reward", his eyes flashed. He got up and bowed to Ji Lingchuan. "My lord's trust is an honor for me. But I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, my lord. Although I participated in the construction of the new canal, it was several years ago. I'm getting old, and I can't remember how the old and new canals in the city are distributed."
Ji Lingchuan seemed to have expected his answer. He said calmly, "It doesn't matter. I have a map here. Hero Qi, take a look at it and maybe it will jog your memory."
Saying this, he looked at Gu Yunzheng beside him.
Gu Yunzheng took out the map of the canal distribution in the capital from her sleeve and handed it to Qi Lei.
The sheepskin map slowly unfolded in his hand. The positions and distributions of the old and new canals on the map were clearly marked. However, Qi Lei only glanced at it and then closed the map. Looking embarrassed, he said to Ji Lingchuan and Gu Yunzheng,
"Sorry, my lords. I'm illiterate. There are many words on this map that I can't understand. I'm afraid I really can't help you, my lords."
Ji Lingchuan stroked the rim of the cup with his finger, his expression unreadable. And the next moment, Qi Lei said again,
"However, I can introduce someone to you. She not only knows how to read but also writes beautifully. Most importantly, she has an excellent memory. As long as you take her to walk through the places marked on the map once, she can remember the locations of all the canals. With her assistance, you will be as powerful as a tiger with wings."
Hearing the words "excellent memory", Ji Lingchuan frowned slightly. Connecting Qi Lei's secret relationship with Song Yihuan, a guess emerged in his mind.
Gu Yunzheng voiced his question. "Hero Qi, who is this person you're talking about? Where does she live now? Can you ask her to come and meet us?"
Qi Lei said, "She doesn't live nearby. But don't worry, my lords. I'll find a way to contact her and ask her to come to the government yamen to find you today."
Just as Qi Lei finished speaking, there was a sudden noise outside the courtyard, and a cheerful and pleasant voice came:
"Uncle Qi, are you at home? Miss Huan is here to see you with your favorite Nu'er Hong wine and roasted chicken!"
This familiar voice surprised both Ji Lingchuan and Gu Yunzheng. Ji Lingchuan keenly caught that address.
Uncle Qi?