Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 14 Spring Tree Picture

Entering the door is a deep and long corridor, which shows the grandeur of the early days. The wide courtyard is full of wild grass and has many chickens and ducks.

Mr. Wei couldn't help but smile and said: "Today we are taking a one-day tour of an ancient house."

Wang Heng also said: "I'm tired of looking at it, but I still love the splendor and beauty."

Wang Cai said in a serious tone: "You have to recite the Jing Jing Sutra several times at night. There may be monsters in the old house coming out to cause trouble."

The young village chief Zhuge was unsmiling and just followed the crowd.

The old carved balustrades and painted buildings have been eroded by the years and become dim. Along the long eaves, almost all the houses that come into view are empty.

After entering the second courtyard, Mr. Wei's eyes were attracted by the main house facing south and he stopped.

This should have been the owner's living room originally, with a scroll of landscape hanging on the bare white wall.

At this moment, the sunlight from outside seemed not to shine in. The deep hall supported the obscure light. In such an old house, it became more and more ghostly.

And that painting is so bright.

The leisurely white clouds hang over the valleys, the clear streams flow slowly in the mountain streams, the high and low green mountains in the distance, and the yellow spring trees nearby are spreading.

The pen and ink, colors, layout, and charm are all wonderful.

Such a vibrant picture of spring trees.

Mr. Wei nodded slightly, and the guess in his mind was already close. This was probably the so-called Huang Da Chi's landscape that He Xiucai and shopkeeper Xiao Jin saw.

The empty hall was deep and quiet. Mr. Wei broke the silence and told Zhuge Bojun about the disappearance of student member He Xiucai from Lanxi County.

He said to everyone: "I was in Ye Zhai in Changle Village when I suddenly thought of a possibility. He Xiucai and shopkeeper Xiaojin didn't know the way. Could it be that they had never been to Changle Village at all? They took the wrong road and went to another place. The local people thought it was Changle Village. So I went to the restaurant in the village and found out that there is really another village called Gaolong Village less than two or three miles away from Changle Village."

"After entering Gaolong Village, I immediately wanted to go to the third house to the west of the archway to take a look at the situation, but I couldn't find it. If Mr. Zhuge hadn't led the way, we wouldn't have gotten here. In this hall, we saw something like this A landscape painting, I believe my guess is correct, the painting He Xiucai and the others saw was the one hanging on the wall today."

"But I'm still full of doubts. We entered Gaolong Village through someone's guidance, and we couldn't find the way there at all. Even if He Xiucai and the others entered the village by mistake, how could they get here?"

Zhuge Bojun pondered for a while and said: "He Xiucai disappeared on the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival. There was a big banquet on the Mid-Autumn Festival. Therefore, if you are not careful after the festival, they may still break in by mistake."

Mr. Wei said: "In this case, we need to ask the mute servant at the door to ask. If six people can help us, please interpret for us."

The mute servant stood bowed outside the atrium. Zhuge Xian waved to him, and he quickly walked forward.

Mr. Wei looked solemn and asked: "Let me ask you, on the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, did a scholar wearing a lake blue silk shirt and a slightly fat young businessman come here?"

The mute servant thought for a moment and then nodded.

Mr. Wei then asked: "Did these two people leave around late afternoon ([-] p.m.)?"

The mute servant still nodded.

Mr. Wei asked again: "Have you seen these two people since they left?"

The mute servant hesitated for a moment, pointed to the west, gestured with his turban, and stretched out two fingers.

Zhuge Xian said: "The scholar wearing a turban comes again at sunset? Dumb father-in-law, is this what you mean?" The mute servant nodded.

Everyone suddenly became energetic. He Xiucai entered Gaolong Village again at dusk, and clues appeared again.

Mr. Wei said: "So, on the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, He Xiucai came to your residence twice. May I ask, when did He Xiucai come here for the second time? When did he leave and where did he go?"

This was not easy to express. The mute servant was babbling, pointing to the west sky and the bluestone road outside the house, and then shook his head.

Zhuge Xian said: "He Xiucai came here for the second time. He didn't stay too long. He left from the path outside the house before it got dark in the west. I don't know where he went. That's about it."

The mute servant still nodded.

Mr. Wei stood in front of the window, thought silently for a long time, and then asked: "He Xiucai came here for the second time. Is there anyone else in your house?"

The mute servant's expression changed and he stood there at a loss.

Zhuge Xian said warmly: "Mute father-in-law, this is a yamen question. There can be no prevarication. Whatever you know, you must tell it honestly."

The mute servant sighed softly and made a sign with his finger that represented the word "一".

"You mean, Miss Zhang, the mistress of your family?" Zhuge Xian asked.

The dumb servant nodded.

"Miss Zhang?" Everyone was shocked.

"It seems that He Xiucai probably followed Miss Zhang." Mr. Wei turned back to look at Zhuge Xian and said, "When I entered the door first, I heard you tell the mute father-in-law that your Miss Zhang was still in the nunnery. What happened? thing?"

When Zhuge Xian was about to speak, Zhuge Bojun interrupted him first and said: "Miss Zhang serves her parents with great filial piety. After her parents died, she decided to practice in the nunnery on Cuiping Mountain, and the village did not tolerate her. She became a monk in her youth, and only after hard persuasion did she allow her to lead the practice alone."

"Cuiping Mountain? How far is it from here to the nunnery in Cuiping Mountain?" Mr. Wei asked.

Zhuge Bojun showed a hint of hesitation. Mr. Wei, who was sophisticated in the world, doubted, "Mr. Zhuge, could there be some reason for this nunnery in Cuiping Mountain?"

Zhuge Bojun thought about it again and again, and said with profound meaning: "Half an hour is enough for the mountain road. Yesterday you were imprisoned by the uncles of the four tribes. I'm afraid you have been hungry for a long time. You gentlemen, you might as well go and have lunch."

After hearing this, everyone's stomach growled. Although Mr. Wei was a little suspicious, he had no choice but to obey the order and go to Zhuge Bojun's house to have dinner.

God was not good at it, as the saying goes, "The morning glow never leaves the house." It started to rain in the afternoon, and gradually became torrential.

Zhuge Bojun urged them to rest peacefully at home and go to Cuiping Mountain tomorrow or the day after, or he could send a steward to Cuiping Nunnery to ask questions, which would be the same thing.

The autumn wind and autumn rain are very sad, and the rain comes so violently all of a sudden. It is obviously not a good idea to climb Cuiping Mountain in the heavy rain.

Mr. Wei, Wang Heng, and Wang Cai were restless for a long time. In the evening, the heavy rain gradually stopped, and the three of them had to go out immediately.

Zhuge Bojun repeatedly stated the dangers of climbing mountains after rain, and advised the three of them not to act rashly.

Mr. Wei said: "Mr. Zhuge accepted it with his kindness. Human life is at stake. We must rush to the nunnery that day."

(End of this chapter)