"Qin Xiaoyou, don't you know, in the past month, there have been three murders outside the city of Qiongzhou Mansion," Hai Rui's face became very serious, and he said in a deep voice: "Moreover, the dead were all killed on the bridge!" ”

Qiongshan County, where Qiongzhou Prefecture is located, is located close to the sea, facing each other across the strait from the Leizhou Peninsula, the meandering Nandu River flows through the outside of the city, the rainfall is abundant, the water network is dense, people build a lot of bridges in order to walk conveniently, simple wooden bridges, solid stone bridges, covered bridges with covers to shelter from the wind and rain...... Bridges of all kinds are dotted throughout the county.

On the 8th of last month, on one of the stone bridges, there was a horrific murder, in the evening a rice cake seller died at the bridge, a big hole was smashed on the top of his head, and blood flowed all over the ground.

The government thought that this was an ordinary murder case and did not pay enough attention to it, so Tang Jingting ordered Qiongshan County to solve the case as soon as possible, while the magistrate set a limit for the arrest and urged them to arrest the murderer.

Seven days later, the second case occurred, the victim was a strong woodcutter, he was roped around the neck of the killer with a rope to tie firewood, hung from the railing of the bridge, and the body dangled under the bridge deck, the government decided that it was impossible to commit suicide, because like the victim of the first case, he had a bloody hole in his head.

At this time, Tang Jingting was a little overwhelmed, and personally mobilized the government to arrest and quickly solve the case, but unfortunately several days passed, and there was no progress.

The third case occurred on the 25th of last month, when a new victim was found on a covered bridge outside the city.

It was raining lightly, and a woman led her three-year-old son across the covered bridge, which is an ordinary bridge with a corridor to cover the rain, which is more common in the south, before the child's head was wet from the rain, and the mother took out a handkerchief to dry her son's hair in the covered bridge, but found that the handkerchief was red!

The frightened mother hurriedly checked her son's head, but there were no wounds, and when she looked back, where she had just walked, blood-colored rain was dripping down from the canopy of the covered bridge!

After receiving the report, the officials of the prefecture and county yamen braved the rain to go out, they found the body in the canopy of the covered bridge, an old widower had half of his head smashed open, lying on his back on the roof of the canopy, he had been dead for a long time, the rain mixed with blood and water dripped down the cracked tiles, and then the mother and son found it.

Tang Jingting lowered his voice and added: "And there is one thing, I am afraid that the people will be afraid, and it has not been spread, that is, all the lower bodies of the dead have been castrated, and we suspect that someone is engaged in supplementation, or the Li wizard is practicing some kind of evil law!" ”

Qin Lin was shocked, and looked at Bai Shuanghua from the corner of his eye.

The White Lotus Sect Master nodded slightly, there are indeed evil faction figures in the martial arts who are engaged in this set, but in this remote place of Qiongzhou Mansion, which evil sect master is here?

In addition, there are quite a lot of Li people in Hainan, and the coastal areas have been civilized, and the customs are similar to those of the Han people.

Hai Rui stroked his beard and said indifferently: "Qin Xiaoyou, the old man and Tang Fuzun hurriedly made a judgment yesterday, just to discuss this case with you, but before I could say it, I didn't expect you to brush up your sleeves and leave......"

"The teacher hurriedly learned about those small cases, just to solve this big case, even if there are omissions, it is flawed!" As Tang Jingting spoke, he praised the teacher again.

Qin Lin was silent, Lu Yuanzhi and Niu Dali listened to it, and they talked in a low voice, feeling that it seemed understandable that Hai Rui was wrong, after all, compared to the Three Bridges mystery case, yesterday's cases were nothing.

White Frost Hua Yingting's eyebrows wrinkled slightly, she wanted to refute something, but she couldn't grasp that vague thought.

Qin Lin raised his head and met Hai Rui's gaze without flinching: "Mr. Hai, although the Three Bridges mystery case should be solved, it is understandable that you made a hasty judgment, but I definitely can't agree with the preset position!" Even if the case is difficult to conclusively determine, it should be judged according to the evidence of both parties and the facts that can be ascertained. Rather than bend to his uncle and nephew; Rather than bend to the poor, it is better to bend to the rich; Rather than be stupid and straightforward, rather be stubborn, fight for the industry, and humble the people, rather than the villagers; In fact, the brothers, uncles and nephews, rich and poor, stupid and stubborn, small people and village eunuchs in the public court, were put in an unequal position before the case was decided, and the person who decided the case already had prejudices in his heart, so bias was inevitable! ”

That's right! Bai Shuanghua was about to applaud, Qin Lin's words made her feel stuffy in her heart, "The matter is fighting for the industry, rather than succumbing to the small people, rather than the eunuchs; The matter is arguing about appearance, rather than succumbing to the eunuchs, rather bending to the small people", it is particularly hateful, the money of the eunuchs in the previous sentence is not money, it seems to be on the side of the people in a fake way, but the latter sentence is not the name of the people, then the people deserve to be bullied?

Niu Dali and Lu Yuanzhi also immediately realized that they followed Qin Lin to handle the case, and always used evidence to speak, although they were the eagle dogs of the court of the Jinyi Official Academy, they rarely tortured the suspects to extract confessions, because when Qin Lin decided the case, he would try his best to solve the puzzle of the case from an objective and fair standpoint, rather than using personal likes and dislikes, selfish emotions or any Confucian program to preset a position.

Compared with Hai Rui's pre-assumption of Qu this and Qu that before the case was decided, Qin Lin's methods are nothing less than a world of difference!

Hai Rui and Tang Jingting didn't think much of Qin Lin's words, they were full of Confucian ideas, the gentleman is righteous, the villain is profitable, the doctor's face is important, the purse can be loosened a little, the little people are mercenary, just have a little money to fool the past!

"Qin Xiaoyou, your statement seems to be a little reasonable, but the old man doesn't want to discuss this now," Hai Rui smiled and stroked his beard: "Since it is a dispute over the way the case is decided, let's take the Three Bridges mystery case as a bet, the old man, Tang Fuzun and you, whichever side solves the case first, the other side will admit defeat and admit mistakes." ”

Tang Jingting rolled his eyes and saw that the teacher still liked this rather arrogant young man very much, so he added: "If Brother Qin loses, in addition to admitting his mistakes, he has to worship Teacher Hai!" ”

"What if you lose?" Qin Lin laughed evilly, and looked at Hai Rui's white beard, which means that I don't accept a protégé of your age.

You! Tang Jingting's face turned red.

Hai Rui was also a little angry, and said angrily: "If Qin Xiaoyou wins, the old man will avenge your grievances on your behalf and try his best to ensure that you are reinstated!" ”

Tang Jingting's heart jumped suddenly when he heard this, you must know that there is no grade restriction on the promotion and impeachment of civil officials and military posts, as long as it is within the scope of his own authority, the seven-rank patrol can also protect and impeach the first and second rank of the general military commander, such as the Zhejiang patrol of the seventh grade, you can praise and belittle the provincial governor, the governor of the same rank as the first and second rank of the chief military officer.

Moreover, Hai Rui's reputation as a Qing official is well-known all over the world, and it is also a senior citizen who is about to be reused by the imperial court......

"Baoju, it doesn't matter," Qin Linyun smiled lightly, as if he didn't care at all, to be honest, he wanted to be a reinstatement officer, Hai Rui's Baoju may have a role, but it definitely can't play a role in determining the surname.

Qin Lin took over the gambling of the Three Bridges mystery case, but he then stated that he would not give up the case of Gu Kedu's rape of Qi Qin, and both cases had to be handled during this period, and Hai Rui and the government must cooperate.

"Hmph, I don't know how thick the sky is, the Sanqiao mystery case is enough to drink a pot, and you have to deal with the Gu family's inconsequential case, you will definitely lose when the time comes!" Tang Jingting sneered again and again.

Hai Rui was very tough, and said calmly: "A word is a certainty!" The Gu family's case, since Qin Xiaoyou wants to continue to handle it, the old man knows everything and says everything. ”

"I heard that Gu Huiming is an illegitimate child, and the Gu family's property is mainly taken care of by him?" Qin Lin asked tentatively.

"The fruit of a tree is sweet and sour, and the number of children in a family is foolish and virtuous...... Hai Rui really fulfilled his promise and told what he knew.

Qi Qin's is right, there are indeed differences between the Gu brothers, Gu Kedu, the eldest master Gu Kedu, was unruly when he was young, and he sang and sang with many literati, and he had a literary name in Lingnan, and he donated a cabinet book on his head, like a well-dressed person, but he was actually a hollow boss, and even Hai Rui heard that he often lingered in the Qinglou, and did business as he pleased, and often caused trouble.

Gu Huiming, the second master of Gu, is different, he is cautious and careful, conscientious and conscientious, supporting most of the Gu family, Hai Rui admires him very much, and frankly accepts him eighty taels of silver, and writes birthday articles for the Gu family's grandmother.

"Gu Huiming took eighty taels of silver and asked Mr. Hai to write a birthday message?" Qin Lin frowned, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Tang Jingting thought that Qin Lin was accused, and hurriedly argued: "The teacher was as clear as water when he was an official, and there were only forty acres of thin land at home, so in his later years, he sold words to supplement his family, and eighty taels was the current price, and there was no mercy in it!" ”

Qin Lin shook his head, "That's not what I meant...... Hey, there's another bridge here, aren't you guarding it? ”

This is an antique stone arch bridge, about seven or eight zhang long, one zhang wide and narrow, the stone railings on both sides are also carved with lion rolling hydrangea, the water is murmuring under the bridge, and the head of the bridge is a verdant bamboo forest.

Tang Jingting and Qin Lin had a little unpleasant quarrel, rolled their eyes, and said angrily: "There are hundreds of large and small bridges in this mansion, where can you send people to guard them?" I don't know when the murderer will come out to commit the crime! ”

Hai Rui pointed to the stone arch bridge and said: "This is Yougong Bridge, which was built by a pair of brothers three generations ago of the Gu family. ”

Qin Lin thought about it and had no choice but to agree with Tang Jingting's opinion, after all, at this time, the manpower of a county government was quite limited, and it was impossible to defend every bridge, and if he rashly mobilized the people to assist in the defense, I am afraid that it would cause a large-scale panic and be even more difficult to control.

Besides, what if the bridge is guarded, but the murderer goes to the hillside, the seashore or the village to commit the crime?

Qin Lin was thinking about things, piecing together the information provided by Hai Rui and Tang Jingting into a complete picture in his mind, and then broke down the analysis one by one......

Bai Shuanghua also pondered, and passed through the sieve of the evil martial arts figures engaged in supplementation, and listed several key suspects.

After another stick of incense, they heard the sound of joyful suona not far away, and everyone knew that Gu Fu had arrived.

The Gu Mansion is built on a relatively gentle slope, with mountains and rivers at its back, lush trees on all sides, extremely elegant scenery, and houses with pink walls and blue tiles covering a wide area, showing the grandeur of the wealthy family.

Gu Huiming stood at the door to greet the guests, wearing a royal blue satin gown, his face was beaming, and he saluted the guests again and again.

His eyes were very good, and when he saw Hai Rui and his party coming from afar, he immediately had a face full of joy and trotted to meet him: "How can the Gu family be good, with Mr. Lao Hai, Lord Fuzun, and Chief Qin, it is really brilliant!" ”

Hai Rui and Tang Jingting got off the sedan chair, and Qin Lin got off the horse, all smiled and arched their hands, and exchanged a few words of greeting with Gu Huiming.

Mo Zhigao, a hundred households in brocade clothes in this city, had just stepped into the gate, and when he heard the commotion behind him, he turned around and happened to see Qin Lin, and immediately shrank his head and hid away - he was afraid that Qin Lin would show the Nine Dragons Jade Belt again, and it would be good-looking.

"The surname is Qin, I'm not done with you!" Mo Zhigao gritted his teeth, his expression terrifying.

A young man beside him with a pale face looked at Qin Lin in the distance, and said with a sad smile: "Master Mo, we see that you are not the opponent of that Qin Chief, hehehehe......"

These eggless eunuchs! Mo Zhigao secretly spitted.

Pei Jing Pei's father-in-law was a person sent by Zhang Sili, and he waited here a month in advance for Qin Lin's dispatch to Qiongzhou, and he also visited Mo Zhigao, and his words revealed a little tone, which meant that he knew that Liu Shou had Liu Dudu instructed him to deal with Qin Lin, and he wanted both sides to work together.

Mo Zhigao received Liu Shouyou's letter, but he didn't mention this matter, he didn't dare to ask Liu Shouyou in the letter, so he had to perfunctory to Pei Jing, and besides, he felt that Qin Lin was a person who was dismissed from his post and assigned, and he wouldn't have to work hard to fix him himself, and he didn't need to cooperate with this dead eunuch.

As a result, Mo Zhigao suffered a loss, and Pei Jing came to the door again.

"Could it be that you are someone Qin's opponent?" Mo Zhigao sneered twice, in fact, his heart was already a little moved.

Pei Jing's voice is always so gloomy: "The person I brought is to deal with him, as long as you ...... it."

Mo Zhigao's eyes lit up, and then he gritted his teeth fiercely.

Hai Rui and his entourage were led into the Gu Mansion by Gu Huiming, Qin Lin looked left and right, and didn't see anything of interest, so he glanced at Bai Shuanghua.

Bai Shuanghua nodded lightly and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

A maid walked on the corridor between the flower hall and the main hall with a tea tray, and a handsome junior came to meet her, she looked at her twice, and the more she looked, the more happy she became, but she didn't expect the latter to walk straight towards her, and smiled charmingly......

A moment later, Bai Shuanghua wore a dress with a ring and walked down the cloister with a tea tray.

(To be continued)