端州,府衙前。10Please respect copyright.PENANA3jn2ll1sdL
大風卷起黃白紙錢,昔日繁華熱鬧人聲鼎沸的街道,如今隻有殘磚碎瓦,滿目瘡痍,滿城都是屹越投石機肆虐的印痕。10Please respect copyright.PENANAqAs3uk5Hqe
10Please respect copyright.PENANASt9iGJkoGT
城裏一片愁雲慘淡。10Please respect copyright.PENANAuDvxo8R5n2
10Please respect copyright.PENANACHLLhAVUZy
斷裂矮牆下,蹲著三五個蓬頭垢麵的乞丐。10Please respect copyright.PENANAiIdn802YNz
10Please respect copyright.PENANAoZNVHzdrqv
哭哭啼啼的送葬的隊伍從麵前經過,老乞丐木然地抬一下聳拉的眼皮。10Please respect copyright.PENANAOWfNTi25O2
10Please respect copyright.PENANAEjj0VvCUBL
“哎,這是今天第幾撥了?”10Please respect copyright.PENANA4lpO9eDJKf
10Please respect copyright.PENANANnhaZke6lb
“…應該是第十個了吧?”10Please respect copyright.PENANASQXu2mx3bo
10Please respect copyright.PENANAtLc9XnP9UQ
“我怎麼記得是第十一個…”10Please respect copyright.PENANAaflhVFAvNg
10Please respect copyright.PENANAtQvLBhd6PU
“管他娘的第幾個,活人都吃不飽了誰管死人的事?”老乞丐沒好氣地踹了一腳搭話的人,轉而向另外一個人道,“阿齊,今日也沒吃的?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAWwhOj2vNon
10Please respect copyright.PENANAXaLA4jCBh0
叫阿齊的乞丐躺在地上假寐,聞言翻身,隨手抓起頭發上的一隻虱子,懶懶道,“沒有,方員外新娶的九姨太讓圍牆壓死了,府裏辦白事,今日沒有施粥。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAzcyf30K53q
10Please respect copyright.PENANALaEXhQFUsU
“九姨太死了?那他啥時候娶十姨太?當初他娶九姨太多風光快活!我們去排隊,全城乞丐都吃了個飽,還有雞腿!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAZefGbi1t9U
10Please respect copyright.PENANAU1DeIYrsdD
想起那日吃到口的雞腿,小乞丐口水直流。10Please respect copyright.PENANABo9jF9YZKP
10Please respect copyright.PENANAyBF7zofnhe
阿齊抬起套了一隻破洞鞋的右腳,踢了踢那個小乞丐,“想吃雞腿?夢裏有。一邊去別打擾我睡覺!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAnhc70yOh14
10Please respect copyright.PENANAZnj0ONPMaJ
齊哥是大人物,小乞丐知趣滾去一旁,阿齊順勢換個姿勢,亂發下的眼睛暗光微閃,盯著府衙門口。10Please respect copyright.PENANAi4OT8zuSTw
10Please respect copyright.PENANAyCDZI8T4pI
看了一陣,他方爬起,迎著太陽伸懶腰,對那老乞丐道,“我出去走走!鬆快鬆快。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAN6VxEBFuQ7
10Please respect copyright.PENANAsakg6BVPYE
乞丐們聚在一起,知他要出去覓食了,對他背影嬉笑道,“齊哥出馬,今日午飯有著落了!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAH1QseJ9x3l
10Please respect copyright.PENANALQMbewrZZh
阿齊踢踏著破洞的鞋,這邊走走那邊看看,一雙手偶爾還伸進衣服下捉虱子,他走得極隨意,不時翻看殘磚碎瓦,待幾次確認身後無人才加緊腳步,他身手輕縱,腳下左拐右繞,轉去府衙不遠處的大宅。10Please respect copyright.PENANAuerOflKeLi
10Please respect copyright.PENANAylJOdsKbK2
宅門緊閉,戰事方休,街上一個人也無,他探頭探腦細細再看過一遍,才按四短三長的暗號輕叩門上鐵環。10Please respect copyright.PENANAXcGpoYcUYf
10Please respect copyright.PENANAvuGBjcSWeZ
宅門吱呀輕開一小縫隙,他靈巧閃身而入。10Please respect copyright.PENANAmV3e86H471
10Please respect copyright.PENANADoHxN0FqA2
“府衙如今什麼情況?”迎麵有一中年人急問,身後眾人紛紛站起,顯然也在等他答複。10Please respect copyright.PENANAN32ZWrFK51
10Please respect copyright.PENANAQQRZxb7yB5
阿齊不敢細認有誰,隻跪下道,“稟告大人,據牢房衙役消息,沈應和副將已入大牢。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAD4hsaXmlXt
10Please respect copyright.PENANAEcJzf04XEx
“那奸細怎樣了,可曾殺了?”顏㳜急道。10Please respect copyright.PENANAcDhjMPytKr
10Please respect copyright.PENANAb1w9fPQ3WM
“…不曾。”阿齊低頭,不敢去看顏㳜臉上怒容,“10Please respect copyright.PENANAdHV3wpJFqZ
10Please respect copyright.PENANA0xbHdSb07r
獄卒林大頭自作主張,折磨於她以致未能成事。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAjX4SwIGLb1
10Please respect copyright.PENANA0GEFbNksPZ
“成事不足,敗事有餘的東西!”肩上挨了一記重踹,阿齊借力翻滾卸去幾分力道,他不敢呼痛,不敢看傷,重新低頭跪好。10Please respect copyright.PENANAPr3rOWNLQI
10Please respect copyright.PENANAkMAdBHtL1H
“你不是說林大頭辦事可靠,將人逼入牢中定能成事,眼下如何是好?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAtpxEglvy2t
10Please respect copyright.PENANAGT5Fzmso3p
院中眾人驚慌失措,顏㳜怒火更甚,喝道,“吵什麼!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAjcDbzjmzys
10Please respect copyright.PENANADyVPpdSEJ4
“誰知出了這等差錯!”10Please respect copyright.PENANA8yFzp39zH8
10Please respect copyright.PENANAbhWuBmgsVb
“為今之計,是不是把那林大頭…”有一人提議道。10Please respect copyright.PENANASlByewWjEV
10Please respect copyright.PENANApmNu9rFZF3
顏㳜聞言冷笑,“陳大人還真是毫不留情,須知那林大頭是我的人!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAjyfoFx9H1z
10Please respect copyright.PENANA2QqvYEJwTZ
眼下想斷尾求生,當初怎麼不出一謀一策?!10Please respect copyright.PENANAtC7v6b3ouU
10Please respect copyright.PENANATb9eczuefa
陳固安臉上青紅交錯,“若是林大頭熬刑不過交待了,在場之人都難逃關係…”10Please respect copyright.PENANALj2ucWaISr
10Please respect copyright.PENANAjXWp6fTRHN
他這不是為了眾人著想…10Please respect copyright.PENANA3pt1xLF02k
10Please respect copyright.PENANAtVDJCu1s2c
顏㳜斜眼看眾人爭論,半響眼中閃過一絲狠意,對阿齊道,“你回去探查,看看林大頭交代了什麼,若無關緊要便放他一馬,他如果招供…你自己看著辦!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAeLWiT7r0hH
10Please respect copyright.PENANAYn4Z31WlpC
“另外,讓人往城裏散播消息,就說…神武軍袒護奸細,阻攔抓捕,還私闖府衙牢房,帶走了嫌犯。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAYqO2zOcTjr
10Please respect copyright.PENANAHIZLAi6bOo
阿齊應道,“是!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAfH0G985ZZJ
10Please respect copyright.PENANAP5ExINFERG
利落起身出宅門,木門在身後重重掩上。他回眸盯著大門,右手運勁將關節回正,亂發下的眼裏閃過一絲殺意,飛快消逝。10Please respect copyright.PENANAZHpXoYxX4r
10Please respect copyright.PENANAPI5BmHkeLL
走得一段,他輕快的腳步一變,又變回那副吊兒郎當的模樣,與一般乞丐無異。10Please respect copyright.PENANAR52AKmtAy1
10Please respect copyright.PENANAeuvJcc7RYA
他出現在矮牆處,眾乞丐一擁而上,扯他袖子,七嘴八舌地嚷著,“齊哥有收獲嗎?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAgjL48rJxfQ
10Please respect copyright.PENANAaImVWO2bWC
他不耐煩地推開眾人,仍舊躺下,肩膀隱隱作痛,“拉屎去了,有個屁收獲!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAs4NBmsDph4
10Please respect copyright.PENANAuZEfUSjfPk
嚴懷淵目送沈應和連旗上馬。10Please respect copyright.PENANASZZawoGS8r
10Please respect copyright.PENANAYEz7TldTMH
兩人馬蹄聲聲,揚起陣陣塵沙。10Please respect copyright.PENANAEH6KvlK99j
10Please respect copyright.PENANAa41kH5L3zu
他袖手立於刺史府門前靜思,天際天雨暫歇晴光穿透雲層,在門前灑下斑駁光影。10Please respect copyright.PENANAKIh2MblDQC
10Please respect copyright.PENANAtdnSpois6s
他想了許久才吩咐軍士道,“找一個服侍刺史大人最久的仆役來偏廳,不要聲張。”10Please respect copyright.PENANALoMX9RZBWE
10Please respect copyright.PENANAyAcd8ve3WU
“是。”那人是跟隨嚴懷淵的軍士,曉得他心意,徐徐而退。10Please respect copyright.PENANAJKpKnBzIh6
10Please respect copyright.PENANAgn7LPfERSz
嚴懷淵信步在刺史府中閑逛。10Please respect copyright.PENANAmZn8LFozgh
10Please respect copyright.PENANAeMQ0ZyARKt
碧綠池水波光蕩漾,陽光映照水麵,一池蓮影重重,偶爾有一兩條錦鯉於碧波翠葉中潛遊,搖弋間蕩起層層漣漪。10Please respect copyright.PENANAeItrKgT0fj
10Please respect copyright.PENANAlqApzwIIfW
他轉過回廊,進入偏廳。10Please respect copyright.PENANAHItSYulIU6
10Please respect copyright.PENANAmEAdLphZWA
不多時,軍士領進來一個頭發花白的老人,低頭恭敬道,“這是跟隨刺史大人的老仆,府中叫他言老漢。”10Please respect copyright.PENANA7NBulCo2YA
10Please respect copyright.PENANAbHsb43ICES
嚴懷淵坐在廳中細看他麵容,老漢雖然年過半百,頭發花白,麵色卻紅潤。10Please respect copyright.PENANAHddJEbybGY
10Please respect copyright.PENANAYULTOIF9o2
“小人言老漢,見過沈將軍。”老漢下跪磕頭,他跟隨古大人多年,頗有眼力,入門雖然看見嚴懷淵年輕端坐上首,卻不敢倚老輕慢。10Please respect copyright.PENANAFEWK50Vtka
10Please respect copyright.PENANAK0wVM4r6nO
“老人家不必多禮,我不是沈將軍。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAhjiPGolX5O
10Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4cVKLwwCG
“我姓嚴是軍中文書。古大人遇害一案,將軍極為重視,他眼下分身不得,托我查古大人遇害一案。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAAVyQGnOpHi
10Please respect copyright.PENANAeULYtRt4O7
聽得要查古大人遇害一案,言老漢渾濁的雙目一亮,無比激動地看向他,“您說真的?古大人、古大人他死得冤啊!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAs1yTjcJwOZ
10Please respect copyright.PENANAnhWvRy5Jzg
“自然,便是一平民百姓無端遇害,將軍知道了也會追查到底,你先起來。”嚴懷淵起身扶起言老漢,“眼前有一事,須老漢你相助,你實話實說即可。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAUI1YMsS5i9
10Please respect copyright.PENANAGcGaZoMq9T
“老漢絕不敢隱瞞。”言老漢輕拭眼角淚花,鄭重道。10Please respect copyright.PENANATn3nioIytk
“古大人屍體,火化了是也不是?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAsabgHa18KH
10Please respect copyright.PENANArF9S6J7Ios
言老漢不防他第一件問起便是此事,驚詫道,“大人您是神算子?連這也曉得。大人遇害三日後,官府說什麼天熱恐引發疫症,早將一眾屍體盡數火化了!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAzEpO9OPL5j
10Please respect copyright.PENANAZsN22wufNf
嚴懷淵已有準備,心底仍不免重重一沉,“你說一眾屍體,除了古大人,還有其他人遇害?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAwHJdbX4K5D
10Please respect copyright.PENANApMTOhXMnqI
“正是,那奸細行蹤敗漏,擄去小公子不說,將小公子的伴讀也殺害了,那娃娃才十一歲啊,喪盡天良的畜生!”言老漢拍腿咬牙切齒地罵道,“這等畜生,心狠手辣,將來要下地獄!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAnibk9BTWYP
10Please respect copyright.PENANAjuRXApcDnx
“嚴大人有所不知,小公子係古府獨苗,老夫人的心肝,眼看大人身亡,府中沒個主事之人,小公子失蹤至今也沒尋得蹤跡,這叫老夫人怎麼辦?可憐大人一時不慎,引狼入室!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAVDvJqzBiSG
10Please respect copyright.PENANAeQmsX7bKAm
他話裏激動,捶足頓胸,嗟歎不已。10Please respect copyright.PENANAeti7auQHEy
10Please respect copyright.PENANAmDGh0an2uF
嚴懷淵安慰老仆幾句,聽到引狼入室一說,心中一動,“你說大人引狼入室,卻為何故?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAtAdAH9L6Ni
10Please respect copyright.PENANABfLFLeE59r
言老漢喘勻了氣坐直身子,將自己知情的與嚴懷淵細說,“大人問起,老漢也就明說了,不是老漢有意探聽,實在是那日大人讓府中下人送她出門,我順口問了一句才知曉一些。10Please respect copyright.PENANAVmejH8qCbY
10Please respect copyright.PENANALBO6kBane8
“說是什麼…什麼刺史府回帖,大人似欣賞她才學,見過一麵後就要留她教小公子讀書哩!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3MOBQrXbw
10Please respect copyright.PENANAPPzD9tpSoE
“哦?古大人親自提的?”嚴懷淵再問。10Please respect copyright.PENANADt1J6GhLWc
10Please respect copyright.PENANA3vdDGj5tgy
“是哩,大人當麵提的。回頭就跟小公子說了。”10Please respect copyright.PENANA4HLA61xB8a
10Please respect copyright.PENANAanaQawSnXC
“小公子自然不願意,嫌棄她是女子,覺得她沒本事,還被大人罰站好幾回,就連老夫人心疼罰站鬧過幾次,也被大人怒斥,府中下人都在議論她來曆。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAU38CSGKdxc
10Please respect copyright.PENANArQPta2d2z3
古大人竟這麼看重她,這倒始料未及,嚴懷淵靜聽,思索片刻,“她既然教小公子讀書,想來出入府中的次數不少。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAYeWNl00DPI
10Please respect copyright.PENANA2bMEaEp69l
“那是自然,大人讓她每天入府教小公子讀書,風雨不斷,誰知”10Please respect copyright.PENANAXfOhF8rAGf
10Please respect copyright.PENANAsvg3EiwmQN
“原來如此。大人遇害,誰第一個發現?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAxZwPeu7U4v
10Please respect copyright.PENANA92oHQWDPNr
言老漢回想幾息,猶豫道,“老漢覺得應該是文書大人,他姓蕭是大人舊部,府中巡夜發現他和伴讀倒在書房前。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAdrbAglvWpj
10Please respect copyright.PENANAr7N1dY0h5u
“那時候書房門大開,進門才驚覺大人已經…”言老漢重重歎息,惋惜不已,“我摸得兩人心窩處還暖著,趕緊叫人,蕭大人命大,可惜那孩子就不行了…”10Please respect copyright.PENANAZtF5UQKPFh
10Please respect copyright.PENANAhp5Yn7Gb70
“你方才說的小公子的伴讀也是死在書房前?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAiBtAPDDW0f
10Please respect copyright.PENANAvknQJ6YZJt
“正是。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAK7MUoRy9F7
10Please respect copyright.PENANAPniyRJHMcp
“那當時兩人頭朝門外還是朝內?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAzwbWvJOsf1
10Please respect copyright.PENANAKtL7lYibHw
言老漢一怔,沒想到他會這麼問,皺眉細想道,“好像是朝內,門上還有血手印,看著就嚇人!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAzXRqNztqtU
10Please respect copyright.PENANAKkjb7yb6PM
“可有人看見奸細行凶?”嚴懷淵將茶盞推與老漢潤喉。10Please respect copyright.PENANABiAqRk7AXn
10Please respect copyright.PENANA7kcFZXPXpV
“當日府中隻有她一位客人,刺史府向來森嚴,府中衛隊日夜巡視,如果不是她,大人如何遭了毒手?必是她包藏禍心!”10Please respect copyright.PENANAFIAwMIyWoo
10Please respect copyright.PENANAF81UjNsbsz
嚴懷淵輕飲口茶,聽他言語心中有了大概,振衣站起,對老漢道,“你引我我去書房看看。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAO4V8DePKeJ
10Please respect copyright.PENANASnsEkP92DK
他麵色如常,讓人看不清虛實,言老漢心裏嘀咕,不知道自己說的有沒有用處。10Please respect copyright.PENANA0NPuXL1big
10Please respect copyright.PENANAsNzDr23oLH
這個嚴大人看著也不是省油的燈,年紀輕輕的,不顯山不露水。10Please respect copyright.PENANAUuTwnMS5dj
10Please respect copyright.PENANAcORc6zkdVw
兩人同行,言老漢在前為他引路,走到一半突然感概道,“當日…大人還叮囑我天雨路滑,讓我多加小心…唉”10Please respect copyright.PENANAh9xd2xLjq1
10Please respect copyright.PENANA5hIOWdTxMX
如今物是人非。10Please respect copyright.PENANA0v3TPgsZtT
10Please respect copyright.PENANABhz08ppd5o
書房就在不遠,因為出了命案,府中有衛隊把守出入門戶,得知是將軍下令查案,看過信物才放兩人入內。10Please respect copyright.PENANAk7z4oejrnE
10Please respect copyright.PENANAWulv6J3FQ7
嚴懷淵入院,也不急著進書房,察看周遭環境,才側身問老漢,“你們發現之時,這院中和書房,與平日可有不同?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAthqzzyu8TX
“10Please respect copyright.PENANA3nUxsoFKNY
“您真是厲害!”言老漢豎起大拇指,“一問就問到實處了,書房內那個大亂,好家夥風吹得滿地都是書稿。夫人想收拾收拾整齊,被大夥兒一勸又放下了。院子裏吧…倒和平日一樣。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAuSLtRIB7HM
10Please respect copyright.PENANALN4nTm5AYd
“你們為何勸她?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAtcGX1iwljo
10Please respect copyright.PENANAjxOdxfNxzS
“大人死得不明不白,大夥兒天天盼著天降一個青天大老爺為他伸冤,東西收拾好了還從哪裏查起?”10Please respect copyright.PENANANlJAoyTCDS
10Please respect copyright.PENANAUBxoqWBhGI
言老漢嘿嘿一笑,他跟在古大人身邊,雖然識不得幾個大字,還是學了一些東西的。10Please respect copyright.PENANADjmpKmXqBc
10Please respect copyright.PENANASjsizW8hnz
嚴懷淵點頭,門口窗紙上印著一個隱隱發黑的手印,他湊近細看,伸手指著道,“你方才說的血手印就是這個吧…”10Please respect copyright.PENANAwc557BPrEP
10Please respect copyright.PENANAFUTKj6PY1g
“是,我們一直留著,自從大人遇害,小院便封了,由府中另派衛隊把守。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAEYDm2fdncy
10Please respect copyright.PENANAQZ3c6gli4i
古大人遇害至今,過了有些時日,手印漸漸發黑,看著仍舊觸目驚心。10Please respect copyright.PENANAyD4UvKMbji
10Please respect copyright.PENANAc2Y1RqXVnn
府中出了兩條人命,仆役忌諱,漸漸不敢來書房一側。現在除了衛隊,書房人煙罕至。10Please respect copyright.PENANAEZyHV6U36x
10Please respect copyright.PENANADUTckkwnAy
嚴懷淵看了兩眼,認出血印是左手,按高度、掌印大小來說卻不是伴讀的手印,難道是蕭大人?10Please respect copyright.PENANA0r4Ct0EGkR
10Please respect copyright.PENANAqGHMC93Ca7
他撕開書房門上封條,信手一推。10Please respect copyright.PENANAnpo1Mn1rxN
10Please respect copyright.PENANA5uF61u9y2K
滿地狼藉,淩亂無章的鞋印,足以看出當日的慌亂,他避開地上印痕,入內察看一番,回頭招言老漢進來,“當日與你一同入內的還有誰?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAQEmA5gCcrN
10Please respect copyright.PENANAruQXeANUB2
“有巡夜衛隊的老吳,還有仆役趙光。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAD0INZw98DF
10Please respect copyright.PENANAXPZWwgwT0I
嚴懷淵點頭,眸光閃爍,“你們進來時,古大人是什麼光景?”10Please respect copyright.PENANAXKM7CeYnAV
10Please respect copyright.PENANAxvBll4JBPc
“…大人就靠在那張椅子上。”言老漢指著書案後那張椅子道,“頸上還有血痕,血流了一地…”10Please respect copyright.PENANAz5Sw6kYKBD
10Please respect copyright.PENANA5SooA5Joji
嚴懷淵上前察看書案、窗戶等屋內布置,言老漢見他觀察得細致,靜立在一旁。10Please respect copyright.PENANAaVmUC26wLO
10Please respect copyright.PENANAhyvGB5tmwf
書房門大開,風吹得地上書稿嘩嘩作響,他突然想起一事,拱手道,“老漢想起一事,不知道對大人查案有沒有幫助。”10Please respect copyright.PENANAVUWgTTEcUn
10Please respect copyright.PENANA4YkWdriai8
“無妨,你想起什麼盡管明言。”10Please respect copyright.PENANACjL8BzfACQ
10Please respect copyright.PENANABk6uv8ObXI
“大人…大人那日似在找什麼東西…”10Please respect copyright.PENANAGpJJ7Lb1rS