After the death of the previous emperor, the Empress Dowager became arrogant

Chapter 293

Lord Du, we have found some other clues.

Wu Laoliu tore off the evidence he had collected and handed it to Du Qingyuan, which was some simple confessions and a few simple pictures attached.

Through the testimony of relatives and friends, we learned that they all left the house after receiving a strange letter and did not return for several days. After returning, they all looked flustered, as if they had done something wrong, which confused them for a while.

Based on the clues they provided, we did find the mysterious men at several nearby surveillance points, most of them concentrated here.

He pointed to several places on the picture. These were places that he had accidentally seen from various places and should have been from old topographic maps.

Du Qingyuan frowned as he looked at the topographic map in his hand. This place seemed to have been seen somewhere before. It felt very familiar....

Emphasize this and ask everyone nearby to stop temporarily to avoid damaging the original buildings and facilities.

Wu Laoliu looked at his relaxed expression and was stunned for a moment. Why was Lord Du so sure that he was here?

You haven't been here long, so you don't know. This was the only road leading to Long Village at that time. It was renamed after it was demolished. Most of the people and places are inseparable from Long Village, and the people behind them are inseparable from these things. Nine out of ten times, he is here too.

According to what you said, Lord Du, that person is most likely a local. Is he here to seek revenge? He went to great lengths to create these two portraits, in order to blur the lines between the people and the government, in order to conceal his true purpose?

No, I have always had a question about the raison d'être of portraits.

In this case, wouldn't what he did be redundant? But then everything would be inexplicable. Who would have the ability to make the prefect write a letter of repentance?

In short, you should do the previous things first, and deal with the other things once you have a clue.

The carriage soon arrived at the location again and found that the scene was in chaos, with many onlookers among them.

Sir, someone said it was in the empty house in front, so we reported it to the authorities.

The leader and the man walked forward and brought Du Qingyuan to the abandoned wooden house, but the house was in a dilapidated state and did not look like anyone lived there.

Please explain the situation at that time.

It was like this, I led a group of brothers and saw that no one lived here, it was an abandoned house, so we planned to dig it up. But after we had used a few shovels, we heard the sound of shoes tapping in the house.

I thought that since there were people there, it would be bad to go in without their consent.

When I first entered, there was no one there. I thought I had misheard, but then I realized that it was true. How could anyone live in such a shabby house?

Not long after we went out, footsteps sounded again, and each one was louder than the last. At that window over there, we all saw the shadow of a woman... We were so scared that we dropped our weapons and ran away! We were probably too scared at the time, and we couldn't see clearly, it was blurry, but it was definitely a woman!

are you sure?

When Du Qingyuan asked this, the foreman scratched his head embarrassedly, and his rough old face blushed a few times.

Du Qingyuan led a group of people into the house. The dust inside was very thick, and the beams were covered with criss-crossing spider webs.

Even the few tables and chairs were in tatters, looking like they would fall apart if touched.

The curtains hanging by the window trembled again and again, and the wind in August and September blew on the body, but it was chilly. Everyone subconsciously tightened their collars and looked around vigilantly.

Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps, tap, tap...

Then, a faint female voice came from behind.

Don't you think this house is a little weird?

Well, it is indeed a little different.

Hearing the question, Du Qingyuan took it up naturally. As soon as he finished speaking, he realized something was wrong. The people he brought were all men, so how could a woman be talking?

Is it possible?

Du Qingyuan turned around suddenly, but found that no one was there. He wondered in his heart, am I overthinking?

Did you hear anyone talking just now?

The adults heard it too? I thought I was hallucinating.

As soon as that person finished speaking, everyone nodded to indicate that they had heard it too.

So, did you see anyone?

Lao Du, it’s me!

What are you doing here? You should know that this is not a joke!

Really! I followed you here because I was worried about your safety, but you scolded me without any explanation!

Du Qingyuan led a group of people and continued to walk inside. After a few steps, the loud footsteps sounded again.

Ta da, da da...

Du Qingyuan suddenly turned around and looked at Bai Yuhan who was standing not far away with a frown.

Didn't I tell you not to follow me?

Bai Yuhan's mouth pursed, and her watery eyes showed a hint of innocence.

Can't you see I'm still standing there, not moving at all?

At this time, someone nearby walked quickly up to Du Qingyuan with a panicked look on his face.

.....My Lord, I have a discovery over there!

The man led everyone to a door in the inner room next door. Du Qingyuan took out the two portraits he carried with him from his bag and compared them with the damaged door frame.

The place in the picture, isn't it?

Someone shouted in surprise, and Du Qingyuan nodded slightly. Although it had been a long time since they last met, he could still see some similarities.

Lord Du, most of the materials used for this house are made of smoked sandalwood, which should have an insect-proof effect.

how do you know?

My ancestors studied spices, so I know a little about it.

So, this is the reason why this house has been able to exist for so many years without being completely dilapidated?

I think so.

So what kind of people can afford specially processed sandalwood?

Du Qingyuan raised the question in his mind. The sky had gradually darkened. A gust of cold wind blew away some of Du Qingyuan's fuzzy consciousness.

Mr. Du, why are the ones you have the same? Where is the one with the owner?

That's impossible. I've kept it in my bag since I took it out of the envelope. I've never taken it out.

Could it be that you accidentally took the wrong one?

It’s a bit late today, so everyone should go back first and continue the investigation tomorrow. Please be careful to protect this place.

By this time, the sky had completely darkened, and bursts of noises kept coming from the empty house. Everyone realized something was wrong and immediately quickened their pace to go out.

Don't you feel regretful for leaving like this?

As soon as I stepped over the eaves of the door, I heard a woman talking behind me.

Du Qingyuan turned around suddenly and shouted coldly: "Who is it?!"

All he got in response was silence. After a while, the footsteps sounded again, getting farther and farther away, as if they were getting farther away.

Something seems wrong in this room...

Du Qingyuan secretly thought that something was wrong, and then ordered everyone present to evacuate immediately.

He had a feeling, a sense of impending danger.