Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 256: The Long Sword Leaning Against the Sky

The green mountains are like curtains and the waterfalls are like silk ribbons, but the passers-by today have no intention of appreciating them.

Wang Heng recalled the day when he first went up the mountain. Zhang Xiru told them that the mountain man was the youngest son of Li Dushi, a high-ranking official in the imperial court. He also told them many stories about Li Dushi's heroic past. Unexpectedly, by chance, he would have to visit the Li family today.

Xiaocai followed at the end, looking a little absent-minded, as if he was thinking about something.

Everyone hurried on their way, and in less than half an hour they had descended the steps to the foot of the back mountain.

The two young monks Wufa and Wuding who served Monk Guangheng were about to go up the mountain. When they saw the Wang brothers and their group carrying a stretcher coming down, they stopped and stood to the side of the stone steps.

Wufa bowed and said, "My two benefactors, where do you want to go in Jubao Mountain? Would you like me to lead the way?"

Wang Heng smiled and said, "Master Wufa, let's go to the home of a classmate from the Imperial College, the Li residence in Cuihua Village."

"Li's residence in Cuihua Village?" Wufa was a little surprised.

Xiaocai said: "The Li family is from Jiangning."

Wufa was surprised and said, "We just came back from Cuihua Village. There is such a Li family in the village? How come we have never heard of it before?"

Junior fellow disciple Wu Ding laughed and said, "No, no, senior brother, Cuihua Village is very big, you are too conceited."

Wang Heng had something to do, so he bowed and said, "One of us knows the Li residence, so we'll leave now."

At the foot of the mountain, an official road runs across the east and west. Xiao Wu leads the way and walks eastward along the official road. In the distance, there are white water mountains and vast mist.

Wang Heng raised his eyes and saw Xiaocai nodded imperceptibly, and he knew that they were thinking the same thing.

Before, they went to Cuihua Village to visit Liu Biejia's mansion and met Qiu Erlang who surrendered himself. On the way to take him back to Jubao Temple, they asked people about this area of ​​lake and mountains and found out that this was also the territory of Cuihua Village, and Li's house was probably here.

After walking about three or five miles east, the group turned from the official road into a small path and walked down the hillside.

Suddenly, a large forest appeared, with towering ancient trees, lush and vigorous, and very cool and shady. Xiao Wu said that this was where he found Ruan Youhai lying in the forest last night.

Seeing that Ruan Youhai's face was flushed with fever, Wang Heng couldn't help feeling a little worried. Ruan Youhai's eyes were solemn, and he pointed the way with his hand. He went over the hillside and walked for twenty or thirty feet under it. Suddenly, the view became clear and a lake with rippling waves appeared in front of him. Walking west for a few miles along the water, the lake gradually became narrower and the water became clearer. There were several small boats tied to the lakeside.

A house with blue bricks and black tiles came into view. Beside the gate stood a hemp stone. In front of the stone were several ox carts. Several servants were carrying wine makers downstairs. The people sitting on the ox carts happened to turn over and get off the carts and stand still.

Wang Heng looked closely and found that he was an acquaintance. The person coming was Mr. Meng Shanren’s eldest son, Meng Dalang.

"Brother Meng." Wang Heng took a few steps forward.

Meng Dalang turned around and said in surprise, "Ah, Master Wang Qi, how have you been since we last met?"

Wang Heng asked casually, "Brother Meng, are you familiar with the Li Mansion?"

Meng Dalang said, "My family and the Li family are cousins, and we are sending some home-brewed Shaoxing wine to Lord Li for his birthday banquet tomorrow. Is Master Wang Qi here to give a birthday gift as well?"

Wang Heng shook his head and said, "Young Master Li and I were classmates in the Southern Prison. Today we are here to visit the mountain people."

As the two were talking, the doorman of Li's residence came over and saluted, saying, "Master Meng, Uncle Gui asked you to pile the wine jars in the courtyard."

"Okay." Meng Dalang turned around and said, "Seventh Master, I'll go put the wine jar away first and come back to find you later." Seeing the doorman looking at the Wang brothers, Meng Dalang said, "The Wang family's master is a classmate of the mountain people, you should go back quickly."

The doorman invited Wang Heng and Xiaocai to the flower hall to serve tea. There was a commotion in front of the Li Mansion, so Wang Heng asked the servants to carry Ruan Youhai to the flower hall.

As soon as the two of them sat down, the maid sifted two cups of stir-fried green tea, and then a short and capable old servant in summer cloth came in, bowed and said, "I am Li Gui, the manager of the Li family. Please sit down and have a cup of fragrant tea. My second master just took medicine and is still sleeping soundly. When he wakes up, I will invite you to his bedroom."

Judging from the tone of the steward Uncle Gui, Shanmin is sick?

Wang Cai first asked, "Uncle Gui, what disease did the mountain people have? Is it serious?"

Uncle Gui smiled and said, "Second Master looked very bad when he came home yesterday. Mr. Zhao prescribed two doses of medicine and he is much better now. He must have eaten something bad in school."

Wang Heng signaled the servants of Jubao Temple to carry Ruan Youhai over. Uncle Gui took a glance and said in surprise, "Isn't this Mr. Ruan who came yesterday? He suddenly disappeared last night. I sent Ah Ming and others to look for him for a long time. Mr. Ruan, what happened to you?"

Wang Heng said: "Brother Ruan was seriously injured and has a fever. I heard that there is a good doctor in your house, so I sent him here for treatment."

"Then we have to ask Mr. Zhao to take your pulse right away." Uncle Gui hurriedly called the servant carrying the stretcher to follow him.

Wang Heng and Xiaocai were just about to go and take a look when suddenly a man came in from outside the flower hall. It turned out to be Lao Chen, the guard of the Southern Palace.

Old Chen smiled and said, "Young Master, please stay. The smell in the clinic is not good. Please stay in the flower hall and have some tea. Yesterday, it was Young Master Ruan and I who sent Young Master Li home. I will take care of Young Master Ruan. If there is any problem, I will come back to make a decision."

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Wang Heng nodded slightly, and let Uncle Gui and Old Chen take Ruan Youhai to Mr. Zhao's yard.

About a meal's time later, Old Chen came back to say that Ruan Youhai had taken internal and external medications and was now recovered. Mr. Zhao said that he was fine and had no vital injuries. He would be able to return to the Imperial College after three to five days of rest and recuperation. Mr. Zhao said that Ruan Youhai could rest assured and leave him to his care for the next few days.

Xiaocai winked at Wang Heng. It seemed that Mr. Zhao, who was worshipped by the Li family, was very skilled. They all saw the blood and flesh on Ruan Youhai's body, but Mr. Zhao said it was not a big deal just by making a casual comment. He was indeed a good doctor.

After sifting the tea three or four times, Uncle Gui, the steward of the Li residence, came to report: "Young Master, please leave this way. My second master has just woken up. He was very happy to hear that you two were visiting. He is ill and cannot get up to greet you. Please go to the study to talk."

The Li Mansion is a large house with four courtyards. The building is spacious and has a grand atmosphere. Wang Heng secretly thought that if he had to find fault, it would be that the furnishings in the courtyard were not gorgeous enough and seemed too rough, and the flowers and trees were not lush enough and were too short.

Xiaocai whispered, "This house is too new, it doesn't look like the Li family's ancestral home."

Passing through the moon-shaped gate and walking on the blue bricks and stones, you will enter the third courtyard. Li Shanmin’s three study rooms face south and are located at the east end of the courtyard.

There were two sparsely planted osmanthus trees in front of the house, revealing a white wall. Xiaocai shook his head as he looked at it. If it were the South Garden, the white wall would surely be covered with roses, and the shadows of the flowers would be so beautiful.

Uncle Gui opened the curtain and was about to enter the room when he heard a strong voice speaking, which seemed to be scolding.

Uncle Gui pretended to ask everyone to wait: "My master is inside."

Wang Heng and Xiaocai stopped and stood outside the curtain.

The voice inside said, "Mountain folk, you have become more decadent in the past two years. You can't waste your years of study and swordsmanship because of a little grievance in your heart. The year I first led the army, the Japanese invaded. Before the battle of Gudangkou, we had no soldiers and no food. The eunuch Cao, the supervisor of the army, also accused me of disturbing the people and being domineering. I felt so wronged in my heart, but could I just give up?"

"My soldiers were brought here one by one by ox carts. Some of them were barefoot, some were barefoot. They had no martial arts skills and were all farmers. Every time a cart of soldiers arrived, I took off my hat and saluted them warmly. But all I got in response was indifference and numbness. The court officials present said I was like a fool. My behavior made them feel ashamed."

"But I managed to train these peasants into Ming infantrymen, and they fought back the Japanese enemy and saved the lives of the people."

As the long sword leaned against the sky, Wang Heng and Xiaocai were both overwhelmed with emotion. It was people like Commander Li who protected the safety of the people of the Ming Dynasty, and they would soon be able to meet such a legendary figure.