Chapter 1: The Sleeping Flower Pavilion

  “……”

  It turned out that the familiar face in section eleven was indeed a nationwide chain, and even in the big prison there were people who knew him. Xia Cao rubbed against the fence and squinted his eyes to take a closer look.

  In front of me was a dark mass, nothing could be seen clearly, only a pair of eyes were shining with soft light in the faint moonlight.

  If this person is close to Duan Shi Yi, then she just scolded her so much, and later if someone reports her, won't that bastard Duan Shi Yi chop her into pieces?

  The little grass shook its head: "I don't know!"

  Heiying paused for a moment and sighed: "I've been stuck here for a whole year, I don't even know if that eleven is still alive or not."

  The tone was full of nostalgia, and she couldn't help but want to tell him that Duan Shi Yi, that scoundrel, was absolutely a leftover from the previous millennium.

  The next sentence he said: "If I die, I really don't know who to find to avenge me."

  "What? Revenge? Xia Cao swallowed his saliva and sneered at him: "What revenge?"

  The black shadow moved its body, and the sound of shackles crashing echoed loudly. Only then did Xiaocao suddenly realize.

  It turns out that all these years' worth of stockpiled goods were used on this one person.

  What has this person done wrong?

  "If it weren't for Duan Shi Yi, I wouldn't be here." The black shadow's voice suddenly turned cold and cruel, scaring Xiao Cao so much that she trembled with fear. In her heart, she was extremely grateful that she had just severed ties with Duan Gou Dan, or else if this person were to take revenge, it would have implicated her as well, how unjust would that be?

  When it's time to sell, you must sell!

  The low pressure persisted for a while, and the dark shadow slowly regained its calmness. Picking up the roast chicken to continue eating, he said with his mouth full: "Considering that your roast chicken is quite well done, tell me about your situation. Who knows, maybe in two days, I can even help you with some things."

  The little grass thought, if this person knew that the roast chicken was made by Duan Shi Yi, I wonder if he would bite his tongue.

  "I didn't do anything, but I was locked up here." Anyway, there's no sleepiness now, after eating roasted chicken, Xiao Cao lay on the grass heap and said: "Originally, I went to Meng Hua Lou to find my master, but he threw me down from the second floor, and I happened to bump into a girl who had just died of poisoning. Li Hu Tou has an old grudge against me, so he directly threw me into the big prison."

  "Hei Ying snorted: 'This little thing, just wait for the autopsy to be done tomorrow and the truth will come out. You can leave then, no need for me to help.'"

  The little grass retorted: "You're wearing eighteen pairs of handcuffs yourself, how can I possibly have grievances, and you can still help me?"

  "Heh," the dark figure moved its hands and feet slightly, muttering in a low voice: "It's also because they wouldn't give me enough food to eat, otherwise..."

  "What?" Little Grass didn't hear clearly.

  "There's nothing." The black shadow chuckled twice: "You little girl have a good heart, if you have any troubles in the future, feel free to come find me and talk about it. Of course, don't forget to bring roasted chicken, I'll repay you."

  The little grass blinked, and she didn't expect anything in return, but looking at this person was indeed pitiful, as if he had been hungry for a long time. That scoundrel Duan Shiyi was still running up bills at the Menghua Building anyway, so she might as well sneak out two roast chickens when no one was paying attention.

  She nodded in agreement: "Okay!"

  Heiying was taken aback, probably didn't expect this silly girl to actually agree, and chuckled lightly.

  In the long, dark night, the little grass slept dejectedly in the grass heap, thinking to herself that she was in this humble little grass hut, while Meng Xianning was in the magnificent Sleeping Flower Pavilion, what a miserable and pitiful contrast.

  The black shadow didn't speak again, and the big prison was quiet.

  At dawn the next day, Duan Yu personally went to the entrance of the prison and took Xiao Cao out.

  "The autopsy results are out, Jin Shu was poisoned by 'Yan Zhi San Yue', not killed by you." Duan Shi Yi fanned himself with his tattered paper fan, smiling warmly: "How's the feeling of sleeping in a big prison? Fresh, huh?"

  "Your grandma's leg! The little grass immediately became a fierce tiger, knocking down Duan Shi and punching him: "Is this how you act as a master? You knew it wasn't me who did it, but yesterday you didn't even help me plead my case. Why don't you try being fresh in the big prison cell?"

  Duan Shi held up a fan to block her small fist, lying under the little grass and sighing: "Master is tempering you, do you understand?"

  The little grass picked up a big stone on the ground beside him, intending to give him a good "grind", but suddenly heard Li Er Gou's voice behind.

  "You two seem quite enthusiastic for such an early hour?"

  He brushed off his white robe with a sweep of his arm, and without even turning around, said: "Captain Li's arrival is timely; I have something to discuss with him."

  Li Er Gou wore a brand new official uniform, walked over with a smirk on his face and said: "Isn't the disciple already cleared of suspicion? What else does Captain Duan have to instruct?"

  Duan Shi smiled lightly and said, "The case of the Sleeping Flower Pavilion is complex, I'm afraid Captain Li won't be able to crack it in a short period of time. As it happens, I'm very interested in this case, would Captain Li be willing to let me take over?"

  Chang'an has been quiet for a long time without any major cases, this time it's finally out and everyone is eager to make a name for themselves, who would be so foolish as to let their arch-nemesis take the credit?

  Li Erdou thought Duan Shiyi was quite clever usually, but today he didn't know why he would come up with such a foolish idea.

  So he just snorted: "This task was given to Li by the General Capture, even if Duan Capture has a divine connection, can't defy the will of the General Capture?"

  Duan Shi laughed and said: "I just want to help Li capture the head, this case has alarmed the top, according to the temperament of the top, it will definitely be ordered to investigate the results within three days. Does Li think that he can find the murderer within three days?"

  Li Erdou scowled, furrowing his brow. When he took the case, the chief of police hadn't said it would be within three days. What Duan Shiyi said about this superior... could it be that the chief of police has a superior?

  Li Er Gou's expression changed, and he looked at Duan Shi Yi several times before saying: "Captain Duan spoke too early, this case isn't an urgent one, it can be investigated slowly, if the higher-ups really give orders, Li Mou... might also be able to try."

  Duan Eleven nodded: "Since that's the case, Duan Certain won't force it either. Xiao Cao has already cleared up the suspicion, so we'll take our leave first."

  Having said that, he dragged his feet on the grass and left without looking back.

  Li Erdou stood still, stroking his chin and hesitating. He had been eager to make a name for himself, but after Duan Shiyi's words, he suddenly felt a bit uncertain in his heart.

  Anyway, there's no reason to leave the fat meat on the table untouched. Li Er Gou coughed twice and took two catchers to Meng Hua Lou.

  According to the coroner's report, Jin Shu's stomach contained undigested tonic medicine, which happened to contain the poisonous "Three Months Rouge", a poison said to have been concocted by a madwoman from the jianghu to murder her husband. Putting aside where this poison came from for now, it should be possible to find out who made this tonic medicine.

  The Meng Hua Lou is closed for renovation, and all the girls, big and small, are standing in the main hall.

  "Qian Mama's face was full of worry as she stood beside Li Er Gou and said, 'Sir, this tonic was made by Jin Shu under my orders, and Cong Zi is a honest girl.'"

  Li Er Gou raised his leg and said: "Bring the person up, and have all the idle people retreat first."

  A thousand mothers nodded and beckoned a purple-robed maid to come up, while the rest went down.

  Duan shook his fan and sat on one side, Li Erdou's forehead jumped straight: "Director Duan, is there anything else?"

  "I'm fine."

  What are you doing here? Are you saying that the idle people are not others? Li caught his head and hummed: "This case is confidential, can't Director Duan avoid it for a while?"

  Duan Shi shook his head: "The general warehouse of the six-panel door can be entered from below, this case will eventually be placed inside, Duan Mou is just here to preview, Li Hu does not need to mind."

  Li Er Gou had nothing to say, although his face was ashen pale, but he could only turn his head and look at the maid below: "Are you Ning Zi?"

  The maid in purple clothes, with eyes all red, knelt upright: "It is indeed this servant."

  The little grass beside Duan Shi's body scratched its ear, this voice seemed familiar.