This is a completely new situation, and judging from Nie Xiaoman's reaction, he also regards this as an important clue. Xiao Man's slightly leaning forward body suddenly leaned back, and his hands clenched unexpectedly, showing his mental tension.

The county lieutenant of Pujiaoren was even more surprised, obviously shocked a lot, and opened his eyes even more, and rushed to ask the woman.

"Weird! This dog is missing! Why didn't you mention it just now? ”

Hua Yufu showed some uneasiness, and covered his mouth with a white scarf and did not answer. So the maid next to her, Mama Li, answered in her place.

"We didn't think of the dog at first," she said. Later, yesterday morning, Quan 13 prepared early materials to feed the dog, and called from all sides, only to know that the dog had been lost. ”

Lieutenant Pu grunted, "Alas, that's so strange! How could this Cang'er go missing? ”

Jing Mo secretly thought that this fat man was so surprised, it was clear that because there was no dog, the murderer could not be limited to the familiar Zhao Leren, and his previous speculation was in danger of being overturned.

Nie Xiaoman looked at him calmly, nodded and replied, "Yes, it's really strange, and it's very important." I think the time of the dog's disappearance is even more important. Mother Li, you said that after dinner the night before yesterday, you didn't go back until about three o'clock. At that time, was the dog still here? ”

Mama Li lowered her head and recalled, "Yes." The dog house was on the east side of the fence. When I got home, I seemed to see Cang Er lying in the dog house. But I haven't paid close attention, I can't be sure. ”

Nie Xiaoman turned his face again and asked, "Mrs. Niu, do you have any proof of this?" ”

The beautiful woman shook her head and said, "I don't know either." I had a headache the night before and went upstairs early. ”

Lieutenant Pu threw a look at Nie Xiaoman, pursed his lips, and said, "This point is very noteworthy. I think Cang'er probably got lost yesterday morning, right? As he said this, his fierce eyes fixed fiercely on the faces of the master and servant. But both women avoided their gaze and did not say anything.

At this moment a servant of about sixty years of age walked in outside, and looking at his crooked back, gray hair, clumsy gaze, and old state as he walked all the way, it was necessary to guess that he was the sluggish old man Thirteen.

The old slave stopped at the door, lowered his head and reported: "Mrs. Qiyu! Just now, someone came to the yamen again, and it was said that the results of the test would have to wait for a while.

Hua Yuyu nodded, as if she was about to stand up. As if he was about to seize some opportunity suddenly, without waiting for the old family to turn around and withdraw, he immediately shouted to stop him.

Fat Pu said loudly: "Wait! Quan Thirteen, aren't you in charge of feeding the dogs? ”

The old family member stood up and replied respectfully.

Lieutenant Pu continued to ask, "Was this dog still here the night before yesterday?" ”

"Back to the master, it's still there. When I gave him dinner, he was still in the kennel inside the bamboo fence. ”

Lieutenant Pu glanced at Nie Xiaoman again, and then his fat round head shook a few times, as if to insanely imply that his inference had finally not been overturned.

Pu Fatzi said: "Alas, I have already said that Cang'er must have disappeared yesterday morning. The dog must have been in the kennel the night before. If a stranger comes in, it will not be quiet and not bark. ”

The old family suddenly shook his head and said, "It's hard to say. As far as I know, Cang Er wasn't in the dog house the night before. ”

This sentence clearly caused a new change, so Nie Xiaoman, Hu Defu and Pu Jiaoren all showed surprised looks. The Fahrenheit also raised his head and glanced at the old family, as if he had a bored expression in his eyes, as if he was too talkative.

The beautiful woman immediately stood up from the circle chair, and the county lieutenant Pu clearly wanted to continue to ask, but because of the woman's movements, he was hinted at in Nie Xiaoman's eyes, so he had to pause temporarily.

Nie Xiaoman also stood up and said softly, "Mrs. Niu, aren't you a little uncomfortable on your body?" Well, you might as well go upstairs and rest for a while. We'll have to wait a little bit here. If necessary, we can ask again. ”

The woman leaned against the middle-aged servant and replied, "Thank you, sir." The concubine's husband died too miserably, so I must ask all the adults and lords to waste more thought and find out the murderer. — But— but I have a piece of advice. Just now I heard that this county lieutenant has arrested Zhao Leren. This is really a misunderstanding, Mr. Zhao and his deceased husband Niu Yizhi have a good relationship. It is impossible to suspect that he is the murderer. ”

The corners of Lieutenant Pu's lips moved slightly, as if he was about to make some kind of defense. But when the woman had finished speaking, she turned and walked toward the stairwell to the east.

The fat county lieutenant didn't have the opportunity to make a high statement, shrugged his shoulders, and secretly grimaced. Jing Mo saw that when Fahrenheit turned around, the corners of her charming eyes gave her old family a warning look for the second time.

It's a pity that the eyes of this old slave are completely useless, and he clearly didn't see this look of the master's mother. Everyone then watched the beautiful young woman walk up the stairs, and the question of the county lieutenant Pu could no longer be suppressed.

He asked the old slave: "Quan Thirteen, how do you say that Cang'er didn't sleep in the dog house all night the night before yesterday?" So where does it sleep? ”

Quan 13 still replied without scruples: "It seems to be locked in a small room in the back room."

Pu County Lieutenant said fiercely: "Like? What words! If you want to lie to us, then you are really asking for hardship! I'm afraid that you can't stand this old bone, so find a heavy flail to shackle you, and it will kill you in three days. ”

This threat was obviously very powerful, and it suddenly made the old man's face change in fright, and his eyes widened, and he looked at the fat and short county lieutenant in a daze, and did not dare to say a word again.

Nie Xiaoman hurriedly said, "Quan Thirteen, don't panic. As long as you tell the truth, the official can ensure that you are safe and sound, how do you know that Cang'er has been locked in the back room? ”

The old family settled down before they replied: "After I went to bed the night before, I seemed to have heard two low barks, coming from the small room downstairs of my bedroom. Yesterday morning, I saw that the lid of the pickle jar outside the window of the back room was knocked off and shattered, which shows that Cang'er has escaped. ”

Nie Xiaoman's eyes flickered again, and he asked, "Speaking of which, then Cang'er has barked, but it is not too loud." This is noteworthy. Then, Xiao Man looked at the old family member again, and continued to ask, "Quan Thirteen, when did you hear Cang'er's low and dumb voice?" ”

The old family said, "I can't speak at the time, my lord, probably before I fall asleep." ”

"Do you hear any other sounds?"

"Nope. Once I fell asleep, I didn't even hear the sound of birds. “

"And how did you wake up?"

"I woke up to a screaming sound of a sharp throat. I thought the voice was like my wife's, as if something was wrong, so I got up and ran downstairs. At that time, the lady also fainted on the ground.

Nie Xiaoman nodded and said, "Okay, let's go take a look at the small room in the back." ”