Chapter 151: Chapter 79 Marshal Captures the Criminal_5
Duan Xiaoyan opened her mouth, "Could it really have been Doctor Lu who did it?"
Pei Yunmeng pondered for a moment, then asked, "Who reported it?"
"Bai Shouyi, the shopkeeper of Xinglin Hall on West Street."
Bai Shouyi?
He slightly raised his eyebrows, understanding instantly.
Xiao Zhufeng looked at him, "Do you want me to take a look?"
The matter of the city’s security patrol could have been left to the Military Inspection House, but given it involved Renxin Medical Hall, and perhaps related to the imperial examination case, it necessitated additional caution.
Pei Yunmeng smiled, stood up, took the long saber from the table and strapped it on tightly, and said indifferently, "I’ll go."
...
The sky darkened.
Entering autumn, as evening approached, the lanterns along West Street were lit one after another.
West Street was not as bustling as the southern part of the city. Tonight, under the clear moon, the moonlight was bright, rendering the old city walls a layer of snow-like brightness.
Du Changqing and Ah Cheng were standing at the entrance of the medical hall, preparing to close up and go home, when they suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves coming from the end of the street.
The horse hooves were urgent, like a rapid drumbeat in the quiet autumn night, making one’s heart skip a beat. Du Changqing instinctively looked back and saw a group of officers dressed in black from the Patrol House approaching on horseback, who then reined in their horses with a "whoa" right in front of the medical hall.
Leading them was a hat-wearing officer, who looked fierce and terrible, and, disregarding the presence of Du Changqing and Ah Cheng, dismounted and walked directly to the entrance of the hall, pushing the door open—
"Hey hey, what are you doing, officer?" In his confusion, Du Changqing did not forget to produce a smile, "If you want to buy medicine this late, just let us know, no need to trouble yourself..."
The head officer pushed him aside and ordered, "The Patrol Office is handling a case, unrelated individuals must stand back!"
Du Changqing was stunned, "Handling a case?"
By that time, lights were lit in the medical hall, and Lu Tong, carrying a lamp, walked out with Yin Zheng, seemingly startled by the commotion outside, and stood at the doorway, looking at everyone with confusion.
"What is this...?"
Seeing that two young women had come out, the officer’s expression softened slightly, but his tone remained harsh, "Someone accused your medical hall of murder and burying the corpse. The Patrol Office is commanded to investigate and handle the case!" With a wave of his hand, the officers behind him swarmed up and surrounded the group.
Du Changqing steadied himself, "There must be some mistake, this is a medical hall, how could we possibly commit murder and bury the body..."
His words were interrupted by Lu Tong.
Lu Tong stood at the entrance of the medical hall, looking at the leading government officer, and calmly said, "If you are here on official business, Renxin Medical Hall will surely cooperate. However, as we are a registered legitimate business, if you are to carry out an investigation, could you please show us your patrol order?"
The reaction of the officer from the Military Inspection House faltered.
He received the message and rushed immediately to West Street with his men, having no time to obtain a patrol order. The examination case in Shengjing shook the court, and if he could successfully wrap up a significant case at this time, promotion was within reach.
Ordinarily, during an investigation, commoners wouldn’t specifically ask to see the patrol order; how could he have expected this woman to suddenly bring it up?
While the stand-off continued, suddenly a voice from behind said, "Over here."
This voice came unexpectedly, and everyone turned their heads in its direction.
The scent of osmanthus was overwhelming, and the moon angled high in the sky. In the good night, someone rode a horse swiftly.
A young man reined in his horse at the entrance to West Street, dismounted, and walked towards the medical hall. The officers around gradually made way, and the dim lamplight under the eaves illuminated his crimson robe, as well as his handsome brows and eyes.
The officer was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed, "Lord Pei!"
Lu Tong’s heart sank.
It was that omnipresent Pei Yunmeng again.
Pei Yunmeng stopped in front of Lu Tong, took out his order token from his waist, shook it in front of her, then smiled and said, "Doctor Lu is indeed very familiar with the ’Laws of the Liang Dynasty’."
After a brief silence, Lu Tong looked up and gazed at the young man in front of her.
"Marshal Pei."