Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 46 The First Murder
So the remaining three people just pretended to be in a hurry and arrived at the Wang family mansion in less than a quarter of an hour.

Wang Heng looked at Yueting's black clothes and said, "Xiaocai and I will go in from the south door. Yueting, you can go in from the back door, and then we can all meet up at Helaitang, okay?"

Everyone had no objections and walked away separately.

The main entrance of Wang's mansion is usually closed unless there are distinguished guests. When Wang Heng stepped into the corner door of the south gate, the doorman, Old Fulin, said with a smile: "Where did the Seventh Young Master go this morning?"

Wang Heng said: "I'm going to practice Baduanjin on Zhouqiao."

Old Fulin smiled and said, "Seventh Young Master is really in a good mood."

Along the corridor and into the inner courtyard, servants and women bowed their heads to say hello. Wang Cai patted his heart and said, "Seeing such people makes my heart settle."

Wang Heng joked: "Since ancient times, heroes have been born as young men. How could they survive such a dangerous situation and end up like this?"

Returning to He Laitang, Wang Cai picked up his blue and white hand cup, drank a full cup regardless of whether it was overnight tea, and said, "I'm alive now."

Wang Heng lay on the vines and rubbed his feet, saying: "After struggling all night, it's not that there is no gain at all. At least I found Yueting."

At this time, the people in the kitchen saw that He Laitang had not received breakfast today, so they sent a boy to deliver a food box.Breakfast is very appetizing, including sesame water chestnut cake, scallion pancake, edamame pickled melon, and white rice porridge.

Wang Heng said in surprise: "The weather is still so hot, why have I already eaten water chestnut cake?"

Wang Cai said: "Master, it is already the seventh month today."

Wang Heng suddenly remembered the words of the female artist from the Yangzhou Colorful Troupe in the Yuhuang Pavilion. At the invitation of the Huanggu Temple in Taicang Prefecture, he participated in the July Festival performance. His heart shivered and he seemed to have some realization.

There was a knocker outside the door, and Wang went to answer the door. It turned out that it was Yueting who was visiting. Yueting had changed into a white robe and a white robe, making her look elegant and approachable.

It was already past breakfast time, and expecting no one to stay with Yueting for a meal, Wang Heng graciously invited him, and the three of them sat around in the wind and rolling clouds.

Yueting praised: "The food in your room is good, and a mouthful of white porridge is so hot." He has been in the Wang's house for a few months, and he knows that the seventh son of Wang is just a descendant of the Wang family. Some of them don’t even have enough money.

Wang Cai blinked and said with a smile: "It's because we have someone in the kitchen." Since the danger last night, they have been in trouble together, and they have become closer in their hearts, and the old grudge has been eliminated.

After eating, Wang Heng said seriously: "Let me say a few words first. Wang Cai and I are here to find out the truth about the murder of Master Huiyun. This is the order of my uncle Yuan Yu. I must ask you a few questions, my dear." He is my junior brother and my assistant."

Yueting clasped his fists and said, "Young Master Seventh, please tell me. Even if I don't ask, I will explain it clearly."

Wang Heng said to Yueting: "Before Master Huiyun was killed, someone saw you driving a boat at the lotus pond under the Yuebo Bridge and going back and forth with Master Huiyun at night. Can you tell me what you were doing?"

Yueting thought about it and said: "It was the end of May, and Master Huiyun went to Yuebo Pavilion to worship the moon. I did row a small boat and follow her under the Yuebo Bridge under the lotus flowers, but I actually went to protect her to prevent others from harming her. .”

Everyone was taken aback and listened intently to what he said.

Yueting's face turned red and she said: "Xiaodan Hongyun and I are about the same age, and we rub shoulders with each other every day, taking care of each other. I see her every move, and I feel a sweet feeling. Besides, I think Hongyun also cares about me." Because I was very interested in her, when I arrived at the Wang's house, I found that she had become very strange. Hongyun began to pay close attention to the main room of the south house where Master Huiyun lived, and from time to time he would say something to the little maid Suo'er who was serving Huiyun. , and there is a small crystal bottle containing potion in her dressing box.'

"I feel ashamed to say it. In fact, I am a child of Yunjian's old family. I have been used to seeing some valuable objects since I was a child. I followed Mr. Zhanyun to learn opera because I love Nanqu. I can only be regarded as a fan. I still have a few acres of land in the countryside. When my parents were living at home, I only wanted to play with guns and sticks, and later I fell in love with singing. After my parents died, there was no one to control me, so I entrusted all the fields to my old servants and wandered around the rivers and lakes as I pleased. With the bottle of water essence, I As soon as I saw it, I felt that it was not an ordinary thing. There was no way that Hongyun could afford it. Not to mention Hongyun, even though Master Huiyun had a great reputation, he probably couldn't afford it.

Yueting raised his head and looked at the water essence flower bag on the desk, and said: "Speaking of it, it looks like a set with this one. It would fit perfectly in the study of the Prince of the Wang family. Hongyun wears this potion on her hands every time she rehearses. , she played Mei Xiang, the maid of Miss Du Tang'er, and she often supported Hui Yun with her hands on stage. Once, when she held Hui Yun's hand for a long time, Hui Yun actually fainted."

Wang Heng shouted: "Remember, Huiyun only asked Mr. Zhanyun to check her pulse."

Yueting continued: "Not long after, I managed to steal her bottle of potion and gave it to the doctor at the herbal medicine shop to see what it was, but the doctor couldn't tell and said it was not poison, maybe a foreign medicine. I heard that it was not poisonous, so I felt relieved. It was not for Master Huiyun, I was just afraid that Hongyun would get sued. Unexpectedly, a day or two later, a little maid came to see Hongyun at noon. , I don’t know what she said, but Hongyun made an excuse to go to the garden at dusk. I was still worried, so I followed her and saw her pretending to look at koi fish at Zhiyu Bridge. I turned over and hid behind the bridge. In the water pavilion, I lay on the window. After a while, a very respectable mother came. Judging by her dress, she must be the mother in charge of the inner courtyard of the Wang Mansion. It was dark at that time, and her face could not be seen clearly from a distance. This mother was very interested in Hongyun said: "You did a good job, I remember it. Now that we know the result, we shouldn't use the potion in the future. "After saying a few words, he lowered his voice and whispered in Hongyun's ear for a while. Hongyun seemed a little worried, looked around, nodded and said, "You all listen to mother. "I was shocked. It turns out there is something wrong with the potion. It's not that I'm suspicious."

"All the way back to Tangliyuan, Hongyun seemed worried. I wanted to tell her quietly, but I saw it all, so I was hiding something. We talked so that we could share her worries. But I went up to call her, Hongyun But she treated me as if nothing had happened. I thought she was usually stronger. To be honest, she must have been unhappy in her heart, so I had to chat with her for a few words and then said goodbye. From that day on, Hongyun changed her previous alienated relationship with Master Huiyun. , It’s like Master Huiyun’s follower, always paying attention to Huiyun’s every move, and going to sell the goods diligently.”

"It was the end of May, and the weather was getting hot. After dinner, the theater troupe was sitting in front of the court to enjoy the cool air. I found that Master Huiyun and Hongyun were not there, so I quietly asked the little girl Suo'er, Master Huiyun Where are you going? Suo'er told me that Master Huiyun set up an incense table at Yuebo Bridge in the garden tonight to worship the moon. I thought to myself, it's not Qiqiao or Fifteen. Even when the moon comes out, it's also a waning moon. Which kind of moon can I worship? There must be something fishy going on, and Hongyun probably followed it secretly."

"I changed into short clothes, pretended to practice my voice, and ducked into the garden. Yuebo Bridge is very remote. From a distance, I saw a woman burning incense and praying on Yuebo Bridge, and the moon was waning in the morning wind on the willow bank. , the artistic conception is very beautiful. I didn’t see where the red clouds were hiding, so I didn’t dare to go forward and hid behind the rockery. At this time, the last ray of light in the western sky dimmed. At this moment, a rope suddenly flew out of the bridge hole. , strangled the neck of the woman on the bridge, and then dragged the woman into the water with a plop. A figure emerged from under the bridge hole, looking towards the center of the lake. It was like a flash of lightning, and I screamed in fright "Ah" was heard very softly, and the figure seemed to have heard it and ran away in a panic."

(End of this chapter)