Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 3 The North Sea Like an Elephant
The sun is already in the west, and Du's house is in a state of panic.

With tears in her eyes, Qing Lan helped Lu Fengniang to sit down slowly in the front hall.

"How could this happen?" Lu Fengniang was crying, she had no idea, she wiped her tears and asked: "Guan Shi, what do you think should be done now?"

Quan Rui is a seasoned old steward who has become the only backbone of the Du family at this time. He mused, "This is such a serious crime...the prince must be notified immediately."

"Yes, yes." Lu Fengniang said hurriedly: "Then send someone there quickly."

"Quan Fu, go quickly." Quan Rui hurriedly ordered to his son: "The tenth king's house, the crown prince doesn't live in the East Palace, go to the tenth king's house."

"Eh."

Quan Fu agreed and ran out immediately.

"Mistress, don't worry." Quan Rui's eyes were full of fear, but he still forced himself to be calm, and said: "Alang has always been cautious in his words and deeds, and it is completely groundless to say that he's 'falsely claiming to prophesy, constructing the East Palace, and criticizing Chengyu'! , and we will release him when we find out.”

Lu Fengniang patted her heart and murmured: "That's good, that's good."

Suddenly someone in the hall said something——

"The officials didn't search Du's house just now."

Everyone turned their heads to look, only to see that the one who spoke was actually Xue Bai who had only been detained for three days.

"You little boy." Quan Rui said, "Du's house has neither 'picture prophecy', nor letters 'constructed' with others, nor words of 'recrimination'. Is there anything worth searching?"

Xue Bai asked: "There is no evidence in Du Zhai. All the supervisors know about this matter, but how do the officials know? If this is the case, how dare they directly arrest people?"

"This……"

Quan Rui thought about it for a while, and murmured: "Yes, then they should also know that A Lang was wronged."

Xue Bai asked again: "They took someone, and they definitely plan to convict him, but how?"

"How to convict?" Quan Rui pondered: "Could it be that Xiao Xiao made false accusations and prophecies by setting up an altar today? Taoist Fang is still at the mansion, so he has to find a way to send them away, and then burn those magical artifacts."

"No." Xue Bai reminded: "They didn't take away Daoist Fang and the magic weapon, which shows that these are not the key to conviction. If we take the initiative to cover up, it will appear guilty."

"That's right." Lu Fengniang asked in a sobbing voice, "It's not a ritual, is it?"

"The ceremony has just been completed, so there must be more than this reason." Xue Bai pondered, and asked, "Does the Du family really have no other reasons?"

By now, everyone had stopped crying and stared at Xue Bai with wide eyes, amazed at how calm this childish boy was.

Not only was he calm, he even dared to question the master, as if he was the judge in charge of the case.

Quan Rui couldn't help scolding: "You kid..."

"Let Xue Bai go into the details." Du Wulang said hastily: "He has an extraordinary background, and the people who come and go with him are all people like noble concubines and Jiedu envoys."

Quan Rui was slightly surprised, then nodded, and sighed: "Although Alang is a subject of the Eastern Palace, his position is only in vain, and he doesn't even dare to talk to other officials. How can there be any reason? No reason! Except..."

"Except for Liu Lang's son-in-law?" Xue Bai asked.

Quan Rui shuddered suddenly, reacted, and said in surprise: "It is true that Liu Lang's son-in-law has committed a crime and the evidence is in the hands of others?!"

This is exactly what Xue Bai was going to ask Du Wulang just now, was Liu Ji taking him to Pingkang Fang on purpose?
Obviously, anyone who looks at Liu Ji knows that he is a man with great ambition and talent, who is easy to be used.

"What a coincidence." Quan Rui murmured: "Not long after Wulang's accident, Liu Lang's son-in-law quarreled with A Lang in the morning, and someone came to fetch A Lang in the afternoon. From this point of view, the official sent here in a hurry. It must be."

"Who else could it be if it wasn't that idiot?!" After hearing this, Lu Fengniang cried loudly, cursing: "I knew this crazy life was going to harm the Du family! I knew... woooo... this scourge! "

"Big lady." Quan Rui said urgently: "Liu Lang's son-in-law has mixed friends, we have to send someone to ask if he has fallen into someone's hands..."

At this moment, a servant ran back in a hurry and almost tripped over the threshold.

"It's not good! Quan Fu was arrested as soon as he left the back door!"

"what?"

Quan Rui was astonished, and finally got confused.

"Let's climb over the wall." Xue Bai reacted quickly, pulled Du Wulang past him and left, "We must find Liu Ji and the prince as soon as possible."

"I... I don't know where the prince lives."

"I know." Qing Lan said: "I once went with my wife to visit Prince Liang Di."

"quick."

Qing Lan hurriedly followed two steps, but then turned her head and asked Lu Fengniang: "Miss, are the servants going?"

"Go, let Goro come back."

However, Xue Bai had already pulled Du Wulang out of the front hall.

Qing Lan stomped her feet and hurried to catch up...

~~
Xue Bai had calculated in his mind that Du's house had one gate, one back gate, three west gates, and two east gates. Jingzhao Mansion sent about 20 people. It was fine to guard these seven gates, but it was unlikely to encircle the courtyard. wall.

There may be official patrols, but he knows that the government must go through the process, so he has to grab the word "fast".

He first rushed to the stable in the front yard to get a rope, then went to the storage room to get a ladder, turned to the back yard, and rushed directly to the rockery on the east side of the fifth courtyard.

The side door of parting here is the farthest, the outside of the courtyard is the quietest, and it is easy to climb over the wall.

"Follow."

Xue Bai put the ladder up on the rockery, first climbed up the courtyard wall, looked around, and called Du Wulang and Qing Lan to come up.

"Come."

Xue Bai tied the rope to the courtyard wall, climbed down along the rope, and helped Qing Lan first, while Du Wulang was much more clumsy and almost fell into the mud.

"Ouch."

"Don't shout."

"To the ten king's house?" Qing Lan said, "Go this way."

"No, go to Liu Ji first, it's more urgent to confirm the evidence."

"Liu Lang's son-in-law's house is in Dunyifang, to the west."

~~
In the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an City was square and upright, with 25 criss-crossing streets dividing the city into two cities and [-] squares.

Taking Suzaku Street as the central axis, the east and west of the city are governed by two counties respectively, with Wannian County in the east and Chang'an County in the west, which means "Chang'an Wannian".

The Du family is in Shengpingfang, which belongs to the east and is under the jurisdiction of Wannian County.

Shengpingfang is the standard layout of "four gates and sixteen districts" in Tangfang. The four gates are said to be "gates", but in fact there are pavilions above the gates, and Marquis Wu can stand guard in the pavilions.

Walking to the west gate of the square, Du Wulang was very nervous, lowered his head, and walked with the same hands and feet.

"Don't be afraid." Xue Bai said in a low voice: "We are not fugitives yet, and the officials will not recognize us."

"Oh."

"Head up."

After finally getting out of Shengpingfang, Xue Bai slowed down and looked around, but didn't see any familiar scenery.

Qing Lan found that he was very unfamiliar with the outside of the house, so she pointed out the direction for him.

"We have to walk three squares to the west to reach Zhuque Street, and after crossing Zhuque Street, we have to walk five squares to the southwest to reach Dunyi Square, which is not close..."

Xue Bai had inquired two days ago that Du's residence was located in the Leyouyuan area, but after hearing Qing Lan's explanation, it finally became clearer.

This place is probably near the junction of Xiying Road and Qujiang Road in later generations. You have to go to Chang'an Middle Road to reach Zhuque Street, which is only a short half way.

The whole section of the road is equivalent to walking from Qinglong Temple to Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, which is really far.

"Is there a carriage?"

"I have to find a coachman, and I have to set up a car. It's too late."

"There's a curfew coming soon."

"I need to run."

The three of them were not in good physical strength, and after running for half an hour, they were all out of breath.

"I... I... I can't do it..."

Du Wulang finally stopped for a while, propping his knees, almost unable to stand up.

"Really, I'm out of strength."

As the last rays of the setting sun receded, the magnificent outline of Chang'an City became darker and darker.

"Boom."

As soon as the sun set, the evening drum sounded in the city.

After six hundred twilight drums, if you are still on the street, it is a crime of night and you will be caught and beaten.

Qing Lan encouraged: "It will arrive soon."

"Walk."

Xue Bai frowned, and together with Qing Lan pulled Du Wulang up, and ran into the Chang'an night under the urging of the drums.

"Boom."

"Boom."

"Leak out! Close the door!"

With the sound of the last door-closing drum, the door of Dunyifang was slowly closed.

The curfew in Chang'an began and will last until five o'clock the next day.

The drums and people are scattered, and the nine roads are only the moon.

……

Three figures stood panting in front of a house in the square.

Liu's house is just an ordinary house with two courtyards, it looks a bit shabby, and it doesn't match Liu Ji's brocade fur.

"Is there no official post?" Xue Bai looked around vigilantly, with doubts in his eyes.

"Let's run fast." Qing Lan said before she could calm down, "Besides, this is under the jurisdiction of Chang'an County. Are they slow to transfer people?"

They knocked on the door knocker, and soon a woman's voice sounded from inside the door.

"Who is it?"

"Liu Shang. It's me, Qing Lan, and Goro are also here."

Soon, amidst the sound of "squeak", a thin and small maid opened the door.

"Why did Wulang come here at this time? Is this...running here?"

"Let's go in and talk about it. Has an official sent here?"

"Official messenger? No."

Xue Bai was a little surprised, and said to himself, "Hasn't the official sent here?"

~~
Du's parents' daughter is named Du Yi, and they are called Mrs. Du.

When she heard the movement, she rushed to the front hall with a candle in her hand. Seeing that it was Du Wulang who brought someone, she hurriedly asked what happened.

There are two siblings, the younger brother is not good-looking, but the older sister is very beautiful.

Xue Bai was a little surprised when he first saw it, but after thinking about it, he realized that Du Wulang was born to his stepwife, and his appearance was more like Lu Fengniang, while the first few children of the Du family were born to Du Youlin's original spouse.

Presumably Mrs. Du Er is also beautiful, so she can marry into the East Palace.

At this time, Du Yu heard about his father's arrest, and his face turned pale.

Xue Bai observed her carefully in the candlelight, noticing that her attire was different from the gorgeous style of the world, she was quite frugal, with a plain face.

In addition, her eyes were red, she should have cried.

After she calmed down a bit, Xue Bai asked, "Isn't Mr. Liu at home?"

"Lang Jun...he's not here."

"Has he come back at noon?"

"Yeah." Du Yan replied, wiping away tears.

"Did you say that the Du family asked him to reconcile?"

Du Yu didn't want to talk about these things with outsiders, and she didn't know Xue Bai well, and she didn't know why he was so aggressive at such a young age, but the situation was urgent, so she nodded and thought about the consequences of the whole incident.

It happened so suddenly that no one reacted.

Xue Bai asked again: "How did he say it?"

Du Yu hesitated for a moment, before opening his lips to answer: "He said, 'As long as our relationship between husband and wife is strong, according to the laws of Tang, neither the government nor the father-in-law can break us up', so the concubine must be as firm as a rock."

"How do you answer?"

Du Yu felt uncomfortable being asked, turned his head, and replied in a low voice: "The rock is square and thick, and it can die for a thousand years."

"and then?"

"Lang-jun said 'That's good', and went to the study. He didn't stay for long, and left in a hurry, and he still hasn't returned at this time... Sigh."

With an unconscious sigh, Du Yi had already guessed the outline of the matter.

"He didn't say where to go?"

"The concubine asked the lord, and said that she was looking for a friend to help."

"Can I go to the study?"

"Lang Jun's study is usually not allowed to enter, but since it is..." Knowing the urgency of the situation, Du Yu stood up and said, "This way please."

The front hall of Liu's house was clean and tidy, without any decorations, but there were a lot of paintings and calligraphy hanging in the study.

As soon as you push the door, you will see a painting and calligraphy hanging on the wall, recording a poem.

Xue Bai stepped forward, took a closer look, and could barely make out the last sentence in the faint candlelight.

"Regardless of poverty and wealth, I hope to know each other."

The calligraphy is excellent, smooth and flowing, even a layman can tell at a glance that it is a famous handwriting.

"This is Li Beihai's handwriting." Du Mi stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency once presented him with gold utensils, and he gave you calligraphy, paintings and famous horses in return."

"Li Beihai?" Du Wulang exclaimed, "Li Beihai who says 'the right army is like a dragon, and the North Sea is like an elephant'?"

"Youjun is like a dragon" refers to Wang Youjun and Wang Xizhi. It is remarkable that Li Beihai can be as famous as Wang Youjun.

Du Wulang knew that it was his handwriting, but when he looked at it carefully, he felt different from what he saw at first glance.

Liu Shang muttered dissatisfiedly: "But the goldware presented by Mr. Lang is clearly a dowry for my wife."

"Speak up."

Du Yu lightly scolded the maidservant, held the candle light carefully, looked around the study, with sadness and surprise in her eyes, and said: "Mr. ...unusual trouble."

She didn't bring the candle to Xue Bai, out of habit, she was afraid of ruining some calligraphy and painting.

Xue Bai checked the case in the dark.

There was an inkstone on the table, and when I touched it with my hand, the ink was not completely dry, so it should have been polished in the afternoon.

Suddenly, there was a rapid and fierce knock on the door in the front yard.

"Open the door!"

"Jingzhao Prefecture handles the case, open the door!"

Several people in the study were startled, and Du Wulang immediately panicked and asked, "What should I do?"

"Come closer to the candlelight." Xue Bai urged, "Look for traces."

"What... what trace?"

"Where did Liu Ji go? Is there any correspondence with Ji's family or anyone else? Or is there any evidence left in the study? Look for it."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Du Ti didn't care about anything else, she put the candlestick on the table and took out a box from the drawer to search for it.

These are obviously Liu Ji's correspondence with others, and there are indeed many.

Seeing this situation, and then thinking about the crime of "constructing the East Palace", it makes people even more disturbed.

"Open the door! Open the door!"

Liushang was so frightened that she was about to cry, she asked: "What should I do? Is the slave going to say that the lady is not here..."

"Look for it."

Xue Bai flipped through the ink-stained paper on the table, but found nothing, took the candlestick in Liushang's hand, and lit it around.

He even saw Du Fu's writing on the wall.

If it weren't for the urgent situation, he would really be amazed.

Suddenly there was a loud "bang" in the front yard, and an official shouted, "Bump in!"

"Boom."

"Boom."

With a flicker of candlelight, two balls of paper suddenly came into view on the ground. Xue Bai hurriedly put down the candlestick, picked up the first ball of paper and opened it, only to see the words "He Li Shu".

Opening another ball of paper, he couldn't help but move his eyes, and said to himself, "I see."

"What did you find?"

"Let's go." Xue Bai put away the two pieces of paper, pushed Du Wulang, and said, "Go over the wall."

"But... there's a curfew."

"Walk."

Xue Bai pushed the others away, took two steps and then stopped, looking back at the box Du Ti had brought out.

A lot of letters have been scattered all over the table, and it's too late to clean them up.

Thinking of Liu Ji's character of high ambition and lack of talent, and looking at the room full of famous calligraphy and paintings, Xue Bai's eyes showed hesitation.

But he hesitated for only a moment, and another word suddenly flashed in his mind.

——Be cautious in your words and deeds, as if walking on eggshells.

Then he pulled Du Yan, took the candlestick from her hand, and exchanged a glance with her.

Du Ti understood the meaning in Xue Bai's eyes, covered his face with his hands, and turned around.

Xue Bai stretched out his hand decisively.

The candlestick lit the silk, and the flames quickly shot up, devouring the calligraphy and paintings of Li Yong, Du Fu and many famous people.

Burning zithers and boiling cranes, the flames rage...

　There will be paintball chapters in the first few chapters. Some materials and maps will be posted. The paintball chapters need to be reviewed. If you miss it, you can go back to the catalog.Ask for a monthly ticket for the new book, ask for follow-up reading, thank you everyone!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)