Chapter 2 "Retreat into" the Public Gate

"You all..." Mo Yan said somewhat anxiously, "Isn't the matter already clear? What further evidence is needed?"

Zhan Zhao observed her sophistry; although he felt a slight annoyance in his heart, he did not wish to argue with her and simply said: "Let us now go to the mortuary in the mansion"

Mo Yan nodded slightly and also got up. As if recalling something, she turned to Wang Chao earnestly and said: "In the future, when you buy rouge for your sister-in-law, do not purchase those cheap ones that cost two or three coins of silver; their scent is simply too overpowering. The best ones do not exceed two taels of silver, and their quality and fragrance are far superior. You are not short of silver, so remember not to be stingy next time."

Gongsun Ce exchanged a glance with Bao Zheng, realizing that this account book was a private ledger. Bai Baozhen must have hidden it very secretly, and it would be difficult to obtain it naturally. Although the method of theft is not honorable, it is indeed practical, and it may still be feasible.

Mo Yan cast a glance at Zhan Zhao, who was staring at the old official's face, seemingly contemplating his words

"You want me to patrol the streets for three months first, what will happen to my senior brother? Naturally, I refuse!" Mo Yan raised her head and said irritably

Miss Mo!" Zhang Zhao admonished her, "This is a bustling market!"

Zhan Zhao nodded, observing her face beginning to turn pale, her gaze becoming unfocused

Zhan Zhao stepped forward to knock on the door, and after quite a while, a thin and small old servant finally came to open it

Looking at Mo Yan again, as the soup was still hot, she could only hold the bowl and sip it slowly, yet she had no intention of letting go

Mo Yan could not tolerate his incessant chatter, so she entered the room and looked around. She noticed that not only the floor had been cleaned, but also the tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets had all been wiped down. She couldn't help but sneer, "I didn't expect that a person like you would actually be so meticulous in cleaning."

"Miss Mo, please come in," Zhang Zhao said as he turned around, only to notice that Mo Yan's face was as pale as paper, a stark contrast to her earlier spirited demeanor. He could not help but ask, "Is there something troubling you, Miss?"

Zhan Zhao, feeling helpless, had no choice but to comply and enter.

Zhan Zhao had been handling cases for a long time and had seen some women who were afraid to see corpses. They would merely scream, cover their faces, and run away; those who were more serious might even cry. However, it was perplexing to encounter someone who was so terrified as she was

He casually tossed this hot potato to Zhan Zhao

By the time he found Mo Yan, she had already run near the kitchen, almost traversing the entire Kaifeng Prefecture, and was sitting under a tree, lost in thought.

Master Bao!" Mo Yan cupped his hands in salute and said without any politeness, "Although Master Zhan's martial arts are exceptional, his actions are rather reckless. It would be more appropriate for me to undertake the journey to Jiangnan.

The bodies of Bai Baozhen and the official were laid in the west side of the room, covered with two pieces of white cloth. Although it was no longer the hot summer days, the bodies had been there for two days and had begun to emit a faint foul odor. Although Zhan Zhao was naturally fastidious and his sense of smell was not as acute as Mo Yan's, he could not help but feel a churn in his stomach upon catching the whiff of the stench, almost wanting to vomit. However, he merely furrowed his brows slightly and forced himself to endure.

Zhan Zhao finished his meal early, placed a few copper coins on the table, and slightly cupped his hands towards Wang Chao and Ma Han, saying: "Please take your time, gentlemen. I have some matters to attend to first." He then said to Mo Yan: "I happen to need to go to the case's official post this morning, so you can come with me."

Zhan Zhao blew on the hot air, took a light sip, and the aroma of the meat was wrapped in the flavor of angelica, refreshing and delightful. He smiled politely and said, "It is very delicious, thank you, Madam."

"Is he the official here?" Mo Yan leaned in, puzzled, "Didn’t they say you were dead?"

This ... ... let's discuss it later. " The dynasty continued with a stiff upper lip, " After a while, you and I will go to collect the badges. Once you have the badges, you will officially take office. As for this outfit ... ... although there are a few ready-made ones, I fear they will all be too large, and we will need to ask a tailor to take measurements and make new ones.

Miss Mo!" Zhang Zhao said in a deep voice, his eyes conveying a sense of authority, signaling her not to speak recklessly

He looked at her and said solemnly: "Since you are already a person of the public office, you should understand the gravity of the matter. This case concerns the officials of the court, so do not discuss the details of the case in public."

Although there are forensic experts, I fear that there may inevitably be oversights. This case is of great importance, and I believe it should be examined more thoroughly.

"Is it alright?" she asked tentatively, stealing a glance at his expression.

A pot of soup was simmering on the small stove in the kitchen, and a rich aroma lingered around the two of them. As they inhaled this fragrance, Mo Yan's eyes seemed to come alive, as if invigorated by the scent.

Three months! My senior brother should have already been tried!" Mo Yan couldn't help but feel a bit anxious, "Your rules are really not good; they should be changed. Patrolling the streets has nothing to do with investigating cases. Does patrolling more lead to better case investigations? It simply makes no sense!

This individual truly does not know! That messenger has never been seen, only heard Song Li mention that he was going out to deliver a letter. Moreover, this individual cannot read!

"Could it be that a letter from Jiangnan has arrived?" said Zhang Zhao

What is your name, young lady

Madam Ma collected the bowls and smiled, saying: "Go on, go on, I know you are busy. When you have time, come over; I still have plenty to make." The last sentence was directed at Mo Yan.

Oh! Mo Yan said with a smile, "Wine is a good thing. It's fortunate that you drank too much, otherwise I fear you would..." She gestured with her hand across her neck and stuck out her tongue, making a funny face. After saying this, she ignored the stunned official standing in the library and stepped inside on her own.

Her face suddenly turned pale, and she stammered, "That, that... isn't there a coroner?"

What does he reward you for doing?

Go and take a look at the storeroom

He recklessly captured my senior brother based solely on an anonymous letter, isn't that foolish!" At this point, she shot a glare at Zhan Zhao and continued, "If it weren't for him, how could my senior brother have ended up in prison, let alone be in danger of losing his life

Xiao Yangchun is a renowned fine wine in the capital, and it costs one tael and two qian of silver to purchase half a jin of it. Zhan Zhao was unaware of how Mo Yan learned that the official was drinking Xiao Yangchun, but seeing the old official's panicked expression, he realized that she had caught him off guard with her words

Zhan Zhao smiled wryly; it was the first time he had heard someone say that he acted recklessly

Gongsun Ce nodded and said: "It is stated above that, just in terms of the river management, it is roughly estimated that over five hundred thousand taels are embezzled each year, not to mention the Weaving Bureau... Now he is afraid that the corruption cases in Jiangnan will lead back to him, so he must have acted first to kill Bai Baozhen. It is a pity that we cannot find any evidence."

"Sir!" he replied, "This journey is likely to be perilous; it would be more efficient for just one subordinate to act alone."

Zhan Zhao smiled awkwardly, yet did not know what to say

Zhan Zhao observed Mo Yan walking quietly beside him, without saying a word. Her eyes wandered back and forth between the shops on both sides of the street, revealing a sense of freshness, resembling a child in demeanor.

Why not let the students take a trip to Jiangnan

Mo Yan hesitated for a long time at the entrance of the courtyard before stepping in with a shuffling gait. The door of the main room in the courtyard had already been pushed open by Zhan Zhao, and a few long tables could be vaguely seen inside. A foul odor assaulted her senses, causing her to stumble and nearly fall.

"She just went to the morgue." The implication in her words seemed to suggest that she was saying she bullied Mo Yan, so he hurried to explain.

I do not ... ... street ... ...

Wang Chao was momentarily stunned and did not know what to say. By the time he regained his composure, she had already walked away with Zhan Zhao

Then come in

Seeing that Bao Zheng had arranged matters in this manner, Zhan Zhao no longer spoke further, and respectfully said: "I shall obey the command and set out early tomorrow morning"

In the early morning, the back street of Kaifeng Prefecture is already quite lively, with billowing steam rising from the small shops selling breakfast. One after another, there are various offerings such as fermented mung bean juice, steamed buns, dumplings, and noodle soup, all of which create a rich array of aromas that waft through the air, enticing passersby to indulge.

Mo Yan's face showed a hint of joy as she circled around the official post a few times, sometimes bending down to take a closer look, and at other times leaping onto the wall. After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, she squatted on the wall and waved to Zhan Zhao

After a while, he suddenly asked: "By the way, how did you know he was drinking Xiao Yangchun?"

Miss Mo," he suddenly recalled, pausing slightly in his steps, "let us first examine the bodies of Bai Baozhen and that official before we proceed to the scene of the incident

Mo Yanqi said: "Everyone has gone out on patrol, who will investigate the case?"

Madam Ma led them into the small kitchen next door and had them sit at the small table

Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan exchanged surprised glances and simultaneously asked, "What does the letter say?"

"Master Zhang, you come in too!" She turned her head and called out to the still present Zhang Zhao, not waiting for his response, and entered on her own.

Miss Mo, as you have just entered the public service, it is understandable that you cannot remember so many rules at once. Fortunately, there is plenty of time ahead, so you should be more attentive and cautious. Ma Han, who had been enthusiastically speaking for half a day, had not even eaten a single bun. I will take you to meet Captain Liang later; you should start with the street patrol.

Mo Yan crouched down, patted his shoulder, and smiled, saying: "Get up, what are you afraid of? You merely took a bit of silver, it's not like you committed murder or arson. We certainly won't harm you."

A lifeless body

He leaped up as instructed, following her finger to look, and saw several flattened patches of moss on the wall.

"The rouge used by the lady, how does she know? Could it be that you have a scent on you?" Ma Han leaned closer, sniffing around him in a chaotic manner, puzzled, "Why didn't I notice it?"

Madam Ma observed Mo Yan sitting on the ground, dazed and unresponsive, and wondered: "What is wrong with this young girl? Has she been bullied by someone? Just look at her pitiful state..."

Not far away, several constables were having their breakfast. Upon hearing her words, they all turned to look in this direction. Wang Chaomahan was immediately put in an awkward position, unsure of how to handle her.

Mo Yan smiled and nodded, then followed Zhang Zhao out together

Then, Zhang Zhao slowly unveiled a white cloth, revealing the corpse of Bai Baozhen, with dark blue post-mortem lividity appearing on the pale skin

Bao Zheng furrowed his brows: "I fear that Zhang Yaozuo may cause trouble from within. From Bai Baozhen, it is evident that he is ruthless and merciless. Zhan Huwei, you must be cautious!"

Before Bao Zheng could speak, Mo Yan had already jumped up in disbelief, staring at him and saying: "Are you afraid that I will drag you down?"

Ma Han is a rough and straightforward man, dealing daily with either colleagues or criminals, and naturally does not understand subtlety in conversation. At this moment, seeing her numerous criticisms, he expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "You are not some celestial being descended to earth, so what are you being so picky about your clothes for"

Are you... ... alright? He still thought it would be better to ask.

Zhan Zhao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this; he had indeed forgotten this rule that new constables must patrol the streets for three months first. It seemed that Lord Bao had not considered this aspect either. She was solely focused on exonerating her senior brother and had reluctantly entered the public service. At this moment, asking her to patrol the streets, it was clear she would certainly refuse.

This girl must be terrified!" Ma Dashao saw her drinking with great enjoyment and felt very pleased. She gently stroked her hair and said, "After drinking the soup and warming up, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Zhan Zhao said lightly: "Why aren't you going to fetch it quickly!"

Wang Chao smiled and said: "Just now, when I took her to the police station, the brothers inside said: 'Could it be that Lord Bao wants to emulate the Yang family female generals and bring a female constable from Kaifeng to add some color to our yamen'"

He had no choice but to cover it with a white cloth, let out a soft sigh, and walk out of the room

No, it is to report back to Lord Bao.

Wang Chao noticed that the circles under Zhan Zhao's eyes were faintly dark, and thus sighed, "Last night, it went on until the third watch. Brother Zhan, you must not have gotten any rest when you returned home, right?"

Account book! From this government's perspective, although Bai Baozhen could not have anticipated that Zhang Yaozuo would kill him, he must have come to the capital this time to discuss strategies with Zhang Yaozuo. The account book is a leverage that Zhang Yaozuo holds over him, and he would certainly not bring it to the capital.

Is it becoming increasingly difficult?" She turned to look at the old steward, still wearing a cheerful expression, but her gaze suddenly became sharp. "How can it be so difficult when you can still afford to drink a little Yangchun wine?"

She truly has a keen eye for observation; even a small spot of lipstick on Wang Chao's collar did not escape her notice, likely a result of his wife accidentally smudging it while adjusting his collar after just applying her lipstick. Zhan Zhao couldn't help but smile slightly, imagining that just a few words from Mo Yan earlier would be enough to keep Wang Chao pondering for the entire day

Are we going back there now?" As soon as she stepped out, she hesitated and asked, fearing that Zhan Zhao would go to the morgue again

That is fine. Since Wang Chao sees that Zhan Zhao is willing to mediate, it could not be better. Since this is the case, and you are most familiar with the case, why not let her follow you

... ...

The old official exclaimed in surprise, "Wasn't it said that the murderer had already been captured? Could it be that there are two murderers instead?"

"Little people, little people... the wine they drink is not the light spring wine, but the rice wine brewed by themselves," the old official said, forcing himself to remain calm.

Zhan Zhao could not help but feel that her luck was quite good

Does the term "adult" refer to ... ... ?

Miss, this is a joke. Our small official post is remote and secluded, so naturally there are few visitors. Sometimes, there may not be anyone coming for one or two months. Who would have thought that as soon as someone came, trouble would arise... The old official sighed with a worried expression and said, "Even if someone gives us a small reward, it's just a meager amount to get rid of us. These years have become increasingly difficult."

He is an old drunkard; the moment he opens his mouth, I can smell it. She wrinkled her nose and said uncomfortably

Do you know the reason for his trip to the capital

This official post station is the smallest here, hence it is remote

Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan spoke at the same time. She clearly did not expect him to say that as well, and looked at him with a strange expression.

Zhan Zhao came over as instructed, observing that both Wang Chao and Ma Han wore expressions of gloom, while Mo Yan, indifferent, was eating steamed buns. The contrast between the two was somewhat amusing.

The two individuals were in a difficult situation. Upon raising their heads, they saw Zhan Zhao walking towards them and quickly stood up to make way, saying: "Brother Zhan! Come and sit here"

Oh

"How can one be reckless in guarding?" Bao Zheng inquired.

Shifang! Ma Dasao squatted down and touched Mo Yan's little face, and said to Zhang Zhao with a frown, "You should handle the case with compassion. How could you take a girl to the morgue? No wonder she's so scared!"

Mo Yan glared at him angrily and said, "Catching him is not easy..."

Although the words were not spoken aloud, both individuals thought the same in their hearts: Bai Baozhen secretly went to the capital, and to avoid drawing attention, it was better to stay at an official post than at a crowded inn where gossip could easily spread.

Mo Yan forced herself to maintain her composure, reluctantly shook her head, yet did not enter. Standing a yard away from the doorway, she hesitated and asked, "Are those two... inside?"

Footprint

Gongsun Ce inquired with great interest, "Do you know where the account books are?"

Watering is done once every four to five days, and sometimes it is skipped if it rains. The old steward paused and said, In the past two days, the autumn rain fell continuously for a day and a night, which is why I have not watered the plants.

Adult

Why didn't I smell it?

The account book is in Jiangnan? She vaguely recalled what Zhang Zhao had just said, "Is it enough to just bring the account book? Then I will go get it, no need to trouble Lord Zhang."

"Who told you to clean up?" Zhang Zhao's expression darkened

"Aside from being slightly inferior to you in martial arts, in what other aspects do I fall short?" She glared at him angrily

"Come, come in and have some hot soup to calm your nerves!" Ma Dashao pulled Mo Yan into the kitchen, and the latter obediently followed her.

Master Zhang mentioned that... however... we should first go to that official post station to take a look, as I generally prefer to see that last...

With a bang, Zhang Zhao turned around to look, but Mo Yan had already vanished without a trace, and the door was shaking violently.

Wang Chao and Ma Han saw that Zhan Zhao nodded, and they immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Ma Han quickly ordered another steamer of buns to make up for what they had not eaten earlier

It is quite common for a young lady to feel timid and fearful upon encountering a corpse; however, he had originally thought that Mo Yan, being a person of the martial world, should possess a courage greater than that of an ordinary young lady.

Zhan Zhao nodded slightly; her conjecture was no different from his. Inferring a person's height from footprints was something he had learned from Bao Zheng during his early days in the public service while handling cases. She surprisingly did not know where she had learned it from, or perhaps she was self-taught

Miss Mo! Zhang Zhao is indeed feeling a bit of a headache, you cannot go!

Angelica and beef soup! She inhaled the aroma and remarked, "It also contains wind grass."

She chuckled and said, "I don't know, I was just guessing. My master always hides the wine jar under the bed."

"No!" Bao Zheng firmly rejected, "Although the gentleman is resourceful, he is merely a frail scholar. If he falls into their clutches, how can this office maintain its dignity!" He glanced up and saw that Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan had already entered, then took a deep breath, gestured for them to take a seat, and called for tea to be served.

The dynasty patted Ma Han on the shoulder, signaling him not to be anxious, and then spoke slowly: "Miss Mo, you are new to the officialdom and do not understand the rules. Newly appointed constables must patrol the streets for three months before they are qualified to start investigating cases"

She wondered, "So what?"

Miss Mo! Are you alright?" Zhan Zhao asked with concern, noticing that she seemed quite startled

Bao Zheng was taken aback, but he shook his head: "At this moment, we can only suspect, but we do not have evidence to prove that it must be Zhang Yaozuo. Your senior brother cannot be released for the time being."

"Exhibit, Lord Zhang..." The old official knelt down at the sound of 'pass', not daring to take the wine. "This wine is indeed a little Yangchun, but... but... this matter truly has nothing to do with me! This money was a reward given to me by Lord Bai!"

Mo Yan lightly turned and leaped down, signaling for him to come down as well, pointing out several places in the courtyard to show him: "Although there are only traces of toes, it can still be seen that one went towards the east, while another went towards the northwest"

Mo Yan remained silent, clearly unwilling and reluctant, yet also powerless.

Zhan Zhao glanced at him and said, "In the past few days, apart from me, has anyone else come by?"

Mo Yan looked at him and said anxiously: "This matter is already very clear! There are two culprits, it cannot be my senior brother..."

Corpse

The tone of this remark was rather sharp, yet Mo Yan was not offended. With a smile, she said: "Precisely because one is not a celestial being descended to earth, one must pay even more attention to one's attire and appearance. Is it not the case that if one is not naturally good-looking, one should further adorn oneself in an unflattering manner?"

What is your monthly salary?" She smiled gently and asked again

To the northwest is a side room, where Bai Baozhen died; to the east is the kitchen, where the official servant died. Zhan Zhao said lightly.

The dynasty ordered a bowl of mung bean juice, then looked at the person sitting opposite him - Mo Yan, who was eating her third steamed bun with a cute expression. However, it is unknown how much of what Ma Han was saying about the rules in the yamen she actually absorbed.

Even the messenger has been killed

Zhan Zhao did not mind and nodded slightly. Since he observed her exceptional intelligence yesterday, he harbored a certain curiosity in his heart. If she could uncover flaws that he himself had not noticed, it would indeed be a good thing

He shook his head but remained silent.

Yes

Bao Zheng pondered for a moment: "Rather than sending the guards, it would be better to let Miss Mo accompany you on this journey."

Zhan Zhao rose and said: "I will quickly go to Jiangnan and bring back the account books"

Mo Yan slowly raised her head to glance at him, her gaze vacant, yet she said nothing.

Ma Dashao was very happy to hear these words. There were many people who praised her cooking skills on weekdays, but unfortunately, although there were many people in Kaifeng Prefecture, none of them were proficient in this field. No matter how much effort was put into the dishes, they only knew the words "delicious". She was delighted to hear Mo Yan's praise, which was the essence of the matter, and was overjoyed as if she had found a kindred spirit.

Mo Yan finally entered the room, his gaze just touching the two human-shaped white cloths, then hurriedly moved away, his steps as heavy as a thousand catties, and he moved over with great difficulty.

The girl has a keen sense of smell! Ma Dashao fetched a bowl and served each of them a bowl of soup, smiling as she said: "Quick, give it a taste; I have simmered it for more than two hours, let’s see if it is flavorful enough"

A monthly salary of one tael of silver

Actually, although this remark is a joke, the tone and manner in which those people said it carried a hint of looking down on Mo Yan. Wang Chao himself also had a low opinion of Mo Yan in his heart, so he naturally wouldn't speak up for her. It was just a momentary laughter among everyone.

"So, you must have cleaned the kitchen as well?" Mo Yan inquired, leaning forward.

You... as a constable, must start with patrolling the streets. Ma Han urged.

At this moment, Zhan Zhao also finished drinking the soup in his bowl and stood up, cupping his hands and saying, "Madam, we still have matters to attend to and cannot stay for long."

Mr. Zhan! Come and take a look at this!

Zhan Zhao glanced at her; he had never heard her say such a thing to anyone else, yet she was so intimate with the newly acquainted Ma Dasao. Although he did not understand, he merely thought that women found it easier to be close to one another

"......Yes, I, a humble servant, cook and prepare meals daily, but if I do not clean, it truly is......" The old steward said with a pained expression, "To be honest with you both, ever since my brother Song Li passed away, I have been living here all alone, and to say that I am not afraid would be a lie"

"You are the new constable!" Ma Dasao exclaimed in surprise, "I have heard our master mention you before." Earlier, she had heard Ma Han complain that this girl was difficult and quirky, making her hard to get along with. Now, seeing Mo Yan sitting there obediently and sweetly, completely different from what Ma Han had said, she couldn't help but feel curious.

This statement is rather vague. Mo Yan, with some effort, swallowed the bun in his mouth and took a large sip of bean juice before responding crisply, "I do not patrol the streets! I became a constable for the sake of my senior brother's case. If I go out on patrol, what will happen to my senior brother?"

Since she has said so, Zhan Zhao no longer spoke further and took the lead in entering the room

"Bai Baozhen is at least a third-rank official, how could he possibly be staying in such a small official inn in the capital?" She slightly furrowed her brows, "Unless..."

The old official was left in a state of great anxiety by her words, unsure of how to proceed

She obediently followed his words and took him into her arms, not uttering another word, which left Ma Han somewhat astonished

"Lord Zhan, it is you!" The old official appeared to be in a state of listlessness.

"Go away, go away!" Wang Chao hurriedly pushed him away, feeling puzzled in his heart: how does she know that I bought rouge worth two or three coins of silver

How did you know that he hid the wine jar under the bed

Wang Chao and Ma Han exchanged helpless glances, both thinking: How is it that this girl always has a reason for everything

"Zhan simply does not wish for the young lady to take risks"

Zhan Zhao reported in detail the matters he had discovered

"Rest assured, my lord, I shall exercise utmost caution!"

"Account books!" Bao Zheng said in a deep voice, "There must be account books detailing the embezzlement by Zhang Yaozuo."

Zhan Zhao did not wish to make things difficult for her, so he agreed

Gongsun Ce smiled and said, "As the guard officer holds the fourth rank, you should naturally listen to him."

A swollen and deformed face

"This..." the old steward hurriedly said, "I was thinking that this guest room still needs to accommodate people, and having bloodstains all over the floor is quite unsettling."

Although this young lady is intelligent, she is completely ignorant of the affairs of the court and officialdom, Bao Zheng sighed inwardly. Since Li Xu is being deliberately framed and the evidence is conclusive, if he is not dealt with, it is feared that soon there will be accusations of negligence in duty or favoritism and corruption.

Could it be that she is afraid to see the corpse? Zhang Zhao wondered in his heart

Mo Yan had been listening for half a day, completely disregarding the discussions about the Jiangnan corruption and the account books. Her mind was solely occupied with thoughts of her senior brother, and she could not help but interject, "Lord Bao, if that is the case, could you perhaps release my senior brother first?"

At this moment, it was already close to noon, and after all, it was the capital city, bustling with activity. The shops that had not yet opened in the morning were now in business, and the number of people coming and going had increased significantly... However, Mo Yan was no longer in the mood to observe; she felt that the closer she got to the Kaifeng Prefecture, the more her heart raced. Once she and Zhan Zhao entered through the west corner gate of the Kaifeng Prefecture, her heart was pounding like a drum, unable to contain itself.

So, do you know how to obtain the ledger

"The petty person does not know..." he said quickly, but then he heard Mo Yan beside him chuckle softly, and he hurriedly added, "However, he once had Song Li deliver a message to the Grand Minister of the Three Departments."

"Indeed!" The dynasty nodded, helplessly glancing at Mo Yan, who had already started on her fifth bun. "I originally suggested that she accompany Captain Liang on his patrol. Captain Liang is known for his good nature and would not bully newcomers, yet this girl simply refused to go."

In terms of official rank, Zhan Zhao is considerably higher than them; however, he has known Wang Chao and Ma Han for a long time and has also served under Bao Zheng for quite some time. Therefore, he has always referred to them as brothers, without any airs, and speaks in a very gentle manner.

The dynasty summoned Mo Yan to get up, first taking her to collect her badge, and then they strolled around the police station, merely to familiarize themselves with the faces, to avoid any misunderstandings in the future. After a while, the two returned, and Mo Yan had a small copper badge in her hand, casually swinging it around, showing little regard for it.

Hearing her tone was unusual, the old official servant awkwardly dared not respond.

"Hmm?" Her reaction seemed to slow down considerably, and after a moment, she suddenly raised her head and said, "I am doing quite well! Is there something important?"

This Ma Dazhao is only about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with the maiden surname Fu and the given name Wei. Due to her exceptional culinary skills, she has gained the admiration of Madam Bao, and thus has been following Bao Zheng. Three years ago, with the help of Madam Bao as a matchmaker, she married Ma Han

She wondered, "Why?"

I alone can retrieve it!

Mo Yan paced back and forth two or three times before raising her head to ask the old steward, "How often are the flowers and plants in this courtyard watered?"

Upon hearing the words "morgue," her legs instinctively weakened. She stole a glance at him, observing his cold expression, and could only follow him in silence.

"Bai Baozhen once had someone deliver a letter to Zhang Yaozuo! The contents of that letter were indeed true!" Bao Zheng exclaimed in anger, "Jiangnan is indeed Zhang Yaozuo's little treasury"

There is also here

Zhan Zhao crossed over and walked towards the back room first, thinking to himself, since this girl has entered the public domain, how can she still speak so recklessly? There is plenty of time ahead; not only will her temperament lead to her own misfortune, but it is also likely to implicate the Kaifeng Prefecture.

This is the place

Upon hearing this, both Zhan Zhao and Ma Han smiled

Then some officials came and moved the corpse away; apart from that, there was no one else

It is imperative to quickly obtain evidence of his corruption; otherwise, I fear that even more lives will be lost

When they arrived at the outer study, Bao Zheng had just received a letter from Jiangnan and was fuming with anger. Gongsun Ce beside him also had a furrowed brow.

Zhan Zhao smiled and said, "I have always been a light sleeper, so I am quite accustomed to it. Are you going to take Miss Mo to receive the award later?"

"How can your nose compare to mine!" she said with a sense of entitlement, pausing for a moment before adding, "However, it is better not to smell this kind of odor."

Mo Yan glanced around and wondered, "How many official post stations are there in the capital? Why is this one so remote?"

Zhan Daren and Ma Han addressed each other as brothers, thus they did not dare to treat her lightly, and hurriedly clasped their hands in salute, saying: "Sister-in-law"

"Rules must not be discarded," he said slowly, pretending not to notice Mo Yan glaring at him. He then continued, "However, it is understandable that Miss Mo is concerned about her senior brother. Why not let her investigate this case first, and after the case is concluded, they can patrol the streets? What do you both think?"

Seeing that the old official did not appear to be lying, and unable to extract any further information, Zhan Zhao thus left the official post with Mo Yan. On the way back, in contrast to her relaxed and carefree demeanor, he could only furrow his brows in contemplation.

Mo Yan finished the soup in one go before putting down the bowl and said, "You are truly a good person! No wonder the soup you made is so delicious!" Her bright, round eyes looked at Ma Dasao, filled with gratitude, and her words were very sincere. "The soup has added wind lotus grass, which does not diminish the rich aroma of the soup, but rather removes the meat's astringency and adds a touch of sweetness, making this ordinary soup taste so wonderful... I wonder how you came up with this idea."

"Naturally, one must ask them for it; if they do not give it, then one can only resort to stealing." She stated plainly

He said that his trip to the capital this time was very discreet, and he rewarded the lowly ones with some silver, so that they would not let any rumors leak out

"It doesn't matter if I don't do it! This outfit is both black and gray, and I really find it unattractive." She frowned

The morgue is located very close to the prison cell, in a separate small courtyard. Zhan Zhao pushed open the courtyard door and called out a few times, "Uncle Zhou," but received no response. It seemed that the coroner had gone out for some business, so he went straight inside.

"Hmph..." Although Mo Yan understood that there was some truth in what he said, she did not appreciate this cat's lecturing. She deliberately replied, "No wonder people say that officials like you always see others as not good people. Aren't the people on the streets all subjects of the Song Dynasty? If the world is governed by the people, and if the government and court are clear and just, what is there to criticize?"

"Only one or two silver coins? How can this be enough for the daily expenses of the entire household?" Mo Yan turned her head to look at him and said, "I suppose the tips from the guests are quite substantial on ordinary days."

By the way, Lord Zhan, can we now release my senior brother?" she asked cheerfully, thinking to herself that since this matter is related to Zhang Yaozuo, it has nothing to do with her senior brother.

Zhan Zhao's lips curled slightly, and there was a hint of approval in his eyes. In fact, he had already noticed the footprints on the wall when he arrived that day, but he chose to remain silent, merely wanting to see if she could discover them herself

The old official stared at her with wide eyes until she took out a small copper plate and waved it in front of him, then said: "The little person did not die; it was Song Li who died. The little person drank too much that night and remembers nothing."

"My surname is Mo, and my given name is Yan. I am the new constable in this district. I am the seventh child in my family, so you can just call me Little Seven." Mo Yan said with a smile.

Upon pushing open the door to that room, he found the floor to be spotless, a stark contrast to the disarray it had been in during his previous visit. He was taken aback and was about to ask a question when the old servant hurried over, smiling as he said, "I just finished tidying up this room yesterday"

"The homemade rice wine can emit the fragrance of early spring," Mo Yan said with a cold smile, "Then your family should really open a winery; I can imagine it would be bustling with customers... Why not first bring out the rice wine you have hidden under your bed for me to taste."

Zhan Zhao indeed has this intention, so he can only remain silent

She extended her hand and traced the marks lightly, frowning as she said, "There are two individuals, both men, one standing at about seven feet tall..." She gestured with her palm at the footprints, "The other is shorter, probably around six feet eight. There are only footprints leading in, suggesting that they left through the door afterward"

"Isn't it said to be in Jiangnan... perhaps in the Weaving Bureau."

"Listen to his orders!" she said reluctantly

Just then, the cook Ma Dasao came out and, seeing the two of them, smiled and said: "Lord Zhan, what brings you here? Are you hungry? If not, I can prepare some snacks for you to try."

"Miss Mo, you should accompany the guard to Jiangnan! Follow his arrangements completely," Bao Zheng said in a deep voice.

"Miss, please take care! Although this badge is small, if it gets lost and someone else picks it up to impersonate a constable, the consequences could be severe" Ma Han said, unable to hold back as he noticed her indifference towards the badge.

Zhan Zhao observed that she did not inquire about the location of the incident; instead, she merely wandered around the post station. He was not in a hurry, standing quietly at the side, waiting.

The official post station is quite a distance from the Kaifeng government office. The two of them walked along the main street for a long while, turned a few corners, and then a black lacquered gate with a lantern bearing the character 'official' appeared before them

That is fine

She let out a cold snort, clearly disapproving, turned her face away, and said nothing more

Curved and stiff fingers

Was it raining the night the incident occurred